Rural Leader Magazine November/December 2015

November/December 2015

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Small Town

America's

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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 Contributing Writers Kevin Einkenberry Leadership Guru The Kevin Eikenberry Group Dr. Alan Zimmerman Author and Professional Speaker Judy White President The Infusion Group, LLC Sydney Dinsmore Writer/Entrepreneur Dr. Sylvia LaFair Author/Leader Educator/Executive Coach Simon Oates Entrepreneur/Writer/Leadership Expert Ryan Scholz Author/Leadership Strategist David Shoemaker Vice President Learning Solutions and Innovations at eCornell

5 Little Hinges Swing Big Doors 6 How Women Can Plan for their Financial Future 7 Millennials say 'they want to save for retirement' but a third aren't doing it 8 Four levels of Communication that ensure understanding 11 2015 Small Town America's 100 Most Influential People Revealed 17 From Likability Leader to the Invisible: Who's on the bus?

19 How to Change your perception of Normal 21 Leadership Development and Times of Transition 23 Can Weak People Be Strong Leaders?

24 Three Steps to Prepare Your Credit for Homeownership 25 The Science of Motivation

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

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

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

28 Five Ways to Improve Your Leadership Development Program Online 29 Four Tips for Working Adults going Back to School 30 Four Ways to Spread Cheer and save your wallet this Holiday Season 31 Early Bird Specials: Ways Small Businesses can Prepare for the Holidays 32 Teachers: the resource students need most remains in short supply 33 Fa-la-lah-choo!

Allergic to the Holidays?

Keep yourself sneeze and wheeze free this Holiday 35 Talking Turkey for the Thanksgiving Table 37 Make the most of your employee benefits with these five tips 38 Veterans: Are you missing out on key benefits?

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Rural Leader Magazine, LLC 245 North Highland Avenue Northeast Suite #230-1010 Atlanta, Georgia 30307 info@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-866-293-1162 Fax 866-477-8873

Editor’s Note

Reader's Voice Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I like it and it inspire our small town people, I look forward to reading it.

Thanks to you.

—Dollie R. Cuthbert, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Dr. Murphy you are doing a great job as a leader...My hat goes off to you..

—Genett J. Cuthbert, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for the article, Five ways creativity matters to

leaders. The article was timely and informative.

—Canton W. Norfolk, VA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for another great issue!

—William S. Quincy, FL Dear Rural Leader Magazine, The 2015 Forty under 40 issue was phenomenoal!

Thanks so much for recognizing such deserving young folks —Vanessa C. Tellico Plains, TN

Dear Reader, The year has been a successful one for the magazine. I am humbled to have your continual support throughout this venture. Rural Leader Magazine is fast becoming a premier publication for not only leadership best practices but also to show case homegrown talent in small communities globally.

Twenty fifteen has been indeed challenging as my team worked to publish six issues-two more than last year. The process, though has been a lot of hard work, the outcome has been most rewarding. I am pleased to inform you that beginning January 2016, you will be able to enjoy the publication monthly as we celebrate three years! We know that none of this would have been possible without you-our readers, so thank you!

I hope you enjoyed the September/October edition that featured 2015 Rural Leader Forty under Forty honorees. It was indeed a labor of love to celebrate such awesome, talented, and accomplished young individuals from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Mark your calendars for 2016. The call for nominations begins March 1st.

Inside this issue, we unveil the 2015 Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People.

We are proud to recognize such deserving leaders in business, education, faith, art, and music who have contributed so much to small towns throughout the country. Congratulations to all honorees!

Also inside this issue, we have put together a collection of articles on not only leadership best practices, financial planning, and education, but also savvy Holiday Season tips and features on health and well-being, entertaining, and shopping! Enjoy!

And from all of us, to you and yours, we wish you a safe Holiday Season and Prosperous New Year!

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

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

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Little Hinges Swing Big Doors

By Kevin Eikenberry Little hinges swing big doors.

I first heard those words from a mentor of mine, and later realized they originally came from the entrepreneur and author, W. Clement Stone. This week I found a whole new meaning in these words. While the first pains came on a Thursday, last Monday I had severe pain which led to an ER visit, blood work and multiple tests. After the results of the CT scan came back it was clear: I had a 4 mm stone in my ureter – between my kidney and my bladder.

4 mm isn’t very big – it is about .157 inches, or the width of a CD case. But put that size inside the wrong part of your body and it can cause lots of havoc.

Without giving you more information than you want or need, this small little stone has drastically altered my life, schedule and plans for 7 days and counting. I made three trips to the hospital and have taken more prescription drugs in the last week than I have in the last 20 years. It’s amazing that such a little thing can make such a big difference.

Several years ago there was a best selling book with the title “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ”, and while I understand the sentiment, I more closely resonate with

author and advertising executive Bruce Barton who wrote: “Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things . . . I am tempted to think . . . there are no little things.” Little hinges swing big doors.

So what are some of the “little things” that make a big difference for us as leaders? While the list could be long, here is a couple for you to consider.

Listening. When we listen, we are communicating more than that we want to hear what someone is saying – we are communicating that we care about the person. Not such a little thing.

Attitude. No one really wants to be led by a pessimist or a crab.

And everyone agrees that attitude is contagious. If we want a positive attitude in our organization it starts with us. Not such a little thing.

Consistency. People want to know what to expect from their leadership – in terms of approach, in terms of values and much more.

And while people need to be pushed and challenged, it doesn’t mean they will excel if they are always wondering what is coming next. Not such a little thing.

Trust. The more trust that

exists in an organization, the less turnover, the more engagement, the more innovation, the better communication and the greater productivity you will find. Leaders that engender and earn trust are tremendously valuable to their people and their organizations.

Definitely not a little thing. The list of little things could be so much longer, and yet I hope this list gets you thinking. There are big things we need to do as leaders to be more effective, and yes we should work on strategy, team collaboration, change management and problem solving approaches – all of these and a hundred other big things matter. But so do the little things. Maybe it is time to sweat the small stuff a bit more if we want to be the leader we are capable of becoming. And maybe, through the pain, I should thank a little 4 mm stone for reminding me of this important lesson.— About the Author Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. Learn more at KevinEikenberry.com.

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous

consequences come from little things . . .

I am tempted to think . . . there are no little things...”

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How Women Can Plan for their Financial Futures Are women more diligent savers than men? A 2014 study conducted by Fidelity Investments seems to suggest so. Fidelity’s research found that women saved more than men in their 401(k) plans, as of the year ending Sept. 30, 2014. This stems from the fact that women joined their employer’s retirement plans in greater numbers than their male counterparts.

Yet women still aren’t without their own financial hurdles. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that women are 33 percent more likely to earn a Bachelor’s Degree than men, they still earn 77 cents for every dollar their male colleagues take home, and that wage gap has been difficult to close. This is a key reason why it’s important to make every dollar count.

Regions Bank, one of the largest U.S. banks with 1,650 branches across 16 states, recently launched a Women and Wealth program dedicated to helping women learn more about personal finance and investing - particularly women in their 20s and 30s, given that they have decades of work and saving ahead of them.

It all begins with developing good savings habits.

A general rule of thumb is to save 10 percent of your income, specifically in a tax-advantaged retirement account such as an employer’s 401(k) plan. Simplified Employee Pension (SEP-IRA) plans are available for the self-employed and come with a tax deduction that will help you owe less to Uncle Sam each year.

Of course, no one knows what the future will bring, which is why it’s important to have at least three months’ worth of savings in the event of an emergency. This will allow you to cover key expenses

such as rent or mortgage, food and car payments, and more. It’s true that creating this nest egg takes time, so give yourself a solid eight to 12 months to accumulate this cash, and keep it somewhere safe such as a savings account or money market account.

Now, is it possible to be too concerned with safety?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. While some may be tempted to avoid the stock market due to fears of volatility or the threat of a bear market, doing so could leave you at risk of falling short of your investment goals and not accumulating enough assets for a comfortable retirement. Investment vehicles such as your employer’s 401(k) plan or an IRA account can be great options, but your choices don’t end there.

For the savvier investor comfortable with a higher amount of risk, alternative investments such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) or private equity (PE) offer the opportunity for handsome returns and a level of diversification that can serve as a buffer from any momentary fluctuations in the stock market. That said, REITs and PE are somewhat more complex than traditional retirement accounts, which makes seeking the help of a professional all the more important.

