Young Professionals and Politics

Legal Counsel and Legislative Liaison
Iowa Secretary of State

The terms “young professionals” and “politics” often seem mutually exclusive.  Obviously the world of politics has young professionals who run for office or are employed in politics and government.  Yet, the perception is that young professionals are part of the business world and not the political world.  Some would even argue that except for voting and being part of a democratic republic, most young professionals are not even part of the political process.

  However, I would posit to you that this could not be further from the truth.  In reality, based on your occupation you are probably represented by a lobbyist or a political action committee that is giving money to politicians ostensibly on your behalf.  This link will give you an alphabetical list of the businesses and organizations in Iowa that employ a lobbyist:  http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=Matt&Service=Lobby.  This link is an alphabetical list of the current political action committees that are active in Iowa at the state level:   http://www.iowa.gov/ethics/lists/list_download/pacs.pdf.

After reviewing either of these lists, it will be clear to you as a young professional that based solely on your occupation you are indeed part of the political process.  If nothing else, you will recognize that some of your money is already being spent on political campaigns or to impact the legislative process and you did not even realize it.  As such, I would encourage you to spend some time looking through these lists.  This information is all a public record and too few people take the time to look through it.

So why should young professionals care about politics?  Remember that elected officials pass the laws and ordinances that have a direct and indirect impact and influence on your businesses, employments, and everyday lives.  Not only are laws and ordinances an issue, but state agencies and departments are able to adopt administrative rules that basically act like laws.  Several of you are in professions in which your employment activities are heavily regulated by laws and rules.  This is the major reason why your professions have lobbyists and political action committees looking out for your interests. 

Not only do you pay federal taxes and state income taxes, but there payroll taxes, property taxes, franchise fees, and local subdivision assessments.  While I am not arguing for or against these “government revenue generators,” you certainly need to be aware of them and how they impact your career.  Some of the most spirited debates in Iowa politics involve tax issues and rightly so.  Clearly it goes without saying that there are various ways in which the imposition of taxes impacts your life as a young professional. 

So short of running for office or otherwise becoming a young professional that is employed in the world of politics (and I would encourage you all to do those things), what should you be doing?  Read up and familiarize yourself on the issues.  There are plenty of social media opportunities that give you quick access to information.  It is amazing how much knowledge you can capture from a couple of blogs or who you follow on Twitter.      

Get to know people in government and politics.  Remember that they have strict ethics laws including limitations on people able to accept gifts, including free meals, but there are opportunities to interact with them.  Let them know your feelings as a young professional on the issues and how you are impacted.  I believe you will be amazed at how easy it is to access politicians and government officials in Iowa.  I believe you will be even more amazed at how much Iowa’s politicians and government officials appreciate receiving your input.

So as you can see, no matter what your current interests, politics does have an impact on you as a young professional and it is crucial for young professionals to pay attention to political issues.  Brush up on the issues, learn who the players are, and make your voice heard.  It will pay dividends throughout your career. 

Do For Two Years...



Adam Carroll
Author, Financial Educator,
Business Owner


One of the pieces of advice I’m fond of giving is do for two years what most people won’t do, and you’ll be able to do for the rest of your life what most people can’t do. 

It sort of begs two questions:

        1.  What won’t most people do?

        2.  What can’t most people do?

Answering the first question takes a little more explanation than the second, so I’m going to take them out of order.  It doesn’t take much brainstorming to make a detailed list of the things that most people can’t do.

They can’t --

take extended vacations, take lots of time off, spend serious quality time without being distracted by money, work, the to-do list, etc., do everything they want in life while they’re still young enough to enjoy it, drive their dream vehicle, invest for the future, own their home outright, own vacation homes, get to visit vacation homes, start a business, financially help their neighbors, church, or family.  The list could go on and on...

The bottom line is that the majority of things that people can’t do are almost entirely related to their ability to pay for these “luxuries” without it seriously affecting their lifestyle.  However, by answering the first question -- “what won’t most people do?” we can uncover what it takes to make nearly all of the items on the above list possible.

So, what won’t most people do?

To put it simply, they won’t live on less.  Parkinsons Law states that our expenses will generally rise to meet income.  For most Americans, this is true.  If we made $50,000 last year and will make $60,000 this year, our expenses will somehow work their way up to the $60,000 mark (if not higher). 

Living on less requires working with a spending plan and sticking to it.  It requires one of those things that everyone struggles with -- delayed gratification.  I often tell people in my programs -- “you can have everything you want in life, you just can’t have it right now.”

People won’t drive a less-than brand new car when it makes little financial sense to finance a vehicle for 7 years that depreciates 30% when you drive it off the lot.

