 Y’all.. I’ve got to get something off my chest. Our society is obsessed with the “B”word... you guessed it. BUSY.
We wake up and immediately look at our phones to check emails, can’t go a day without letting someone know their “busy” isn’t as “busy” as your “busy” and so often spend time with the ones we love with one eye on them and one on our devices. UGH. I’m just dizzy thinking about how much busy I just typed. Being busy has become a sense of prestige but you see, BUSY IS NOT A BADGE OF HONOR. We believe that being busy is the same as being important, sought after or committed in our pursuits. Fueling this belief is the underlying fear that maybe we're actually not so important or valuable. And when we come in contact with those busy braggers they are exhausting, distracting, and can really pull at our EQ and convince us our life is just as in shambles when realistically we may be the one who understands how to delegate, prioritize, and make those critical task lists. Look, I’m super guilty at this. I work a full time job, freelance 25-30 hours a week with 9 clients, and am a part time student (as well as my #1 priority as a husband). [Im already trying to find a synonym to tell you how busy I am] But we do this to ourselves. As Americans we automate processes to help ease our stresses but then immediately turn around and those spaces where meditation and relaxation could come in, we fill them up with more STUFF we “just have to get done.” We’re only on this Earth for a short time so let’s enjoy it. I think that’s what I love so much about the European philosophy. By law, every country in the European Union has at least four work weeks of paid vacation annually. They make time to explore and wander. Look at their pursuit of happiness compared to ours. Let’s promise each other something. Lets DO GOOD WORK and the things we can’t get done, LET THEM GO... Our bodies aren’t supposed to overwork. We need time to relax, travel, explore, empathize with each other, and learn.  What is Snap Map?
Introduced in a June 2017 update, Snap Map allows users to share their exact location with friends within the Snapchat app. Snap Map gathers location data using a smartphone’s GPS sensor and displays the time of day an individual is at a specific location and his or her speed of travel. This information is shown on a map that can be accessed when a user first opens Snapchat and pinches the screen to zoom out. While Snapchat users can choose to share their location with selected friends, any posts users share on Snapchat’s “Our Story” feature will appear on the global map regardless of their privacy or location settings. Concerns Broadcasting one’s personal location might seem harmless, but there are potentially dangerous implications for your organization. Consider that many employees might use this feature in a way that compromises your business and take steps to mitigate this risk. Inventory Protection Employees shouldn’t use social media to post when they’re leaving for vacation, as this could leave their home vulnerable to robbery. The same risks are at play if employees use Snap Map to advertise their absence from work. Malicious individuals could seize the opportunity to steal or otherwise damage company property because they know it is unattended. Company Perception Employees who post on social media during business hours have tremendous control over your company’s reputation. Their thoughts and opinions are projected through the lens of the company, since they are on company—not personal—time. Even if employees do not mention your organization, their physical locations will be broadcast, offering that information anyway. Likewise, anywhere employees travel will be broadcast when they post, which could be compromising if they go to places that could make the company look bad. Setting Expectations Employees should be reminded of your company’s social media policy. Clearly lay out your organization’s expectations in the policy and communicate the potential dangers of this new social media feature. User Tip Share the following tip with employees or consider including it in your company’s social media policy.
