Five Tips to Make Moving Easier | E-Neighborhood Advisor

 Happy Saturday! - Hope you have a great weekend! 👋

Ahh, moving. The excitement of a new place, the urge to purge old junk, and saying goodbye to a chapter of life. Moving can be a stressful experience, but with a bit of planning, it doesn't have to be. Check out some helpful tips from SimpliSafe to reduce the chaos often associated with transitioning from one home to another.  1. Prepare to handle with care Own a precious vase? Is your TV your pride and joy? Make sure to keep the packaging for fragile and expensive items, so you don't have to fret about them in the move. Bubble wrap, begone! Just slide your item back into its fitted compartment. 2. Make your most useful belongings accessible The last thing you want after moving into a new place is to have to dig through a jumble of belongings to find the stuff you need right away, such as clothes or cookware. So when packing, make sure you tuck away your home essentials somewhere easily accessible. A folding table you can pop up to eat on or use for a computer is fantastic to have at your disposal — a disassembled TV wall unit, not so much. 3. What goes up must come down Whether it's your favorite piece of art or your kid's band poster stuck to the wall with putty or tape, remove everything from the walls slowly. When you put everything back up in your new home, use inexpensive, versatile wall mount adhesive strips where possible and more substantial mounting options for the heavier fine art. 4. Check in with your insurance agent Most of your items are likely insured when in your home, but are they insured for transport? Call your insurance agent to verify or change your plan, especially if working with a moving company. Knock two things off your to-do list by helping your agent change your address and discuss the best insurance plan for your new home.  5. Update your address info You want essential documents to be in the right place, so update your billing and mailing address for any and all services. Having your new address saved in a document to copy and paste makes it easy. And of course, put home services on hold during the moving process. I hope you find these tips helpful. Every time I get the itch to move, I help a friend move, and that itch slowly goes away. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend, and if you have any moving tips you would like to share with me, please let me know! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! Sincerely,

Matt Capell & Capell Team Capell Flooring and Interiors Office         208-288-0151  call or text us Web           www.capellflooring.com Email         sales@capellinteriors.com

P.S.  Here is joke for you.... Are you tired of packing? Convince yourself that you don’t like the rest of your stuff.

Nobody likes self-checkout. Here's why it's everywhere. | E-Neighborhood Advisor

 Happy Saturday! - Hope you have a great weekend!

Secretary of State William Seward wrote it, and Abraham Lincoln issued it, but much of the credit for the Thanksgiving Proclamation should probably go to a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale, according to History.  A prominent writer and editor, Hale had written the children's poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb," originally known as "Mary's Lamb," in 1830 and helped found the American Ladies Magazine, which she used as a platform to promote women's issues. In 1837, she was offered the editorship of Godey's Lady Book, where she would remain for more than 40 years, shepherding the magazine to a circulation of more than 150,000 by the eve of the Civil War and turning it into one of the most influential periodicals in the country.  In addition to her publishing work, Hale was a committed advocate for women's education (including the creation of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York) and raised funds to construct Massachusetts's Bunker Hill Monument and save George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. The New Hampshire-born Hale had grown up regularly celebrating an annual Thanksgiving holiday, and in 1827 published a novel, Northwood: A Tale of New England, that included an entire chapter about the fall tradition, already popular in parts of the nation. While at Godey's, Hale often wrote editorials and articles about the holiday. She lobbied state and federal officials to pass legislation creating a fixed national day of thanks on the last Thursday of November. She believed such a unifying measure could help ease growing tensions and divisions between the northern and southern parts of the country. Her efforts paid off: By 1854, more than 30 states and U.S. territories had a Thanksgiving celebration on the books. However, the outbreak of war in April 1861 did little to stop Sarah Josepha Hale's efforts to create the holiday. She continued to write editorials on the subject, urging Americans to "put aside sectional feelings and local incidents" and rally around the unifying cause of Thanksgiving. And the holiday continued, despite hostilities, in both the Union and the Confederacy.  After more than three decades of lobbying, Sarah Josepha Hale (and the United States) had a national holiday, though some changes remained in store. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt briefly moved Thanksgiving up a week in an effort to extend the already critical shopping period before Christmas and spur economic activity during the Great Depression.  While several states followed FDR's lead, others balked, with 16 states refusing to honor the calendar shift, leaving the country with dueling Thanksgivings. Faced with increasing opposition, Roosevelt reversed course just two years later. In the fall of 1941, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution returning the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is a great holiday; I personally really enjoy it. I have fond memories of spending time with family, having high school basketball coaches run you to death the Friday afterward to burn off all the food, and watching some football. What do you like to do on Thanksgiving weekend? I would love to hear about it!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! Sincerely,

