NOVEMBER 2019
AI in agriculture: Helping Farmers and Creating jobs
GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 1
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.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader
Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.—
Contents
5 Managing Change Is Crucial for Success COVER STORY 7 AI in agriculture: Helping Farmers and Creating jobs 9 Vital Careers in Today’s Transportation Industry 11 Stressed Over Open Enrollment? Try These Tips 12 Young Women Learn Government Fundamentals in Nationwide Leadership Program
14 Ten steps to a DIY financial plan 16 Bringing a Message of the Importance of Financial Education to Youth and Community Leaders 17 How to Harness Emerging Technology for Small-Business Success 19 After Leukemia Battle, Teen Wishes to Visit Historic WWII sites 21 Four Reasons to Pursue Careers in Nursing
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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,
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Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 @RuralLeaderMag
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Managing Change Is Crucial for Success GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 5
Whether you’re a small-business owner, a manager at a mid-sized company or CEO of a large corporation, you’ve had to cope with constant change over the course of your career, and you’ve learned at least one thing: More change is inevitable. Between the constant evolution of technology, shifting corporate cultures, changing consumer expectations and global challenges, change is the one constant you can rely on. Effective change management has become crucial for successful leaders of any size business, requiring a complex skill set and a mindset that’s focused on the needs of employees as they cope with change. Employees and business leaders alike can have responses to change that are as unpredictable as the change itself. Some employees embrace change, eager to make the most of what they see as unlimited potential. Others fear it, worrying that everything they thought they knew no longer applies. Most fall somewhere in the middle, feeling wary or skeptical of change - and looking to their leaders for clues as to how things are going. Leaders need to take the reins and show the way through the change, with a clear vision of the ultimate goal, even if the path to get there is less than clear. What techniques can business leaders use to become more effective at change management? The training experts at Dale Carnegie offer some guidelines. 1) Evaluate. Before the proposed change is implemented, carefully evaluate both the opportunities and potential risks from the change. Careful planning can anticipate and avoid possible surprises, limiting a domino effect of one change causing further disruptions. 2) Coordinate. Because too much change at once can be overwhelming for anyone involved, coordinate efforts with all the other stakeholders, making sure to include anyone who will be affected in the planning as well as implementation of the change. 3) Commit resources. Plan to commit enough time, funding and preparation for everyone who may need to take on new responsibilities as part of any change initiative. One of the most common reasons people resist change is lack of confidence, so make sure your employees have the skills required to handle any new challenges.
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4) Get leaders on board. Ensure that all the leaders in your organization are fully committed to the change. Consider how it will affect them by taking their point of view. Ask questions and make sure every leader is involved in the process to ensure success. All of the organization’s leaders will be responsible for communicating the desired vision for the change initiative, and employees will look to them to understand the need for this change. 5) Communicate. Make sure everyone in the organization understands the need for the change, and can visualize how things will be different once the change is implemented. Focus on the company’s goals and communicate how those goals will be better met as a result of this change. 6) Be others-focused. Try to see things from the point of view of others in the organization. Focus on the opportunities for individual growth that change can bring, and help everyone look to the future. 7) Be cooperative. Show respect for the opinion of others, and ask questions instead of giving orders. Remember that those closest to the situation often have the best ideas and solutions. 8) Enhance trust. Build trust before it’s needed by being consistent, honest and true to your own values and principles. If employees trust leaders, they will be more likely to positively embrace proposed changes. 9) Magnify improvements. Focus on what’s going well, no matter how small those improvements may be, and give prompt, sincere and specific praise. Communicate your praise publicly, and connect those achievements to the overall vision of the organization. As Dale Carnegie once said, “Keep your mind open to change all the time. It is only by examining and reexamining your opinions and ideas that you can progress.” Mid-level or experienced business leaders seeking to hone these and other skills can enroll in A Leader’s Guide to Managing Change in the Workplace to further develop ways to become a successful change manager. For more information about the complete training program, Leadership Training for Results: Unleash Talent in Others, visit dalecarnegie.com.—
