Rural Leader Magazine December 2017

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

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Editor’s Note

Dear Readers,

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

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn.

Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely,

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

The

Hidden Dangers of Oversharing on Social Media

Locking doors and windows and leaving a light on used to deter criminals from breaking into homes when you were away on vacation, but our obsession with sharing photos and experiences in real time on social media has created a whole new security risk for travelers. According to Mercury Insurance, burglaries involving social media have become all too common these days.

“Instead of looking for physical signs that a home is unoccupied, burglars can simply scan Instagram posts, monitor Twitter feeds and check Facebook for signs that someone isn’t home. Posted photos can also show them exactly what to look for when they break in,” says Mercury Insurance Vice President of Claims Kevin Quinn. “Oversharing on social media is commonplace and built-in smartphone features like geotagging, which share the user’s exact location when they post, are only making things easier for thieves.”

One example is a Mercury claimant who took his family on vacation to Cancun, Mexico. The family was very active on social media, publicizing their upcoming vacation and continuing to post updates throughout the trip. Thieves used this information to break into the claimant’s home and steal nearly $200,000 worth of personal property, along with a Mercedes-Benz parked in the driveway. Many of the items stolen were pictured on the family’s social media accounts, so the thieves knew exactly what to target.

“It’s important to make sure no one in your family is posting your travel plans. Facebook posts checking into restaurants or Instagram photos of your family’s vacation blatantly advertise that you’re away from home and put your property at risk,” adds Quinn.

Quinn offers the following social media tips to consider before taking off on your vacation:

* Never share photos of your belongings. Be careful about displaying any expensive belongings on

social media that might entice thieves. Steer clear of posting pictures of expensive jewelry, cash, designer clothing and accessories, and electronics.

* Don’t tag your location. Disable the geotagging feature on your smartphone and resist the urge to check in at locations while you’re away.

* Avoid uploading photos during your vacation. Wait until you’re home to share your family’s trip.

* Be selective about what and with whom you share. Limit your following or friend base on your personal accounts and adjust your privacy settings so that others have a limited view of your profiles. You never know if a friend of a friend is looking at your photos or other posts.

* Never announce your vacation plans on your social media channels. If you plan to go out of town, consider having a neighbor check on your home, or hiring a trusted friend or family member to housesit.

* Verify friend requests. It’s easy for people to pretend to be someone they’re not online, so don’t get “catfished.” Be wary of connecting with people you don’t know.

* Power down your PC. Disable the internet connection to cut off access to any personal information stored on your computer, because unattended machines are easy marks for hackers.

“Live in the moment and enjoy your time with your family. The purpose of vacation is to relax, recharge and experience things in person, not just on a screen. Save the photo sharing and status updates for when you return home - it could make the difference between whether you need to file an insurance claim after your well-deserved time away or not,” adds Quinn.—BPT

America's Small Town 2017

It is with great pleasure that we present the 2017 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.

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!—

Director Enrichment Services Program Columbus, GA

Dr.

Author/Creative Writing Professor Bethesda, NC

Jerry Gonzalez Executive Director GALEO.org

Dr. Mary L. Good An Organic Chemist Grapevine, TX

James Goodnight Co-Founder SAS Institute Salisbury, NC

Jason Porter Author/Prophet/Founder Believer's Circle Ministries Olive Branch, MS

Host/Life Coach/Journalist Orlando, FL

U.

Co-Founder/Partner

Co-Founder Hard Rock Cafe`/House of Blues Jackson, TN

Maxine

U. S. Represenative California St. Louis, MO

Dr. Renee Sunday Life Coach/Radio/TV Host/Motivational Speaker Birmingham, AL

G. Tony Weeks Prophet/Pastor Kingdom Movement Dallas, TX

Thoughtful Gifts For Colleagues: 4 Easy Steps to Create Delight

It’s that time of year when employees are seeking meaningful and appropriate holiday gifts for their coworkers and clients.

While the process should be fun, because such gifts can inadvertently send unspoken messages to their recipients, making the right choice at the right time can be surprisingly tricky. No one wants to come across as impersonal or lacking in good taste, but it’s all too easy to pick something that’s too expensive or too impractical to make the statement you’re intending to make.

With that thought in mind, consider these guidelines for buying or making gifts for your coworker that are memorable and appropriate.

*Consider practicality. If the present is unlikely to be used or consumed, it’s a mismatch and a waste of money. For example, even the rarest or priciest bottle of wine will be unimpressive to a client who doesn’t drink. Before buying, attempt to learn something about the recipient’s preferences, then picture what he or she will do with the gift once he or she receives it.

*Incorporate name(s). Whenever possible, personalize your selection by adding your boss’, colleague’s or direct report’s name to the gift. Research shows people across many demographics get excited when hearing or seeing their own monikers. Fortunately,

Staples offers a wide variety of ideas for quality presents that can be easily personalized for each recipient.

*Don’t scrimp on presentation. Nothing ruins a gift faster than uninspired or slipshod packaging that seems like an afterthought. Make sure all of your gifts are presented in attractive, sturdy boxes, baskets and/ or bags that add to their overall effect.