Matt Capell & Capell Team Capell Flooring and Interiors Office         208-288-0151  call or text us Web           www.capellflooring.com Email         sales@capellinteriors.com

P.S.  Here is joke for you.... What happened to the turkey that got in a fight? He got the stuffing knocked out of him!

The Truth About Sibling Personality Traits, According to Science | E-Neighborhood Advisor

 Happy Saturday! - Hope you have a great weekend!

It is a question that has plagued families for centuries: is it better to be the eldest, youngest, or middle child?  With that in mind, Stylist's Kayleigh Dray pored over numerous scientific and psychological studies on the very compelling topic of sibling personality traits.  The First-Born Child Researchers at the University of Illinois used a sample of 377,000 school children. They found there were differences in personality traits, with the eldest sibling tending to be more extroverted, agreeable, and conscientious.  The study also found that first-born children tend to have a higher IQ than those born later, which sounds like bad news for those born second, third, or so forth, but it's only by a point or so. Another notable study conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, came to a similar conclusion.  It concluded that the eldest child, especially if female, is statistically more likely to be the most ambitious and well-qualified of their family, as they tend to carry higher aspirations.  Another 2007 survey of 1,582 chief executives, as per Business Insider, saw 43 percent report that they are the first-born. And a smaller survey bolstered this research, noting that first-borns are 55 percent more likely than the rest of the population to be founders of companies or organizations.  Essentially, then, first-born children are:  extroverted agreeable conscientious smart driven organized The Middle Child Psychologist Catherine Salmon and journalist Katrin Schumann, whose work tends to focus on the struggle to define ourselves in the context of our circumstances, worked together on their eye-opening book, The Secret Power Of Middle Children.  The pair revealed that many of the enduring myths about middle children – that they're embittered outsiders who feel neglected by their parents – couldn't be more wrong.  As Schumann explained: "Although middles are neglected, both by parents and researchers, they actually benefit from this in the long run. They become more independent, think outside the box, feel less pressure to conform, and are more empathetic.  She added that, due to their ranking in the family, middle children are more patient, as well as "savvy, skillful manipulators." Jeffrey Kluger, author of the book, "The Sibling Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us," agrees with Salmon and Schumann's findings.  Writing in an article for Time, he noted: "At the heart of nearly all jobs is that kind of relationship management – connecting, negotiating, brokering peace between differing sides.  "Middle siblings may not wind up as the corporate chiefs or the comedians, but whatever they do, they're likely to do it more collegially and agreeably – and, as a result, more successfully – than other siblings."  Essentially, then, middle children are:  independent non-conformist relationship-focused empathetic patient excellent negotiators

The Youngest Child Researchers at the universities of Reading and Birmingham studied the lives of over 6,300 British men and women who were born in 1970 and raised with siblings to find out more about the elusive youngest child.  They discovered that the baby of the family is more likely to take risks when it comes to business – and most likely to become entrepreneurs.  Why? Well, according to the study, the youngest child has a 'born to rebel' mentality that makes them more likely to be "exploratory, unconventional, and tolerant of risk."  And this theory is supported by the work of Dr. Kevin Leman, a psychologist and the author of The Birth Order Book and The First-Born Advantage.  "First-borns are held to a higher standard. As kids come into the birth order, parents loosen up," he says, adding that his research has repeatedly found that younger siblings tend to be more sociable and outgoing, but also manipulative.  "They got away with murder as kids and knew how to get around people," he adds.  Essentially, then, younger siblings are:  entrepreneurial rebellious outgoing manipulative funny relaxed So, which is best?  Well, that truly does depend on how you define 'best' – but there's a lot to mull over here. Not to mention a great deal of kindling for those interested in stoking up the fires of sibling rivalry once again. And, as with nearly everything else, it appears research has produced endlessly contradictory results. I'm the youngest of five children in my family. I agree with this article from Stylist with some of these traits about the youngest (I have always been entrepreneurial), but it just goes to show that you can't put everybody in a box according to their birth order. Where do you land in your family of origin? Have you noticed any of these traits in you that correlate with these studies? I would love to hear about it. Thanks for reading! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! Sincerely,

