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Reconnecting Workspaces w/ Jennifer J Britton

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Business
Reconnecting Workspaces w/ Jennifer J Britton

Join me Thursday, February 9/23 at 1pm EST on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel!

The workspace is changing, and the pandemic put that change into ‘hear gear’. I talk with recognized expert in the area of Group and Team Coaching, and author or “Reconnecting Workspaces”, Jennifer J. Britton.

We talk about:

1. The differing roles of a leader and team member,

2. Groups vs teams,

3. Company culture and how it influences teams etc. (you’ll notice I get really into this topic),

4. The TRIAD of Trust, Safety, and Connection, and how it impacts the workspace,

5. Leadership,

6. Conflict and its causes (Yes, it still happens in the virtual world),

7. How to address conflict.

Jennifer provides some insights on a very timely and current subject, which is impacted people around the globe. With so many people working remotely it’s necessary for us to reconnect our workspaces, and Jennifer does a great job of helping to understand some of the ways we can do this right…and what might be causing us to look at it incorrectly. Enjoy!

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How to Keep Track of Family Members Online Activities : Online Safety & Wellness

Posted by rstapholz on
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Health & Wellness
How to Keep Track of Family Members Online Activities : Online Safety & Wellness

Family safety is the main priority of every household. People are always worried about their family’s safety online. Especially parents, they always want the best for their kids and they want to keep an eye on kids’ phones. The phone is a great source of information because it collects important data about the habits and life of your family members, and this will include their possible bad behavior and suspicious activities. Below are some behaviors that can be a sign of something;

Are they very protective when it comes to their phone? Is it hard for them to leave their phone and need to have it everywhere they go? Is the phone always out of sight? (Do they place it face down?) Are they always locking their phone or have a privacy screen that makes it hard for someone to look over the shoulder angle? Do they put the “Do Not Disturb” function when they are around you to keep notifications silent or at bay? (Look for this feature on the iPhone, a half-moon symbol in the upper right corner.)

If you notice any behavior you will want to consider tracking their phone. You also need to look out for a second phone or a burner or even another Sim card (this is not that convenient, but there are some who do it). One way to find some information is by asking them for their phone when you are together and pretending that yours is dead.

It is even better if you manage to get the phone first before you ask for it. This way, they have to give you the password.

Touch ID

Once you have their phone, if they have enabled the Touch ID feature (or similar variant), go to the security settings tab, then add your fingerprint (if they have installed more than one print, delete one and replace it with yours so they don’t get suspicious). With this, you have easy access to their phone even if they change their password.

The Google Chrome Password hack

If your family member refuses to share their password when you want to do something innocent like order a cab or check the weather, or you cannot observe their code, then it can be tricky to gain access.

The good thing is some people are not that protective when it involves their computer passwords (you can easily unlock most of their passwords). Ask them for their computer for some believable reason and you are in.

When you get the computer, go to chrome, settings, passwords, and autofill.

When you get to the password log page, you will see which sites they have accessed that ask for passwords. The next step is the obscured passwords that are denoted by the character ‘****’. There is an eye icon next to it, click on it. You will be asked to type the computer password and now you can see the passwords. You can go ahead and save the passwords because you might need them. An easy way to save is by taking a quick photo using your phone (be careful with this because it is evidence that you have been snooping). You now need to be careful with your phone, keep it out of reach.

Downloading keyloggers

It is a software you can install on a computer and the other person won’t know that it is running in the background. You can have them record what you want, see the passwords, pages they visit, emails they send, even record them as they use the computer. This is creepy, but there are times when you have to do this.

Using a spyware app

This works like the keyloggers, but on a phone. If you have tried everything else but hasn’t worked, or you want to have complete access to their phone, you can install spyware like Spy Tracker on their phone and you get access to what they do. This can help you bust them once and for all. Keep in mind that there are legal ramifications if they choose to take action.

