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OCTOBER 2023
CAUGHT IN THE MONKEY TRAP RELEASING YOUR GRIP TO MOVE ON
Believe it or not, in parts of the world, monkeys are a really big problem.
getting caught. Even crazier is that they won’t drop the food even when the villagers calmly walk right up to the monkey. It’s like they can’t comprehend that dropping the food is even an option. I saw a video showing the trap in action from 1912 in South East Asia. It really is amazing to see the monkey reach its hand into the trap, struggle mightily to get its fisted hand out, and then make no change to escape capture as the villagers just picked up the monkey. It doesn’t take a huge mental leap to realize that we humans do the same thing as the monkey, just for different things. We hold something in our fist and we won’t let go, even if it is dragging us down or limiting us. I recognize this is a major risk at work, too. We know the mantras: “We’ve always done it that way” or “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” or the many other mindsets that keep a company from changing or improving for the client. They are all part of the Monkey Trap. At RCW, we aren’t perfect, but we try to be aware of the things we are at risk of not letting go of. We know our goal: to deliver Peace of Mind to our clients by solving their problems. And we work to systematically improve all parts of the business so we can move forward with that goal. It comes through in our values: Be Incredibly Credible; Client First; Work Together, Win Together; Endlessly Improving; and We Are Doers.
In rural villages in India, South America, Africa, and other parts of the world, monkeys come into the village and steal food. This food is vital to the survival of the tribe and the theft cannot be ignored. Many villagers use a basic trap to capture the culprit monkeys and relocate them. The trap has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, and it is amazing in its simplicity. The villagers take a coconut and drill a hole in it just big enough for the monkey to put its hand in. They drain the liquid and put rice, nuts, and berries inside the coconut — sweet treats. They then tie the coconut to a tree or to a stake in the ground. And they wait … When a monkey notices the coconut and the sweet treats inside, it reaches its hand into the coconut. It makes a fist to grab as much of the food as it can. It then goes to pull its hand out of the coconut and … It’s stuck! The hole is too small for it to get its fist out. Now, we all know the simple fix to this problem … drop the treats and pull your hand out. However, the monkeys will not do it. They pull and pull and struggle and jump and try with all their might to get their hand out. But they won’t drop the food. They are stuck in a value trap, and they value that food more than the potential of
Stuck in a coconut.
And when we see someone else on the team holding on to something that prevents us from moving forward positively, we share it with them in an open, honest, and nonjudgmental way. (We believe “feedback is a gift.”) We don’t want to be the monkey. We want to deliver on our promise to you, and we want to keep getting better. It’s not just lip service. We really believe it.
To opening your fist and moving forward,
P.S. When I was traveling in Japan, I saw a pack of roaming monkeys in a mountain village. They walked down the street of the town with no hesitation. I wanted to get a picture near them, so I walked up to one of them, turned, and crouched down getting ready for the picture … and then booked it as fast as I could as I heard a scream from the monkey as it ran at me with its teeth bared. My friend got a picture of the monkey in hot pursuit. Remembering it always makes me smile.
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Embrace the ‘Marshmallow Trend’ to Make Your Home Cozier
I’m Supposed to Clean That?!
If you love fall as much as we do, here’s some good news: You can live in it all year long! How? Well, as we write this, the season’s warm colors and cozy shapes are trending in home decor, and you can use them to bring the autumn indoors. Here are three subtle ways to add the season’s comfort and ease to your space without breaking the bank. 1. Get inspired by marshmallows. Yes, marshmallows! According to interior designer Loren Kreiss, 2023 is the year of “marshmallowy vibes, rounded corners, [and] soft, cozy textures.” A study out of Oregon State University found that people feel happier, calmer, more
4 Items in Your Home That Need More Maintenance Than You Think
If you wash your sheets more than once or twice a month, you already have better bedroom hygiene than 60% of Americans. But according to experts, even weekly washing isn’t enough! To get a completely hygienic night’s sleep, you should clean your mattresses every six months. Who knew? Here’s how to do it, along with tips for maintaining three other household items you’ve probably overlooked. Your Mattress — You can use dozens of methods and products to clean your mattress, but the old-fashioned way only requires two things: baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. After you’ve stripped your sheets, peel back your mattress protector and dust your entire mattress with baking soda. Wait 10 minutes, then vacuum the powder up! If you’re feeling ambitious, add a second vacuum pass before the baking soda and use a mixture of baking soda, salt, and water to lift stains. Let the concoction sit on the stain for 30 minutes, then wipe it away. Your Kitchen Backsplash — You probably wipe down your counters regularly, but have you deep-cleaned your backsplash? If not, it’s probably coated with years of grease and food particles. Start with a quick soap and water rinse to get rid of the ick. Then, use a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda in a 1:1:2 ratio to dissolve the grease. Sponges are excellent for scrubbing tile surfaces, and you can tackle the grout with a toothbrush. Your Basement Drain (Or Any Unused Drain) — If you have a basement or garage with a drain in the floor or even a seldom- used guest bathroom shower drain, you should take a few minutes every month to pour a bucket of water into it. This will keep your drain from drying out and prevent nasty sewage odors and pests. Your Throw Pillows — Remove the covers from your throw pillows monthly and toss them in the wash to keep them from becoming smelly or discolored. Every other month, you should also wash the inside of the pillow in your washing machine or by hand, depending on its material. If you have down-filled or highly decorated pillows, take them to the dry cleaner for a refresh.
comfortable, and even more hopeful in an environment with soft-edged furniture. With that in mind, you may want to invest in a round dining room table or simply bring out your chunky knit blanket and extra pillows.
