Take a look at our September newsletter!
SEPTEMBER 2023
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Every person’s self-improvement journey is different, but they usually share a similar goal. How do we find more purpose, fulfillment, and joy in life? Whether we want to grow a business, eat healthier, stop a bad habit, or lower our stress, we’re trying to discover how to get the most out of life. There’s no shortage of books on the market sharing tips, tricks, and strategies to help us along the way. As someone who believes in the maxim, “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” I deeply enjoy reading books focused on self-improvement. In honor of September as Self-Improvement Month, I wanted to pass on some of my favorite books that helped me find my purpose and fulfillment in this life (which is an evolving process!) ‘MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING’ BY VIKTOR FRANKL My father told me about this seminal book when I was 18. Frankl lived an incredibly difficult life. He was captured by Nazis during World War II and held for years in concentration camps. The overarching theme is summed up in this Frankl quote: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” This is a powerful reminder for me that life will be hard. Everyone will endure physical, mental, and emotional challenges of all degrees. However, as Frankl reminds us, WE always have the freedom to choose our attitude and chart our own path no matter our circumstances. I recommend reading the book if you haven’t and giving it to someone young if it touches you. SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOKS THAT CHANGED ME The Path to a Better Life
‘ATOMIC HABITS’ BY JAMES CLEAR This book came into my life as I was graduating college. Clear uses scientific research to provide practical guidance on building better habits. The part that resonated most with me was his focus on systems. He states that creating effective systems improves our decision-making. We should create an environment where making the right decision is easy, and the wrong one is hard. For example, if you want to exercise more, make it easy. Lay out your clothes the night before, have a scheduled time when you go to the gym every day, and put your water next to your bed. Remove as many obstacles as possible. You can control your environment, so good choices are easy to make. ‘THINK AGAIN’ BY ADAM GRANT Many of us spend our lives trying to become experts, but Grant explains there’s power in knowing what you don’t know. Especially in the financial field, people want certainty. A set of black-and-white answers. But that’s not always possible. Grant taught me that despite not knowing, we must learn to make decisions while aware of the gaps in our knowledge.
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These articles are designed to provide general information on the subjects covered. They are not, however, intended to provide specific legal or tax advice and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or to promote, market, or recommend any tax plan or arrangement. Please note that Patriot Wealth and its affiliates do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney. Investment Advisory Services is offered through Retirement Wealth Advisors (RWA), a Registered Investment Advisor. Patriot Wealth and RWA are not affiliated. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
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Busting the Most Popular Smartphone Myths
According to research from Zippia, “Roughly 307 million people own smartphones in the United States” — that’s 92% of the country! Because that number is so high, it means many of us will likely encounter the same technical problems and search for easy solutions online. Luckily, there are tons of videos and articles about how to fix your phone issues! But here’s the problem: Many of these “hacks” are complete myths that mislead the general public. We want to set the record straight, so we’re busting four of the most popular technology myths. MYTH NO. 1: MORE SIGNAL BARS EQUALS BETTER SERVICE. We aren’t sure how this myth started, but those little bars on the top left or right of your phone don’t show how
“fast” or “good” your cell service is. It simply indicates how close you are to the nearest available cell tower. So, even if you have full bars, your service may still be slow if the network is busy.
phone will actually make it run slower. This is because current smartphones are designed to run multiple apps in the background, and by closing them out, your phone will need to use more power to load them back up. MYTH NO. 4: PRIVATE BROWSING IS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. While it does prevent your logins and history from being recorded, everything you search in a private browser still goes through your internet service provider. They can see it all! So, next time you see an article or a video touting some new smartphone hack you have to try, do your research before giving it a go!
MYTH NO. 2: AIRPLANE MODE ALLOWS YOUR PHONE TO CHARGE QUICKER.
Technically, airplane mode isn’t charging your phone faster; it’s just making it lose battery power slower. What this means is that if your phone is trying to charge while also running, it will seem like it’s charging slowly. But with airplane mode, certain functions are limited, so the battery doesn’t drain as fast and has less working against it while charging. MYTH NO. 3: CLOSING APPS MAKES YOUR PHONE OPERATE FASTER. In most cases, closing the apps on your
SILENT THREATS
The Wide Spectrum of Vascular Disease
The vascular system — consisting of arteries, veins, and capillaries — is the biological super highway that ensures all other parts of the body continue to function. The health consequences can be severe when any portion of this complex system is disrupted. Vascular Disease Awareness Month aims to educate the public about the risks they face and what early interventions are available. Vascular disease refers to any condition that affects our blood vessels. Some of the most well-known types include blood clots, aneurysms, and strokes. These conditions tend to be catastrophic, potentially resulting in hospitalization, permanent disability, or death. But many other vascular diseases are more subtle and cause far-reaching health impacts over time. The most common types of vascular disease
are atherosclerosis, peripheral artery disease, and carotid artery disease.
cause stroke; it’s the root cause of more than half of strokes in the U.S.
Atherosclerosis causes plaque to build up in the arteries, restricting the blood’s flow. It most commonly affects the heart and can cause related conditions throughout the body. Atherosclerosis has no cure, but symptoms can be treated with a healthy diet, exercise, and medication. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) specifically occurs when plaque buildup affects veins in the legs. PAD causes leg pain, numbness, discoloration, and sores. In addition to lifestyle changes, some people with PAD need surgery. Carotid artery disease occurs when plaque buildup blocks blood flow to the brain, and it is one of the many conditions that can progress from atherosclerosis. Left untreated, carotid artery disease can
Anyone can suffer from vascular disease, but some people are particularly susceptible. The risk of vascular disease increases substantially with age and is particularly high for smokers. Researchers have also linked a lack of exercise and obesity to vascular disease. Other health conditions also increase the likelihood of developing a vascular condition, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia. Unfortunately, some vascular diseases present without symptoms before a major health event. As a result, you should be mindful of your risk and discuss prevention and screening with your doctor. Treating vascular disease is most effective as an early intervention, and knowing the risks could be a lifesaver.
