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FROM THE DESK OF Karen
How did it get to be July? If it’s July, that means we should be half-way through our 2018 budget and plans. Now’s a wonderful time to reflect on how far you have come this year! On a personal basis, I’ve undertaken some new goals this year. Old dogs can and do learn new tricks. I just started running last August, at age 55. (This from a woman who considered exercise a dirty word.) Waylaid for a few months for a back injury, I’ve returned to training with a vengeance. I’m in two different running training groups, with a goal of running (not running/walking) an entire 5K by October.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT T he S tory of the D eclaration of I ndependence
Every American knows that the Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 — it’s also called Independence Day, after all. The story behind the document, however, gets less attention than it deserves. It’s a fascinating tale, culminating with the birth of the United States of America as we know it.
THE ROAD TO DECLARATION
What have you done new this year?
Even after the early battles of the American Revolution, which began in earnest during April of 1775, it was unclear what shape the rebellion would take. At that point, independence was still far from certain. As the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in May of that year, two groups formed around polar opinions. “The fundamental issue between them was were they fighting for their rights as Englishmen within the British Empire, or were they going to fight for independence?” says historian Richard Slotkin. It was not an easy choice, and both sides held passionate opinions. As the calendar changed to 1776, those in favor of breaking from King George III began to gain momentum. The growth of the revolutionary movement had a number of causes, but two in particular stand out. In late 1775, King George III spoke to Parliament with the goal of enlarging the Royal Army and Navy to quash the rebellion. He went so far as to solicit help from foreign mercenaries. Word of this decision reached the colonies in January 1776, making reconciliation seem less likely than ever before. During the same month, Thomas Paine published his famous pamphlet “Common Sense,” which advocated for outright independence. “The custom of all Courts is against us, and will be so, until by an independence we take rank with other nations,” Paine wrote. “Common
What are you doing just for you this year?
Have a great summer and tackle something that you never considered before — it’s actually kind of fun!
- Karen Young
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Sense”was wildly popular, selling more than 150,000 copies in its first weeks of publication, and created a groundswell of colonist support for independence.
over the next few days with input from all Congress members. This revision process coincided with convincing the final holdout states to move toward independence. By July 2, independence had been decided, with 12 states voting in favor, one absenting, and zero against. Jefferson thought that July 2 would become a national holiday as a result of this vote. Turns out he was two days off. That’s because two days later, the final text of the Declaration was approved and sent to the printer, and this event became the moment synonymous with the birth of our nation.
While this remarkable passage is the one everyone remembers, it’s only a small portion of the Declaration. Structurally, the text proceeds like a classic example of a rhetorical argument. It begins by proposing that if a government is oppressive and unjust, it should be overthrown. Then, it lists the ways the British government has been unjust to its colonial citizens. Finally, it concludes that because of these grievances, it is time for the U.S. to establish a government of its own. It’s also a literary achievement, full of timeless sentences that are as compelling to read today as when they were written. Somehow, the text achieves both clarity of argument and an overflow of emotion. It was so powerful that it stirred revolutionary emotions across the world, most notably in France.
DRAFTING THE DOCUMENT
Social media has proven to be the most difficult part of digital marketing. A report from GlobalWebIndex found that the average person has around seven active social media accounts, so companies have a lot to lose if they ignore social media. But using a site that’s wrong for your business can be a waste of time andmoney. Here’s the rundown of popular platforms and what businesses they’re best suited for. Everyone Should Be On: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ These social media platforms are staples of the landscape and can benefit any industry. Despite the recent privacy issues, Facebook still has an active base of around 1.45 billion daily users. You can’t afford to miss out on that kind of audience. Twitter is also pretty active, and though this sort of engagement won’t necessarily benefit every business, it’s important to • • Once a route forward was agreed upon, Congress set about drafting a formal document to dissolve all ties with Great Britain. They assigned a group of five congressmen, now known as the Committee of Five, to begin work on what would become the Declaration of Independence. That group comprised John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Most people believed that Adams, one of the earliest supporters of revolution, should be the man to pen the document. Adams, on the other hand, was insistent that Jefferson was the man for the job. Not much is known about how Jefferson wrote the document, but we are certain that he presented it to Congress on June 28, 1776. The original draft was heavily revised
THE POWER OF THE PROSE
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This Fourth of July, why not take the time to read the Declaration of Independence? It’s something few U.S. citizens do, and you’ll likely find it about as awe-inspiring as the biggest display of fireworks you can imagine. Like, Share, Retweet Is Your Business Wasting Time on Social Media? –The Declaration of Independence
maintain an account on Twitter so you can monitor any mentions of your company. Google+ isn’t the most popular social media platform, but having a Google+ page for your business helps Google generate search results, including maps, reviews, contact information, and photos.
