Wednesday, December 28, 2016

You're full. Now what?



Every spatula save one, every measuring spoon save the ¼ tsp, every measuring cup save the ¼ cup has now been put back into its proper place from the dishwasher.  Apparently all recipe measurements called for over ¼ of everything.  Leftover meals from various dining extravaganzas are stuffed into two refrigerators.  Sheets and towels have been washed and put away, with the bed sporting clean sheets for the next overnight guest.  The tall stack of mail is being ignored for one more day.  

It was a gluten free adventure for me this holiday season, cooking and baking and experimenting with new recipes.  Cookies, pies, streusel (aka failed cinnamon rolls), dressing, gravy, etc – some completely devoured.  Some lingering awaiting consumption from the kitchen counter.  Some awaiting consumption from the overstuffed fridges.  I learned some lessons in what works and doesn’t work, which flours have which grainy textures, fell in and out of love with Pinterest many times, and leaned on Google as my backup.

We are all full.  Now what?

Since this weekend begins January 1st, your New Year goals have been somewhat thought through but, typically, with the phones quiet the week between Christmas and New Year, it is a great time for reflection.

What worked and what didn’t work this past year?  Personally?  Exercising 3x-5x weekly worked.  Eating a more healthy diet worked.... well, let’s don’t count the past two weeks.  That didn’t work.  With the loss of several dear friends this past year, I made a point to set aside time to visit with friends more often – mutually beneficial.

Business wise?  Utilizing Insightly Contact Management program with Google email and calendar syncs worked.  Ruby Receptionist has been amazing communicating with my clients this year.  Truly, they treat my clients as their own clients.
All things worked together to produce the Matters Of The Heart book: editing, design and layout, website and advertising.  The books are making their own impact in other’s lives.

4th quarter 2016, I began blogging consistently, not really knowing who is reading.    Last night, longtime girlfriends gathered together from out of town at my house for dinner.  When one of them asked where the basket was to deposit their cell phone, the other three chimed in, agreeing.  “See, we read your blog!”    My blog posts have been decided  Stay tuned.
through the first quarter.

Your first quarter marketing plan should be already nailed down, with everything in place to make it happen.  Make sure the return (business) is greater than the time and money spent.  Being consistent and relevant is key.  Social media is paramount now – invest wisely.  There is a learning curve.  Get an expert in your field to assist you.

Is your accounting in order for the 2016 taxes to be completed?  If you are a professional practice (dental, veterinarian, medical, chiropractic), there will be two one hour webinars,.  Before Handing Your QuickBooks Off To Your CPA, that will explore key areas to ensure your financial information is complete!

I invested time and money honing my skills for my audiences and clients by being an active participant in three professional organizations.  I learned in a much greater perspective this year that my heart’s desire is to make an impact through whatever is needed by my clients.  I offer many services but the making a difference in lives is the one golden thread woven throughout all the offerings.  Continuing to learn how to do just that is paramount.

Reviewing the 2016 goals, a majority of the goals were met.  A few failed miserably for part of the year but are coming up to speed now.   A few failed completely and will be evaluated and reviewed.  Did I cause those failures?  Honestly?  Yes, partly because my focus was diverted elsewhere.  Partly because it was outside what demanded my attention.  It will be handled differently for 2017.   There is a written 2017 plan.

We all know the meaning of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.   
Are you just going to glide into the New Year without reviewing what worked and didn’t work this year?   
Do you expect to maintain the same level of insanity as last year or do you want a different outcome for 2017?

I am truly full from the holiday but also from a full 2016.  What is your 2017 bringing to the table? 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Seasons Greetings



This is the time of year that memories flood our hearts of holidays past, as we are preparing for the holiday ahead.

For many, there are loved ones no longer here to share in their laughter or there are changes in their own lives that affect long held holiday traditions.  But then, for some, there are little new feet that prance through the home, overflowing with bursts of giggles, creating new memories to hold dear.

The holidays mean different things to different households: a joyful reminder of what’s been gained this year or a sorrowful reminder of what (or who) has been lost this year.

It’s the winding down of the year and the anticipation of an even better New Year.  Or a thankful close to a difficult year and the gratefulness for hope of a different new year outcome.  

