Rural Leader Magazine May/June 2015

MAY/JUNE 2015

Authentic Leadership: Fad or Salvation• Finding the Hole in the Boat Modern Office: Why a Diverse Workforce Works • Creative College Savings

Special Feature: Your Attitude, Your Choice by Jerry Ackerman •Three Simple Steps to Reduce Your Taxable Income•

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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.RuralLeaderMagazine.com Guest Contributors Jerry Ackerman Motivational Speaker Ted Bauman Editor The Sovereign Investor Daily

5 Special Feature: Jerry Ackerman: Your Attitude, Your Choice 6 Modern Office: Why a diverse Workforce Works 9 How Self Confidence Impacts Your Leadership 10 Authentic Leadership: Fad or Salvation?

John Denico, PhD Founder and President LeadSimm, LLC

13 In Hard Financial Times the Soft Skills of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Matter Even More

Chris Dixion Founder and Director Growing Edge Limited

16 Three Simple Steps to Reduce Your Taxable Income

Shaun Killian Author and Educator

18 Finding the Hole in the Boat...

Cecile Peterkin Certified Career, Life Coach, and Speaker

20 Need a Fresh Look for Your Company? Try a new logo

Readers’ Forum Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMagazine.com— 2 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

21 Stepping up the Fight Against Identity Theft and Data Hacking 23 Five Stunningly Simple Secrets to Creating the Career You Want 25 Busted: The truth about top cellphone myths costing you real money 28 Creative College Savings: Unique scholarships to help offset rising costs 29 The New SAT: What parents and students need to know to prepare 30 Financial Management Tips for Adult Learners going back to college 32 Green Living Tips: Recycling while cleaning 33 Classifieds

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Editor’s Note

Photo Courtesy of TieFotos

Dear Readers, Throughout the past several weeks, we have been busy collecting nominations for 2015 Rural Leader 40 under 40 Honors! The chosen forty will be announced in the coming weeks. Honorees will be recognized Friday, September 4th in Americus and featured in the September/October issue of the magazine.

Inside this edition, we feature a compilation of leadership best practices regarding attitude, self confidence, and diversity to list a few (See pages 5, 6, and 9).

In this issue, we also feature valuable information identity theft (See page 21) and financial tips for adult students returning to school (See page 30). There is also a feature on the new SAT (See page 29) and Creative ways to offset college costs (See page 28). And much, more!

Finally, we have started a GoFundMe Campaign to take this publication local! Check out the details here! Thank you in advance for your support!

Happy Reading!

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

Reader's Voice

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you, thank you, thank you! for the Twenty under 20 Feature. I was refreshing to see young folks from our next of the woods highlighted.

—Ann W. Cuthbert, GA

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I appreciated the article, Head of the Class. My daughter will graduate high school in a few years and this information was extremely informative.

—Rebecca S. Richmond, VA

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I really enjoyed the article about How to Become Data Smart. I willdefinitely use the tips!

—Ben W. Quincy, FL

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for another great issue!

—Fred A. Dothan, AL

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I so love this magazine!

—Dan A. Jackson, MS

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for the feature on Mrs. Kourtney Shelley. I am glad this publication highlights the great people in small communities.

Please do more features in the near future.

—Chris S. Selma, AL

Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I would love to see Dr. Murphy's artwork featured in a upcoming issue.

—Darren K. Atlanta, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, What Behavior Limits You was an exceptional article. It is important to reflect and to assess self continually. —Erica L. Seattle, WA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Loved the 20 under 20 feature, and I cannot wait to see the 2015 Forty under 40! I am a loyal fan of this publication!

—Tasha J Nashville, TN

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Your Attitude, Your Choice

By Jerry Ackerman

Your attitude is your choice. Each one of us wakes up with the same 24 hours. Each of us begins every week with the same 7 days. Each of us was born by someone, somewhere. Your attitude each and every day is determined by you regardless of whatever else may be happening, has happened, or will happen.

We all have the same time every day and we all have the same choice – what is my attitude going to be? From your work life to your home life, your attitude is reflected to the masses. Based upon how you treat others, how you talk to peers, how you respond to authority, others decide what they think of you.

The question that begs an answer from each one of us is, “Will I be a person that has an ‘I can’ attitude regardless of my current situation or will I have an attitude that is dictated by that circumstances that surround me?”

For many of us, our attitudes are driven by situations rather than having an attitude that rises above the situation. In your workplace, what do other people think about you? What would others say about your attitude? One experiment that I have always thought would be interesting is to have your closest co-workers gather into a room and share a one word definition for each person. Do you think those you work with could give a one word definition for you? What would it be? Would you be appreciative or offended by the choice of words? Whatever the case, here is the truth; most times what people say is correct and what they say is mostly a result of the attitude they see in you. Attitude is judged quickly.

When you meet someone new, you often determined what you think of that person before they

even begin speaking. You might think, “I am not that shallow; I measure someone up before I make a determination.” Really? Have you ever watched people at the mall as they walk by? Have you ever made a judgment about them from what they were wearing, who they were with, or what they did? The answer for most of us is a definite “yes.” If that is indeed the case, how much more do the people you work with have a pulse on your attitude as they work with you day in and day out, week in and week out, month after month?

What is your attitude today? Is your attitude showing those around you that you are confident, poised, and in control? Are you allowing your attitude in that situation to control you and, ultimately, bring you further down the path of disappointment and discouragement? Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

How profound.

Your mindset going into a situation, a relationship, a project, or your workplace is often determined by mindset you have going into that situation. The choice is yours; the result is from your choice. Live with an attitude of expectancy. Of hope. Of joy. After all, your attitude is your choice. — About the Author Speaking to teenagers, adults, and children - Jerry's gifts allow him to relate and connect with any audience regardless of age. His down-to-earth style is engaging, humorous, practical, and passionate. Visit http://www.jerryackerman.net for booking information, client reviews, and video samples RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 5

Modern Office: Why a Diverse Workforce Works

instance, a workforce comprised The shifting demographics of of people all of the same age and the United States are becoming background would be limited, increasingly important for employers to consider when building as they generally share similar cultural and life experiences. In a productive workforce. contrast, the varying perspectives More than 50 percent of the of a team comprised of different working-age population will be ages, genders, races, nationalities, made up of minorities by 2039, sexual orientations and thinking according to the U.S. Census styles can result in more creativity Bureau. Now more than ever, a and better problem-solving. workforce’s accurate reflection of Recently Staples, along with 378 the evolving populace is not only other employers and employer a key to structuring an inclusive organizations, signed an amicus office culture, but it also makes brief, urging the Supreme Court great business sense. Staples, a to strike down state bans on gay leader in workplace diversity, marriage. State laws that prohibit offers the following commentary and tips on how to foster a culture or decline to recognize marriages of inclusion. between same-sex couples hinder employer efforts to recruit and A diverse workforce makes more knowledgeable and effective retain the most talented workforce possible in those states. The sucdecisions cesses of companies like Staples, Various backgrounds, skill sets which has earned a perfect score and experiences all contribute on the Human Rights Campaign’s to sound decision-making. For 6 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

Corporate Equality Index for the last five years, depend upon the welfare and morale of all employees and such differential treatment creates unnecessary confusion, tension and a significant burden on both employers and employees.

