JANUARY 2017
The obstable is
the path.— Zen Proverb
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 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
Guest Contributors Chris D'Cruz Author and Leadeship Expert Tobby Hedges Leadership Guru Stephania Manni Author Dennie Miranda Network Marketer Steven Morgan Leadeship Guru Simon Oates Author and Executive Coach Jenny Swann Executive Coach Lee Werrell Law of Attraction Expert
Join Today! Visit GSAACC.org 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@ruralleadermagazine.com
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5 Leadership Talents Growth-Methods Along with Suggestion
19 Applying the Law of Attraction to Your Thoughts
8 Six Common Tax Filing Mistakes to Avoid
21 New Jersey-grown collard greens? Yep
9 A Leader? What’s your role in an organization?
23 Winning the Fight Against the Dropout Rate one Student at a Time
10 How to Attract Success Through Leadership Training 13 Differnt Types of Leadership Styles 14 Create A Leadership Skills List Change Your Career Path 16 2017 Nominations Calendar 17 Can Week People Be Strong Leaders?
25 “Think and Grow Rich" Chapter 8 Decision-The Mastery of Procrastination 26 Five Easy Tactics for Making your New Year’s Resolution to Save Money a Reality 27 Three Tips for getting the Most Out of Working on a Diverse Team 29 Classifieds
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Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Happy New Year! We have great things planned this year! 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, and we look forward to growing and learning together in 2017! As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely,
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Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 3 @RuralLeaderMag
Readers' Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, As always, I enjoyed the Small Town America's 100 Most Influential People Issue! Thanks again for recognizing the good people in Small Town America! —Mattie B. Helen, Georgia Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Wonderful job! Thank you creating a space just for small communities across the globe! You've just gained a loyal fan.—Gennie J. Mobile, AL Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I loved the article in the last issue, Developing the Most Powerful Tools of Leadership (December 2016). It was a timely article for me, since I taking a new leadership role in my organization.—Phillip Z. Ashville, NC
Courtesy of Tie Photos
Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Please bring the Best Small Town Restaurant back! I loved the feature because it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase mom and pops across the country. Thanks in advance. —Shelly C. Montgomery, Alabama
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Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I am super excited about Rural Leader Magazine Live! I think this is a wonderful opportunity to share the good things going on in small towns nation wide. I will definetly tune in!—Wanda M. Jonesborough, TN Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I would love to see more feature stories about leaders. I think this would be a great edition to an awesome publication.—Wendell L. Savannah, GA
What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag
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By Jenny Swann
Leadership Talents GrowthMethods Along with Suggestion
This is a very simple approach to view just how leadership skills are unique from management skills: Management is typically about procedures. Leadership is generally about behavior or actions. We might be expanded to say: Management depends to a great extent on concrete quantifiable functions like as efficient organizing; the use of organizational systems; and making use of proper communications techniques. Leadership involves several management skills, but frequently as a secondary or perhaps background function of authentic leadership. Leadership on the other hand is based most strongly on less concrete and less measurable factors such as confidence, inspiration, mind-set, decision-making, and personal character. These kinds of processes or competencies tend to be not actually necessarily the result of working experience. These are aspects of humankind, and are enabled primarily by the leader's character and especially his or her emotional reserves. A further manner to look at leadership compared to management, is the fact that leadership won't crucially be dependent on the form of management techniques and processes a leader utilizes; leadership alternatively primarily will depend on the methods which the leader utilizes management techniques and processes. Superior leadership skills depend on attitudinal traits, and not necessarily management processes. Humanity is a means to explain these qualities, because this mirrors the leader's essential relationship with people. Characteristics critical for the leader's connection to his/her team are distinctly distinctive when compared to conventional abilities and
processes: Some good examples of very significant leadership traits integrity honesty humbleness a very and courage motivation sincerity passion self-esteem wisdom will power empathy sensitivity Men and women making use of these kind of patterns of behavior as well as thought patterns tend to attract followers. Supporters are in a natural way pulled to individuals which reveal strength and can stimulate belief in others. These qualities are likely to generate a charismatic effect. Charm is inclined to be a consequence of effective leadership and the qualities which allow for effective leadership. Charm is on its own no guarantee of successful leadership. Some individuals are born a lot more effortlessly to leadership than others. Most people don't seek to become a leader, but many more people are able to lead, in one way or another and in one scenario or another, even more than they fully grasp. Individuals who desire to be leaders can acquire leadership capability. Leadership is not the exclusive preserve of the affluent and educated. Leadership is a matter of personal dedication and trusting passionately in a cause or purpose, what ever it is. Leadership oftentimes will come to individuals later in life, and this is no undesirable thing. Human beings has a tendency to be generational characteristic. There is simply no genuine obstacle to individuals who seek to become leaders if leadership is approached with appropriate ethics. Any individual may be a leader if he or she is suitably driven to a specific cause. And also a lot of characteristics of successful leadership, for example confidence and charm, keep on growing from experience in the leadership role. Sometimes even initially quite
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modest leaders can turn out to be superb ones. Leadership can certainly be accomplished with distinct styles. Certain leaders have one style, which is appropriate for certain situations and drastically wrong for some others. Certain leaders can adjust and use different leadership styles for given situations. Flexibility of style is surely an increasingly significant facet of leadership, because the society is increasingly complex and dynamic. Flexibility comes from objectivity, which often consequently originates from emotional security and psychological maturity. Once more these strengths aren't reliant on wealth or education, or skills or processes. Good leaders usually have a keen understanding of relationships within very substantial and complex systems and networks. This could be from an instinctive point of view, or a technical/learned angle, or both. A really helpful method to investigate this important component of leadership with respect to broader associations and systems is offered by the Psychological Contract and just how this theory relates to institutions and leadership. Individuals new to leadership frequently really feel pressurized to lead in a particularly dominating manner. Sometimes this kind of burden for a brand new leader or manager to enforce their own authority on the organization hails from above. Dominating leadership is not usually suitable however, especially for older teams. Misreading, and seeking to be far too dominant, could then create problems for that new manager. Opposition from the company turns into a problem, and also a pattern of unfavorable behaviors and decreasing performance gets started. A great deal of leadership
