Summer is coming and so is the heat. Here’s your guide to cooling clothing in hot weather.
REVERB 10: Elevating Your Communication
Effective communicators—supercommunicators—know that instead of talking at or to someone, they must talk with someone. If a leader doesn’t get this right, you talk but don’t communicate. In this REVERB episode, we dive deeper into last week’s episode The Power of Supercommunicators with Charles Duhigg: https://youtu.be/8Eqktd8qaq0?si=0R3rsVay-RSYv38-
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast: May 2024 Episode | REVERB 10: Elevating Your Communication
Other resources mentioned:
Mastering Difficult Conversations with Sheila Heen: https://andystanley.com/podcast/december-2023-mastering-difficult-conversations-with-sheila-heen/
Mastering Communication with John Maxwell: https://andystanley.com/podcast/august-2023-mastering-communication-with-john-maxwell/
Communication Masterclass: https://www.preachingwithandystanley.com/
Recognized as one of Forbes’ 6 Leadership Podcasts To Listen To In 2024 and one of the Best Leadership Podcasts To Stay in the Know for CEOs, according to Industry Leader Magazine.
_______________
Stay Connected
Website: https://andystanley.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_stanley/
X: https://twitter.com/AndyStanley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndyStanleyOfficial
Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
Subscribe on Apple: https://apple.co/3dLoTcw
Subscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3HcL7n9
Download Application Guide: https://andystanley.com/podcast/
Ditch Those Unwanted Garden Guests With This $60 DynaTrap Insect Trap – CNET
Rid your yard or garden from unwanted mosquitos and insects with this bargain trap with an easy-empty bin.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: You Can Play Little Kitty, Big City and More Now – CNET
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play as a mischievous cat or Lara Croft, Tomb Raider now.
Securing Luxury Smart Homes: The Essential Guide to VPNs
Luxury smart homes combine high-end architecture with advanced technology, making everyday tasks more accessible and efficient. In 2021, 43 percent of U.S. households reported owning a smart home device, emphasizing the rapid adoption of this technology.
As you enjoy the seamless convenience of these devices, it’s crucial to prioritize your privacy and security. The incorporation of smart technology in luxury homes is on the rise. It brings state-of-the-art amenities and the need for vigilant protection of your personal information.
The Appeal of Smart Home Technology
Smart home technology offers unmatched convenience and efficiency, transforming daily life. Imagine controlling your home’s climate, lighting, and security systems with your smartphone or voice commands. This technology saves you time and can significantly reduce energy use, optimizing the functionality of your home without sacrificing comfort.
Popular features like automated systems and interconnected devices elevate the living experience in luxury homes. Computerized systems can manage everything from window shades to home theaters, adapting environments to suit your mood or schedule. The trend toward tech-enhanced living spaces continues to grow as more homeowners are embracing technology for a smarter, more intuitive home environment.
Impact of AI on Smart Homes
Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolutionizes smart home technology by enhancing automation and efficiency, making your life simpler and more cost-effective. AI-driven systems in your home can intelligently manage electricity usage to reduce bills.
It also boosts energy efficiency, improving security through advanced surveillance and alert systems. The convenience of automated routines seamlessly integrates into your daily life, from adjusting lighting to preheating ovens.
However, these AI capabilities also bring challenges, particularly in privacy and security. Continuous monitoring and autonomous decision-making by devices could expose personal data or make unintended choices. By balancing these concerns with the benefits, AI presents obstacles and solutions to safeguarding your privacy and fortifying security in luxury smart homes.
Privacy Concerns in Smart Homes
Smart home devices collect data through sensors and user inputs to learn your habits and preferences, enhancing your home’s efficiency and responsiveness. This data automates tasks like adjusting your thermostat or setting your security alarms based on your schedule.
However, collecting such comprehensive data can also expose you to privacy risks. Potential vulnerabilities could lead to cyber attackers compromising your personal information. For instance, 41 percent of smart home users worry about password exploitation and 39 percent about identity theft.
Additionally, specific privacy concerns arise from surveillance and data-sharing practices, where malicious actors can access or share sensitive information without your consent. It underscores the necessity for stringent security measures and vigilant data management in your smart home setup.
Security Risks With Smart Technology
Common security threats in smart homes include hacking and unauthorized access, exposing your personal life and home security to significant risks. Hackers might target vulnerabilities in poorly secured devices to gain control of your home’s systems, including cameras, alarms, smart thermostats, and door locks.