AI in agriculture: Helping Farmers and Creating jobs Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, and agriculture is certainly entering a new era thanks to these advancing technologies. AI has the power to help farmers do their jobs more effectively while also creating job opportunities. A prime example is King Nelson, a formulations chemist for Syngenta, who recently helped develop a new herbicide. This required an in-depth series of
tests that requires him to put together a list of all the products a grower might use with it in a tank mix. “It’s not just other formulations,” Nelson says. “You have to consider surfactants, fertilizers and additives like crop oil, hard water and soft water. When you start thinking about all the possible combinations, you’re looking at more than 1,000 of them. It’s daunting.” GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 7
Even if Nelson and his team worked 24 hours a day, it would take months to determine whether their new herbicide formulation is field ready. The solution? Greensboro, North Carolina-based Nelson depends on Syngenta’s research facility in Jealott’s Hill, England, to make these tests possible. ARTEMIS (Automated Robot to Evaluate Millions of Interesting Solutions) is a robot that can run 1,500 experiments in a week. Those experiments arm Nelson with the information he needs to answer growers’ questions on tank-mix compatibility. The team behind AI: This type of AI employs a team of people, proving that technology can supplement human-based jobs rather than replace them. From the Jealott’s Hill lab, Ian Tovey manages all of the experiments conducted on ARTEMIS. Tovey says that his job is to take the active ingredients that chemists have discovered and use them to create products farmers find useful. “ARTEMIS allows us to generate liquid-based formulations,” he says. “Anything that comes from a can, we can reproduce.” In 2018, the facility acquired a second robot, ARES (Automated Robot Evaluating Solubility) that tests the solubility of active ingredients and products, giving valuable insights that speed new-product development timelines. A third robot to help test tank-mix 8 RuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019
compatibility is on the way. Before ARTEMIS, Nelson says a lot of manpower was devoted to finding detailed information about new surfactant technologies. “We can now devote that time and those resources elsewhere,” he says. “The great thing about the robot is that it doesn’t care; it can do the same thing over and over again and is fine with the repetition.” That’s not to say robots will replace the need for humans in labs, Tovey insists. “It’s just another tool in our toolbox to give us extra data,” he says. “Ultimately, the process of developing a formulation is very much a human-driven project. People take the lead when it comes to using what comes out of an ARTEMIS experiment and turning it into a viable product.” The future is bright for AI in agriculture. As Syngenta continues to build its automation capability, questions about the future are natural. Researchers have learned that it doesn’t pay to fixate too much on planning ahead. Instead, you should plan for the needs of today by utilizing tools like AI that rapidly decrease the time it takes to get new products to market so farmers can be more efficient and get their job done with less effort. Learn more at www.syngentathrive.com.—
Vital Careers in Today’s Transportation Industry
If you want to buy anything at all today, you can probably find it online, purchase it, then have it shipped to your home in a matter of days - or even hours. You can track the package as it heads toward you, and you’ll probably receive a text or email, and even a picture of the item, just as it’s being delivered to your home. What does it take for that item to get all the way to you? Several steps - and a whole host of people who work in transportation careers. The most visible of those jobs are the truck drivers who deliver the goods you ordered to your door. The need for those drivers has become greater than ever, thanks to the booming e-commerce marketplace. The number of current truck drivers is actually at an all-time high, totaling 3.5 million. Shipping all these goods relies on fleets of trucks with qualified drivers nationwide to get things where they need to go. Less visible are the thousands of technicians that keep the trucks up and running, maintaining them so that they’re available to run routes around the country to keep those items on the move, day and
