Britain's Got Talent judge Ashley Banjo has spoken passionately about Diversity's BLM dance and vowed to do it "100 times over" as he reflected upon the impact and conversations that the performance triggered.

In an inspiring video, the 32-year-old Diversity dancer told fans that he had no regrets about the performance as he thanked followers for their continued support.

Ashley's message comes after the group was slapped with 25,000 Ofcom complaints from angry BGT viewers who slammed the Black Lives Matter-inspired performance.

Taking to social media on Tuesday evening, the dad of two shared a video in which he spoke about how Diversity had triggered one of the most 'impactful conversations ever seen'.

Alongside footage of the original dance, Ashley and his brother Jordan talked about the aftermath of the stunning performance.

Love celebrity gossip? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter for all the juiciest news

"If the fact Black Lives Matter makes you feel uncomfortable, you have to ask yourself why," Ashley said in the interview.

Amid an overwhelming outreach of support for the dancers, Ofcom confirmed that they were not going to investigate the furious complaints.

Despite widespread support, some angry viewers even threatened to boycott Britain's Got Talent following the dance.

Ashley added: "The moment it all started to come to the surface, I thought this was so so necessary. I feel more life affirmed. I feel more sure of myself as a person.

"I also feel, you know, proud and I feel like we have sort of become a bit of a symbol for something that I wanna live up to. I wanna be able to speak up.

As he reflected upon the support and conversations that had happened as a result, Ashley continued: "That four minutes, it caused hours, weeks worth of conversation."

Alongside the clip, Ashley penned an empowering message where he thanked fans for their support and revealed he would have done the dance 100 times over.

"Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those that mind dont matter and those that matter dont mind," Ashley wrote.

"This is a moment in my life I will never forget. The incredible love and support from the majority of the British public I will never forget. The hate and abuse I will never forget."

He continued: "One of the most complained about moments of the decade? Yes... But also one of the most impactful conversation starters the country has ever seen. Ill take that... And Id do it 100 times over.

"Thank you all once again for your continued support. Im so proud of my team @diversity_official. The future is bright #WeAreDiversity. Thank you to my good friend @edjonesss for this incredible summary," Ashley concluded.

Since the performance, the group has seen an outpouring of support from ITV, the celebrity judges and the majority of BGT fans.

The aftermath of the inspiring show has shed light on the need for more conversation and eduction about Black Lives Matter and racism within the UK.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

Read the original post:
Ashley Banjo motivated by BLM hate and would do BGT dance '100 times over' - Mirror Online

Id like to try and add another forward, a right shot, but not necessarily, Yzerman said. Even potentially two forwards, depending on whos available and what the cost of these players are.

The cap is expected to stay flat next year as well and any deal has to fit for beyond this season.

Its got to make sense, Yzerman said. The contract has to make sense. Were not opposed to anything. I think its a fair assumption that well be relatively conservative.

Ultimately, were all trying to improve our teams and were all at different stages, so everybodys generally motivated to do things. Im hopeful that theres an opportunity for us that we can add players that fit what were trying to do.

Contract extensions

The Red Wings signed forwards Adam Erne and Taro Hirose to one-year contract extensions on Thursday. Terms were not released.

The 25-year-old Earn, who was acquired from Tampa Bay, appeared in 56 games for the Red Wings in 2019-20 and had two goals and five points before an injury ended his season.

The 24-year-old Hirose was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He got into 26 games with the club last season and had two goals and seven points.

Seider moving

Defenceman Moritz Seider, who was the clubs first-round pick in 2019, has been assigned to Rogle BK in the Swedish Elite League after originally being assigned to play in Germany with Mannheim.

With uncertainty over an AHL season in 2020-21, the Red Wings want the 19-year-old Seider to play and develop.

Germany has delayed the start of its hockey season due to the COVID-19 pandemic while the hockey season in Sweden is already underway.

jpparker@postmedia.com

twitter.com/winstarparker

Read more:
Red Wings' GM Yzerman has cash and motivation heading into free agency - Windsor Star

By STEVE REED The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE - There were days when running back Mike Davis wanted to quit the NFL, frustrated over his role as a practice squad player with the Seattle Seahawks.

But the memory of his brother's brief NFL career as well as a motivational speaker helped change that.

Now, two years later, the 27-year-old Davis is set to take over as the Carolina Panthers starting running back on Sunday against the Chargers replacing All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, who was moved to short-term injured reserve Wednesday and will miss at least three games because of a high ankle sprain.

