Rural Leader Magazine March 2016

March 2016

The leader's role is not to have all the ideas. It is to make sure that all ideas are heard and the best one wins.—

Chris Hawker

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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.

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Contributing Writers Kelly Callahan Time Management Expert Chris D' Cruz Entrepreneur Steve Martin Executive Coach David Shoemaker Vice President eCornell Simon Oates Author and Leadership Expert Ed Sykes Author Leadership Expert and Professional Speaker

Contents 5 The Affordable Care Act and Taxes: What you need to know 7 Visualizing Success: Six ways to set yourself apart in business 8 Big Data Roles are in Big Demand 9 Different Types of Leadership Styles 11 Volatility Next Exit: Three tips to get you through this roller coaster economy 15 Twenty Sixteen Forty Under 40 Nominations Now Open 16 Charismatic Leader-

ship Tricks that get You Further up the Career Ladder 18 Sell Yourself on Time Management 20 Changes to Watch for This Tax Season 21 Strong Leadership Starts with Communication Skills Training 23 Ten Office Organization Tips to Boost Productivity 24 Life Before Downsizing: Six Secrets to Managing Change and Creating Opportunity for th1e Future

Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com

Rural Leader Magazine, LLC 400 West Peachtree Street Suite #4-529 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 info@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-866-293-1162 Fax 866-477-8873 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 editor@ ruralleadermagazine.com— 2

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Editor’s Note

Reader's Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for the feature on Georgia State African American Chamber of Commerce. I appreciate their efforts to grow minority businesses, especially in rural areas. Keep up the great work!— Jan S. Camilla, Georgia

timely and informative.

Sandra W.— Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I appreciated the article on A Four Step Plan to Changing Careers and Becoming a Teacher. I am considering changing careers, so the article was

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for creating a wonderful outlet for leaders in small communities.— Danny W. Dothan, AL

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, What happened to the Best Small Town Restaurant Feature? Please bring this back. — Karen W. Quincy, FL

Dear Reader, As we celebrate two years of Rural Leader Magazine, we dedicate this issue to ideas, and the power of those ideas to make change personally and professionally. This month’s issue contains a number of articles to live your best life. A huge part of success is the ability to visualize it first. Learn how on page 7.

Read how to be a charismatic leader to further your career (see page 16) and how to develop communication skills (see page 21).

In order to reach your personal goals, effective use of time management and organization are essential. Learn how on pages 18 and 23.

The peak of tax season is here. We have put together several informative articles. See page 5 to learn more about what you need to know about the Affordable Care Act and Taxes. Learn more about other important changes this tax season on page 20 and more!

We are excited to announce the call for nominations for the Third Annual Forty under 40 Honors begins March 1st-April 30th. Nominations are open to residents of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Albany Technical College in Georgia will host this year’s honors luncheon.

See details on page 15.

Beginning March 30th, a national call for nominations will begin for Rural Leader Magazine’s Twenty under 20 Honors. Learn more about the qualifying criteria and more on page 26.

Enjoy the issue and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn! Regards,

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

What you do matters.

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KEEP CALM

It's Our Second Year Anniversary ...Two years and counting.

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The Affordable Care Act and Taxes: What you need to know

W

hile the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is no longer new, each year brings changes to the health care law. As you undoubtedly know, the ACA is inextricably linked to taxes so keeping up with annual changes is important. Given tax season is

now well underway, here’s what you need to know when preparing your income tax return this season.

ACA paperwork: things to know before you file Beginning each January, a variety of tax documents are sent your way. Some arrive via snail mail

and others appear in your email inbox. And while you’ve probably come to know the most common, like 1040, W-2 and maybe even Form 1099, this tax season you may receive forms you haven’t seen before: 1095-B and 1095-C (Not to be confused with Form 1095-A, which was required last

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year).

“These new forms are creating a bit of confusion for taxpayers this year. Folks simply aren’t clear about what they’re supposed to do with Forms 1095 when they receive them,” says Andrew Townsend, tax analyst for TaxAct, a leading provider of affordable digital and download tax preparation solutions. “The important thing to know is that, in most cases, you do not need to wait until you receive these forms to file your tax return. Simply check a box on your return to indicate you had minimum essential coverage throughout the year.

“You don’t even have to worry about attaching 1095 forms to your return - the IRS receives a separate copy. Just put your form(s) in a safe place in case you need to verify any information later.”

A little background In 2014, the IRS released Forms 1095-B and 1095-C as optional paperwork for employers and insurance providers. For tax year 2015, it became a requirement for every business and insurance provider to administer the forms to the IRS and the corresponding individual or employee as proof of provided coverage.