Matt Capell & Capell Team Capell Flooring and Interiors Office         208-288-0151  call or text us Web           www.capellflooring.com Email         sales@capellinteriors.com

P.S.  Here is joke for you because what would you do without our jokes ;) How do you tell two half-siblings apart? The difference is apparent

Why No One Answers Their Phone Anymore | E-Neighborhood Advisor

 Happy Saturday! - Hope you have a great weekend!

The telephone swept into Americans' lives in the first decades of the 20th century. Alexis Madrigal in The Atlantic tells us that, at first, no one knew exactly how to telephone. Alexander Graham Bell wanted people to start conversations by saying, "Ahoy-hoy!" AT&T tried to prevent people from saying "hello," arguing in Telephone Engineer magazine that it was rude.  But eventually, Americans learned to say "hello." People built a culture around the phone that worked. Etiquette magazines tried to prevent women from inviting people over for dinner via telephone, then gave in. The doctor got a phone, so the pharmacist got a phone. It didn't happen quickly, but it happened.  Before ubiquitous caller ID or even *69 (which allowed you to call back the last person who'd called you), if you didn't get to the phone in time, that was that. You'd have to wait until they called back. And what if the person calling had something really important to tell you or ask you? Missing a phone call was awful. Hurry! Early on, not picking up the phone was, at the very least, rude and quite possibly sneaky or creepy or something. Besides, as the phone rang, there were always so many questions and so many things to sort out. Who was it? What did they want? Was it for … me?  This became a kind of cultural commons that people could draw on to understand communicating through a technology. When you called someone, if the person was there, they would pick up and say hello. If someone called you, if you were there, you would pick up, and you would say hello. That was just how phones worked. The expectation of pickup was what made phones a synchronous medium.  But now, in 2022, no one picks up the phone anymore. Even many businesses do everything they can to avoid picking up the phone. The reflex of answering—built so deeply into people who grew up in 20th-century telephonic culture—is gone.  There are many reasons for the slow erosion of these commons. The most important aspect is structural: There are simply more communication options. Text messaging and its associated multimedia variations are rich and wonderful: words mixed with emojis, Bitmoji, reaction gifs, regular old photos, videos, and links. Texting is fun, lightly asynchronous, and possible to do with many people simultaneously. It's almost as immediate as a phone call, but not quite. You've got your Twitter, your Facebook, your work Slack, your email, and FaceTime's incoming from family members. So many little dings have begun to make the rings obsolete.  But in recent years, there has been a more specific reason for eyeing my phone's ring warily. Perhaps, 80 or even 90 percent of the calls coming into my phone are spam of one kind or another. My phone only rings one or two times a day, which means that I can go a whole week without a single phone call coming in that I (or Apple's software) can even identify, let alone want to pick up.

There are unsolicited telemarketing calls. There are straight-up robocalls that merely deliver recorded messages. There are cyborg telemarketers who sit in call centers playing prerecorded bits of audio to simulate a conversation. There are spam phone calls whose sole purpose seems to be verifying that your phone number is real and working.  The Federal Communications Commission has been trying to slow robocalls for at least half a decade, but it seems to have yet to do much to stem the tide.  It seems as long as the bots and the scammers continue to dominate the rings, those of us who seek real communication with others will happily stick to the dings. Most calls to my personal cell phone are junk calls, and even with our business line, at least half aren't real customers either. Do you find most of your calls aren't people you want to talk to as well? Let me know, and thanks for reading. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! Sincerely,

Matt Capell & Capell Team Capell Flooring and Interiors Office         208-288-0151  call or text us Web           www.capellflooring.com Email         sales@capellinteriors.com

P.S.  Here is joke for you! What kind of phone makes music?  A saxophone.