People won’t save first and spend last.  They do the exact opposite and then wonder why they have no money in the bank when they need it.

Listen, I’m a huge fan of living the lifestyle you were meant to live.  I believe it wholeheartedly.  That being said, I’m not a fan of living that lifestyle for a year and then being so completely upside down with your finances that everyday is a struggle.

Just think about what you’re willing to do for two years, and then knock it out.  You’ll be amazed what most people can’t do, all the while you’re doing it.

Other things you can do for two years:

1.  Live with a roommate (or multiple roommates) to save money on expenses to pay down debt. 

2.  Drive the same car you’ve been driving for the past several years.  Trust me, the new car smell smells all the sweeter when there’s no payments.

3.  Work a second job somewhere that’s fun and rewarding.  Use that money to payoff/paydown debt faster. 

4.  Make taking your lunch a habit and going out for lunch a treat.  OR, eat lunch at home everyday and spend your lunch hour imagining what it will be like to be completely debt free.

5.  No movie buying -- only renting from redbox or netflix.

6.  See if you can buy almost everything you need (outside of food and clothing) from Craigslist.  Slightly used!

7.  When you eat out, eat with a coupon -- You’ll easily save $15 with buy one get one offers.  Put that money towards your debt load.

The reason most recent graduates are broke from go is they are over leveraged on the debt side.  They borrow money at a break-neck speed for four years (or more) and then sit back and accept the fact that they have 10-15 years to pay them back.  Instead, be the person that “does for two years what no one else will do” and live the life you’ve imagined!

Feb. 2nd (next week already!) - New View After Hours Event at KSMA

Check out Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts on February 2 from 5:30 to 7:00pm. We will give a brief demonstration showing some of the cool things we do as well as give away a week of classes for you and a friend (you need someone to try and hit, right?) to two lucky winners, so bring your busy-ness cards. We will also have grub from The General Store Eatery and beverages.  See you there!

Jay Carstensen

Lead Instructor

Kapatiran Suntukan Martial Arts

4930 Franklin Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50310

515-255-9698

jay@ksma.us

http://ksma.us/desmoines.html

Healthy Tips to Start Off The New Year

I know many of you make your New Year’s resolution to be healthier or to lose that extra weight gained during the goodie-filled holiday season, or maybe you just want to create more balance in your life.  Most of us try to continue our new year’s resolution(s) all the way through the year, but let’s face it, come mid-February or March, most of us have gone back to our old unhealthy habits. No matter what your new year’s resolutions are; there are some very simple ways to start off your 2012-year on the right foot and keep it that way. 

It actually takes 21 days to develop a habit.  And we are habit-forming creatures; this is how we create routines in our daily lives.  Anyone can do something for 21 days if they really want to change.  So try it and stick with it! That habit could be working out, or eating more vegetables, or a daily affirmation or meditation. Be patient, it may take a week or two to start seeing the results you want – 21 days is all it takes.  Keep a calendar on the fridge or something that you look at every day and cross off the days as they pass.

Everyone should have on his or her list of goals for 2012 to become an overall healthier person.  This starts with providing your body with the proper fuel to perform at its optimal levels.  The fuel our bodies crave is vegetables and fruits.  Most people do not eat enough fruits and veggies to meet the nutritional needs the body requires.  A simple start to add fruits and veggies into your diet is to first start to keep a food diary.  Many people are “unconscious eaters” and don’t realize the amount of junk and toxic food they put into our bodies.  We are what we eat, and if we constantly eat junk food or empty calorie foods, our body gets toxic and will cause ailments, aches, pains, digestion issues, and disease.  So write down EVERYTHING you eat (even gum and mints) and keep track of how you feel – maybe you get a headache, or feel tired – it is amazing the correlations you can create when you see them on paper.  Your body will give you warning signs that it does not like certain foods.  After a few days of keeping your food diary, make a point to eat a fresh fruit and/or vegetable with every meal, even your snacks.  This will provide more nutrients your body needs, and if you eat your vegetable or fruit first, you will not eat as much junk after because your body will be more satisfied.  A nutritious diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruit, beans, nuts and seeds.  These foods are nutrient-packed foods that your body will love. 

Daily exercise is another important aspect of living a healthy well-balanced life.  You have all heard this before – the key is to find the right exercise that works well for you and fits into your schedule.  Exercise helps to get toxins out of your body and keeps everything moving properly.  It helps decrease stress, increases circulation, improves mental clarity, and increases energy.  So find a 30-90 minute window in your schedule to start moving.  Sometimes the hardest part is putting on those shoes and getting out that door – again, it takes 21 days to develop that habit. 

