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BETTER THAN ANY OFFICE SEPT. 2019
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I ’ve never been able to sit still. If I have to sit in front of a computer and type something, after about 10 or 15 minutes, I get up and walk around or do something active for like an hour. I think that’s always been true about me. When I went to college, I did because everybody else was doing it. When I graduated, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I just knew I didn’t want to sit in an office all day. Around that time, a friend connected me to a guy who had a plumbing business. I didn’t know anything about plumbing at the time, but I found I liked it. I loved being outside, I loved the smell of fresh-cut wood at the work site, and I loved the sense of accomplishment I felt working as a plumber. We would walk into a house that was a shell and walk out of a more complete house. My crew chief, Tom, was a great mentor during that time, and he showed me how to do my job in the most efficient way possible. Even though most of our work would be hidden behind walls, we installed it to perfection. Tom taught me to take pride in my work and that we were professionals. The Plumb Smart Story “I loved being outside, I loved the smell of fresh-cut wood at the work site, and I loved the sense of accomplishment I felt working as a plumber.” For a while, I made changes to my career in four-year increments like clockwork. After about four years working for that residential plumbing business and earning my master plumber’s license, I (wrongly) thought I must be the smartest person in the world, and I tried to run my own plumbing business. The only thing was I didn’t know anything about running any type of business. After trying for about four years, I just couldn’t do it anymore, and I went to work in the service department of a big company. I worked there for about four years as well, but trying to work for someone else after you’ve had your own business doesn’t usually work very well. At least, it didn’t for me. I left that company after about — you guessed it — four years and went to work for a friend of mine who had a small plumbing business
working on commercial buildings. I worked for him for four years before I decided to try running my own business again. That was when I started Plumb Smart. I started working out of the back of my truck and renting any expensive equipment that I needed. Now, I have two trucks that are fully equipped. I hope we grow more in the future, but I don’t need the business to get really big. I don’t need a fleet of 20 trucks or something like that. I feel like I’m kind of a weird business owner for that reason.
Most other business owners I know are super Type A, and
they’re always going at 100 miles per hour. I’m a pretty low-key guy. Like most
people, I want the freedom to take time off and do other things. My business is very important to me, but it’s not my whole life.
Running Plumb Smart has definitely made me realize what I love about what I do. I love being able to help people when they’re at their wits’ end with a plumbing issue. Maybe they’ve already had another plumber out for a look, and he wasn’t able to fix the problem, or maybe it’s a problem I can fix instead. I know my past experiences in residential and commercial new construction give me an edge over competitors because I don’t just know how to fix broken plumbing. I have a universal understanding of how a plumbing system is engineered and is supposed to work. So, when we encounter difficult plumbing problems, I often know immediately what’s wrong and how to correct it. No two days are the same at Plumb Smart, and every job has its own unique challenges. It’s been fantastic getting to serve the Atlanta area, and I look forward to continuing to help my community in the future.
–Pa u l Little
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Chronic Anger, Your Heart, and Your Health Anger is a common emotion. It’s natural, and it’s a part of how you respond to certain circumstances in your environment. It’s how you express extreme
One study that appeared in the Psychology and Aging Journal looked into this phenomenon. Researchers found that there is a link between frequently experiencing anger and increased inflammation and chronic illness for people ages 80 and older. This equated to more instances of heart disease and dementia. The study also looked at other emotions, including sadness, which has also been linked to heart disease and other inflammatory diseases. Through a number of tests involving 200 participants ages 59–93, the researchers concluded anger was far more detrimental to a person’s health than sadness.
displeasure. However, new research suggests chronic anger can be detrimental to your health. Essentially, it comes down to this: If you are stressed, tense, easily irritable, angry, and “snippy” all the time, you may be doing serious harm to your well-being. Studies have already shown a link between anger and the heart. People who showed signs of feeling anger on a regular basis experienced higher rates of heart disease. The first studies on the impact of anger came out in the 1950s and have since been confirmed: Chronic anger physically harms the heart. Why? When you get angry or upset, your brain triggers the release of specific hormones, including cortisol and norepinephrine. These hormones are responsible for triggering the “fight or flight” response. When these hormones enter the bloodstream, your heart rate increases and arteries constrict. This helps to more effectively pump blood to the arms and legs for a fight or a flight. The problem is that when a person is constantly angry or upset, these hormones course through the body more frequently, stressing the arteries and internal organs. As a person ages, this stress can become more damaging.
Ultimately, if you regularly experience rage and frustration, properly dealing with your anger is one of the best things you can do for your health. Every person’s situation is different, and it comes down to getting to the bottom of what makes you angry so you can work through it, whether you work
through it alone or with a mental health professional. Take the steps to prioritize your mental and physical health, and your efforts will pay off tenfold in the long run.
YOU FLUSHED WHAT?
