January/February 2015
Diversity Collisions in the Workplace• Five Financial Fitness Habits to Begin the New Year• Expand Your Career Options with a Global Perspective
Special Feature: Tiffany Boyle and Emerge The Magazine •The Search is on for Twenty under Twenty•
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Contents
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMagazine.com Guest Contributors Kevin Eikenberry Author, Consultant, Speaker Dustin Fennell Chief Executive Officer Martial Arts Equipment Direct Lenora Billings-Harris Diversity Strategist Daniel Zimmerman MBA, MHRM, CPC Success Coach Dan's Success Coaching
5 Diversity Collisions in the Workplace
20 Leadership and the Martial Arts
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21 Five Financial Fitness Habits to Begin in the New Year
Leadership Exposed
9 Changes to Know Before Filing Your Federal Income Tax Return 10 Special Feature: Tiffany Boyle and Emerge The Magazine 14 Go Ahead, Fall in Love! 16 What if you Learned Leadership Wrong?
22 The Six Smartest Money Moves Millennials Can Make in 2015 23 Expand Your Career Options with a Global Perspective 26 Call for Nominations: Rural Leader Twenty under 20
Steven Vannoy and Craig Ross Authors Stomp the Elephant
Readers’ Forum
Help us find the next Best Small Town Restaurant! Call for nominations is ongoing. Previous Winners Michelle's of Georgetown (GA) Jonah's Fish and Grits (GA) Scoop Deli and Ice Cream (GA) Nominate Today!!! Visit RuralLeaderMagazine.com for details. Like us on Facebook!
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMagazine.com— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com
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Editor’s Note
Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Reader's Voice
Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I loved the December issue! I can't wait to see what's coming next. —C. Nunnally Bromley, KY Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks again for another great issue! I especially appreciate the Best Small Town Restaurant feature. The Scoop Deli in Thomasville is one of my favorite places to dine. —Francis W. Bainbridge, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for the article, What Employers Want. The article was timely and informative. —Brandon C. Farmville, VA
Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thanks for another great issue! —Jean W. Cuthbert, GA
Dear Rural Leader Magazine, I enjoyed the Small Town America's 100 feature! This is an awesome undertaking. Thanks for the effort and commitment to leader service is small areas. —Carolyn A. Key West, FL Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for your article on Five Rules to Negotiate a Better Salary. The article was timely, for I am considering changing careers. I learned valuable tips to move forward. —Kathy J. Troy, AL
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
Dear Readers, Happy New Year! Last year, we introduced Rural Leader Magazine to rave reviews. Consequently, this outpouring of support created the opportunity to publish six times a year! I am sure that 2015 will allow continual growth not only nationally but also abroad! Inside this issue, there are a number of insightful articles on various aspects of leadership, career, and financial management. The call for nominations of Rural Leader Twenty under 20 is now open! Nominations will be accepted January 1st-February 13, 2015. Previously, we aimed to spotlight leaders under twenty in each issue, however, an annual issue will now showcase these deserving young people. We solicit your support to identify exemplary youth around the globe (See page 27 for details). The twenty chosen leaders will be featured in the March/April 2015 issue of Rural Leader Magazine. Also in this issue, we are proud to introduce a Special Feature: Ms. Tiffany Boyle, chief executive officer at Emerge The Magazine (See page 10). Learn about this thought provoking, informational, and trendsetting publication. Again, I am excited about the New Year and the possibilities for Rural Leader Magazine. Thanks again for your support! Happy Reading!
Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Another great issue! I am excited to see this publication grow nationally! Keep up the great work. —Daniel E. Money, MS Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Thank you for the article on Saving Money on Your Holiday Shopping List. I learned valuable tips to stick to my budget during the holiday season. —Jan H. Macon, GA Dear Rural Leader Magazine, Keep shooting for the stars! I know one day soon that this publication will span the globe! Thanks for the inspiration! —John E. Newark, New Jersey
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MLK Day January 19, 2015 Keep the Dream Alive... 4 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
Diversity Collisions in the Workplace: Silo Mentality versus the Networked Reality
Lenora Billings-Harris
Diversity is fact of life, with workplaces being representative communities of different ethnicities, sexual orientations, skill levels age groups and more. With the induction of the newest additions to the work force, the stark contrast in the way members of each generation operate has never been more pronounced, yet one aspect of these differences – silo mentality-- has been grossly ignored. This failure continues to negatively
impact organizational results. difference between experience As more people are working and fresh ideas that is one of the past the age of retirement or enter- most defining factors of diversity ing the workforce early, workplace collisions that exist in the modern workplace. dynamics have shifted to include four generations of working class Silo Mentality is a term that is people. One of the major repercus- gaining increasing popularity in sions of the generation gap is that corporate circles, even though silo it has reinforced the silo mentality behavior has existed within orgato such an extent that it results in nizations for many years. a marked decrease in productivity The Silo Mentality as defined by the Business Dictionary is a mindand innovative thinking within set present when certain departthe corporate hierarchy. It is this RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 5
ments or sectors do not wish to share information with others in the same company. This type of mentality will reduce efficiency in the overall operation, reduce morale, and may contribute to the demise of a productive company culture. Often this silo mentality is seen in the dynamic between executives in the upper echelons of the corporate structure and their subordinates. In order of rank, most corporate structures are comprised of Traditionalists (1928-1947), Baby Boomers (19481964), Generation Xers (1965-1998) and Generation Yers/ Millenials (1977-1997). Before the digital revolution, there were fewer generations present in the workplace thus this organizational behavior went on without questions or challenges. Each generation has intrinsic social norms; however there may not necessarily be four generations at play in the workforce as it relates to communication, but rather two definite groups with different viewpoints on workplace etiquette and communication. Traditionalist and the Boomers thrive on face-to-face communication and active engagement. In a technologically driven society where increasing numbers of the workforce actively participate in networked communication, it is inevitable that there is a breakdown in workplace communication. This disconnect is as great as trying to send a text message to a rotary phone – it just won’t work. Many organizations that are headed by Traditionalists or Boomers are not sufficiently equipped to address the impact of these generational conflicts that arise from the different mediums of communication.