night. Without the skill and expertise of these technicians, the fleets wouldn’t be able to function. And even before the items make it to the trucks, warehouse workers are a vital part of this journey they organize and keep track of all the goods, select the correct items, package them properly and then make sure that they’re all headed out to their correct destinations. Because of this constant demand for home delivery of consumer goods, the need is greater than ever for qualified employees to fill all of these roles. Shipping goods faster than ever means that the need for larger, more efficient trucking fleets, and their supporting employees, is also greater than ever. Penske, for example, runs a fleet of up to 328,000 trucks, employing over 36,000 associates in over 1,100 total locations. The three most crucial positions that transportation relies are in increasing demand - and these jobs do not require a college degree. Truck drivers. The job of truck driver has transformed over the years, becoming more reliant on GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 9
advanced technologies. And newer trucks today are cleaner and more comfortable. Driving large tractor-trailers or delivery trucks is one of the largest occupations in the U.S. To work at a fleet such as Penske’s, it is required that you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and a safe driving record. There are dedicated truck driving schools available, and a number of qualified drivers gain valuable experience on the road while serving in the military. According to the most recent U.S. Census, at least 1 in 10 truck drivers are veterans, which is twice the rate of workers who are veterans overall. Technicians. No positions are more important in helping to keep entire fleets up and running than diesel technicians. Diesel and body shop technicians use leading-edge diagnostic and troubleshooting technologies to problem-solve, repair and maintain today’s vehicles, which are the backbone of the transportation industry. Vocational schools nationwide offer training programs for those interested in pursu10 RuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019
ing this essential skilled position in transportation. Warehouse. To help run warehousing and distribution systems smoothly, a large number of employees are needed around the country. Warehouse workers may be involved in multiple roles, such as order picking, using a forklift or lift-truck, packaging, taking inventory and expediting shipping and receiving of goods. A third of today’s truck drivers work in the transportation industry, an industry that supports over 2 million jobs - occupations that include not just truck drivers, but also technicians, managers and dispatchers. All of these careers are essential to the growing needs of the transportation field, to meet the constantly increasing consumer and business demands of today. To learn more about careers in transportation, visit penske.jobs.—
Stressed Over Open Enrollment? Try These Tips It’s that time of year again - employers around the country are opening their benefits enrollment window, a defined period during which employees can assess and select benefits packages. For many, this will be a period of avoidance and stress, before the ultimate last-minute race to select options that seem to have the least impact on their paycheck. Let’s face it, the process of reviewing and evaluating workplace benefits can be confusing and stressful. Considering your benefit options for unexpected life moments means having to anticipate situations most people don’t want to imagine. It can also be overwhelming to sort through the financial details and choices while trying to figure out what benefits would actually be worth the cost. And yet taking the opportunity to assess and ensure their benefits package supports their current needs can significantly impact most people. Prudential Financial’s recent survey of over 2,000 employed adults found that out of the 65% of people who selected new benefits last year, 79% experienced reduced financial stress year-round as a result. Financial therapist and Prudential’s financial wellness advocate Amanda Clayman recommends tackling these sometimes difficult topics head on. “Understanding the emotions triggered by financial decisions can help alleviate your financial stress,” she explains. Clayman offers the following tips not only to help make the open enrollment period less stressful for employees, but to turn it into an opportunity to give yourself more peace of mind about your financial situation and instill confidence in your decisions. 1. Schedule a money date with yourself. Spend some time with your financial statements before open enrollment to understand your situation better. Get to know your personal money style, such as what you value, your goals and how you cope with financial difficulty. Reducing unknowns and being more aware of your situation can help instill financial confidence. Becoming more self-aware about the money in your life, and how it aligns with your values, helps to reveal a path forward for selecting the best workplace benefits for you and your family. 2. Take time to understand the nuances. Envision a positive outcome. See the open enrollment period