Things You Didn't Know About Alaska | E-Neighborhood Advisor

On October 18, 1867, the U.S. formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia. Here are things you probably don't know about the largest state in North America... It reached 100 degrees in Alaska – Once Over a hundred years ago, in 1914, Fort Yukon recorded an official temperature of 100 degrees, according to USA Today. Believe it or not, that mark of 100 degrees ties the all-time high temperature in the state of Hawaii. Not surprisingly, Alaska also holds the record for the lowest temperature ever observed in the United States. That bone-chilling figure of -79.8 degrees was recorded in the mountains of northern Alaska in 1971. Japan Attacked Alaska During World War II You thought Pearl Harbor was the only major attack on U.S. soil during World War II? Nope! The Japanese attacked Alaska during World War II. On June 6, 1942, the Japanese attacked Attu and Kiska, two of the Aleutian Islands. They held them for months, enslaving the small number of residents. American troops arrived to take back the islands, but they were woefully unprepared for the Alaskan climate. The ensuing battle lasted 15 days and resulted in 2,650 Japanese and 549 American deaths, a total higher than the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Most of Alaska is Inaccessible by Car At least 75% of the state is unreachable by car. Instead, snowmobiles and bush planes are typically used for travel. Because many of the highways are only two lanes, there's a law requiring drivers to pull over if at least five vehicles are behind them to allow faster traffic to pass. North America's Strongest Earthquake Was in Alaska A 9.2 earthquake struck Prince William Sound off the Alaska coast on March 27, 1964. It was the largest ever recorded in North America. It lasted more than four minutes and produced more than 10,000 aftershocks in the ensuing days. Approximately 130 people died from the resulting tsunamis in Alaska, Oregon, and California. Anchorage was severely damaged, and some communities southeast of the city saw the land drop by up to eight feet. The Purchase of Alaska Was a Real Bargain Alaska is home to the country's best real estate bargain. In 1867, the United States bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, which is a lot less than some celebrity homes these days. Some mocked the purchase because the land was considered worthless, so they called it "Seward's Folly" after William Seward, Secretary of State, brokered the deal. Those who mocked it might have changed their minds if they had known gold and oil would be discovered years later, producing billions in tax revenue each year. Two of my best friends growing up here in Meridian lived there for about 4-5 years each, and they both liked it, but I think they were ready for a change and have since moved out of state. Have you ever lived in Alaska? How did you like it? Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 P.S. Here's a joke for you! "You might be Alaskan if....You owe more money on your snow machine than your car." You can read more like this from this link: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alaska/jokes-about-ak/

How to Create a Relaxing Home Environment When It's Also Your Office - Capell Flooring

 

How to Create a Relaxing Home Environment When It's Also Your Office

One common complaint of Portland virtual workers is difficulty separating work and personal life. It is often hard to relax when you are tempted to complete one more work task despite the late hour. Here are a few suggestions from Capell Flooring and Interiors to help you create a relaxing home environment and an efficient home office. 

Dedicate Home Office Space 

The best way to separate your home and work life is to create a dedicated home office. You don't need a large room to accomplish this as a desk and a chair are all you need. Your goal is to keep everything related to work in this room with a door to close during non-working hours.

 

If no room is available, look around for usable space. For example, a walk-in closet or an alcove below a staircase works. Likewise, a corner of a large room can be transformed into an office with a room divider to give it some separation. 

Create a Comfortable Home Office

One significant advantage of working from home is setting up your office space to be comfortable and reflect your style. Buying ergonomic furniture is a must to avoid unnecessary stress on your back and neck. It's best to visit a furniture store and try out several chairs and desks to ensure you get the right fit. 

To eliminate eye strain, outfit your office space with ample lighting in a style that appeals to you. An upward-shining floor lamp illuminates without a glare on your screen or casting shadows on your room. Add an adjustable desk lamp to use when you are doing focus-intensive paperwork. 