For more information on how to protect your business on social media, follow me on Twitter @andrewjpg. Conducting Keyword Research You write your blog posts to be informative and appealing, but you should also put research behind the words you use. Keyword research can help you increase your blog traffic and enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. It can provide you with the same terms and phrases in your content that your audience is using in their searches. In turn, you can make sure you use those words in your writing to increase traffic to your blog. Keyword research can give you a better idea of what types of things people are searching for and the search terms they are using. Knowing this information can help you better engage with prospects and customers. Use the keyword research methods detailed below to add relevant keywords to your blog titles and posts. Remember, you don’t need to go overboard. Reiterating keywords one to three times in your content is enough. Google AdWords Keyword Planner One way to conduct keyword research is to utilize Google’s Keyword Planner. This tool gives you a better idea of what people are searching for, how many people are searching for something and how many other businesses are trying to get traction for a certain keyword. How to use Google’s Keyword Planner 1. Sign into Google Keyword Planner using a Gmail address. Google no longer allows anonymous keyword research, so you need to have or create a Google account in order to access the keyword data. Click here for more information on creating an account. 2. Under the “What would you like to do?” section, click on “Search for new keyword and ad group ideas.”  3. In the first box, under “Your product or service,” type in a word or phrase that is related to your blog. For example, if you are writing a blog about driving tips, you could type in “driving tips,” or “how to be a safer driver.” Then, scroll down and click the blue “Get Ideas” button:   Recently, I've joined an exclusive community for influential shoppers and was asked to review their Private Selection Green Chile Ranch Seasoning Rub and Texas Inspired BBQ Kettle Potato Chips. The Green Chile Ranch Seasoning Rub is a classic blend of chiles, spices and buttermilk that brings a southwest flavor to any poultry dish. We used it on our hamburgers to zing up the taste and it was really good! I'm not typically a fan of green chile flavors but it gave just the right kick to take up your basic grilled hamburger up a notch! The Texas Inspired BBQ Kettle Potato Chips are thick, ripple cut kettle chips cooked in small batches with a bold BBQ flavor and a punch of black pepper. My brother described them as tasting like "all dressed chips", a Canadian favorite that combines the potato chip flavors of barbecue, sour cream and onion, ketchup, and salt and vinegar. Head to your local Kroger and enjoy these great Summer grilling enhancers! Join MyMagazine Sharing Network today!  The last time I sat in disbelief was on May 29 when I wrote that I was diagnosed as a Type-2 diabetic (read here).
How could I have let myself become so numb to not realize that every item I put in my mouth was slowly euthanizing my ability to live a long-lasting and healthy life. You've followed my journey over the past 100 days or so of trying to get in shape and conquer diabetes on social media when I occasionally post the infamous neighborhood pond photo (see left) while jogging in my neighborhood. Today I have good news. At my 3 month check-up this morning, I weighed in at 267 (down from 300 in mid-May). I could not believe my eyes. Jennifer Warren, my Nurse Practitioner who has encouraged me along the way, informed me that my A1c level went down from 10 to 5.9. That level is considered on the cusp of being a pre-diabetic. The fight isn't over though. I want to be under 230 by the end of the year and I know that will be challenging with the upcoming holiday season full of pumpkin spice and peppermint flavored desserts. I'm hopeful though. I celebrated my first birthday with no birthday cake and magically I still turned a year older and didn't miss it. I still enjoy the food I want to eat but I know how many steps I have to take to deplete that pack of candy and it instantly makes me uninterested. When I go to the gym, I see people of all shapes and sizes working out trying to better themselves. In the past, my peripheral vision could only see the fittest of the fit, discouraging me to compare myself to them. It's not about the radical changes in juicing and living a green-only diet or taking the pyramid scheme weight-loss supplements. It's about taking baby steps one at a time to introduce your body to its new regimen. Every body is different and only you will know what works best for you. I'm finally taking off the training wheels and getting used to it nearly a 1/3 of a year in. That being said, It hasn't been easy. I still feel nauseous daily while my medicines kick in. I firmly believe in a holistic approach but Metformin and Victoza have been my 'workout buddies' keeping me in line when I want to steer off and eat a donut or two. I've learned that insurance can completely suck. Although my workplace covers the cost of my insurance plan (for which I am grateful), many prescriptions are not covered and my Victoza costs around $400 a month. This lifestyle is part of my new normal. I haven't drank a sweet tea or pop (soda) since May 28 and my once caffeine addiction is now replaced with walking and light-jogging. I'm training for my first 5k this weekend to support the real warriors; children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and will be headed to Disney World on Tuesday; an appropriate celebration destination with still many opportunities to get in those steps. I wouldn't be here without my incredible friends, family, and medical angels Kris, my nurse; and Jennifer Warren. It's the consistent empathy they share with me that get me through the cravings. Wish me luck! |
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