Most people don't seek to become a leader, but many more people are able to lead, in one way or another and in one scenario or another, even more than they fully grasp... is definitely counter-intuitive. Leadership is often much more about helping as opposed to leading. Additionally, individuals and teams really do not fight or push against something through which they have a sturdy involvement, ownership in, or good sense of control in. Individuals very often will react well to thanks, encouragement, acknowledgment, inclusiveness, etc. Tough, excessively dominant leadership provides staff a great deal t push in opposition to and resist. Furthermore, it helps prevent a sense of possession and self-control within the individuals being directed. Furthermore, it inhibits the favorable returns and incentives (appreciation, recognition, support, and so forth) essential pertaining to teams and individuals to handle change, as well as have a great time. Leaders of course ought to be able to make challenging choices when required, however most importantly leaders ought to focus on enabling the group to do well, which is a 'serving' role, and definitely not the dominant 'leading' role frequently related to leadership. These days ethical leadership is a lot more crucial than in the past. The modern world is more transparent and linked than it has ever been. The actions as well as philosophies of organizations are scrutinized via the press and the public as never before. This fits together with massively increased knowledge and interest amongst people just about everywhere in corporate accountability as well as the lots of related principles, for example social and community responsibility.
Present day leader must appreciate and wish to lead people in realizing success in any of these kinds of areas. Beliefs is the basis on which to build strategy, management, operational actions, and pretty much anything else that occurs inside an organization. Regardless of the size of the corporation, functional or operational actions need to be reconcilable with a solitary congruent (fitting, unified) philosophy. Executives, supervisors, staff members, consumers, distributors, stakeholders, etc., need sound philosophical principles on which to base their expectations, decisions and activities. Within a vast complicated organization, leadership will be really difficult at the best of moments on account of reasons of size, variety, political and public interest, and so forth. Developing a conflicting philosophy drastically heightens these problems for everybody, not least the leader, because the frame of reference is perplexing. In order for leadership to work well, people (staff members and interested outsiders) must be in the position to link their targets, ambitions and activities to a common objective or philosophy of the company. This kind of fundamental doctrine will need to present necessary reference points for employee choices and activities - an ever more important element in present day 'empowered' companies. Seeing a clear philosophy and purpose is usually important for staff members, clients and outsiders in evaluating crucial company attributes for example honesty, values, equity, high quality and performance. An obvious vision
is vital towards the 'psychological contract' - irrespective of whether stated or unstated (more often than not unstated) - on which individuals (personnel, customers or observers) are likely to evaluate their relationships and purchases. There are several organizations, small and big, with contradictory and confusing basic aims. The lesson is always that philosophy or underpinning purpose - is the foundation on what leadership (approach, management, commitment, all the things) is made. If the footing is not solid and feasible, and isn't totally congruent with what follows, then every thing crafted on it is more prone to move, and at times might fall over entirely. Get the philosophy correct - stable and in harmony with the activities - and the foundation is formidable. Again, the Psychological Contract provides for a useful perspective for aligning persons and company philosophy. This of course brings about the problem of what to do when you are leading a group or company that falls short of lucidity of fundamental philosophy and purpose, and right here can be found an unavoidable difference between a leader and a manager: As the leader the obligation expands beyond leading the individuals. Legitimate leadership includes - so far as your situation enables - the responsibility to shield or refine important purpose and philosophy.—
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Six Common Tax Filing Mistakes to Avoid It’s probably safe to say handing cash to Uncle Sam does not top the list of your favorite things. When it comes to filing taxes, making a small mistake can mean paying more taxes than you need to or forking over cash to cover penalties. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to make sure your tax return is mistake-free: just take a little extra time to double check your work. Here’s a closer look at the six most common tax-filing errors and tips to help you avoid making them. 1. Mistake: Not reporting all income. Reporting your income is easy if your employer sends you a wage statement (called Form W-2) documenting what you made throughout the year. But what about the money you earned from any freelance work? Unfortunately, many people forget to report extra income from side jobs such as photography shoots, design projects and Etsy shops. How to avoid the error: Depending on how much you earned, you may receive an “information return” called Form 1099 from the institution that paid you. There are numerous 1099 forms that report different types of income earned during the year, but in some cases you may not receive the document. For example, if you earn less than $600 as a freelance writer, the institution is not required to send you Form 1099-MISC. However, you still need to include the amount earned in your total annual income so it’s important to keep your own records of each transaction. “To help accurately report your income, review 8 RuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017
last year’s return and match your income sources item by item,” says TaxAct Director of tax development, Mark Jaeger. “If you discover you haven’t received a 1099 for your work, last year’s return will serve as a reminder to ask about it. Keep in mind, all freelance or side-gig income is reported on Schedule C as part of your Form 1040.” 2. Mistake: Mistyping bank accounts and personal information. Believe it or not, incorrect bank account numbers or personal information - like Social Security Numbers - is one of the main reasons tax returns are rejected. Using a nickname or a shortened version of your legal name also lands near the top of the list. How to avoid the error: Double - or triple - check any personal or bank account information before you submit your completed tax return. “If you need help figuring out account information, don’t be afraid to ask your bank for assistance,” Jaeger says. 3. Mistake: Paying too much to file your taxes. Whether you tap a tax professional or choose a DIY tax provider that charges an arm and a leg for their product, paying too much to file your return is a mistake. How to avoid the error: Fortunately, filers have more affordable options to choose from. When looking for DIY options, do some comparison shopping. The leading tax preparation software providers offer similar features and benefits, but the price points can widely vary. In many cases, prices increase as the Cont'd on page 20