The growth of women’s saving habits is important because, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly half (47 percent) of the U.S. labor force is comprised of women, and that percentage will likely climb higher in the years to come. By developing positive saving habits now, these women not only benefit themselves but the economy as a whole. — BPT

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Millennials say They want to Save for Retirement, But a Third Aren’t Doing It

Nearly one in three millennials have no money saved for retirement, and a quarter of millennials people between the ages of 18 and 34 - report owing more money than they have currently saved, according to a survey released by the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC).

“This year, millennials finally surpassed all other generations and now make up the largest share of our workforce, which makes it so concerning that such a large portion of these young people are astoundingly unprepared for retirement,” says IALC executive director Jim Poolman.

Still, out of all generations, millennials are also the most open to retirement savings options that protect against stock market fluctuations and offer the opportunity for growth. According to the survey, 52 percent of millennials showed interest in products like fixed indexed annuities that provide guaranteed lifetime income while ensuring the principal investment is never lost.

“It’s no surprise that millennials, who entered the workforce after the tumultuous 2008 economic recession, are showing the most interest in products that can provide certainty against the unpredictability of the stock market,” Poolman says. “This certainty becomes even more important as our retirement landscape continues shifting to a more pay-for-yourself era.”

So, how can millennials with nothing saved for retirement get started? Poolman has some basic tips: 1. Remember, every penny counts When you’re young, you have time on your side, so put as much money aside as you can. This might

mean skipping a night or two on the town or packing your lunch more often. While this doesn’t seem like much, making one or two small changes can add up to considerable savings.

2. Take free money Consider contributing to your company’s 401(k) plan or any employer-sponsored available plan.

Think of any plan your employer is willing to match as “free money.”

3. Balance your portfolio As a young professional, you have the luxury to put some of your money into high-risk investments since your retirement is seemingly far away. However, for the safety of your future, it’s important to also consider adding more conservative savings products like health savings accounts or fixed indexed annuities that can provide much-needed balance to your retirement portfolio.

4. Start now Don’t wait. It’s crucial to start saving for retirement as early as you can. The earlier you start saving, the more likely you are to meet your retirement goals.

Even if you can only contribute 1 percent of your salary, anything is better than nothing, and it can add up quickly.

The IALC offers online calculators that can help you see how much you should be saving (taking into account your age and your retirement goal) and whether your current retirement savings will be sufficient.—BPT

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4 Levels of Communication That Ensure Understanding

By Dr. Alan Zimmerman

Have you ever had someone say, "In response to your comment ... "I understand..."And you were quite sure they didn't? Of course you have. How did you feel at that moment? Most likely, not very good. Something was probably screaming inside you, saying "No, you don't," because you knew they were simply throwing out a cliché.

They didn't really understand you. Unless you realize there are four levels of communication, and until you know how to take people through those four levels, your conversations at work and at home will be littered with misunderstandings. And that is not acceptable -- if you want your team to function well, if you want your customer service to shine, and if you want your relationships to work.

So let's take a quick look at those four levels. (P. S. If you want an in-depth explanation and if you want to learn all the skills that go with each level, I suggest you

attend my "Journey to the Extraordinary" experience, which has a lot more time to deal with the issue than a brief tip could ever do.)

1. Cliché Level. This is the most superficial level of conversation and is limited to unimportant chit-chat. It includes comments such as: "How are you? ... Some weather out there .... See you around ... and ... Take care." This level of communication may feel safe because nothing is ever said that could be offensive. The problem is nothing is ever said that could be useful. If, for example, you are a salesperson talking to prospective customer, and if you stay on this level of communication, you miss an opportunity to understand your prospect's problem and help her solve it. You see this take place at restaurants everywhere. The server will come by after you have begun eating and ask "How is everything?" The typical customer responds with a cliché -- "Everything is fine." And

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the typical customer says everything is fine whether or not it is.

If the food isn't "fine" but "not bad enough to send back," he simply decides ... privately ... that he'll never come back to that restaurant again. The server has failed to learn some very important information and the restaurant has lost a customer. But that's not all. The customer loses as well ... because he's had an unsatisfactory experience and may even feel like he wasted his money. So if you're hoping to build better relationships on and off the job, the cliché level won't do it for you. A little deeper communication would be the.

2. Fact Level. On this level, some basic information is shared.

For example, if I was talking to you over the phone and asked "How's the weather at your end?" and you replied "Great," you would be giving me a cliché.

But if you said "It's 73 degrees," you would be giving me a fact.

Facts can be useful. If you're in the customer service business, you may talk about the features of your product or service. Those may be useful facts for the prospective customer. If you're trying to build your team, you may work on getting more acquainted with each other by sharing some information about your family, your schooling, and your hobbies. Those are useful facts so the team members start to "feel like they know each other."

Most of the time, the fact level of communication is fairly comfortable and non-threatening. In a sales situation, the customer doesn't feel "too high pressured," and the salesperson learns a few things that will help him/her take the conversation a bit further.

Just be careful. Don't read too much into the facts.

Suppose one of your friends said, "When I was a kid, my Dad did some things that scared me. Can you relate to that?" And suppose you answered, "Yes, I understand. I can relate to that." Do you really understand or just think you do? Let's say your friend went on to say, "My Dad was a coal miner from early in the morning until late in the afternoon, six days a week, for 23 years. When he finished his shift, he and his buddies would all go to the bar, drink until midnight, and then he would come home drunk. Of course, I would be asleep, but he would pull me by the hair, wake me up, and shoot an unloaded pistol at my head. That scared me." Is that what you had

in mind when you said you could "relate" to your friend. I doubt it. That's why Jeff Thull is so right when he says, "Never say, 'I understand' until you really do." Even if you're communicating on the fact level, there is so much more you need to understand for the communication to be highly effective. You need to get to the third level or beyond.

3. Opinion Level. This is where you to start make sense of the facts. In other words, you talk about what the facts mean to you or the other person. If I ask you "How's business?" and you say "Okay," you've given me a cliché answer. If you answer "Our sales are up by 14% over last year at this time," you've given me a fact. But if I probe a little bit and ask "What do you think of that 14% increase?" I start to get to the real meaning. If you tell me what you think about that, if you give me your opinion and say "I think a 14% increase is okay, but it doesn't seem that great when I know my competitors are up by 27%," I'll have a much fuller understanding.

In one group I was attending, the people shared the "fact" they had children, and then some people shared their "opinions" on children. I'm sure you can see the difference. The people said such things as: • Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your children.

• Mothers of teens know why some animals eat their young.

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Four Levels of Communication continued from page 9 • Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

• The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

• We childproofed our home 3 years ago and they're still getting in!

• Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.

Obviously, opinions are better than pure old facts all by themselves, but your clearest, deepest, most helpful communication will take place on the.

4. Feeling Level. This is where emotions are shared.

This is where you tell someone how the "facts" have affected you personally. And until someone knows your feelings, he/she doesn't really know you. For example, you and I could be coworkers, and I might know you have a high I.Q. That would be a fact. I may think you're capable of achieving so much more in life. That would be my opinion. But you wouldn't know me until I shared my feelings about that fact and that opinion. I may think you're capable of achieving so much more, and I may feel sorry for you. Or I may feel challenged to motivate you. I may feel concerned about your apparent burnout. I may feel relieved that you aren't outshining me on the job.

I may feel delighted to have a coworker in the same rut I'm in. Or I may feel a hundred other things.

When I share my feelings, you get to know me. We've

reached the level of genuine communication. And the same is true of you and every relationship you have. When you share your feelings with someone and he shares his feelings with you, it is then ... and only then ... that you get to know each other. So don't get all creeped-out when someone shares their feelings. Indeed, if one of your coworkers or customers shares their feelings of delight, disappointment, anger, frustration, or anticipation, they're essentially saying they trust you. They feel safe enough to open up and share some very important as well as some very personal information. Unfortunately, as noted in the book "Exceptional Selling" by Thull, "Only a small percentage of people are naturally open to expressing their feelings.

Another small percentage will open up if given the opportunity. The rest need to be gradually led to talk about what they feel." That's done through the art of questioning. And you can learn to do that just like you learned about the four levels of communication. Now it’s time to ask yourself, “On which level of communication do you spend most of your time at work at home? And where do you need to spend more time?” — About the Author Dr. Alan Zimmerman, is an author and professional speaker, has delivered more than 200 programs to a million people in 48 states and 22 countries. His Internet newsletter, the “Tuesday Tip,” is read by 70,000 people across the world every week.