as an opportunity to improve your overall financial picture. Take time to breathe, focus and re-evaluate your options without getting too stressed. The Prudential survey found that 35% of people chose the same benefits as the previous year, but 65% of them chose new benefit options - which they credited to becoming more informed. Making the effort to be more informed about all of your options not only improves your situation, but also helps reduce your stress around finances. 3. Don’t get distracted by over-communication. When it came to receiving information about enrollment options, 45% of the people surveyed reported receiving more than enough information, which can feel overwhelming. Don’t let the glut of information throw you off course. Just break down the options one section at a time, starting with your most immediate needs. Ask your employer questions if you need help understanding your options. 4. Consider the big picture. Most people will opt in for health insurance, but will skip taking advantage of potentially beneficial additional coverage options. Survey results revealed 46% of employees don’t believe they are taking full advantage of all benefits offered. Make sure to review all of the tools your employer provides to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your workplace options. Considering all health and financial benefits, including voluntary supplemental health insurance products (critical illness, accident and hospital indemnity insurance) and disability insurance products can, depending on your unique situation, actually have a positive effect on your overall health and stress levels. Deciphering your employer’s benefit offerings may be tedious, but taking the time - and preferably not minutes before the deadline - to fully dive in and understand your options can eliminate future stress and regret. Selecting a flexible benefits plan that can protect you from potential future curveballs will provide a stable foundation for your overall financial wellness, giving you more peace of mind throughout the year. To learn more about how to take advantage of your benefits this open enrollment season, visit prudential. com.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 11
Young Women Learn Government Fundamentals in Nationwide Leadership Program
This July, two teenage girls from every state in the country met in Washington, D.C., for the 73rd annual American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation. This oneweek government-in-action leadership development program is designed to educate future leaders on U.S. government fundamentals and the rights, privileges and responsibilities of citizens. The girls selected to go to ALA Girls Nation are chosen from week-long ALA Girls State programs in each state. The young women become “senators” for a week and participate in mock political campaigns and debates, visit historical sites, and meet their real-life counterparts on Capitol Hill. For a number of the participants, the program’s impact extends beyond the weeklong event: Many go on to serve in the military and credit ALA Girls Nation as their source of inspiration. New ALA member and U.S. Army Capt. Virginia Clark, stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia, is an ALA Girls Nation alumna. Though she says she has always been patriotic, her experiences at ALA Girls State and ALA Girls Nation helped her realize she 12 RuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019
wanted to serve her country. “Being around really motivated people made me realize I wanted to be around people who were spending their time doing things rather than looking for the next great party,” Clark said. Reflecting on where she has been and where she is going, Clark says she owes it all to the American Legion Auxiliary. “I wouldn’t have gotten into West Point without ALA Girls State and ALA Girls Nation ... I 100 percent owe, I think, my current life and my career - I met my husband at West Point - to the fact that I went to ALA Girls State and ALA Girls Nation.” For some girls, the Washington, D.C., leadership program is their first opportunity to connect with peers with common interests. For others, it is the first time they encounter students whose perspective differs from their own. For all, it is a moment in time where similarities and differences come together to symbolize strength, democracy and freedom. Former ALA Girls State and ALA Girls Nation attendee Allyson Snelling, who is attending the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point, chose a career in the military because she “loves everything it represents.” She adds, “The values and lessons I’ve learned during my short time at West Point have made me a better person and leader.” Snelling said the program taught her the power of one voice and the importance of communicating with others. “Being able to communicate with someone you may completely disagree with is becoming a lost art,” she said. “ALA Girls Nation taught me that it doesn’t matter if you agree; it matters that you understand.” ALA Girls Nation alumnae have gone on to hold leadership roles in industries spanning government, media, education and law, and many have become high-ranking members of the military. Notable alumnae include Jane Pauley, national media personality; Susan Bysiewicz, lieutenant governor of Connecticut; retired Lt. Gen. Michelle D.