Free Your Home From Clutter 

Decluttering is the first step in creating a relaxing home space. Research shows that a cluttered home limits your brain's ability to focus causes guilt for not dealing with the problem, and leads to stress and depression. Take the first step by committing to spend one hour conquering the clutter in one room. The joy and peace you experience while in the new tidy space should motivate you to tackle the rest of the house.

 

Once the clutter is gone, do a deep clean on your home. Dust all the surfaces, polish the cabinets, wipe down all your appliances and clean your windows inside and out. Vacuum and clean all your floors, and don't neglect your rugs. If necessary, contact a professional cleaning service to take care of them! 

Go Back to School 

The thought of going back to school might not sound particularly relaxing, but remember, the goal is to give yourself – and your business – every advantage while reducing long-term stress as much as possible, and a great way to do that is by arming yourself for success with a degree in accounting. That’ll remove a lot of the anxiety and guesswork that surround the financial side of things, allowing you to focus more on what matters most to you. 

Add Indoor Plants 

House plants are more than just pretty to look at; they improve the air quality in your home, boost your creativity, reduce stress, and improve your mood. If you don't have a green thumb, adding plant life pictures to your walls can give you the same relaxing ambiance.

Install a Backyard Oasis

Enjoy the beautiful Portland scenery by installing an oasis in your backyard. Start with some comfortable chairs and ottomans to sink into at the end of your workday. If you are a foodie, consider installing an outdoor kitchen. A large grill with a range hood, a sink, and a refrigerator are the essentials you need to cook outdoors and entertain at the same time. 

Follow these tips to give yourself every advantage when it comes to setting up an efficient and comfortable home office, not to mention being able to feel and do your best work! 

Capell Flooring and Interiors has been serving flooring clients in the Boise Area & the Treasure Valley since 1974. Call 208-288-0151.

 

Image via Pexels

Nobody likes self-checkout. Here's why it's everywhere. | E-Neighborhood Advisor

In 2020, 29% of transactions at food retailers were processed through self-checkout, up from 23% the year prior, according to the latest data from food industry association FMI. This raises the question: why is this often problematic, unloved technology taking over retail? CNN Business reports that the introduction of self-checkout machines in 1986 was part of a long history of stores transferring work from paid employees to unpaid customers, a practice that dates all the way back to Piggly Wiggly — the first self-service supermarket — in the early 1900s. Instead of clerks behind a counter gathering products for customers, Piggly Wiggly allowed shoppers to roam the aisles, pick items off the shelves and pay at the register. In exchange for doing more work, the model promised lower prices. Self-checkout, however, was designed primarily to lower stores' labor expenses. The system reduced cashier costs by as much as 66%, according to a 1988 article in the Miami Herald. But self-checkout did not revolutionize the grocery store. Many customers balked at doing more work in exchange for benefits that weren't entirely clear. It took a decade for Walmart to test self-checkout. Only in the early 2000s did the trend pick up more widely at supermarkets looking to cut costs during the 2001 recession and faced stiff competition from emergent superstores and warehouse clubs. A 2003 Nielsen survey found that 52% of shoppers considered self-checkout lanes to be "okay," while 16% said they were "frustrating." Thirty-two percent of shoppers called them "great." The mixed response led some grocery chains, including Costco, Albertsons, and others, to pull out the self-checkout machines.