Here’s what you need to know about the three versions of Form 1095: * Form 1095-A - if you purchased health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2015, you can expect to receive Form 1095-A. When preparing your 2015 federal return, you will need to use this information to complete your income tax filing, claim premium tax credits and adjust any tax credit payments. * Form 1095-B - your insurance company will send you this form if you received minimum essential health coverage through

an employer, the government or a government-run plan such as Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, TRICARE, VA benefits, etc. * Form 1095-C - this form will come directly from your employer if it offered coverage to you through a company-sponsored health care plan.

No matter which 1095 form you get, the purpose is the same: to provide an accurate picture of the health insurance coverage you had access to throughout the past year.

However, the information provided on Form 1095-B and 1095-C varies slightly.

Form 1095-B includes details specific to your selected health insurance plan, such as the name of your health insurance provider, who the plan covered and the period during which your family had health insurance.

Form 1095-C lists the coverage options you were offered through a company-sponsored health care plan. Even if you chose not to participate in your company-sponsored plan, you will still receive Form 1095-C as proof of the options made available to you.

Keep an eye out for these forms, which should be sent to you on or before March 31, 2016.

Steeper penalties for the uninsured The ACA says that most Americans living in the United States are required to have qualified health insurance coverage.

“The good news is many people already meet minimum essential coverage requirements,” Townsend says. “However, those who didn’t have health insurance for more than two months in 2015 and did not qualify for an exemption may face a tax penalty for each month they went without coverage.”

This penalty, known as an individual shared responsibility payment, is not new this year, but the

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amount a taxpayer without qualifying insurance may be subject to pay with their 2015 tax return has changed.

The penalty, payable with 2015 returns (due April 18, 2016), is the greater of: * 2 percent of your yearly household income above the tax-filing threshold (generally about $10,300) up to a maximum cost of the national average premium to purchase a Bronze Plan from the federal healthcare exchange (also called a Marketplace) * $325 per adult ($162.50 per child under 18), but not more than $975 These costs have more than tripled since 2014 when the penalty was $95 per person or 1 percent of household income.

In 2016 they spike even higher.

If you do not meet the minimum essential coverage requirements throughout 2016, you may pay the greater of 2.5 percent of your household income or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under 18 (up to $2,085 for a family).

Help when you need it It can be challenging to stay on top of annual changes to the ACA and the related tax implications.

Fortunately, taxpayers can turn to a number of resources, including TaxAct, for help.

TaxAct provides a wealth of information about the ACA and your taxes at www.healthcareact. com. In addition, TaxAct 2015 products are updated with the latest tax law changes and ACA calculations. Taxpayers using TaxAct are guided through an easy Q&A interview that asks simple questions about their 2015 taxes and health insurance. To start your income tax return for free with TaxAct, go to www.taxact. com.—BPT

Visualizing Success: Six Ways to Set Yourself Apart in Business

More than half a million new businesses emerge onto the scene over the course of each month, according to Forbes Entrepreneurs. But even more businesses shut down than start up. Whether you're a new business owner or an employee looking to take your career to the next level, it's definitely a competitive environment. How can you differentiate yourself from the millions of others?

"Developing a purpose and setting goals to accomplish that purpose is the key to success," says Per Wickstrom, founder of Best Drug Rehabilitation and successful business leader. "As an individual, you have a unique and fresh perspective, so it's important to let that shine through."

Wickstrom offers his proven tips for setting yourself apart from the rest to reach your business and career goals: Give back to the community Never underestimate the power of giving back to your surrounding community. The local community is what helps your business grow, and giving back is immensely rewarding and valuable. From volunteer days to donation drives, there are hundreds of ways for you and your business to give back to the community.

Tell your unique story All successful people have role models and mentors from which they draw inspiration and knowledge, but it's important to continue to develop your own individual style and viewpoint. How did you get where you are today? Don't be afraid to be your dynamic and complex self.

Continue to learn Commit to learning something new each and every day. To be innovating and create new products

and services, you need to stay on top of the trends and news in your industry. Keep an open mind and always be ready to absorb as much information as you can. Being flexible and adaptable are some of the most valuable assets.

Learn from your mistakes Of course you'll never make it to the top without learning from your many mistakes along the way.

There are very few "overnight successes" in the world, and it's likely you'll spend years working towards your greatest accomplishments. When you experience a setback, don't let it overwhelm your rational thinking. Instead, let it fuel your motivation on the road to achieving your goals.

Keep productivity top of mind When collaborating with others, meetings can be both incredibly productive or a complete waste of time. Keep your meetings and brainstorm sessions compelling and energetic without letting them run too long. Put away your smartphone and other devices to focus on the task at hand.

Focus on your passion Successful entrepreneurs and business leaders are not successful because they let money drive them.

Instead, they focus on their passion and spend time working on a vision that pulls them forward. While this involves a bit of risk, every successful person must take that leap in order to develop their goals and dreams. When you visualize your success, it means you believe what you want is more than possible.

