Many professionals seek to become more efficient decision-makers. Being a good decision-maker is a sought after skill. It can often be the difference between a promotion or a pink slip. In today ’s uncertain times this skill lets you stand out on the team with quicker and better decisions. How do you become more accurate and effective at making decisions when it counts?

What is the objective of the mission? 

Know the objective of the decision and know your mission on the team.Ask yourself: “What are we really trying to do here?”

Write it out, brainstorm, and discuss. Is it your role to solve this problem? Do you have the tools needed?

Seek Out Wisdom And Knowledge

Seek out, wise counsel. Really. If you are surrounded by more experienced professionals who have done what you are about to do, ask questions, and inform yourself. Do needed research. Don ’t let pride or proving that you have it “all under control” blind you to great resources all around you.

It Does Not Have To Be Perfect

Don ’t overthink - just start. Make a plan. An imperfect, real plan. Start doing the work that is deciding and solving. Take note of the effects and response to your action. This way you can adjust if needed.

Adjust Early

Be humble - make the adjustment early if needed. Don ’t run the train off the track because you are unwilling to admit that you made a mistake. If your choice was wrong, own up to it in a professional way and make things right to the best of your ability. It ’s better to win the fight after a change of tactics than to get knocked out by your own ego and pride.

Control What You Can Control

It is important when making decisions to know what you truly have power over. If it ’s not your decision to make, stay out of the control room. Also - use this adage to relieve stress. Only focus on what you have the ability to decide on. This means staying focused and being able to take action without becoming overwhelmed by the details.

Decision making does not have to be a tedious and stressful process. With the right attitude, planning, and strategy you can become a faster, more efficient, and competent decision-maker. This is a great tool for the business world and for everyday life

Brought to you by Marilyn Barker- Barker Business Services- Business Consultant and Motivational Goal Setting Coach.  Learn more at : www.MarilynBarkerSpeaks.com

How to Start Programs When They Fail to Launch

Sometimes when trying to start a program or application on a Windows device it takes longer than normal to launch and eventually you realize it is not going to open. This is at best a nuisance, but it could be halting a presentation to a board or conference, preventing a payroll run, or preventing some other important task from being completed. Regardless of what is being held up, it is a waste of time!

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get the program to launch successfully that do not require a full reboot of the device.

Read more at https://eyonic.com/1/?PZ or watch the video at https://eyonic.com/1/?PY.

A few years ago, you did the responsible and proactive thing by buying a life insurance policy. You should feel great about that accomplishment.  Buying life insurance is meant to reassure you that expenses will be covered for your family and give you peace of mind. And like most people, you put your policy in a safe place and haven't thought about it in years. But ask yourself: has any part of your life changed since you bought your policy? I'm talking about life changes such as getting married, buying a new home, having a new baby, empty nest, and divorce. If so, then your policy might not reflect your current situation. You could be underinsured or giving your benefits to a person you no longer speak to today!

Here are FIVE reasons to review your life insurance coverage:

1. Do you have enough coverage for your current needs?

If you have a life change since the time you bought your policy, chances are,you could be underinsured. A new home, getting married, a new baby are exciting life events that affect your insurance needs. For example, if you have a 500,000 home, a new wife, and a new baby on the way, and your old policy was only 100,000, this will not be enough to support your new family should something happen to you.

2. How long is the length of coverage?
Some clients start with a term policy due to their limited budget. Because of this, two things need to be considered, when is the term going to end? And what options are available for you? If your term is coming to an end, you will be able to prepare a plan to continue coverage by either converting it to a permanent plan or looking at a new plan altogether. The best option will depend on many factors, and a good agent should be able to guide you.

3. Have you updated your beneficiary(s)?
Reviewing your beneficiary now, allows you to add adult children as a beneficiary to your policy if they were still a minor when you originally bought your policy. Although every so often, I do run into those with minors listed as beneficiaries, which I do not recommend. Unfortunately, their agent failed to advise them wisely on better alternatives. Most children are not fit to handle money, let alone a large sum. Then state probate will have to decide who gets to manage the funds for the minor, and there could be disputes among family members. Potentially, this takes the control away from the person you would want to handle the funds and is totally avoidable. You can also remove those who no longer need to be your beneficiary, such as your deceased or ex-spouse. You can change or update your beneficiary at any time. Doing a review gives you a chance to get it done.A contingent beneficiary is also something you may want to add or change. A contingent beneficiary will receive the benefits in case the primary beneficiary is no longer around at the passing of the insured person.

4. Is the cash value of your policy growing?
If you have a cash value or permanent policy, reviewing the growth of the cash value is another smart thing to do. It gives you a chance to ask questions to your agent, plan for any significant future expenses, or to change interest crediting allocations on an IUL based on current market conditions. (An IUL is an index universal life plan which uses different indexes as basis for interest credited to your cash value.)