This intrusion threatens your privacy and safety, making robust security protocols essential for any smart home technology. The stakes are high, as evidenced by over 422 million Americans who suffered from data breaches in 2022 alone. These breaches can lead to devastating outcomes, including identity theft, financial loss, and insecurity in what should be your safest place.
Understanding these risks is crucial, pushing you to implement and maintain strong security measures. It includes regular updates and using secure, unique passwords for your devices and networks.
Solutions and Best Practices
Consider integrating advanced protection methods such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) services to enhance your privacy and security in smart homes. Using a VPN on devices such as Fire TV ensures that your streaming and browsing activities are safe from prying eyes.
It is particularly effective in preventing unauthorized access to your internet traffic and securing data from potential cyber threats. IPVanish offers a Fire TV VPN service, providing a tailored solution that enhances your online privacy while allowing for safe and unrestricted access to content.
As a homeowner, adopting best practices is essential for maintaining a secure smart home environment. Ensure a secure home network with strong, unique passwords, and consider regular updates for all connected devices to protect against vulnerabilities.
Additionally, the role of technology providers is crucial. They implement robust security measures in their products and offer timely updates to address new threats. Staying informed and proactive significantly reduces the risk of security breaches and maintains a safe and private home environment.
The Future of Smart Home Technology
The landscape of smart home technology is rapidly evolving. About 15 billion devices are connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) as of 2023, which experts believe will double by 2030. This expansion brings challenges and opportunities in privacy and security.
Researchers continually develop innovations to enhance security measures without compromising the convenience you enjoy. For example, manufacturers integrate more sophisticated encryption techniques and smarter AI-driven security protocols into devices to protect your data and prevent unauthorized access. As technology advances, these improvements can address current privacy concerns effectively, ensuring that your smart home remains a safe and efficient haven.
Staying Secure in the Smart Home Era
Homeowners must stay aware and proactive in safeguarding their smart home against potential privacy and security risks. Stay updated about the latest security technologies and seek the most secure and reliable smart home solutions.
For more on the latest in homes and properties, click here.
The post Securing Luxury Smart Homes: The Essential Guide to VPNs appeared first on LUXUO.
To Save Money on Insurance, Drivers Are Agreeing to ‘Incredibly Intrusive’ Monitoring Technology
How much do you value privacy? Consumers are looking for ways to save money on auto insurance as premiums rise rapidly, and that’s driving more people to consider insurers’ (controversial) programs that offer savings if you agree to share driving data from a phone app or an in-vehicle device.
Usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, also known as telematics insurance, have a fairly simple premise: If you can demonstrate that you’re a low-risk driver based on your behavior behind the wheel, you’re rewarded with a lower premium.
With car insurance costs up 22% in the past year, drivers are increasingly shopping around to find the lowest-price option. They’re also looking for ways to save with their existing insurers, and telematics insurance discounts could potentially help. But is it worth it, and just how much of data actually gets shared?
The programs typically monitor data that relates to how you drive, when you drive or where you drive — or, some combination of the three, explains Deloitte Principal Matthew Carrier, who consults with insurance clients.
“The industry and certain carriers recognized that this data could allow them to evaluate risk better and better match the price of the insurance for the risk,” Carrier says.
Examples of what’s tracked include hard braking, sharp turns and texting while driving. The programs may also consider your mileage and the routes you take, among other factors indicating the kind of driver you are.
Erica Eversman, president of the Automotive Education and Policy Institute, argues that you’re trading privacy to save money with these programs, and that’s not a deal she’s willing to make.
“I think it is incredibly intrusive. It provides a significant amount of data to insurers, and we don’t necessarily know what they are doing with that data and whether they are being responsible with that data,” she says.
Drivers look to usage-based car insurance to save
The share of auto insurance customers who participate in one of these programs (currently 17%) nearly doubled from 2016 to 2021, but there’s been little growth in recent years, according to J.D. Power.
Breanne Armstrong, director of insurance intelligence at J.D. Power, says that UBI programs are slightly more popular among recent car insurance shoppers, with 19% enrolling in a program and receiving a discount.
“It’s possible that enrolling in UBI isn’t top of mind for non-shoppers, while shoppers are more likely to be looking for an opportunity to save money, and UBI might give them that option,” Armstrong says.
Usage-based car insurance has been around for more than a decade, but the early versions of the technology generally relied on devices you’d have to install in your car.
Now, lots of new vehicles are sold with built-in systems for sending data to insurance companies. Customers also have more options to participate with smartphone apps like Geico’s DriveEasy or State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save.
