yoga to hula-hooping, all from the comfort of their living room, and the on- screen instructions and progress logs serve
Ryan Mills’ Real Estate Reader (805) 418-2676 Next time you get stuck taking your work home with you, utilize these clever tips to get more done in less time. (page 2)
www.TheMMTeam.com Several new workout trends are spreading to gyms and fitness centers across the country. We explore each of them. (page 2)
Winning in a Multiple-Offer Scenario Now that buyers are finding their way back into the market, multiple-offer scenarios are becoming increasingly common. Here is how you can give yourself the best chance of victory if you find yourself competing for your dream home. Be fun and easy to work with In any negotiation, it’s important to consider the other side’s perspective. In a multiple-offer scenario, this is particularly important since, by definition, the seller has more options than you do. Be friendly, respond quickly, and avoid playing games. If the seller anticipates an enjoyable transaction with you, your chances improve. Look for leverage points Different sellers have different priorities. Some sellers may prioritize the final sales price, while others may place a bigger emphasis on a speedy escrow process. Look for clues throughout the process to find leverage points—ways you can structure your offer to be more attractive than the other offers. Keep exploring other options When buyers put in an offer on a home, they often think the process of looking for a home is over. However, in a multiple-offer scenario, there is always a chance that your offer will not be accepted. Keep looking at new homes as they come to market. This will help you in two important ways. First, if you never stop looking in the first place, you will be capable of finding another home that matches your criteria much more quickly, if you need to. Second, you will have more confidence and clarity throughout the multiple-offer scenario if you keep reminding yourself that there are other homes available.
iPads are a lot of fun, but they can also be used as an educational tool. We take a look at five apps designed to make you smarter. (page 3)
Building an Awesome Wardrobe on a Budget The fashion industry would like you to believe that the only way you can look like the models you see in magazines is by shelling out thousands of dollars on clothes each season. Here are several ways smart shoppers look great every season. Invest in quality staples There are certain items that never go out of style, such as a quality leather jacket. If you make the right purchase, it can last for years or even decades. When you purchase these items, invest in quality and avoid anything that is too trendy. Try to find something you’ll enjoy just as much five years from now as you do right now. Buy new accessories every season Accessories (shoes, belts, jewelry, etc.) are relatively inexpensive and they can immediately update a look. Oftentimes, pairing last season’s item with this season’s accessories is all that is needed to create a completely fresh look. You can save even more money by buying convincing knock-offs of designer accessories. Be picky about fit Inexpensive clothing that fits well will look better than expensive clothing that doesn’t fit well. Never settle for clothing that doesn’t fit you perfectly, unless you’re willing to pay for the necessary alterations.
Hot Workout Trends Looking for a way to energize your workout routine? Here are four workout trends that are sweeping the nation right now. Boot camps Boot camps have been growing in popularity for several years, because they are fun and effective. Borrowing from the intensity and structure of military training, boot camps include cardiovascular, interval, and strength training. They are generally designed for rapid body recomposition and fat loss. Boot camps are usually held outside in a group setting and can span a single weekend or several months, depending on the program. Kettlebells Kettlebells have been used in Russian weightlifting regimens for years, but they are finding new life in many modern fitness routines. A kettlebell is basically a big metal ball with a handle attached. Since the center of weight rests outside the handle, it facilitates ballistic exercises, such as swinging movements. These movements mimic real-world movements while giving a fullspectrum workout that improves flexibility, coordination, strength, and endurance. Zumba Zumba is a dance fitness program that was developed in Colombia in the 1990s. It has been growing in popularity for years. Currently, it is offered in over 100,000 fitness center locations in the world. Zumba is usually taught in group settings, where participants perform physically challenging dance moves set to music. Zumba is also available through popular DVD sets. Exergaming With the emergence of motion-sensor gaming controls, several gaming consoles have released exercise games, and they are beginning to catch on. Games like Wii Fit allow participants to perform several different routines, from running to aerobics to yoga to hula-hooping, all from the comfort of their living room, and the onscreen instructions and progress logs serve as a digital personal trainer.