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T w e n t y

F i f t e e n

Small Town

America's

100 It is with great pleasure that we present the 2015 Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People.

For the second year, our anonymous panel of judges received scores of nominations with the daunting task to select 100 individuals who met the following baseline criteria: 1) nominee must reside within the United States and live or work within a small town or city with a population of 80,000 or less; (Note: we included a number of individuals from larger urban areas with considerable more population, however, may be considered small by other standards; and 2) be least 18 years of age and have made a significant contribution to community in his or her genre.

Honorees self-nominated or were nominated by an individual, group, or organization. Nominations were

accepted June 1st through July 31st.

We thought it important to convey a broad range of successful and influential people whose level of involvement, commitment, and intense effort to improve their communities sometimes go unnoticed.

This year’s class includes influential people from a variety of sectors including business, art, music, theatre, health, government, law enforcement, education, and the faith community. They are everyday people doing extraordinary things. The full scope of their individual contributions may never be fully realized by those who do not understand the small town dynamic. Collectively, these exemplary individuals represent the heart and soul of small communities.

Congratulations to all honorees!—

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Jessica E. Anderson Airline Pilot and Flight Instructor

Phelan, California

John C. Bravman President Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA

George K. Butterfield U. S. Rep. NC 1st District Wilson, North Carolina

Emanuel Cleaver

U. S. Representative MO 5th District Waxahachie, TX

Jerry "Pops" Barns Councilor District 1 Columbus, Georgia

Regina Benjamin, MD Former U. S. Surgeon General Mobile, AL

Nancy Tia Brown

Tary Brown

City of Cody

Albany Area Primary Health Care

Cody, WY

Albany, Georgia

Casey Cagle Lieutenant Governor

David Chavez, Ph.D. Chair Taos Board of Education

Mayor

State of Georgia Gainsville, Georgia

James E. "Jim" Clyburn US Rep. 6th District South Carolina Assistant Minority Leader Sumter, SC

Former CEO

Harry Jim Blevin Mayor City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Luke Bryan

Singer and Song Writer Lessburg, GA

Jimmy Chen Professor

Taos, New Mexico

Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA

Gretchen Corbin

Carlos Collins

Commissioner

Technical College System of GA Atlanta, GA

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Pastor Higher Dimension Church Tallahassee, Inc. Plant City, Florida

Jimmy Bradley Chair

Randolph County Board of Commissioners Cuthbert, Georgia

Bernard Burke

Pastor Bride of Christ Church Bainbridge, Georgia

Kauila Clark

Certified Hawaiian Practitioner WCCC Health Center

Waiana, HI

Nickey E. Collins, Ph.D Pastor Higher Dimension Church Tallahassee, Inc. Jacksonville, FL

Mark C. Crowley

Jerry Cummins

Leadership Guru/ Author/Consultant

Mayor City of Walla Walla Walla Walla, Washington

Claudette Dixon Apostle Foley, Alabama

John F. Dunbar Mayor City of Yountville Yountville, CA

La Jolla, California

Donna Ford

Council Member City of Manitou Spring Manitou, Springs, CO

Shirley Gilbert

Minister Springvale, Georgia

Mark Flores

Cassandra Davis aka "Cassi" Actress Holly Springs, MS

Carla Duran

Taos Board of Education Member Taos, New Mexico

Santina Marcello Fryer

Board of ED Member Taoes Schools Taoes, New Mexico

CEO/Lead Consultant Ladder to Success, LLC

Whitney Goler

Patricia Goodman

Board of ED Member Taos Schools Taos New, Mexico

Baxley, Georgia

President

RC Chamber of Commerce Cuthbert, Georgia

Danny K. Davis U. S. Representative 7th District Illinois Parkdale, AR

Thomas Davis aka "Pokey" Professional Athlete

Becky Elder

Derrick Frazier

Council Member City of Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO

Eddie Fairbanks Sheriff

Randolph County, GA

Donny Green, Ph.D. Minister Albany, Georgia

Shellman, Georgia

CEO Homer Medical Hospital Homer, LA

Alfred Gaines Apostle Orlando, Flordia

Lori Griffin

Principal Ballman Elementary School Van Buren, AR

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Nikki Haley

Governor South Carolina

Bamburg, South Carolina

Russell L. Honore'

Retired Lieutenant General U. S. First Army at Ft. Gillem, GA

Lakeland, LA

Buruti K. Kafele

Will Harris

Burt Hill

Randy Hodges

Professional Athlete

Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Council Member City of Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO

James Hotz, MD

Dorothy Hubbard

Freddy Jackson

Tanya Johnson

Bluffton, Georgia

East Albany Medical Center Albany, Georgia

Len Kiese

a.k.a. Principal Kafele Educator/Author/ Consultant East Orange, NJ

Morning Anchor WIS-TV West Columbia, SC

Jeannette Maw

John C. Maxwell

Coach/Consultant Good Vibe University South Jordan, UT

Donnell Harvey

Business Owner White Oaks Pastures

Leadership Guru/ Author/Consultant

Garden City, MI

Shellman, Georgia

Mayor City of Albany Albany, Georgia

Christine B. Knighton Colonel U. S. Army and Executive Coach Benevolence & Cuthbert, GA

Terry McAuliffe Governor State of Virginia McLean, VA

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Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Sylvia Lafair, Ph.D. Co-Founder and President Creative Energy Options Winter Haven, CT

Duncan McCoy

Councilman Boulder City, Nevada

Principal Carnell Elementary School Ft. Smith, AR

Paul Langford

Mayor City of Shellman Shellman, Georgia

Rosalyn Montgomery Airline Pilot Waco, TX

Marlyn Mosby

State's Attorney Baltimore, Maryland

Philip Phillips

Singer and Songwriter Leesburg, Geogia

David Satcher, MD Former U.S. Surgeon General Anniston, Alabama

Gary Smith

Council Member City of Manitou Springs Manitou, CO

Robin S. Nicholson Educator Randolph Co. Schools Fort, Gaines, GA

Jason Porter

Prophet/Founder and CEO Believer's Circle Ministries Olive Branch, MS

Sandra L. Schroeder Mayor Sag Harbor Village, NY

Gaye Morris Smith Executive Director

Georgia Family Connection Partnership

Athens, GA

Nicole Nicoletta

Council Member City of Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO

Tracey Quintana Prophetess

Tracey Quintana Ministries Colorado Springs, Co

Jason Silva

School Board Member Taos Schools Taos, New Mexico

Shelley Spires CEO

Albany Areas Primary Health Care

Albany, Georgia

Rick Olson

Mayor City of McMinnville McMinnville, OR

Mark Renkert

Economic Development Advisor Burlington, Vermont

Brenda Simkins Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Jay Stalnaker Founder Three Blue Strategies Butler, GA

Marvin Pickett Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

James Sanders

Taos School Board Member Taos, New Mexico

Timothy Slottow

President University of Phoenix Phoenix, AZ

Alfred Starling

Minister Cuthbert, Georgia

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Freddie Starling Minister Cuthbert, Georgia

Cole Taylor

Patricia Swain

Secretary GA State AA Chamber of Commerce Albany, Georgia

Scot Tipton

Thomas Swain

Founder & Chairman GA State AA Chamber of Commerce

Albany, Georgia

Coreen Toll

Singer and Songwriter Cuthbert, GA

Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Mayor Pro Tem City of Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO

Terry A. Weems Prophet Bradenton, Florida

Steve Whatley

Dianna Williams

Gary Wiltz, MD LA Teche Action Clinic Franklin, Louisana

Mayor

City of Cuthbert Cuthbert, Georgia

Terry Wise

Artist Stockbridge, MA

Founder The Dancing Dolls Jackson, MS

Demond Wilson Actor/Author Valdosta, Georgia

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Marc A. Synder Mayor City of Manitou Springs Manitou Springs, CO

Jackie Toye

David Tadlock

Council Member City of Pascagoula Pascagoula, MS

Jasmine Twitty

Senior VP of Sales iHeartRadio Tuscaloosa, AL

Easley, South Carolina

James Williams Lieutenant Retired Police Officer Albany, Georgia

Lee Williams Singer and Songwriter Tupelo, MS

Rod Woodbury

Mayor Boulder City Boulder City, Nevada

Judge

Eric Wright, Ph.D. Superintendent

Fredericksburg Independent

School District

Fredericksburg, Texas

From Likability Leader to the Invisible: Who’s on the bus?