Avoiding the conflict increases the pervasiveness of the silo mentality. The Traditionalists and Boomers generally expect everyone to conform to their status quo. With a younger workforce that thrives on instant gratification and high-tech impersonal communication, the status quo is threatened. The Traditionalists’ and Boomer’s inability or unwillingness to adapt a more inclusive means of communicating in the workplace can result in the silo mentality. Holding on to information seems easier and more powerful than sharing and collaborating. Being the majority stakeholders in the upper echelons of the corporate structure, face-to-face communication is essential. A breakdown in communication is inevitable when the self-reliant and technology-oriented Generation Xers and Generation Yers thrive on networked communication and social media platforms. On the other side of the coin, while the Generation Xers and Millennials are the groups that tend to accept diversity the most, the difference in values and modus operandi of the Traditionalists and the Boomers is not favorably accepted. Lack of acceptance of the differing communication preferences means that there are few alternatives to effective conflict resolution. Effective solutions to these communication breakdowns is not as simple as deciding who is right and who is wrong--- which is a waste of time anyway. The fact is both communication frameworks can be effective if they account for diversity and aim at fostering inclusion. Continued on page 13
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Leadership Exposed: Things You Thought You Knew About Leadership By Daniel Zimmerman
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uch has been written about leadership: rules, pointers, styles, and biographies of inspiring leaders throughout world history. But there are certain leadership ideas that we ourselves fail to recognize and realize in the course of reading books. Here is a short list of things you thought you knew about leadership. 1. Leaders come in different flavors. There are different types of leaders and you will probably encounter more than one type in your lifetime. Formal leaders are those we elect into positions or offices such as the senators, congressmen, and presidents of the local clubs. Informal leaders or those we look up to by virtue of their wisdom and experience such as in the case of the elders of a tribe, or our grandparents; or by virtue of their expertise and contribution on a given field such as Albert Einstein in the field of Theoretical Physics and Leonardo da Vinci in the field of the Arts. Both formal and informal leaders practice a combination of leadership styles. Lewin’s three basic leadership styles – authoritative, participative, and delegative · Likert’s four leadership styles – exploitive authoritative, benevolent authoritative, consultative, and participative · Goleman’s six emotional leadership styles - visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. 2. Leadership is a process of becoming. Although certain people seem to be born with innate leadership qualities, without the right environment and exposure, they may fail to develop their full potential. So like learning how to ride a bicycle, you can also learn how to become a leader and hone your leadership abilities. Knowledge on leadership theories and skills may be formally gained by enrolling in leadership seminars, workshops, and conferences. Daily interactions with people provide the opportunity to observe and practice leadership theories. Together, formal and informal learning will help you gain leadership attitudes, gain leadership insights, and thus furthering the cycle of learning. You do not become a leader in one day and just stop. Life-long learning is important in becoming a good leader for each day brings new experiences that put your knowledge, skills, and attitude to a test. 3. Leadership starts with you. The best way to develop leadership qualities is to apply it to your own
life. As an adage goes “action speaks louder than words.” Leaders are always in the limelight. Keep in mind that your credibility as a leader depends much on your actions: your interaction with your family, friends, and co-workers; your way of managing your personal and organizational responsibilities; and even the way you talk with the newspaper vendor across the street. Repeated actions become habits. Habits in turn form a person’s character. Steven Covey’s book entitled 7 Habits of Highly Effective People provides good insights on how you can achieve personal leadership. 4. Leadership is shared. Leadership is not the sole responsibility of one person, but rather a shared responsibility among members of an emerging team. A leader belongs to a group. Each member has responsibilities to fulfill. Formal leadership positions are merely added responsibilities aside from their responsibilities as members of the team. Effective leadership requires members to do their share of work. Starting as a mere group of individuals, members and leaders work towards the formation of an effective team. In this light, social interaction plays a major role in leadership. To learn how to work together requires a great deal of trust between and among leaders and members of an emerging team. Trust is built upon actions and not merely on words. When mutual respect exists, trust is fostered and confidence is built. 5. Leadership styles depend on the situation. How come dictatorship works for Singapore but not in the United States of America? Aside from culture, beliefs, value system, and form of government, the current situation of a nation also affects the leadership styles used by its formal leaders. There is no rule that only one style can be used. Most of the time, leaders employ a combination of leadership styles depending on the situation. In emergency situations such as periods of war and calamity, decision-making is a matter of life and death. Thus, a nation’s leader cannot afford to consult with all departments to arrive at crucial decisions. The case is of course different in times of peace and order---different sectors and other branches of government can freely interact and participate in governance. Another case in point is in leading organizations. When the staffs are highly