“We see the power of diversity as a competitive advantage and strive to realize its full potential by leveraging the unique talents and strengths of our associates” says Erika Hopkins, director of workplace inclusion and diversity for Staples. “When diversity is enabled by a culture of inclusion, associates feel respected and valued, allowing them to perform at their peak every single day, resulting in better innovation, idea generation and organizational performance.”

An inclusive workplace improves performance When employees feel valued and respected, they perform

better. Having an inclusive work environment where employees can feel comfortable being themselves without losing any part of their identity will result in exponentially improved performance. This increase in each individual’s performance has the collective effect of significantly better organizational performance. One effective approach to establishing an inclusive culture is through employee groups that focus on a specific aspect of one’s identity and are open to any interested employee. These groups provide employees with an opportunity to celebrate their uniqueness and create a greater awareness for the entire organization.

To encourage company-wide participation, the groups are internally supported by company executives. For instance at Staples, there are executive sponsors for every Associate Resource Group. Specifically, Vice Chairman Joe Doody is the sponsor for “Women Who Lead,” whose mission is to build a thriving community of female associates. The group routinely engages its members with developmental, networking and community-focused events. Partner-

ing with Friends of Families in Transition, they organized a collection for homeless families, filling gift bags for over 340 people. Events like these empower not only the group of diverse employees, but the rest of the office and surrounding communities as well.

They are also a great way to showcase the diversity present within a business while also being a tool to promote engagement among the overall workforce.

Diversity and inclusion - a powerful combination When both diversity and inclusion are present in the workplace, the organization is better equipped to live up to its full potential. This powerful combination can be a real differentiator in the marketplace. If your organization wants to thrive in the 21st century, you can’t ignore the rapidly evolving cultural landscape. Businesses should strive to see the faces of their customers reflected in the faces of their employees. Organizations that build their external brand as diverse and inclusive will be better equipped to hire and retain talent as well as win new customers and satisfy existing ones.—BPT

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How Self Confidence Impacts Your Leadership Coaching clients in senior roles is often necessary because they lack self confidence. As a result, they are not seen as leaders.

Instead, they all seem to have one quality in common. They all have a fear of making the necessary decision required of their position.

Self perception affects everyone in both their personal and professional lives. However, for individuals in positions of authority, it’s important to understand how self confidence impacts your leadership.

Why Self Confidence is Vital in Leadership People tend to gravitate toward those that possess self confidence.

If the supervisor is confident in his/her decisions, the subordinates are more likely to concur. Without this attribute, the internal structure of any business will degrade, as employees start to second-guess the management. It can lead to strife in the workplace and the loss of valuable human assets.

An individual with self confidence does not know all the answers or "lords it over" employees. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Self-confident leaders build up others and find satisfaction in their workers’ personal and professional growth. Their strength is in helping others become successful. A person with self confidence is: * Able to admit mistakes and learn from them. * Able to take risks to achieve more. * Able to do what is right, despite the lack of popular opinion. * Able to accept compliments graciously. * Unwilling to seek out personal accolades.

Self confident leaders are a

By Cecile Peterkin

pleasure to work for, because they are more interested in developing a cohesive and well-ordered work environment. The employees work well together, stress is minimized, and employees are encouraged to excel and use their strengths to improve productivity and achieve their career goals.

How to Build Self Confidence Although there is no magic pill for building self confidence and it doesn’t happen overnight, you can achieve this personal and professional goal, if you make the effort.

It will not be easy. You will basically have to change the way you think and develop a new personal perspective.

Begin by acknowledging your achievements. Instead of dwelling on your mistakes, think about all that you have accomplished over the years both personally and professionally. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself a mental pat on the back. Recognize the effort and hard work it took to get you where you are today.

Next, consider your strengths.

Where do you excel both personally and professionally? Everyone has areas in which they need to improve. But, you don’t dwell on your weaknesses. You concentrate on when you are at your best.

Think about your goals. What do you want to achieve? Where do you want to go in your personal life or in the workplace? Consider what you need to do, in order to get there.

Now, it’s time for the really hard part. In order to build self confidence, you must learn to manage your mind. Do not dwell on the negative self-talk. It’s time to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. Catch yourself, when you start to dwell on your weaknesses. Stop. Then, go back and think about your accomplishments, your strengths, and how you are going to achieve your personal and professional goals.

With practice, you will build the self confidence necessary to excel in leadership within the workplace.— About the Arthur Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career, Life Coach and Speaker.

Feeling stuck in middle management or mid career? For more information, visit http://www. cosmiccoachingcentre.com/

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Authentic Leadership-Fad or Salvation?

By Chris Dixon

The credibility of CEOs has had the biggest decline in the 12 year history of the Edelman Trust Barometer from 50% in 2011 to 38% in 2012. The credibility question: "Who is credible enough for you to believe?" was posed to a group known as the "informed public" aged 25-64 years of age, spanning 20 Countries. There is without doubt a mismatch in the "informed public's' perception of business: they expect (67%), as one of the drivers of success for a business, that treating employees well, would be important, but when asked how businesses were actually doing on this driver, only 27% felt businesses were doing this well.

Perceived factors in this mismatch of expectations are: • Poor management (29%) • Unethical Business Practices (28%) • Shortcuts that lead to poor quality (21%) We are certainly going through tough times; there is no doubt about this. But, what can we do? Quite a lot, actually! The term Authentic Leadership may have some answers for us. Authentic Leadership is not a new way of thinking about leadership. In fact I would say that it is more of an amalgamation of the best, drawn from the leadership models of the past.

In this way Authentic Leadership is not a fad but could be the salvation that businesses are looking for, if they wished to resolve some of the concerns highlighted above.

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Authentic Leadership is not the 'guru' model of leadership where an organization's salvation comes solely from the top. Authentic Leadership can be practiced by leaders at all levels of an organization.

And let's face it - the success of an organization is not the result of a single leader but the result of many leaders throughout the organization.