By Judy White

narcissists, however, they face a haunting psychological challenge: how do they keep feeling like an important person and on top? How do they continue to fill this deep hole that garners attention and fame?

In the workplace, extreme narcissism shows itself when: • other people simply become pawns in a grand game of deception; • exploiting people and viewing people as tools to make themselves look and feel good; • there is excessive bragging about achievements (while blaming others for shortcomings); • material goods, physical appearance, display of status symbols, manipulation and cheating to get ahead is the focus.

Extreme narcissists often surround themselves with people who look up to them and feed their psychological needs for high-regard. Since they spend their life regulating social relationships in order to maximize self-admiration, they often demonstrate patterns of hiring or promoting talented individuals whom they believe can be manipulated and controlled. If an employee, colleague, customer and/or Continued on page 20 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2015 17

American culture’s central tenet through the modern years has often been defined as self-admiration.

Taken too far, self-admiration has demonstrated a distinct downside and all the negative effects that can flow from it are more commonly known as excessive narcissism. Psychologists and researchers identify the negative effects when a leader holds attitudes or behaviors filled with arrogance, conceit, vanity, grandiosity and selwick-centeredness.

These leaders tend to be superficially charming, charismatic, over-confident and even funny. These character traits in and of themselves can bring value to an organization, however, studies demonstrate that over time some hidden traits may eventually take center stage and can bring a wrath of destruction to workplace relationships.

While individuals with a healthy self-esteem value relationships, extreme narcissists have difficulty expressing genuine empathy, warmth and caring toward others. Studies support that extreme narcissism is often the result of childhood upbringing or may represent a personality disorder. A healthy dose of narcissism tends to bridge a balance between strong results and collaborative partnerships. For extreme

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How to Change your Perception of Normal

By Sydney Dinsmore

"If you don't stop crying I'll give you something to cry about!" How many of us heard that one? As a child I only understood that I was actually crying for a reason but I certainly didn't want anything else to cry about. Were my parents doing the best they could with what they learned as children? Have I ever used this line on my children? Probably, but it didn't seem right when it fell out of my mouth.

As we grow up whether our parents know it or not our beliefs are being formed. Not just the beliefs of what our parents are teaching us but also from people we are surrounded by. We learn all about religion, customs, politics, social status and our values. These are paradigms that we form and believe to be our comfort zone. If anyone enters into our comfort zone that doesn't have the same beliefs we do, we tend to somehow fear them. If they don't share our fundamental values we prefer not to be around them.

We want to surround ourselves with people who have the same beliefs we do so we feel comfortable and inspired by them. But, maybe the beliefs we have as a foundation for raising our children could use a revamping. We are doing the best we can with what we learned from our parents, just as our parents did the best they could. But I'd like to propose that we can do better for our children.

The way we were raised may seem to be normal to us. But have you ever noticed that sometimes you sound just like your parents? However you aren't sure that's the right way to deal with a situation and you don't feel you have the tools to make the change.

The only way we can use new tools is if we figure out that it's okay to question some of the beliefs we were raised with.

Begin to understand that maybe we can make a difference in the world by giving our children a better way to raise their children. Our beliefs control our behavior. We need to first realize the problem before we can use tools to correct our behavior. I mean if you take your car to a mechanic and they just throw in a new carburetor without knowing what the problem really is, then they've wasted your money and your car still doesn't work.

So in this way, before we start using new tools, we need to take a close look at what we see as normal and be willing to change.

Today, I'm going to take a close look at how I behave around my family, friends, and business to see if I could use some new tools to better form the comfort zone I'm truly looking for. Am I cultivating and environment of love, respect, freedom and self-control? Or am I being manipulative and controlling?

Let's do what we can to help our children have the tools they need to raise their children better than we were raised. But first we need to be willing to see that perhaps our fundamental values could use a little change. Are you brave enough to do that? If you are an entrepreneur or thinking about becoming an owner of your life, give yourself permission to change for the better and others will want to follow you. Best wishes to you in your self-exploration.— About the Author Sydney is a successful writer and entrepreneur. She and her husband Glen enjoy being in nature, hiking, canoeing, fishing, and camping. In their spare time, they both enjoy working from home.

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Likability Continued from page 17 vendor demonstrate anything less than total compliance, the narcissist takes measures often at extremes toward gaining control of the individual and a path of workplace destruction takes root in the form of psychological violence, also known as workplace bullying and mobbing.

Although, the extreme narcissists may be achieving strong business results, the behavior eventually undermines the very fabric that fuels innovation, creativity and growth. A Back Seat on the Bus At the turn of the nineteenth century there was a shift from character-focused culture to a personality-focused character. Likability leadership became King and competence took the back seat. This shift in character vs. personality-leadership also contributed to a new kind of leader and leadership culture for many organizations.

When character is removed from the leader, the organization focuses on self-made success and cancer begins to spread slowly within the ranks eventually ending in a downward spiral. As a mounting body of research supports, the best talent begins to signal and prepares to get off at the next bus stop when dysfunctional behavior goes unchecked. What is the true measure of a 21st Century leader? Emerging from the hearts of men and women, new leaders are rising who understand that gaining success as the world sees it isn’t filled with success at all but rather a deep level of emptiness.

Many up and coming entrepreneurs, socially conscience and not-for-profits are rising in America and beginning to change the game. It’s about greatness of the human spirit: serving people and sacrificing for the greater good. It’s the same human spirit that forged a nation of strong leaders who would die for moral ideals ~ truth, honor, integrity and each other.

21st Century leaders recognize that organizations’ striving for selfish gain is unsustainable. Selflessness and sacrifice are becoming the new measure of true leadership greatness.

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and How The Mighty Fall, identifies that greatness is derived from passion and discipline. Key leaders who lead great organizations are often quite humble, strong-willed, and focused on excellence of a person or product.

Collins’ research demonstrates that the good-to-great leader like Abraham Lincoln is humble, diligent, servant-like, and soft-spoken. His ability to successfully lead the country through one of the most difficult periods in history is untested. Naturally, a leader can be outspoken and humble, or shy and soft-spoken and not necessarily make a great leader. The definition of

a 21st Century leader is driven by deeper characteristics of a person who lives and works in relation to a moral bearing.

As a result, they are often not interested in seeking the limelight or massive cultural influence; they prefer to be invisible. The Invisible leader uplifts those around them toward better productivity, innovation and better living. Individuals and workers are longing for leaders who are authentic; with a solid character that breeds honor, trust and integrity in their public and private lives. 21st Century leaders who take a courageous step of faith into the unknown and challenge others to push their own boundaries toward a new level of team greatness, will be the hallmarks of the sought after workplaces in future.

In fact, leading organizations are already increasing a return on value. The Best-In-Class Organizations Creating Better Leaders report that: 95.5% - other organizations try to recruit their employees 89.5% - everyone in these companies have the opportunity to develop and practice the capabilities to lead others. 87.3% - have sufficient number of qualified internal candidates who are ready to assume open leadership positions.

Questions to Consider While reflecting on your business strategy now and over the next 18 months consider the following: • What leadership qualities and competence are needed now? And in the future?

• Which leadership qualities are counterproductive toward achieving long- term sustainability?

• How are these qualities reflected by those sitting in the seats on your bus?

• What will your organization need to do differently to ensure your bus is heading in the right direction and that the right seats are filled with the right qualities and competence now and in the future?

• What actions are necessary to help you move this forward? Having the right leaders on the bus at the right time can make the total difference between accomplishment and greatness.

Additional Reading: Good to Great by Jim Collins The Narcissism Epidemic, by Jean Twenge Ph.D and W. Keith Campbell Ph.D Where Egos Dare, by Dean McFarlin & Paul Sweeney © Copyright. All rights reserved. — About the Author Judy White, President, The Infusion Group, LLC, partnering with individuals, leaders and organizations to optimize the 21st Century Workplace through an infusion of people management consulting and professional coaching services.

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By: Sylvia Lafair

Leadership Development and Times of Transition

Last week as I went through airport security, waiting for my husband who was getting the grand pat down for the zillionth time since his hip replacement operation eighteen months ago, I was musing about how we normalize the abnormal.