5. Is your policy in danger of lapsing?
Regularly reviewing your policy can keep you on track and also prevent the policy from lapsing, which is insurance lingo for terminating due to exhaustion of cash values. I recently reviewed a client's policy only to find out that the policy will lapse in a few years. By reviewing her policy and identifying the situation, I was able to help her find a solution. If we had not reviewed her policy, my client would have been surprised not to have insurance in a few years.
If you haven't considered your current life insurance lately, or know someone who may have put it off, I am offering complimentary policy reviews. Make an appointment now, and have peace of mind for many years to come. Click here to schedule it today.

A meal centered around ribs always feels just a little bit special.  Throw together these easy Root Beer Ribs, some corn on the cob, and a quick coleslaw and you're all set!  Here's a couple ways to make it possible - even on busy weekdays. 

A Ribs Recipe That Works in a Slow Cooker or a Pressure Cooker!

Sometimes it’s easier to plan ahead and have the right ingredients on hand than it is to plan ahead and have the right amount of time available! Here's a quick and easy ribs recipe that solves that problem for you.  If your mornings usually stay on track, use your slow cooker to make delicious Root Beer Ribs.  If prepping for dinner in the morning just isn’t an option for you, you can still make Quick Cooker Barbecue Root Beer Ribs in your electric pressure cooker in under an hour!  The ingredients are the same for both recipes so you can make a last-minute decision about which cooking method will work best for you.

Slow Cooker Recipe for Ribs:

Root Beer Ribs only takes about ten minutes to prep.  This recipe calls for root beer for a couple reasons:  The root beer flavor complements the barbecue sauce and meat and the carbonation has a slight tenderizing effect.  When this recipe is done, the meat will be tender and starting to fall off the bone.  Start cooking about 6–8 hours before you want to eat if you set your slow cooker on low.  Cut that time down to four hours if you set your slow cooker to high.  The ribs are going to be delicious no matter which setting you choose, so pick whichever method works best with your schedule. 

Root Beer Ribs made in a Rockcrok 4-Qt Slow Cooker Set   

Best Way to Cook Ribs in Under an Hour:

Electric pressure cookers are kitchen game changers!  If you have an hour to make dinner, like when you're running into the house after a long day -  use a pressure cooker to make Quick Cooker Barbeque Root Beer Ribs. You’ll enjoy the same ten-minute prep and ability to leave the kitchen as you would making ribs in a slow cooker.  You can spend that out-of-the-kitchen time outside soaking up some summer sunshine!

Root Beer Ribs made in a Quick Cooker!

Looking for the recipes?

Click here for Root Beer Ribs in the Slow Cooker: https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/lisarosted/recipe/Main+Dishes/Rockcrok/Root+Beer+Ribs/1237791 

Click here for Root Beer Ribs in the electric pressure cooker: https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/lisarosted/recipe/Main+Dishes/Quick+Cooker/Quick+Cooker+Barbecue+Root+Beer+Ribs/1443171

Happy cooking!

~Lisa

"Enriching Lives, One Meal & One Memory at a Time"

Lisa Rosted

The Pampered Chef

Independent Director, #837945

cell/text:  (707) 704-6248

email:  cheflisa2018@yahoo.com

Check out my website!!   https://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/lisarosted

Have you ever thought about what clutter might sound like? I imagine it to be a loud hum, kind of like a machine that won’t turn off. Always there, in the background, irritating you to the point where you just want to scream. Or run out of the house. You can think of clutter as visual noise; as distracting as having a vacuum cleaner running for hours on end. You can’t think when you hear that noise, just as you can’t think when you’re looking at all of that visual noise; clutter. It’s exhausting listening to noise all the time. As humans, we crave silence, if for no other reason than to give ourselves time to think and enjoy the peace. I’ve had clients tell me that after we’ve cleared a space, they just feel so much more at peace, calm, relaxed. It’s as if the noise was turned off in that space.

photo credit: fotosearch.com

Clutter can stifle your creativity, lead to depression and anxiety and cause discord in relationships with your loved ones, whether they live with the clutter or not. I’ve heard from significant others that when their homes were cleared of the clutter, their relationship with my client improved almost immediately. They were both relieved to have the stuff out so they could focus on what was truly important in their lives; each other, or family.

How would your life change if you didn’t hear the visual noise in your home? Would you be able to do the things you wanted, when you wanted, where you wanted? What would that feel like? 

We need to remember that mosquito bites can be more than just a nuisance:

CA's "1st" death of the summer from West Nile just occurred in San Louis Obispo county. As of Friday (7/9/21), state public health officials said the virus has been found in 45 dead birds from six counties and in 177 mosquito samples from 13 counties in CA.

West Nile virus is California’s most common and serious vector-borne disease. More than 7,000 cases have been reported since 2003 and more than 300 people have died.

Mosquitos and West Nile are not limited to California.

I do keep several bottles of Natural Insect Repellent at hand- feels like wearing a seat belt!  

So non-toxic, I spray it liberally all over all my exposed skin, including face.  Also safe for childrens' skin and pets.  

Protect. Naturally.

www.MyBlissfulWellness.com

Just before the holiday weekend Kaseya, a tech company that licenses remote management software to managed service providers (MSPs), was hacked. This hack affected approximately 60 MSPs and 1,500 businesses which has led many people to wonder what they can do to protect themselves against an attack of this type.