Thinking positive thoughts is also something that often gets overlooked.  The power of what your head can do to create peace or chaos in the body is very influential of how we live our daily life.  If we walk around grumpy all day, we are stressed, we make bad choices, and it creates stress and strain on our entire body.  If we choose to be happy, to pick our battles, and think positive thoughts our body will create more energy and work more efficiently.  Get a little calendar book with daily positive affirmations to read every morning, or look in the mirror every day and tell yourself something positive.  “Every thought we think is creating our future,” Louise L. Hay.

And lastly, something I can’t leave out since it is my passion, get regular chiropractic adjustments.  Our nervous system controls everything our body does.  It controls how we think, how we absorb our nutrients we put into our body, how we move, and how we function.  Our spine houses and protects our nervous system with 24 moveable vertebrae.  If one or several of these vertebrae are out of place causing a misalignment, also called a subluxation, it will cause pressure on the nervous system, decreasing function.  A chiropractor will find these misalignments and take pressure off the nervous system and allow the body to work at optimal levels, increasing overall health and energy. 

So let’s start off 2012 right! A habit takes 21 days to develop, so create the positive and healthy habits and get rid of the old ones.  Eat well; keep a food diary and add a fresh fruit and/or vegetable with every single meal.  Move well; find an exercise routine that works well for you.  Think well; start off your day with a positive affirmation.  And finally, get regular chiropractic adjustments so your nervous system is working properly and your body can work at its highest, healthiest levels. Let’s make 2012 your happiest, healthiest year yet!

Dr. Angie Monthei

Complete Wellness Chiropractic

3408 Woodland Avenue, Suite 501

West Des Moines, IA 50266

http://www.iowacompletewellness.com/

515-440-3066

drangiem@gmail.com



Come hear more from Dr. Angie at the Jan. 5th luncheon.  RSVP by clicking here.

Get Excited for New View 2012!

Are you as pumped as I am for New View in 2012?  No?  Well, you should be.

New View will be hosting an event the first Thursday of every month all year long.  In addition, we're trying something new in 2012:  we will be holding informal networking events outside of our typical first Thursday of the month schedule.  Please check out our social networking pages for the most up-to-date information on all of our events.

Stalk us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on LinkedIn

Our first event is a luncheon on January 5th (next week already!) at Embassy Club West.  See the flyer below for event and RSVP information.  Feel free to pass the info along to anyone you may know who would benefit from or enjoy attending!

Lindsey Mathews

New View 2012 Vice President

lindsey@wdmnewview.org



New View Needs You!

Is anyone else having a hard time believing it’s already mid-August?

Why does time start to seem like it’s moving so much faster once you’re out of school?  I have a theory that it’s because your life isn’t broken into school years anymore, but I haven’t put too much thought into it.

Anyway, even though it’s August, New View is already looking forward to an amazing 2012!  We’ve had some great ideas come up for events, but we want to hear what you think.

What kinds of events do you want to attend?  Happy hours are good.  Lunches with a presenter are good; I’ve learned A TON this year at those luncheons already!

But what else?  Would you enjoy team building activities?  Perhaps more education on area businesses?  Trends in midwest business/global economy? Something a little more social?  Please share your ideas because we want to benefit you, the young professional reading this, more than anyone!

Does Your Company Take Part in Social Networking?

It seems as though nearly every company out there either pioneered the usage of social networking for their business or is getting their proverbial toes wet (finally!).

I was recently asked to participate on a social networking TASK FORCE at work.  I capitalized TASK FORCE because it makes it sound much cooler.  It’s a FORCE!  We should probably work on saving the planet via amazing element-related rings once we’re done figuring out this whole social networking thing.

Since taking part in this TASK FORCE, I’ve become really interested in researching the topic.   Can you think of any industry that can’t use social networking to advance themselves in one way or another?  Can you?  No, seriously…can you?  I’m thinking really hard here and I’ve got nothing…and my hard-thinking face is not pretty, so I’m going to knock that off.  It’s why I gave up on being a Philosophy major in college.  Sorry, Dr. Pauley.  (If you know who Dr. Pauley is, you get eleventy-billion amazing points in my currently non-existent book).

Side-Bar – I’m considering auto-biography book titles, because it’s never too early to start...Right now I’m leaning toward “Trial & Error: The Lindsey Mathews Story.”  But I’m open to suggestions.  Feel free to comment.

Okay – back to professional social networking! 

I was recently sent the article below specific to using social networking in the architectural & engineering industry.  Those are hard to come by, so I found it particularly helpful in my TASK FORCE duties.  I thought I’d share it, because even though it is specific to my industry, it has some great universal information and tips for being professional while using social networks.