Depending on the program, you may have to drive with the tracking on for 30 days to six months before your discount (if any) kicks in. Some insurers also offer an immediate discount as an incentive to sign up.
Keep in mind that when you use an app to track your driving, it will likely also track your phone usage while behind the wheel. For example, GEICO’s DriveEasy program monitors handheld phone calls and the use of your phone when moving over 6 mph.
Should you opt in?
The pros and cons of enrolling in a usage-based car insurance program depend on what type of driver you are and where your priorities lie.
Insurance companies may think you’re a higher-risk driver if you’re accelerating fast, braking aggressively, making sharp turns, using your phone while you drive, coming home at 3 a.m., taking dangerous roads or simply driving a lot.
If you don’t do any of those things, you might get a larger discount — though exactly how much you’ll save with these programs is unclear, experts say.
Auto insurance companies claim you can save up to 20-30% on your premium with usage-based insurance, but Michael DeLong, research and advocacy associate at the Consumer Federation of America, emphasizes that those are maximums, and the real savings are probably much lower. Unfortunately, there haven’t been any reliable studies on how much drivers are actually saving, he says.
Critics of usage-based insurance programs say you shouldn’t have to give up your privacy just to get affordable car insurance, among other potential problems like phone battery drain or the technology classifying you as a bad driver leading to a premium increase. (Many insurance companies, however, claim your rates won’t go up based on the data it collects when you enroll in a telematics program.)
A New York Times report found that a massive amount of data is being collected on some drivers with vehicles that have built-in collection technology: One consumer was shocked to discover that LexisNexis had 130 pages of data on his trips that included documentation of his speeding, hard braking and fast accelerations. In the previous month, multiple insurers had requested the customer’s info from the analytics company.
On the other hand, proponents argue it can be a win-win for customers and insurers: Drivers save money and auto insurance companies can price their insurance products more efficiently.
What do the users think? According to J.D. Power, while participants have concerns about the tracking accuracy, they report higher satisfaction with the price of their insurance than other customers.
The firm’s latest data shows that “UBI is being offered less frequently during the shopping process than it has been at any point in the past 5 years,” Armstrong says. “This means auto insurance shoppers are likely driving UBI participation vs. carriers explicitly offering it during the shopping process.”
In 2024, 15% of shoppers are being offered UBI when they shop, down from 22% last year, according to J.D. Power.
Drawbacks of usage-based car insurance
There are a number of possible issues and downsides of usage-based car insurance, consumer advocates say.
For example, some companies deem late-night driving to be dangerous, which is unfortunate for people who work late hours. “That could disproportionately hurt low income consumers who are working at these jobs,” DeLong says.
The technology also has its limitations: If you’re at the wheel focused on the road, but someone in the passenger seat is changing the music on your phone, the app may think it’s observing distracted driving and count it against you.
It’s also important to keep in mind that you may actually end up paying more for car insurance by opting in, especially if you put in a lot of miles on the road. While there are other ways for insurance companies to see how much you drive — mileage is often documented when you get service on your car at a dealership — a sensor inside the car can be the “ultimate” tool for insurers to identify drivers who are spending a lot of time on the road, Carrier says.
In the event you get in an accident, an insurance company could potentially use collected data to try to prove you were at fault, according to accident lawyers. Geico acknowledges that it may use DriveEasy data “to help speed up the claims process.”
Sarah Graziano, a civil attorney at Hensley Legal Group in Indiana who represents injured parties, adds that the data can be subpoenaed in civil and criminal cases. For now, this is relatively uncommon, but she expects that to change as more insurance companies promote discounts and more drivers opt in.
The Consumer Federation of America says it is worried that the data insurers are collecting on participants’ movements could be misused, DeLong says, noting that most states lack regulation preventing it from being sold to advertisers.
However, DeLong recognizes opting in or not is a tough decision for drivers. He admits that it could make sense for some people — if you’re a good driver, you drive fewer miles than average and you’re comfortable with the privacy protections provided by your state’s laws.
More on Car Insurance
Money’s Top Picks
Car Insurance Reviews Learn More |
Tips for Selling Your Luxurious Home
Selling your luxurious home requires a lot of consideration. Unlike regular properties, the market for luxurious homes is limited to those who can afford them. Nonetheless, homeowners looking to sell their homes on a deadline can seek the help of cash buyers. This method gives you more control over the selling process and eliminates commission fees. Below are a few tips for selling your luxurious home:
Set the Right Price
Setting the price is overly important when selling your luxurious property. The selling price directly affects the success and probability of making the sale. Unlike standard properties, luxury homes have unique features and amenities that affect the overall price.