For anyone seeking validation that rehabilitation works, Per Wickstrom's success is more than enough evidence. For more information and influential tips on success, visit perwickstom.com.—BPT

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Big Data Roles are in BIG Demand

OK, quick pop quiz - what career has been crowned "the sexiest job of the 21st Century?" Actor? Model? Professional athlete? Fashion designer?

All are likely answers and all are wrong. Would you believe the answer is data scientist?

You may have never heard of a data scientist, but that's part of the reason the Harvard Business Review awarded it the title. As the world becomes more and more digital, the supply of trained professionals who understand data science remains woefully far behind. The United States alone faces a shortage of 140,000-190,000 people with analytical expertise, and 1.5 million managers and analysts with the skills to understand and make decisions based on the analysis of big data.

The demand for data scientists is so great, Intel's Chief Data Scientist for Big Data Solutions, Bob Rogers, recently hosted a panel at NYU to discuss the opportunities awaiting new and current professionals in data science. "Data scientists are having an impact on industries all across the globe," he says. "Wherever you want to work, you can get there with data science."

If you're interested in learning more about the dayto-day work of this "sexiest job of the 21st Century," here are three diverse examples of some of the data science work being done today. * Oregon Health & Science University. Medical

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research is moving in exciting new directions with the help of data scientists. Oregon Health & Science University and Intel recently announced the Collaborative Cancer Cloud (CCC), a precision medicine analytics platform designed to harness the combined potential of patient genome, imaging and clinical data from hospitals and research institutions. This data could advance scientific research and help physicians make potentially lifesaving discoveries one day. The project aims to make key technology components of the CCC open source and available to developers. * Booz Allen Hamilton. Professional sports have always been rich in player and team statistics. These statistics are now augmented by analytical models of player performance, comprehensive digital video recordings of every league event, and digital fan experiences such as fantasy leagues. Booz Allen Hamilton's data science team is delivering value in all of these dimensions of sports: on-field player performance, off-the-field team strategy, and fan engagement, by exploring and exploiting those rich data collections through open source technologies and advanced analytics algorithms. * Caesars Entertainment. One of the most famous casinos in the world is relying on data analytics professionals and analysis to improve customer Continued on page 17

Different Types of Leadership Styles

By Steve 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.

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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-afire 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.— About the Author Steve Morgan is an executive coach with t2Management Training. t2 Management Training provides numerous industry-recognized management qualifications and is one of the UK's leading executive training and coaching providers, fit for all types of managers, from CEO to team leader. For more information, visit t2ManagementTraining.co.uk/.

RAND OLPH C OUNT Y GEORGIA Community-Wide BBQ

A Community-Wide BBQ will be held Saturday, March 26, 2016 at the Day Park in Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia. An informal mentoring group called, No Excuses will sponsor the inaugural event.

No Excuses is compose of several Randolph Clay High School Alumni, including Mario Mitchel ’06, Britney Johnson ’07, Frank James ’06, Eric Thomas,

Jr., ’06, and Rashad Brown, ’06. The event will be a fun-filled family event with activities for children, free food and drinks, music, live performances, and more!

If you or your organization would like to sponsor the event or volunteer, please contact Mario Mitchell at 229-310-0237 or write to mmitchell.noexcuses@ gmail.com.—

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

-John F. Kennedy

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Three Tips to get You through this Roller Coaster Economy

The stock market is off to a rocky 2016 and experts advise we buckle up. Uncertainty around China, oil and interest rates is leading to waves of selling and a sharp decline in the market. This volatility is a reminder that we should expect the best and prepare for the worst. At the very least, we’re in for a roller coaster of uncertainty, and now is the time to get financially prepared. Here are three ways to get your money in order for uncertain times.

1. Stow away cash in an emergency fund.

You should have six months’ expenses saved in case of an emergency. And by emergency, we aren’t talking about a desperately needed wardrobe upgrade, or a European vacation to cope with a mid-life crisis. This should be money set aside to deal with life’s emergencies like layoffs, medical bills or unforeseen crucial expenses. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t saved up six months’ expenses though - according to a recent Bankrate survey, fewer than four in 10 Americans can handle expenses outside their normal budget. To get a rough goal for your emergency fund total, simply add up all recurring monthly expenses including rent/mortgage, food, gas, car payment, cable, phone, etc. and multiply by six. Try to put 5-10 percent of each paycheck after taxes to this fund, and be sure to put the money into accounts that are liquid and stable, like a checking, savings or money market account.

