Robert C. White & Company - August 2022

Robert C. White & Company - August 2022

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AUGUST 2022

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Bubble Gum-Flavored Broccoli NOT ALL IDEAS ARE GOOD IDEAS

“There are no bad ideas” is a phrase I have heard spoken many times over the years. Usually, it’s in the context of a problem- solving session, and the facilitator is trying to get the ideas flowing from people. Obviously, that framing is really important for problem-solving. But equally obvious is that it is a baldfaced lie. There are bad ideas. Lots of them, actually. Some of them are really big bad ideas (e.g., in 1958, the U.S. actually considered setting off a nuclear bomb in a crater of the moon to demonstrate its weapon power during the Cold War — the fact that we were losing the space race was extra motivation). Others are small bad ideas. Think “reverse mohawks” or fishing with sticks of dynamite. Well, I have another one that falls closer to the small bad ideas ... bubble gum-flavored broccoli.

Well, not so well. Thompson admitted, “It wasn’t all that.” The company reported that kids were “confused” with the flavor. No duh! It seems so obvious that bubble gum- flavored broccoli would not be a success, and it’s easy to criticize McDonald’s for tunnel vision or for being aloof. However, the invention of this mutant broccoli came out of asking a really good question: How do we make meals at McDonald’s healthier for kids? In pursuing the answer to that question, McDonald’s did more than make a candy- flavored vegetable. They also shrunk the serving size of fries in a happy meal and introduced low-fat yogurt and apples as popular sides. Arguably, those are good ideas. Making sure you are in search of an answer to a really good question is the trick here. Yes, of course, you will have some bad ideas along the way. But you will probably have some good ones, too. At RCW, we try hard to ask good questions, then pursue the answer. How can we increase the chances of selecting a really good tenant in the application screening process while still following all of the fair housing rules and regulations? How do we get maintenance done quicker and less expensively, but still use vendors that have the right skills and licenses/insurance? How can we help clients handle the financial impact of big-ticket items that need to be replaced (e.g., HVAC, roof, etc.)?

Really, this tastes like this?

Personally, while I hate to admit it, I have come up with a lot of bad ideas at RCW. I don’t mind so much because those ideas were in pursuit of an answer to a good question. Plus, sometimes bad ideas are necessary to get to a good one. Count on this at RCW — we will keep working to ask good questions. And we will keep searching for answers until we find some good ideas. Yours in pushing to some really good ideas through a road littered in bad ideas,

Yup, that is a real thing.

Under pressure to create healthier options for children eating at their stores, Global Fast Food Chain, McDonald’s invented bubble gum-flavored broccoli to entice kids to eat more vegetables. In 2014, McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson shared the invention at a conference in response to a question about what they are doing to make meals healthier for kids. How did that bubble gum-flavored broccoli work out for McDonald’s?

P.S. While I never sported a “reverse mohawk” as a hairdo or went fishing with dynamite, I have come up with my fair share of small bad ideas during my lifetime. Getting too close to a pack of wild monkeys for a picture in Japan was one of them. I never ran so fast in my life while they chased me down the street.

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SPREAD YOUR FAIRY WINGS How to Build a Fairy Utopia

Make the Most of Every Nook and Cranny

If you’re looking for a fun addition to your outdoor space or a crafty project for the kids, creating a fairy garden might fit the bill. You can grow fairy gardens in a small pot, garden bed, or planter, and they typically consist of small plants and trinkets to “attract” fairies to it. Creating your own personalized fairy garden encourages you or your kids to get involved with nature on a smaller scale, and that’s where the real magic is. Getting Started With Your Fairy Garden A fairy garden offers an enchanted space kids can use to develop their imaginations and flex their creative minds. Adults can, too! But first, you need to gather the materials:

• A container with drainage holes • Potting mix

• Plants, twigs, and/or flowers • Pebbles or glass marbles • Garden decorations

As people spend more time in their houses, the boundaries between home, work, and leisure are blurred more than ever, which can impact mood and productivity. No matter where you live — a single-family suburban home or a one-bedroom apartment — you want to squeeze as much function as you can in an existing space. These tactics will help you get the most out of your abode.

Next, get creative and decide on the theme of your garden. You can match your fairy garden to the style of your home or your locale, or dream big and choose whatever you’d like. Popular themes are a wooded wonderland, castles, fairy villages, or even the beach! There truly is no limit. Once you choose a theme, go

Fold it away.