What is Authentic Leadership? From the Greek word 'Authentikos' meaning "genuine, principal"conforming to reality and therefore worthy of trust, reliance or belief. Authenticity is: • Knowing who you are & what you represent • Consistency between values, words & actions around a known purpose • Facing business life 'as it is' to keep it real • The open & honest expression of what is important and matters • Courage & conviction to remain true to fundamental beliefs Authenticity is not: • Vague ideals to be the best or a 'holier than thou' sanctimonious attitude • Sentimentality that bares all to the world.

The Value Authentic Leadership brings to answer this we can look to the old adage of: 'People join organizations, but leave managers'. Accenture conducted their own internal research and identified that 80% of employee engagement - the difference between people coming to work and doing an adequate job, and people coming to work and really giving of

their best, displaying creativity and using their initiative - was down to line managers. Engagement can be seen as ultimately about performance. If individuals are performing at the top of their potential, then it makes sense that teams, departments, organizations will be more effective.

Overall, performance will be improved. Who would not want that? I can relate to an example of an authentic leader that I had the pleasure of working with some years ago. What stood out for me was that you knew exactly where you were with him. He had high standards and held me to account, via an excellent management practice, whilst he set a high bar for me to achieve I knew that he was there with me. Interestingly, I believe he may even have inspired the name of my company 'Growing Edge' as it was at the edge of my capability that the true growth in me came. I continue to share his simple but effective practice of holding me to account on my development programs.

What he created was a high performance environment where I felt stretched, energized and encouraged to achieve my best. He was someone that you knew would remain consistent over time and generated a sense of importance and value in the work that I was doing. So why did I leave? Well, the authentic leader was an internal client and not my line manager, who had a subsequent Performance Management conversation with me that went something like this:

"Chris, I see you and the rest of the team as equally effective performers so I'm giving you all a 3, well done!" Honestly, even differentiating my performance negatively compared to a peer would have been better. I went home deflated, discouraged and disheartened.

Authentic Leadership in Action What the authentic leader did, that my line manager failed to do - due to their desire to not ruffle feathers and therefore, not be authentic - was, to borrow a phrase from Kouzes and Posner's book The Leadership Challenge: encourage the heart. Not in a touchy feely way of management but applying the essentials of good leadership by focusing on clear standards, expecting the best, paying attention and personalizing recognition. Without authenticity you can never develop trust. Without trust, you will never develop people. Without people you will never develop a following. And without followers, you have no one to lead. Authentic Leadership is certainly not a fad and could well be your salvation. Be authentic and you will lead well! —BPT About the Author Chris Dixon is the founder and managing director of Growing Edge Limited. Growing Edge is a Leadership & Management Development consultancy based in Hong Kong with a reach in Asia operating at the individual, team and leadership level. For more information, visit GrowingEdgeLimited.com.

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In Hard Financial Times the Soft Skills of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership Matter Even More

By Shaun Killian

  In these times, whether you are trying to save your company or your career, the soft skills of emotional intelligence pay hard dividends. There is ample evidence linking emotional intelligence to effective leadership. Emotional intelligence is arguably the hottest topic in leadership development.

There is also research conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership that shows how a lack of emotional intelligence underpins the most common reasons for career derailment. Clearly emotional intelligence matters. Yet, despite this well established fact, there is little practical guidance on how to actually become a more emotionally intelligent leadership. This article, written by the Australian Leadership Development Centre

team, will give you the guidance you need. To become a more emotionally intelligent leader you need to: 1. Accept the role of emotions in the workplace 2. Understand how emotions work 3. Become more aware of how you feel 4. Develop your ability to master your own feelings 5. Become better at reading how other people feel 6. Start using the universal language of emotions to talk those you lead Accept the Role of Emotions in the Workplace   People are emotionally driven creatures. As a leader, emotions affect your own personal actions and the actions of those you lead.

Emotions underpin many of our choices and they affect the quality of thinking. Any attempts to relegate the place of emotions in the workplace behind the more acceptable roles of logic and reason are grounded in a delusional view of reality. The first step in becoming a more emotionally intelligent leader is to accept, and even welcome, the fact that emotions are a central aspect of organizational life that can work to help or hinder performance.

Understand How Emotions Work   Trying to become a more emotionally intelligent manager without first understanding how emotions work is like trying to diagnose a patient without ever having attended medical school.

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Many people think that emotions are nothing more than irrational forces that should be subdued. In fact, emotions are both logical and predictable. You feel an emotion in response to something that has happened. When you lose something of value you feel sad. When someone has done you wrong, you feel angry. When you are threatened by the possibility of something bad happening in to you in the future, you feel worried or scared.

In fact, all primary emotions (i.e. happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, disgust, belonging and interest), have universal and logical causes. We also know that different emotions promote different forms of thinking and prime us to react in ways that are good for our survival. For a better understanding of emotions, visit my free hot list on emotional intelligence for managers at Squidoo.com/emotional-intelligence-1.

Become More Aware of How You Feel This does not mean obsessing about your feelings.

Rather, it means being able to put a precise label on your feelings at given point in time, and to be conscious about the impact of that feeling on yourself and others. You can start to build your emotional awareness by getting in the habit of asking yourself how you feel several times each day. This may sound simple, but with the many competing demands on your time, it not likely to be easy.

To help you decide upon the best label for your current feelings try these 3 steps. First, decide which of the eight primary emotions (listed in pint 1) best describe how you feel right now. Then, think about

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which words accurately describe the intensity of your feelings (e.g. annoyed and enraged reflect different levels of intensity within the primary emotion of anger). Finally, think about the impact that emotion has on you and others.

What is the emotion prompting you to do (e.g. to stand up for yourself, to act now in order to stop something bad from happening, to pay closer attention or to reach out to others for support)? How is this feeling impacting on your thinking? Generally, happy moods facilitate creative, big-picture thinking, while more sombre and apprehensive moods help us to critique whatever is before us. What impact does your mood have on those around you? Anger sparks fear. Other emotions, especially when expressed by a manager, trigger mirror neurons in the brain. Like sparks like, happy managers induce happiness in others, sad managers induce sadness in others etc.

Develop Your Ability to Master Your Own Feelings While you should always acknowledge emotions, and consider their value, there will be times when you decide that your feelings are hindering rather than helping your leadership. Suppressing emotions does not work and the mental effort involved actually hinders your performance. To manage emotions, you actually need to change the way that you feel – not just slap on a happy face. There are two ways to do this. The first involves harnessing the power of memory. When we remember an emotionally charged experience from our past we re-experience the feelings we felt at that time. If you want to feel more confident, think of time in your life when

you felt incredibly proud of what you had achieved.