"What stands out most is I never gave up," Davis said of his journeyman career in the NFL which has seen him play for four teams. "It could have been so easy for me to give in when I was in Seattle being on a practice squad. It was real depressing and there were times where I was like, 'I don't want to do this no more.'"

His older brother, James Davis, made that mistake and it cost him.

James Davis was a star at Clemson who went on to play for the then-Washington Redskins. But in 2011 he became disgruntled with his lack of reps and left the team, later asking for his release. He wound up on a few other NFL practice squads, but never played another down in the league and finished his career with just 75 yards rushing on 28 carries.

"My brother, he was very talented - and he should have had more years than he did," Mike Davis said.

Davis, who played college football at South Carolina, said he learned many lessons from his older brother including how to stay in shape and save his money.

He also drew motivation during those internal struggles while on the Seahawks practice squad when he stumbled across a video of motivational speaker Eric Thomas' "You Owe You" speech. He watched it every morning when he woke up at 6 o'clock.

"Every day I took going against the (starters) in practice like it was a game for me, and it was a challenge," Davis said. "I treated every day like it could be my last."

Eventually, he got his shot.

As Seattle's backfield became depleted with injuries later that season in 2018, Davis was signed to the 53-man roster and stepped in and ran for 514 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry that season. He also caught 34 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown.

He parlayed that into a two-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Bears the following season, but only carried 11 times before being released by Chicago.

The Panthers claimed him off waivers last year and now Davis is looking to make the most out of his latest opportunity after a strong training camp.

It was there that he grabbed the attention of running backs coach Jeff Nixon. Nixon championed Davis' battle, telling head coach Matt Rhule that Davis had what it took to be a starting running back in the NFL. Davis went on to beat out incumbent Reggie Bonnafon for the No. 2 spot behind McCaffrey to start the season.

Still, Davis barely saw the field in Carolina's 34-30 loss to the Raiders in Week 1 playing behind McCaffrey.

"It's hard to take Christian off the field because he's such a good player," Rhule admitted.

But the Panthers vowed to get Davis more work in Week 2 and he finished with eight catches for 74 yards after McCaffrey went down.

Davis should get the bulk of carries on Sunday, although Bonnafon will see action too.

"He runs with speed and power," Rhule said.

Davis' road is quite different than the man he replaces in the starting lineup Sunday. McCaffrey came into the league as a first-round draft pick and wasted no time showing he was an elite player in this league. Davis was a fourth-round pick by the 49ers in 2015 out of South Carolina and has struggled to find a permanent home.

Davis said his goal heading into Sunday is to "play angry" and not try to do too much.

"I'm not going to try to do anything crazy because that's when bad plays happen," Davis said.

See the rest here:
Motivated Davis ready to replace Panthers All-Pro McCaffrey - Sumter Item

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --AI-powered data platform, Monet Analytics, conducted a study of who and what among speakers at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions subconsciously and consciously moved voters in swing states. The study went beyond opinion surveys and closed the gap between what people say and what they really feel.

MONET SUBCONSCIOUS SWING STATE STUDY

Biden captured more ballot moving Emotional Engagement. Undecideds embraced his theme that LOVE is more powerful than hate. When Biden said, "doing it together" he hit home, making voters twice as happy as President Trump in his GNC speech. Conversely, Trump captured more Attention and was 2.5 times more Informative. But his failure to clearly address COVID-19 facts, and his conspiracy theories made undecideds ANGRY.

See the Monet Frame X Frame emotion-based journey of what viewers felt when the speakers presented.

Other interesting findings: Trump Jr. in his speech captured more attention than did Kamala Harris although Kamala captured more ballot moving Emotional Engagement than Trump Jr. among undecideds in swing states.

Michelle Obama persuaded Male Independents with her frank attacks on Trump. Emotions spiked in her DNC speech when she said "Trump is the wrong President for this country" and "he is clearly in over his head."

BUY A REPORTNOWFOR HALF PRICE AND SEE ALL THE INTERESTING FINDINGS!

The Monet Subconscious Swing Study Reports are valuable guides for live appearance and debate prep plus ad messaging. Available for a limited time (offer ends 9-30-20) for just $2,500.

See how viewers respond to the messages and manner of various speakers at the DNC and RNC conventions on a frame X frame basis.

Or commission a quick and affordable customer study for your candidate.

Email us at [emailprotected]to learn more or buy a report. We'll respond fast.

About MonetMonet is an AI-powered technology and data analytics platform that captures subconscious and conscious emotional reactions, at scale. It then harmonizes these reactions with attitudinal and behavioral data so decision makers can see the whole picture to validate and optimize content at every stage of investment. That means more actionable insights than ever on drag and lift factors for a winning political, entertainment or brand campaign.