Tracking their movements

If they use Google, you can easily track their location history. Just click the ‘previous destination’ menu option on the navigation system. If they use android, click the Google Timeline feature on both the Google Maps app and online. This is going to work if they are logged in when they move about. Another option is typing ‘Find My Phone’ on the search bar to see where they are now.

If they are using an iPhone, there are a number of ways to track their location. You can tap into a family account if they have enabled location sharing (Find My Friends and Find my iPhone apps can work well in such cases). If this isn’t possible, then the next feature is very interesting because many people don’t know it is there. You can easily see their frequent locations by going to their Settings, Privacy, Location Services, System Services, and Significant Location. It is hard for most people to take time to disable or delete the settings every time they go out unless they are super-savvy. This makes it easy for you to see the locations they visit frequently.

There are many ways of keeping tabs on your family members for their own safety. You can put a super-small GPS device fixed under their car or an app like Spy Phone. When you track using GPS, you can see where they are going and you can easily check their activities.

Gather in the Garden

Posted by rstapholz on
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Empowerment
Gather in the Garden

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“We need to teach people that the environment has a direct bearing on our own benefit.” Dalai Lama

It’s official. The Pfizer vaccine has received full and final approval by the FDA with the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines soon to follow. The CDC stated that if we want to spend time with people who don’t live with us, outdoor activities are the safest choice.  In these dire days of global crises, natural disasters, evacuations, and a highly infectious Delta variant, any positive news is appreciated.

At the beginning of summer, we all had high hopes that we would be able to emerge from our caves to enjoy a quasi-normal season. With the emergence of the Delta variant, it became clear that the pandemic will not be contained until most of the country prioritizes health and gets vaccinated. Humans are social beings and we like getting together. With warm weather predicted for the next two months, gathering in our gardens for a picnic, barbecue, or just a chat will be a safer method of communing.

I recently attended an outdoor birthday party for a dear friend generously orchestrated by her adult children and their spouses. This was the first time since the pandemic began that I had gone to any non-family occasion. Although I was hesitant to be around a few dozen people, every precaution was taken to make guests feel safe and comfortable. Being informed that all guests had been fully vaccinated prompted me to R.S.V.P. “yes”. The affair was colorful, fun, and secure. I came away with constructive ideas that we can all utilize to enjoy togetherness outside in our gardens during these challenging times.

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How to have a more formal yet guarded, glorious garden gathering:

  1. 1. Prepare your patio. 
    1. a. Add colorful potted plants.
    2. b. String lights, flags, garlands, or pennants.
    3. c. Set up tables with fun placemats or tablecloths.
    4. d. Space tables and chairs for appropriate social distancing.
    5. e. Select throw pillows to add comfort and color.
    6. 2. Hang hummingbird feeders and birdhouses to attract the birds.
    7. 3. Create your scene with a theme and decorate accordingly.
    8. 4. Add a vase filled with flowers, branches, or fruit, preferably picked from your garden.
    9. 5. Design a thoughtful menu that allows you to be part of the party.
    10. 6. Have guests enter via a garden gate or other outside entrance.
    11. 7. Set up a “Covid” station with hand sanitizer and masks.
    12. 8. Ask that masks be worn when going indoors for any reason.
    13. 9. Make a playlist that fits your crowd.
    14. 10. If yellowjackets have been bothering your paradise, put up traps the day before your party and keep them in place throughout the event.
    15. 11. Invite the partygoers to tour your landscape.
    16. 12. Provide a “wow” moment with a special dessert.
    17. 13. Send your guests home with a gift from the garden.Round table set.jpeg

Being in a garden setting is always impressive to me. I relish being in nature, listening to the sounds, watching the birds, and appreciating the growing plants. I was especially impressed with the gigantic tomato plants my friend had grown from seed. A rock waterfall planted with abundant succulents echoed the theme.

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Joyful décor boasted multi-colored, elegant mats, runners, and tablecloths festooned with yarn pom pom ropes and a clear glass vase filled with lemons and fresh cut dahlias on each table. 

