The MINSTS Of Deciding To Buy A Home

We often refer to, owning a home, of our own, as the American Dream. Since, for most people, their house, represents, their single, biggest, financial asset, doesn't it make sense, to proceed, in a well - considered manner, and considering as many of the necessities, positives, negatives, and potential ramifications, and responsibilities, as possible, so, as, to be, as prepared, as possible? After over a decade, as a Real Estate Licensed Salesperson, in the State of New York, I have created, a simple, set of priorities, to focus on, and emphasize, which I refer to, as, the MINSTS of deciding to buy a home. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly, examine, consider, and review, using the mnemonic approach, some of the central components, and considerations.

1. Meets your present needs: What are your present needs, and priorities? Are you considering these, rather than pursuing some emotional attachments, etc, and becoming your own, worst enemy? Unless/ until, someone considers, in advance, what he needs, how is it possible, to know, what to look at, and pursue, and make the wisest decision, for his personal situation?

2. Imagines future necessities: What is the focus of purchasing a particular home? Do you hope, to, merely, purchase a starter - home, or, to buy, something, which meets, both your present needs, while considering your future necessities?

3. Neighborhood: What do you like about, the particular neighborhood? Why, and how does it address your needs, and priorities/ purposes? Will you consider, issues such as schools, safety, conveniences, etc, in a focused manner? Will you be happy, there?

4. Schools: Whether, you presently have school - aged, children, or not, the quality of local schools, and the school - system, are significant, in terms of real estate values, etc. However, you must also, carefully, consider, and examine, the balance between the quality of the schools, and the impact on your real estate taxes!

5. Transportation: Is the house, conveniently located, to a variety of forms, of transportation? Are their quality, public transportation, facilities, nearby this property? Are you close, but not, too close, so as to enjoy, quiet enjoyment of your home?

6. Safety: Before purchasing any house, closely examine, the public safety, and crime rates, in the specific area. Will you be able to live, in relative, peace - of - mind, because the area, is a safe one?

Consider these MINSTS of deciding, to buy a home, of your own. Protect your investment, and proceed, in a happy, fulfilled manner!

Our American Challenge: Too Many Promises, Too Few SOLUTIONS!

Americans, often, complain about the quality, or commitment, of their public officials, but, rarely, examine and/ or consider, whether they are simply, listening to the empty promises, and rhetoric, rather than the quality of their visions, and solutions! Unfortunately, it is because of, either the apathy of the electorate, or their unwillingness to delve deeply, and ask meaningful questions, before they vote, and elect someone, who might be inappropriate, or not be, the type of leader, they think, they are electing, many become disillusioned by the system, rather than accepting, it is the responsibility of each voter, to pay far more attention, during the campaign - process. Wouldn't we all be, better served, if our public officials, offered fewer promises, and used less rhetoric, and rather, offered, meaningful, well - considered, viable SOLUTIONS? With that in mind, this article will briefly consider, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, why this matters.

1. Service: Closely examine, who is being served, by a particular candidate! Quality leaders emphasis meaningful service, to the citizens, they represent, and the nation, they serve!

2. Options: Does this person, proceed, with a willingness, to consider, and examine, all viable options and alternatives, rather than any personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self - interest?

3. Listen; learn; leadership: Rather than believing, one has all the answers, and proceeds, unwilling to listen effectively, and consistently, learn from every conversation and experience, he does not exhibit the level of quality, meaningful, relevant, sustainable leadership, our nation needs, and deserves!

4. Useful; usable; unique: Avoid electing individuals, who emphasize rhetoric, over useful ideas, and viable solutions. We need to be served by people, with usable ways, where we might become better! Always consider, what about a particular candidate, might be somewhat unique, and make that person a better leader.

5. Timely; trend - setter: Blaming and complaining about the past, rather than introducing relevant, timely ideas and solutions, serves very little purpose, to the nation, or citizens! Rather, we need people, who proceed, to become trend - setters, and help the nation, to evolve, in the best, most relevant, sustainable manner.

6. Ideas; integrity; imagination: Does the potential leader, have the imagination, combined with absolute integrity, to proceed, with valuable, worthwhile ideas, which benefit, and serve the common good?

7. Opportunities: We need to elect candidates, who are ready, willing and able, to pursue the finest, most relevant, opportunities, to serve, America's best interests!