2. Play it safe with investing.

Investing shouldn’t entail blindly paying a stockbroker and assuming all the risk with no tangible goal for success. New investing tools have emerged that bring elite investment options to everyday Americans. These can be great assets in a tough economy. Aspiration, for example, offers strategies that limit the volatility of the stock market and invest in companies with sustainable business practices toward the environment and their own workers that make them poised for growth. Best of all, customers set their fee, even if it’s zero. Yes, you read that right - Aspiration lets investors pay them whatever they think is fair, and it can be changed at any time. If this

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sounds like a gimmick, know that Aspiration is a trusted brand that was just named one of Fast Company’s Top 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2016.

If you prefer paying an advisor for advice, Personal Capital is another new-school financial company that provides award-winning technology to help you manage day-to-day finances and investments. Personal Capital offers investment advice from licensed financial advisors, at a significantly reduced all-in management fee.

Once your portfolio is set, start investing a modest amount each month. Even $50 a month will add up over time, and that money will do you more good in the long run than one night at the bar, 10 overpriced lattes, or five deli lunches.

3. Open a fee-free bank account.

The days of big banks dominating the industry and charging outrageous fees could be coming to an end.

Convenient banking options exist that bear interest and don’t charge an arm and a leg for services. Take the Aspiration Summit Account, a checking account that offers a 1 percent annual percentage yield (100 times the interest rate you get at big banks), $0 monthly service fees, and free access to any ATM in the world. Instead of spending millions on Washington lobbyists or corporate jets for its executives, Aspiration puts that money back toward making this the best account possible for its customers. And it gives 10 percent of all its revenue to charities helping struggling Americans. Money magazine named this the “Best Checking Account in America.” Another option is your local credit union which will often have better services and fairer interest rates than a big bank.

Once your finances are in order, peace of mind can set in. A down economy is hard on everyone, but knowing you’ve taken the basic steps to save in case of emergency will pay off huge in times of need. And if the stock market never crashes and the economy only points upward, you can always use the spare cash for a down payment on that European vacation you’ve always wanted.—BPT

What you do matters.

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TWENTY FIFTEEN

Rural Leader Forty under 40 Top Four Honorees

Top to Bottom:

Alvin Williams | Charlie Cowart | Sasha Toney |Scott Curry What You Do Matters.

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TWENTY SIXTEEN Rural Leader Forty under 40 Call for Nominations Honoring Exemplary Young Leaders in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

Rural Leader Magazine is searching for 40 exemplary individuals who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. So often leaders in smaller communities are not recognized. Rural Leader 40 under 40 was developed with the purpose to recognize exclusively leaders who live and work in small communities.

Many are dedicated to making things happen in their churches, businesses, organizations, and communities. They are unsung heroes who contribute much to the vitality and sustainability of their communities. Rural Leader 40 under 40 is an effort to demonstrate the value of those contributions.

And so, Rural Leader Magazine needs your help to identify these deserving young leaders in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The call for nominations opens March 1, 2016. The deadline is April 30, 2016 for all applications.

Here’s what we’re looking for: 1. Nominee must be at least 20 and under 40 as of September 1, 2016 AND reside or work in a small rural community with a population of 15,000 or less in AL, FL, or GA. 2. Applications must be completed online or via Email by April 30, 2015.

3. Nominees can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else.

4. The selected 40 will be featured in the September 2016 edition of Rural Leader Magazine.

The top four nominees will be featured on the magazine cover. The selected Rural Leader 40 under 40 nominees will be honored with a luncheon.

The winner will be announced during the luncheon honors.

5. Selected nominees must attend luncheon honors that will be held Friday, September 2, 2016 at 11:30 AM at Albany Technical College, 1704 South Slappey Boulevard in Albany, Georgia.

6. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by Rural Leader Magazine. Selected nominees will be notified via email. All decisions final.

7. To apply, visit RuralLeaderMag.com. Or Send the information below via email by the above deadline to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 8. Information to include: Nominee’s Name, Age, Employer, Title/Position Mailing Address, (County), State, Zip Code Phone (Include Area Code), and Email Address 8A. Send a quality headshot photo of at least 300 dpi of the nominee under separate cover to editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 9. Answer the following questions about your Nominee: 1. What distinguishes your nominee?

2. Tell us about their contributions and involvement in community.

3. Describe your nominee’s professional achievements and activities.

10 Also include: Nominee/Nominator may also attach resume (3 page limit, please). Name of Nominator if different from nominee; How do you know the nominee? Phone and Email (of the nominator).—

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Charismatic Leadership Tricks That Get You Further Up The Career Ladder Chris D'Cruz

Charismatic leadership has a convincing power to inspire other people. It is a leader with its own unique charm to persuade his or her group. To be a charismatic leader, one should know how to identify the situation and step up for their team.

After viewing some of what charismatic leadership means, let's try to look a few vital tricks you need to know to achieve their charm.

First, develop a genuine interest in your subjects.

To succeed as a charismatic leader, you need to develop a genuine interest in your followers. You have to find time to relate with them at their level. Take your time to listen to their suggestions which you can easily implement to make things work. There is every need for you to show empathy to the plights of your followers. This can help you a lot in carrying them along.