If you want to feel happy, think of time when you felt on top of the world. Actors use this method to help them get into role. To be truly effective, you need to step back into the experience and recall as much vivid detail as you can. The second way that you can change how you feel involves reframing the experience that has led you to feel the way you do right now. Quite often, when we feel strong disruptive emotions, we have skewed perspective of the situation at hand. Our skewed perspective feeds disruptive feelings and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Reframing involves seeing the situation from a more accurate or a more helpful perspective. Threats become opportunities to be seized, weaknesses in one context become strengths in another and catastrophes become temporary setback on the eventual toad to success. One proven way to help you reframe your experience is to write about it for 20 minutes non-stop. While writing, use lots of cause and effect words (e.g. because, as a result, therefore) and ask yourself questions about the validity and usefulness of your views. Then, at the end of such an exercise, use the memory technique to replace the ill feeling with a more helpful emotion.

Become Better at Reading How Other People Feel Armed with your enhanced understanding of what causes different emotions, you can predict how they feel by listening carefully to their perception of the situation at hand. This ability to read between the

lines works both ways. If you are able to identify how they feel, you already know a great deal about what happened (or least their perception of it). You can complement this ability to read between the lines with increased attentiveness to non-verbal cues – particularly tone and facial expression. Slow, monotone speech is indicative of sadness and boredom, while happy people speak in more lively tones.

A terse and abrupt manner is indicative of anger, while ascending tones are associated with surprise.

Facial expression is even more reliable, especially the involuntary micro-expressions that cross a person’s face before they have time to consciously mask how they feel. Paul Ekman is the authority on these micro-expressions and you can undertake some simple online training called METT online. Just Google Paul Ekman METT. Empathy.

Start using the Universal Language of Emotions to Talk Those You Lead It is actually easier than you may think. First, talk from the heart and put some expression in your voice. When we truly feel the words we speak, that feeling comes through. It also follows that you should not say anything that you do not really mean or feel.

This is why emotional mastery is so important. As well as talking from the heart, you must learn to capture the hearts of those you are talking to. People like to feel appreciated and valued. They like a challenge and to know how well they are doing. Further, they like to feel in control of a future that they are creating RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 15

for themselves. By stepping into the emotional shoes of those you lead, you can shape your words in a way that resonates with those you are talking to. This can be as simple as ‘thank-you’, or far-reaching as a vision communicated as a solution to their challenges. In these hard financial times, developing soft emotional skills of leadership is more important than ever. — About the Author Shaun Killian (MLead, MEd) is an experienced educator and author. In 2007, Shaun chaired the National Summit on Leadership & People Development.

Shaun is also guest columnist for The Australian, a partner with the Australian Leadership Development Centre at

Three Simple Steps to Reducing Your Taxable Income

By Ted Baumann

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”— Albert Einstein Albert was right: The U.S. tax code is absurd. In 1913, it was 400 pages long. Since then it’s exploded to 73,954 pages of complex language designed to extract as much money as possible from your wallet. Who reads all of that? No one. The code is so complex that U.S. tax preparation is one of the major growth industries … not just in America, but globally. But while the tax man is determined to get his pound of your flesh, there are some important escape hatches for Americans. It may be 16 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

too late for 2014’s tax year, but there’s plenty of time to prepare for next year … if you start now.

1. The Golden Rule: Reduce Your Taxable Income The fundamental element of any short-term tax strategy is to reduce your taxable income for the calendar year. There are three basic ways to do this. 1.

Gifting Property acquired by gift or inheritance isn’t included in the taxable gross income of the beneficiary. That makes gifting an ideal way for a family to save tax.

For 2015, you can make tax-free lifetime gifts and bequests of up to $5.43 million. (For gifts or bequests to U.S. citizen spouses, the lifetime limits don’t apply.) Due to the concept known as “portability,” a surviving spouse can use a deceased spouse’s unused gift/estate tax exclusion. You could allocate some of your estate to your heirs, perhaps by creating a tax-deferred offshore private insurance policy.

Bear in mind that the first $14,000 (or $28,000 per married couple) that you gift in 2015 is tax-fee, and doesn’t apply towards your lifetime limit. Payments made on behalf of another person to an educational institution for tuition, or to a medical provider for medical costs (including insurance), are also excluded from the gift tax, and don’t affect your lifetime cap. You might pay the tuition of a friend’s child, or the medical expenses of an employee. Although President Obama wanted to take it away, you can also still contribute to Section 529 education savings plans up to the annual exclusion amount. Money in these accounts grows and can be withdrawn taxfree, provided it is used to pay for college and related expenses. Keep in mind that if you make a gift of anything other than cash or marketable securities, you need to get a professional appraisal, especially if it’s a hard-to-value asset, such as real estate or a share in the family business.

2. Maxing out your retirement contributions One of the best ways to reduce your taxable income is to max out your retirement contributions. Here’s a summary of the maximum contributions for 2015: 401(k) and 403(b) Plans: Max = $18,000. Persons 50 and older can contribute an additional $6,000, for a total of $24,000. SIMPLE IRA: Max = $5,500. This jumps to $6,500 if you are age 50 or older. If you have an employer retirement plan, however, the deduction for IRA contributions is being phased out for modified adjusted gross incomes between $61,000 and $71,000 in 2015 (double that for couples). Unlike 401(k) contributions, which generally need to be

made by the end of the year, IRA contributions can be made up until the tax filing deadline in April 2015 — that means Wednesday SEP-IRA: Max = 25% of compensation up to $53,000. If you’re self-employed and have a SEP-IRA plan, the maximum contribution has increased by $1,000. The amount is limited to the lesser of 25% of your income or $53,000. Roth IRA Max = $5,500: You can make Roth IRA contributions until your income is between $116,000 and $131,000 in 2015 ($183,000 to $193,000 for couples).

If you’re over age 50, there’s a $1,000 catch-up contribution.

3. Juggling money An oft-overlooked way to reduce your taxable income is to shift earnings into the following year or next year’s expenses into the current year. This reduces your adjusted gross (i.e., taxable) income.

For example, if possible, defer some 2015 income until 2016. There are many items for which you may be able to control timing: consulting income, self-employment income, real estate sales, gain on stock sales, other property sales and retirement plan distributions. On the expense side, you can prepay 2016 state and local income taxes, take losses on stock sales (up to $3,000 in net losses) and prepay 2016 real estate taxes, anticipated mortgage interest, margin interest and charitable contributions.

So there you have the three steps to reduce your taxable income …plan now for tax savings this time next year.— About the Author Ted joined The Sovereign Society in 2013. As an expat who lived in South Africa for 25 years, Ted specializes in asset protection and international migration. Read more of what he has to say about the government’s growing power at TheSovereignInvestor.com/.