My parents are a very large part of my fondest Christmas memories.  Daddy was the first one in to decorate for Christmas and the first to open presents under the tree.  Mom spent days baking cookies, pies, and  candy.  The scales were ignored during our holidays and I am convinced Mom’s “love language” was cooking.  

After Dad passed, the holidays contained a little less laughter but, in 2010, my mom hosted a house full of family.   I’m sure you could smell her savory cooking down the block.  Every Christmas morning that I can remember, she served homemade cinnamon rolls – one pan with raisins and one pan without.  You best be quick if you wanted more than one cinnamon roll because they quickly disappeared.

There was lots of laughter and joy that year.  Grandkids and their kids squealed as they ran through the house, in and out the doors.  There was only one volume – really loud, which was just fine with mom because she could then hear them clearly!  

I was knee deep in an embezzlement case and it had consumed me, both my time and my thoughts.  I took all the visiting family being there as an opportunity to be able to work, since I was the primary on-site caregiver.  Oh, I didn’t work on Christmas day but I missed all the other days, like when my mom taught my niece how to make cinnamon rolls.  And, I remember my brother-in-law asking if I was ok because I was so abnormally quiet.  I was consumed with my work.

I don’t remember much about that Christmas except those two things not because of a bad memory but because I wasn’t present.  I didn’t shut “it” off.  When I was asked to do something, I’d laugh and say, “Embezzlers don’t stop for a holiday.”  In fact, that’s one of the embezzler’s most active times.

What I didn’t know was it was my mom’s last Christmas.  

I have absolutely no regrets for all the time that I spent with both my parents through those sixteen years of caregiving but I do regret not taking off during that last Christmas together with Mom.

I was given a gift of one remaining Christmas to store up more memories:  of her at 97 years old playing on the floor with her great grandkids, of her delighting one last time in providing all the delectable tasties to her kids, grandkids and great grandkids.  I blew it and there is no way to recapture it.  

But, I have learned from that important Christmas.  My business is now officially closed while family is in town.  This year, it is closed from December 23 through January2.  I will still check emails and answer urgent phone calls in the mornings, but there are little feet in the house that will demand attention and I plan on giving it by getting my 60 year old body down on the floor to play.  I can’t build memories for them (or me) if I am unavailable. 

This year, I encourage you to first pour your energy in to your family.  Be present with who is there with you.  Create a beautifully bowed basked to store all the silenced cell phones away in another room.  Get the games out.  Spend time laughing with each other and loving on each other.  Being gluten free now makes the baking a challenge but the smells have begun to permeate the neighborhood once again.

By the way, that is me many years ago in the first picture, standing in front of the fireplace in the home that my dad built.  The second picture is the same fireplace in what is now my home.   Both of my parents are represented in the decor.  It's hard not to miss them this time of year.

My hope for you?  To have a very amazing Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah this year.  

Make new spectacular memories and may all your greetings be seasoned with love!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Phishing Email



Ho ho ho.  It is that time of year to be jolly.  And apparently when phishing emails are taken to the next level.  Four phishing emails have made it past my spam filter in the past two days.

I received this email while I was catching up with a dear friend at lunch today.  Panic hits when the amount charged is seen [“OMG.  Seriously?  $8599?”] and the immediate response is to click the button, “No, speak with an agent.”  Quickly.  Immediately without passing GO.

But, wait a minute.  Let’s take a closer look at the email.  
Look at the image and tell me one thing that should tell you it is a fraud.
 
Have you found it?   

The first thing I did was point my mouse cursor to the buttons to determine where it would direct me to should I click on them.  “rawdietscpa.com/express/validation” for both of them.  Interestingly enough, the customer service link at the bottom redirected to the same website link.

Ok.  This is a phishing email to gain confidential information, more specifically, your credit card information so that the next time you get a message, it really will be from American Express about a fraud on your card.

But what should have caught my immediate attention is the Attempt Date.  I have cards issued in the United States, not Europe, the UK or Canada.  The date is in a European format.

If you get a fraud alert, typically the last four numbers of your Account are showing in the Account Ending field.  The fact that it is grayed out here also alerted me to it being fraudulent.  