***FREE TIP FROM ME (Not the article): Don’t post photos of yourself doing regrettable things at regrettable places and then making them public.  It’s tacky. ***

You’re welcome.

http://xldp.com/dprcg/socialnetworking.html

Lindsey Mathews
New View Board Member & Outreach Committee Chair
Project Delivery Coordinator
Shive-Hattery Inc.

What are you doing this weekend?

Wondering what’s up this weekend? 

No giant art festival or cultural festival, but still plenty to do if you can stand being in this wonderful (note: sarcasm) July weather.  I do not enjoy sweating without moving, so I’ll be checking out indoor activities!

Today: 

1.  Check out Friday’s at the Fountain out at West Glen.  Toaster will be playing, and I’ve seen them before.  It’s definitely a good show – a great band to listen to while sipping your favorite summer beverage.

2.  Go see a movie!  I’ve heard amazing things about Horrible Bosses.  Can you go wrong with Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, and Charlie Day? (It’s Always Sunny… fans, get excited!) I haven’t seen it yet, but I definitely plan to this weekend if at all possible.

Also – I went and saw the latest Harry Potter movie last weekend…at the IMAX.  Get there early so you can get good seats.  We got there right on time and were forced to watch the movie with our heads turned straight up – my neck hurt, but it was totally worth it.  I’m not the fan who stands in line at midnight to see it, but shelling out a few extra bucks to see it at the IMAX is a definite must-do!

Tomorrow: 

1.  West Glen Farmers Market!  9am-1pm.  It’s going to be hot, so go early.  Where else will you be able to buy 3 for $1 cucumbers?!?! 

2.   If you feel like getting all hopped up and jittery about your Saturday, you could stop by Mars Café for a coffee tasting.  Personally, I’m more of a wine taster, but whatever floats your boat!

3.  Iowa Barnstormers game.  It looks like they’re playing the Georgia Force.  Force versus Barnstormers.  I feel like making a lame tornado joke…but I won’t.

4.  Shakesperience Fest 2011.  I don’t know exactly what it is, but it ends in “Fest.”    Never underestimate a good “fest.”  Begins at 6pm at Simon Estes Amphitheatre.

5.  If you enjoy a good jam band, Mooseknuckle will be playing at Star Bar on Ingersoll!

6.  If you’re thinking of going out to eat, here are some of my picks:

·         Samurai – sushi always sounds good to me.

·         Felix & Oscar’s for the pizza, duh.

·         Plaza Mexico on 86^th in Johnston – sort of a drive and hidden behind a Kum & Go…but you’re missing out if you write it off because of that.  Great food and good drinks and fast service!

·         Trostel’s Dish – Yum.  Enough said.

What are some of your favorite local restaurants?   I love to try new places, so suggestions are welcome!

Sunday:

1.  You should definitely check out Final Mix playing at the Jordan Creek Town Center Amphitheater. 

It will be a great way to rest a bit before beginning another work-week!

Lindsey Mathews
New View Board Member & Outreach Committee Chair
Project Delivery Coordinator
Shive-Hattery Inc.

The only networking tip you really need...

I know this a lofty statement, but I really believe it.  It relates back to any and every tip you’ve ever read, heard or practiced:

***BE MEMORABLE***

If I could emphasize that more, I would (but I’m limited in print). It stifles me.

Honestly, I feel being memorable is more a piece of life advice than specific to networking (But let’s make this work for the blog, eh?) (I’m not Canadian whatsoever, but my old roommate swears I had the accent sometimes).

Many articles and professionals talk about the importance of having a great handshake.  I don’t really have one of those – I won’t go into the analysis I’ve done on my own handshake, but let’s just say it’s not great.  However, you can bounce back from a less than impressive handshake.

Of course the first step is to go to networking events.  That’s a given.  But say it’s an event with a speaker and/or presentation and not a lot of actual networking.  In that case, think of questions during the presentation.  I’ve never been to a presentation that didn’t end with the speaker asking if there are any questions.  Be one of those people who gets involved and wants to know more (or the only one – that sort of depends on how awesome the audience is).  Asking a question, even if you might not think it’s a great question, is making yourself stick out.  Don’t just go to the events, really participate during them.

If you’re not really the public speaking type and can’t fathom raising your hand and asking a question in front of a room of other audience members, then maybe seek out one of the presenters before she/he leaves.  Practice your handshake first, then introduce yourself –– and then ask your question.   In fact, that speaker may remember you even more since you took the time to come up to him/her after the presentation.