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motivated and competent, a combination of high delegative and moderate participative styles of leadership is most appropriate. But if the staffs have low competence and low commitment, a combination of high coaching, high supporting, and high directing behavior from organizational leaders is required. Now that you are reminded of these things, keep in mind that there are always ideas that we think we already know; concepts we take for granted, but are actually the most useful insights on leadership.— About the Author Daniel Zimmerman MBA, MHRM, CPC, who is a Success Coach at Dan's Success Coaching (D.S.C.). He has nine years experience in the field of education and strong business acumen. For more information, visit http://dansuccesscoaching.com/ Sign up for a free newsletter.
Changes to Know Before Filing your Federal Income Tax Return
Most tax law changes don’t affect the average taxpayer. That’s fortunate news, considering the U.S. averaged at least one tax law change per day every day between 2000 and 2012. Some tax changes generally happen every year, such as inflation adjustments to standard deduction and exemption amounts. Others happen every few years, like expiration or renewal of credits and deductions, new taxes and tax increases. What can you do to ensure you maximize the benefit or minimize the negative impact of tax law
changes each year? It’s quite sima tax calculator like TaxACT’s at ple, says TaxACT spokesperson www.taxact.com/tax-calculator. Whether you start your taxes Jessi Dolmage. early or wait until the April 15, “Do a dry run of your federal income tax return each fall,” 2015, deadline, here’s a list of key Dolmage recommends. “DIY tax changes that could impact your programs are updated with the 2014 tax return: latest tax laws every fall so you can * Personal and dependent exemptions increase to $3,950 per get an estimate of your refund or liability as it currently stands. The person. * The 2014 standard deduction Q&A also reviews credits and deductions you can still take advanis $6,200 for a single taxpayer tage of in the next few months.” and $9,100 for a head of house You can do tax planning and hold. The standard deduction for marriedcalculate your 2014 taxes with a Continued on page 13 DIY tax return preparation solution (most are free to try) or with RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 9
Special Feature
Tiffany Boyle and Emerge The Magazine • Emerging promotes novice business owners to in Meet Tiffany Boyle, founder and chief executive crease business awareness and to raise revenue officer of Emerge The Magazine, a company that • Diversity and Inclusion promotes non-profits and focuses on promoting entrepreneurs and cultural causes to create awareness of cultural and societal events. Boyle is an expert in the field of marketissues ing and entrepreneurship. She is also the executive director of Access Virginia a non-profit organization • Emerge Stamp of Approval consists of an array of that provides access to live theatre and public venues articles about industry leaders and best practices • International promotes business owners outside the with open captioning and audio description accomUnited States and published in English and several modations for the disabled. Boyle is a Florida native additional languages currently residing in Virginia. She is a graduate in Business from Virginia Wesleyan College and attends • Networking provides opportunities to connect with others to engage in dialogue, to exchange ideas, and the University of Maryland pursuing a Master’s Degree in Management. to share information. The January 2015 issue is jammed pack with Founded in 2011, Emerge The Magazine provides succinct resources and features including a cover exposure for small businesses and their owners with story about R and B Diva, Leela James, business a broad base of readers that include decision makmogul, Kerry Hines, Crystal Victoria, president of ers, executives, managers, activists, college students/ Target Evolution, Zaina Adamu, CNN Producer, The interns, and community and political leaders. The publication offers solutions and advice through vari- Greers, activists to spread stroke awareness, Tawaous articles on how to prepare, to start, and to grow a nna Williams, a hope coach born with arms, Access Virginia, and much more! business, and how to be a leader. For more information: The magazine consists of the following five feature Visit EmergeTheMagazine.com categories designed to promote, to recognize, and to E-mail: General@EmergeTheMagazine.com educate a broad base of constituents within a global 773-377-5792 industry: 10 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
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Photos Courtesy of Emerge The Magazine
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Diversity, cont'd from page 6 The Traditionalists and Boomers have mastered the art of building interpersonal relationships, stating the goals and giving precise directives. While Traditionalists and Boomers are more "I" focused they do understand the value of teamwork and facilitate this with communication processes that are focused and on point. The Millennials and the Generation Xers have mastered inclusive communication that factors in feedback, opinions and active engagement. They have just managed to do so without the need for physical contact; they have networked communication to facilitate real time interaction. "Occupy Wall Street" and "Twitter Revolutions" are examples of the power of this dynamic. What is required in a workplace is collaboration between the groups to create communication strategies that account for the diversity within the workplace. Overcoming silo mentality has often been
ignored because the work required to remedy the situation takes focus, willingness to value differences and a genuine commitment to change the corporate culture. Progressive organizations are taking the required actions to close the generational gap through maximizing the strengths of each successive generation to build harmony, foster effective communication and mitigate silo mentalities. These organizations do not just measure the problem, they commit to the solutions.— About the Author As a diversity strategist, Lenora partners with organizations to help them make diversity a competitive advantage. She has been included as one of 100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), and was named by Diversity Woman Magazine as one of the twenty top influential diversity leaders in the US. http://www.ubuntuglobal.com