Second, be sensitive to your domain. You have to be very sensitive to your domain in order to succeed as a charismatic leader. Your immediate environment should be well known to you. From time to time, you

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have to make sure you know exactly the details of what is going on in the domain or environment. This helps you to know exactly the areas to focus on when leading your people.

Third, have a vision for the people. A charismatic leader ought to have a vision for the people he is leading. It will be very difficult to the leader and for the people if no one knows where your team is heading. You have to set attainable goals and share your thoughts with your people. This gives both parties a sense of direction to look for.

Fourth, be ahead of your followers in everything To succeed in your groups endeavor, you have to take the lead for them. You have to be ahead of your followers in everything. The leader should have the knowledge and interest to discover better ways of leading the team. Your followers should see you as their ultimate person whom they can rely on every time.

Fifth, take responsibility all the time. As a charismatic leader, you have to take responsibility all the

time in any given situation. You cannot run away from your responsibilities especially when the tides are working against you. A true leader should stick to the right principles and continue to carry out the duty for everyone.

Lastly, charismatic leader should be open to change. This is what keeps us moving forward, innovative and better every time. To sum it all, it is believed that having these traits of charismatic leaders can work in an organization to boost the morale of the people and brings the company to the top for its overall performance. It also moulds the society the way they envision themselves to be.

With these attributes of a charismatic leader and if you are able to practice all these tricks for yourself, you could be one of those charismatic leaders that can lead your team to success.— About the Author Chris D'Cruz is an entrepreneur and author.

Big Data, continued from page 8

experience across its establishments. Today, Caesars can run faster and more accurate analysis to gain maximum value from all of its data sources, which improves security and the customer experience they can deliver to everyone that enters its doors.

These are just a few examples of how one of the nation's hottest professions is having an impact in industries across the country. These professionals combine technical know-how with superior communication skills, strong business sense and intellectual curiosity. If you possess all these skills, a career as a data scientist may be a great fit. Even if data science isn't the job for you, it will be exciting to see what exciting innovations big data analytics will enable us to uncover in the future.—

YOUR AD HERE

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.—

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Kelly Callahan

Sell Yourself on Time Management

Time management is important in any walk of life but maybe none more so than that of a sales person.

Their time is taken up with traveling and waiting for appointments so it is important to be able to achieve as much as possible in any given day. After all, most sales people work on commission as well of or instead of a salary and less sales means less money. So how can a sales person use time management skills to their benefit?

• Try to work a week ahead of yourself. Planning ahead means you can manage your time more effectively. If you have to have a team meeting at some point during the week make sure that is already scheduled into your planner so you can work around it.

• Be geographically aware. If you are out on the road all day attending face to face sales meetings try to plan your visits by area. This way you are spending the least amount of time possible traveling between appointments and more time doing your job – selling and making money.

• If you have to spend time in reception areas waiting for appointments, don’t just sit there twiddling your thumbs. Catch up on paperwork, write letters that have to be done, make calls and catch up on reports. This will save you a lot of time in the long run and also makes you look professional and busy.

• Always leave yourself some time free at the end of each day for planning, for dealing with unsched-

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uled tasks and for writing your reports on the day’s work. That way, the next morning you are free to concentrate on that day’s work instead of worrying about paperwork falling behind and other tasks piling up in your absence.

• Schedule your most important work for the mornings and early afternoons. That’s when you will be at your best and so will your clients. Towards the end of the day you will not be at your best and trying to snag that important client will be far more difficult and stressful.

• Do not overbook yourself. By scheduling the most important first the least important can be put by for another day or for someone else to do if necessary.

• If you are having an office day make sure you have a to do list drawn up so that you can tackle each task in order of importance, one at a time. Sales time management is an important part of your working and daily life. If you are in the business of selling, whether it is working from an office, from home, whether you are out on the road all day or in the job of telephone sales, time management is vital to your well-being, your success and, to a certain extent your health and sanity. Learning the skills of time management will bring success to your life and the benefits are endless.— About the Author Kelly Callahan is a time management expert and writer.

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Changes to Watch for This Tax Season

This tax season brings changes you should know about as you’re preparing your 2015 return and planning for 2016 and beyond. Here are five areas to keep in mind.

There’s a delayed filing date. If you’re a procrastinator filing at the last minute, this year you have more time. Because Friday, April 15 is a federal holiday, your 2015 income tax return is due the following Monday, April 18. This is also the due date to file for an extension until Oct. 15 or to make an IRA contribution for 2015.

“The due date to file your return or for an extension may also be affected by state law,” says Robert Fishbein, a vice president and general counsel at Prudential Financial. For example, if you live in Maine or Massachusetts, Monday April 18 is a state holiday and you don’t have to file returns until the 19th. But be careful, Fishbein warns, as the delayed filing date for the 2015 returns may not delay when you must make estimated tax payments.

