Rural Leader Magazine DECEMBER 2024

DECEMBER 2024

Cover Story How this award-winning TV host is setting the stage to help protect her health, pg. 7

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 1

Contents

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

About Us

5 Six tips for safe travels this holiday season

13 How to design your holidays with love of nature

COVER STORY 7 How this award-winning TV host is setting the stage to help protect her health

14 Three reasons younger Americans have an easier time maintaining healthy habits

11 52% of Americans say there is a secret to success, according to new study

17 Barriers amond adolescents and Young adult survivors of Pediatric cancer and their families

Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad.

Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com

2

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—

Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue.

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 3

4

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

Six tips for safe travels this holiday season Traveling for the holidays? Whether you’re having a Friendsgiving with pals or going to grandma’s house for Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah, you’ll find the roads jam packed. According to a survey by GasBuddy, 72% of Americans plan to drive to their holiday destination, up from 41% in 2023. Stormy and snowy weather conditions won’t help matters.

Here are some tips to help you arrive at your holiday destination safely, from the good neighbors at State Farm.

Be prepared: transform your trunk for holiday travel. Is your trunk filled with your kids’ sports equipment, your gym bag and miscellaneous items you found at a garage sale? State Farm recommends clearing all of that out and packing items you’ll need if you get stranded, like hats, gloves, warm socks and blankets for everyone in the car. Also include water, flashlights and high-calorie snacks like trail mix.

Don’t forget phone chargers, jumper cables, a shovel and ice scraper, a tarp, snow brushes and a bag of sand or cat litter to give your tires some traction if you need to get out of an icy mess.

Be mindful of distractions. Texting while driving is the top culprit in distracted driving, according to a survey from State Farm. But that’s not the only one.

Grooming, checking maps, interacting with kids in the back seat, eating or even rubbernecking at an accident can cause an accident of your own. Also, be alert for wildlife and pedestrians.

Car maintenance is key. Oil changed and tires

winter ready? Check! Lights all functioning and fluids topped off? Check! How about the wipers?

What about your battery life? Before you go, make sure your car is in tip top shape so you get to your destination and home again safely. Even pop an extra jug of windshield washing fluid into your trunk, just in case.

Check the weather ahead. Monitor the weather along your route to know what you’re driving into.

You can arrange to stop in a hotel if necessary or delay your trip. The last thing you want is to be on the road in dangerous driving conditions.

Plan your route. Hop on your favorite mapping app and plan the best route for your trip, including stops for meals or overnights in a hotel. Many apps revise your route based on traffic patterns and accidents on the road ahead, so keep it on for any changes.

Fight fatigue. If you’re driving a long distance, plan to take breaks every few hours or 100 miles to refuel, get out of the car, stretch and walk around for a bit.

You don’t want to nod off while driving.

Following these tips can help you feel confident setting out on your holiday journeys. Arriving safely to spend time with family and friends is what it’s all about! — This content is sponsored by State Farm.

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 5

COVER STORY

6

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

How this award-winning TV host is setting the stage to help protect her health Award-winning TV host, comedian, actress and author Sherri Shepherd is at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) because she has diabetes. She doesn’t want to let it stop her from taking her shot on - or off - the stage. That’s why Sherri is partnering with Pfizer to share her diabetes story and help raise awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated.

Q: Sherri, there’s no doubt that you’re a superstar in more than one arena. What has helped contribute to your success over the years?

Sherri: I learned early on that you need to run toward the thing that scares you because that’s where you can really thrive. And let me tell you, starting out in comedy and TV can be scary. But I put in the time practicing jokes on the bus, spending time on the road, working late hours behind the scenes, and it all led me to where I was supposed to be. And now, I get to take my shot at doing what I love every day.

Q: I’m sure you faced some challenges to get where you are today. What was one of the biggest you’ve faced?