Monet has offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Barcelona, Delhi, London and Mexico City.

Visit Monet online at MONETANALYTICS.COM.

Media Contact: Brian Frankel Monet Networks Inc [emailprotected] 818.585.7013

SOURCE Monet Analytics

Read the original here:
Subconscious Motivation Proves Key to Persuading Persuadables, According to New AI Political Study by Monet Analytics - PRNewswire

For an entrepreneur who had to shut down recently, it's important to press pause and mourn the loss. - 123RF

I can relate. Its frightening when our drive to thrive fades. Sometimes over the last few months, Ive felt so lost that Ive scared myself by my lack of motivation toward my work endeavors, which were previously a source of great interest. I realize now that this inability to do or create anything was nothing to fear, I just needed to press pause on production. It wasnt the time for business as usual. It wasnt the time to create something new. It was the time to acknowledge my losses and attempt to let go.

Sounds like you too need to spend this time being gentle with yourself and grieve the loss of your business. Its our challenge and our invitation to stay present and give our life experiences the attention they deserve.

As I said in our column a few weeks ago, fall is a time of letting go of all that has lived out its life cycle and must now fall from the branch. So much has changed for all of us, weve all lost something in this pandemic, and its vital that we take some time to be with whatever feelings we have about that.

Oprah recently quoted her friend Richie Jackson, who writes During this pandemic, we all have been confronted with bitter disappointments and shattered expectations. These losses require mourning too. Sadness isnt reserved solely for the dearly departed. Grief is for everything we lose.

With the equinox just behind us, and nature shifting into fall, I hope you can join me in taking some quiet time to reflect on what is calling to be released. When were ready, we can gradually let go, grieve our losses and then move onto new beginnings when the timing is right.

If you can afford the time, I recommend you take it. If youre feeling lost and unmotivated, know that these are symptoms of grief. We often consider grief to be a feeling assigned to the death of loved ones, but a loss of any kind can prompt feelings of grief and its important to process it at your own pace.

I encourage you to take the time to feel your sadness over the loss of your business, and as Jenny said above, to press pause on life until youve done the proper healing. If you jump in too soon, you might carry your grief and disappointment with you into your next venture, tainting its potential. If you can afford the time, why dont you spend this time to talk to friends about your feelings of loss, write about your COVID experience in a journal, engage in a pastime you enjoy, or explore the vast beauty of our Atlantic provinces.

For us, weve enjoyed our sojourns to the Annapolis Valley, picking berries in the summer and sunflowers in the fall. Inserting new and different experiences have been deeply healing and have helped us shift out of our somber emotions, if not for a day or two. My motto to life has always been to work hard and play unreservedly, and this approach has certainly helped to buoy us up amid so much emotional heaviness and heart ache.

If you cant afford to press pause and lick your wounds, I suggest you take a position with another company so you can experience reliable income without the pressure to start your entrepreneurial engines again. Once youve got some success under your belt and youre feeling more hopeful about lifes possibilities, you can start to allow your entrepreneurial spirit to come forth and explore what options lay ahead for you. Many successful businesses have multiple iterations and rebirths so dont let this setback define you.

Have a question for Jenny and Blair? Send your inquiries to info@BreathingSpaceYogaStudio.ca

Read more:
ASK THE THERAPISTS: How do I get my motivation back? - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Flexibility in the workplace is a lifeline for parents with young children and one way of getting it is to become your own boss.

For the three women featured below who did just that, motherhood was not only the motivation to set up their own business, but also the inspiration. Through having children, they identified a gap in the market.

The other thing they have in common is participation in the Government-funded Acorns, the acronym of which is a lot more attractive than its full title: Accelerating the Creation of Rural Nascent Start-ups. This is a free and unapologetically exclusively female programme to help fledgling businesses thrive beyond the city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

Triona Mac Giolla R is one of the lead entrepreneurs who act as volunteer mentors, sharing their practical knowledge while supporting round-table meetings of up to eight participants each. Co-founder with her husband Alan of Ar Digital Strategy, she works with independent luxury hotels all over the world from their base in the Connemara Gaeltacht, where they have raised four children, now aged 18-26. I really like the ethos of Acorns, she says, praising its open, collaborative nature. A fan of diversity, she admits she grapples with the all-female approach but believes in this context it works.

I am always quite amazed when you put a group of six, seven, eight women in a room, how quickly a bond grows and how open and trusting women are with each other.

Long after women have finished the six-month scheme, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the networking continues. That aspect has never been more important, say these participants, as they adapt to doing business in this era of Covid-19.