This post discusses what you need to know about last week's remote computer software hack, how remote connect software should work and what you can do if you think someone is accessing your computer remotely. 

For full post visit https://eyonic.com/1/?PL.

Absentmindedly, you reach for your phone. You open your favorite app. Nothing has changed since you last did this 10 minutes ago, but you kind of forgot that you'd just done this. So, you open a different app… but you were just there, too. Does this sound familiar?

Sometimes, we convince ourselves we're being super productive by staying up to date with the latest news and happenings on social media and responding to emails immediately. The reality of the matter, though, is you are distracting yourself from bigger things.

When you're at work your focus should be on work. When you're at home your focus should be on your home life. It’s time to take back control.

· No More Notifications

Open your phone settings right now and go in and turn off notifications. You don't need an update about who sent what Tweet yesterday but it's time for you to see it now. You don't need a constant stream of distressing news updates breaking your focus. Check your social media at set times, do the same for email, and ignore it the rest of the time.

· A Healthy Routine

You can improve your focus by establishing a healthy daily routine. When you set your routine and you get used to it you don't have to waste time thinking about what comes next. It's why people like Steve Jobs did and Mark Zuckerberg does wear the same outfit.

· Prioritize

What does your day look like? What is on your to-do list? The best way to avoid distractions is to rank your tasks in order of priority. It can be overwhelming when you think about all of the things you need to do, by putting them in order you remove the stress and overwhelm.

· Say No To Multitasking

Are you a multitasker? If yes, are you good at it? If yes, you're wrong. Sorry. Your attempt at multi-tasking is slowing you down, reducing your productivity, and you're not doing each task as well as you could be. By multitasking, you contribute to distractions.

· Renew

When your schedule is going haywire, when the world is throwing distractions in your face it's difficult to take a moment for yourself. However, renewal is vital. As your energy dips, memory is fading, and you can feel the stress creeping in, it is important that you withdraw from that and take time to regenerate.

Can A Clean Home Be Unhealthy?

Cleaning your home as little as once weekly with national brand cleaners has been proven to be as harmful to your lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for twenty years.  This conclusion was reported after a lengthy independent study of thousands of adult participants.  If adult lungs are susceptible to damage after breathing dangerous cleaning products, what about our children, grandchildren and pets?

Of course, as we have suspected, toxic chemicals are harmful to developing lungs.  Some points to know:

-Children are especially prone to the damaging health effects due to their smaller body weight

-Children’s organs have not fully developed and are less able to detoxify

Imagine the degree of damage being done to our children’s lungs considering the damage national brand cleaning products cause within adult respiratory systems.  Children breathe the same are we do in our homes, walk on the same floors, touch the same surfaces.  Asthma has been on the rise since the ’50s and airborne toxins are suspect.

If your cleaning products have hazard warnings and childproof caps, these products have the toxic ingredients that damage your lungs and your children's/grandchildren's lungs.  

Great news is that you can clean and disinfect your entire home with safe, non-toxic, chemical-free products.  The EcoSense product line of plant-based cleaners takes care of your home and all who live there.  This impressively effective and affordable line of products will allow you to deep breath, create a sparkling clean home with peace of mind. 

Flipping your switch can seem like a massive undertaking. One that there are a million different ways to achieve if all the articles on the internet have anything to say about it. However, flipping your switch is a personal undertaking, one that may have similar milestones for everyone, but really can and should be curtailed to a person’s needs in order to be successful. Keep reading for the 7 steps you need to personalize to flip your own switch.

1.     Find an Activity that Challenges You

• The activity that will most help you flip your own switch is the one that challenges you. Not your neighbor or your sibling. But you. This could be as simple as folding an entire basket of laundry in one sitting or the Sunday morning crossword in pen.

2.     Commit to yourself

• Whatever challenge you’re undertaking, you’re doing it for you. Make a promise to yourself that you will try your hardest and not give up when the going gets tough.

3.     Set Realistic Goals

• Make sure your goals are attainable. You aren’t going to fold all the laundry that you do on Sunday by the end of Sunday. But maybe you could at least hang up the stuff that will wrinkle. Or perhaps you will only use a pen on the crossword answers you feel 100% certain about, pencil on the rest.

4.     Turn off the T.V. (or the Internet) In General

• Get rid of the useless distractions. That show is not going to help you concentrate or make time go faster, so just don’t. You can’t flip your switch on one activity if your brain is partially paying attention to another.

5.     Remove Interruptions

• Kids, phones, whatever. Do your best to remove the interruptions that you know will crop up.

6.     Track Your Progress

• Find an easy way (read: not time-consuming, expensive, or labor-intensive) to track your progress. Sometimes this is a calendar to check off days. For others, maybe you need to journal about your feelings, how it went, or your next goal to achieve.

7.     Enjoy Your Experiences

• Enjoy what you’re doing and the experiences you are having. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.

Learning to flip your switch is a process, not a one-day training online. It will take time and practice to find out exactly what it takes for you to be in the zone.

Marilyn Barker 
Barker Business Services/Marilyn Barker Speaks
www.MarilynBarker.com
Business Consultant/Goal Coach/Speaker