Sherri: I think the biggest one for me is more of a personal one. I have diabetes, so over the years I’ve had to learn how to keep my health in check. For me, I prioritize eating right, keeping active, talking with my doctor regularly, and getting vaccinated to help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD. It took a lot to get here so I don’t want to be held back from doing what I love.

Q: Tell me more about pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD. Are they serious?

Sherri: Absolutely. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks. In more severe cases, it can put you in the hospital and even be life-threatening. The same bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia can also cause invasive pneumococcal disease, or IPD, which includes blood infection and meningitis.

Q: That does sound serious. Who is at greater risk?

Sherri: People like me who are 19 or older with certain underlying medical conditions like diabetes, asthma or COPD. In fact, people 19-64 living with diabetes are at over 5x higher risk for pneumococcal pneumonia and up to 4.8x higher risk for IPD, compared with healthy adults the same age. People 65 or older are also at increased risk, even if they’re healthy.

Q: What advice would you give to people about protecting themselves against pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD? Sherri: Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to help protect yourself. And vaccination is available all year round, so I encourage everyone to talk to their doctor or pharmacist to see if a pneumococcal vaccination is right for them. They can also visit VaxAssist.com to book an appointment online today.

Q: Thanks, Sherri. Is there anything else people should know about pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD? Sherri: People assume you can only get pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD during flu season or in the winter, but you can get it any time of year. And even if you’ve already been vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia before, your doctor may still recommend another vaccination for further protection. I love hosting my show and doing comedy, but I don’t joke around when it comes to pneumococcal pneumonia and IPD - and you shouldn’t either.

Go talk to your doctor or pharmacist about getting vaccinated, so you can also keep taking your shot at whatever it is you love to do.— Brought to you by Pfizer.

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 7

8

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

•Eligible employers can apply for funding for up to ten (10) apprentices •Contract completion award $5,000 per apprentice, regardless of the length of the RAP

Connect with us to learn how a Registered Apprenticeship Program can help serve your workforce development and hiring needs!

CareerRise is hosting one-on-one exploration meeting to explore the value of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs), an employer-led workforce development model and strategy designed to provide employers with additional support to train skilled workers and meet growing workforce needs.

Questions? Contact Keren Cadet kcadet@careerriseatlanta.org

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 9

10

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

52% of Americans say there is a secret to success, according to new study

Is there a secret to financial success? Most Americans (52%) say “yes” - and the average salary considered successful is $270,000 per year, and $5.3 million in net worth, according to new research from Empower, a financial services leader in investing, planning, and advice.

But it’s not just money - it’s what money can buy.

Only 27% rank wealth as the highest measure of financial success. Rather, most Americans say happiness (59%) is the most important benchmark - being able to spend money on the things and experiences that bring the most joy, doing what you love, followed by the luxury of free time (35%) to pursue personal passions.

People say success is about the “Factor of Four”: hard work (84%); talent (65%); who you know (55%) or The Network Effect; and luck and circumstance (51%). The secret is to be a visionary (36%) - and then outwork everyone (32%), a belief held most firmly by those with incomes over $100k, rising to 40%. Pay yourself first, say over one third of people (35%), by putting money away and saving for retirement. For 1 in 5 younger generations (Gen Zers and Millennials 19%) a secret to success is “fake it ‘til you make it.”

“Fortune favors the bold, and people feel success is within their grasp with the right combination of dreaming and planning,” says Rebecca Rickert, head of communications at Empower. “It’s about disciplined, smart money choices, but overall people define financial success as very meritocratic, and a little serendipitous. There’s a sense that effort and outperformance will take you far.”

Still, nearly half of Americans (47%) feel they’ll never achieve the level of success they’re seeking. Just 37% of people consider themselves financially successful right now - with higher numbers of men than women (42% compared to 33%). Only half (50%) of people state they are or will be better off financially than their parents, a long-held meterstick for generational success.