When Alma Jordan became a mother, she started to see dangers everywhere for her son Eamon on the family farm in Julianstown, Co Meath.

Then the death of two children in farm accidents during the summer of 2014 really gave me the drive to sit up and take notice. I just said, this could happen to any of us. She started to look at what needed to be done to try to prevent the unthinkable and founded the farm safety educational company AgriKids that same year.

Eamon was the big reason; I was terrified for him and terrified that we would find ourselves in the situation where we would have to bury a child due to the simple fact that we were doing what we do every day going out farming.

The idea of setting up a business had been niggling at Jordan for a while before she and her husband, tillage farmer Mark Delany, had their son. Working in marketing, PR and communications, she had become bored quite easily, moving jobs every two to three years.

Once she began to delve into farm safety, she thought the message was being very poorly communicated within the agricultural community. She believed the topic needed a fresh approach, targeting a new audience.

Having worked with Repak, which sponsors the green schools programme, Jordan had seen how passionate children had become about issues such as recycling, changing not just their own behaviour but also influencing extended family and altering habits in households.

She started with storybooks for children, as storytime was a big thing in their house when Eamon, now aged eight, was being put to bed. Then a librarian approached her about doing workshops for schools and the venture took off, with more than 50,000 children having participated to date. I dont engage with farmers at all, I direct everything to children. My ethos is to engage, educate and empower children to be farm safety ambassadors. Despite huge awareness of the need for farm safety, its not translating into instinctive practice, so I am trying to bridge that learning gap.

There were 18 fatalities on farms in Ireland last year, up from 15 in 2018, and there have been 16 so far this year to the beginning of September, including three aged under 18, according to figures from the Health and Safety Authority.

Having grown up on a farm, Jordan admits to sometimes feeling a bit of a hypocrite when she recalls her carefree childhood, on the back of trailers and riding cows into a dairy parlour. However, she would not regard herself as an over-cautious mother: I am a big believer of little falls prevent big falls.

Although she started the business at home, working around Eamon, she was later to find herself in hotels up to three times a week. A very long and detailed conversation with my husband had to take place. Is this viable and is it doable? It actually was.

For a start they had an option of after-school care for Eamon. Then, fortuitously Marks busiest times on the farm are in the summer months, when the schools are closed and his least busy time is when she is, normally, out visiting schools. It all slotted into place but it did necessitate that conversation with my husband.

Responsibility for organising childcare seems to instinctively fall into the lap of women, she remarks. Have that conversation, she urges other mothers. You do matter, your career matters, but your children should never have to be a trade-off.

She believes some women never have this discussion and then become very resentful at the unequal burden, while their other half continues on in a nave bubble, unaware of domestic realities and brewing discontent.

Jordan has never been happier and more fulfilled. It was a huge risk but when passion lands, you have to follow it.

As an accidental entrepreneur, she jumped at the opportunity when somebody suggested Acorns. She found it a fantastic help and six years later members of the group continue to support each other. You have no idea how you are going to call on the resources and supports you have obtained by doing such a programme.

She believes the all-female approach works because women are wired differently: we tend to share more, talk more, feel more. Sometimes we take a little more persuading to get up there and go out there.

Reaching out to other people have never been more important than during this pandemic, which has had a horrendous impact on her business because 80 per cent of her revenue was from workshops. We can get very stuck in our own bubbles and thought processes. A lot of people were finding new ways of getting their service out there.

In April, she was approached by Monaghan County Council to do some webinars and, although doubtful, she gave it a try. They went well and led to her reaching more than 4,000 children. I did it all from my house. It put me into a position where I believe I can deliver more impact and more value.

She is quite grateful for being dragged out of her comfort zone. It has worked out far better and, for childcare, it has been a dream too. It is possible to have it all . . . ish, she adds, after a slight pause.

Despite having a nice office at the far end of the house, Jordans ideal would be an external work space to save her from domestic distractions. We have a dog here hes in and hes out and hes out and hes in.

Then there is the drier if it is not emptied promptly, the clothes will need ironing. There would be other people who would love the set-up I have here and could ignore the drier and tell the dog to go to hell.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been extremely good for the hand-made hair accessories business that Samantha Stuart set up at home in Co Tipperary three years ago to work around family life.

During lockdown, her Pretty Bowtique sales exceeded even the Christmas highs of past years as everybody was buying online and they were sending gifts, she says. It was hectic because, with three children aged six, 10 and 13, and her husband Alan working as an electrical engineer on-site with a pharmaceutical company, she had sole responsibility for home-schooling.