There are new steps for fighting fraud and ID theft.

Tax return preparation software may now require you to provide your driver’s license number for the IRS and state tax agencies to combat tax return fraud.

“The rules here are tricky,” says Fishbein. “You have no legal obligation to provide that information or to have a driver’s license to file a tax return. But depending on your software, you may need to provide information to file your return. It’s possible that withholding your driver’s license will slow the process.”

Another new anti-ID theft/fraud measure is a 16-digit verification code for online filers. If the code is on your Form W-2, you’ll need to enter it when

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prompted by your tax software program. If you fail to provide the code, you won’t be able to e-file your return. “Not all Form W-2s will have the code,” Fishbein notes.

Note health care reporting changes.

Again this year you must report “minimum essential coverage,” or MEC. If you indicate so on line 61 of your Form 1040, you won’t be subject to a penalty tax. This is the first year employers are required to report if coverage qualifies as MEC, and they must send the applicable form to you by March 31, 2016.

“Of course, for early filers this means you may not have evidence of your coverage qualifying as MEC,” Fishbein says. “But assuming you know that you have MEC, you can still complete line 61 and file your return.”

If you do not have MEC, you must pay the penalty tax - currently $325 per adult and $162.50 per child, up to a maximum of $975 - for each month you weren’t covered, unless you can demonstrate you’re eligible for an exemption. Examples include if coverage is considered unaffordable (more than 8 percent of household income per person), if you had a short coverage gap (fewer than three months), or if your income is below the tax return filing threshold.

Watch for retroactive reinstatements.

Until the end of 2014, taxpayers had been permitted for some time to deduct the greater of their state income tax or their state sales tax. This helped residents of states, such as Florida and Texas, that don’t have an income tax. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 retroactively extended this provision for 2015. For those who have not tracked Continued on page 25

Strong Leadership Starts With Communication Skills Training David Shoemaker

It is often said that a business is only as strong as its weakest link. This proves to be true in today’s competitive business environment. Businesses need all of their employees to have undergone corporate development training in order to increase the overall efficiency from the lowest levels of the company all the way to the CEO. Part of bringing out the best in employees is being able to effectively communicate horizontally and vertically throughout all aspects of the business.

Communication skills training is invaluable to anybody in a leadership role. Motivating employees through engaging vocal communication will result in improved outputs with fewer resources, improving the business’s bottom line.

Business executives must understand that a passive model of leadership will not result in the most efficient outcomes, and corporate development training will help pave the path to proactive leadership. Some of the skills that leaders need to thrive in today’s volatile business environment include: Mobilizing coalitions with diverse agendas, sustaining momentum in order to execute strategy, developing and leading people through coaching relationships, and negotiating across and beyond organizational boundaries in a flat, well-networked environment. Those skills are what separate a passive, static leader from great leaders who bring the best out of their employees. Leaders have to constantly recalibrate and retool their goals and plans. Otherwise, they are doomed to repeat mistakes and lose their competitive advantage. Good leaders are not born; they come about through hard work and development of leadership and communication skills.

Building a strong, efficient working environment starts with leadership and continues down through

the chain of command. Professionals need to find a balanced approach to dealing with difficult people or conversations. Leaders must be assertive enough to avoid being taken advantage of, but not so aggressive that they alienate coworkers. Failure to properly communicate within a business can breed distrust amongst employees and decrease productivity.

Business leaders must continue their communication skills training to help foster a strong business environment. Every individual has their own agenda and it is up to the leaders to mobilize those coalitions and sustain the momentum needed to achieve goals.

Communication will help employees rally around a single goal and succeed. Vince Lombardi, Super Bowl winning coach of the Green Bay Packers, once said, “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

He was, of course, referring to football, but the same concept can be applied to a business. Like the game of football, a business is trying to get a group people to perform at their maximum capacities to benefit the business. Also, similar to the end of a game when people look up at the scoreboard, a business looks at their bottom line. A business led by an effective executive who has undergone communication skills training and corporate development training will be able to get the most out of his or her employees. The business will have optimal communication between levels and a strong working environment. The results are sure to yield a strong bottom line.— About the Author David Shoemaker is Vice President of Learning Solutions and Innovation at eCornell. For more information on communication skills training, corporate development training, or eCornell, visit eCornell.com

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Office Organization Tips to Boost Productivity Empty boxes, piles of paper, pens strewn about - everyone is guilty of office disorganization. What most people don’t realize is a messy, disheveled office space can actually dramatically reduce worker efficiency and productivity.

A staggering 98 percent of office workers say they’d be more productive at their jobs if their offices were more organized, according to a 2015 Post-it Brand Office Organization study surveying 1,000 full-time office workers. That means it’s time to get organized and these 10 simple ideas will help you tidy up your work area and stay on-task for good.