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Finding the Hole in the Boat: The Four Essentials of Strategic Thinking

By Dr. John Dentico

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Is your organization spending too much time seemingly rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? Are the senior decision makers consistently voicing the need to make substantial change in the face of a complex and dynamic environment yet no real change takes place? Is the organization spending a great deal of time planning strategically but the answers to the questions keep coming out the same? Perhaps the problem is not with the answers, but with the questions. Perhaps strategic planning, a management process, is inappropriate for finding the path to change. Instead what is required is a leadership process, such as strategic thinking, that calls into question all the questions being asked.

Looking for the Right Questions Simply stated, if an organization does not do strategic thinking before it does strategic planning, it is the same as rearranging those deck chairs. Why? Because in the end no one really cares where the deck chairs are positioned on the lounge deck if there is a great big hole in the boat, i.e., the big hole in the boat presents a much more pressing problem. Strategic planning is about finding the right "answers" to questions. In strategic planning the questions already exist, they have been decided. On the other hand, strategic thinking is an imaginative process designed to assure that key decision makers are asking themselves the right questions. Strategic thinking does not start with a set of questions.

It starts with the proverbial clean sheet of paper. Decision makers form no preconceived questions, disregard any ideas of what works and what does not, making no assumptions about the organization.

Optimally, the process includes a healthy vertical and horizontal cross section of the organization.

Why? Because you never know where the most valuable information might come from. But more than that, strategic thinking is an effort to develop industry foresight. As Gary Hamel and CK Prahalad write in their book Competing for the Future, industry foresight often starts with what could be, and then works back to what must happen for that future to come about. Questions are the root of all knowledge, and crafting the right questions provides senior decision makers the ability to imagine the future in the context of present and future risks and threats.

An Overview of a Strategic Thinking Process Threats or Risksstart with that clean sheet of paper.

The process begins with assessing the threats or risks, both internal and external, to the organization.

Said another way, it is vital for the senior decision makers to know the internal and external forces impacting their future. Emerging trends in technology, new competitors, customer service, and succession planning could all pose different types of risks or threats. The idea is to get everything on the table so that it is in full view of the decision makers.

Strengths-R&D investment, financial structure, timely distribution, active web and Blog presence and developing people may very well be strengths of the organization.

Strengths provide leverage that can be used to gain specific industry advantages or buffer weaknesses. For example, the organization may have a robust web and Blog presence on the Internet having cultivated a large loyal fan base.

These relationships are a substantial strength that can be used to assess and develop new products and services.

Weaknesses-What is it that the organization is not doing so

well, that needs improvement or is having a negative systemic effect on the rest of the organizations operations or administration?

Seeking weaknesses is not an exercise in seeking blame. Inappropriate organization structure, human capital retention, lack of leadership development programs may well be some of the issues that emerge as weaknesses.

Gaps-Identifying the gaps between the strengths and weaknesses as they relate to the real and perceived risks require some type of response and become the grist for the strategic planning mill. Now strategic and tactical strategies can be created, resources and assets assigned and prioritized and the day-to-day job of creating the future and closing the gaps is turned from imagination into reality.

Conclusion In our rapidly changing, complex world filled with more information than one might have imagined just a few years ago, sorting through the facts, the hype and emerging issues and challenges drives the need to continually rework the organization’s collective foresight. To do otherwise, may result in a small leak turning into a big hole leaving the crew and passengers scampering for the lifeboats saying to themselves, “But I thought we were unsinkable!”— About the Author Dr. John Dentico is a nationally and internationally recognized subject matter expert in leadership and experiential learning and is the president of LeadSimm LLC. The major focus of his company's work centers on the key issues and challenges surrounding emergency preparedness. John is the creator of the LeadSimm Leadership Development Simulation method.

For more info, visit LeadSimm. com

RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 19

Need a fresh look for your company?

Try a new logo Just like a haircut, your company can use a fresh new look every once in a while. Maybe you’ve changed your services a bit, or perhaps the company is under new leadership. If your office lease is up and you have to move to a new location, that can also result in a big change.

For a small business, developing a new logo is just like getting a fresh new hair style. And it’s important to develop a new look for your company every five to 10 years to keep your business looking fresh, new and up to date.

“Your company’s logo is what identifies your business, your name and your brand colors,” says Damien Leigh, senior vice president business services, Staples.

“Logos are as memorable - sometimes even more so than company names, which means they need to really stand out.”

Keep these tips in mind as you

think about developing a new logo for your company. * Icon - It’s important to be unique with your logo icon, whether you use a letter, words or a graphic. Unless your company is involved in the graphics industry, however, you don’t want it to be too complicated. Staples Copy & Print is offering new logo design services to help small business customers develop their logo. * Typography - Determine if you want the company name, just your initials, a company motto or nothing at all. Think about logos you like and provide your designer with those examples to determine the words and type that will best work for your logo. * Colors - This may be the easiest or the hardest decision you’ll make when it comes to your logo design. If you already have company colors established, and they still work for everything your compa-

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ny stands for, then you can check this one off your list of decisions that need to be made. Colors set the mood your customers will feel when they see your logo. They can be bold to demand attention or muted to allow a viewer to feel calm. What your company does will help you determine how to pick the right colors. For example, a company that deals with the environment will probably look for natural colors, whereas a company that sells products for children will be better suited for choosing brighter hues.

Be sure to get your stationery, marketing materials, writing utensils, company apparel and, of course, the company sign updated with the brand-new logo so you can keep your business looking fresh and new to your customers for several years to come.—BPT

Stepping up the Fight Against Identity Theft and Data Hacking

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Fueled by the recent epidemic of data breaches, identity theft has become a major concern for millions of Americans. Major companies like Target, Home Depot, eBay, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and dozens of others have experienced data breaches affecting millions of consumers over the past two years.

Experts have found a strong correlation between being affected by a data breach and the risk of identity fraud. Fully two-thirds of victims of identity fraud in 2014 also received a data breach notification according to Javelin Strategy & Research. Not surprisingly, in February, identity theft was named the top consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the 15th consecutive year. In March, FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny affirmed these concerns citing a recent study that found that Americans are “more concerned about ID theft than violent crime, natural disasters or terrorism.”

While inaction on data security issues by policymakers and businesses has exacerbated the problem, there are effective steps consumers can take right now to protect themselves. “Many actions don’t require a lot of time or energy but they can go a long way in helping to reduce the risk of identity theft,” says John Breyault, vice president of public policy for telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League (NCL).

