Lessons For My Kids

Amazon had sent out a message about how to spot scams and avoid being a victim. Large companies like Amazon, Instagram, Best Buy, or financial institutions are known to be targets for scammers. The general public might receive phone calls, emails, or texts with similar attributes we question whether or not the message is legitimate. These are items noted specifically by the Amazon message: 1. Trus...

Does 21 days of doing something really make a habit stick? The answer is...sometimes. HealthyStripe.com had an article titled "21 Days Habit Theory – The Truth You Need To Know", and it outlines some of the things we need to pursue new habits. Whether it be eating, exercise, learning, quitting bad habits, etc., any change will take time to become a habit. The size and scope of change mig...

Planning for travel requires asking yourself a few questions. What type of travel - business, vacation, family, etc.? Where are you going - is the location nearby or far away? When - will depend on the type of travel, as you might be going to a meeting or during a holiday. How to get there - drive your own car, rent a van, airplane, train, cruise ship? Where will you stay - with family/friends, ho...

There are phrases we can all use to create better conversations, defuse arguments, or expand focus. This episode is based on an article from John Bowe, " If you use any of these 9 phrases, you have 'better etiquette skills' than most: Public speaking expert". He touches on some really good statements that can guide us to achieve goals, help people feel good, and one that allows u...

Be yourself. Don't worry about what other people think. We all have different paths in this life. Don't try to be someone else or someone you are not. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Strive to improve every day. There will be setbacks. We may find the goals we thought we wanted are not really the best option for us, or we realize it was our parents goals and not really who we are...

Be truthful and honest. Just because you think a lie will get you out of trouble, it doesn't mean you should lie. Take responsibility when something happens. There are consequences to telling a lie, yet the consequences can be less severe if you are honest. Accidents are going to happen. You are going to meet people you don't like. There will be times when you think lying is the best optio...

We all have it, use it to relax or do things we enjoy, yet never seem to have enough. This episode has some good ideas of things you can do in your spare time. A list of good suggestions was found in "13 Ways to Grow As A Person In Your Spare Time" by Michael Morris. Some people think they need to have hours of time to learn or do things they enjoy. The reality is we can do enjoyable thi...

We all get scared from time to time. Some of us have longstanding fears that keep us from moving forward. There are ways for us to help kids, as well as adults or ourselves to get past our fears. PsychCentral offered "7 Ways to Help a Child with Fear". For kids, they look to adults and can take non-verbal cues as to whether they should or should not be afraid. It provided suggestions for...

Successful people avoid lazy habits. They are all about making the most of situations and planning ahead. They look to be friends and hang out with certain types of people, and avoid others. There are ways for you all to be successful, and these are just a few opinions that are thoughtful and similar to what you have heard throughout other episodes. Thank you for listening.

There will be times when someone asks you a question and it is rude or seems like it crossed a line. You are in control of what you want people to know. They are not. There are several ways to handle these types of questions. You can answer the question, redirect the conversation, or use some of the tips in this episode. Thank you for listening.

There is so much more to just owning a vehicle. Automobiles need routine maintenance. From washing the outside to fluid changes, to replacing hoses and belts. There are so many parts and pieces in need of inspection, repair, or cleaning. If you don't know what needs to be done, talk with a local mechanic or service center. You can also talk to a service adviser at a manufacturer dealership. Mo...

We collect lots of things throughout our days. We collect clothing, utensils, tools, messages, receipts, etc. The list can go on and on. Every day can accumulate piles and create clutter. It can be daunting, and create anxieties. In this episode we will go over some ways to handle clutter in our lives, and possibly reduce it before a problem is created. Thanks for listening. * For financial questi...

What makes people happy. In Finland there are things they avoid to be happy, yet people around the world do daily. These 3 lifestyle habits or traits are fairly universal, and have been shared by "happiness experts" for many years. These were shared on Sportskeeda, and they truly can make your life happier. Thank you for listening.

Many people have a roommate at some point in their lives. It can be during college, when living in a dorm or apartment. You might have a roommate to help pay rent or a mortgage in an apartment or house. If you do plan on having a roommate, there are some important questions to ask. Knowing the answers can help prevent having a bad roommate, but also allow you to know what to expect. Questions abou...

There is so much to do before traveling. Where will we stay? How will we get there? What will we do and see? Besides these basic questions you might also want to learn a bit about culture, food, and language. You might want to involve your kids and let them help plan experiences. There is so much to consider in advance. Hopefully this episode will give you a few more things to think about and make...

Most parents give kids advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of life. When kids are young, they look up to their parents. As they move into teenage years, kids don't tend to think their parents have any brains. In their 20's they realize, maybe their parents actually had relevant and helpful information. To parents - Kids are going to push limits and boundaries. They are learning, and someti...

Sometimes we need time alone. We may want a quiet few moments to reflect, calm down, relax, or think through a problem. It's normal. Be respectful if someone says they need some space. Don't be offended if they tell you this without further explanation. Depending on the day, some people may need only a 10 minute walk in silence, while someone else may want to binge a television program for...

This one is a quick reminder about being courteous. The world needs us to show manners, respect, and courtesy. There will be people who are not reciprocating these things, yet we need to do our best. We know right from wrong, and we know how we want to be treated. Thanks for listening.

Life is a journey. You will have a variety of experiences, changes, and needs as you age...plan for them. Too many people don't think about what they will need in the future. They only think of what they want right now. Work hard while you can. Put a percentage of each paycheck away and invest. Enjoy friends and stay connected, and know some friends will come or go. Life takes over. Family is...

We make hundreds of decisions each day. Here are 4 good questions to ask when it comes to making bigger or tougher decisions. This episode was inspired by my friend Bruce Eckfeldt and his article on inc.com. What is the decision I need to make right now? When do I need to make this decision? What are all of the options at my disposal? What criteria should I use to make the decision? Thank you for...

Today's episode came from random people around the world answering the question, "What life advice do people not take seriously enough?" There were lots of responses, and not all of them were good. I liked a good number of them. Some were repeated or similar. Here are some of the ones I thought were a good representation. Things like, "treat others the way you want to be treated...

"10 Unspoken Rules That Everyone Should Know About In Life". You will here about "unspoken rules" from time to time. There are a bunch that many of us might describe as courtesies or common decencies. As you listen through this episode, think about how you handle yourself. Besides not doing these things, notice if others break these rules. Things like keeping your shoes and soc...

Who are the leaders around you, in school, in the community, or on the field? We've talked about leadership in other episodes, but how does someone become a leader? Leadership skills are learned. Articles "How do you develop youth leadership skills?" was one reference. The other was " 8 tips to teach your teen to be a leader, not a follower". The adults need to set the init...

Believe in yourself. If you have a goal, believe you can achieve it. If you hurt or hurt someone, today is a new day for you to believe in the power or healing or forgiveness. You can be better. If you need help, ask someone. Be you. Your gut will tell you if you are going down the wrong path. If you don't attain your goals, you still gained experience and strength in the journey. "Inacti...

Quora.com allows people to ask questions and be answered by random advice givers. A question popped up that caught my interest, and had some good responses. The question was "What is the single most effective piece of financial advice you've ever received?" This episode shares a handful of responses from people who shared their advice. Dave Ramsey stated, “Most millionaires don’t dri...