Going through security, checking for vials or sharp objects, or whatever, is now a common way of life. Does anyone remember when we could actually greet someone right at the airplane gate? Yup, just walk right in and be there to give a hug as soon as they left the plane.

Ah, those were the good old days. No more. The big question for leaders today is how do we help ourselves and our employees survive and prosper in the constant chaotic environment that is called the modern day world?

This time calls for leaders who know how to surf. Okay, not ready for the big waves in Maui? For landlovers the metaphor is really enough. So, everyone ready for surfing?

Here is what you need to remember: If you fall behind the wave of change, or if you misjudge it, you sink. No exhilarating ride on the crest of the wave, just lots of salt water in nose and mouth.

Okay, start again. Think smart.

Now you sense the direction of the wave of change and move to get ahead of it. Ooops, that may hurt as you struggle to come up for air, followed by the onslaught of water that was right at your back.

The present combination of economic factors that keep much of the population unemployed, as well as the excessive degree of polarization around ethical and religious issues makes us a house divided, morning, noon, and night.

Leaders, listen. We did not come through so many great

achievements in society by only focusing on negative conditions, but rather from an entrepreneurial response to a vision of what is yet possible.

Leaders, we need you to speak up and speak loudly. The old view emphasized separateness, “stuff ”, and competition as the ways of the world. What if work once again became a place where there would be fulfillment and growth? What if leaders required that their companies promote integrity, creativity, trust and cooperation and develop ways to encourage and compensate those who want to be part of a larger experiment that one for self-aggrandizement?

Leaders, we need you to ask open-ended questions and listen to employees’ responses. You will find that past the fear of “it’s all about me, it’s all about survival” people want the feeling of belonging, of being useful.

Leaders we need you to rethink priorities. Helping your employees become self-aware is one of the best bonuses you can give, more vital than extra money. In “Don’t Bring it to Work” there is an outline of what you can do to find the way OUT of disturbing and disappointing relationships at work and at home.

It is the old, ingrained behavior patterns that keep us stuck in the past, with outmoded beliefs of what makes the world go round.

This century is the time to say NO to the small, childish world of polarities, of good/bad; right/wrong; yes/no.

Leaders, we need you to teach leadership to your entire company. It is not just a function of the person “on top”. Thinking about the whole system, leadership can be contributed from anywhere in the organization.

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If enough leaders begin to envision work as a place for self-development, growth, and productivity honoring the whole human being, not just the “ka-ching” part of the person, well, miracles can happen.

The challenge is developing the willingness to change, to let go of the familiar and experiment with dialogues in your offices, to listen to all levels of employees and get support and guidance.

No, we can’t go back to what many of us see as a simpler time.

We can, however, help create the future rather than be at the effect of changes that denigrate the dignity of the human spirit. It’s about you, it’s about me, it’s about time!— About the author Dr. Sylvia Lafair, Author, Leadership Educator, Executive Coach for over 30 years is an authority on leadership and workplace relationships. She is President of Creative Energy Options, Inc. Visit http:// www.ceoptions.com and http:// www.sylvialafair.com .

Can Weak People Be Strong Leaders?

By Simon Oates

Is a strong personality or physique necessary to be a strong leader? Can someone deficient in many typical leadership traits actually generate a strong following? Well let’s think about the different types of leaders that currently exist, and analyze their traits to see whether power, courage, strength and confidence is actually essential to being a successful leader.

Military Leaders.

I had to start with the most obvious - the military.

With all personnel being required to pass an initial fitness test and a brutal training regime covering several months, it's plain to see that leaders in within the military system are made of strong stuff. Also noteworthy is the fact that senior military leaders have a wealth of internal experience within the military, which means that these leaders must have thrived within the very authoritarian military atmosphere.

I think for this segment, we'll have to conclude that only strong reach the top. Political Leaders Let’s take a look at the absolutely essential things a politician needs to be: - Charismatic - Intelligent -

Resistant to criticism.

I believe the latter characteristic of politicians is very often overlooked. While it's hard to draw parallels with the men and women that leader our countries, I want you to try to do so for a moment. Can you remember the last time that someone directly and harshly criticized your work? The last time that someone said something intentionally nasty or sinister to you? How did it make you feel? Well politicians live in an environment where such criticism and abuse is leveled at them on a daily basis.

They take it so well that we often take for granted their extremely strong resistance to such hostility.

And it's for this reason that the weak need not apply!

Business Leaders When one thinks of 'leadership', it's likely that if they're not picturing a politician - they are imagining a business person. (Probably stood in a suit in front of their workforce to complete the imagery!). Do all successful business leaders have to be strong? Well let’s just define a successful leader.

A successful business leader is one who exerts

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effective stewardship over a company's assets, safeguarding it's future, driving growth and improving quality. Successful business leaders that will be remembered for decades to come include Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (1955-2011) (Apple), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Donald Trump (Trump) and Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway). All of these individuals are household names, and have either amassed great wealth, grown a company beyond belief, or have legendary status.

When it comes to physical strength, I don't believe I'd be unfair in saying none of these men will be running the next Olympics. However when it comes to making decisions, being ruthless, or taking wild gambles - these men are the experts.

Each one of these individuals has made large gambles or sacrifices in order to ensure the success of their companies.

It seems that wherever you are - leaders naturally rise to the top of organizations through competence.

For those leaders bred into top political positions or handed business legacies, their rich experience from an early age helps to form their leadership skills way beyond your average education. It seems that if you want to do anything by 'half ' - you'll struggle to become a great leader.— About the Author Simon Oates is a leadership expert, writer, and entrepreneur, who lives in the UK. For more information, visit www.SimonOates.co.uk/.

Three steps to Prepare your Credit for Homeownership

Homeownership is a dream for many Americans, and maybe it’s one of yours as well. Making this dream a reality requires hard work, dedication and the proper preparation. You must figure out where you want to live, what type of home you desire, what you can afford and also how your credit rating may impact your home-purchasing goals.

Your credit rating can play an important role in the home buying process, and your creditworthiness could also affect the amount

that you can borrow, the interest rates you will qualify for and your ability to obtain a mortgage loan in the first place.

“A consumer’s credit is one of the biggest factors that goes into the mortgage-application process,” says Eric Hamilton, President of Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. “Before applying for a loan, it is crucial to get your credit in the best shape you possibly can.”

To help you build good credit and increase your ability to obtain better loan terms, Vanderbilt

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Mortgage and Finance, Inc. offers these tips for improving your credit: Pay your bills on time Late or missed payments on any of your credit accounts, such as credit cards, mortgages and other loans, could cause a drop in your credit score. To prevent this, make your payments on time. Making additional payments whenever possible and paying extra toward the principal balance will also help to keep a good payment history Continued on page 26

The Science of Motivation

By Ryan Scholz

Most managers feel that a major part of their job is to motivate people who work for them. The problem that many have is distinguishing the difference between motivation and manipulation.

Managers who attempt to motivate through manipulation will actually get worse results than those managers who simply stay out of the way and let people do what comes naturally to them.

Let’s start with a definition of motivation: Motivation is the internal psychological force that causes an person to move towards a achieving a goal. Read this definition several times to get the full meaning of it. Note that motivation is internally driven.

People must motivate themselves. Managers don’t motivate people. Rather managers create conditions and an environment where people are self motivated.

Secondly, without a goal, motivation doesn’t exist. In order for people to be motivated, there must be a sense of purpose and reason for expending the mental and

physical energy required.

The goal must have meaning to the person. Psychologists have studied human motivation for years. Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between what science knows about human motivation and behavior, and what the business world does. For example, science tells us that extrinsic motivators, fear and reward, are temporary and don’t change underlying attitudes which influence behavior. Yet, many organizations rely mainly or exclusively on extrinsic motivation to stimulate higher levels of performance.

In a study done by MIT, and then replicated several times since, researchers studied the impact of rewards on performance. The results in every case showed that if the task involved even a small amount of cognitive ability (thinking, creating, reasoning, problem solving, etc.), the higher the reward the worse the performance. The only time the size of the reward related to performance was for physical tasks where the

amount of physical effort expended correlated directly to performance. That is not to say that people are not motivated by money. If people feel that they are not compensated fairly, it will have an impact on their performance.

Money is what Frederick Herzberg calls a hygiene factor.

According to Herzberg, hygiene factors are sources of demotivation if not addressed, but in themselves do not provide motivation. The science of motivation says that higher performance will only come when people are intrinsically motivated. According to research by Dan Pink, three factors correlated with high levels of intrinsic motivation. The first is autonomy. Autonomy is having the freedom to control and direct one’s own work.