Steps NCL promotes to consumers include: * Use strong passwords that are different for each website * Enable two-factor authentication when possible (this is the code sent via text to your mobile phone which you use to log into a website) * Secure your home wireless router and network * Don’t click on links in emails or download attachments you aren’t expecting * Know what companies store your personal data and limit what you share “If you have been notified about a data breach, don’t sit by,” says Breyault. “Change your passwords,

C L A S S

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watch out for suspicious email and take advantage of credit monitoring or identity theft protection services if they are offered. Better yet, consider putting a credit freeze on your credit reports with the three major bureaus.”

NCL is quick to assert that while there are steps consumers can take individually to safeguard their personal information, more needs to be done at the national level by Washington officials in the fight against hackers who steal information and identities for financial gain.

Advocates are raising the alarm about the increased risk of identity fraud stemming from data breaches. “Businesses are profiting handsomely from the unprecedented amount of consumer data they are now collecting,” said John Breyault, vice president of public policy for telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League (NCL). “Unfortunately, when they fail to protect that data, it’s consumers who are often the ones harmed when crooks use their information to commit identity theft.”

FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez told Congress last year that, “Never has the need for legislation been greater. With reports of data breaches on the rise, and with a significant number of Americans suffering from identity theft, Congress needs to act.”

Groups like NCL are pushing the federal government to dedicate more resources to combating these kinds of crimes. “Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission should work with businesses that store consumer information to share information and strategies on how to better prevent hackers from breaching their systems,” says Breyault. Specifically, NCL has called on the FTC to convene workshops specifically focused on data security. Such events would bring together stakeholders to begin the process of turning the alarming trend of mega-data breach around.

For more information, visit www.fraud.org or NCLNet.org.—BPT

O F

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5 Stunningly Simple Secrets to Creating the Career You Want Singer-song writer Willie Nelson once said that “99 percent of the world’s lovers are not with their first choice. That’s what makes the juke box play.” The majority of the American workforce knows just what Willie meant; they’re not in love with their careers and may be working in jobs that weren’t their first choice, according to new research from Gallup.

The Gallup survey found that half of polled workers said they were not engaged in their work, 20 percent were actively disengaged and just 30 percent said they were engaged.

book “Flourish”: The key, he says, “Those are sobering statistics is to take control of career develfor corporate America,” says Kurt Metzger, vice president of Talopment, engagement, meaning, ent Management for Prudential achievement and positive emoFinancial. “It doesn’t feel like a tion.

“Too many workers are still very good return on investment pining for old school ‘career paths’ for employers, and it’s not a great story for employees, either. Given that are defined by their compathe amount of time most of us nies and guided by their bosses,” spend at work, the personal ROI Metzger says. “They are a thing of the past. The world of work is feels disappointingly low. That’s a significant lost opportunity.” simply changing too fast. A job A human resources profession- that exists now may not be there a year from now, so creating a al for 20 years, Metzger says that a well-constructed career prowell-prescribed path is elusive at vides the five key components of best. It is possible, though - and well-being that psychology guru even preferable - to create one’s own path.”

Martin Seligman identifies in his RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 23

How can you develop the career you want?

Metzger offers some advice: * Create a statement of direction. Metzger says, “You need to remind yourself of what your overall purpose is, so that you can manage your career intentionally, rather than allowing it to manage you.” A statement of direction also helps you articulate your desired path to others. To craft your statement, ask yourself what your purpose is, what you think success should look like and what you stand for.

“It’s not necessary to create formal statements, or to memorialize your mission, vision and values on coffee cups and posters, but the answers to these questions can help you get your priorities clear in your own mind,” Metzger says. * Think holistically.

The notion of work-life balance as a trade-off can be misleading. You will have to make choices, but done right, taking care of your life outside of work can actually leverage your career. For example, research has repeatedly shown that exercise and good nutrition help promote clearer thinking and lower stress. * Establish your value proposition.

“Too many employees believe they are entitled to their job, and a promotion and a raise,” Metzger says.

“It’s not true. For an employer, or a customer in the case of an entrepreneur, to pay you, you must bring something of value to the table.” To establish your value proposition, consider your passion - which allows you to build resilience - your strengths and what skills you have that are in demand. “Having passion and talent is great, but if you can’t get paid for doing it, it’s not what you want to build your career strategy

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around,” Metzger says. * Create your dream job description. What would your perfect day at work look like? Are you in an office or your pajamas? What are your hours?

Most importantly, how are you spending your time?

Write out what your dream job would be like. Pay careful attention to the job responsibilities; you want a job where you’ll spend most of your time playing to your passions and strengths. * Make it happen.

Once you’ve established what your dream job looks like, lay out a plan for getting there. That doesn’t necessarily mean doing a job search. Very often, change can happen incrementally. How can you spend just a few more minutes today on something related to your value proposition? In many cases, your current job can evolve into your dream job. In others, you are building your portfolio of experiences to better position yourself down the road.

Metzger also advises engaging your manager to help find ways to make it happen. Most managers want to support you in furthering your growth and appreciate the clarity from you. Once they understand what you want to do, they can be an active advocate whether that means supporting you in taking on a special project, making networking introductions or giving you candid feedback.

“We all have more discretion over how we spend our day than we think,” Metzger says. “The key is to take thoughtful action, rather than simply letting your career - and life - happen to you.”—BPT

Busted:

The truth about top cellphone myths costing you real money Most people today have a cellphone that rarely leaves their side. In fact, cellphone usage is at an all-time high, with 91 percent of adults owning one, reports the Pew Research Center. While the technology has drastically improved many aspects of daily life, the cost of devices and service plans - as well as the complex contracts - leaves many people feeling like they’re being hustled.

T-Mobile believes you have a right to know about the commonly believed misconceptions about the cellphone industry that are causing people to spend more than necessary. Get the facts by learning the truth about the most common cellphone myths.

Myth: One late payment won’t affect your credit score Reality: It doesn’t take much for your credit score to take a hit. One late payment can stay on your record for up to seven years. Because most of the top wireless carriers use your credit score to judge whether they should give you the best deals, that means one bad decision can haunt you years later.

First, always make it a priority to pay your bills on time. Second, look for a carrier that considers more than a credit check to obtain the best deals.

Myth: The advertised deals from carriers are for

anyone Reality: Wireless carriers spend $4 billion advertising their “best” deals on smartphones, yet in reality, more than half of Americans cannot get the deals because they are reserved only for those with the “best” credit. According to the Consumer Federation of America, credit score plays a “vital” role in many purchases. The new Smartphone Equality initiative from T-Mobile allows anyone with a monthly voice plan who pays their bills on time each month for a year to qualify for their best deals - zero down, no interest and no credit check. Visit www.t-mobile.com for more information.