One of the first steps in creating more space is to utilize multifunctional furniture. These are pieces that can fold and free up floor space when they’re not in use, or they can even transform into another piece of useful furniture. Instead of using a free-standing desk, you can go with a fold-away desk that disappears into your wall or can easily be hidden in a storage area or under the bed. There are also tables that transform and expand when needed. You can look into using a bed that folds into the wall, as they come with built-in storage options to keep extra bedding, clothes, shoes, and other space-hogging items.

to your local nursery or craft store to find decorations to build your fairy utopia. Building Your Themed Garden After the container is filled with soil, you can use moss or pebbles to create paths for the fairies. Lay a good foundation so you can begin decorating with accessories and plants. Narrow down your plant selection based on where the garden will be located, for example, whether it’s

Consider combining rooms.

exposed to full or partial sun. Succulents, small bonsai trees, or even ivy can be great choices for a fairy garden. Finally, once you’ve selected and planted the greenery, you can start laying out the accessories. These can include miniature versions of many things:

If you have an open-floor plan, combining rooms is a great way to make the most of the existing space. Combining rooms like the dining room and kitchen is ideal for social gatherings in one area where no one is cut off from the crowd while cooking. Another combination is a bedroom closet and office. A few shelves and a chair can morph a closet into a great office workplace, and you can even tuck it behind a curtain when it’s not in use. You can also use this technique in an empty corner of a room. When it comes to creating a multifunctional area, it’s not about dividing the room in half. Instead, it’s about allocating your space according to how you’re actually going to use it. You can really use every nook and cranny of your home to your advantage, and it’ll give you plenty of room for more activities.

• Chairs and tables • Birdhouses • Toadstools • Lanterns

• Animals • Mushrooms • Fairy statues

The point of a fairy garden is to create something fun and imaginative. This fun project will add a whimsical, eye-catching area to your outdoor space.

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PUMP UP THE HEAT And Save Money in the Long Run

The Pros of a Heat Pump

Heat pumps can be cheaper to run than systems based on combustion. The more energy-efficient the system is, the greater the long-term savings are. And while they do need to be checked annually, you can perform the check yourself, saving you the cost of hiring a professional technician. Finally, the lifespan of a heat pump can be up to 50 years, but the average lifespan is 14–15 years with regular use and maintenance.

Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature is a priority for most homeowners. But in the colder season, you’re bound to be more aware of how well your heating system works — or doesn’t work. If it’s time to replace your heating system, take some time to consider if a heat pump is a better option.

What’s the difference?

Cons

The typical furnace can be gas or electric. A gas furnace generates heat by burning combustible fuels like gas or propane, while an electric furnace generates heat by blowing air over a hot element. While furnaces provide plenty of heat, older versions are notorious for being inefficient, which is why you need to replace them more often. A heat pump doesn’t generate heat from a fuel source; instead, it draws heat from the outdoors and transfers it into your home. It pumps the heat from one place to another by using a compressor and circulating structure of liquid or gas refrigerant. During the summers, the cycle can be reversed and act as an air conditioning unit, too.

Though heat pumps will be cheaper in the long run to operate, there can be hefty installation fees. Heat pumps can also generate more noise than a furnace, as they tend to click and knock as the compressor circulates refrigerant. Lastly, it is recommended to use biodegradable fluid, as some fluids used for heat transfer can raise environmental concerns. A heat pump’s diverse functions and unique mechanisms can make your life easier. Weigh the pros and cons and see if a heat pump is right for your home!

TAKE A BREAK

Frozen Margarita Mousse

Inspired by TasteOfHome.com

Ingredients

Directions

1. Allow whipped topping to thaw. 2. In a medium-size bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, margarita mix, 1 tbsp of sugar, lime zest, and lime juice. Add food coloring, if desired. 3. Using a spoon or spatula, fold in the whipped topping. 4. Freeze mixture until firm, about 4–6 hours. 5. In a small bowl, combine pretzels, 1 tbsp of sugar, and butter. 6. Spoon the lime mixture into margarita glasses and add the pretzel topping. Serve with lime slices.

• 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

• 1/2 cup margarita mix • 2 tbsp sugar, divided • 1 1/2 tsp lime zest, grated • 1 tbsp lime juice • 5 drops green food coloring (optional) • 1 8-oz carton frozen whipped topping • 1/3 cup finely crushed pretzels • 4 tsp butter, melted • Lime slices

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INSIDE

1

Bubble Gum-Flavored Broccoli

2

Create Multifunctional Spaces

Creating a Fairy Garden

3

Pros and Cons of a Heat Pump

Frozen Margarita Mousse

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Plants You Can Grow in Late Summer

Keep Up With Your Garden

Even in August

As summer slowly comes to an end, so does the peak season of gardening. But there are still some short-seasoned edibles and other ornamental plants to refresh any flower bed before winter rolls in. Fast-growing cucumber plants can be ready in about 40 days. This is a great fall harvesting veggie that can have 10–15 cucumbers ready by the end of their season.

Spinach is a hardy green that can withstand colder

temperatures. You can sprinkle seeds along a row or even interplant between taller crops to provide shelter from the late summer sun. Marigolds are sturdy annual plants that will stay strong until the first hard frost comes along.

They come in bright yellows, orange, or even cream and can be great for dressing up beds or adding a pop of color in any room.

Another gorgeous annual flower is the snapdragon . You can get plenty of colorful blooms before a hard freeze because they still grow well in cooler weather. And as an added bonus, pollinators love them!

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