Managers who want to have employees with high levels of intrinsic motivation need to let their people do the job. I have used quote by Bill Oncken many times because I think it is such a good piece of advice for any

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manager—”Practice hands off management as much as possible, and hands on management only as necessary.” People learn responsibility only when they are given responsibility. With today’s technology that enables a manager to stay in touch and be available 24/7, I worry that we are creating a generation of workers who won’t make a decision because they can easily find the boss and get him or her to make the decision. The second factor that Pink finds correlates with intrinsic motivation is mastery. Mastery is the natural human urge to grow, learn, and get better. We are all naturally competitive with ourselves and with others. People are more apt to be intrinsically motivated if there is challenge in the job.

Measurement and goal setting facilitate mastery. I’ve observed many times that all a manager has to do is give people some way to keep score on the job, and then let the people go. The third factor is purpose. Purpose is the feeling of being able to make a contribution. The more that people find meaning and significance in their work, the more that they will be intrinsically motivated. In one plant that I managed, we had a standard practice of having the management staff take customers and other important visitors on plant tours. Over time we began to let the front line workers do the tours. We found it was a lot more impressive to our customers to have the workers talk about what they did, than a group of us

Three Steps to Prepare Your Credit continued from page 22 Using an Extra Principal Payment Calculator tool can also help you calculate the savings that come with paying extra - generating additional motivation to do so.

Minimize any outstanding debt and keep existing debt manageable Paying your statement balances in full instead of letting debt accumulate can improve your credit scores, which may result in better terms being offered from lenders. Lenders often check your credit report when you apply for a loan and measure the amount of debt you’re carrying against the loan amount they’ve requested. Excessive debt is one of the factors that could cause a lender to decline your application.

Avoid applying for unnecessary credit Credit applications can appear as inquiries on credit reports, which may suggest to lenders that an

upper level people. The ownership and commitment of the front line workforce increased significantly and they were able to associate what they did on a daily basis with our customers. This increased their intrinsic motivation without costing the company anything.— About the Author Ryan Scholz works with leaders whose success is dependent on getting commitment and high performance from others. He is author of Turning Potential into Action: Eight Principles for Creating a Highly Engaged Work Place.

For more information, visit www. lead-strat-assoc.com/

applicant is taking on additional debt. Be aware of advertising or sales promotions that offer purchase discounts if you apply for a credit card. Even these cards could show up as inquiries on your credit report. These inquiries remain on credit reports for two years. Instead of applying for additional credit, use your existing lines of credit to showcase your responsible credit management by paying bills on time and paying off the debt quickly.

“There are a lot of steps you can take to improve your credit, but it’s important to remember that credit scores don’t change overnight,” says Hamilton. “It takes time to increase your credit rating, and while it may feel like a slow-moving effort, it is well worth the wait when you get to open the door to a home of your own for you and your family.”

For more credit tips, you can check out the full Guide to Credit, and find other useful guides for homebuyers on vmfhomeloan.com.—BPT

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Five Ways to Improve Your Leadership Development Program Online

By David Shoemaker

Leadership development is an activity that improves the quality of leadership in a company, organization, or a single individual. Leadership development programs can range from an MBA degree to executive retreats (think high ropes courses) to online leadership certificate programs.

Online leadership training can be very effective and is often the best option for a company to develop its leaders.

Why Leadership Development is Important: Leadership development via online leadership training is a high priority and increasing as an overall percentage of training delivered in many organizations because of several positive business benefits: • Financial return (better leaders means higher profits) • Employee engagement and retention (leaders learn how to be an effective boss and foster a supportive work environment) • Building bench strength (the "substitute" leaders develop their skills and can step up in times of need) • Strategic and competitive advantage (leadership is critical to the success of a business) • Enhanced productivity and faster resolution of problems (leaders learn how to be efficient and add value) • Continuous innovation (leaders learn how to pursue new ideas) • Organizational agility (leaders are prepared to adapt a company / employees to ever-changing mar-

ket conditions) Leaders drive performance, and the higher the leader's position and the broader the scope of his or her responsibility, the greater the impact that individual can have on an organization. So while it may be difficult to measure exactly now much leadership development programs contribute to something like financial return, it is generally accepted that good leaders and managers produce higher performing teams that produce better results.

Demographic shifts are also forcing companies to focus on their leadership development efforts. With almost 80 million baby boomers approaching retirement in the next decade, there will be significant impact on the pipeline of available leadership talent, and the cost of recruiting and retaining competent managers is going to increase.

For many companies, online leadership certificate programs are a high priority and are increasing as an overall percentage of training. Online leadership training is becoming one of the top ways to conduct leadership development.

Online Learning Improves Leadership Development Programs: Online learning, as part of a comprehensive leadership development initiative, can be used to increase program effectiveness in several important ways: • Extending & Targeting Your Reach (development doesn't have

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to be in a classroom) • Consistent & Contextualized (consistency across many different groups of participants) • Go Fast...Speed to Competency (employees are away from their jobs for a shorter period of time; online leadership training can also be used as a ramp-up for in-person training) • Go Slow...Learn, Act, Reflect (online learning is continuous) • Use Social Learning & Build Networks (online learning can prepare leaders to manage global teams and other "blended" team environments) Online learning takes leadership development from a series of disconnected events to more of a continuous development process. Online leadership training and online leadership certificate programs are both great options to pursue leadership development for your company. For more information on these programs you can do an Internet search for whitepapers on 5 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Development Program...

Online.— About the Author David Shoemaker is Vice President of Learning Solutions and Innovation at eCornell. For more information on online leadership certificate programs, online leadership training, or eCornell, please visit http://www.eCornell.com

What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag

Four tips for Working Adults Going Back to School Do the back-to-school signs in the store have you itching to get back in a classroom? Back-to-school season traditionally falls around August or September for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, but a working adult can enroll in a new or advanced degree program at any time of the year, including the fall months.

If you’re considering enrolling in a new or advanced degree program as a working adult, here are some factors to consider as you make this big decision: 1. Schedules Balancing school, work and families might take a bit of planning and organizational skills. “According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 39 percent of the estimated 21 million students heading back to school this fall will be over the age of 25,” says Tracy Lorenz, president of Western International University (West). “These are individuals with families, jobs, household duties and community obligations, which can often mean that making time to return to school is a challenge.”

Thanks to online delivery and flexibility in scheduling, students can start a class at West at the beginning of any month. So once the back-to-school chaos has settled at home and the fall workload has smoothed out, students are able to sign up for that class they’ve been thinking of taking. Students should keep in mind the time they need for each class, not just for catching up on course materials and projects,

but also for homework and online discussions with classmates.

2. Affordability Financial planning is just as important when starting out on a new degree program as it is when managing one’s household budget. Before starting a program, students should create a list of the expenses they’ll face for tuition and supplies, as well as financial aid opportunities and the potential for reimbursement from an employer. Doing so will help students understand their net investment and how it can be aligned with their other financial responsibilities. Ultimately this exercise allows students to select both the right degree program as well as the one that best fit their budget.

3. Support Working adults need support in their college endeavors as much as students continuing directly from high school. Students should let their employer know about their schooling plans, as well as friends and family who can help encourage them through each step of the process. Many colleges also offer support for adult students. For example, West provides complimentary services that range from career coaching and financial resources to tutoring services and assistance in creating a balance between work, life and school.

4. Emergency planning A kid catches the flu or the office schedules a business trip that conflicts with the course schedule.

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Having a backup plan can help students stick with their education plans and graduate on time. Taking classes online is a big help as it makes education fully accessible at home or even while traveling by finding a Wi-Fi hotspot to catch up on classwork over breakfast at a coffee shop or hotel.

Students that make sure they have the time to complete course work, select a degree program they can afford, develop a support system of family and friends, and make sure they can continue their studies when life’s other challenges arise can help make their back-to-school experience a successful one, any time of the year. —BPT

4 ways to Spread cheer and Save your Wallet this Holiday Season The holiday season is often dubbed “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many Americans, it can be an incredibly stressful time financially. The National Retail Federation predicts a 4.1 percent increase in sales this year, with the average American set to spend an estimated $786 in the following categories: * $459.87 on gifts for family * $80.00 on gifts for friends * $26.03 on colleagues * $30.43 on the other people in their lives Whether shopping online or in-store, there’s often a temptation to spend too much on gifts, leading to a case of buyer’s remorse come January. Regions Bank, one of the largest U.S. banks with 1,630 branches across 16 states, has advice for consumers on how to prepare financially for the holiday shopping season.