A Leader? What’s your role in an organization? By Tobby Hedges
Leadership is an action, not position" – as rightly quoted by Donald H. McGannon! Leadership is not just about holding on to a high position in the organization but it is much beyond that! Being a leader, one has a responsibility of getting the organization humming and gets it operating at high efficiency in order to meet both its short-term and long-term goals. Varied training services and leadership programs is required for a leader to perform its task and role with expertise in the organization. However, let’s take an overview of the roles and responsibilities that a leader has to undertake in the organization: -Required at all levels: Leadership is the function which is required at all the levels of the management, i.e. from top to the middle to the lower levels! On the top most level a leader is responsible for getting co-operation in formulation of the plans and policies. In the middle and the lower level, leader is required to interpret and execute the plans and programs framed by the top management. Leadership can be exercised better through various leadership development programs and courses. -Understand Human Elements: This is another important factor that a leader should consider while performing its tasks. To achieve this, a leader must carefully understand and watch every behavior of its
team members. A strong leader must know whom they can trust, seek reliable information and make decisions, often without hesitation that will have an overall effect on the direction, speed and all other future decisions. -Representative of the Organization: A leader is responsible to represent its enterprise to the public. He or she must have active participation in various seminars, conferences, general meetings and the overall growth of the company. Also, a leader is a representative of its department. -Achieving Personal as well as Organizational Goals: A leader though its leadership traits should attain his or her personal goals which will indirectly let achieve the organizational goals. A leader should reconcile and integrate personal goals of the employees with the organizational goals. He is trying to co-ordinate the efforts of people towards a common purpose and thereby achieves objectives. This can be done only if he can influence and get willing co-operation and urge to accomplish the objectives. The Injazat Institute is a leading provider of the leadership training in the UAE. They offer various leadership programs and courses in order to be an efficient leader in your organization and helps you grow at a fast pace on the ladder of success!— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 9
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By Chris D’Cruz
Through Leadership Training
How to Attract
Leadership training is very important for all companies if they want to make their leaders productive. It is usually a short term activity and they get the chance to improve how they perform, most importantly this training is not based on any form of conventional teachings but seeks to take advantage of laws of attraction to help leaders achieve success. Leaders will be trained on various topics including, how to use the different leadership methods, how to attract success, leadership traits and how to deal with challenging employees. There are various activities in which the company can use to train her leaders. How to attract success through team building It is very important to understand that laws of attraction play a big role in any team building activity, during this activity the managers may plan a team building tour where the leaders and some of their staff get to go away for a while for team building. This ensures that the leaders get to bond with their staff and know them on a personal basis. Team building is considered to be good with this because the environment is usually different and so all of them and feel relaxed to socialize easily which in effect results to an open subconscious learning process. How to attract success through public speaking This is usually a mind training on speaking in large gatherings confidently. A good leader should be bold enough to make a speech in front of a huge crowd without hesitation. Practice is important if this is to be attained and so they will do some random speeches in front of each other to achieve this suc-
cess; this enables subconscious learning through laws of attraction. Leadership training This is actual key training and the leaders have to take some time out of work to try and build this in their system. Information is available Online and leaders can read the best way they can improve their leadership styles. Online sites have adequate information on all of these methods as there are several of them. Employees can choose which ones are the best to use. It is however considered better to get a trainer who will help an individual through the steps. Personal effectiveness This trains employees on how to get leadership traits. That will help them implement all other leadership methods they train on. Stress is usually a difficult thing to deal with and without the relevant training they will find it really difficult to go through their daily activities. Leaders will have to learn ways of making decisions even when going through challenging situations. It is very important for employees to get the best training on leadership skills as we all know that good leadership is that which is passed over from one individual to another, for one to have the best of how to attract success then they must be willing to engage the power of natural laws of attraction so as to achieve such success.—
Remember the Dream AND the Dreamer... Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968
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Different Types of Leadership Styles by Steven Morgan
In business, there are many different kinds of leadership styles that a leader or manager could choose to make use of. Different styles of leadership may be more appropriate to different situations, depending on a business' goals, its industry as well as the skill-level of the staff it employs, among numerous other issues. Ultimately, picking the right type of leadership style is essential: in the most basic terms, it might help to determine the success or failure of the company. There's three main types of leadership styles, categorized by psychologist Kurt Lewin. They are autocratic, democratic and laissez-fair leadership. Below we define what they are, their pros and cons, and when they are perhaps best used in the business world. Autocratic Leadership The autocratic leadership style (a.k.a. authoritarian leadership) grants all control to the leaders, meaning that they are 100% responsible for the decision-making process. Therefore the leaders provide their subordinates with the details of what needs to be done, whose suggestions might be shunned or simply ignored. Pros: This particular type of leadership style does well in businesses and industries where fast decision-making is important, when there's no time to check with employees for their input anyway. It's also useful on members of staff who might not possess the skills or the knowhow to sort out their own work. Cons: Staff may feel unimportant and ignored, which might affect employee satisfaction and motivation. Creativity can also become negatively affected, as workers are not provided with room to innovate. Best used: When getting the job done in a certain way is much more important than staff participation and creativity. Democratic Leadership The democratic style of leadership (a.k.a. participative leadership) grants