Johnson, former superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy and former Air Force aide to the President; Ann Richards, former governor of Texas; and Susan Porter-Rose, former chief of staff to First Lady Barbara Bush, among many others. ALA Girls Nation is proud to be a foundation of support to the future strong women of this great nation. The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) is a nonpartisan organization committed to advocating for veterans’ issues, mentoring America’s youth and promoting patriotism. They advance the mission of The American Legion, incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization founded on four pillars: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism and Children & Youth.—
2020 ACA Enrollment November 1-December 7 Healthcare.gov GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 13
10 steps to a DIY Financial plan By Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz
Did you know that 78 percent of people with a financial plan pay their bills on time vs. only 38 percent of people who don’t have a plan? Or that 68 percent of planners have an emergency fund while only 26 percent of non-planners are prepared to cover an unexpected cost? Stats like these from the 2019 Schwab Modern Wealth survey reinforce my belief that everyone - no matter their financial situation can benefit from a financial plan. So why aren’t more people planners? Often it’s because either they don’t think they have enough money or they think a financial plan costs too much. But neither is the case. In fact, you can map out your own financial plan, and it won’t cost you a penny. Here’s how to get started with a DIY plan. * Write down your goals - Start by asking yourself what you want your money to accomplish. What are your short-term needs? What do you want to accomplish in the next 5 to 10 years? What are you saving for long term? Get specific and write everything down. * Create a net worth statement - Achieving your goals requires understanding where you stand today. 14 RuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019
So start by listing your assets - bank and investment accounts, real estate and valuable personal property. Now list all your debts: mortgage, credit cards, student loans - everything. Subtract your liabilities from your assets and you have your net worth. If you’re in the plus, great. If you’re in the minus, that’s not uncommon, but it points out that you have some work to do. Use this number as a benchmark to measure your progress. * Review your cash flow - Cash flow simply means money in (your income) and money out (your expenses). How much money do you earn each month? Be sure to include all sources of income. Now look at your expenses, including any that may only come up once or twice a year. * Zero in on your budget - Your cash-flow analysis will let you know how much you’re spending. Focusing on your budget will let you know where that money is going. Write down your essential expenses such as mortgage, insurance, food, transportation, utilities and loan payments. Don’t forget periodic payments and be sure to include savings. Then write down nonessentials - restaurants, entertainment,
even clothes. * Focus on debt management - Debt can derail you, but not all debt is bad. It’s high-interest consumer debt like credit cards that you want to avoid. Try to follow the 28/36 guideline that no more than 28 percent of pre-tax income goes toward home debt, no more than 36 percent toward all debt. Look at each item to decide when and how you’ll pay it down. * Get your retirement savings on track - Whatever your age, retirement saving needs to be part of your financial plan. Calculate how much you will need to comfortably retire and contribute to a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan or an IRA. The earlier you start, the less you’ll have to save each year. * Check in with your portfolio - If you’re an investor, understand that market ups and downs can impact the relative percentage of stocks and bonds you own - even when you do nothing. So review and rebalance on at least an annual basis. (And if you’re not an investor, think carefully about becoming one the sooner the better.) * Review your insurance - Insurance is an important part of protecting your finances. Health insurance is a given, and most of us also need car and homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. While you’re working, disability insurance is a smart move. Finally, you should consider life insurance, especially if
you have dependents. * Know your income tax situation - The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed several deductions, credits and tax rates beginning in 2018. To make sure you’re prepared, review your withholding and estimated taxes, and explore potential tax credits. * Create or update your estate plan - At a minimum, have a will to name a guardian for minor children. Check that beneficiaries are up to date on all retirement accounts and insurance policies. Complete an advance healthcare directive and assign powers of attorney for both finances and healthcare. To me, a financial plan can be especially important if you don’t have a lot of money because it can help you get on the path to greater financial strength. Think of it like a roadmap. Whether you need to reduce spending and debt, up your savings, or just refine the details, once you have a plan you’ll be on the road to success. Have a personal finance question? Email askcarrie@schwab.com. Carrie cannot respond to questions directly, but your topic may be considered for a future article. For Schwab account questions and general inquiries, contact Schwab. For more information visit SchwabMoneyWise.com.— Compliance #: 1019-96JZ