1. Begin with the golden rule. Spending on gifts shouldn’t exceed more than 1.5 percent of your annu-

al income. Use this rule as a guide to determine how much you should set aside to spend on gifts for your friends and family - and stick to it.

2. Separate and delegate. Consider creating a separate account to fund gift purchases and make regular contributions from your primary checking account in a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.

3. Only buy what you can truly afford. To prevent overspending, never leave home without a list of what you intend to buy, and be sure you have the money needed to cover your purchases once you arrive in-store.

4. Use timing to your advantage. While things like airline tickets should be booked far in advance, other items - toys in particular - often drop in price during the first two weeks in December. Sometimes it pays to wait, other times it does not, so be sure to check for deals before you head out shopping.

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As December nears, now is the time to start mapping out your shopping strategy. Establish a benchmark based on your income; create a holiday savings account, and fund it regularly; be sure you’re purchasing within the parameters of what you can truly afford; and know when to buy and when to wait. And remember, the holidays are meant to warm the heart - not burn the wallet!—BPT

Early Bird Specials: Ways Small Businesses can Prepare for the Holidays

Staples helps small businesses get a head start on their holiday prep with three must-have tips. successful holiday season. For many small business owners, stocking up early is a way to secure the best deals from vendors. The challenge is in navigating between running out of product and being overstocked with unsold product. This involves a balance between consulting last year’s sales reports and this year’s projections. It’s part science and part art.

With inventory, sales projections and numerous other figures lined up behind the scenes, many proceed to decide what products will attract customers to the store. These are the so-called door busters, and the earlier they are announced, the more successful they are at generating the buzz that gets customers flocking to the store. For years, small business owners have been turning to Staples Copy & Print to help create this buzz. From customized printed signs and banners to promotional gifts, the marketing solutions they need are available at their neighborhood Staples.

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The holidays bring many things to mind - eggnog, Christmas trees, piles of presents, the first snowfall and more. However, for small business owners, the holidays signify more than good cheer and time spent with friends and family. For many small businesses, November and December mark the “make or break” time of the year, when the overall level of profitability is determined, and sometimes, these months decide whether or not the business survives.

No wonder many small business owners begin preparing for these two months well in advance.

Many experts in the field argue that a successful holiday season begins in the virtual world. Increasing bandwidth and redesigning your website to attract more customers are all part of an overall tune up that is vital to avoid any headaches during the busy rush.

Stock up and plan for door busters From the cyber world to the world of brick and mortar, inventory planning is at the foundation of a

Many small business owners find it important to show their appreciation and give thanks to the people who keep their businesses strong: their customers.

At Staples, small business owners can create branded calendars or magnets with a year at a glance calendar on them. Many find such gifts perform the double duty of customer appreciation and advertising.

Keep morale high Needless to say, the holidays are a stressful time of year for small business owners. They can also be stressful for employees. As the hours add up, it’s important for business owners to keep the morale and energy high among the employees. Often times this is done by giving incentives that reward performances or goals met.

Staples offers many higher end gifts, such as laser engraved Bluetooth speakers and travel bags that can be given as rewards, or gifts, to employees.—BPT

Teachers: the resource students need most remains in short supply The role of teachers in today’s society cannot be understated. Outside of a child’s parents, teachers are often the primary adult influencers in a young person’s life. Yet this essential role is getting harder and harder to fill as school districts across the nation face significant teacher shortages according to the U.S. Department of Education. To counteract this critical problem, recruiting new talent to the profession has become a national priority. What shouldn’t be lost in the quest for teachers, however is the intrinsic

rewards of influencing and educating young people.

The educators of tomorrow must view teaching as a path toward improving lives, not simply as a means to meet the demand.

Morale remains high The modern teacher shortage can be tied to many things - including a wave of retiring educators and national education funding challenges - but teacher morale does not appear to be an issue. Research shows that 88 percent of teachers are satisfied with

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their choice to become a teacher, according to a recent University of Phoenix College of Education survey of more than 1,000 K-12 teachers. Additionally, 68 percent of teachers, who entered the field in the past 10 years, say they would recommend the profession to others. Recent federal data supports these findings as well. Eighty-three percent of teachers who entered the field in 2008-2009 were still working in education five years later, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Higher education’s role in preparing the next generation of teachers Efforts to grow the teaching ranks must focus on teacher recruitment, particularly in STEM subjects.

Research also shows that expanding access to teacher preparation programs and providing prospective teachers with experience that will help them navigate the critical first few years in the classroom is essential.

Higher education institutions play a vital role in ensuring potential candidates understand the opportunities that exist in education. Today’s teacher preparation programs must be able to accommodate modern student schedules and meet unique education needs.

Teacher preparation programs that offer flexibility and relevance to the dynamics of today’s classrooms are a must for student success. In addition, the curriculum offered by higher education institutions should also provide today’s teacher candidates with real-world scenarios that encourage critical thinking and decision-making skills. These lessons will be vital when managing their own classrooms in the years ahead.

Inspiring tomorrow’s teachers As most teachers will attest, they did not join the profession to get rich, but rather to inspire children and young adults to learn, set ambitious goals and achieve them. The University of Phoenix survey found that past generations of teachers were quite successful at this. Nearly half of respondents were inspired to join the profession by a teacher they had when they were young, according to the University of Phoenix survey.

Recruiting, retaining and supporting the individuals who are so critical to the future of today’s children, takes a team effort. But the efforts are worth it as the successes of today’s teachers will ultimately translate into the victories of tomorrow’s leaders.— BPT

Fa-la-lah-choo! Allergic to the holidays?

Keep yourself sneeze and wheeze-free this Holiday

Your goal may be to celebrate the holidays in style this year, but your allergies and asthma are making you feel like the Grinch. You may not even be aware of what’s causing the extra sniffling, sneezing and itchy eyes.

“Two thirds of allergy sufferers have symptoms

year-round, so it’s not just a matter of the first freeze hitting and your symptoms disappearing,” says allergist Bryan Martin, DO, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Even after the pollen season dies down, there are environmental triggers to deal with - things GetRuralLeaderMag.com | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2015 33

like mold, dust and pet dander. The winter holidays can bring a whole new set of triggers.”

The following are some ACAAI tips on ways to steer clear of allergic triggers that surface during the holidays, including some you may not have been aware of.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful Half the fun of the winter holidays is being outside - caroling, building snowmen, sledding. But if you have asthma, you need to know that very cold, dry air can be a trigger. If you’re heading outside and it’s very cold, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or face mask - particularly if you’ll be exercising.

Over the river If you’re traveling for the holidays and have allergies or asthma, be sure to pack your medicines. Some hotels now offer allergy-free rooms, so inquire when booking your stay. If you’re allergic to dust mites, bring your allergy-blocking bedding. If you need injectable epinephrine, make sure you have two for your trip.

Sneezing around the Christmas tree Lots of traditions swirl around the holidays - and lots of dust, too. If you store ornaments and artificial trees in the attic without being covered, they may be full of dust, which can cause allergies to flare. Clean them thoroughly before putting them up, and when the holidays are over, store them in air-tight boxes so that next year you’ll deal with fewer triggers. If you buy a real tree, know that some people have contact skin allergies to terpene, found in the sap of trees, as well as inhalant allergies to mold spores and pollen

brought into the house by fresh trees and greenery.

Bring us a figgy pudding - or not The holidays often involve events where other people prepare the food. If you or your kids suffer from food allergies, you’re probably skilled at bringing something you know everyone in your clan can eat. You might also want to give the host a heads up if there are certain ingredients she needs to steer clear of. Check labels of anything that’s pre-prepared that you haven’t eaten before. And know that lots of websites have allergy-safe recipes for holiday classics.

If you suffer from allergies or asthma, see a board-certified allergist. Allergists are trained to diagnose and treat your symptoms, and to work with you to create an individual action plan. To find an allergist in your area, use the ACAAI allergist locator tool.

The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research.

ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.—BPT

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Talking turkey for the Thanksgiving Table

Use dinnerware patterns in fall colors to create a beautiful Thanksgiving table.

