3 Trades That Make a Real Difference in Your Community

Plumber

Key Takeaways

  • Arborists, plumbers, and elevator contractors are essential trades that improve safety and quality of life in communities.
  • Arborists protect urban trees, enhance property values, and promote environmental health and aesthetics.
  • Plumbers ensure clean water, prevent contamination, and boost energy efficiency through modern fixtures.
  • Elevator contractors improve accessibility, maintain safety, and support economic growth in urban environments.
  • These trades collectively foster sustainable, thriving neighborhoods where people and businesses can flourish.
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Thomas Keehn: Practical Guidance for Custom Home Projects

Thomas Keehn

photo credit: IdeaMensch

Key Takeaways

  • Clear planning and defined goals are essential before starting a custom home project to avoid costly redesigns.
  • Site selection and due diligence prevent problems such as poor soil, drainage issues, or missing utilities.
  • Accurate budgeting with contingencies helps avoid financial stress and mid-project overruns.
  • Choosing an experienced builder ensures proper project management, accountability, and quality workmanship.
  • Effective communication between homeowners and contractors keeps timelines on track and expectations aligned.
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Adithan Arunachalam: Utilitarianism’s Role in Public Policy and Governance

Utilitarianism in policy making

Key Takeaways

  • Utilitarianism emphasizes achieving the greatest good for the greatest number in policymaking.
  • It influences decisions in areas such as health, economics, climate policy, and criminal justice.
  • While effective in maximizing welfare, it can overlook minority rights and ethical complexities.
  • Policymakers use utilitarian reasoning to justify trade-offs and balance individual and collective needs.
  • Measuring happiness and well-being remains a major challenge in applying utilitarian principles.
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Who Supports the CEO? Why Founders Need Coaching Too

CEO coaching

photo credit: The Coach Space / Pexels

Key Takeaways

  • Founders and CEOs face hidden pressures such as isolation, burnout, and decision fatigue, making leadership mentally taxing.
  • Executive coaching provides confidential, structured support that enhances focus, judgment, and emotional intelligence.
  • Research shows coaching improves leadership outcomes, decision quality, and overall organizational health, with high ROI.
  • Effective coaching helps leaders manage stress, set boundaries, and maintain clarity while aligning vision and strategy.
  • Founders especially benefit from coaching as it offers unbiased feedback, emotional balance, and a reliable sounding board.
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What the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Means for Small Businesses

Small business owner

Key Takeaways

  • The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces major tax breaks for small businesses, including instant write-offs and new deductions.
  • Businesses can now deduct 100% of qualified equipment, software, and R&D expenses, improving cash flow and reducing taxes.
  • The Qualified Business Income (QBI) 20% tax deduction is now permanent, allowing small business owners to keep more profits.
  • Estate and gift tax exemptions increase to $15 million per person, simplifying business succession planning.
  • New deductions for tips and overtime income help employees and self-employed workers reduce taxable income.
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Dawn Kum: Practical Training Programs to Align Health and Human Services

Dr. Dawn Kum

photo credit: LinkedIn

Key Takeaways

  • Dr. Dawn Kum leverages 30+ years of leadership and consulting experience to strengthen health and human services.
  • Her training programs focus on coordination, standardized language, and clear role definitions across agencies.
  • Scenario-based exercises and communication drills prepare staff for real-world, multi-agency collaboration.
  • Training integrates compliance, reporting requirements, and secure information-sharing protocols to avoid failures.
  • Digital tools and shared performance metrics extend coordination, ensuring measurable outcomes and accountability.
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Mental Health Groups and Related Organizations

Dr. Wayne Jones

Key Takeaways

  • Dr. Wayne Jones is active in multiple mental health organizations advancing psychiatry and patient care.
  • As an ASCP member, he engages in psychopharmacology research, events, and clinical education.
  • Through IOCDF, he combats misconceptions about OCD and accesses specialized training resources.
  • He supports ADHD communities via ADDA and CHADD, promoting resources, training, and nationwide support groups.
  • NAMI membership connects him to grassroots advocacy, education, and mental health policy initiatives.
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Rick Tsakalios: A Few Notable Health and Wellness Trends for 2025 and Beyond

Rick Tsakalios

photo credit: Crunchbase

Key Takeaways

  • Health and wellness is a $2 trillion global industry, with rising interest among Gen Z and millennials.
  • Functional nutrition is expanding, with products supporting gut health, energy, and preventative wellness.
  • Beauty and wellness overlap, with ingestible products like collagen gummies gaining popularity.
  • Longevity products and healthy aging solutions are a top priority for many American consumers.
  • Wellness travel and weight management continue to grow as key industry trends in 2025 and beyond.
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Why Real Estate Isn’t a Side Hustle

Real estate investing

Key Takeaways

  • Treating real estate as a side hustle limits growth and profitability.
  • Professional property management is essential for scaling and long-term success.
  • Real estate requires structured business systems for marketing, maintenance, and legal compliance.
  • True wealth in real estate comes from scaling with multiple properties and reinvesting profits.
  • “Passive income” is a myth unless supported by teams and full-time commitment.
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Want to Reduce Car Depreciation? Buy Used

Buy used car

Key Takeaways

  • Car depreciation is the natural decline in value as a vehicle ages and accumulates miles.
  • New cars lose value fastest, often dropping 15% or more the moment you drive them off the lot.
  • Buying used slows the depreciation curve since the steepest drop has already happened.
  • Certified pre-owned vehicles depreciate faster than used cars but come with warranty advantages.
  • Choosing between new, CPO, and used depends on your priorities: warranty, tech, or lower depreciation.
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