Changes, Taxes Continued from page 9 couples filing jointly also increased to $12,400. * Several benefits have expired, although Congress may extend them for 2014 returns. Those include the tuition and fees deduction, educator expense deduction, deduction for mortgage insurance premiums, cancellation of some mortgage debt, nonbusiness energy property credit, and state and local sales tax deduction. * Did you purchase health insurance from the federal or a state-sponsored marketplace in 2014? If so, your marketplace will send Form 1095-A by Jan. 31. Simply enter the form information when your tax program asks for it. If you qualified for the premium tax credit toward marketplace insurance, the information you need to report on your return will also be on Form 1095-A. Your credit amount, which was based on your best estimate of your household income at the time you applied for insurance, will be reconciled with your actual income reported on your tax return. If your income or household size changed since applying for insurance, so can your credit amount. You may
receive a larger refund if your income was less than estimated, or you may have to pay some of the credit back if your income was more than estimated. * If you didn’t have minimum essential health insurance for three or more months in 2014 and don’t qualify for an exemption, you may pay a shared responsibility payment. The penalty is the higher of 1 percent of your 2014 income or $95 per adult and $47.50 per uninsured dependent under 18, up to $285 per family. Your tax program will ask simple questions to calculate your payment. If you qualify for an exemption, keep in mind some exemptions require you to submit an application and supporting documentation before filing your tax return. Only paper applications are being accepted by marketplaces, so processing can take weeks. Once accepted, your marketplace will issue an exemption certificate number (ECN) that you report on your tax return in order to avoid the penalty. Learn about more tax law changes at www.irs. gov and www.taxact.com/taxinfo. Visit healthcare. gov and healthcareact.com for premium credit and exemption information.—BPT
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Go Ahead, Fall in Love By Kevin Eikenberry
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ive Love Affairs Leaders Should Have Caught up in the spirit of Valentine`s Day, that day we celebrate romantic love, I began thinking again about the connection between the words love and leadership. Before you even read about these five love affairs, you might be put off by using the word love in the context of your work. Don`t be. Am I just tossing in the word love to make nice alliteration and a connection to Valentine`s Day? Definitely not. The best leaders bring more than their physical and mental selves to their work. They bring their passion, beliefs, values and emotions too. They realize, through learning or intuition, that they are leading full human beings, with emotions as well as intellect, and that to best engage, develop and lead them they must bring their whole selves to their work. Love, indeed. Will some of you dismiss this idea and stop reading? Possibly. Will some read the words, nod and then take no action? Certainly. There is another group though – those that will read the words that follow and decide to boldly take action, realizing that the best leaders do things that average leaders don`t. Join that bold group. Go ahead, fall in love. The Five Love Affairs: Learning. There are at least two reasons why I believe leaders must be continual learners. First, the work of leaders is complex, and there are always things we need to learn. If we want to encourage others to be learners (and continue to build their skills) the best way to encourage that is by your actions. I've written and spoken those ideas for many years. People can get them intellectually, but it is only when we rekindle our personal love affair with learning, our thirst for growth, that we will begin to act like (and be) a learner every day. When you fall in love with learning you will build your skills and lead by a powerful example. Your Purpose. Do you really believe in the mission of your organization? Cynics will call this "drinking the kool-aid," but when was the last time you saw a highly successful cynic? The best leaders are passionate about the purpose for their organization and work hard to connect that passion to their daily work. When you are connected to purpose, you find more meaning in
your work. In study after study, researchers find that one of the things people most want from work is to find meaning and purpose in it. Share the purpose. Fall in love with it. And you will help others do the same. Your Customers. All organizations have Customers. I know you might call them Clients, Patients, Students or something else. And whatever you call them your organization exists to serve someone (which is why I always capitalize these words). For your organization to be its best, you would want your team members to do extraordinary things for Customers, to go the extra mile, to really care wouldn't you? We can try to train people to do those things, create procedures, process, expectations and standards. It might work. But when people genuinely care, the policies matter less and the results will be consistently better. Do you love your Customers? Are you helping your team fall in love with them too? Your Team. The people that you lead, as a group, need your support, advice, and encouragement. Have you ever worked for a leader who you could tell really cared about the group they were leading? How did you know? (I doubt it was because they sent an email saying they loved the team). You knew through their actions. They supported you. They defended you. They helped you. They fought for resources for you. These actions show love. Are you providing them? Your Team Members. Hear me clearly — I don`t mean that you should strive to be friends with those you lead. Leadership is not`t a popularity contest and your goal should not be to make friends. But making friends is different than caring deeply for people. It is different than working to understand them and their needs. It is different that knowing and helping them see their strengths and weaknesses. The best leaders are willing to work hard to build relationships and trust with the individual they hope to lead. There is no better way in the long term to be a successful leader. If you love them, how are you showing it? As I read back over my words I realized that in every case these leadership love affairs work because, Continued on page 19