Barriers to success: More than one third say the economy (35%) and income instability - irregular or insufficient income streams (30%) - is a culprit, along with lack of knowledge about managing finances (20%). Nearly a third say the biggest obstacle to success is not setting clear financial goals (28%). Over 1 in 4 (26%) say procrastination or delaying financial planning or decision-making gets in the way. People see a lack of savings (35%), overspending and not

budgeting effectively (37%), and debt (36%) as barriers to success.

Despite hurdles, most Americans (58%) believe that they will achieve financial success in their lifetime, with the younger generations most optimistic (Gen Z 71%, Millennials 70%, Gen X 53% and Baby Boomers 45%).

Success, realized: For most people (63%), financial success is found in tangible wins: being able to pay bills on time, owning a home (52%), and affording experiences like travel and entertainment (47%). For 40%, it’s about retiring at a goal age - and while they are working, enjoying the job (42%).

Having a financial plan (45%), building up retirement plan savings like 401(k) investments (30%), and investing in stocks (27%) are top money moves people say propel greater success. One in 3 people (30%) say getting good financial advice is worth its weight in gold.

More key findings from Empower’s report, “Secret to Success”: * Making it: People say the surest path to success is a well-paying job (51%), saving as much as possible and the power of compounding (46%), along with making smart investment decisions (46%). Some 36% say it’s financial education. People reveal that a secret to success is never spending more money than you make (52%). * Risking it: Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) say taking risks is an important money move to get richer. A third (34%) believe success means prioritizing your efforts because Time is Money. * Society says: Americans say their personal definition of success is often at odds with what society prizes. Less than half of people (43%) define financial success as having a certain amount of money or assets. Conversely, people say society equates success with wealth (59%), power (44%), and fame (35%).

Just 6% say they value “power” as a measure of success for themselves. * Success through the ages: Almost half of Americans (49%) feel less financially successful compared to others. 60% say that for their generation, financial success is much harder to achieve than for other generations - a sentiment highest among Millennials at 69%, and lowest among Boomers at 49%. Still, the definition of success may be evolving, as 83% agree that each generation has its own idea of success.

Continued on page 16 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 11

12

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

How to design your holidays with love of nature Do you love everything about the natural world, from the colors and textures to the smells and sounds? Have you considered incorporating your love of nature more in your home design, especially around the holidays? If so, you’re right on trend with biophilic design, a popular approach to home decor that celebrates elements like earth tones, natural materials and plants.

This holiday season, you can embrace both biophilic design and the joy of the holiday season through thoughtful choices in decor, accessories and appliances.

Bring the outdoors inside: One of the easiest ways to blend biophilic design with holiday cheer is through traditional decorations derived from nature like wreaths, tree decorations and wall hangings made from spruce and fir boughs or holly branches.

Consider using homemade and handcrafted tree decorations made from wood, straw, pinecones and other natural materials for an authentically outdoor look that also evokes the nostalgic feeling of holidays from years gone by.

Embrace biophilic design in your kitchen: The kitchen is the heart of your home and the heartbeat of holiday traditions, so consider bringing your love of nature into this all-important space over the holidays. The KitchenAid® 2024 Design Series Stand Mixer: Evergreen provides a beautiful and practical appliance that’s a trusted partner for all your holiday baking while also offering a stunning countertop statement for your seasonal entertaining.

The Evergreen stand mixer combines the best of culinary, design and nature through its deep forest green body with lush matte finish, along with a gorgeous true walnut wood bowl, plus accents like a unique debossed leaf design on its brass-plated hub cover and more.

“The Evergreen design marks a first for the brand, as it introduces outdoor elements to the iconic Stand Mixer like never before,” said Chad Ries, global brand director for KitchenAid® small appliances at Whirlpool Corporation. “KitchenAid appliances are designed to engage all your senses and rekindle the excitement, connection and inspiration found all around us. Evergreen was inspired by the natural elements that make us feel connected to the outdoors.

By bringing those powerful emotions into the home, Evergreen inspires makers to come alive every time they set foot in the kitchen.”

Adding an Evergreen stand mixer to your home provides an easy way to incorporate biophilic design into your home and can enhance your holiday entertaining.