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Bringing a Message of the Importance of Financial Education to Youth and Community Leaders How do you identify future leaders? Is it GPA? Test scores? Another metric? There are all kinds of formulas to predict who among the nation’s youth will become our country’s leaders. But trying to decipher them can leave you lost in a sea of analytics. Fortunately, there’s an easier way to discover those who will set the bar in the years ahead. It’s students and leaders who are applying a creative approach to help uplift their communities. These students are developing a unique set of skills that combine the power of sport, financial literacy and leadership development to help create a winning formula for the success of our future leaders. In support of this innovative approach, MUFG, a global financial institution, has made a multi-year commitment to support Laureus, a global nonprofit organization that uses sport as a force for good. As part of its support, MUFG Union Bank foundation participated as a Bronze sponsor at this year’s Laureus Youth Leadership Summit, which took place in Los Angeles this past July 8-9. At the event, more than 200 youth and leaders from across the U.S. gathered to share insights about the best ways to design youth-serving programs. The findings discovered during this conference were then 16 RuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019
made available for attending youth to take back to their communities to help create positive change. The convergence of sport, financial literacy and youth leadership were highlights of the two-day Summit. MUFG, which is the parent company of Union Bank, had an opportunity to shine the spotlight on an initiative that sets them apart from many of their industry peers, student-run bank branches inside high schools. Financial education and youth empowerment are part of the foundation’s Stewardship and Sustainability strategic initiatives, and therefore the Laureus Youth Summit was a perfect partnership for the MUFG Union Bank Foundation. Real-world skills put into practice. In 2011 the Fresno Unified School District, in partnership with MUFG Union Bank, opened the doors to its very first student-run bank. The branch was inside McLane High School in Fresno, California - a region where poverty and dropout rates among high school students continue to be high. The branch was the first student-run bank of its kind west of the Mississippi River and since that initial creation, four more student-run branches have opened in high schools around Southern California, in predominantly low-to-moderate income communities. Each of these
branches offers students the opportunity to learn lifelong money management skills by working in the bank and by sharing what they learn with fellow students and their communities. In fact, recent graduates from Lincoln High School, along with incoming student bankers from Crenshaw and El Monte, attended the Summit and presented a Financial Literacy workshop to youth attending the conference. Financial education, a catalyst for positive change. Teaching the next generation of leaders about responsible money management isn’t just a lofty aspiration, it’s essential for helping develop future leaders. But for the skills learned to be fully practiced and ingrained in young people, education alone is not enough. Future leaders must be allowed a place to put these principles into practice every single day. Instead of focusing on formulas and trying to predict who might grow up to be a leader, you could simply look at who is leading now. The world leaders of tomorrow are often those leading in their high schools today. They are the captains of their sports teams, the valedictorians of their graduating classes and they are
active in extracurricular programs from athletics to a math league to those that teach financial education. “MUFG Union Bank supports The Laureus Foundation in its belief that sport has the power to develop and nurture young leaders,” said Julius Robinson, MUFG Union Bank Managing Director and Group Head Corporate Social Responsibility for the Americas. “MUFG Union Bank is pleased to support the Laureus Youth Summit here in Los Angeles, and we are even more excited to be able to share this opportunity with some of our incoming and graduate student bankers from our student-run branches in Southern California.” To learn more about MUFG Union Bank’s corporate social responsibility efforts and financial education, visit https://www.unionbank.com/Images/ CSR-Annual-Report.pdf. You can also follow Laureus Sport for Good USA on Instagram to see highlights of this Summit and follow future events.— 2019 MUFG Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Union Bank is a registered trademark and brand name of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. unionbank.com
How to Harness Emerging Technology for Small-Business Success Whatever your small or medium-sized business (SMB), chances are you’re dependent on increasingly advanced technology - or wish to use more sophisticated technology. Recent advances have been numerous and head-spinning, sometimes making it hard
to keep up. The truth is, harnessing emerging technologies effectively may be exactly what takes your business to the next level, ensuring success in today’s rapidly evolving, competitive business landscape. If you aren’t using one of these emerging technologies GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 17