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What If You Learned Leadership Wrong? By Steven Vannoy & Craig Ross
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Creating Change Is Easier Than Most Make It eadership is about creating change. In order to beat the competition, your results tomorrow have to be better than they are today. But what if most people make creating change – leadership – harder than it has to be? Evidence abounds that people are sabotaging their own efforts at creating different results. Ernst and Young reported that 66% of corporate strategies are never executed. Have the standards for effective leadership fallen so far that a 34% success rate makes you a success? You can change your results – starting now. An Old Formula That Gets Old Results What happens if what we've learned about leadership is wrong? As we outline in our new book, Stomp the Elephant in the Office (Wister and Willows, 2008), too many people use an out-dated approach to creating change – and it costs them, their colleagues and organizations dearly. The traditional approach to change consists of four steps: One: Identify the problem. Two: Have an expert determine a solution. Three: Tell people how to change. Four: Try to overcome the resistance created by the first three steps. There are many variations to the old formula for change, but the results are predictable: • Revenue is lost. • People turn themselves off so future change efforts are pointless. • Confidence in leadership drops. • Work relationships and job satisfaction plummet. • Little progress is made. Why people use this costly approach is shocking. In an effort to change things (outcomes) ineffective bosses try to change people. This "fix-it" mentality reeks of the idea that those a boss is responsible for are somehow flawed. But
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people are not flawed – it is the change process that is flawed. People do not resist change; they resist being changed. It's Simple: What's Necessary For Change Countless books have been written about change. But what if all you needed to know about successful change could be condensed into a formula that fits on the back of your business card? While there are many subtle components, almost all the books on change essentially reveal three conditions that are invariably part of every effective change initiative. Together they constitute a tool that always allows and supports productive change – and it all fits on a business card. The three conditions that support change are: 1. Participants in the change process feel good about themselves. 2. The process includes participants' ideas. 3. The process includes participants' motivations. Bill Riddle is the regional manager for TP Mechanical, an employer of over 300 people based in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Backlog," or secured business in the pipeline, is the lifeline of the company. In May of 2007 that pipe was nearly empty. Lay-offs were often discussed. "We knew we had to change things," said Bill. "And to change results, it meant we had to change our leadership. We embedded the 3 Conditions that Support Change into everything we did." Outstanding leadership has dual rewards: enhanced lives and greater profitability. For their use of this leadership tool, Bill's organization received both. "You could see the impact on our culture immediately. Even though times were tough, people responded to how we honored and included them. It was all the proof I needed that people want to be great." It's probably no surprise that TP Mechanical's bottom line changed next. "In eight months we increased the volume
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in our pipeline by over five times. This provides us with the resources we need to expand and go after new markets," said Bill. And what is their greatest resource? "Our energized workforce that now takes ownership of their results." Using The 3 Conditions That Support Change Utilizing these critical conditions for change are easier than one might think. Here's what Bill and the team do: To ensure that people feel good about themselves … they provide the proper feedback. When people are doing things well, Bill's team provides others with sincere, specific and selective remarks. Instead of "Thanks for the nice job," people hear "Your flawless work allowed us to hit our quality objective and deliver before the deadline." These comments are the elixir for creating a pro-active culture. To ensure that the process includes participant's ideas … Bill's team asks questions. In most companies plans for execution are made in seclusion, sans the people who are doing the work. At TP Mechanical employees are asked, "What ideas do you have to achieve this in less time?" and "What benchmarks do you want to use to measure your progress?" With such questions the workforce sheds their robotic, minimalist approach, and the company gets thinkers who can adapt and drive projects themselves. To ensure that the process includes participant's motivations … the TP Mechanical team taps into what's important to those they lead. In the average company, the ivory tower boss assumes the reason people want to do a good job is to make more money. This same person is then confused when he is hobbled by salary and monetary disputes. Conversely, the TP Mechanical leaders ask, "What drives you?" and "Why is
delivering excellence important to you?" This takes people two steps beyond engagement, and one step beyond buy-in … to an ownership mentality that can't be beat. Using the 3 Conditions that Support Change, Bill proves that the most critical change necessary is the change in how we lead. Instead of trying to change other people, Bill changed himself first, the process second, and the results followed.