When I moved my mouse cursor to the buttons at the top of the email, none of them are active:  View Account, Make a Payment or Manage Preferences.  

I did NOT click on any of the links.  First, I do not want them to know that I received the email and thought it might be valid.  Secondly, I do not know the website and I am unwilling to place my computer at risk.

So what’s the take away?

Take time to evaluate any email from a bank, lending agency, credit card company, financial institution of any sort.  This includes the Internal Revenue Service.  Look at all the details of the email before clicking anything.  Call the entity by phone before clicking to validate the validity should you still have questions.

Reign in your curiosity.  Once you determine it is fraudulent, do not click anything.  Delete it.

Report the email to the entity via phone.  I had not seen this one before and cannot assume the American Express fraud department has seen it.  I forwarded them a copy.  They can only fight against something if they are aware of it.
In fact, that’s why I’m posting my Wednesday Cogitations Blog early on Tuesday.  You can only fight against that which you know you need to be vigilant against.  It’s helpful to make informed decisions.  And it would be bad timing during the holidays.  What an entrapment.

Protect your holiday purchases by watching your credit card.  Review your statements.  If you shop online, beware of unsecured website purchases.  How do you know?  Here are just a few:

  • On the shopping cart page, in the bottom right corner, there will be a closed lock or unbroken key icon.
  • The prices won’t be too good to be true.  It is stated low specifically to entice you.
  • There is a shipping policy, return policy and a privacy statement very clearly stated.
  • No pop-up ads.

If you still have questions about the site, check the Better Business Bureau, or better yet, don’t shop there.  Your gut may be telling you to be cautious for a reason.

In the meantime, shop away but be cautious.  What may be a great deal may be far more costly than you realize.

Well, this was certainly not the cheery blog I had planned on this week but wanted you to be aware.  I might just have to post my cheery note sooner than next week anyway!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

It's A Winterizing Kind Of Day



I’ve heard all the laughs from northern friends and colleagues about us southerners having issues with the frigid 30 degree temperatures.

When we have summer extremes at 105 degrees, 30 is cold.  And tomorrow we are expecting 20 degrees.  Good grief – it is only December.  

This morning I have been winterizing the property to protect it against freezing pipes, freezing spa, freezing plants, and even from freezing the dog toys. 

  • Wrapped standing water faucets
  • Put covers on outside attached water faucets
  • Emptied irrigation system bladder
  • Wrapped insulation around irrigation system bladder
  • Emptied hot tub whose motor decided to die this summer
  • Put house vent covers on
  • Emptied rain barrels
  • Detached all hoses
  • Cut the last beautiful rose of the year
  • Brought plants inside where it's warmer
  • Consumed peppermint mocha to warm up

It took a while but I did my part to protect my property from damage against abnormal Texas temperatures.  I cannot keep the temperature from dropping but I can protect against it doing any severe damage in the process.

It was quiet out while I was ginning around, which provided optimum thinking space.  

Am I doing all I can to protect myself?   
What needs protecting every day that we just let slip by?
Our health?
Our family?
Our friends?
Our business?

As a Certified Fraud Examiner, I work with professional practices daily to help protect the business of their practice.  And, if something happens, then I do the analysis to provide evidence law enforcement needs for prosecution.

Protection is a daily action and requires planning, regardless of the area needing protection.  When we do not protect, there is often damage, seen and unseen.

Curious, I looked up the definition of protection:  “a person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm or injury.”  Sometimes when the word “protection” is used it is interpreted as being selfish.  That’s not what I was thinking.

In business, internal controls are set in place to protect the business from fraudulent activity.  Perhaps it is the same in our own personal lives – internal control.  Interesting correlating thought.
 
My phone rings daily with those concerned about their business.  Something seems off, abnormal.  They aren’t sure anything is going on, but they aren’t sure it isn’t.  Most of the time, they simply feel vulnerable because they realize an area they have not been protecting.      
    
Businesses cannot keep a determined person from trying to steal but they can protect against it doing severe damage in the process.  A severe drop in the temperature will surely drop a few tree branches but my pipes will not burst because I have taken protective measures.

What do you need to protect?