some decision-making powers to the group (i.e. other members of staff), but in the end the final decision still belongs to the managers - staff members simply have a chance to give their opinions and recommendations to the work. Pros: Staff members should feel more wanted, with the added responsibility and the fact that their insights seem to matter. This in turn should lead to a higher standard of motivation. Cons: With more people included, decisions will take longer to implement. This may be fine when things can take time, but be more of a problem when a decision must be made in a hurry. Best used: When stuff does not have to get done immediately and innovation and creativity are important factors. Laissez-faire Leadership Laissez-faire leadership (which is also known as delegative leadership) is a fairly relaxed leadership style, giving full decision-making control to the employees. It's pretty much up to them to sort out their workload, whilst the managers neither get in the way nor closely monitor what it is they're doing. Pros: Employees will feel rather important with the high levels of responsibility, as they will be granted independence in what they do. Cons: If the laissez-faire leadership style is implemented on somebody who is not very good at managing their own work then productivity could plummet. Also, there's the issue that the leaders will look like they're lazy and that they don't want to be included in the goings-on of the workplace. Best used: When team members are sensible enough to keep on top of their work, as well as when their independence is a positive, beneficial factor, instead of them being instructed what they can and cannot do.—
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by Dennie Miranda
Create A Leadership Skills List Change Your Career Path
I feel sure you have been aware of having a leadership mindset! Successful thinking equals lucrative results! The first step to lucrative thinking is creating a leadership abilities lists. In order to change the mindset, you should include the fresh behavior down to a daily routine. Which is something you do daily without fail, so that it comes down naturally without aware thought. If you decide to take a consider whatever you have done which is lucrative, you will likely see you have developed a routine or system for it. When you execute a system, it makes existence simpler! The actions in your leadership abilities list become more automated, comfortable, plus more effective. Your routines plus actions should be built into the daily schedule. That is where you should practice self-discipline. The results are countless, whenever you have complete control over the mindset plus business; a organized plan of action! Once you have created the leadership abilities list, it should become the network marketing bible! Developing routines for achieving daily exercises plus good routines, will build those leadership abilities plus mindset you should be lucrative inside the MLM business. That is really the only way to control the behavior. A daily routine which is built around those good routines plus self-discipline is what separates the excellent achievers among you from everyone more. A plan of action, organized routine is exceptionally powerful. To create effective routines, you initially should choose what actions plus jobs should go on the leadership abilities list. Then apply them. We can't only "say"
you'll do something, you actually have to "do" it. What activities plus compounds will be aside of your leadership abilities to create worthwhile plus effective routines? Now more than ever is time to develop a leadership abilities list to create which millionaire mindset. To develop a foundation of routines aimed at achievement for the Network Marketing business. We must have two separate lists. The first list is built around individual development. How is it possible to become a greater individual, a greater student, to become a greater teacher? That is really the only way you will attract alternative opportunity seekers to the network marketing business. You must become a teacher, a web advertising coach, which will show others valuable information. Leadership Skills List Guidelines:* Become an A+ Student -first is to master you're a student today, so studying from others will be where you can compensate for the lack of experience. Look for those that shall help you become successful : * Honesty, Integrity, plus Intelligence is obviously important whenever using yourself plus other individuals who you're trying to develop a relationship with. Relationships are built on TRUST! * Create a morning plus day schedule which includes some sort of individual development plus self-discipline growth. * Figure out two key advertising tips you should focus on - Learn them inside plus away. Even if you just have thirty minutes in your lunch break. Do it! Be open plus receptive to people ready to show you. Understand which it's only as important to discover what NOT to do, as studying what TO do. You have to discover more to earn more!
* Become a Teacher - An Online Marketing Coach - Teach others valuable information which will help them personally plus professionally. Be a part model as those have been to you. Write the leadership abilities list of details to do each day. Add details to promote individual growth plus excellent appreciated activities which will benefit the business. The routines should be cast inside cement, nothing interrupts them. If you decide to happen to get off track, then only begin back at the beginning like it never occurred. This will help those routines become part of your daily routine. A business plan of action - the leadership abilities to give you to the top! We have all experienced challenges in life plus network marketing business. Not many people get it perfect the first time! It's studying from those mistakes, whether they be yours or not, that may help you develop leadership abilities to overcome those challenges plus challenges.—
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2017 NOMINATIONS CALENDAR Forty under Forty Recognizes young leaders under 40 from AL, FL, and GA March 1st-April 30th (September issue) Fifty under Fifty Recognizes leaders under fifty nationally for outstanding achievement April 30th-May 31st (July issue) Eagle of Elite Club Magazine Recognizes youth ages 5-13 for outstanding scholastic achievement in leadership, art, music, community service, and sports March 1st-April 30th (June Publication) Twenty under Twenty Recognizes youth under 20 for outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service March 30th-April 30th (May issue) Scholars of Collegiate Distinction Magazine Honors individuals of all ages who attain higher education from small communities May 1st-June 30th (August Publication) Best Small Town Restaurant Ongoing Celebrating the Women of Small Town America Recognizes women ages 18 and older for exemplary achievement and service to community April 1-May1st (Virtual Online Only) Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People A national call to recognize exemplary leaders from small communities July 1-Aug. 31st (December issue) For More Information, visit RuralLeaderMag.com.