Tales From the Plumb Smart Archives
Most people know how to take care of their pipes and keep them in clean, working order. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Every day, I come across customers who have got themselves in a pickle after some improper plumbing maintenance. But hey, that’s just a day in the life of a plumber. Here are a few of the cases we’ve come across this past summer. Toward the end of July, we got called out to look at a house with a clogged sewer line. The pipes in the second-floor master bathroomwere backed up, and water was seeping out from under the toilet. This indicated the clog was isolated to the master bath plumbing only, and I suspected we would find something like flushable wipes. We took the toilet off the floor to access the toilet drain and ran a sewer snake back and forth through the pipe. It came back every time with “flushable” wipes. When we showed the customers, they swore they didn’t use them. Well, somebody did. TheMythof ‘Flushable’Wipes
inspected the pipe, we found that a section had been repaired years ago, but the pipe was still not perfectly aligned. Either the previous repairmen were not able to get it lined up, or a minor earthquake shifted it. Whatever the case, we got everything back in alignment, and they shouldn’t have any more problems for a while.
That’s Not How WarrantiesWork
Boy, some people really need to think about what they’re flushing down their drains. We pulled cloth rags out of a customer’s sewage ejector pump a few months ago, but that wasn’t even the craziest part. This customer
wanted us to replace it for free! Unfortunately for her, flushing rags down the toilet voids the warranty, and I offered to install a Liberty ProVore grinder pump that will shred anything from diapers to rags for $2,600. Well, she said that was too expensive, so I guess I’ll see her next year for another $1,350. At Plumb Smart, we can handle any kind of plumbing issue you’ve got, no matter how unexpected. So, if your pipes seem like they’re backed up, give us a call today.
Out of Alignment
We finally got to the bottom of the plumbing backups in the West Cobb neighborhood clubhouse. When we video-
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HOW THIS EMOTION IS DOING YOU HARM
Spotlighting the LoKal Restaurant A TRULY LOKAL CULINARY EXPERIENCE As a local business owner myself, I’m a fan of all things local, whether it’s local produce, grocery stores, or other businesses. When I visit a local restaurant and I find the food is really good or the service really cares, I try to find an occasion to talk about it. So, in this month’s newsletter, I wanted to spotlight The LoKal Restaurant, a sports bar and family restaurant in Kennesaw. A lot of times at restaurants with menus that have a large selection, the quality of their food suffers. But that’s not the case at The LoKal Restaurant. I’ve eaten many of the items on their menu — jambalaya, chicken fettuccine Alfredo, and Reuben sandwich, just to name a few— and all of it was incredible. I feel comfortable trying something new every time I go there because I haven’t been disappointed yet! On top of the wide array of dishes that The LoKal Restaurant has, the service provided by the staff is top-notch. They’re not the kind of waiters who breathe down your neck every five minutes, but they’re somehow always at the table when you need them. They have quite a few options for seating, and we always love sitting on their nice little porch area on cool evenings. The LoKal Restaurant isn’t just a restaurant for one group of people though; anyone who walks through their doors will find something they like, whether they’re with family, a group of friends from work, or a party. There are new daily specials and fun events, like karaoke, team trivia, and live entertainment. There’s definitely something for everyone at The LoKal Restaurant. Anyone who visits should look forward to wonderful food, great service, and the pride of supporting a local business in their community.
Classic Apple Crisp
What do you dowhen apples are in season but you don’t have time to make a pie? You opt for a crisp, of course.
Ingredients
Filling: •
Topping: •
5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon 6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped 1/4 tsp salt
• • • •
•
• • •
2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tbsp lemon juice
•
Directions
1.
Heat oven to 350 F.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling.
4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.
Inspiredby FoodNetwork
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175 Goldfinch Path Acworth, GA 30101
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The Plumb Smart Story 1
Anger May Be Harming Your Heart
A Day in the Life of a Plumber 2
Classic Apple Crisp
Spotlighting the LoKal Restaurant 3
How to Keep Your Family Close in a Busy World 4
How to Keep Your Family Close in a Busy World
If you feel like you’ve hardly seen your kids since the school year started, you’re not alone. Americans are way too busy — from childhood onward, we’re always running hither and thither, packing in as many after-school activities, work-related meetings, and social engagements as possible. It’s a problem so pervasive that it has a name: time scarcity. Families feel time scarcity keenly after school starts in September, when children’s schedules explode with engagements. But all hope for close ties isn’t lost; there are ways to stay connected with your spouse and kids, even in an increasingly busy world. Here are some ideas from counselors, teachers, and psychologists who claim to have mastered the art. Remember Your Rituals Rituals make up the backbone of individual families and society at large. Most people wouldn’t dream of abandoning their holiday traditions, so why forgo the smaller rituals that bring families together? Whether it’s eating dinner at the same table each evening, watching a movie together every Thursday night, or going on a monthly getaway, make sure these traditions aren’t canceled. If your family doesn’t have many rituals, a great way to connect is to start some.
every minute of it. If you have a rare half-hour at home with one of your kids, make a point to spend it in the same room and try to start a conversation. If you squeeze
in a romantic dinner with your spouse, turn off your phones before the food
comes. Listening to each other without distractions will strengthen your relationship. Hug It Out Physical contact is vital for closeness. When you get the
chance, hug your kids, hold hands with your spouse, and do physical activities as a family, like
hiking, biking, or even playing group sports. It’s been scientifically proven that physical closeness leads to emotional closeness, so if you’re low on time, take advantage of that shortcut!
Make EveryMoment Count As cliche as it sounds, when you don’t have much time together, it’s crucial to be present for
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