BOXER Nav Mansouri says the prospect of becoming Rotherhams first British champion in 100 years has given him extra motivation going into the biggest fight of his career.

The super-welterweight takes on the dangerous Kieron Conway on August 14 as part of a highly publicised programme of boxing comeback shows at top promoter Eddie Hearns Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood, Essex.

The winner is expected to get a shot at the British belt.

Mansouri was due to have a warm-up bout before taking on Conway until the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sport in March. Three months on, the 31-year-old has been catapulted straight into the showdown against the up-and-coming Conway, who has won 14 of his 16 pro fights.

Rotherham hasnt had a British boxing champion since Tommy Gummer won the Middleweight belt in 1920 a fact not lost on Mansouri.

That is some piece of history, he said. That gives me more fire I need to make this happen.

This is a massive opportunity for me and it couldnt come at a better time considering the way I have been training and preparing.

Mansouri, with 20-3 win-loss record, returned from his permanent base in Spain before lockdown to push his claims back in Britain after being on the wrong end of a couple of points decisions there.

The pandemic crisis came at the time when his partner was home in her native Lithuania with their child. Missing his family, Mansouri eventually took a three-day trip by ferry and road to see them.

Although that was tough, the fighter used the down time to improve on his already sharp fitness and has continued it at trainer Kevin Lilleys base in Wickford, Essex.

The set-up there is bang on. Everything is 100 per cent, he said. I have seven weeks until this fight but I have been training constantly, even since before the lockdown. It has been the best thing for me because I could focus on training and nothing else.

I couldnt be happier. I have the fire back and that motivation to win that feeling is back and that can be dangerous in this division.

Mansouri faces the surreal prospect of fighting behind closed doors at a venue dubbed Eddie Hearns back garden.

And at this stage in his career, Nav knows it is make or break time for him.

This is the one, he added. I have Kieron Conway standing in my way. Hes a good kid but it will be a mistake to look past me and he could be in for a shock.

This is my chance and I intend taking it.

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Nav Mansouri motivated to end Rotherham's 100-year wait for a British boxing champion - Rotherham Advertiser

Painted by David Thacker of Port Austin. (Courtesy/ David Thacker)

Painted by David Thacker of Port Austin. (Courtesy/ David Thacker)

Painted by David Thacker of Port Austin. (Courtesy/ David Thacker)

Painted by David Thacker of Port Austin. (Courtesy/ David Thacker)

Port Austinartist shares his story and motivations with the world

PORT AUSTIN Painting in the tranquil village of Port Austin is notable artist David Thacker inspired by everything around him.

Sometimes, it will be a dream, movie, or another artist, Thacker said. My favorite show piece is the Mother Teresa. It was inspired by Andy Warhol. I wanted to change it and make it pop. It is explicit, but simple to me.

Thacker was deeply hurt over the way he saw people treat one another during the past couple of months, when desperate and scared. As general manager at the Dollar General in town, Thacker witnessed several customers fighting over various store items.

It was a good time to remind people of humanity, Thacker said. I am an essential worker. I have seen the worst in people. I have seen people act savage for toilet paper. I have seen people snatch items from the elderly. Ive seen some terrible things. Ive cried over it. People are mean.

He has chosen to express these feelings through the colorful strokes of his paint brush.

It seemed like the right painting at the right time, he said. I worked seven days a week and the nicest thing anyone did for me was buy a Coke. It brought me to tears.

In sync with the world around him, Thacker paints the intangible onto blank canvases. Abstract brushstrokes seemingly mimic real life, often somehow harmonizing with the thoughts and feelings of its future owner. He spoke of a young boy, whom he has grown rather fond of over the years.

I met a young kid, Thacker said. He bought a joker painting,

Oddly enough, Thacker had just painted exactly what the boy was looking for.

It was meant just for him, he said, left without another explanation. Then, they came back the next year and asked for a unicorn. I just painted one the day before.

Another family came out to the market looking for a Dragon Ball Z picture.

And I just did one, Thacker said. Maybe they are putting it out into the universe just as much as I am.

For the self-taught artist, his work is dependent on mood.

There are no expectations, he said. It can just be. The freedom is wonderful. When it comes out beautiful, it is the icing on the cake.

Thacker shared his two favorite pieces: Chaos and Just Dream. Dream was inspired by French impressionistic painter Claude Monet.