Are you making leadership more difficult than it needs to be? What will you change today? Stomp the Elephant in the Office employs the programs and concepts successfully implemented by Pathways to Leadership, Inc., formed by Steven Vannoy and Craig Ross. To find out how big the elephant in YOUR office is, visit Stomp the Elephant. —
Go Head and Fall in Love Continued from page 11 like any great love affair, the lovers make it about the other person. Being a great leader isn't about you. It is about others. When you put that idea into full on action, love is going to abound. By now I hope you know I`m not talking about romantic love, but a deep belief in, passion for, and caring about (in fact, I've written about this idea before, with advice from the singer Van Morrison and tying together love and leadership with listening). I wish you work that you love, and even more, I hope you find ways to show your love through the five love affairs I've suggested to you. About the Author Kevin Eikenberry is a bestselling author, speaker, trainer, consultant and the Chief Potential Officer of the Kevin Eikenberry Group. For more information, visit KevinEikenberry.com.— RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 19
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Leadership and the Martial Arts: Way to Develop Better Leadership in Kids
By Dustin Fennell
onfidence is one of the most important gifts that we can give to our children and ourselves. We know that for a child, confidence is a major ingredient for a successful life. Children who are enrolled in martial arts often discuss how martial arts develops leadership skills. This is because, at an early age at least, a child's level of confidence is most affected by control over their environment. A young person must feel the ability to achieve most of the goals that he or she sets. Being accepted as who we are by the people who are important to us is also an essential ingredient. The only difference between life as a gang member and life as a world class athlete may be the absence or presence of a supportive family environment. A child must also have self-confidence to resist the temptations of gangs and drugs. The confident child has the ability to focus on "the big picture" instead of fretting over temporary setbacks. They are able to evaluate their own achievements according to his or her abilities, not in comparison to the abilities of other people. But where can they get it? Where does confidence come from? A wonderful way to develop it in a child is to enroll them in a martial arts program. The training helps to build self-confidence from the inside out by setting achievable goals in a supportive environment. Studies have shown that the skills learned in the classes have a direct positive effect on a child's self esteem, mental development and academic performance. Parents who enroll their children in classes have noticed substantial increases in self confidence and self esteem and have cited those two changes as among the most desirable effects. At most clubs, the
benefits of self improvement are stressed. Students learn that the only person they are competing against is themselves and that they have the power to change anything and everything in their lives. They are shown that realizing dreams is possible; that it's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but our consistent actions. This is why martial arts are so popular all over the world and have been for centuries. However, you don't have to be a child to reap the benefits of the sport as there are exciting programs available for teens and adults. For the teenager, the sport provides activities that give healthy alternatives to hanging out at the mall or sitting in front of the TV, playing video games. Adults who begin martial arts training see remarkable improvements in strength, stamina and flexibility in a very short time. Physical fitness is not the only benefit however, as participants notice improvements in concentration, reduction of stress, an increase in self discipline and the self confidence that comes from the knowledge that if need be, you can protect yourself and your loved ones. It allows people to become leaders and this is transformed into other aspects of their lives. When you discuss how martial arts develops leadership skills you can ask yourself this question, "so what's training in the arts about?" Well, it's about self esteem. It's about self-confidence. It's about self defense and it's about leadership. It's definitely not about violence.— About the Author Dustin Fennell is owner and chief executive officer of Martial Arts Equipment Direct. For more information, visit http://www.maeqd.com/
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Five Financial Fitness Habits to Begin in the New Year Start saving While many people focus on Your budget should also include personal health goals in the new money set aside for emergencies. year, the beginning of the year is Harper says the old rule-of-thumb also a great time to check your that three month’s salary is enough financial fitness. So how can you to have in your bank account whip your finances into shape? no longer applies in our current South University College of economy. Business, Virginia Beach faculty “We found in the last recession member Dr. Alan Harper says that people who lost their jobs everyone should adopt these five tended to stay out of work much financial habits in 2015: longer than three months,” he says. Establish a budget “You should have six months to a Harper says the first step in year’s worth of income in savings, taking control of your finances is just in case.” to establish a budget. “It is ex Harper says you should also tremely important to know how try to put away 15 percent of much money is coming in, where your take-home income toward it’s going, and allocating it approyour retirement. Many retirement priately,” he says. “Having a budsavings options are available, get allows you to gain a broader including 401(k)s, Roth IRAs and understanding of your spending individual retirement accounts. It habits.” Make sure your budget includes is important to do your homework allowances for food, clothing, gas, before deciding on a long-term investment strategy so that you and even entertainment, Harper are aware of terms, conditions advises. 22 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
and any fees associated with your options. Manage your credit The beginning of the year is a perfect time to check your credit history, and to look for any mistakes on your credit report, Harper advises. Mistakes on your credit report can cost you large sums of money in interest rates, or even keep you from being approved for a loan. “The law requires the three major credit reporting agencies to provide you with one free credit report a year,” Harper says. “Pull those reports and look for discrepancies. If you find one, file a dispute with the credit reporting agency and they will remove the item if it is incorrect.” Harper also says to check your FICO score on the report, make sure you have an understanding of what the score means, and how to improve it if the score is low.
