Integrity Tire October 2018

Integrity Tire October 2018

spare thoughts

11974 Willow Grove Rd. Camden, DE 19934 93C Saulsbury Rd. Dover, DE 19904 OCTOBER 2018

www.integritytire.us | 302-747-7887

GRATITUDE IN THE WORKPLACE Should Be a Year-Round Initiative

investment. All you need to do is encourage a certain perspective and approach.

also been linked to increased self-esteem, happiness, empathy, and a better response to stress and negative feedback. And the benefits affect both the person expressing their gratitude and the person receiving it. EVERYDAY APPRECIATION During the holidays, it’s easy to take a moment to say thank you to the people who’ve made a difference in our lives over the past year. Sharing your appreciation, however, is just as important in March or August as it is in November. Gratitude begets more gratitude, creating what researchers Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough call an “upward spiral.” Once you set the spiral in motion at your workplace, you’ll see an attitude of gratitude multiply and spread. The easiest way to start is to create a public forum where employees can acknowledge one another. “We have an all-hands meeting once a week, and we finish the meeting by ‘giving props,’ which is recognizing people on the team for their accomplishments that week,” says Badger Maps CEO Steven Benson. “Anyone on the team can give props to anyone else on the team, which fosters an atmosphere of appreciation and teamwork. Other companies have a thank-you wall or shoutout email chain where employees can share their kudos. The most important thing isn’t the method you use, but that you make it an important part of company culture. It starts with leadership. If you aren’t taking the time to recognize and appreciate people, how can you expect that anyone else will? Instilling a culture of gratitude within your company doesn’t require intensive training or extensive

Odds are that your company hosts some type of Thanksgiving festivity. Office potlucks are delicious and great for camaraderie, but there’s one element of the holiday that should be part of your company culture year-round: gratitude. “If we think about gratitude only once a year,” notes author David Horsager, “we overlook the immense power of practicing it daily, especially in a business context.” A study from the University of Warwick found that happier employees are 12 percent more productive. One of the easiest ways to put a smile on the faces of your team is to express your gratitude for them. It sounds simple, but it’s something far too many entrepreneurs, executives, and managers overlook. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to reflect on whether or not you’re saying thanks enough. THE BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE Over the course of his career as CEO of Campbell Soup Company, Scott R. Conant wrote more than 30,000 notes to employees expressing gratitude and appreciation to them. “On the face of it, writing handwritten notes may seem like a waste of time,” Conant told Harvard Business Review. “But in my experience, they build goodwill and lead to higher productivity.” The number of studies that confirm Conant’s assumption are too numerous to list here, but there are a few that should raise the eyebrows of any business owner. A study from the University of Pennsylvania, for example, found that grateful leaders motivate their employees to be up to 50 percent more productive. Gratitude and acknowledgment have

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE Businesses don’t operate in a vacuum. They’re all part of the communities they inhabit, and your company’s sense of gratitude should reach beyond your staff and customers. Community outreach is the best way to show your neighbors that you care about them. During the holidays, there’s so much you can do for those in need in your area. Simply raising money for a local food bank or donating turkeys will go a long way for a family during Thanksgiving. Holding a companywide fundraiser brings your team together and gives them a sense of purpose that’s much more powerful than a paycheck alone. Certainly, the power of donating to a worthy cause is reason enough to participate in some philanthropy this holiday season. As a bonus, companies that engage in outreach projects consistently demonstrate higher levels of employee engagement and retention, which goes to show what happens when you get the upward spiral of gratitude in motion. appreciation will benefit your company long after the last piece of pumpkin pie has been eaten. So take a moment this year to say thanks and show love to your team. And don’t stop doing it, even after the holidays have passed. Jesse Zimmerman GO FORTH GRATEFULLY Creating a culture of gratitude and

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Police Officers Sing Their Hearts Out

Check Out These Lip-Sync Challenges Across the U.S.

he downloaded Snapchat on his phone. The day he recorded this particular video, he sent it to his sergeant, who passed it along to the officers who handle social media for their office. Then it went viral. Several of the other individual officers responded with their own videos of mainstream hits like ‘N Sync’s “Bye Bye Bye” and One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.” The popularity of these initial challenges inspired other stations to create their own videos featuring entire departments singing and dancing in unison. Some of the videos with the most views are the Norfolk Police Department lip- syncing Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” the Apple Valley Police Department lip-syncing The Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and the San Francisco Police Department lip- syncing Too Short’s “Blow the Whistle.” Keep checking your social media to see who gets challenged next! manufacturers have been throwing rebates for tires of all kinds — it’s an excellent time to take advantage of the rebates and buy yourself some tires. If you’re someone who needs new tires but are worried about how expensive some tires can be, now is the perfect chance. Don’t wait until this rebate is over. At Integrity Tire, we understand the dangers of driving on worn, old tires and the importance of getting them changed. Give our offices a call using the number on the next page and learn how we can take care of your tire needs.