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We used to dread the telemarketers who interrupted us during dinner. Now, unwanted calls come at any time of the day, and the person on the line is often peddling something even worse than a subpar product. Telephone scams get more sophisticated daily, and we must be increasingly mindful of how we talk to unexpected callers. Improved technology means we can no longer trust what we see or hear. Scammers can spoof caller ID, meaning a phone call that looks like it’s from a trusted business or family member may not be. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) mean other markers of authenticity we used to rely on no longer apply. The Grandparent Scam has been around for years. A scammer calls an older adult pretending to be their grandchild (or other family member) in an urgent situation requiring money. They may claim to be stranded or in jail and often ask their target not to tell anyone about the call. Recent AI advances also mean scammers can now mimic specific voices, making them extra convincing. Never give in to this type of urgent request to send money. Hang up, check on your loved ones, and call the police. Other scams involve requests for personal or payment information from seemingly reputable sources. For example, a caller might claim to be from your bank and want to verify information to secure your account from suspicious activity. Tell the caller you will reach out directly on the bank’s official line if this happens. (The more the representative pushes back on the phone, the more likely the call is a fraud.) Then hang up, visit the bank’s official website, and manually dial the number listed to determine whether the original communication was valid. Do the same with calls from utility companies, the IRS, or anyone else who wants your personal information or money. TELEPHONE SCAMMERS’ MOST EFFECTIVE TRICKS DON’T BE FOOLED
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‘THE CURIOSITY CHRONICLE’ BY SAHIL BLOOM I’m cheating just a little on my last selection. “The Curiosity Chronicle” isn’t a book but a digital newsletter. I get a lot out of reading Bloom’s thoughts, but one called “The Beauty of Enough” stuck with me the most. The article focuses primarily on the concept of hedonic adaptation — the tendency of humans to revert to a happiness baseline shortly after new positive or negative events. Bloom eloquently shares a parable that displays this concept. The parable encourages us to identify our unique definitions of success and purpose. I generally categorize myself as a person where the “quest for more” is a driving force. However, as Sahil says, “If I can leave you with one lesson, it’s this: ‘Never let your quest for more distract you from the beauty of enough.’” Many more self-improvement books have inspired me over the years, but I’m always looking for my next great read. If there’s a book or online resource you think I’d love; please email me at Austin@PatriotWealthNC.com. I look forward to learning more about what lessons have helped you to lead a better life. –Austin Kobilka
Walnut and Blue Cheese Tomato Salad
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
This salad makes a unique side dish and healthy next-day lunch!
Remember, scammers rely on urgency to fool people. Panicked people think less clearly. Someone who believes they or a loved one are in danger generally asks fewer questions and is more willing to follow instructions. Avoiding scams requires slowing down and considering the facts with clear eyes and a level head.
INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup walnuts • 2 lbs ripe heirloom tomatoes • Kosher salt, to taste • Black pepper, to taste • 1/4 cup smoked blue cheese, thinly sliced • 1 tbsp fresh dill • Chopped fresh Italian parsley, to taste • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp red wine or balsamic vinegar • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. On a baking sheet, toast the walnuts in the oven for 12–14 minutes. 2. Wash and slice the tomatoes. Place slices on a platter, slightly overlapping. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. 3. Scatter toasted walnuts and blue cheese on top, followed by dill and preferred amount of parsley. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, wine or vinegar, and garlic to make the dressing. 5. Spoon dressing evenly over salad and serve.
When in doubt, don’t answer the phone or hang up. You can always sort out a genuine problem later but rarely recover your money from a scammer.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Austin’s Life-Changing Reads PAGE 1
Busting the Most Popular Smartphone Myths PAGE 2
Know Your Risk for Vascular Disease PAGE 2
Walnut and Blue Cheese Tomato Salad PAGE 3
Stay One Step Ahead of Phone Scammers PAGE 3
Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone PAGE 4
Keep Yourself Safe While Traveling Alone
Traveling alone can be a memorable and adventurous experience — it’s a great way to step outside your comfort zone and continue learning about yourself. While solo travel is chock- full of exciting perks, staying alone in a hotel can be dangerous if you aren’t careful to take certain safety precautions. The next time you take a trip by yourself, keep these tips in mind! CHECK IN THE SMART WAY. When you check in to your hotel, always ask for two room keys — this way, hotel staff and anyone else in earshot will automatically assume someone else is traveling with you. If they ask how many guests will be staying with you, don’t admit you are alone. If you have the option, request a room that isn’t on the ground floor, as research shows they are the easiest to break into! INSPECT YOUR ROOM. As soon as you enter the room, make a quick sweep to ensure no one is present in closets, in the shower, or under the bed and that nothing appears to be amiss. It’s always best to be safe rather than sorry! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED. Any time you leave your room, even if it’s just to scope out the vending machines, be alert for anyone watching or following
you, and always keep your room number discreet. If you ever feel like someone is following you, get off on a different floor and avoid going to your room. USE THE DEADBOLT. If the door in your room comes equipped with a deadbolt, use it! This extra safety measure keeps even those with a key from entering your room without your knowing! SHARE THE HOTEL INFORMATION. Let your family and friends know where you are staying! Provide them with the hotel name, address, and phone number in case an emergency arises!
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Traveling solo is a thrilling experience, but it comes with some extra steps to stay safe! Trust your instincts and use these tips to ensure your trip goes down in the memory books as safe and exciting!
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