Posted on

Keep an eye on gas prices

This summer, keep an eye on gas prices! Fill up if prices are low and conserve if they’re high.

No matter what happens in the gas market, if you’re looking for a new car, don’t be afraid to slide into our DMs. We’ll get you taken care of right away!

 

Posted on

Social5 CRO Making A Difference

A292BC06-D783-4EB1-8581-A69AE75E627AMarty Haws, our Chief Revenue Officer, has a long history with basketball and loves the life lessons it teaches young people. Two years ago, he added a new player from the Republic of Mali in Africa to the AAU team he coaches. His roster of players welcomed him with open arms and they all instantly became friends.

As Marty and the team learned more about Mali and some of the needs of the community, they (along with a group of very generous people) came up with a game plan. Team members raised money and then headed to Mali to assist with service projects in their new hoop mate’s home country.

The team was organized into groups. Each group was responsible for raising funds for a different project, including a school roof, hauling down and assembling school desks, water filtration education, and best of all in the eyes of the boys: a new basketball hoop!

5CDE7941-3ECE-4863-9CF7-D0E59B8DACA3

The team was greeted at the Bamako airport in the capital city by the Mali National Basketball team. After receiving a warm welcome, they quickly went to work implementing their various projects. The trip was a huge success on many levels for everyone involved. Marty told us, “I went there with my team expecting to help others, but we all returned home with a better understanding about ourselves and what really matters in life.”

Marty, on behalf of your teammates at Social5, what you and your team did in Mali is the definition of a SLAM DUNK! Thanks for being an inspiration and a good representation of the company’s values both in and out of the office… and even when you’re halfway around the world!

Posted on

What It Takes: 4 Skills Entrepreneurs Say Young People Should Hone

Teenage Boy Sending Text Message Whilst Studying On LaptopThe basic definition of entrepreneurship revolves around the process of starting a business. An entrepreneur, by extension, then is one who starts a business. According to the Small Business Chronicle, over 600,000 new businesses start up each year.

There is much more, though, to the real definition of entrepreneurship. It encapsulates a spirit of optimism, risk-taking, adventure, and business savvy.

Historically, people are most likely to start a business in their 40s. But that doesn’t mean you have to be over 30 to start – and succeed – at it. In fact, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, “16% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 started new businesses in 2019.”

And don’t forget the belief that everyone has at least one million dollar idea at some point in their lifetime. Obviously, not all of those ideas are implemented. What’s the difference? First is the execution. It isn’t enough to have the idea. And it isn’t even the implementation so much as it is the willingness to take the risk that comes with execution.

In facing that risk, some entrepreneurial skills really can be the difference between success and failure.

  • Resilience. Resilience is one of the most important characteristics an entrepreneur needs. Entrepreneurship is full of uncertainty and risk. An entrepreneur must expect to have some failures and to make some mistakes. If a person is not able to bounce back, to pick themselves up, then they will not be able to regain forward momentum. That resilience or ability to recover quickly from setbacks will allow them to figure out what knocked them down in the first place. Assessing it is the problem-solving part.
  • Problem-solving. One given for entrepreneurs: problems. It’s not that you might have problems. It’s that you will have problems. And how you react to those problems will make all of the difference in your future. We talk a lot about how students need to learn problem-solving, and it is a critical skill. Before that, though, comes the ability to recognize and define problems. If you can recognize something that might cause a problem, define specifically what the problem is, and find the root cause of the problem, then you are well on your way to being able to solve the problem.

Too often the first step – defining the problem – is overlooked. When problems arise, the first instinct is often to alleviate the problem immediately, basically to put a bandaid or use some other stopgap measure in place. This might fix the problem temporarily, but the problem will only return unless it is solved at the root. Students need opportunities to work through the entire problem-solving process. As parents and teachers, it can be tempting to jump in and help solve problems. But for students to develop entrepreneurial skills, they have to have the chance to figure out problems and solutions – and to analyze why a solution they’ve tried did not work.

  • Critical thinking. An integral component of this process is critical thinking. Being able to reassess a situation and then approach it in a different way is so important. Critical thinking is about examining reasons and evidence, processing alternatives and asking the right questions. We have to help our students realize that asking questions is positive. Too often questioning has a negative connotation. However, we can teach students how to debate respectfully. It is our job to help them see that questioning is a path to understanding.
  • Ability to receive and apply feedback. Along those lines, our teens have to understand how to engage respectfully, whether it is asking questions to analyze and breakdown a problem, to providing positive feedback to a peer or receiving constructive feedback from a peer or teacher.
  • Reframing. Reframing is linked to problem-solving in that it involves changing the way you or someone else is looking at or approaching a problem or issue; it is about changing the perspective. In communication it is often looked at as a way to sway people to look at your ideas more favorably or to sway opinion. However, there is much more to reframing. It is about making sure all sides are being looked at. Are the right questions being asked? Reframing is not about getting your way; it is about making sure people consider your point of view with an open mind. It is the opposite of placing blame. It is instead about positive thinking.

It’s inspiring to read the stories about young entrepreneurs who have successfully started businesses. As more young people are starting businesses and venturing into the entrepreneurial world, they have to recognize that not every startup meets with success. It’s a hard path to follow. To be a successful entrepreneur, not only do you need to have a great idea to build on, but you also need the skill set to meet adversity head on.

Curious if Laurel Springs School is a good fit? Read more about students who benefit from the ability to follow their passions on our blog.

Posted on

LSS Test 9 (Featured Image: Seniors)

Test body

woman check shopping listThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

Posted on

LSS Test 8 (Featured Image: Laptop)

Test body

woman check shopping listThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

Posted on

LSS Test 7 (Featured Image: Thumbs Up)

Test body

woman check shopping listThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

Posted on

LSS Test 6 (Featured Image: Grocery)

Test body

woman check shopping listThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

Posted on

LSS Test 5 (Featured Image: Tea)

Test body

woman check shopping listThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

Posted on

LSS Full Post Test 2

Test body

Assortment of bottles with vegan milk

This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.

 

 

This is a test.

19428711 - beautiful young woman relaxing on grass with laptopThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.