When you think of viral videos of police officers, you may not imagine your local police department lip-syncing pop songs. But this new online trend is taking the internet by storm. To show a more positive side of their departments, many stations all over the country have participated in a lip-sync challenge. While these challenges were created to make viewers laugh, their driving purpose was to create a connection between officers and their communities. They hope to remind civilians that behind every badge is a person who isn’t all that different from you. The challenge started when Alexander Mena, a deputy in the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, posted a video of himself lip- syncing “Fuiste Mala” by the Kumbia Kings on June 19 of this year. His video, which gained over 1.5 million views, encouraged other officers to follow suit. Mena, a recruiting- team deputy with Bexar County for three years, has been making lip-sync videos since

WINTER IS COMING

With winter coming in, it’s crucial that you start thinking about what you can do to ensure a safe drive. The roads during the winter can become extremely dangerous, especially if you don’t have efficient tires. KEEP AN EYE OUT As the temperature drops outside, so does the air pressure in your tires. During the fall and winter months, it’s recommended to check your tire pressure once a month and replenish it if needed. Also, when you’re getting your tire pressure checked, make sure you know what the suggested pressure is for your tires. Another factor you don’t want to neglect is the tread on your tires. A bald tire can increase your chances of skidding on a patch of ice. Check your tread — if you notice that your tires are lacking in tread, it might be time to purchase new tires. A great Are Your Tires Ready?

way to test this is with the familiar Lincoln Test. All you need is a penny. With Lincoln’s head facing inward toward the tire, place it in the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you should replace your tires before winter settles in. BUYING TIRES Whether you’re looking for a new set of tires or want to buy a spare for the months to come, you’re in luck. Recently,

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COOKING OILS DECLASSIFIED Are You Using Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Wrong? Not all cooking oils are created equal. Some

PEANUT OIL Great for high-heat cooking, frying, and deep-frying, peanut oil has a neutral flavor, so you can easily use it in just about any dish that needs a cooking oil. It’s also a more heart-healthy option than canola and vegetable oils. AVOCADO OIL When you need an oil to withstand high temps, this is your oil. It has a smoke point of 510 degrees, making it perfect for grilling and stir-frying. What makes avocado oil particularly unique is it can also be used as a finishing oil, like EVOO. It’s light yet resilient.

degrees. In many cases, you can use it in place of other cooking oils — just be sure you’re using plain olive oil and not EVOO. COCONUT OIL Better for baking than cooking, coconut oil is generally solid at room temperature. It can be used for some cooking, but like EVOO it doesn’t play well with high temperatures. Keep it at 350 degrees or below and use it as a butter substitute.

cooking oils have distinct flavors, while others are suited for high temperatures. Every oil is unique. Here are six common oils and their best uses. EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL An often misused oil, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) should not be used for cooking or frying. It’s simply too delicate and cannot withstand high temperatures, which can damage the flavor, ruining dishes. Instead, use it as a finishing oil — drizzle it over pasta, salad, or bread.

CANOLA OIL/VEGETABLE OIL A good option for high-heat cooking,

baking, and frying, these utilitarian oils are completely neutral in flavor, but they’re not heart-healthy. Vegetable oil is a generic mix of oils, including soybean, canola (rapeseed), and palm oils, making it the most inexpensive cooking oil.

OLIVE OIL

Unlike EVOO, standard olive oil can be used for cooking and frying. It can withstand temps up to about 460

As we enter the height of s’mores season, consider upgrading those store-bought marshmallows to homemade ones. For a colorful treat, you can easily add food coloring to this recipe. Homemade MARSHMALLOWS

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, combine gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup. 2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping. 5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish. Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight. 6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.

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3 packages unflavored gelatin 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

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1 cup light corn syrup

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1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR LEADERSHIP IS INTEGRITY.” “The supreme quality

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1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Powdered sugar, to coat

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Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Inspired by foodnetwork.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

11974 Willow Grove Rd. Camden, DE 19934 inside

302-747-7887

www.integritytire.us

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The Importance of Gratitude at Work

Cop Lip-Sync Challenges Go Viral

Winter Is Coming

Understanding Cooking Oils and Their Uses

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Homemade Marshmallows

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Local Events Near You!

Autumn and Halloween

18TH CENTURY MARKET FAIR Where: Jon Bell House, 43 The Green, Dover When: Saturday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Have you ever wondered what an 18th- century market fair would be like? Now is your opportunity to find out. This market is set to look, sound, and feel like a typical autumn market in the mid-1700s. Attendees will enjoy 18th-century entertainment, hands-on activities, demonstrations of traditional crafts and trades, and tasty grub. The fair is free to attend, and people of all ages are welcome to participate in the fun.

If you’re eager to start your October off right, here are a few events near you that will bring you fun and spooky experiences all month.

GOODIES & GOBLINS Where: Delaware Agricultural Museum, 866 N. DuPont Highway, Dover When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 5–6:30 p.m. Get your trick-or-treating fun in early this year! Your kids can enjoy trick-or-treating in the 1890s-themed village dressed as their favorite hero, princess, or ghoul. There will be a costume contest from 5–6 p.m., and prizes will be awarded afterward. Admission is $1 per person.

U-PICK APPLES AT FIFER ORCHARDS Where: Fifer Orchards, 1919 Allabands Mill Road, Camden When: Every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apple picking is a beloved traditional activity during autumn. Gather your friends and family and head to Fifer Orchards, where you can fill a small ($15) or large ($30) bag of local Delaware apples. What you do with the apples afterward is entirely up to you! Bake a pie, decorate caramel apples, or make some homemade cider — you can be as creative as you wish.

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