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The “wow” factor was provided by the spectacular cupcakes that mimicked the succulents and flowers on the tables. These beautiful cupcakes designed by Sarah Thongnopneua of Baked Blooms in San Anselmo (www.bakedblooms.com) were almost too gorgeous to eat. They were devoured with enthusiasm.

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Each guest was gifted a small succulent reminiscent of those luscious cupcakes and perfect for our drought, parched soil.

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When I came home, I found a small empty bird’s nest on my porch. Have you ever closely inspected the intricacy of a bird’s nest? What an architectural marvel.  Wouldn’t it be great to create a themed event around this wildlife discovery?

Now that the vaccines are receiving official approval and authorization, I hope that everyone will get vaccinated without delay. Once that is achieved, we will be able to return to the freer glory days of party frivolity. 

Fete the final days of summer with a casual gathering or formal gala. A setting in nature sets the tone for a festive, friendly, and safe celebration for the benefit of everyone.

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Happy Gardening. Happy Growing.  

See photos: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1514/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Garden-gatherings.html

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Saturday, September 25th, Be the Star You Are!® will participate in the first live event at the Pear and Wine Festival with a booth sponsored by the Lamorinda Weekly(www.Lamorindaweekly.com) and MB Jessee painting (www.MBJessee.com). Wear your mask and visit us! Details at https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-events

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. 

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Cynthia Brian, The Goddess Gardener, is available for hire to help you prepare for your spring garden. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3. Tune into Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast at www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Buy copies of her books, including, Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, Growing with the Goddess Gardener, and Be the Star You Are! www.cynthiabrian.com/online-store. Receive a FREE inspirational music DVD and special savings.

Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures.

Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com

www.GoddessGardener.com

7 Factors To Consider When Buying A Family Car

Posted by rstapholz on
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Health & Wellness
7 Factors To Consider When Buying A Family Car

Nowadays, purchasing something is like finding a needle in the haystack.

There is so much saturation in markets that hunting your ideal match can be a confusing and daunting process. You need to research, compare, and evaluate to ensure you are not wasting your hard-earned money.

Well, are you seeking an amazing family car that fulfills your needs perfectly? If so, then you’ve arrived on the right page. Below we have compiled all the essential factors to consider to make the wisest and the easiest family car purchase ever!

1. Cost (Not Just the Car)

You need to budget for two types of costs when buying a car: upfront and ongoing. Some of the costs you need to consider include:

  • The upfront cost of the car, whether it is a financial deal or cost upfront
  • Finance repayments – if it is dealer finance or a personal loan, you need to factor in the repayments you have to make
  • Insurance, see Car UK for great deals on insurance.
  • Annual Road Tax
  • Servicing
  • Other spending’s like repairs, new tires, and valets

All of the above costs are going to add up, which makes it important to have some breathing room in your budget.

2. Fuel

Different families have different ways of using their cars, so make sure you think about how the car you want to buy is going to be used. Are you going to drive it at low speeds in an urban environment? Avoid diesel-powered cars because they are not good at low-mileage driving and low-speed. If you get such a car, you are going to spend a lot on maintenance costs.

The best option in such a case is a modest petrol power, or if you have the budget, a pure electric or hybrid vehicle. If the family car is going to double up as a commuting vehicle that will spend time on the motorway, then it might be a good idea to go with a diesel-powered car because the fuel costs will be lower. A diesel car is a good idea if you are going to spend something like 20,000km, every year.

3. Seating

The number of kids is going to play a part when choosing a car to buy. If you have just one child, then many of the Honda models should be enough. If you have three or more children, then you have to make a lot of considerations when choosing a vehicle. This doesn’t mean going with a full seven-seat car, there are many Honda vehicles in the market that come with five seats that are going to do the job well.