in your business yet, it’s likely that your business would benefit from doing so in the near future. How can you leverage technological advances to help your SMB be more innovative and competitive? Here are trends affecting small businesses to watch when evaluating what technologies to adopt. Cloud computing. With cloud computing, small-business owners can implement sophisticated software using software as a service (SaaS) or desktop as a service (DaaS) models. The advantage of these models is that they update and maintain applications, eliminating the need for on-site servers or purchasing multiple copies of software. This can help reduce costs and increase efficiency. The DaaS model also stores, helps secure and backs up user data. Additionally, cloud computing means never having to worry about software updates. According to a survey by Garner, 63% of SMBs already use cloud computing.[1] To maximize the benefits of cloud computing, you’ll want to have up-to-date PCs and computing devices. Artificial Intelligence (AI). Software that uses AI or more specifically, machine learning - collects data from tasks, eventually “learning” how to do those tasks more quickly and accurately. AI can thus help your business save time and money by automating certain repetitive, manual tasks that take up too much of your employees’ time. According to a Harris Poll survey conducted for Salesforce, an average of 23% of an SMB team’s day is spent manually inputting data.[2] Just how popular is AI becoming? Apparently 62% of SMBs are already using technology to automate some processes.[3] And what kinds of AI are they using? Many use tools like Microsoft’s Cortana or Amazon’s Alexa for scheduling and planning, chatbot to analyze customer questions, RPA Express to automate data entry or Salesforce Einstein to analyze data or identify leads - to name just a few. For SMBs wanting to benefit from these technologies, running them on PCs equipped with powerful processors and memory helps ensure they can handle the increased demands on their computing power, such as modern PCs and computing devices powered by the latest Intel(R) Core(TM) processors. Internet of Things (IoT). Devices and objects are increasingly interconnected: phones, HVAC systems, security systems, cars and more. To use multiple apps making all those connections, plus tracking products through the supply chain, you may need to upgrade
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to computers with more powerful processors or more memory (RAM) to help your company use its software more effectively. Perhaps not surprisingly, 78% of growing small businesses already report using more than one business application, while 30% use more than five.[4] Mobility . The ability for employees to work remotely has become essential, not just for employee well-being and productivity, but for connecting at client offices, satellite venues or while traveling. The effective processing power, speed and longer battery life of modern laptops provide employees with flexibility that helps them - and your business - thrive. Today’s notebooks, thin-and-lights and 2-in-1s are available with more powerful processors, more RAM and more solid-state storage than previous generations of computers. And today’s portable technology can handle cloud-based apps, making them more flexible than ever. Cybersecurity. Because SMBs don’t have the large IT staff and security budgets of bigger companies, they can be tempting targets for cybercriminals. In a 2018 Cyber Risk Report by Hiscox, 44% of SMBs reported suffering a cyberattack in the previous year, and 52% of those businesses had been attacked more than once.[5] In addition, SMBs still using Windows 7 may be at risk when Microsoft plans to stop providing updates and support for Windows 7.11 after Jan. 14, 2020. Here are some ways you can help improve the cybersecurity of your business: * Upgrade to Microsoft’s Windows 10 * Educate employees about cyberthreats, with tips to avoid them * Enforce use of passwords on business PCs and devices * Implement 2-factor or biometric authentication * Set up automatic software updates Be ready for 2020. Whatever your 2020 goals, it’s a good idea to think strategically about technology that could take your business to the next level. Outdated hardware can affect your SMB’s bottom line, so make updating your PCs part of your technology plan this year. To learn more about options for updating your technology, visit Intel.com/smallbusiness. —
After Leukemia Battle, Teen Wishes to Visit Historic WWII sites Being 17 years old and battling leukemia was not easy for Johnny. He was forced to miss out on many opportunities with friends and family as his illness took a toll. During this lonely time in his life, Johnny, the son of a military veteran, kept busy by learning about World War II. He enjoyed watching movies about the experiences of soldiers on both sides, what tactics they used and the impact the war had on them. When volunteers from Make-A-Wish asked what his one true wish would be, he knew he wanted to go to Normandy, France, to see the World War II memorial sites during the 75th anniversary of D-Day. “Having just gone through a year of constantly being sick, and having life-threatening reactions, it was amazing to get away and have an actual vacation with my family,” Johnny said. “I needed it and my family needed it just as much, if not more.” Getting ready for the trip was a much-needed escape for Johnny and his family. It allowed them to put the constant thought of his leukemia behind them while they focused on their upcoming adventure. “Johnny was still recovering from treatment until about a month before the actual trip,” said Johnny’s mom, Shannon. “The process of planning and preparing for the trip helped to keep his mind off the physical effects of treatment and helped to maintain a positive attitude.” While on his wish, Johnny and his family were