It was hard, but they managed, with her amazing husband taking over care of the children when he got home from work so she could head to her home studio for the night shift. She employs somebody part time to do administration so she can concentrate on the creative side.

The arrival of a third child is often the tipping point for couples who both have full-time jobs outside the home and depend on paid childcare. So it proved for Stuart who worked in insurance and started to rethink family life after the birth of their youngest daughter six years ago. I went back for a little while but it just wasnt possible.

The mixture of commuting to Cashel, nearly an hour away from their house in Carrick-on-Suir, and having three children, one of whom is asthmatic, made her decide she needed to be at home. However, she still wanted to contribute to the household income.

At this point, history might have been different if their eldest child, Abigail, now aged 13, had been a boy. But Stuart, having been very creative with painting and sewing from a young age, used to make hair accessories for her small daughter, which attracted the interest of other mothers who asked her to make them for their girls.

Having made the decision to be at home, she saw this as a business opportunity and set up Pretty Bowtique in February 2017. In October of that year she joined Acorns and it transformed my business. I went from a kitchen table business to owning my own website and stocking many different shops around Ireland.

She likens the monthly group meetings to board meetings, where you can receive feedback and advice from people not afraid to speak their mind. My husband can only listen to me for so long and he always agrees with me anyway, laughs Stuart, who believes the all-female nature of Acorns is very important. They understand you if you have kids, and family life and the juggling act.

Being her own boss, she can do the schools runs for her children every day and can drop everything if somebody needs her. While she probably works more than ever, I wouldnt change it for the world I am doing something I absolutely love.

She also thinks its good that her children see that money is hard earned. My son said to me recently Mam, you work so hard. It was nice to see that he could see that I do work hard to try and give them everything they need and supply a nice and safe home for everybody.

A third child was the catalyst for Deirdre Doyle to leave her job managing a charity shop, with the notion that I would set up a little business that I would run while my kids were in school and I would be home every afternoon.

A little nave, she admits in hindsight. Instead, she has discovered that The Cool Food School she established in January 2018 can be all-consuming because I am very passionate about what I do.

Her life is divided between work and her three children aged 13, 11 and nine. One bonus is she doesnt have to use childcare and now the children are getting older, they dont need as much care, but it is hard nothing is easy.

The arrival of the coronavirus made it a lot harder for a business that was mainly running workshops in pre-schools and at events around the country.

Doyle recalls having coffee with her husband Mark, after doing a pre-school workshop on Thursday, March 12th last, when they heard all schools were being closed. It was, Oh my God. I was supposed to be in a pre-school that Friday and I havent been back since.

After the shock, she decided to do free workshops online every day to help out parents who had been thrown into home-schooling. She did that for 14 weeks and it made her realise the potential for cooking coaching through Zoom.

I had the summer staring ahead of me; I thought I was going to be massively busy going to events all over the country and then I had nothing. I decided to do cooking summer camps and make it as practical as possible for people start at 11am and finish at 1pm and then they would have a meal ready for lunch.

Since running the camps for three weeks in July, she has started one-off classes and six-week terms for cooking family dinners and snacks. Theyre live and interactive: It works really, really well; I was surprised.

She is also being booked for childrens cook along sessions through libraries, under the auspices of Healthy Ireland. My focus is on cooking not baking, she says. Baking is great but its not going to sustain your child when they go to college they are not going to live on chocolate chip cookies.

After giving up her job, she studied to be a health coach and was reading about childhood obesity. She also wondered why when they went out to eat as a family, there was often little more than pizza or chicken nuggets on the menu for under 12s. Thats when I decided I wanted to work with kids and teach them about food.

She chose that target audience because I thought there is lots of information out there for parents but very little positive food education for children. She has focused on starting young with pre-school children.

There have been a few State initiatives to tackle the obesogenic environment but she believes it needs a much more concerted national approach, yet she cant see that being a Government priority in the current crisis.

She despairs when she hears about incidents such as a friends child being told by a junior infants teacher that theyd have a race to see who could eat their lunch quickest so they could get out into the yard. We are not giving our children the skills to eat, let alone cook. They are not getting the basics of how we should all sit at the table and eat and chat at the table.

Doyle knows she wont be going into preschools any time soon, so she is recording workshops for them, which they can do at their own pace.

She also has a small shop online selling safe knives and peelers, which she initially got to use in her workshops but have proved very popular. They enable children as young as two and three years old to peel and chop vegetables themselves, which means they are much more likely to taste them.

Having participated in Acorns for 2018-19, she found the network aspect really powerful. Her mentor was Mary B Walsh, founder and managing director of Ire Wel Pallets in Co Wexford.