Myth: Almost all American adults have a smartphone Reality: At a time when mobile connectivity is sweeping the globe, the United States ranks 13th in the world in terms of smartphone penetration behind a dozen countries including Australia, Israel and Saudi Arabia. There are more than 100 million American adults who don’t have a smartphone according to Pew Research and the U.S. Census Bureau. A smartphone paired with the right plan for your needs can keep you connected and benefit your budget.

Furthermore, many people choose to eliminate land RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 25

lines and sometimes even Internet service at home to save and then solely rely on their smartphones to stay connected.

Myth: You pay more for smartphones with no-contract plans Reality: Consumer Reports states it’s cheaper to buy a phone through a no-contract plan. Why? Because you finance the phone separately from your wireless service and therefore once it is paid off, your monthly bill can decrease. You will not continue to pay a higher amount after that time - unlike an annual service contract plan. Research popular no-con-

tract prepaid and postpaid plans, like Simple Choice from T-Mobile. Loyal customers can immediately qualify based on their relationship with T-Mobile, making T-Mobile’s best wireless deals more accessible.—BPT

Happy Father's Day June 21, 2015 26 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

Kechantra Ward, 17 and Jeffrey Patton, 16, from Senatobia, Mississippi, used 28 rolls of duct tape and spent 102 hours to create their pieces.RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 27

Creative College Savings: Unique scholarships to help offset rising costs

Does the cost of higher education scare you? If so, you’re not alone. College tuition prices have skyrocketed. Over the past 30 years average tuition and fees at public four-year institutions rose by 225 percent, according to The College Board. Factor in room and board, books and living expenses, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to afford the hefty price tag of higher education.

For many, applying for scholarships is essential.

Valuable scholarship dollars are available to any and all kinds of students - artists, athletes, writers, mathletes and more. With a little digging you can find the perfect opportunities for you and your talents. Here are five unique scholarships examples: Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest Students who enjoy art and fashion design, or just happen to be duct tape enthusiasts, should enter the annual Duck brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest. With more than $50,000 in scholarship prizes up for grabs, this one-of-a-kind opportunity emphasizes originality and imagination by challenging students to create their own unique Duck Tape prom wear.

Duck brand has a history of “sticking” by students, awarding more than $300,000 in scholarships over the last 15 years.

The contest is open to high school students in the U.S. and Canada attending prom in 2015. For more details and full contest rules visit StuckatProm.com.

Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Trivia talent and knowledge of random facts have probably always impressed friends, but now those skills may finally “pay” off - college costs that is. Students (and parents too) can simply register for one of the Common Knowledge Scholarship Foundation, Inc. online scholarship quizzes. Throughout the year, the foundation offers quizzes that test general knowledge across a variety of subjects - music, books, movies, etc. - with prize amounts ranging from $250$2,500.

These scholarships are available to high school, undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Visit cksf.org for full details and how to register.

Tall Clubs International scholarship It’s a “tall task” to enter this scholarship. In fact, 28 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

that’s it - you just have to be tall. The Tall Clubs International Scholarship is available to students of above-average height, who plan to start college in the fall. Tall Clubs International (TCI) identifies “above-average height” as at least 5 feet 10 inches tall for women and at least 6 feet 2 inches tall for men.

Those of elevated stature could win a $1,000 prize.

To apply, contact the local TCI Member Club to request sponsorship or visit www.tall.org.

Create-a-Greeting-Card Scholarship Have you ever searched for the perfect holiday or birthday card only to be left unsatisfied in the greeting card aisle? Now students with a knack for finding the perfect words or design can capture the moment, while also creating the opportunity to win a $10,000 prize. The annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship from The Gallery Collection not only offers funds to the winner, but the art photo or graphic design piece will also be produced and sold as a real greeting card.

Greeting card designs must be appropriate for business and consumer use. Visit www.gallerycollection.com for more information.

Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships If you’re passionate about the food you eat, you’re already winning with a healthy body ... and now you could win scholarship dollars, as well. Every year, the Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) awards $20,000 in scholarships to students who are active in promoting vegetarianism in school or the community. If you can demonstrate a strong commitment to being a vegetarian and to making the world a better place through diet and lifestyle - this scholarship is for you. The application requires an essay that addresses various challenges and successes experienced as a vegetarian.

The group offers a $10,000 scholarship as the top prize, and two additional $5,000 scholarships. Application details can be found at www.vrg.org.

Ready to get creative with your college costs? All these original scholarships - and more - can be found on resource sites, such as Fastweb.com. If you meet the requirements, it can’t hurt to apply. Just remember, any scholarship helps reduce college costs in the long run and every little bit helps.—BPT

The New SAT: What Students and parents need to know to prepare The SAT - widely considered to be one of the most important exams a student will take in his or her academic life - is changing drastically. When students sit down for the test in March 2016, they’ll encounter a completely redesigned format that places significant emphasis on college and career readiness and skills such as reasoning, data analysis and critical thinking.

The SAT, which impacts high school students’ college admissions success, scholarship dollars and futures, will affect nearly 2 million students. In order to tackle the test with the right amount of knowledge and confidence, students (and their parents) must approach how they prepare for the exam in an entirely different way.

“The redesigned SAT will demand more from students than ever before,” says Dr. Raymond Huntington, co-founder of Huntington Learning Center, a tutoring and test prep company that places curricular knowledge at the center of test prep. “In the history of the SAT, preparation has never been more essential to success than it will be with the redesigned exam. Students must have deep foundational knowledge and demonstrate ability to reason, analyze and think critically in real-world contexts. Cramming for the test or employing test-taking tricks will not get students the knowledge or scores they need to enter and succeed in college.”

To prepare properly for the exam and achieve the desired result, here are tips for both parents and students: 1. Understand the changes: The exam has been overhauled with changes to both format and content.

Test length, timing and score components for the redesigned SAT will be different than its predecessor.

For example, students will no longer be penalized for answering a question incorrectly. With regard to content, students will be expected to master concepts that address college and career readiness, and key skills such as analysis and reasoning. For instance, all reading content will be passage-based and will place strong emphasis on students’ ability to understand vocabulary in context, focusing on more commonly

used words, rather than simply demonstrating reading comprehension.

2. Know the dates: The first administration of the redesigned SAT is scheduled for March 2016. The class of 2017 and 2018 are most affected by the change, but the class of 2016 still has an opportunity to take the current SAT in January 2016, which is likely the safest bet. Regardless of the format, it is never too early to start preparing for these exams, as it is the best way to ensure success and avoid last-minute, ineffective cramming. Some students begin preparing a few months in advance; for others, it’s several months or longer.

