A "Crash Course" on Leadership!

Some people mistakenly think that leaders are uniformed figureheads who are elected or chosen to represent a certain group or organization, but everyday leadership is demonstrated by parents, teachers, older siblings, clergy, friends – in fact, just about everyone finds themselves in a position of leadership from time to time.

Here are the thoughts of leadership educator Steve Ventura on the subject:

The 10 most important words:
“What can I do to help you be more successful?”

The 9 most important words:
“I need you to do this, and here’s why …”

The 8 most important words:
“That’s my mistake and I will fix it.”

The 7 most important words:
“My door is always open to you.”

The 6 most important words:
“Let’s focus on solving the problem.”

The 5 most important words:
“You did a great job!”

The 4 most important words:
“What do YOU think?”

The 3 most important words:
“Follow my lead.”

The 2 most important words:
“Thank You.”

The MOST important word:
“YOU.”

Snow Shoveling Safety

A guide to saving your back during Colorado's winter.

It's already time to dust off that trusty snow shovel and dig in! Unfortunately, many back and neck injuries occur in the winter as a result of shoveling snow. Experts in Colorado, where snow shoveling is an art form, agree that with just a few simple suggestions you can protect your back and neck from potentially painful injuries.

Take It Easy
Since you may be less active during the winter months, it's wise to take it slow and easy. Warm up your muscles prior to shoveling, just like you would for any physical exercise. Do a little stretching first so that the work doesn't come as a shock to your body. Don't overexert yourself while shoveling your driveway and/or sidewalk. Be sure to take frequent breaks. Also, drink plenty of water before, during and after you shovel. The air is even drier in the winter in Colorado, so you can quickly become dehydrated.

Shovel In Good Form
Follow safe lifting and bending guidelines when you shovel snow to protect against back and neck injuries. Bend with your knees, NOT YOUR BACK! To pick up a shovel from the ground or lift a heavy slab of ice, bend at the knees, grasp the object with both hands and lift with your legs slowly and carefully. Always be sure of your footing on ice and snow before you shovel or lift.

Snow Sense
Clear snow as soon as it stops falling if possible. Freshly fallen snow is much lighter than snow that has melted slightly and become heavier and denser. Push snow out of the way whenever possible. It's less strenuous to push snow than to throw it with the shovel. When using your snow shovel, grasp the tool so that you work with your elbows slightly bent. Try not to bend over too much while you work. Work with your arms and legs, not your back. Throw the snow forward with your arms, not from side to side.

Consider investing in a snow blower or hiring someone to shovel snow for you. Ergonomically-designed snow shovels are available at many hardware and home stores. Here are a couple of websites you may visit to check out some innovative and easy-on-your-back snow tools:

www.lifewithease.com/backsaver.html
www.thewreathdepot.com/ersnsh.html
www.suncast.com/snowtools

If You Hurt Your Back...
Even after you've read all of these suggestions and done your best to follow them, you may still suffer a back problem or injury. Your chiropractic doctor can help you get your back on track. In addition to a spinal adjustment, your chiropractor may recommend other types of treatment for strengthening your back or relieving tension and pain. These additional treatments may include personalized stretching and strengthening exercises, moist heat, ice packs, electrotherapy, ultrasound, or traction. Don't delay seeing your chiropractic doctor when problems arise. The sooner you go the sooner your back and spine will be healthy and normal again-- and you can get back to shoveling that snow in the driveway!

What You Should Know About Snow!

-Moses Maimonides, 10th century physician to the Egyptian Khalif, prescribed snow as a cure for the hot Cairo summers.

-The commonly used ten-to-one ratio for snowfall to water content is a myth for much of the United States. This ratio varies from as low as 100-to-one to as high as about three-to-one depending on the conditions associated with the snowfall. The majority of US snows fall with a water-to-snow ratio of between .04 and .10.

-Average inches of annual snowfall for a few Colorado cities: Alamosa: 33.7, Colorado Springs: 42.7, Denver: 60.3 & Grand Junction: 24.2

-Each year an average of 105 snow-producing storms affect the continental United States. A typical storm will have a snow-producing lifetime of two to five days and will bring snow to portions of several states.

-In the western US, mountain snow pack contributes to 75% of all year-round surface water supplies.

-Snow is actually made up of billions of tiny, clear ice crystals. The crystals act as prisms, breaking up the light of the sun into the entire spectrum of color. The human eye sees the snow as white; that's because the color white is really a combination of every other color.

-Roman emperors are alleged to have sent slaves to mountain tops to bring back fresh snow which was then flavored and served as part of their famous food orgies.

-42 billion square miles of the earth's surface is covered by a constant blanket of snow.

-A single cubic foot of snow may contain as many as 10 million snowflakes.

To learn more about snow visit the National Snow and Ice Data Center (located in Boulder, Colorado) on the web at:
www.nsidc.org/snow