Without a doubt the iconic American bird, the turkey, majorly influences all things Thanksgiving, right down to our tabletop decor.

It’s a colorful history, nearly as old as the holiday itself.

When Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving an official holiday back in 1863, English potters seized the opportunity to target the growing American market by producing turkey-themed dinner plates and platters. These ingenious designers generally took an existing design and replaced the center with a turkey motif to create those first Thanksgiving patterns. Manufacturers such as Spode, Mason’s and Wood & Sons used their colorful transferware patterns to start a new holiday tradition.

“Even today manufacturers are creating design options for consumers by producing Thanksgiving or turkey-themed accent

plates to mix and match with their everyday dinnerware,” says Robin Long, vice-president of product marketing for tableware giant Replacements, Ltd. “You’ll find colors and motifs to fit all tastes and lifestyles, from the very traditional to a more modern aesthetic. If someone wants more than just an accent plate, there are so many fantastic collections that include all piece types, from plates to bowls to platters.”

In fact, Replacements’ most popular Thanksgiving pattern, His Majesty by Johnson Brothers, started as an accent plate in the Friendly Village pattern. Demand proved so great for this particular motif, the English manufacturer turned the proud Tom Turkey-adorned plate into its own pattern.

Gobble up serveware Perhaps just as popular as the turkey pattern this season is the

turkey platter. These large platters are not only highly collectible, they’re becoming the entertaining centerpiece for seasonal gatherings.

“You can find a turkey platter that will blend well with any china pattern, from the very old to the very new,” says designer Julie Robbins. “Turkey platters aren’t necessarily bird-themed; you’ll find them in designs ranging from florals to even scenic vistas. I suggest starting a wonderful family tradition of dedicating a special platter for your Thanksgiving turkey and making it the centerpiece of your holiday gathering.”

Turkey platters aren’t only fun, some are also functional. Lenox and several other manufacturers produce turkey-shaped platters and other autumn themed serving pieces in alternative metal serveware. This is a special alloy that maintains a constant temperature

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His Majesty is a Thanksgiving favorite. to keep foods warm or cold when heated or chilled.

Tabletop trends for turkey day Whether you’re planning a huge buffet or an intimate dinner with close family and friends, Robbins says the color trends for Thanksgiving entertaining remain a bright version of fall: strong oranges, sages and brilliant turquoises.

Both individual candles and groupings of candles are popular for the Thanksgiving tabletop. Burlap is also a hot trend for table runners or place settings.

And if Tom Turkey isn’t the right design element for your table, Robbins says you can still create a seasonal feel, minus the bird. “You can use fall leaf or even woodland patterns to create a classic Thanksgiv-

ing table without going with a turkey motif. Beautiful classic fruit patterns give your table that horn of plenty flair.”

Robbins suggests tying this look together by combining whole spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg with natural elements like nuts, small pumpkins, fall fruits and colorful leaves to create a cornucopia-type centerpiece.

If you need to gobble up more ideas before you serve your big meal, Robbins plans on posting additional seasonal tabletop décor tips on Replacements’ Facebook page throughout the holidays.— BPT

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Make the most of your employee benefits with these 5 tips Most American workers say they understand the importance of their employee benefits and personal finances, yet two out of five admit they know little or nothing about them, new research finds.

As employee benefits season begins, most people seemingly have their financial house in order, saying they prioritize understanding their personal finances (77 percent), having enough medical insurance (74 percent) and being on track to retire comfortably (65 percent), according to the 2015 MassMutual Employee Benefits Security Study. Yet, 38 percent say they know little or nothing about their employer-provided benefits such as health care, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plans and other benefits, the study finds.

MassMutual commissioned the study by KRC Research as part of an initiative to help educate workers about their employer-provided benefits and enable them to make better choices in selecting

(50 percent), Generation X (47 percent), women (44 percent) and those with annual incomes of $50,000 or less (44 percent).

Many workers would appreciate having access to online tools. Seventy-three percent indicate they would be likely use such a tool if it were available free, especially if it were provided by a “trusted and respected financial services company.”

More benefit and personal finance tools are becoming available through employers and many are free, according to Sarsynski. Many employers and benefits providers are introducing new tools to help you prioritize your retirement, health care and insurance protection benefits, she says.

Tips to prioritize your benefits As workers are required to pay more or share more of the cost for their benefits, Sarsynski says, it becomes increasingly important to prioritize your benefits to fit your individual needs and budget: GetRuralLeaderMag.com | NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2015 37

health care coverage, insurance protection, retirement savings and other benefits. The study focused on 1,517 working Americans who were at least age 18 in a wide variety of jobs and industries.

“Personal finances continue to bedevil many Americans, especially when it comes to understanding and making the most of their employee benefits,” says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual Retirement Services and Worksite Insurance.

“Fortunately, there are resources for people to turn to get help in prioritizing and managing both their benefits and finances.”

While many people assert they do just fine managing their finances, 37 percent find doing so “somewhat” or “very difficult” and 40 percent say personal financial problems are a distraction at work, according to the study. Some groups find personal finance more difficult than others, including Millennials (58 percent), parents

* Health care coverage is the most important benefit unless you are already protected by a spouse’s medical plan. * If you are married - especially if you have children - securing life insurance and disability insurance are critical to your family’s well-being. * Save as much as you can as early as you can for retirement to take advantage of the long-term benefits of compound earnings. At a minimum, contribute enough to your employer’s 401(k) or other retirement savings plan to obtain any matching contributions. * It’s less critical for lower-paid employees earning the minimum wage or close to it to save for retirement because Social Security will replace a relatively high percentage of your pre-retirement earnings.

Other benefits such as health care and insurance protection are likely more important. * Take advantage of employer-provided wellness benefits to boost your physical, emotional and financial health.—BPT

What you do matters.

Veterans: Are you missing out on key benefits?

There are currently 19.6 million veterans in the United States. These hard working men and women have access to a variety of programs and benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs during active duty and retirement - yet many are not taking full advantage. Why? One reason is that the VA system can be difficult to navigate. That’s where the Military Order of the Purple Heart National Service Officers can help.

NSOs are accredited veteran representatives located at VA regional offices, medical centers or clinics, and

military bases throughout the country. Guidance from these experts can make all the difference for veterans of all ages.

In 2014, National Service Officers helped over 19,000 veterans get over 300 million dollars in lifetime benefits from the VA. “My job is to get them [veterans] the most compensation I possibly can within the guidelines, but I also want to take care of them,” says Sandra Ripe of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Program. “I always encourage them to go to the VA and

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Let us know @RuralLeaderMag get enrolled.”

Ripe says a main piece of her job is making veterans comfortable so they can start talking about their experiences. “We talk and figure out what’s going on. Often they don’t think of certain things or don’t realize issues they may be having are combat related, such as tinnitus,” she says.

While veterans can file claims on their own, Ripe doesn’t recommend it. NSOs are experts who not only have ongoing training in the legislation, regulations and precedents, they have relationships within the veteran community they can leverage.

“If I get a really tough case, I can go to appeals at the VA and ask how to put it in, and they will help me, because wording is very important,” Sandra says.

Her primary goal is to put the fully developed claim in correctly the first time with all the proper documentation and evidence to back it up. If submitted incorrectly and a claim has to go into the appeals system, it can take 2-3 years to be resolved opposed to the 4.5 month average a first-time claim takes to make its way through the system.

This complex and time-consuming process is why many veterans miss out on important benefits. The Military Order of the Purple Heart National Service Program, which is funded by the Purple Heart Foundation, assists all veterans who are trying to navigate programs and obtain benefits through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. In addition to health

and wellness programs, these benefits include: * Compensation and pension * Veteran’s preference housing * Education * Employment services * Job training * Death and burial benefits Another function of the program is the National Appeals Office in Washington D.C., where expert professional representation is provided to veterans whose claims have been denied at the regional office.

This program is one of the few Veteran Service Organizations eligible to take selected cases to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

This Veterans Day, celebrate the service men and women in your life by ensuring they are getting the benefits they deserve. NSOs are available to be advisors and confidants to veterans who struggle to speak openly to friends and family about their time in the service as well as current struggles. They help veterans get the care they need and the benefits they deserve.

Consider making a tax-deductible, nonprofit donation to the Purple Heart Foundation to help support this important program. Visit www.purpleheartfoundation.org to find out how easy it is to help.—BPT

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