8. Needs: Whose needs, does that potential leader, represent? The electorate must consider the character, and intentions, of someone, before buying - into, their rhetoric, and promises!

9. System; sustainable solutions: Fully consider, whether someone has the capabilities of creating and developing, the best system, to achieve worthwhile objectives! The goal must be to perceive and conceive of, create, develop, and implement, the most relevant, sustainable solutions!

We are never served, when we elect, leaders, with, far, too many promises, and too few, viable SOLUTIONS! America will only become, the best, it can possibly be, when/ if, the electorate assumes, far more responsibility, and focus!

Why A Leader Must Be A DIRECTOR?

True leaders must be, the first ones, to step forward, with relevant, sustainable, well - considered, ideas, and introduce viable solutions, to obstacles, and challenges, which are either actual, or perceived! Rather than trying, to merely, fit - in, a real leader, expands the limitations of his self - imposed, comfort zone, and realizes, one is only leading, when he directs others, towards creating the best way, to achieve the common good! Therefore, one must become ready, willing, and able, to serve as a quality DIRECTOR, and inspire and motivate stakeholders, to come together, and unify, for the common good, and the best possible results. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, some of the necessities, of achieving, what is needed, and necessary, to make the group, better and stronger.

1. Delve deeply; deliver; decide: If you don't like to, or feel comfortable with, or are unwilling, and/ or unable, to make a well - considered, decision, you probably, shouldn't be, a leader! One must delve deeply, and consider several options, which will enhance, how he might over - deliver, rather than over - promise!

2. Integrity; imagination; ideas; ideology: Integrity must be absolute, or it won't create trust! When an individual possesses a relevant, imagination, and introduces meaningful ideas, which align with the group's ideology, he begins to direct others, towards making significant improvements!

3. Relevant; reliable: What good, does anyone serve, if he simply acts, or looks busy, rather than proceeding, with relevant plans and programs? These must be well - considered, as well as truly, reliable!

4. Empathy; emphasis; energy: Listen effectively, and learn from every conversation and experience, so you better understand and appreciate, the concerns, perceptions, and priorities/ goals, of constituents. This enables you to proceed with the utmost degree of genuine empathy, and to place you emphasis, and energy, where it will do the most good!

5. Character; creative: Do you have the strength, of character, to be creative, and focused on others, rather than any personal/ political agenda, and/ or self - interest?

6. Timely: When you accept your responsibility as a director, and take this seriously, you will avoid the temptation, to procrastinate, and will consistently, proceed, with well - considered, timely actions, and plans!

7. Options; opportunities: Only when a leader, realizes, he must fully consider, several, viable options and alternatives, will he be prepared to recognize, and take advantage of the finest opportunities!

8. Responsive; responsible: When someone is the right person, for the position, he focuses on responsive solutions, as well as assuming responsibility, rather than merely, complaining, and blaming!

Are you willing to assume the responsibilities of being the DIRECTOR, when you become a leader? Are you up to this task?

Are Your CHANGES, For The Better?

We have often witnessed, and/ or, observed, individuals seeking positions of leadership. campaign, on the premise of the need, for changes, to be made, if the organization, is to be effective, relevant, and sustainable. However, unfortunately, in the vast number of instances, these CHANGES. end up, not making any significant difference, because they are merely, change - for - change, sake! True leaders, on the other hand, realize, appreciate, and understand, unless this process, focuses on well - considered, review, discussion, observation, accompanied by a thorough plan, for improving things, little benefit is achieved. With that in mind, this article will attempt to review, consider, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, how a genuine leader, should proceed, to create the best possible, set of circumstances, using a professionally designed, strategic plan, and bringing it, forward, to develop, the most meaningful, action plan.

1. Character; creative; choices: We need leaders, with the strength, of character, to fully consider their choices, and proceed, in a creative way, to make their organization, the best, it can possibly be. When this is the starting point, any changes, and/ or modifications, are focused on serving the common good, rather than any personal agenda, and/ or, self - interest!

2. Healing; head/ heart: Unless one's focus is on healing divisions, and bringing about a meeting, of the minds, any changes, are rarely beneficial! Therefore, a true leader, consistently, proceeds, with a head/ heart balance!

3. Attention; attitude; aptitude: One must pay keen attention, to the potential ramifications, which might come, from changing things! Therefore, one must proceed, with a positive, can - do, attitude, combined, with a relevant, well - honed, aptitude!