She gave us one piece of advice that I think we will all remember, which was chase the money.

For all the ideas about fanciful projects, the bottom line is, you cant be in business if youre not making money.

See more here:
Motherhood can be motivation and inspiration for setting up a business - The Irish Times

By Steve ReedAP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE (AP) There were days when running back Mike Davis wanted to quit the NFL, frustrated over his role as a practice squad player with the Seattle Seahawks.

But the memory of his brothers brief NFL career as well as a motivational speaker helped change that.

Now, two years later, the 27-year-old Davis is set to take over as the Carolina Panthers starting running back on Sunday against the Chargers replacing All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, who was moved to short-term injured reserve Wednesday and will miss at least three games because of a high ankle sprain.

What stands out most is I never gave up, Davis said of his journeyman career in the NFL which has seen him play for four teams. It could have been so easy for me to give in when I was in Seattle being on a practice squad. It was real depressing and there were times where I was like, I dont want to do this no more.'

His older brother, James Davis, made that mistake and it cost him.

James Davis was a star at Clemson who went on to play for the then-Washington Redskins. But in 2011 he became disgruntled with his lack of reps and left the team, later asking for his release. He wound up on a few other NFL practice squads, but never played another down in the league and finished his career with just 75 yards rushing on 28 carries.

My brother, he was very talented and he should have had more years than he did, Mike Davis said.

Davis said he learned many lessons from his older brother including how to stay in shape and save his money.

He also drew motivation during those internal struggles while on the Seahawks practice squad when he stumbled across a video of motivational speaker Eric Thomas You Owe You speech. He watched it every morning when he woke up at 6 a.m.

Every day I took going against the (starters) in practice like it was a game for me, and it was a challenge, Davis said. I treated every day like it could be my last.

Eventually, he got his shot.

As Seattles backfield became depleted with injuries later that season in 2018, Davis was signed to the 53-man roster and stepped in and ran for 514 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry that season. He also caught 34 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown.

He parlayed that into a two-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Bears the following season, but only carried 11 times before being released by Chicago.

The Panthers claimed him off waivers last year and now Davis is looking to make the most out of his latest opportunity after a strong training camp.

It was there that he grabbed the attention of running backs coach Jeff Nixon. Nixon championed Davis battle, telling head coach Matt Rhule that Davis had what it took to be a starting running back in the NFL. Davis went on to beat out incumbent Reggie Bonnafon for the No. 2 spot behind McCaffrey to start the season.

Still, Davis barely saw the field in Carolinas 34-30 loss to the Raiders in Week 1 playing behind McCaffrey.

Its hard to take Christian off the field because hes such a good player, Rhule admitted.

But the Panthers vowed to get Davis more work in Week 2 and he finished with eight catches for 74 yards after McCaffrey went down.

Davis should get the bulk of carries on Sunday, although Bonnafon will see action too.

He runs with speed and power, Rhule said.

Davis road is quite different than the man he replaces in the starting lineup Sunday. McCaffrey came into the league as a first-round draft pick and wasted no time showing he was an elite player in this league. Davis was a fourth-round pick by the 49ers in 2015 out of South Carolina and has struggled to find a permanent home.

Davis said his goal heading into Sunday is to play angry and not try to do too much.

Im not going to try to do anything crazy because thats when bad plays happen, Davis said.

___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Visit link:
Motivated Davis ready for his chance while Panthers' All-Pro McCaffrey is out - Salisbury Post - Salisbury Post

Late actor Irrfan Khans son Babil Khan recently took to Instagram to share apost, where he stated that he is seeking motivation. A lot of fans responded to his post giving him suggestions while many fans even regarded him as their own motivation. Take a look at what the late actor Irrfan Khan's son Babil Khan shared on Instagram from London.

ALSO READ|Babil Khan Fascinated By The Idea Of 'off-license'; Posts Pictures From A Supermarket

ALSO READ|Irrfan Khan's Son Babil Khan Posts A Heartwarming Picture With Mother

A while ago, Babil Khan posted a picture with his mother in which she can be seen hugging him tightly.Babil can be seen smiling for the camera as he has wrapped his arms around his mother. Babil captioned the post stating, "You told me to take care oher but it turned out that she took care of us like you did. Mamma.That lighthouse in the storm, I hope I can give you the world to travel, and everything more that you desire, there is nothing left for me to live now but you and Ayaan:)".