Walkaways The move to self-checkout has created unintended consequences for stores as well. Retailers found self-checkout stations were not autonomous and required regular maintenance and supervision. Although self-checkout counters eliminated some of the tasks of traditional cashiers, they still needed to be staffed and created a need for higher-wage IT jobs, he said. In the biggest headache for store owners, self-checkout leads to more losses due to error or theft than traditional cashiers. Customers make honest errors as well as intentionally steal at self-checkout machines. Some products have multiple barcodes or barcodes that don't scan properly. Produce, including fruit and meat, typically needs to be weighed and manually entered into the system using a code. Customers may type in the wrong code by accident. Other times shoppers won't hear the "beep" confirming an item has been scanned correctly. Other customers take advantage of the lax oversight at self-checkout aisles and have developed techniques for stealing. Common tactics include not scanning an item, swapping a cheaper item (bananas) for a more expensive one (steak), scanning counterfeit barcodes attached to their wrists, or properly scanning everything and then walking out without paying. Self-Checkout is Here to Stay Despite self-checkout's many shortcomings for customers and store owners, the trend is only growing. Walmart, Kroger, and Dollar General are piloting exclusively self-checkout stores. Costco and Albertsons have brought self-checkout back after removing it years ago. Amazon has taken the concept a step further with cashier-less Amazon Go stores. It may simply be too late for stores to turn their back on self-checkout. Today's stores cater to shoppers who perceive self-checkout to be faster than traditional cashiers, even though there's little evidence to support that. But, because customers are doing the work, rather than waiting in line, the experience can feel like it's moving more quickly. Store owners have also seen competitors installing self-checkout and determined they don't want to miss out. Covid-19 has also hastened the spread of self-checkout. During the pandemic, many customers opted for self-service to avoid close interactions with cashiers and baggers. And challenges in hiring and retaining workers have led stores to rely on the machines more heavily to get customers through the door. Personally, I didn't like self-checkout when they first came out, but I have warmed up to them now that I understand them better. My wife and I have a system and we can get through them pretty quickly now. How do you feel about them? Good, Bad, Indifferent - I'm always curious for feedback. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 P.S. Here's a joke for you! How does Zorro pay for his groceries at the self-service checkout? On card!

Harsh Truths That Will Improve Your Leadership Skills Overnight | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Remember those old, scratchy vinyl records that would skip and play the same thing repeatedly until you moved the needle? Well, the Gallup Organization has been playing a tune for over three decades, which sure sounds like a scratchy record that won't move forward. You know it well—roughly 30 percent of U.S. employees are engaged in their work. But here's the part of the song that keeps skipping incessantly: People leave managers, not companies. Inc. magazine tells us that we've known this for a while, and yet, we can't seem to solve the leadership crisis that will result in happy, engaged, and motivated workers. That's because most people in positions of power don't clearly understand what it truly takes to influence others. You don't manage people; you lead people and manage the work. Brutal Truths About Leadership 1. Good leaders will first pump the fear out of the room. In traditional top-down power structures, bosses cast a vision and then use positional power and control to move people to carry out the vision. Fear is par for the course as the primary motivator. In today's social economy, servant leaders will cast a company vision and enroll their followers to express their voices as co-creators and co-contributors to the vision. And their first priority is creating psychological safety among their tribes: They pump the fear out of the room and liberate their people to freely collaborate, innovate, and engage. 2. Good leadership doesn't happen without trust. Every leader must ask a fundamental, look-in-the-mirror question: "Does my behavior increase trust?" Trust is a pillar your leadership should stand on if you consider elevating your leadership skills. In his book The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey highlights several trusting leadership behaviors great companies are known for, including: - Create transparency - Confront reality - Practice accountability - Talk straight - Right wrongs 3. Good leaders are willing to listen to feedback. Many leaders don't want to listen to others' ideas, opinions, and constructive feedback about their leadership. For such leaders, cutting themselves off means operating in an ego system, not an ecosystem. A leader who listens well, on the other hand, is open and accountable; they filter out criticism or drama and find the facts to respond appropriately to serve the needs of others. They probe and ask questions until they get clarification; they listen to understand—with a focus on the future, not on a rehash of the past.

