Wheat State's Hello Central Winter 2016

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Food for Thought:
You May Want to Ban
Phones at Holiday Dinners
Success Tips for a
Home-Based Business
Spend Less Time and
Gain More Security
With eStatements
You’ve probably heard many times
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AHarris Interactive survey found that 66 percent of Americans think checking phones
should be banned from special occasions like Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas.
When it comes to women 65 and older, that number goes up to 85 percent. The reason?
When family members bring phones to the table, it can diminish everyone’s ability to
fully experience the joy of the holiday gathering.
Of course, given how attached many people are to their phones, successfully achieving a
phone-free dinner may be a challenge. If you decide you don’t want phones at your holiday
table, consider these strategies:
• Let everyone know about the rule well before dinner begins, so guests can prepare for it.
• Share the benefits of “unplugging” and emphasize the benefits of in-person
conversations.
• Make a game of it. Perhaps anyone caught checking his/her phone has to help wash
the dishes.
Phone-free holiday dinners may or may not be right for you, but at least
we’ve given you food for thought!
R unning a small business from home can minimize overhead costs and help you
enjoy a better work-life balance. To boost your chances for success, however, you
need to create the right business environment.
For example, get a separate landline just for business use. That way, you can more easily
separate work and personal calls, and you won’t have to worry about a child picking up
the phone during a business discussion. Also, make sure your workspace is not part of
your family space by having a designated office.
When you need to do something outside your realm of expertise—such as set up a
Wi-Fi network—don’t hesitate to ask for help from local communications experts.
Wheat State offers a variety of solutions perfect for home-based businesses
including landline service and high-speed internet. For details, visit www.
Wheat State Telephone • 1/800 442-6835 •