able to experience a trip that allowed them to forget about the hard times they faced at home. They saw beautiful beaches and countryside. They visited Belleau Wood to learn more about war history, which reinforced Johnny’s plans to join the United States Marine Corps in the future. Johnny’s wish was made possible through a donation from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The company’s charitable funding, totaling more than $3 million since 2017, has helped MakeÂ-A-ÂWish provide transformational wishes for children with cancer, the most common illness of eligible wish kids, across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. A wish granted helps kids like Johnny experience life beyond illness, and can also help build the physical and emotional strength a child needs to fight a critical illness. “I feel that the biggest benefit from this wish, or any wish, is getting the child (and family) out of the treatment mindset,” Johnny’s mom said. “This trip enabled us to reset and find a place of normality again.” “Thank you so much for doing what you do,” Johnny said. “I appreciate it greatly, my family appreciates it and I’m sure anyone else who has cancer, has been affected by cancer, or anyone who knows friends or family that have been affected by cancer really appreciate it.” To help grant life-changing wishes for kids like Johnny, visit site.wish.org/johnny.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | November 2019 19
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Four Reasons to Pursue Careers in Nursing As time and technology reshape the workforce, most professionals are not in the position to choose one career or one track and stick with it until retirement. Nursing offers relevant, future-focused opportunities for people of all ages and levels of experience, from those re-entering the workforce or making a career change, to registered nurses pursuing further education. Below, you’ll find for four key reasons students are pursuing licensure or a degree in nursing (RN to BSN and beyond), shared by Dr. Bonnie Stegman of Maryville University. 1. Satisfaction. If you are interested in making a direct impact on the lives of individuals and communities, you should consider nursing. It’s a rewarding career, according to nurses themselves - 83% say they are satisfied with their career choice. Many find the job fulfilling on a personal level as caring for others is a hallmark of the profession. Nurses provide a great deal of personal contact and engagement with patients, a traditional role that has only become more important in today’s often-hectic healthcare environment. At the same time, nursing is an exciting and expanding field with new areas of focus and settings in which to practice. You have more options than ever before to pursue your individual interests and work at the cutting edge of healthcare. 2. Wide-ranging opportunities. Nursing often is associated with foundational healthcare settings such as primary care practices, hospitals or nursing homes. However, nursing offers many different paths to build and develop the specific track that’s right for you. It includes many different specialties, including areas relevant to our aging population, such as gerontology (focused on elderly patients) and genetics (patients with or at risk of hereditary diseases). You also can specialize in public health, working in nonprofit organizations, community health centers or governmental agencies. Across specialties and settings, you also can build on your experience caring for patients and transition into other areas, serving as an administrator or an educator, for example. 3. Flexibility. The array of options and opportunities available within nursing means that you can pick what best fits your needs and preferences. For example, if family responsibilities mean you need to keep a 9-to-5, Monday-Friday schedule, some primary care or specialty practices can accommodate that.
Through telehealth, you can provide patient care and education remotely, potentially creating opportunities across geographic areas and time zones. If you’re open to moving around, you might find work as a traveling nurse to be an interesting - and usually well paid - choice. And, this flexibility means you can adapt and shift your focus as you move through different stages and phases of life. 4. Demand and compensation. Nurses are in high demand nationwide, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. That means you can expect competitive salaries and benefits. You’ll even find that employers are getting creative in how they recruit and incentivize new hires. Mercy Children’s Hospital in St. Louis created a seasonal staffing option, where nurses can opt to work a full-time schedule from September to June, then take time off in the summer months while retaining their benefits - and a guaranteed job in the fall. It’s a valuable offering for anyone with childcare considerations. Other employers are providing financial incentives such as signing bonuses and tuition reimbursement. It’s an environment ripe with opportunity. Make it happen. Once you decide to pursue your licensure or earn a nursing degree, you have a variety of educational options. It all starts with finding a program that offers a realistic path for your existing schedule and responsibilities. Online programs typically are designed for flexibility. The online nursing offerings at Maryville University, for example, include an RN to BSN program with multiple start dates throughout the year that can be completed 100% online to help students balance work and school commitments. You also can find flexible options in on-campus programs as well. In addition to programs for full-time and transfer students, Maryville’s on-campus nursing options include a part-time evening and weekend program designed for working adults. As our population ages, career options in healthcare are predicted to expand and grow. Nursing is worth considering - a resilient and wide-ranging career field with significant opportunities, now and in the future.—
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