4. Needs: Making changes, simply, for change - sake, rarely, makes anything better! The focus and emphasis, must be, based on the needs, goals, perceptions, and priorities, of the group, and stakeholders!

5. Growth; generate goodwill: Organizations must constantly undergo quality growth, or they will fail to inspire and motivate constituents, to remain committed, and feel strongly, in a positive way, towards getting more involved. Only, when a leader, consistently, generates goodwill, not, by his rhetoric and/ or promises, but rather by his plans, and actions, does any change, become beneficial, and positive!

6. Empathy; emphasis; energize; excellence: Before proceeding, one must effectively listen, and learn from every conversation, and experience, and exhibit genuine empathy! This should drive one's emphasis, in a way, which energizes, others! Never abandon your commitment, to striving for your utmost degree of personal excellence!

7. Service; system; sustainable solutions: You aren't leading, unless your primary focus, and emphasis, is on providing relevant service! To do so, meaningful leaders, perceive and conceive of, create, implement, and use, the best possible system! It's important to recognize, the major intentions, should be, on providing sustainable, well - considered, solutions!

Are the CHANGES, you seek, for the better? Or, will you be, another, pseudo - leader, who merely uses rhetoric, and makes empty promises?

6 Inexpensive Ways To Lower Home Energy Costs

Homeowners, sooner, or later, discover, a significant, monthly expense, is what they pay, for their energy needs. This includes, heating, cooling, and electrical needs, and, while there might be many ways, to reduce these, many of the fixes, are somewhat expensive! With all the other stresses, and strains, of our every - day, lives, these might be extremely challenging, to afford, so, many of us, simply, continue, without making any attempt, to try to reduce our energy costs. While, they may not address, the total, overall needs, of a homeowner, in this area, this article will attempt to briefly consider, address, and discuss, 6, relatively, inexpensive ways, to lower energy costs.

1. Windows: Many people replace their windows, with more energy - efficient types, but, this is, often a costly, messy process! If those costs, are, beyond one's means, and/ or comfort level/ zone, they should consider, some ways, to make these somewhat more efficient. Sealing, and caulking around windows, making them more, leak - free, as do, making certain, any cracks, are repaired, etc. In addition, ensuring storm windows, work effectively, helps reduce, heat, which, literally, flies, out - the - window!

2. Doors: Much heating, and cooling, escapes, under, and around, entry doors, to houses. One inexpensive approach, is putting, a sweep, below, the bottom, of a door. In addition, examine, how the door, is hung, to ensure, it aligns, properly. There are also, seals, which can be used, around the sides of these entry - ways. Make certain, storm doors, close fully, as an additional protection, and savings!

3. Attic insulation: Is your attic, effectively, and efficiently, insulated? Might you benefit by rolling - in, some additional insulation, near the roof, of your house, where so much, energy, often escapes?

4. Light bulbs: Are you taking advantage of energy - efficient, light bulbs? Many of today's light bulbs, will save, a homeowner, significant amounts, on their electric costs.

5. Set - back thermostat: How one sets, and uses, his thermostat, have a significant impact, on our energy costs. We do not need, to heat our homes, or cool them, to the same degree, at all hours. Based on a specific homeowner's usage and needs, using a set - back thermostat, can create a significant savings! In addition, using a similar system, with air - conditioning, makes a real difference!

6. Do all preventive maintenance: Making minor enhancements, rather than waiting for them to become major problems, creates a savings, overall. Have your energy provider, or service company, do preventive maintenance, on items, such as your boiler, and burner. In addition, do minor jobs, yourself, such as putting insulation, behind, sockets, etc.

An ounce of prevention, and some common sense, often, makes a significant difference, in a homeowner's overall energy costs! Will you protect your single - biggest, financial asset - your house?

5 Rights, Americans Must Protect!

Have you ever wondered, and seriously considered, what has, historically, differentiated, the United States of America, from most of the rest, of the world? Over two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers, pondered, the direction, of our nation, and created a Constitution, and Bill of Rights, as a core, central, component, which we would base, how we proceed. While, our previous history, might be, imperfect, it, certainly, is a meaningful, quality, guideline, for us, to keep, in mind. Although, there have been numerous challenges, to the well - being of our nation, throughout our history, it seems, we are presently witnessing, far more challenges, to these essential rights, to protect, all our people. With that in mind, this article will attempt, to, briefly consider, review, and discuss, 5 rights, Americas, must protect.