tips, foodies show off their recipes, and travel-oriented companies post advice on the best family-friendly cities to visit. Not just for moody teens, Tumblr is a great platform for fashion brands (thanks to its visual elements) and media platforms (thanks to the site being friendly to long- form articles). While NPR and Rolling Stone do well on Tumblr, small businesses are likely to struggle. Unless your demographic is mostly 15- to 25-year-olds or you’re Taco Bell, your company has no business being on Snapchat. The many avenues of social media can be overwhelming, but it gives you plenty of opportunities to find the right platform to connect with your clients. Take some time to look at the pros and cons of a platform you’re considering and ask yourself if it really meets the needs of your business. • You Can Delete: Snapchat
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Assess Your Situation Before Joining: Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr
There are plenty of other popular platforms whose formats aren’t for everyone. Don’t waste your time on a social media platform your business can’t benefit from. Instagram is the king of visual content. Fashion outlets, restaurants, niche retail establishments, and luxury brands do well on Instagram because they can regularly share eye-catching images. DIY crowds love Pinterest. This is a visual platformwhere fashion brands share style • •
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5 Customer Service Mistakes That Will Ruin Relationships and Repeat Business
According to entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor Daymond John, “Customer service is more important than anything else in your business.” Without high-level customer service, you can kiss repeat business goodbye. There are far too many companies that get a lot of customer service practices right only to undo their good work by committing avoidable errors. Here are some of the most common customer service killers and advice on how to avoid them. POOR LISTENING SKILLS There is nothing more frustrating for a customer than feeling like they’re talking to a brick wall. Having a system for customer complaints and feedback isn’t a bad idea, but being inflexible is. Remember that you’re talking to a person. The more closely you listen, the better you’ll be able
on customer service every step of the way rather than only using it as damage control, and you’ll start getting those five-star reviews.
TOO MUCH AUTOMATION Chat services, artificial intelligence, call trees, and automated emails are all excellent tools to have in your customer-service arsenal. They can cut costs and increase engagement. The danger comes in not providing customers ways to bypass impersonal service. Provide these options, but don’t cut out human interaction entirely. That way, you’ll be able to provide an experience tailored to the preference of each customer. FORGETTING YOUR MANNERS This might sound basic, but you’d be shocked by how often politeness gets overlooked. The most important phrases a customer service rep can learn are “thank you” and “I’m sorry.” Practicing good manners goes a long way in building trust and ensuring customers feel cared for.
to address their concerns. Rob Pace, CEO of feedback software company HundredX, says, “The ultimate goal is for the customer to feel they are heard.” ONLY BEING REACTIVE Customer service doesn’t just happen on the back end. Working to create a great experience on the front end will impress customers and cut down on those after-purchase calls. To quote Jeff Bezos, “The best customer service is if the customer doesn’t need to call you.” Focus
REPETITION, REPETITION, REPETITION If you have a customer on the phone, you should never make them tell you the same thing twice. Information should be recorded and easy to hand off in the event of an escalation. You can bet that the third time you ask for a customer’s email, they’ll respond with a mountain of irritation.
Take a Break!
Charred
CHILI-CHEESE CORN
Ingredients
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4 ears of corn, husked
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1/4 cup fresh lime juice
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4 tablespoons high smoke- point oil, such as canola or vegetable
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2 ounces fresh cotija cheese (or feta), crumbled
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1/4 cup cilantro
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1 large shallot, thinly sliced
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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1/2 red chili (such as Freson) or jalapeño, thinly sliced
Directions
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Heat grill to medium.
• Brush corn with 2 tablespoons oil and grill until visibly charred, 10–12 minutes. • Cut kernels off cob and combine with shallots, chilis, lime juice, cheese, and remaining oil. • Season with salt and pepper, garnish with cilantro, and serve
Inspired by Bon Appetit
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Karen PAGE 1 The Founding Document of America PAGE 1 The Social Media Platform You NEED to Be On PAGE 2 5 Customer Experience Killers PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Charred Chili-Cheese Corn PAGE 3 What Is Fasted Cardio? PAGE 4
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FASTED CARDIO
Fat-Loss Technique or Workout Sham?
Fasted cardio is rapidly becoming a mainstay in a variety of fitness regimens. The principle states that participating in aerobic exercise while in a fasted state will burn fat at a higher rate. But there’s a lot that goes into how this modality achieves its end goal.
have to go so many hours without eating, the most logical time to perform fasted cardio is in the morning. In most cases, your body is already in a fasted state when you wake up, making it the perfect time to hit the gym or the road and bust out some cardio.
methodology. For every proponent of fasted cardio, there’s an equal and opposite force against it. The main struggle most fitness aficionados have with fasted cardio is that while your body will burn fat, it will also target muscle, so you will lose some of your overall
muscle mass. Another difficulty can be sustaining enough energy to maintain your workout. If you’re looking for the solution to your fat-loss goals, fasted cardio could be the check with your doctor or trainer before starting a new fitness regimen. And don’t forget to refuel your body after your workout! answer. The only way to know is to try it for yourself. As always,
WHAT IS A FASTED STATE?
WHY FASTED CARDIO?
Fasting doesn’t have to mean denying your body food for days on end. Technically, your body is in a fasted state when your insulin levels reach homeostasis and your body begins metabolizing stored body fat as its source of energy, normally about 8–12 hours after your last meal.
When your body is in a fasted state, lipolysis and fat oxidation increase drastically. Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat cells for energy, and fat oxidation is when your body burns that energy. So when you start pounding the pavement with your new pair of running shoes before breakfast, your body is going to target fat cells to burn for energy, resulting in increased fat loss.
WHAT IS FASTED CARDIO?
WHAT ARE THE DOWNFALLS?
Whether it be running, biking, or any other source of aerobic activity, when you exercise while your body is in its fasted state, you are participating in fasted cardio. Because you
The fitness community is full of polarizing views on just about every workout
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