4. Good leaders are positive, even when things go wrong. Good leaders practice positive thinking. They view stressful situations more positively, which takes emotional intelligence. Rather than getting stressed out about a work situation or a recent failure, they see it as an opportunity to pause, regroup, learn, grow, and bounce back with renewed energy and focus. This can have a profound effect on one's emotional and physical well-being. Leaders who maintain a positive attitude and practice positive thinking experience less stress than those who are pessimistic, narrow-minded, and negative. 5. Good leaders rarely, if ever, procrastinate. Good leaders are "do-it-now" people. They don't put things off until the last minute, which is a sure way to increase stress levels. Good leaders begin doing what they know they should do and when they know they should do it. They anticipate problems when issues arise and address them head-on before they escalate. 6. Good leaders put strict boundaries on themselves. Billionaire Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway learned a long time ago that the greatest commodity of all is time. One of his secrets to success? He simply mastered the practice of setting boundaries for himself. The mega-mogul once said: The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything. They say no to opportunities and things that don't excite them, speak to their values or further their mission in life. They say no to spending time with uninspiring, critical, or negative people who drag them down. They say no to overworking and neglecting self-care and family. They recognize that everything else suffers if they can't care for themselves. 7. Leadership, in the end, is really about love. We often view any notion of leadership and love through the spiritual teachings of historical and religious figures like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. But another unlikely icon from the past—legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi—didn't mince words in defining how he led with love. He said: "I don't necessarily have to like my players and associates, but as their leader, I must love them. Love is loyalty, love is teamwork, love respects the dignity of the individual." This is the strength of any organization. Love in the leadership-at-work sense is not a feeling; it's expressed as an "action verb." It's love that shows up in meeting the needs of others to get results, clearing obstacles from people's paths, and empowering others to succeed and grow as workers and human beings. It has intrinsic value for both leader and employee. Ultimately, this kind of love defines some of the best CEOs on the planet. I like to read books on leadership on a regular basis. I'm far from perfect, but I find the subject fascinating. Thanks for reading and I wish you a wonderful weekend! Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 P.S. Here's a joke for you! The interviewer asked me to show him an example of leadership skills. "OK," I replied. "I'm hired."

50 More Ways to Slightly Improve Your Life | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Like the last list, I don't necessarily agree with all of the previous ideas, but there is definitely some good food for thought. I hope you are enjoying your Saturday, and here the list goes: 1. If something in the world is making you angry, write (politely) to your elected officials – they will read it. 2. Say hello to your neighbors. (Or wave to them too) 3. Learn the basics of repairing your clothes. 4. Always bring something – dessert, flowers – to a dinner/birthday party, even if they say not to. 5. Learn the names of 10 trees. 6. Call an old friend out of the blue. 7. Every so often, search your email for the word "unsubscribe" and then use it on as many as you can. (Except this email, of course ;) ) 8. Buy a newspaper. 9. Always have dessert. 10. Drop your shoulders. 11. Make something from scratch. It works best if you normally buy something, such as a dress or a bag. 12. Go to bed earlier – but don't take your phone with you. 13. Volunteer... 14. Dry your cutlery with a cloth (it keeps it shiny). 15. Instead of buying a morning coffee, set aside $2 and forget about it. Use it to treat yourself to something different later. 16. Don't save things for the "best." Wear them – enjoy them. 17. Sing! 18. Think about your posture: don't slouch, and don't cross your legs. 19. Hang your clothes up on non-wire hangers (it's better for them). 20. Go swimming with friends. 21. Switch your phone off on holiday (or at least delete your work email app). 22. Always use freshly ground pepper. 23. Thank a teacher who changed your life. 24. Respect your youngers. (I would say respect everyone too) 25. Keep your keys in the same place.

26. Ditch the plastic cartons and find a milkman. 27. Rent rather than buy a suit/dress for that forthcoming wedding (even if it's your own). 28. Always book an extra day off after a holiday. 29. Ignore the algorithm – listen to music outside your usual taste. 30. Mute or leave a WhatsApp group chat. 31. Learn a TikTok dance (but don't post it on TikTok). 32. Cook something you've never attempted before. 33. Join a local litter-picking group. 34. Handwash that thing you've never cleaned. 35. Don't get a pet/do get a pet. 36. Nap. 37. Learn how to breathe deeply: in through the nose, out through the mouth, making the exhale longer than the inhale. 38. Buy a bike and use it. Learn how to fix it, too. 39. Politely decline invitations if you don't want to go. 40. If you do go, have an exit strategy (can we recommend a French exit, where you slip out unseen). 41. If in doubt, add cheese. 42. Don't look at your phone at dinner. 43. Do that one thing you've been putting off. (That sounds like a fortune cookie) 44. Give compliments widely and freely. 45. Set up an affordable standing donation to a charity. 46. Keep a book in your bag to avoid the temptation to doomscroll. 47. Listen to the albums you loved as a teenager. 48. Make a friend from a different generation. 49. Staying over at a friend's place? Strip the bed in the morning. 50. For instant cheer, wear yellow. Did you try any of the 50 suggestions last month? I'm still working on some, I need to do some of these too. I'm always up for an experiment and working on being a better person than I was the day before. Have a wonderful Saturday! Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 P.S. Here is joke for you! There are two kinds of people. Some wash their dishes because they just ate; the others wash their dishes because they are just about to eat.