Think natural colors: You can embrace biophilic design in your holiday décor by drawing colors from nature. Whether you’re decorating your tree, hanging holiday pictures, adding throw pillows or blankets or choosing festive tabletop decorations, consider colors that draw on elements of the natural world: wood and earth tones like browns, beige, taupe, gray and greens. For colorful accents, choose shades of blues, reds or yellows that you’re likely to see in nature.

Celebrate light during the darker months: Wintertime brings shorter days and longer evenings, which can fuel a need to bring brighter touches into your home celebration. There are plenty of options to brighten your ambiance, such as using candles for your table setting or having crystal glassware and shiny tableware to reflect light in the room and bring more sparkle to any event you’re hosting.

Need even more brightness? Have fun by decorating with string lights in any room of your home - not just on your tree - to lighten up your next occasion.

Come to your senses: And don’t forget scents: Natural potpourri, evergreen boughs, eucalyptus and other natural sources can bring the best aromas of the outdoors inside, without using artificial ingredients. Need an easy DIY option for scent? Consider creating a simmer pot on your stove by adding spices like nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon to water and boil for a while. Before you know it, your house will feel cozy and warm, and smell like you’ve been baking up a storm - and may just inspire you to conjure up some holiday goodies.

With these tips, you can make the most of the holidays this year by celebrating everything you love about the season and the natural world, combined.

Let your imagination be your guide, and your home will become a haven of beauty and joy this special time of year.—

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 13

Three reasons younger Americans have an easier time maintaining healthy habits

Most parents agree that it’s important for children to establish healthy habits before they turn 18 years old. Building a strong foundation and taking a preventive approach to health early on will help people avoid illness and improve our healthspan, or the number of years spent in good health.

Simple, right? Well, findings from Amway’s 2024 “Habits and Healthspan” survey of U.S. adults reveal that different generations have varying success in long-term habit formation.

Overall, only 29% of adults carried over healthy habits learned from their childhood. * Within this group, 46% of 18- to 34-year-olds started healthy habits because they learned to do so at a young age, compared to only 31% of those ages 35 to 70. * A shocking 57% of adults admit they only started healthy habits because their doctor advised them, or because they had health issues already that had to be addressed.

Amway scientists are delving into why different generations have varying degrees of success maintaining healthy habits and are using this survey data to identify the three factors that impact different generations’ ability to maintain these behaviors for the long term.

1. The internet and social media are helping you get healthy. Between the internet and social media, younger generations have access to more health and 14

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

wellness information from a young age than any generation before them. TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X. Between these platforms and more, social media hosts a wealth of health and fitness influencers who promote a healthy lifestyle and make information more engaging and relatable. * 24% of 18- to 24-year-olds were influenced to engage in healthy habits from social media compared to only 9% of 35- to 70-year-olds. There is an even larger drop in older generations (55- to 70-year-olds) where a mere 3% were influenced by social media.

2. Getting by with a little help from your friends.

Having a community of like-minded friends focused on achieving a healthier lifestyle and improving healthspan creates a sense of support and accountability. These communities exist both online and in the real world. * 33% of Americans aged 18 to 24 engaged in healthy habits thanks to the encouragement of a friend, compared to only 25% of 35- to 70-year-olds.

Together, you can share your goals, experiences and expertise in a collective knowledge pool and encourage long-term habit formation.

3. Financial disparities play a role. Lower-income households can encounter barriers when it comes to instilling healthy habits in their children. * 31% of Americans with a household income under $50k learned their healthy habits at a young age compared to 40% of those with a household income

over $100k.

There are many reasons why income can impact your ability to teach your family healthy habits early on in life. Healthy food is often more expensive than processed or fast foods, leaving many to opt for the cheaper option as opposed to the healthier choice.

These households also may not have access to affordable fitness resources such as organized sports, gym memberships or fitness programs, making it harder for them to afford structured physical activities for

their kids.