1. Free speech: Many nations restrict their citizens ability, to express their concerns, etc, and do not protect, freedom of speech. Since the election of Donald Trump, as President of the United States, we have witnessed, his articulating, a message, of, oppositional leadership! Either, because, he truly believes so, or for his personal/ political agenda, and/ or self - interest, it appears, he only truly supports, this right, for those, who agree with, and/ or support him! The concept of free speech, must be based, on, consistently, providing this right to all, whether we agree or not! If we fail to do so, the identity, of our nation, will change, for the worse!

2. Free press: When our President, refers to the media, as the enemy of the people, it threatens, freedom of the press. In many nations, all the news, people, receive, is, what the government, wishes to communicate, but, unless, we fight for the rights, guaranteed, by our Constitution, America and Americans, are the real losers!

3. Protect all Constitutional rights: Isn't it something, many of the so - called, strongest defenders of the 2nd Amendment, fail to seek, to protect, the other amendments, with anywhere, near, the same degree of fervor? Our nation must stand for protecting all the rights, guaranteed, by the Constitution, not, merely, those, we prefer to! Our rights, freedoms, and liberties, are what, truly, makes America, great!

4. Represent common good: We have recently observed, many actions, or attempt, to favor one group of Americans, over others. Freedom means, protecting, and focusing, on the common good, rather than any special interests, personal/ political agenda, and/ or self - interest!

5. Liberty, and justice, for all: If we begin to believe, Freedoms just another word, for nothing left to lose, we'll lose the necessary focus, on demanding, liberty, and justice, for all!

Either Americans, begin to demand, an allegiance, to what our Constitution, protects, and contains, or we will end up, losing what makes us different, and great! We must abandon our apathy, and a far larger percentage of eligible votes, must begin, to take advantage of their guaranteed right!

The NAPPISCIAM Approach To Creating A Quality Action Plan

Many people speak about the need, for a meaningful, relevant strategy, and applying that, to perceiving, conceiving, developing, and implementing, the best possible, action plan, but few, once they assume, positions of leadership, actually, do so! After over 4 decades of involvement, in nearly every aspect of leading, and leadership planning, and having identified, qualified, trained, and developed, thousands of actual, and/ or, potential leaders, I have come to believe, one meaningful way, to do so, is what I refer to, as, the NAPPISCIAM approach, to developing, a valuable action plan. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly, review, consider, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and why it makes, a real difference, for the better.

1. Needs: No plan, makes any difference, for the better, until/ unless, it is based on the actual needs, of the organization, itself, as well as its stakeholders. In order to do so, takes the ability to fully consider, what these actually are, without any preconceived notions!

2. Attention: How one focuses his attention, and whether, he does so, with an open - mind, differentiates between true leaders, and the rest - of - the - pack!

3. Priorities: Whose priorities, one serves and represents, is significant, because unless, it is based on the needs, goals, and perceptions of stakeholders, and constituents, it is not possible, to create the best, action plan, for the particular group!

4. Perceptions: Two types of needs, should be addressed, in one's strategic and action plans! The first of these, obviously is the actual ones, but, unless, an attempt is made, to identify, and address, the perceptions of those one serves and represents, why would anyone be willing to listen, and participate?

5. Empathize: In developing, strategies, and approaches, a leader must prioritize, effectively listening, and learning, from every conversation, and experience! Only, when this is the process, will anyone be able to genuinely, empathize, and involve, and inspire, others, to buy - into, the program!

6. Strategy: You can't jump, right - in, and create an action plan. Rather, one must proceed, with a strategy, focused on addressing, current challenges, and needs, in a relevant manner, while ensuring, his approach, is, also, sustainable!

7. Consider; create: Great leaders, seriously consider, the options and alternatives, if they hope, to create an action plan, which might make a difference, for the better!

8. Implement: The reason, it's called, an action plan, is it creates a system, which implements, strategies, and approaches, focused, on change - for - the - better!

9. Articulate: How can one, get others to follow your plan, unless, you are able, and willing, to articulate, an inspiring, motivating, message?

10. Motivate to action: No one, leads, in a vacuum! Rather, it is incumbent, upon, quality leaders, to motivate, and inspire, others, to participating, and taking relevant action!

Will you consider the NAPPISCIAM approach, to creating, and developing, a quality, action plan? Are you the best person, for the responsibility?