2. Swap sterile gray for
warm beige. Grays can be beautiful, but they also tend to feel cold and sterile, especially when they dominate a
space. This season, consider painting your “millennial gray” walls a warm, rosy beige to bring more life into your home.
If you have a gray-on-gray palette and don’t want to paint, you can also reshuffle your furniture and decor to get a similar effect! A living room with gray walls and a gray couch might feel lifeless with a gray rug, but if you rotate that rug with a warm brown one from your office and add a plant from your dining room, you can revitalize the living area without spending a cent. 3. Lean in to copper. As Architectural Digest once reported, “Copper lends a space warmth and depth but always feels modern” — and you don’t have to go all-in with a copper bathtub or range hood to get those benefits. Instead, consider trading the silver knobs on your bathroom vanity for copper ones or thrifting a few copper pans to display in your kitchen. These utilitarian swaps will add timeless elegance to your space.
Done right, these three trends will help your home feel warm, cozy, and fall-like all winter!
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Are wasps buzzing around your yard keeping you from enjoying the fall weather, or are you battling bugs inside your home? If so, try these DIY tactics to eliminate them and keep them from returning next year. Eradicate troublesome wasps with soapy water. You don’t need store-bought insecticides to banish wasps from your yard or garden. Instead, simply pour 2 tablespoons of dish soap into an empty spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Shake up the mixture, and you have homemade wasp spray! According to one pest control expert, spraying down nests with this simple solution kills wasps instantly. It works because wasps breathe through holes in their bodies called “spiracles.” They can survive in the rain because the surface tension in each water droplet prevents it from blocking their spiracles effectively. But soap eliminates that tension, letting water seep into their breathing holes and drown them in mid-air. Be sure to wear protective clothing when spraying wasps, just in case “instant” isn’t fast enough. A spray bottle is WASP TROUBLES? TRY THIS UNCONVENTIONAL REMOVAL METHOD Plus 2 More DIY Pest Control Tips!
perfect for tackling small nests. For larger projects, experts recommend buying a heavy-duty hose-end sprayer at your local home improvement store. Deter future pests with a fake wasp nest. Just as you can keep owls away with an owl statue, some exterminators claim you can deter wasps and carpenter bees with a fake wasp nest! Pest experts recommend hanging your “nest” in the spring and keeping it up through fall. Look for a spot where real wasps would get cozy, like the peak of your eaves or the corner of your garage, attic, or porch. You can buy nest decoys on Amazon or make your own from crumpled paper bags. Break out your vacuum to prevent bug stains and smells. It seems counterintuitive, but if common fall pests like Asian lady beetles, box elder bugs, or stink bugs make it into your house, you shouldn’t squish them — you should vacuum them up! Some bugs, like stink bugs, create foul smells when squashed. Others, like Asian lady beetles, can permanently stain your rugs or walls with their guts. To keep your home clean and stink-free, use pesticides outside and suck up survivors inside.
TAKE A BREAK
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
Ingredients
• 2 shots espresso (or 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee)
• 1–2 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Whipped cream for topping (optional)
• 1 cup milk of choice • 3 tbsp pumpkin purée
Directions
1. In a small pot on medium heat, heat milk until simmering but not boiling. 2. Make your espresso (or coffee) and pour into a large mug or Mason jar. Add pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and stir until well combined. 3. With a milk frother, froth the heated milk until foamy. Then, pour into your pumpkin espresso mixture and top with whipped cream. For decoration, you can sprinkle more cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top!
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INSIDE
1
Caught in the Monkey Trap
2
Dust and Grime Hideaways: HomeCleaning Checklist
Create a Cozy Haven With These Fall Trends!
3
DIY Pest Control to Banish Wasps and More
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
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Effortless Elegance: Master Wall Molding in 4 Steps
TRANSFORM YOUR EMPTY WALL INTO A FEATURE WALL WITH THIS DIY TRICK
Do you have an empty wall in your house and have no idea how to fill it? Instead of spending months looking for the perfect art piece (or buying something mass-produced
from Target), consider using wall molding to level up the area. You can create simple squares or complex geometric patterns — whatever fits your style — with one supply run to a home improvement store and four easy steps.
1. Use painter’s tape to map out the design on your wall.
2. Cut and nail molding pieces to the wall in place of the painter’s tape. (Remember to use your level!) 3. Fill the nail holes with wood filler and disguise gaps between the wall and trim with caulk. 4. Paint your molding to match your wall, or use a contrasting color for extra visual interest.
That’s it! You can easily transform your vacant wall from something plain into any style you choose.
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