Apple AirTag Safety Alert

Sometimes, great ideas can go wrong. Most of the time the repercussions aren’t terrible, but the latest one we ran across concerned us, and if you haven’t heard about it, we think you should.

Apple makes this cool product called an AirTag. Many of you may be using them, as they are super handy for keeping track of things you might lose.

Great for keys, briefcases, luggage, and the like, we even have one hidden in our car, just in case it ever ‘disappears’.

Your Apple device can then locate the item, pretty much anywhere via the Find My app on your device.

But what if someone plants an AirTag on or in your property without your knowledge? Your vehicle, for example?

This technology is perfect for people with bad intentions, as they can surreptitiously plant one and then track whatever, or whoever is traveling with the AirTag.

Obviously, this is concerning, especially for anyone that might have concerns about being stalked. Thieves are also using this technology to follow nice cars to their homes for future crimes.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves?

We found a comprehensive article on this and we think you should take a look, it’s here.

Apple themselves also released a comprehensive article on this issue, it can be found here.

The good news is if you have an Apple device and there is a foreign AirTag near you for over 2 days, your phone will alert you.

Beyond that, they will emit a beep which can be hard to hear, so if you hear a strange chirp, pay close attention.

We love our AirTags, but like any good concept, in the wrong hands, they can be used the wrong way by bad actors.

Read on in this month’s newsletter to see just how likely it is that someone steals your vehicle here in our wonderful state.

Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever 

How was 2022 for you?

Ours was pretty good, but it wasn’t without its challenges, which is normal.

COVID finally seems to have subsided for the most part. We hope things are starting to return to “normal”, but sometimes we don’t know what the new normal is.

With increasing crime, inflation, and interest rates, it’s easy to be down in the dumps about what 2023 might look like.

So, how do we make it an amazing year, despite these headwinds?

No, this is not about resolutions, as we all know those rarely work. But how about a process that includes goal setting, measurement, feedback, and celebration?

As we researched this, we found a number of articles that we really liked.

The first, on Medium, involves creating your personal blueprint and how to stick to it.

For those of you more business-minded, we found a very good piece by Tom Oliver and it is here.

Finally, from the folks at Craft, their take on how to do this.

The common themes?

1. Write it down/Record it somewhere

2. Follow up/be accountable/measure

3. Celebrate victories, no matter how small

We are ready for 2023 to be an amazing year, and we hope you are too.

Let’s skip the resolutions and get down to the practical details. In the words of Peter Drucker, “What gets measured gets improved”.

We agree wholeheartedly. Good luck in joining us on this wonderful journey that will be 2023.

Stay Healthy This Winter

Ah, winter. We missed you.

Snow, cold, and the spreading of germs to name only a few of your great traits.

From dry and itchy skin to arthritis pain, we have you covered.

Cleveland Clinic came up with ways to fight the winter, and it includes ideas for battling not only those things but weight gain and depression as well.

How about ways to avoid catching bugs or getting sick in general?

Also, did you know that studies show when temperatures drop, the rates of heart-related conditions increase?

Cold weather makes your heart work harder to keep your body warm.

We found some good resources on ways to take care of yourself.

SummaCare has its list of 7 Tips for Staying Healthy this Winter, for starters.

Healthgrades has its take as well and it can be found here.

And finally, from the naturopathic  AANMC, came up with 9 ways to stay healthy and it is here.

We love all these ideas, and now that the holiday parties are mostly over, it’s a great time to make sure we get through winter in a healthy way.

Here’s to wellness, and again, making 2023 our best year ever.

Our Worst Statistic

Colorado is ranked near the top of many lists when it comes to quality of life, activities, and overall best places to live.

We love those lists and share them here frequently, and we still love our state and our fine city.

But this is a list we don’t want to be on.

Are you aware that the new leader in vehicle theft happens to be the State of Colorado?

Sad, but true. We are now the leader in a very ignominious category, and it’s getting worse.

From the intensive report at the Common Sense Institute:

• Since 2019, Colorado’s monthly motor vehicle theft rate has increased 120.6%. The auto theft rate ranked Colorado number one in the nation.
• In the first six months of 2022 (January – June), the trend has continued, and the motor vehicle theft rate has increased by 17.3%.
  • Criminals stole 24,044 motor vehicles in the first six months, 3,463 more than the same period in 2021.
  • The monthly theft rate is now 68.56 vehicles per 100,000 persons.
  • The number of secondary offenses related to motor vehicle theft has increased more than six-fold since 2008.
  • Drug crimes involving motor vehicle theft have increased 1,110%, violent crimes involving motor vehicle theft 521%, and property crimes involving motor vehicle theft 583%.

And from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, this comprehensive report.

Wow. We share in this pain as we have had two vehicles stolen as well. Our conversations with the police are almost laughable, as most of these crimes won’t be prosecuted and there is very little incentive for them to “go after” these awful thieves.

9News did a piece on how to protect yourselves, it can be found here.

We are at a loss as to why this is happening here, and we hope that our leaders start to realize this is not the look we want for our wonderful state.

Maybe it’s time to look at how we are doing things and make some common sense changes.

Stay safe Denver and protect your cars.

Monthly Award Winners

Our monthly award winners for November were Josefina Quinonez, Mary Moreno, Patricia Rodriguez, Fidelia Bautista, and Yesica Censo.

In the Team Leader ranks, it was Natalia Olivas and Laura Varela.

We are so proud of our winners, and of all the folks that are in and out of your homes each week.

We are also very appreciative to be a part of your lives and your homes. You provide the platform for our teams to perform, and for that we are grateful.

Please join me in congratulating our best performers for the month of November.

Stay tuned for our annual winners which will be announced in next month’s newsletter!

Queen Bee Corner

by Angela

The first reference to Housekeeping in the Oxford English Dictionary was in 1538.

The term applied to the care and maintenance of stately manors and was the subject of thick instruction manuals covering every possible aspect of home maintenance.  There was an especially large section on safety in the home.

Housecleaning may not seem to be a hazardous occupation. Domestic household equipment and products are not usually associated with serious health risks.

However, records show a steady number of accidents involving housecleaning staff each year.  Admittedly, many are minor, but to quote from the 1538 manual,  “there is a moral duty of care owed by an employer to its staff”.

We take this seriously, which is why there are some tasks that we do not allow.

As much as our intention is to be a yes company when it comes to the safety of our employees we sometimes have to say no.

Our staff may not be “scratched by claw whilst trying to remove a peacock from a room”, but there are still potential risks in the homes, hopefully less dramatic, that require our vigilance.  We appreciate your understanding and your concern for our ladies.

May 2023 be a safe, healthy, and happy year for our employees, our clients, and all your furry companions.

Happy New Year!

Bee