... CONTINUED FROM COVER
Tackle Allergies This Spring
flexible scheduling, casual dress code, or core values) are you willing to compromise on, and which are deal breakers? One challenging but potentially rewarding option is to start fresh and create a new culture for the new company. Some mergers, like Glaxo Wellcome-SmithKline Beecham, now GlaxoSmithKline, have done just that, outlining new company values to great effect. Lack of Planning Far too many business owners enter M&As with a vision for the future but no immediate battle plan for the present. When two companies combine, a thousand small details need to be addressed. If you don’t make a plan for every one of them, like how your strategy and growth models will function once combined, they’ll either be forgotten (to your eventual detriment) or you’ll find yourself drowning. Luckily, plenty of resources are available to help. MergerIntegration.com, for example, offers a host of free, incredibly detailed postmerger integration checklists broken down for different areas like human resources, sales, and marketing. Download them today to save yourself from figuring it out alone. If you steer around these M&A potholes, you’ll increase your chances of success as you drive your new company forward. No M&A is seamless, but the more thought you put in on the front end, the less likely you are to face a nasty and costly business divorce in the long run. –Christopher Simon
WITH THESE 3 STRATEGIES
Spring has officially sprung. Grass is growing, flowers are blooming, and longer days are here again. And while the arrival of spring is a cause for celebration, for outdoor enthusiasts who suffer from seasonal allergies, the season is bittersweet. For many, this time of the year is characterized by stuffy noses, burning eyes, and sneezing. But according to WebMD, even severe allergy sufferers can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about allergies by taking the following precautions.
Watch pollen counts.
You can usually find information about local pollen levels on the internet or in your local newspaper. If pollen counts are through the roof, consider working out inside instead of running outside. In general, pollen counts are highest on warm and breezy mornings and lowest when it is cool and rainy. Plan your outdoor pursuits accordingly.
Change immediately after spending time outdoors.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies but still love to exercise outdoors, build a habit of showering and changing immediately after coming back inside. While you were out crushing that 30-mile bike ride, pollen was slowly accumulating in your hair and on your clothes. And while 30 minutes of outdoor exercise will, according to WebMD, completely coat your nasal membrane with allergens, showering and laundering your clothing will limit your exposure while indoors.
Rhubarb Cake
Nature’s favorite tart vegetable — yes, rhubarb is a vegetable! — is in season once again. Celebrate rhubarb season with this simple, delicious cake. INGREDIENTS
Medicate, medicate, medicate.
Depending on the severity of your allergies, medication, not prevention, will likely provide the best relief available. Every person is different, so ask your doctor about the best medicine for you, and make sure you understand how you’re supposed to use it before dismissing its efficacy. Some allergy medicines can take as long as three weeks to reach their full effectiveness.
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2 1/4 cups white sugar, divided
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2 eggs, beaten 1 cup sour cream
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1 tsp baking soda
3 cups rhubarb stalks, diced 1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish. 2. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, salt, and 2 cups flour. 3. Stir in eggs and sour cream until smooth. 4. Fold in rhubarb and add mixture to the prepared baking dish. 5. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and butter until smooth. 6. Stir in 1/4 cup flour until mixture is crumbly. 7. Sprinkle mixture on top of cake batter and bake for 45 minutes. 8. Let cake cool for 5–10 minutes and serve.
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