4. Safety

Don’t make the mistake of not giving safety enough focus, whether you are buying a used or new car. If you are getting a new car, then go through the list of standard safety equipment carefully and then see what is on the options list – this way, you can make sure your family remains safe. Honda has great safety ratings, which is why more and more people are choosing it.

5. Finance

There are many options when it comes to financing a new car. Some of them include cash, PCP, credit union/bank loans, or dealer financing options. Take your time and choose a financing option that works best for you.

6. Consider More Than One Vehicle

It is very easy to be caught up in the process of finding a car that is going to fulfill the many roles in your life when the best option could be getting more than one car in your household. You can get a cheap petrol/electric/hybrid model to use for school runs, while you can choose something suited to long-distance driving to use for your daily commute to work. Sit down and think how easier things can be with two vehicles.

7. Interior Trim

One thing that some parents don’t consider when choosing a car is if the interior trim is good for family life. Things can get messy, especially with young kids. This is why you should choose dark upholstery (leather trim is a good option because it is easy to clean)

Seasonal Celebration Safety Tips

Posted by Editor on
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Variety
Seasonal Celebration Safety Tips

December and part of January hold many significant celebration periods and times for individuals to take some sort of holiday. Regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs, these two months have multiple celebrations around the globe – and sometimes people aren’t prepared for the possibility of there being a disaster or crisis situation. This show will focus on some key areas for people to consider during these celebration periods. We’ll look at safety tips for such things as: food safety, driving safety, winter concerns, heat exhaustion concerns and even concerns related to celebration decorations. Tune in to make sure your celebrations are safe and you’re prepared for anything unexpected

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Who is the Designated Driver of Your Life? By Ariel & Shya Kane

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7th Wave
Who is the Designated Driver of Your Life? By Ariel & Shya Kane

Who is the Designated Driver of Your Life?
by Ariel & Shya Kane

Shortly before the car accident that our friends were in that could potentially have ended several lives, one passenger in back seat had the passing thought, “I wish I was in the driver’s seat,” but he didn’t pay attention to his intuition. Another back seat passenger saw that the driver wasn’t heeding the signs indicating a turn ahead and thought, “Oh well, she knows what she is doing and where she is going.” The front seat passenger gave the driver’s chatter and the route no thought at all. He wasn’t in the driver’s seat after all.

Luckily, the ensuing car crash due to “distracted driving” only totaled the car but did not seriously injure anyone. But it got us thinking that in that car, on that night, there was no designated driver. Each person, including the woman operating the vehicle, abdicated responsibility for the drive and arriving safely at their destination.

Of course many accidents are just what the name implies: an accident – an unintentional, unfortunate happening, something that is unexpected. But many of life’s “accidental” events are really an extension of how we are living our lives. We are often times passengers being carried along by circumstances and subject to the whims of those around us rather than living life directly, rather than being our own designated driver on the road of life.

If you want to get back in the driver’s seat, start by keeping your word with yourself. Every time you say you are going to do something and then blow it off you get a little bit sleepier, you will find yourself dull. Next, actually be where you are. The people in our car accident story were either lost in the past – talking about their childhood, trying to extend the “fun” from the party from which they had just departed or they were wishing they were home in their beds already, rather than being engaged in the ride.

Last but not least engage, be interested, be direct. Why not pay attention to your hunches and act upon them? Why not speak up when in doubt? It is your life after all. Why not sit firmly in the driver’s seat of your own life with your hands upon the wheel?

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Since 1987, internationally acclaimed authors, seminar leaders, radio show hosts and business consultants Ariel and Shya Kane have acted as guides, leading people through the swamp of the mind into the clarity and brilliance of the moment. Find out more about the Kanes, their seminars in NYC, in the UK, Germany and Costa Rica, the Say YES to Your Life! Meetups their work has inspired, their Being Here radio show or join their email newsletter at http://www.transformationmadeeasy.com/. Also get information about their four award-winning books. Their newest book, Practical Enlightenment, is now available on Amazon.com. 

More Here!

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