You should use various approaches to determine the perfect price. Start by conducting a market analysis to determine the price of similar units in your region. Check recent sales data of other luxury properties in your area. However, you should consider other factors like square footage and extra amenities when making the comparison.
You should also consider your property’s unique features when setting the price. If this proves challenging, opt for professional appraisals for insights. Pricing your luxury home too low is a loss while overpricing will turn off potential cash buyers.
Market Your Property Effectively
You should also market your luxurious home effectively to attract qualified buyers. Unlike regular properties, luxury homes require a targeted approach to get in front of the few buyers who appreciate the fine details of properties.
The major selling point of your luxurious home is its unique features. You should invest in professional photography and videography to highlight these features. You should also make virtual tours possible. Quality pictures highlight the architectural design and luxurious finishes in your home. These are powerful marketing tools that entice potential buyers.
Visuals aside, you should attach compelling property descriptions and captions to the pictures. Use words to convey the exclusivity of your property to potential buyers. Your marketing description should focus on key selling points like custom craftsmanship or its prestigious location.
Similarly, use multiple marketing channels to ensure it gets to the right audience. Upload the property to luxury real estate websites and social platforms, and run targeted adverts to reach potential New England Home Buyers.
Highlight Unique Features
Luxury homeowners should also highlight the unique features of the property they are selling. This differentiates your property from others on the market. Luxury homes typically boast various distinctive features that contribute to their exclusivity and desirability. You should make these features known to potential buyers.
The best place to begin is to focus on your property’s architectural design. Be it a historic mansion or a custom-built home, showcase your home’s unique architectural style. Luxury homes also have plenty of amenities and luxury finishes that elevate the living experience. Make these lavish fixtures and materials apparent to potential buyers.
Endnote
Selling your luxury home requires a strategic approach. You should focus on the property’s unique aspects while accommodating the preferences of the buyers. Set the right price and emphasize its unique features to attract potential buyers.
For more on the latest in property and luxury home reads, click here.
The post Tips for Selling Your Luxurious Home appeared first on LUXUO.
Today’s Wordle Hints and Answer: Help for May 15, #1061 – CNET
Here are some hints, and the answer, for Wordle No. 1061.
How to Start Saying No When You’re Afraid of Disapproval
“Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.” ~Robert Tew
When I say that my need for people to like me has been one of the hidden rulers of my life, I’m not kidding!
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted everyone to like me, and I had significant anxiety if they didn’t. My fear of the disapproval of others quietly lurked beneath the surface like a shadow under my skin, dictating my behavior and my mood.
I was so afraid of the disapproval of others that I would ruminate over inconsequential things I had said to people and tiny actions I had taken, trying to determine if they might have been received in ways that could have ignited disappointment or rejection.
Nowadays, when I think back to that version of me, with the need for people to like me running my life, I feel a wave of compassion.
It was that version of me who decided to go through with a marriage I knew was not right for me because I was afraid people would be disappointed or disapproving if I decided to back out of my engagement.
It was that version of me who vulnerably disappeared from friendships when I felt judged because I would rather fade into the distance than meet that experience with curiosity and presence.
It was that version of me who was afraid of saying no to work commitments because I put other people’s needs ahead of my own.
It was that version of me who would overcommit to meet other people’s requests and then have to anxiously backpedal because I could not possibly manage my own over-scheduling.
That version of me was on the fast track to complete depletion, exhaustion, frayed nerves, and burnout.
The time came when I had to meet the shadow within me that was so frightened to displease others because I had lost sight of what truly mattered most: my own inner compass.
My closest family members shared that they didn’t even recognize me anymore.
Sometimes when we reach the depths of our inner darkness—when the shadow of our fears overtakes the light of our spirit—we can experience the richest and most transformational turning points of our lives. For me, this certainly was the case.
Through a cascade of serendipitous events, I began to face my own fear-based shadow. I participated in an intensive gestalt therapy group that helped me rediscover what it was like to feel grounded in my body and belong to a community at the same time. I reconnected with nature and started taking regular walks, taking my shoes off and feeling the earth beneath my feet, and going camping. I reconnected with music and dancing. I rejoined the aliveness within me.
