A pregnant mom found peace of mind on the road with a helpful piece of tech called Hum.
Imagine you're pregnant and stranded on the freeway.
That was Meli Arevalo's biggest worry when one day, smoke suddenly started coming out of her engine. She was seven months pregnant at the time.
"I was pregnant and just being stranded in the freeway ... would've not been a good thing," she says.
Image via iStock.
"Our car was kinda getting hot," Arevalo remembers. "But we didn't know why."
Luckily, Arevalo had a device installed in her car that could help her spot the issue right away: Hum by Verizon.
Through the Vehicle Diagnostics feature provided by Hum, Arevalo was able to pinpoint the car's alternator as the exact source of the problem. She then gave their helpful Mechanics Hotline a call, and they even assisted her with the next steps she needed to take.
Image by Hum by Verizon.
"I explained what happened," says Arevalo, "and they transferred me to a mechanic right away and the mechanic answered all my questions."
Now that she knew what was wrong, Arevalo was able to quickly have her car fixed before anything more serious happened.
"If it weren't for [Hum]," she adds, "I honestly don't think we would've ever known. It saved us a lot of money."
Hum also helps prevent all sorts of unpredictable hassles down the road — something incredibly important now that Arevalo has two lovely kids and needs the car for their daily routine.
"We only have one car, so it's everyday," she says. "We drive everywhere with it."
When you're a busy family racking up miles on your car, it helps to have a device that can make life a little easier.
Forgot where you parked? (We've all been there.) Well, Hum can find your exact spot and let you know through the app. In fact, if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, just use their Pinpoint Roadside Assistance to let Hum know exactly where to send help. Plus, if your car is stolen, you can find it on the app and notify police right away. "It's right on your phone," says Arevalo. "Like the tip of your fingers."
"Knock on wood that won't happen, but you have peace of mind that if it does happen, we can get the car back," she adds.
Image by Hum by Verizon.
One of the coolest things that Hum provides is the monthly health report. It provides useful data on your car so you always know how it's doing. It's like having your car checked out — without actually having to drive anywhere.
Today, Arevalo and her family drive with much less worry knowing that Hum has their back.
Whether it's visiting family, going to school, or heading to a doctor's appointment, Hum is right there with them every step of the way. "We really like it, and we even recommended it to friends and family," says Arevalo. "Just because of how easy it was for us and the headache that it saved us."
"Even my mechanic asked me what it was so he could tell his clients."
When you have a device whose main purpose is to make owning a car much easier, it makes all the difference when it comes to giving your family a safer — and most easygoing — ride in town.
Our mouths loves chips. Our bodies not so much.Photo by 
You can eat well without giving up sweets completely.Photo by 
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.