If even that is too much, or the opportunity just didn’t arise to walk up to the presenter…then do some stalking.  Yep, stalking.  Nothing dangerous or illegal, don’t get too nutty.  I mean stalking in the least inappropriate way. (Don’t use me as an excuse for harassment).  I’m just encouraging you to find out who organized the event or go home and Google the speaker. 

Thanks to Google, you can pretty much find anyone’s email address.  So shoot the speaker an email with a nice comment about their performance and your question.  It’s definitely a start and maybe it can help motivate you to raise your hand next time.  People generally love feedback – especially when it’s positive or inquisitive.

If the event is casual networking, don’t be afraid to just hop into a conversation.  Chances are the people chatting are there for the same reason you are and would have no problem including you.   Be excited or show some passion about something:  ideally your work, but anything will do for a start.  That’s what will truly make you memorable.  Get in on the conversation and then really contribute to it.  Don’t be the weird wo/man who stood quietly (read: creepy!) outside of a circle of people the whole night.  It will make you memorable, but for all of the wrong reasons.

Moral of the story:  Be memorable (but not creepy)

Lindsey Mathews
New View Board Member & Outreach Committee Chair
Project Delivery Coordinator
Shive-Hattery Inc.

How do you Tweet? Things I learned from 'Tweet N Eat'

So, I’m not in sales.  But I went to the West Des Moines Chamber’s ‘Tweet N Eat’ lunch and learn, because my personal Twitter account is…well, sad.

I forget about my account for weeks at a time.  When I do tweet, the entertainment level is mediocre at best.  That is, unless I’m retweeting something.  Nine times out of ten, it’s about stellar things New View is doing (Hint, hint!). 

Yesterday’s panel of professionals whom use Twitter for business were really helpful.  Not only did I learn how to tweet a bit more strategically, I learned I can branch out from my often-used hash tags.  That’s about as advanced as I’ve gotten in the year (or more) I’ve been on Twitter.

Whether for business or professional use, here’s what I learned:

1. Encourage a call to action! – This tip rang out most to me.  Twitter can’t and won’t do anything for you if you don’t motivate your followers to do something, right?  Whether you encourage followers to visit your business or simply reply back to your post with an answer to your question, you need to encourage action.  Be interactive on Twitter, not just active.

2. Give out your username or “handle” as often as you can.  – I have noticed more and more business cards are including Facebook and/or Twitter icons – but rarely do I actually see their specific username (How can I follow you, if I don’t know your username?).   Sure, I could go home or get out my phone and search for your name or company name.  But let’s face it, Millennials, we’re lazy.  We want it and we want it now. 

3.  “If you follow me—I’ll follow you. – There’s more to this.  You can simply request to “follow” someone and hope they will “follow” you back.  But no one in business will ever tell you they got somewhere because of hope.  Sorry, the truth hurts (Wanting and hoping better breed some motivation to take some action otherwise your dreams are going down like my 5^th grade “Invention Convention” attempt.  I called it “The Reminder Machine,” but it didn’t actually require anything you’d think a “machine” would.  It was basically some fabric and post-its.  But I digress…). Do everything you can to ensure those you “follow” will reciprocate.

4. When someone takes the time to give you/your business a shout out on Twitter, you should reply! – It’s polite and no matter what people say (including me), we Millennials really do enjoy and appreciate manners.

5. How you use your Twitter account needs to be based on your industry type and customer demographic. – A marketing consultant will not use Twitter for their business in quite the same way a restaurant owner will.   The marketing consultant may post links to interesting or insightful business articles that they feel their existing or potential clients would find useful.  The restaurant owner may post Saturday’s food and drink specials, in order to draw a bigger crowd that night.

The tips I learned from the panel were endless.   While I can’t possibly share them all, I do want to share a few last things:

·         No matter what type of business you use your Twitter account for, balance in your tweets, some should be links to business articles and some should be more personal.
·         Ensure some of your  tweets link to articles and business related material

·         In an increasingly tech-savvy world, it’s very important to find new ways to create connections with your patrons

Question:  Do you tweet?  If so – do you have any great tips to share?

Panelists from the ‘Tweet N Eat’ lunch and learn:

Phil James, Good Milkshake LLC -- @goodmilkshake

Katie Bradshaw, Jasper Winery --@jasperwinery

Jeff Garrison, EOS -- @jcgarrison

Jeremiah Terhark, DSM Daily -- @dsmdaily

Josh Poindexter, DSM Daily  -- @dsmdaily

Moderator:  Danny Beyer -- @DannyBeyerIA

Lindsey Mathews
New View Board Member & Outreach Committee Chair
Project Delivery Coordinator
Shive-Hattery Inc.