3. Be aware that tips and tricks won’t work: The redesigned SAT requires a mastery of core academic concepts and an ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios. For example, in the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section, reading questions will feature charts and graphs similar to ones students will most likely encounter in science and social science majors as well as their careers.

Math questions will also test more complex skills, and questions will build on one another.

4. Know your options: As the SAT will see significant changes, which could cause uncertainty on the part of students and parents, the ACT is another viable college-entrance exam option. The ACT, which focuses on core high school curriculum and what a student has learned, is accepted at all four-year U.S. colleges and has overtaken the SAT in popularity.

Huntington, whose team of educational experts analyzed the new test’s blueprint to uncover key changes and developed a rigorous curriculum to address them, is launching a new SAT prep program in July that will be available in its 260 centers across the nation.

For more information about the redesigned SAT, including key dates and considerations, visit www. huntingtonhelps.com/program/sat-redesigned and download a free copy of “Huntington’s Guide to the Understanding the Redesigned SAT.”—BPT RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015 29

Financial Management Tips for Adult Learners Going Back to College

The ever-rising price tag of college education has been in the news for years, with the average cost hovering just less than $20,000 a year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That number, however, speaks to first-timers enrolled full-time in a four-year or two-year college. What about adult learners - professionals either looking to continue their education and earn another degree, or those who are returning to school to finish an incomplete degree?

“Many adult learners already in the workforce juggle a number of expenses besides tuition and text books,” says Tracy Lorenz, president of Western International University (West). “They’re paying mortgages or rents, childcare costs, utility bills, car payments and more. Earning a degree can put a strain on their finances.”

Cost was the biggest barrier to continuing education cited by 1,000 women in an online survey conducted by West. Respondents, who had indicated an interest in returning to college, said cost trumped an institution’s prestige in influencing their choice of learning institution.

If you’re considering returning to school as an 30 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

adult learner, it’s essential to find effective ways to control education costs and manage your overall finances. Here are five steps that can help you control costs while earning a degree: 1. Comparison shop for the best tuition and costs.

While more than one institution may offer the degree program you want, costs will vary from school to school. Many adult learners find that online degree programs offer the best value in terms of cost and quality of education. Not only is tuition typically less, online programs offer adult learners greater schedule flexibility - so they can continue earning a living wage and arrange their schedules to minimize costs like childcare and transportation. Some schools, like West, offer online tuition comparison guides that help students compare costs among select institutions.

2. Prior learning assessment credits may lower costs.

First-time students have a lot to learn, and the costs of a full-time education at a four-year college reflect that. Adult learners, however, already have professional and life experience under their belts, and many institutions have created programs that take this into account. Credit you earned at other colleges

or universities may transfer to the institution where you’ve chosen to continue your education. You may hold professional certifications, licenses or corporate training that could also qualify as college-level credit toward a degree. To learn more about prior learning assessment credits, visit the Earned & Learned Credit page on West’s website, www.west.edu.

3. Find ways to lower textbook costs.

After tuition, textbooks are a significant expense for both adult learners and first-time students enrolled in a full-time degree program. Many schools sell used textbooks at a lower cost than new. You may also be able to buy or rent textbooks through a variety of independent online websites. Many online degree programs also include digital copies of text book and course materials with no extra charge.

4. Explore financing options.

Paying for college is a complex endeavor, regardless of whether you’re an adult-learner or a first-time student. It’s important to explore all financing op-

tions - from loans and grants to other forms of financial aid. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs, while other students may qualify for additional assistance for their service in the military.

To determine if you are eligible for federal financial aid, visit studentaid.ed.gov.

5. Practice basic financial planning.

Smart money management habits are always valuable - especially when you’re paying for a college degree. If you haven’t already done so, create a personal budget or a household budget that will allow you to closely track monthly expenses and income. Curtail discretionary spending, but don’t eliminate important long-term financial goals such as saving toward retirement or to buy a home.

“Improved earning potential is one of the many benefits of returning to school,” Lorenz notes. “With research and planning, adult learners can protect their financial wellbeing while earning their degree.”—BPT

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Green Living Tips: Recycling While Cleaning

When you clean your home, do you end up throwing items in the trash? Getting rid of clutter is a natural part of the cleaning process, but did you know that much of what you throw away can likely be recycled? For example, recycling batteries and cellphones has never been easier.

Call2Recycle is North America’s first and largest consumer battery stewardship program - a non-profit that collects and recycles batteries at no cost for municipalities, businesses and consumers. In the United States, it focuses on recycling cellphones and rechargeable batteries (such as nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride, lithium ion, small sealed lead acid and nickel zinc).

In 20 years Call2Recycle has collected more than 100 million pounds of batteries and cellphones, diverting these materials from landfills. The organization ensures that these items, which contain valuable resources, are responsibly recycled to create new batteries and other products, preventing potentially hazardous materials from entering the waste stream.

Recycling these items is free of charge to consumers.

So how do you start recycling and making a difference in your community? Here are some tips to help with recycling while cleaning: Ask the question: “Can this be recycled?”

Seems elementary, but simply asking this question is the most crucial step for getting started. It means you’ve made a conscious decision to engage in a more sustainable, safe and responsible lifestyle. Every single person’s effort makes a difference. The number of cellphones and devices powered by rechargeable batteries is skyrocketing. Cellphones and rechargeable batteries may contain metals that can be harm32 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2015

ful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

Recycling keeps potentially hazardous material from entering the local landfill and recycles them for other uses.

Do your homework.

A simple Internet search will help you learn which items are recyclable. For example, Call2Recycle accepts cellphones and rechargeable batteries (weighing up to 11 pounds), including those you find in cordless power tools, laptop computers, digital cameras, two-way radios, MP3 players or iPods, tablets and cordless phones. The general rule with batteries is if it is rechargeable, it is recyclable.

Find a collection service or location near you.

Now that you’ve committed to recycling your old stuff, you need to know how and where. For rechargeable batteries and cellphones, Call2Recycle has a network of more than 34,000 collection sites located within 10 miles of 89 percent of consumers across North America. This network includes retail stores in your own community that you may visit regularly, including small businesses and municipalities.

Visit www.call2recycle.org/locator and use the location finder to locate the nearest collection site.

For other items, visit 1800recycling.com or Earth911. com for a great list of recycling options.

Celebrate and share.

Now that you know how more items around your home can be recycled, share this information with friends and family about how easy it is to recycle.

Through recycling you have made your community more sustainable and prevented potentially hazardous materials from entering the waste stream, which is good for people as well as the environment.—BPT

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