Shop smart Make it a priority to save money while you shop, Harper says. He encourages clipping coupons, and says purchasing membership cards to discount stores like Sam’s Club and Costco can help you save money over time. “Those stores will save you money in the long run on purchases like food, gas, and even personal care items.” Check your insurance Setting aside time at the beginning of the year to check your insurance policies can also save you money. Harper advises that you should review your auto, home and life insurance to make sure you have the proper coverage. “You want to make sure you aren’t paying for coverage that you may no longer need, but you also want to make sure you have adequate coverage in case there is an accident or you need to make a claim,” he says. Many companies also offer discounted rates if you hold multiple policies with them. So, if your auto,
home and life insurance policies are with different companies, you may want to explore the benefits of choosing just one company. “It’s also important to make sure your life insurance policies are sufficient to protect your family from a financial crisis in the event that something happens to you,” Harper notes. “Establishing a budget, saving, staying on top of credit and insurance, and shopping smart all take some work,” Harper points out. “But the rewards to your personal and household bottom line are well worth the effort.” See suprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important information. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options are subject to change. 301 Bendix Road, Suite 100, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 ©2014 South University. Our email address is csprogramadmin@edmc.edu.—
The 6 Smartest Money Moves Millennials can Make in 2015 Money worries know no age limit, and financial to procrastinate, which could add up to plenty of health is important for everyone - which could exbroken resolutions for Generation Y in 2015. plain why financial pledges are among the most com- If you’ve promised yourself you’ll do better at mon New Year’s resolutions. Still, Millennials are a money management in the New Year, here are the six bit more likely than any other age group to be tempt- smartest moves you can make to help you keep that ed into spending too much, according to research by resolution going until 2016 - and beyond. the Barna Group. 1. Use what you know (technology) to help you manage what you want to understand better (fi Forty-one percent of Millennials said they are often or sometimes tempted to spend more than they nances). have or can afford, according to the Barna survey. Millennials are the generation most comfortable with technology. Continued on page 26 Interestingly, 66 percent also said they are tempted RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 23
Expand Your Career Options with a Global Perspective The business world is constantly surroundings in the context of international situations, we have changing and growing, becoming more culturally diverse and inter- found they are better equipped to connected than ever before. Com- participate fully in an increasingly complex world in which everypanies are looking for employees thing from accounting to human who are globally minded - even if the company does not do business resources is touched by global on an international scale - because trends.” West integrates a global focus chances are it employs and serves into courses taught through all a diverse population. Employees who recognize and understand degree programs for this exact reason. If you are thinking about different business opportunities, cultures and strategies can help a going back to college to earn a degree, or if you are considering a company successfully negotiate graduate degree to help enhance diverse situations. Colleges and universities are your career, keep in mind how a globally focused education can recognizing how important it is for students to have a global perhelp you: spective as part of the degree they * Almost every business has earn. a cultural connection. Even the smallest locally owned and op “More and more, the best unierated companies need to obtain versities are choosing to include deep and integrated instruction on materials to do business, and there is a good chance those materiglobal issues,” says Dr. Benjamin S. Pryor, provost and senior vice als are not available in the local president of Western International community. They might not even University (West). “By preparbe available in the same country. ing students to think about their Having employees who under24 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
stand how to navigate complex negotiations with people who may not share the same cultural values and backgrounds can help the company make great business deals with businesses in all parts of the world. * Employees who are able to adapt quickly and easily to changing business environments can help the business stay current and grow as the economic environment fluctuates. These changes do not necessarily need to be international in nature. They can be caused by social, political and economic trends, and an employee who knows how to adapt is a valuable asset. * Often cultural diversity is present within the workplace, especially as families become more mobile. Employees who have the ability to understand and recognize diversity among coworkers and with business partners may be able to blend better in the work environment. They may also be
strong team members who can contribute solutions that encompass a variety of perspectives. * The world is growing smaller as technology becomes more advanced and international dealings become the norm for many businesses. Because of this, companies are setting up partnerships with foreign-established businesses. Employees who have a global cultural awareness may have better success as the international business sector grows. “By creating opportunities to think about diverse
cultures, as well as the practices and business environments they sustain, we give our students a better view of their own roles in our world,” Dr. Pryor says. “In addition, students who think globally offer an additional skill set for employers.” As you look into the degree opportunities available to you, learn whether the degree is taught with a global perspective. It may help you take your career - and the company you are working for - much further.—