Hot New Product Tougher, Smarter Microchips As the quest for smaller and smaller microchips continues, a predictable, if not preventable, problem has arisen: today’s microchips are fragile. For this reason, a team of researchers has begun work on a new type of computer chip, one that actually works with the chip’s tendency to degrade over time. The new chip would sense areas within itself that have degraded and assign tasks only to healthy areas. If this new type of construction proves viable, the chips of the future will continue to function properly even as they begin to break down.
Getting Work Done from Home Sometimes, no matter how much work you get done at the office, you need to bring some work home with you. But houses are full of distractions that can sap productivity. Here are several ways to get your homework done a little more quickly, so you can get back to enjoying your personal life. Take a break When you get home, take some time to reconnect with your family, eat some good food, and respond to personal phone calls. You will feel recharged when you go back to work, and your friends and family won’t feel as if they’re being ignored. Eliminate laptop clutter Most laptops are almost perfectly designed to distract you. With the buzzing email notifications, streaming news feeds, and Skype chats, you are unlikely to get anything done. Turn off all notifications, close all windows that are not directly related to your work, and close your email program. Better yet, if your work doesn’t require you to be online, disconnect from the Internet altogether by temporarily disabling WiFi. Have something to look forward to People are naturally more efficient when they are working towards an exciting goal, which is why you are so productive the day before a vacation. Before you begin working, remind yourself of why you want to complete your work quickly. Is there a TV show you want to watch? A conversation you want to have with your children? A restaurant you want to visit with your wife? Focus on the reason behind your work and you’ll find new reserves of creativity and energy. Set boundaries Once you get sucked into your work, it’s (continued on page 3)
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Ditch Powerpoint and Spice Up Your Presentations
easy to keep going. And once you get that flow, it’s hard to let it go. Before you begin working, ask yourself how much time you’re willing to commit to this task, set a timer, and stop working when it goes off—no matter what.
PowerPoint presentations are boring, but they’re a necessary evil in the business world. Or are they? Prezi is a cloudbased presentation tool that allows you to create a different type of presentation—one that breaks free of the standard slide-based presentation and allows you to create presentations that are dynamic and dramatic. For instance, you can structure a presentation so that it all takes place on a single map, allowing you to zoom in to different areas of the map, or you can structure your presentation so that each time you advance a point, the slide reorients and makes new information available. The possibilities are endless! Take a look at the sample presentations on Prezi.com to get a better idea of how Prezi
iPad Apps That Make You Smarter iPads aren’t all fun and games. With the right apps, you can increase your IQ and learn more about the world around you. World Atlas HD Is there anyone you would trust to build a better atlas application than National Geographic? National Geographic’s World Atlas HD is the perfect app for viewing detailed maps and information about every corner of the world. And, with several smart interactive features, this app can keep you entertained for hours. Starwalk Starwalk is one of the showcase applications for the iPad, appearing in several official iPad commercials. Once you spend a few minutes with it, you’ll understand why. Starwalk provides you with access to more astronomical information than you could ever hope for. Check out moon phases, constellations, and planetary compositions in a gorgeous interactive format. Pocket CFO Pocket CFO is an entire graduate-level course that is conducted through an iPad app. At the end of the course, you will be able to analyze corporate finan-
cial statements and draw key conclusions that will make you a more savvy investor. The information is advanced enough to be meaningful, but progresses logically enough to be accessible to amateurs. TED TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is a conference format where various thought leaders share innovative and challenging ideas through short presentations (less than 20 minutes). TED events are held across the globe and have become a magnet for some of the most frequently entertaining and engaging public speakers. Past speakers include Bill Gates, Al Gore, and Elizabeth Gilbert—to name a few. TED’s iPad app brings hundreds of these video presentations to your iPad. Wolfram Alpha Wolfram Alpha is the world’s brainiest search engine. If you want to know the number of hydrogen molecules in an average raindrop or solve complex calculus equations, Wolfram Alpha is up to the task, and with this intuitive iPad app, you can satisfy your curiosity in a fun and engaging interface.
Still hungry for more? Check out Apple’s featured education apps. These apps are constantly being updated.