Babil Khan often posts unseen pictures of his father Irrfan Khan, his mother and some of their family pictures as well. A dayago he shared an emotional note whileremembering his father. He captioned his post as "I slept for 14 hours and I didnt want to wake up cause I was dreaming about you. Waking up is the worst, I hate realising every day that youre gone. You didnt say anything, we just laughed. (Hes playing the OG bounce)".

ALSO READ|Babil Khan Shows Pics Of What Irrfan Khan Wrote On His Walls When He Left For London

Lunchboxactor Irrfan Khan had married writer and fellow NSD graduate Sutapa Sikdar, with whom he has two sons including 28-year-old Ayan Khan and Babil Khan who is in his early 20s. The actorpassed away at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Mumbai at the age of53. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and was receiving treatment for the same, but was admitted in April for a colon infection.He passed awaydue to complications related tocolon infection. Irrfan breathed his last on April 29, 2020.

ALSO READ|Irrfan Khan's Son Babil Khan Says 'Skip The Year For Me Please'; Fans Concur The Sentiment

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.

Read more:
Babil Khan says he needs to find motivation, fans ask him to look in the mirror - Republic World - Republic World

The environmental and economic challenges of 2020 have leaders scrambling to keep their teams focused, motivated and above all else, healthy. During disruptive times, its easy to fall into ineffective work streams by taking on too much or failing to clearly communicate objectives. Spending time and energy on tasks that fail to return positive results or growth kills motivation. Today, most teams are busier than ever, rebuilding 2020 plans -possibly more than once - or taking on more responsibility due to reduction or delay in resources. Working towards a constantly moving target makes staying motivated nearly impossible.

It may sound simple, but maintaining open and constant communication and setting smart KPIs the most effective way to keep your team on target and progressing. Even bad news communicated is better than no news communicated - and can help rally support from all levels to get back on track or pivot from an ineffective strategy. Leaders today must communicate over and above (almost to a point of annoyance), especially with limited face to face interaction that leaders previously relied on to accomplish goals.

Most leaders stabilized their strategy and their teams are producing at an appropriate level, allowing them to turn their attention back to business growth and building their teams. Like everything else this year, recruiting practices require a process shift. Lack of in-person interviews makes it more difficult to gauge a candidates personality and cultural fit within an organization - which is more important than ever. Its critical to hire candidates who can hit the ground running.

Leaders should pay just as much attention to a potential employees work ethic, values and cultural fit as they do their work experience and ability to meet the job requirements. Leaders recognize the importance of having a workforce with a shared set of values and culture. As businesses navigate through current disruption and plan for a post-Covid-19 world, they must be prepared for implications on their teams engagement. The onset of the pandemic tested many companies cultures and demonstrated that those committed to supporting a strong company culture and values prior to the crisis were more easily able to weather the storm. So how can business leaders create this level of team engagement?

Organizations must quickly adapt during crisis, accepting new ways of working, communicating and servicing clients. With a nimble workforce that is always prepared to pivot, even at the eleventh hour, companies can continue to thrive even in times of crisis. If your company lacks this agility, take the opportunity to re-evaluate your culture and examine how you can future-proof your workforce.

Dedicate yourself to developing a culture that embraces change. A good leader values growth over comfort, so inspire your team to do the same. Remember that for some employees embracing change can be a challenge. In our comfort zone we feel experienced, knowledgeable and in-charge, whereas we can be anxious and resistant during uncertain times. As a leader, realize that nothing is permanent except change. If you can do that, employees will be ready and even excited for what will come or what they might learn when the change happens.

Reward employees when they make rapid, informed decisions. These star employees are vital in fast paced industries and in times of crisis. When you reward employees for their ability to act decisively and implement plans without delay, you increase their confidence and eliminate future hesitation. That will help you create a flexible, confident, authoritative workforce which will be the cornerstone of success during difficult times. Invest in training and inspire confidence among your employees - and your workforce will respond with the business overarching goals in mind.

Encourage a team-first mentality. The feeling that everyone on the team is in this together will help your organization weather the toughest situations. We are more powerful together than we are on our own. While competition is healthy in most environments and can bring out the best in some individuals, it can be disruptive to have hyper competition within teams during difficult situations. Leaders must cultivate a team culture and hire accordingly, so the business can reap the rewards of a collaborative workforce. When employees work together to achieve a common goal, they feel a sense of ownership and pride in the team and companys shared achievements. Teamwork, efficiency, motivation and creativity also reduce employee burnout. Strong teams are able to continue producing quality work under pressure, maintain momentum and continue delivering business value.