Reduce and recycle Go through drawers and get rid of paperwork and supplies you never use. Recycle paperwork and give unused supplies to coworkers or donate them to your community’s schools. If you’re never going to use these things, they’re just taking up valuable space.

Keep supplies stocked Ninety-four percent of office workers are less productive when they don’t have all the supplies they need to work. Order necessary supplies like Post-it Notes, flags, tabs, daily planners, professional notebooks and pens. Then, put colored flags on the calendar to mark when you need to re-order supplies so you’re never without the necessities.

Rethink your desktop A clean desktop is essential to productivity, however many people are guilty of having their desk covered with unnecessary items. If you don’t use it weekly, find another place for it. That means unused folders, staplers, tape dispensers, and the like can go in a drawer.

An office supply staple Despite the rise of the digital office, Post-it Notes are still an office staple. On average, office workers use 30 Post-it Notes per week. Keep these handy note pads close by so you can easily use them to mark paperwork or write your coworker a note of encouragement.

Corral pens Pens and other office extras like scissors, letter

openers and highlighters look tidy when placed in a jar on your desk. A big jar can hold everything or use smaller jars to sort each item into its own container.

Clear glass jars makes it easy to see what’s inside.

Think vertically If you’re short on desktop space, think vertically.

Walls provide ample opportunity for unique storage. One stylish and affordable option is to cut a peg board and place it in an open frame. This eye-catching wall hanging allows for easy access to office essentials.

Write it down Sixty-two percent of office workers prefer to manage their to-do list on a piece of paper rather than a computer or digital device. Write your task list on a Postit Super Sticky Note and place it somewhere you’ll see it, such as the edge of your computer monitor or the front of your notebook. This visual reminder will keep you on-task throughout the day.

Don’t sweat the small stuff At a loss for how to organize paper clips, tacks and other small office items? Small tins are a great way to sort and store these office odds and ends. Place them in drawers so they are out of sight.

Systematize folders Tackle that pile of folders in the corner and create a simple organizational system using Post-it Tabs.

Color code the folders based on your work responsibilities so each tab color is tied to a specific task or status of a project.

Cut cord chaos Are you always digging under your desk for the right cord? Black binder clips typically used to hold paperwork together are also great for organizing USB, cell phone chargers and other cables. Clip to the side of your desk and thread the chord through the metal to eliminate tangles.

Want more office organization tips? Visit Post-it. com/officeorg to tidy up and streamline productivity fast.—BPT

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Life Before Downsizing: Six Secrets to Managing Change and Creating Opportunities for the Future

By Ed Sykes

W

hat would you do if you learned your organization was bought by another organization, was downsizing, or closing its doors tomorrow? In 30 days? Six months? In one year? Are you prepared for the change? What will you do in the future?

In this ever changing world we live in, there is one constant…change. Changes are happening faster and faster. Even what is changing has a different look. Just think of the items in your life that were not available 20, 10, 5 years, or even one year ago. Just think of the iPod, cloning, DNA, etc. Why would we think our career situation will be the same in twenty years?

The same types of changes are happening in the workplace. This is no longer the world of working twenty years for the same company. Organizations are adapting to the local, national, and global marketplaces.

How do you prepare yourself for these changes?

The following techniques will enable you to master career change and create opportunities for you: Create Goals Many times when you work for an organization for a long time, you may become complacent. Constantly develop your goals. Work on goals in the areas of career, family, education, fitness, health, and spirituality. This will create balance in your life and enable you master change when it comes.

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Cast Your NETS Now! N-E-T-S means Network with Everyone for Total Success! Go out and join various industry and non-industry groups. This is a great way to spread your NETS. Volunteer and be active with these groups so that your skills can be seen and your ideas heard. This is an opportunity to develop your leadership abilities and let others know about you as a person and the skills you have to offer. As I always say: “It’s not what you know. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows what you know.”

Depending on the skills, you will be looked at as an expert. Cast your NETS and let others know what you know.

Account for Your CPA C-P-A means Creating a Positive Attitude. Create a positive attitude toward your career and life so that you will not miss opportunities when they arrive.

Look at challenging situations as opportunities that will prepare you for greater opportunities in the future. Realize that the projects you work on today will create new opportunities for you tomorrow.

Seek Knowledge Continuously seek knowledge to stay ahead of the change curve. Many times when we work with employees in organizations, we let employees know about educational opportunities that enhance their careers and lives. Sometimes, we receive the follow-

Taxes, continued from page 20 their state sales tax payments, there’s a table that provides a safe harbor deduction based on income. Also, the sales tax from the 2015 purchase of a new automobile can be added to the sales tax from the table.