I learned the gift of my “no.” I learned the gift of feeling the strength of my spine and the tenderness of my heart as I voiced my boundaries, my limits, and the clear truth of my honorable “no.”
The gift of giving myself permission to say “no” set me free. I realized that in saying “no” I was offering other people the greatest gift I could offer them, which was my honesty and integrity. If people felt disapproval or disappointment in response to my boundary, I realized that I could have compassion for their struggle without assuming responsibility for it.
Another surprising aspect of giving myself permission to voice my “no” was that this also offered me a new perspective on other people’s limits and boundaries.
Nowadays, when someone answers my requests with a limit or boundary, I recognize the beauty in their response. Even if I feel a little disappointment that they cannot connect with me in that moment in the ways that I am seeking, I feel even more honored that they trust me to hear and respect their boundary. Experiencing other people’s limits in this way has been unexpectedly freeing as well.
Embracing the gift of “no” has also offered me the real possibility of “yes.” My yes rings more clearly, like a beautiful bell. Because I am honoring the truth of my limits, my experience of my openness with my “yes” is so much more filled with aliveness and presence. When I feel my “yes,” I feel the integrity, clarity, and joy of that opening because my limits have been honored within me.
Have I had to face the reality that not everyone likes me? You bet. It hasn’t been easy, either. I find it amusing to reflect on my earlier self, though, and recognize that not everyone liked me then either.
I have been astonished to learn that the gift of my “no” has allowed me to connect more deeply with people who do enjoy my company and celebrate our relationships because I’m showing up more authentically as myself.
Even though the fear of disapproval and disappointment had such a tremendous impact on my life for so many years, I don’t regret this journey. It has not been easy, and it has required a great deal of courage to face my fears, but I feel gratitude to my shadow for offering me such a valuable lesson.
In the end, it was my fear of people not liking me that ultimately led me on the path to growing into more fully liking and accepting myself. It was the darkness of that shadow that became my catalyst to the brilliant and blazing light of aliveness.
Every once in a while, the fear shadow shows up again. Today, though, I can greet that fear as a familiar old friend, reminding me that I’m absolutely, imperfectly human. As I greet my fear, I notice the contrast that nowadays I have the courage to feel my feet on the ground and my belonging within myself.
The fear simply doesn’t hold the same power over me anymore. I can still choose to feel my strong spine and tender heart, and act from my own truth.
If I can offer any little pearls of wisdom from my own journey, I would offer these.
Invite your fear to be your ally.
If you can invite your fear to be your ally by getting curious to learn more about what it might be trying to protect you from, you then can ask yourself if there is another way you might protect yourself.
In my case, my fear was trying to protect me from disappointing others, and truly I needed to protect myself by offering myself the space to practice saying my “no.”
Start small because small is significant!
By starting with smaller steps rather than bigger steps, we can gradually practice a new habit or way of being with lower stakes at first. This practice is very important because as you gain your footing and balance with the small steps toward setting limits and boundaries, you can work your way to setting the bigger limits you need.
In my case, I started by engaging in activities I loved, such as going for a walk outside, even if some of my family members would have preferred that I engaged in what they wanted to do in that moment instead.
Remember to breathe.
Sometimes when we are facing our fears—no matter how small—we can tense up and constrict our bodies without even realizing it, which heightens the sensations of fear and anxiety within us. Gently remind yourself to take some deep breaths and see if you can ease tension in your body.
Sometimes life has such beautiful twists. Had anybody ever told me years ago that I would be sitting at my kitchen table, writing and reflecting on the gift of my “no,” I wouldn’t have even understood what they were talking about. Of course not; my fear shadow hadn’t led me to this wisdom yet.
I’m so thankful it did.
About Elizabeth Mintun
Elizabeth Mintun is a mindful coach and psychotherapist. She is the creator and host of The Calming Ground podcast. Elizabeth has a psychotherapy private practice and mindful life coaching practice. She also runs an online self-care membership for women called The Calming Ground. For a free guided meditation, click here. You can also follow The Calming Ground on Facebook and Instagram.
Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site.
Exquisite Bentley Batur Convertible harks back to the Coach-Built Era
The early days of the automobile were about bespoke cars and with technology slowly stamping its authority, the coach-built era lost its charm. However, in the modern-day luxury cars have embraced this wholeheartedly and we are seeing more and more bespoke cars. For Bentley, its Batur remains one of its most striking designs while now […]
The post Exquisite Bentley Batur Convertible harks back to the Coach-Built Era appeared first on Upscale Living Mag.