Inspire employees to make bold, brave moves. While some employees are naturally confident and self-reliant, other employees might need more reassurance by their managers. Make it a priority to inspire employees to be more self-assured and you can increase productivity and creativity. Welcome ideas from across the workforce, from both senior and junior staff members. When employees understand that those who make calculated data driven decisions succeed faster than those who are very risk-averse, they will be more willing to share new ideas that may challenge the status quo.

Ensure that you are not hiring people who think just like you. Diversify the pool of employee backgrounds and experience to drive creativity and innovation. Building a team of employees with both deep technical expertise and critical thinking skills across various disciplines gives companies a competitive edge; a team of divergent thinkers with unique perspectives results in fresh ideas and inventive new ways to improve services or products. Invest in curating a team with diverse training and backgrounds, retain top talent and you will outpace and out-innovate organizations not following suit.

Hire people who treat clients, partners and colleagues with the respect they deserve. Be a champion for this behavior and ensure that managers and business leaders do the same. Lead by example to create an inclusive, positive work environment where employees feel valued, supported and nurtured.

Instill a culture that values talent and hard work. Ensure your employees understand they are valued for their ability to do the job well, and are not limited by their previous training. Give everyone in the workforce the opportunity to grow personally and build a career, regardless of their background and skill set. Give employees the chance to explore new skills and exceed expectations in a workplace that rewards talent, good work and a positive attitude.

Dedicated leaders who invest in company culture create united and engaged teams that enhance workforce productivity and - in turn - company growth. Keeping a sharp focus on personality, cultural fit, and diversity benefits not only your employees, but the company itself. Employees will be empowered and thrive in this environment driving creativity and innovation.

Remember, company culture is not just a checkbox it should be a shared set of values that transforms and drives the workforce and benefits the business. If you commit to strong company values now, you will create a resilient workforce that will continue to prosper through periods of blue skies and crisis.

Phil Ahad, Chief Digital Officer, Toluna

Originally posted here:
How to build and keep your team motivated during uncertain times - ITProPortal

I should point out that while it could shift in the days and weeks to come, polling initially shows that former Vice President Joe Biden's voters have been more likely to be fired up about Supreme Court selections and that voters overall trust Biden more on a Supreme Court selection. A new Marquette University Law School poll paints the landscape well. Nationally, it finds that 59% of Biden voters say that appointing the next Supreme Court justice is very important to their vote. Compare that with only 51% of Trump voters. This finding matches what we saw in a CNN/SSRS poll last month. In that poll, 78% of Biden backers told pollsters that nominating the next justice was extremely or very important to their vote. That compared with 64% of Trump supporters. (It was 47% Biden supporters and 32% Trump supporters who said it was extremely important.) Compare these numbers to what we saw heading into the 2016 election. The final CNN/ORC poll in that cycle showed that 58% of Trump supporters said that nominating the next Supreme Court justice was extremely important to their vote, while only 46% of Hillary Clinton voters said the same. In the 2016 exit poll, Trump beat Clinton by a 15 point margin among those who put Supreme Court appointments as the most important factor to their vote.

In other words, it seems, at least initially, that unlike in 2016, a Supreme Court nominating fight could be more of a motivating factor for Democrats than Republicans.

Of course, this election is going to be fought in the swing states and it's going to be fought over the few voters who are still persuadable at this stage.

Biden was more trusted to pick a nominee in the average of all three states by a 53% to 41% margin. That was actually larger than his average lead against Trump in the horserace of 50% to 41% in the three states.

But perhaps more interesting is what the New York Times found among persuadable voters (i.e. those who said they could change their mind or were not backing either Biden or Trump). They preferred Biden to pick the next nominee by a 49% to 31% margin.

And among those voters who might not vote (i.e. those who said were less than very likely to cast a ballot), Biden led Trump by a 52% to 23% margin on who would be better at picking the next Supreme Court justice.

In other words, it seems that if the Supreme Court is a motivating factor for voters in these key swing states, it'll be more likely to get voters out for Biden than Trump.

Of course, this is just a preliminary look before voters knew that there would be another Supreme Court vacancy during Trump's first term in office. There are a number of complicating factors that could shift things.

Will Biden lose his edge on the Supreme Court, if Democrats try to block that nominee? Maybe, although I'm at least somewhat skeptical of polling on this issue.

Although a majority of Democrats (61%) were for expanding the size of the Supreme Court in the Marquette poll, a majority of independents (56%) were against it.

The bottom line is there's a lot we still don't know. The days and weeks will clarify, but for now the polling indicates that the topic of filling a vacancy helps Biden not Trump.

Here is the original post:
Unlike 2016, polling this year suggests Democrats more motivated by Supreme Court than Republicans - CNN