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Can Weak People Be Strong Leaders? By Simon Oates
Is a strong personality or physique necessary to be a strong leader? Can someone deficient in many typical leadership traits actually generate a strong following? Well let’s think about the different types of leaders that currently exist, and analyze their traits to see whether power, courage, strength and confidence is actually essential to being a successful leader. Military Leaders I had to start with the most obvious - the military. With all personnel being required to pass an initial fitness test and a brutal training regime covering several months, it's plain to see that leaders in within the military system are made of strong stuff. Also noteworthy is the fact that senior military leaders have a wealth of internal experience within the military, which means that these leaders must have thrived within the very authoritarian military atmosphere. I think for this segment; we'll have to conclude that only strong reach the top. Political Leaders Let’s take a look at the absolutely essential things a politician needs to be: - Charismatic - Intelligent - Resistant to criticism I believe the latter characteristic of politicians is very often overlooked. While it's hard to draw parallels with the men and women that leader our countries, I want you to try to do so for a moment. Can you remember the last time that someone directly and harshly criticized your work? The last time that someone said something intentionally nasty or sinister to you? How did it make you feel? Well politicians live in an environment where such criticism and abuse is leveled at them on a daily basis. They take it so well that we often take for granted their extremely strong resistance to such hostility. And it's for this reason that the weak need not apply! Business Leaders
When one thinks of 'leadership', it's likely that if they're not picturing a politician - they are imagining a business person. (Probably stood in a suit in front of their workforce to complete the imagery!). Do all successful business leaders have to be strong? Well let’s just define a successful leader. A successful business leader is one who exerts effective stewardship over a company's assets, safeguarding it's future, driving growth and improving quality. Successful business leaders that will be remembered for decades to come include Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Donald Trump (Trump) and Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway). All of these individuals are household names, and have either amassed great wealth, grown a company beyond belief, or have legendary status. When it comes to physical strength, I don't believe I'd be unfair in saying none of these men will be running the next Olympics. However, when it comes to making decisions, being ruthless, or taking wild gambles - these men are the experts. Each one of these individuals has made large gambles or sacrifices in order to ensure the success of their companies. Conclusion It seems that wherever you are - leaders naturally rise to the top of organizations through competence. For those leaders bred into top political positions or handed business legacies, their rich experience from an early age helps to form their leadership skills way beyond your average education. It seems that if you want to do anything by 'half ' - you'll struggle to become a great leader. To discuss many crucial leadership topics on a leading leadership blog, check out Leadership Expert - the specialist in Leadership Styles. — GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 17
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Applying
to Your Thoughts
By Lee Werrell
Rhonda Byrnes best-selling book, “The Law of Attraction,” revealed a lot of things precisely how our thoughts establish what our way of life could very well be. The reasoning within the Law of Attraction claims that which we project straight into the universe directly comes back to us to affect our way of life either positively or negatively. It’s that old adage of, “What goes around comes around.” Developing a better life for yourself demonstrates that you should rid the mind of negative thoughts and thought process about things that are occurring or which could be imminent happenings in your own life. You develop into what you think about most of the time. Acknowledging that, you can see that your ideas probably have a primary force in your own life. So, reprogram your thought processes and you’ll change your life. That’s significantly less simple as you think. In the same way winning a gold medal in the Olympics requires time and devotion, the same is true for thinking positive thoughts so that it becomes a habit in your daily life. Here are several law of attraction approaches to turn your mind around and acquire what you wish from life: 1. Think on what you've always dreamed of. Would you like a new career? A good relationship? Slim down? Then, you should think as if it’s already there rather than the wishing and the loss you're feeling of without having those things. How would you act if you were CEO of your very own company? What sort of clothing might you wear if perhaps you were thin?
Picture yourself in those scenarios and think deeply about how exactly it might feel and how others would look at you. Feel those feelings. Keep practicing and the feelings will ultimately turn into reality if you happen to put action behind the ideas. 2. Think of emotions such as gratitude, passion and love. They are positive thoughts that could invite positive things and reactions to you. The secret here is that if something happens that’s negative in your life - while you’re thinking positive - you need to be the one to take control and simply not let the negative happenings dictate your life. 3. Create positive thought patterns. Positive thinking exercises will enable you to get more of what you want. Should you contemplate it consciously, your unconscious mind starts to create situations thats liable to bring people and circumstances that you need into your life. There are many strategies to exercise your brain toward positive thinking. Begin now to makes use of the Law of Attraction to transform your life in to the best it can be. –
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Six Common Tax Filings, Cont'd from page 8 filing deadline nears. Look for a provider like TaxAct that not only offers a low price, but also guarantees your price won’t increase if you start your Online return but wait to file later. 4. Mistake: Not e-filing. While 91 percent of tax returns were e-filed in 2016, there are still filers who file a paper return. Going the pencil and paper route often means longer tax return processing times. How to avoid the error: Electronic filing (e-filing) is the quickest and most accurate way to file your tax return. In fact, the IRS typically processes e-filed returns within 48 hours. If you’re due a refund, you’ll get it quicker if you e-file and choose direct deposit. 5. Mistake: Incorrect calculations. When the IRS receives your tax return, one of the first steps the agency takes is to check the figures to make sure they add up. Unfortunately, it’s easy to miscalculate numbers - especially if you’re in a rush or aren’t sure what to add or subtract.
