Elaine Taylor's Blog

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing what to fix to net the most value for your home?  It’s called “Make Your Home Show Like A Model Without Breaking The Bank” and it’s an essential guide to homeowner profits.  You can get a free copy by calling me at…954-842-8745

Word of the Month…

Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word, so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

Coerce (koh-urs) verb 

Meaning: to make someone do something by force

Sample Sentence: The contract didn’t hold up in court because he was coerced into signing it.

Soft Skills Employers Want

You need more than vocation-specific skills to land a job.  According to Interview Success Formula, 36% of employers look for multi-tasking skills, 31% for initiative, and 21% for creative thinking.  On your resume, identify accomplishments illustrating these skills.  During the interview, explain specific workplace examples highlighting how you’ve used these and other soft skills.

Super Space Facts

·        It takes Venus 224.7 Earth days to orbit the sun and 243 Earth days to rotate on its axis, so on Venus, a day is longer than a year.

·        1 million Earths can fit in the sun.

·        Because the moon has no atmosphere, the footprints on its surface will be there forever.

·        Space is completely silent.

Stress-Free Travel

ü  Sign up for TSA’s PreCheck Program to breeze through security: www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck.

ü  Carry your hotel’s business card so you can find your way back.

ü  Stay hydrated, get enough rest, and wash hands to avoid illness.

Quotes To Live By…

Every smile makes you a day younger.

                                                            –Chinese Proverb

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.

      –Winnie the Pooh

A watched pot never boils, but it does get paranoid.

–Lesley Wake

How To Prevent Cloud Hackers

            Never heard of “Cloud Hackers?” You undoubtedly know the importance of backing-up photos from your smartphone and documents on your computer to cloud storage, just in case something happens to your devices.  While it’s nice to know you have a copy of your digital files that can be retrieved from almost anywhere, it’s also important that you take steps to protect data that you store in the cloud from hackers who may attack or break into online storage centers.

·       Avoid automatic backups.  Yes, having your devices automatically backed up means you don’t have to worry about it, but this also means every single photo, video, and file you create is sent to the cloud – and accessible by hackers.  You may have several apps uploading photos, so you need to disable each and every one. Note that the built-in Camera app on iOS and Android can’t be disabled and every image is uploaded to the cloud.  To delete them, you need to remove them directly from the online storage space.  You can disable this feature for mobile devices, and upload on your own schedule.
 

·       Check files that are already backed up.  Take some time to browse your cloud storage to make sure there aren’t sensitive items like bank statements or questionable photos that you wouldn’t want others to find.
 

·       Strengthen passwords. Create a 12-character password or longer for your cloud storage system, and change it a few times annually.  Use a variety of capitalization, numbers, letters, and punctuation, and avoid using names, places, or actual words (or have passwordsgenerator.net make one for you). 

When To Quit Your Job

            Even if you’re gainfully employed, sometimes it is in your best interest to move on.  If you’re exhibiting any of these four characteristics, it may be quitting time.

1.         You aren’t happy.  If going to work fills you with dread, it’s time to jump ship.  Things will only continue down the same path of drudgery if nothing changes.

2.         You clash with the company culture.  Over time you may find that you no longer align with the company’s mission.  Likewise, if you don’t get along with your boss or co-workers, then it’s time to find a place that is a better fit.

3.         You don’t feel challenged.  A good job should allow you to learn and refine skills over time, but if you’ve hit the wall when it comes to creativity and educational opportunities, see if there are other places that allow and encourage you to continue developing your skillset.

4.         Your company is failing.  If all signs point to your employer’s demise, don’t stick around.  Start looking for a new job today; indeed.com and monster.com are two popular job search databases.

Brain Teaser…

I am tall when I am young and short when I am old.

What am I?

(See page 4 for the answer.)

What’s My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home’s current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit.   Request this “no charge” in-depth home value analysis by calling me at:  <<888-8888>>.

How To Tip Like A Pro

It’s common knowledge that service industry workers are supposed to be tipped, as that’s the majority of their wages.  But how much?

Ø  Restaurant service – 15% of pre-tax total.  Adjust to 10-30% for service quality.

Ø  Food delivery – 10-15% of bill, depending on delivery difficulty.

Ø  Bartenders – $1-$2 per drink, or
15-20% of the tab.

Ø  Valet – $2-$5.  Tip $2-$3 beforehand to be extra sure your car is cared for.

Ø  Transportation – 15-20% of fare charge, with a $1 minimum.  This includes taxis, and Uber and Lyft rides.

Have A Laugh…

Teacher: Well, at least there’s one good thing I can say about your son.

Father: What is that?

Teacher: I can promise you that, with grades like these, he couldn’t possibly be cheating.

Websites For Virtual Services

·        www.virtualtherapyconnect.com – Get in touch with a therapist online.

·        www.wello.com – Workout with a personal trainer via 2-way video.

·        www.mdlive.com – When you don’t feel well, chat with a doctor without visiting an office.