Also reinstated retroactively to the beginning of 2015 is a provision allowing distributions from an IRA to be paid directly to a charity and excluded from income. “The amount donated to charity will avoid income tax,” Fishbein says. Without this provision, an individual would have to include the amount in income and take a charitable deduction that might not entirely offset the income amount. This provision is available up to $100,000 of charitable donations in a calendar year. You must be 70 ½ or older and required to take IRA distributions.

Roth recharacterizations may affect you.

If you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in 2015, and if the converted investment has declined in value, you can recharacterize that amount and not pay income tax on an amount greater than the current value. “The law allows this type of ‘do over’ option when you convert to a Roth IRA,” Fishbein explains. “For a 2015 conversion, you must recharacterize on or before Oct. 15, 2016 and not convert again to a Roth IRA until 2017.”

Prudential Financial, its affiliates, and their financial professionals do not render tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your personal circumstances.— Prudential Financial Inc. Newark, NJ 0288797-00001-00

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ing response: “If the company isn’t going to pay for the class, then I am not going to take it.”

Folks, we gladly spend (spend as in purchasing something with decreasing value) money on cable TV, DVD’s, etc. However, when it comes to investing in our education, we often say no.

Keep in mind that once you receive your knowledge, its your knowledge, and you take it wherever you go. Additional knowledge gives you the confidence to meet challenges and embrace opportunities.

Take the time to find out what benefits and educational opportunities your organization is offering and take advantage of them. Do it today. Seek knowledge and grow!

Relax and Downsize Your Life Take the time to downsize your lifestyle. Often when we receive a raise, we buy a bigger car or house, buy additional items on credit, etc. That has become the norm in the “super size me” society. As the comedian George Carlin says, “We have become a slave to our stuff.” Think of ways you could downsize your lifestyle if you were faced with a career or life challenge tomorrow. Then act on it before it acts on you.

By downsizing, you will experience the following benefits: -Take back control of your life -Reduce stress -Allow more time for family, hobbies, and communi-

Congratulations!

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26 RuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2016

ty work. Also, it will allow you to take advantage of a new career or business opportunity, one that maybe you have a real passion for, without being as concerned about “will this job pay my bills.”

Connect with Your Change Barometer Look inward or ask a good friend or family member how you handled change in the past. Ask the following questions:

a. How did you feel?

b. What did you look like?

c. How did you react (or not react)?

Ask for honest feedback and take the information to learn how to handle career change and challenges in the future. It’s okay to feel a certain way during the challenge of change. It’s not okay to stay there. Also, understand that everyone handles change differently.

So respect your co- workers’ feelings.

Take time to act on these change management six secrets, and you will master downsizing and layoff challenges in the present and create future opportunities.— About the Author Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and leading expert in the areas of leadership, motivation, presentation skills, customer service, and team building. Write to esykes@thesykesgrp.com or (757) 4277032. Visit online at TheSykesgrp.com, and signup for the free newsletter, OnPoint.

P U B L I C S E RV I C E ANNOUNCEMENT

The Department of Transportation has maintenance opportunities for businesses in Georgia for highway systems. Contracts available total nearly $200 million annually or more. These contracts are available for any qualified contractor. Small businesses, veteran-owned and DBE firms are encouraged to pursue this opportunity. Interested firms must be registered in the Georgia Procurement Registry and qualified for the work type anticipated by the contract. Solicitation for right-of-way maintenance, pot hole repair, and other similar opportunities.

For more information, contact the Georgia State African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. at 229-431-3157 or visit http://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/team-georgia-marketplace.

T W E N T Y S I X T E E N National Call for Nominations   We value the efforts and contributions of youth in small rural communities nationally and abroad. Therefore, Rural Leader Magazine will feature 20 deserving individuals under the age 20 in its June 2016 edition. The 20 under 20 honor was first bi-monthly beginning with our March 2014 issue. The response was overwhelmingly positive response, so we decided to dedicate an entire edition to the Under 20 Honor. The call for nominations is open March 30th through May 1, 2016.

Below is a list of criteria.

1. Nominee must be under the age of 20.

2. Nominations open to residents in United States and abroad.

3. Nominee must have demonstrated exemplary scholastic achievement, leadership, and community service.

4. Nomination application must be completed online prior to the above deadline at RuralLeaderMag.com.

5. A completed and signed Parent Release form, for nominees under the age of 18, and a quality head shot photo (at least 300 dpi in JPEG format) must be submitted under separate cover to 20under20@ruralleadermagazine.com no later than May 1, 2016.

Nomination application cannot be processed without the applicable release form and head shot photo.

6. The nominator will be notified via email if his or her nominee(s) was chosen.

7. For a parent release form and additional information, write to 20under20@ruralleadermagazine.com or call 1-866-293-1162.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2016 27

What You Do Matters.

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