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January 2023
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COMFORT OR GROWTH?
The Choice Is Yours
I’m often looking for articles and other sources of information that will help me gain new perspectives on things. I recently read an article by Mike Donghia about living an anti-complacent life that I found to be thought provoking. January is when many people implement plans that they hope will improve their lives in some way, but many fail to reach their goals and give up too soon. The truth of the matter is that most of us become complacent in our lives, and leaving our comfort zones seems too difficult. Sometimes we need to break out of our complacency and reach for the stars, because that’s when we truly see growth. In Donghia’s article, he states that every choice we make can be placed on a scale. On one end is growth, and on the other is comfort. “When we choose comfort, we’re choosing what is safe, secure, and easy. And when we choose growth, we are moving toward what is risky, unknown, and challenging.” For me personally, the older I get, the more appealing the comfort side of the scale looks. That probably limits me in some aspects of enjoying life to its fullest, though. Even though I’m in my early 60s, if I focused a little more on growth, I might open up some new and different ways to look at the world. Donghia then asks us to look at the status quo in our lives and question whether we’re content with it. We should all do this at least once a year
to ensure that we’re progressing in a positive direction. Are you happy with the time you spend working on your career, hanging out with your family, and participating in your favorite hobbies? If not, you might need to make adjustments to the area you want to improve. For many of us, the most challenging part of attempting to grow is figuring out how we can improve our lives and what we need to do. We have to determine the best way to get started on our escape from complacency. Donghia states that the key to getting started is to add large doses of uncertainty, challenge, and adventure to your everyday life. Push against your current status quo and attempt to discover new and better ways of living. If you want to grow in the new year but don’t necessarily know where to start, Donghia has you covered there too. He provides a list of areas you can explore while stating, “Each of these changes might be small, but collectively, they represent an entirely new mindset.” Donghia encourages us to further explore our faith. If you’re a non-believer, try approaching faith and religion with a fresh perspective. If you already believe, explore a new tradition to strengthen your belief. I’m already well-connected with my faith, so I’m moving right to the next thing on his list, which is to talk to more people . Talking with more people
broadens our worldview and introduces us to new perspectives, which can allow us to think in new ways. I focus on my own bubble too often, so I’m going to try and build new relationships over the next few years. Another suggestion Donghia has that my wife and I will try to implement more in the coming years is to travel widely . We’ve had our fair share of travel experiences, but we want to see more of the world while we can. Donghia also encourages us to shape our physical environments, get physically fit, and try new foods . When we start exploring these areas of our lives, we are more likely to see growth and escape complacency. The beginning of a new year is the best time to create fruitful plans for the future. This year, I will focus on saying yes more often, embracing serendipity, and building stronger relationships. It probably won’t be easy and will take a great deal of work, but I think it will be well worth the growth I experience in the long run. Maybe you too can find an area where you want to grow and start creating plans to break out of your comfort zones in 2023. –Brad Johnson President, Risk Services of AR
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SHOWING APPRECIATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Distracted driving has become much more common in our society since the introduction of the smartphone. But before cellphones were a mainstay, plenty of people ate, drank, and even applied makeup behind the wheel, and drivers still do to this day. These distractions can significantly increase your risk of being involved in an accident, yet many people choose to be distracted while they drive. According to the 2022 Travelers Risk Index, 74% of drivers look at their phones for map directions, 56% read texts or emails, 27% use social media, and 19% shop online. Each of these actions causes you to be visually, manually, and cognitively distracted. You have to take your eyes off the road to look at your phone and your hands off the wheel to use the phone, and your mind is no longer on the task of driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. If you’re traveling at 55 miles per hour, you’ll traverse an entire football field in that time. Accidents caused by drivers who are cognitively distracted have been rising lately. You don’t have to bring out your cellphone to get cognitively distracted, either. Thinking about stressful situations, such as your finances or family problems, can cause you to lose focus. It’s imperative that you do everything in your power to keep your focus on driving when behind the wheel, or you could put yourself and others at risk of a collision. We all have the ability to keep distractions at bay while driving. It will take some mental fortitude and persistence to keep your phone down and away while you drive, but be sure you’re not replacing your phone with other distractions. When you’re behind the wheel, use all of your attention to drive safely to your destination.
THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONSIDERATION
Have you ever heard of “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman? It’s an incredibly popular book that identifies different ways individuals prefer to give and receive love. You can communicate more effectively with your partners, friends, and family by considering their personal needs and using the language that speaks to them best. But did you know you can apply these same principles to show appreciation and encouragement at work? When you understand and use your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, your workplace culture will significantly improve. Words of Affirmation A “thank you” note or shout-out from a colleague is quite powerful, but it’s even more effective when it’s specific to an act or moment because it shows that you are paying attention to what matters. For your message to be clear, consider describing the situation you’re referring to, discussing the behavior you are looking to celebrate, and highlighting the impact of the behavior on you, the team, and the organization. Quality Time This language is all about receiving complete and focused attention. This means taking the time for mentorships, checking in meaningfully, and creating moments for teams to connect. For employees who value quality time, having dedicated time to connect and learn from their employers and coworkers can be significantly impactful as they feel seen and heard. Acts of Service Simply picking up an extra coffee for a team member, or alleviating a work task off someone’s plate, shows that you care about their overall well-being and brings them joy.
Tangible Gifts A nice, personalized gift can be a display that you acknowledge your employee’s or coworker’s passions and preferences. The more you converse with them and learn about their personal lives, the easier it’ll be to choose a more meaningful gift and bring a smile to their face. Appropriate Physical Touch This language can be tricky, but it’s about respecting boundaries. A high-five, fist bump, pat on the shoulder, and a handshake are generally acceptable, but it is best not to assume. Everyone’s level of comfort differs, so always ask before initiating any type of appropriate physical touch. If you take the time to understand your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, you can communicate more meaningfully and positively.
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Helping Kids Impacted by the Child Welfare System
ONE WISH AT A TIME
to get to work and school. Another had a car totaled during an accident with a drunk driver.
instruments as well as cover travel expenses to help these kids fulfill their dreams.
About 16 years ago, Danielle Gletow made the decision to adopt a 2-week-old baby girl. She wanted nothing more than to be a mother to children who felt like they did not have one. During the adoption process, Danielle learned that she was pregnant. She didn’t let that take away from her kind and giving nature. Instead, she created the nonprofit One Simple Wish in an effort to continue giving back to kids in need. Over the next 15 years, One Simple Wish garnered over $15 million in donations, allowing them to grant wishes and requests for kids and young adults impacted by foster care. She was able to supply kids with laptops, sports equipment, and musical
“It’s our mission to spread love, hope, and joy to those who have been impacted by abuse, neglect, and trauma,” said Danielle. “The effects of those circumstances can be compounded when young adults ‘age out’ of the foster or child welfare system, and we are grateful that we have been able to take one major expense off their plate.” If you’re interested in fulfilling a child’s wish, head to OneSimpleWish.org and help grant their wish! You can donate money to pay for a specific gift or donate a set amount that will help pay for multiple wishes.
One Simple Wish made headlines recently for their latest fundraiser. They partnered with Carvana to give away nine cars to deserving adults impacted by the child welfare system. They flew the winners to New York City, where they thought they were gathering for a “foster care conference.” Instead, they were brought together at a dinner, where they were surprised with car keys, $500 gift cards, and money for gas and car insurance. Many of the individuals who were awarded the cars were in desperate need. One was spending hundreds of dollars a month on Uber rides
Solution on Pg. 4 Have a Laugh!
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INSIDE This Issue
Will This Be a Year of Comfort or Growth? page 1
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace Don’t Be a Distracted Driver page 2
Granting Wishes for Kids in Need page 3
A Guide to Building a Customer Loyalty Program page 4
New Year, New Approach to Loyalty Programs! The truth is that consumer loyalty is harder to find than ever. Consumers have more options available for any service or product they need, which is why businesses must set themselves apart from their competitors to retain categorize your customers according to your objectives. These can include, but aren’t limited to, customer profitability, volumes of purchases, location(s), and buyer types. If you recognize your demographic, you can tailor your loyalty • A point system • New benefits for referrals • Product protection with an active membership
Train your employees to be well- versed advocates. Taking the time to walk
program to them. This ensures that your customers like what they see and are more likely to return or refer a friend. Choose tactics that will encourage loyalty. Loyalty programs have to stay consistent, but customers still love originality! You don’t have to neglect any new business development because the right
customers. And a loyalty program may be the thing that makes you stand out from the rest!
your employees through your loyalty program will guarantee they are confident in explaining and promoting
Loyalty programs have proven to grow customer retention and help reach new customers organically — and what business wouldn’t want that? Start with the customer experience. A positive customer experience promotes loyalty, retains customers, and encourages brand advocacy. This also allows companies to get feedback on what customers like and dislike. The data collected helps leverage key customer insights you can implement into any loyalty program.
it to customers. They will be more invested in your program if your employees know the perks, features, terms and conditions, and all the other essential
information you’re trying to bring to light.
approach can introduce unique and different benefits that excite customers. Some examples to consider are:
If you’re looking to kick-start a brand-new loyalty program or want more customers to sign up for your loyalty program in 2023, these tips will surely help! Achieve this, and your loyalty program will enjoy tremendous success.
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Premium service guaranteed 24/7 Additional discounts when purchase milestones are reached
Decide which customers to target. Based on the feedback collected, you can
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