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Six Smart Money Moves, Continued from page 23 The majority own and use multiple digital devices for personal and professional applications throughout their everyday lives. But surprisingly, they are also the generation most likely to struggle with financial literacy, studies show. In fact, in a survey by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), just 24 percent of Millennials were able to correctly answer four questions on a five-question financial literacy quiz. Technology can help you get a better handle on your finances. Personal finance tools like Mint.com provide easy money-management. When you create a free account, Mint pulls all your financial information - recurring bills, account balances, etc. - into one location so you see your complete financial picture. The site also helps you create a budget, track your progress and stick to it. A free downloadable app allows you to easily access your information on-the-go via your iPhone, Android, or Windows smartphone. 2. Scrutinize your current spending. It’s impossible to save money - or achieve any other financial goal - until you have a handle on your spending. Was yours out of control in 2014? Gather together all recurring monthly bills, such as utilities and rent, your mobile service provider, groceries, entertainment, etc. Calculate how much you spend in a month. Is it almost as much as you earn? Is it more? Look for areas where you can reduce spending and categorize them as needs versus wants. Cutting unnecessary spending is a good start, but don’t overlook possibilities for trimming necessary expenses as well. For example, it might be a good time to talk to your cable provider about a cheaper plan. 3. Build a budget. In 2014, 61 percent of American adults don’t have a budget and don’t keep close track of their spending, according to a Harris Poll commissioned by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Not having a budget is like attempting to quarterback a football game without a game plan. Budgeting not only helps you stay in control of your spending and saving, it can make you feel more in control, confident and empowered in other areas, too. Your budget should provide for necessary recurring expenses (like food, utilities, rent, transportation), retirement and regular savings, as well as some money for fun. You can find plenty of budget templates through online resources. 4. Establish an emergency fund. More than a third of Americans 18 and older say they have no savings (excluding retirement savings), according to the 2014 Consumer Financial Litera-
cy Survey. Rainy-day savings can help you pay for emergencies - like an unexpected car repair or dental work - without forcing you into debt. What’s more, putting money into an emergency fund with every paycheck helps you form a savings habit, and can ease the emotional stress of worrying about financial emergencies. 5. Set financial goals. Look back at 2014 and assess which goals you achieved and which need to be refreshed for 2015. Consider what you did that helped you succeed in certain areas or where you might need to adjust. Evaluate where you most need to focus your attention. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything at once. Instead, focus on one or two key financial goals. 6. Keep an eye on your credit. Sixty percent of American adults haven’t reviewed their credit score within the past 12 months, and 65 percent haven’t looked at their credit report, according to the Harris survey. Credit is a vital element of overall financial health. Begin regularly reviewing your credit report and score - doing so does not negatively impact your score. Mint provides users with a free credit score and summary through its website and app. Knowing your credit status can help you better understand what you need to do to improve it. Good credit not only affects your ability to secure future credit - such as credit cards or a mortgage - your credit score can influence what you pay for some forms of insurance, whether utilities might require you to provide a security deposit when opening a new account, and even your ability to get a good job if you apply with an employer who requires a credit check. Good financial habits can make a lifetime of impact, so this New Year, no matter who you are, make the promise to yourself to be good with your money. Keeping these six money moves in mind, 2015 will be your best financial year yet.—BPT
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  We value the efforts and contributions of youth in small rural communities nationally and abroad. Therefore, Rural Leader Magazine will feature 20 deserving individuals under the age 20 in its March/April 2015 edition. The 20 under 20 honor was first bi-monthly beginning with our March 2014 issue. The response was overwhelmingly positive response, so we decided to dedicate an entire edition to the Under 20 Honor. The call for nominations is open January 1 through February 13, 2015. Below is a list of criteria. 1. Nominee must be under the age of 20. 2. Nominations open to residents in United States and abroad. 3. Nominee must have demonstrated exemplary scholastic achievement, leadership, and community service. 4. Nomination application must be completed online prior to the above deadline at RuralLeaderMagazine.com. (Application link is inside the yellow box at the top of the page.) 5. A completed and signed Parent Release form, for nominees under the age of 18, and a quality head shot photo (at least 300 dpi in JPEG format) must be submitted under separate cover to 20under20@ruralleadermagazine.com no later than February 13, 2015. Nomination application cannot be processed without the applicable release form and head shot photo. 6. The nominator will be notified via email if his or her nominee(s) was chosen. 7. For a parent release form and additional information, write to 20under20@ruralleadermagazine.com or call 1-866-293-1162.— RuralLeaderMagazine.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 27
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