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How to avoid the error: First, take your time and double check all numbers. Second, consider using DIY tax software so you don’t have to do the math on your own. 6. Mistake: Using the wrong filing status. Choosing the wrong filing status, like Head of Household instead of Single, can have a great impact on your tax rates, the number of personal exemptions you can claim, your qualifications for certain tax deductions, credits and more. How to avoid the error: Before starting your return, review the five different filing statuses to help you select the one most appropriate for your tax situation. Carefully selecting the right one will help you feel confident you’re taking the right steps to maximize your tax outcome. .—BPT
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Crystal DuBois-Taylor and her brother, Byron DuBois, are the seventh generation on their New Jersey family farm.
New Jersey-grown collard greens? Yep Seventh-generation N.J. family farm leverages technology t o produce wide variety of vegetables
Less than an hour south of Philadelphia, deep in the heart of New Jersey farm country, the DuBois family works year-round to help put dinner on the table for American families. You read that correctly - New Jersey has farm country. And the DuBois family tends a good-sized chunk of it. Marlene and Henry DuBois, along with their daughter, Crystal, and son, Byron, farm roughly 4,000 acres. Theirs is a success story hidden in plain sight, tucked behind Americans’ intertwined notions of what New Jersey is and where their food comes from. If you eat frozen or canned spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, kale, green beans, collard greens, mustard greens or turnip greens, it may be thanks to this family and its dedicated employees who toil in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey. “People think New Jersey is covered in asphalt,” says Byron, who with his sister represents the seventh generation of his family to farm in the area. “They’re wrong.” In 2016, the DuBois family certainly disproved that assumption. Among a pile of impressive statistics from the growing season, this one sticks out: The farm shipped 380 semitrailer loads, or approximately 9,500 tons, of tomatoes to the processor for canning. “I just love working in the dirt and watching the crops grow,” Byron says. “And we don’t just do
it for our family. I love knowing that what I do is helping to feed people in this country. I really take it personally that we are working for their families, too.” Technology and innovation MThe DuBois operation is a modern-day model of diversification. The family grows a wide variety of crops, including grains that are processed into animal feed. Through careful planning and crop rotation, they ensure the land is put to its best use at the right time of year. The family starts its planting season in March with spinach, a hearty, cold-resistant crop. As the weather warms, they move onto more summery vegetables, such as tomatoes and corn. Autumn brings winter wheat and more greens. All the while, as one crops comes out, another one is planted. Multiple crops of certain varieties can be planted and harvested each season, as well. Time-staggered plantings of spinach, for instance, helps ensure a steady stream of the salad staple reaches its destination. If it sounds a little complicated, it is. This large operation requires serious multi-tasking and cooperation from the entire team to keep it running. Maintaining organization is key, and that’s where Crystal comes in. It is extremely important for the 21st century grower to have precise data on the cost of doing busi-
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ness, Crystal says. To gather that information and help leverage it, she depends on AgriEdge Excelsior. The whole-farm management program combines data management, innovative crop choices, risk management and on-farm service to help growers maximize their capabilities. Crystal uses the program’s cloud-based software to keep track of each field’s input costs, including seed, irrigation and fertilizer. Once they harvest the crop, she can analyze which fields were the most profitable. She can also manage and maintain their intricate crop rotation. As multiple years of data are collected, she can make data-driven, scientifically informed choices about what to plant where and when. “You easily find out if you’re in the red or the black - and hopefully you’re in the black,” Crystal says about the technology. While the availability of this data has made it a more exact science, farming is still a passion deeply held by the entire family. The technology only strengthens it. “Farming is either in your blood or it’s not,” Byron says of his family’s multi-generational devotion to the land. “We love to do it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”— BPT
Winning the Fight Against the Dropout Rate one Student at a Time When you consider the “official” high school dropout rate in the U.S., it might not seem so bad at first; 6.5 percent of young people 16-24 years old have dropped out, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. However, you don’t have to look much closer to realize how very bad that number actually is. Or, to recognize that finding a solution is critical for the future of not only students who’ve left school, but of the country as well. That seemingly “low” dropout rate equates to more than 1.2 million students who leave high school without finishing every year, according to DoSomething.org. To put it another way, that’s 7,000 dropouts a day - one student every 26 seconds. And that “low” rate establishes the United States as 22nd out of 27 developed countries in terms of graduation rates. “In the most prosperous country in the world, we should be striving for a zero dropout rate,” says Larry Powell, retired superintendent of Fresno County Office of Education in California. “The key to ensuring every student graduates is to change the tactics the system is using to keep kids in school or get them back if they’ve dropped out. We need to address the issues that impel kids to leave school in the first
place.” What’s driving the dropout rate? Elizabeth Jaimes found out she was pregnant in her freshman year of high school. She didn’t want to leave school in her sophomore year, but felt overwhelmed being a 15-year-old mother with a full-time class schedule. Elizabeth’s situation is emblematic of a common issue that compels young people to leave school: unplanned pregnancy. According to a report published in SAGE by researchers from Texas A&M University and the Michigan Department of Education, pregnancy is one of the top family-related reasons for dropping out. Other family-related reasons include having to support their family or take care of a family member. School-related reasons for dropping out include missing too many school days, failing grades and not being able to keep up with the schoolwork. Those reasons are very different from the ones students cited decades ago, when researchers first began tracking the factors that contributed to the dropout rate. For example, in 1955, the leading causes of dropping out were marriage, a desire to work and dislike of school, according to the report, “UnGetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 23