Landlord's Guide to Flooring in a Rental Property

 Landlord's Guide to Flooring in a Rental Property

 

At some point, you will want to change the flooring in your rental property. The reason may be that the flooring has lost its appeal after serving you or the former owner for many years. This is the most common reason landlords replace the flooring in a rental property, says Windermere Property Management.

Another reason may be that you are renovating the property and want to upgrade the flooring to something that will match the other changes you have made in the rental. You may also want to change your flooring to something easier to manage. 

Regardless of your reason for wanting to replace the flooring in your rental, you still need to decide what kind of flooring to install. Choosing a flooring material that matches your rental needs can be challenging with the number of flooring options. 

The flooring in a rental property matters because: 

• Because flooring changes the ambiance of the entire home, it can work with or against the overall design of the rental to improve or diminish its appeal.
• The flooring is one of the first things potential tenants see; the wrong choice will hurt your ability to attract the best tenants. Flooring also influences the rental rate for rental.
• The flooring you choose has implications for the operational cost of the property. The wrong flooring will make it more complicated or expensive to maintain your rental.

 

What is the best flooring option for a rental property? What criteria should you use when selecting that flooring? Below are the things you want to consider when choosing flooring for a rental.

Beauty: The flooring should complement the style of your property. You want to be sure that it will appeal to the kind of tenants you are targeting.

• Cost: Cheap flooring in an upscale rental or expensive flooring in a low-budget rental doesn’t make sense. Flooring should justify the price point for the rental.
• Durability: How long do you expect the floor to last? You have a choice between flooring that you will replace every few years and flooring that will last for decades.
• Installation: The cost of installing the floor and the time it takes are essential. If the rental is already in operation, do you want flooring that will take ages to install?
• Maintenance: How much work will you and your tenants need to do to keep the flooring clean? Is the floor easily damaged? 

The best flooring options for a rental property 

1.    Hardwood 

Hardwood can be sanded, resurfaced, or stained to give it a different look. Hardwood floors are so durable that they can last a lifetime. When it comes to flooring, hardwood is in a class by itself. No other flooring comes close to the appeal and character you get with hardwood, which is why no other flooring is often designed to mimic hardwood. The only issue with hardwood floors is cost. Hardwood floors are not the cheapest option and require a bit of care. They are best for upscale rental properties.

 

2.    Tile

Tile is a highly versatile flooring option with various colors, designs, and finishes. Tile is available at various price points and is very durable. The problem with tiles is that it has limited application. Tiles won’t work in some rooms because they don’t convey that sense of warmth which is often a huge factor for prospective renters.

 

Also, tile floors feel cold underfoot; they may not be the best option when trying to create comfort. Tile is best used in areas where moisture and dirt are significant issues; entryways, mudrooms, laundry, kitchen, and bathroom.

 

3.    Vinyl plank 

This is one of the most popular flooring options for rental properties, partly because they let you recreate the appearance of hardwood flooring without the cost of natural hardwood. Vinyl plank is affordable and easy to install; it can go over the existing flooring in your rental (no need to spend money tearing up the old floor).

 

Vinyl planks come in two varieties; a glue-down version and click-in vinyl planks. Both types of vinyl planks are easy to install, come in several color options, and are easy to clean.

 

4.    Carpet

Finding another flooring option that offers the level of coziness you get with carpets is hard. The trouble with carpets is that they get dirty quickly and are easily damaged (rips, stains, and fraying). Also, you can only clean carpet floors so often, so they are not a very durable option.

 

That said, carpets are still a great flooring option if you use them correctly. Carpets are an excellent choice for bedrooms. You can also deploy area rugs in different parts of the home; they can go over hardwood floors, tiles, or vinyl planks to add more warmth to a room.

Thanks for reading from Capell Flooring and Interiors,

Rob - Guest Post from Windermere Property Management