Putting findings into action: These findings from the Habits and Healthspan survey reflect a generational shift, with younger individuals more likely to have been taught healthy habits. By understanding what factors influence your ability to create and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of your life, you can instill these practices in future generations and prevent health issues before they arise.—

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 15

Secrets to Success, continued from page 11 * Success is in the eye of the beholder: Most Americans agree (71%) that there is no single measurement for financial success. One point of agreement: 61% say you can never have enough money. * Health = wealth: Over a third say success is just as much about physical well-being (35%) as it is how much money they have (27%). * More money, more problems: 47% agree with the adage “more money, more problems.” The majority (71%) say being rich has a positive connotation, and 61% say being rich is more than dollars and cents. * Success at work: People say the definition of success at work is how much money they earn (38%), benefits like healthcare, insurance and time off (36%) - but it’s also about the intangibles: finding the right job fit that aligns with their values and personality (35%) and receiving recognition and appreciation (35%). A third say having a good boss is worth its weight in gold (29%), and people view success in the workplace as flexibility (26%) and autonomy (20%).

16

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024

* The value of a degree: 35% say the college you attend is a big determinant of how rich you are (vs 65% who say it isn’t).

Visit The Currency to read Empower’s full research report, “Secret to Success.”— *ABOUT THE STUDY The Empower “Secret to Success” study is based on online survey responses from 2,203 Americans ages 18+ fielded by Morning Consult from September 13-14, 2024. The survey is weighted to be nationally representative of U.S. adults (aged 18+).

RO4021365-1124

Research done in collaboration with our partners at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Barriers to Health Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Pediatric Cancer and Their Families Why is this important?

Pediatric cancer survivors often face lifelong health challenges, but we don’t have a good understanding of the barriers they face in maintaining healthy behaviors.

A healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, good nutrition, and sufficient sleep is important to reduce long-term health risks related to previous cancer treatments.

By identifying these barriers, we can develop interventions to support the unique needs of this population and improve their long-term health outcomes.

What did we do?

To assess the cancer-related barriers to health behaviors among adolescent and young adult survivors of pediatric cancer and their families: recruited participants from the Aflac Survivor Program at the Aflac Cancer and 1 We Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

distributed a web-based survey to survivors (18-30 years old) and caregivers of 2 We survivors (11-26 years old). survey asked about obstacles to physical activity, nutrition, and sleep that 3 The were due to cancer treatment.

What did we find?

Of the 73 survivors and caregivers that responded: 93% reported at least one cancer-specific barrier to healthy behaviors in their family.

Common obstacles were: cancer-related tiredness, decreased strength, picky eating, and lack of a bedtime routine.

Survivor respondents reported more obstacles than caregivers.

There were strong positive connections between obstacles to physical activity, nutrition, and sleep, meaning that challenges in one area often come with challenges in others.

What does this mean?

Cancer-related barriers can make healthy lifestyle behaviors harder for young adult survivors of pediatric cancer and their families.

It is important to consider these survivor-specific challenges when designing interventions to promote long-term health.

Holistic approaches that address multiple health behaviors are needed.

What's next?

Future research Future research should focus on replicating these findings with larger, more diverse samples to make the results more generalizable.

Qualitative research Qualitative research could further explore the impact of cancer treatment on behaviors not directly related to cancer, which would help develop bettertargeted interventions.

Health and well-being Ultimately, these efforts will help create customized programs to support young adult and adolescent cancer survivors in achieving longterm health and well-being. http://web1.sph.emory.edu/eprc/

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024 17

Read more about the original study: Marchak, J. G., Kegler, M. C., Meacham, L. R., Mertens, A. C., & Effinger, K. E. (2023). Cancer-Related Barriers to Health Behaviors Among Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Pediatric Cancer and Their Families.Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology,12(1), 118-122.

This infographic was supported by the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center cooperative agreement, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $750,000. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

18

RuralLeaderMag.com | DECEMBER 2024