derstanding Why Students Drop Out of High School, According to Their Own Reports.” Researchers differentiate dropout causes as “pull” and “push” factors. When students feel they can’t manage something within the school environment, they’re “pushed” out of school. When factors from the student’s personal life - such as childbirth or family needs - cause challenges, the student is “pulled out” of school. “Successfully affecting the dropout rate requires a system that address both pull and push factors,” Powell says. Solvable situations In order for Elizabeth to be able to return to school, she required help in addressing basic needs for herself and her infant daughter. Luckily, she lived near a Learn4Life center, one of 70 resource centers the nonprofit organization operates in California. The program helped Elizabeth learn on her own schedule, at her own pace, so she could manage being a mother and a student. She graduated in 2015 and is now pursuing a degree in nursing. Learn4Life’s approach focuses on serving the most credit-deficient population by supporting the whole student with non-academic services like housing assistance, food, child care and more. Learn4Life operates under California’s Alternative Schools 24 RuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017
Accountability Model program (ASAM) along with over 1,000 other district, county and juvenile programs designed to offer credit recovery to the most disadvantaged students in the state. Academically, the program centers on one-on-one instruction in a rigorous curriculum. Students work at their own pace, which allows them the flexibility to accommodate both life and educational needs. They advance in the program only when they’ve demonstrated their thorough understanding of subject matter. Intense instruction in life and professional skills, such as communication and interviewing, and hard skills like proficiency in commonly used software applications, aim to prepare students for personal and professional life after graduation. To date, Learn4Life averages an 88 percent success rate, with approximately 33 percent of its students returning to their school district, and 55 percent graduating or remaining enrolled at Learn4Life in pursuit of a high school diploma. “Learn4Life is breaking ground and making a difference with this program, but it doesn’t have to be unique,” Powell says. “This type of program could be replicated across the country to help ensure every child can get a high school diploma.” To learn more or to find a Learn4Life center in California, visit learnfourlife.org.—BPT
“Think and Grow Rich" Chapter 8 Decision-The Mastery of Procrastination By Stephania Manni
Accurate analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure, disclosed the fact that Lack of Decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure. This is no mere statement of a theory, it is a fact. Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer. The study of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes of more than a million dollars, determined that every one of them had developed the habit of quickly reaching decisions, and of changing those decisions rarely, and only after long and careful consideration. While people who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly and of changing these decisions quickly and often. The majority of people who fail to acquire enough money for their needs, are, generally, easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. They allow the social media and the opinions of others to do their "thinking" for them. Opinions are among the least valuable commodities on earth. Everyone has their own collection of opinions ready to be pushed upon anyone who will accept them. Don't let anybody sway you and make you question your decision if you know you are in the right place. If you are influenced by "opinions" when you reach decisions, you are virtually guaranteed not succeed in any undertaking, much less in that of transforming your own desire into money. If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no DESIRE of your own. Keep your own counsel when you begin to put into practice the principles described here, by reaching your own decisions and following them. Take no one into your confidence, except the members of your "Master Mind" group, and be very sure in your selection of this group, that you choose only those who will be in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose. There are people in your life who want to distract you, DON'T listen to those people instead listen to only those people who have an interest in your SUCCESS. Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often cripple one's plans through "opinions" and sometimes through ridicule, which is meant to be humorous. Thousands of men and wom-
en carry inferiority complexes with them all through life because some well-meaning, but ignorant, person destroyed their confidence through "opinions" or ridicule. You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it and reach your own decisions. If you need facts or information from other people to enable you to reach decisions, as you probably will in many instances, acquire these facts or secure the information you need quietly, without disclosing your purpose. We now live in the age of the Internet, if you are looking for information you will find a multitude of it. Unfortunately it will be of many and varied opinions, stick to the information that serves you and your purpose. Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely, know what they want and generally get it. The Leaders in almost every walk of life decide quickly and firmly. That is the major reason why they are Leaders. The world has the habit of making room for the individual whose words and actions show that they know where they are going. Indecision is a habit which typically begins in youth. The habit takes on permanency as the youth goes through graded school, high school, and even through college, without definiteness of purpose. This is one of the major weaknesses of our educational system is that does not teach or even encourage the habit of definite decision. 98% of those in the work force today, are in the positions they hold, because they lack Definiteness of Decision and the knowledge of how to choose an employer. So they simply took the first job that they found. So here's the question. Have you truly decided to have Success? Have you made the decision to be Financially Free? Financial Independence, Riches and a Desirable Business are Not within the reach of the individual who refuses to EXPECT, PLAN and DEMAND these RESULTS! As an assignment, I want you to create a vivid detailed image of one thing you would love to do if money was not an issue. When you start to create these vivid powerful images, it's going to keep you going. It will help you continue to build your business and your life. After all that is truly what you want are the memories and experiences with the people that you love, the money is simply a vehicle to get you there. If you liked this post please share it with others so they can benefit as well. — GetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 25
Five Easy Tactics for Making your New Year’s Resolution to Save Money a Reality It’s almost that time of year again - you prepare for the holidays and start thinking about what you want your New Year’s resolution to be. According to research from Nielsen, one quarter of Americans want to spend less and save more money in the New Year. If you’re one of these people, follow these five easy tips to stay on track financially in 2017. Automate payments into your savings account. When payday rolls around, it can be tempting to pocket every last dollar. But realistically, it’s difficult to save money that’s right in front if you. Instead, automate payments into your savings account before it makes it to your checking account. This way, you won’t miss it from your budget, and you’ll be on the road to staying true to your New Year’s resolution all year. Dine in. Everyone knows eating out is more expensive than dining in, but you might not even realize how often you’re doing it. When you’re on the go, buying lunch or ordering take-out, costs quickly add up. Pre-planning and preparing meals for the week ahead will not only save money but help you eat healthier at the same time. Rethink your wireless plan. Do you feel like you’re paying too much for your data? In 2017, set yourself free from your overpriced wireless plan. For only $40 a month, Net10 Wireless’ no contract cell service makes this easy. You’ll get nationwide coverage on one of America’s top four networks and the first 3 GB of data at high speeds, then 26 RuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017