Myka Meier, Founder of Beaumont Etiquette and expert authority on business etiquette says of holiday gift-giving in the workplace, “It is important to gift both colleagues and clients during the holiday season, as it is a great relationship building opportunity to establish rapport while showing respect and gratitude.” Myka adds, “For colleagues or junior team members, it’s typical to spend around $25. For clients or senior team members, such as a boss, often the entire team will chip in for one larger gift so it shows unity and appreciation from the entire team”

Taking care of your employees during the season of giving doesn’t need to be difficult or stressful. Check out how Staples can help you find and personalize the perfect gifts and greeting cards.—BPT

Five Tips for Staying Healthy this Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, it is as important as ever to stay healthy. With holiday parties and family gatherings, illnesses like the flu can spread easily - and you don’t want to miss out on the festivities.

As the largest provider of influenza vaccine to the U.S., Sanofi Pasteur encourages you to help protect yourself and those around you from influenza with an annual flu vaccination.

While everyone six months of age and older, with rare exception, should get an annual flu vaccination, it is especially important for adults age 65 years and older, as the flu can be particularly devastating for this population.

Combined with pneumonia, flu is one of the top ten leading causes of death in older adults in the United States.1 On average, every four minutes, an adult age 65 years and older is hospitalized due to flu or flu-related complications, and every 12 minutes, an adult in the same age group dies as a result of flu or flu-related complications.

Here are five things you can do to help beat germs and promote health this holiday season.

1. Get an annual flu vaccination. While many mistakenly think of the flu as only a mild illness and often confuse it with a cold, it is a contagious respi-

ratory illness that can be severe and life-threatening, even for healthy individuals, and it can make the holiday season unbearable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting an annual flu vaccination is the single best way to help prevent the flu each season.

2. Ask your healthcare provider about which flu vaccine is right for you. While an annual flu vaccination is vital for everyone six months of age and older, with rare exception, it is equally important to talk to your healthcare provider about choosing the right flu vaccine for you. Because the immune system weakens with age, making it harder to fight disease, flu can be especially severe for adults age 65 years and older.

Certain vaccines are developed to address the age-related weakening of the immune system, so Sanofi Pasteur encourages everyone to talk to their healthcare provider about choosing the right flu vaccine. To learn more about the impact of influenza on adults age 65 years and older and the importance of choosing the right vaccine, visit http://www.nfid. org/flualert.

3. Spread holiday cheer, not germs. Be sure to wash your hands often with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after preparing food. Make handwashing part of

your pre-cooking and pre-meal routine for the entire family.

4. Bundle up! While the holidays bring warmth and cheer, the weather outside may suggest otherwise. It’s important to bundle up to stay dry and warm during the cold, damp winter months. Be sure to wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including light, warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves and waterproof boots.

5. Head to bed. If you do catch a cold or the flu, try to limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.6 The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone down, except to get medical care or for other necessities.

Don’t miss out on time spent with family and friends this holiday season. By following these simple tips and getting an annual flu vaccination, you can help prevent the spread of influenza and its potentially severe complications.—BPT

Simple Ways to Survive the Holiday Season

For most of us, the holidays are the busiest time of year. From finding the best deals to stuffing stockings, it’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle and forget the spirit of the season. Instead of enjoying valuable time with family and friends, the holidays are often defined by a never-ending to-do list.

This year, however, survive the chaos surrounding the season by following these tips and tricks.

Host a potluck. Instead of tackling the stress of cooking a big holiday meal all by yourself, dish out some of the responsibility to make it more enjoyable for everyone. Encourage guests to bring an entree, side or dessert they could not imagine their holidays without. Not only will everyone be satisfied, but it also will spark conversation on favorite holiday traditions. Even more, the sharing will take quite a bit of weight off your wallet.

Stay connected with family and friends near and far. It can be difficult to bring all loved ones together during the holidays, but one of the best tools for staying in touch during the holidays is right in your pocket - your smartphone.

Drink lots of water . We all know the feeling of having one too many cookies off the dessert tray. To prevent the uncomfortably full feeling of overeating, drink lots of water before, during and after your holiday meals and gatherings. An added bonus, sugary and alcoholic drinks are nearly always at hand this time of year, so alternating with glasses of water will keep meals healthier and you feeling better today and

tomorrow!

Embrace the busy. To most, the holidays and chaos are synonymous. Instead of stressing over not being able to achieve it all, embrace the busyness. Time in the car traveling from one gathering to the next shouldn’t be seen as time lost, but rather a great time to bond with family and friends. Similarly, view tasks such as shopping and cooking as yet another opportunity to spend valuable quality time with those you love. Sometimes the best memories are made when running from one thing to the next; cherish all the time you spend together - even in the busiest moments - to make your holiday merrier.

Plan ahead. The best way to make the holidays more relaxing is to plan ahead - use this holiday season as a starting block. If you try a new recipe that friends and family loved, print it off and put it in the box of house decorations so you have it on hand for next year. Save packaging from this year’s presents and reduce, reuse, recycle in the years to come. And when you take your holiday lights down for the season, wrap them around a piece of cardboard to avoid a tangled mess next time. A little planning this season will make next year easier than ever!

At the end of the day, the holidays are about focusing on what matters most - spending valuable time with loved ones. The holidays will still be merry and bright, even if a few items are still left on the never-ending to-do list!—BPT