at 2G*. Plus, you can make the switch while keeping your current phone and number with the Net10 Wireless Bring Your Own Phone program. “Ringing” in the New Year is all about making changes for the better, and switching your plan could save you lots in the long run. Bring the gym home. Exercising is important, but monthly gym membership fees can make a huge dent in your savings. Instead, try working out at home for a few months by following exercise videos, running outside (weather permitting) or modifying your favorite utilizing home items. If that’s not enough, try pay-per-class offerings coupled with your own exercise outside of the gym. Cut out your cable bill. Similar to spending too much on a cell data contract, your monthly cable bills could also be hindering your financial goals. How often do you really watch specialty channels anyway? Opting for monthly streaming services can cost you as low as $7.99 per month while offering the same programs and movies you love. Meanwhile, the average cable bill is $99 per month. Making the switch could save you more than $1,000 per year, which just goes to show how sticking to your New Year’s resolution can pay off. *At 2G speeds, the functionality of some data applications, such as streaming audio or video may be affected. Please refer always to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at NET10wireless.com.—BPT
Three Tips for getting the Most Out of Working on a Diverse Team Growing up, we’re constantly taught to play well with others. Did you know that skill might actually help you land a job? Nearly 80 percent of employers seek candidates who work well on a team, according to a National Association of College and Employers report. From automotive engineering to business management, odds are you’ll work alongside diverse individuals throughout your career. An article in Scientific American says, with an open-mind, diversity enhances creativity, problem solving and decision making. That goes for diversity in areas of interest and expertise, as well as race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. “The ability to thrive in a diverse environment is essential for job-seekers,” says Kristen Wahl, director of EcoCAR 3, the current Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition sponsored by the Department of Energy and General Motors. Of the thousands who’ve participated in student competitions led by Wahl, a perfect 100 percent have been hired or accepted into a post-grad program upon graduation. In the spirit of self-improvement, we’ve rounded up three tips to help you maximize the benefits of working in a diverse group. 1. Freshen up your newsfeed. In today’s connected world, information is shared continuously, across multiple platforms, like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Access to new ideas, ways
of thinking and knowledge is at our fingertips. To stay smart, you need to follow 400+ accounts on Twitter according to Bloomberg’s Tom Keene. Luckily, Twitter allows users to create “lists,” where you can curate a group of Twitter accounts in one place. Follow a diverse set of influencers, journalists and business leaders and you will start seeing daily topics, issues and news from varying perspectives. “Part of being a steward of an inclusive environment is being aware of what is going on in the world and finding out what has worked for others,” Wahl says. Wahl uses Facebook and Twitter to post stories about how EcoCAR 3 students embrace their differences. In the competition, students transform a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro into a hybrid electric vehicle without sacrificing the iconic cars performance or safety. To succeed, each team needs members from engineering, business and communications departments. Students also represent a variety of races, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations. Wahl also posts about industry trends toward globalization and diversity. She recommends also following the National Science Foundation for research findings that could shape the future. 2. Ask questions. Bill Nye once said, “everyone you meet knows something you don’t.” Working with others grants you access to different ideas, information and perGetRuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017 27
spectives. The next time your group gets together to work on a project, make a point of asking how each person feels about the project and what gave them that insight or opinion. As noted by Scientific American, in the same way that a writer and a scientist will approach a problem differently, those “different from one another in race, gender and other dimensions bring unique information and experiences to bear on the task at hand.” Not only do you stand to learn something, your members will likely appreciate you listening and giving them the space to contribute. 3. Embrace open communication. Effective communication drives positive experiences in diverse workplaces. “In EcoCAR 3, we use open communication as a tool to create an inclusive environment where all students can learn and succeed, regardless of their sex, ethnicity, background or learning style,” Wahl says. Wahl invites students to email or call her with questions. She also encourages them to work with one another through problems.
Additionally, EcoCAR 3 hosts annual fall and winter workshops where students converge for a week to meet, participate in breakout sessions led by industry leaders, and speak with EcoCAR 3 organizers in person. “While they technically compete with one another to build the best hybrid vehicle, the students actively find ways to collaborate with and help one another,” Wahl says. “They come to workshops as strangers and leave as friends.” Keep lines of communication open with your team by planning weekly get-togethers or creating a group on Facebook. Are you ready to take the next step? Join organizations that value diversity and inclusion. Most companies, colleges and organizations post a diversity mission statement you can find online. You can also find out where a group stands by asking people already involved in the organization.—BPT
If you don't like somthing,
It. If you can't change it, change your attitude.—Maya Angelou 28 RuralLeaderMag.com | JANUARY 2017
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submit resume to Rural Leader Magazine via email. Candidates will be notified Candidate must have a background promptly of application status. WANTED in Journalism or creative writing Graphic Designers Can work on tight deadlines and on assignment; Candidate must have background Internship Scope: 6 months to a year in graphic design and proficient Position is none paid. in a wide-range of design apInterested individuals must submit plications such as Adobe InDea resume' and a writing sample to sign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Rural Leader Magazine via email. Be willing to work on assignCandidates will be notified ment and on tight deadline promptly of application status. Position is none paid or may barter for free advertising Interested individuals must WANTED submit resume to Rural Photographers Leader Magazine via email. Candidate must have background in photography Candidates will be notified Be will willing to work on promptly of application status.
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