It has bright colors in a blur of water, said Thacker. To me, it is marvelous. I just cant bring myself to sell it. It just happened without any expectations. It is freedom. It is like being a dream. If only I could just walk into my own painting. Each is a window into my eyes.

Thackers art did not fully blossom until he moved from the streets of Detroit up to the quiet lake town he now calls home. It was 1996 and Thacker was just 16 years old.

My mom passed away when I was 15 from an overdose, he said. I was living on the streets.

Orphaned, as he had been numerous times before, Thacker knew his options.

It was getting locked up in juvenile hall or running away, he said. I came up here with friends on camping trip. A friend asked if I wanted to do farm work in the fields. I did it and did it for years. I floated back and forth, but this became home base.

Thacker made the decision to attend the Huron Area Technical Center in Bad Axe, where he completed his GED.

God put me here, I believe, said Thacker. I had to do it for myself. I didnt want to have nothing. I wanted to graduate."

From there, the painter did what he knew best and continued painting. However, this was far from the birth place of his unique artistic expression.

I remember being in preschool and being taken away from mom, the Thacker said. I would have that time in art class and want to give it to mom. It was my way of showing her that I loved and missed her.

Thacker remembered living with his aunt going back to his mother. He would live in and out of the foster care system for the remainder of his childhood.

I was taken away again and went with another family, he said. Then, I lived with the Potts. They were terrible. They just did it for the check. The next family wanted to adopt, but my mom fought and won us back.

When Thacker went back to live with his mother, his art was finally embraced.

She covered a wall with my finger paintings, Thacker said. The entire wall was covered. She was not the best mom, but she bought me the best art supplies. Finger paints were my first paints.

In the third grade, he attended Davison Elementary and was selected to be in a special art program.

Detroit schools took five to seven of the most talented kids and put them in a special program, Thacker said. They always put my art on the walls. My mom would come in and take pictures. I would be embarrassed. Now, I can see how important that was.

Thacker's art still hangs on its walls today.

It was my contribution to the school, he said.

Oddly enough, Thacker donated some of his art to the "Suite Dreams Project" in Detroit a couple years back.

They support that same school and I didnt even know that, he said, reminiscing on his time there. I will never forget my art teacher. He was my favorite part. I will never forget the first time I used acrylics. I cant tell you the first time I kissed somebody, but I can tell you the first time I used acrylics.

Today, Thackers work sells at The Cove in Port Austin and local craft shows, including the Holly Berry Fair in Caseville, Port Austin Farmers Market, and Port Austins Art in the Park.

The market is my bread and butter, he said. It is wonderful. Hundreds of people see your work and it is lucrative. Between that and regular life, I stay pretty busy.

Thackers paintings are currently on display at the market, where all but six have already sold this year.

Thacker ensures his prices meet the diverse monetary needs of all customers.

There is a range the highest being $450 down to $20, he said. There has got to be something for everyone. That kid that works all summer you know he cant afford it. That joker painting was just three simple colors. They sell pretty quickly. I am doing well, but this is where the art took off."

There was a single table at Thacker's first Port Austin craft show. Only seven paintings and a handful bracelets laid across it. At first, he struggled.

"Now, I love it here," he said. "I am our local artist. It is food for the soul. It is fabulous to walk down the street and hear 'That is our local artist!' I want everyone to feel inspired artistically. I just want people to be happy."

Thacker's art can be found online at http://www.facebook.com/Thackers-Art-Alley-124193411023027.

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Port Austin artist shares his story and motivations with the world - Huron Daily Tribune

From Malaika Arora To Karanvir Bohra TV & Film Actors Laud Government For Banning Chinese Apps (Pic credit: Vishal Dadlani/Karanvir Bohra/Facebook )

The governments decision to ban 59 Chinese applications, including TikTok, has been lauded by a lot of celebrities from the film and TV industry.

Malaika Arora considers the move as the best news she has heard in lockdown so far.

Finally, we will not be subjected to peoples ridiculous videos, she wrote on Instagram Stories.

According to Shararat fame Karanvir Bohra, blocking of Chinese applications is a great start.

Happy with the step our government had taken.people wonder what they can do for their country? Id say every bit counts, this is a good start.#DELETE #ChineseAppsBlocked, Karanvir said.

Actor Kushal Tandon is extremely happy. For the uninitiated, Kushal has been protesting against the use of Chinese applications, especially TikTok, for a long time. Finally some good news, he wrote.

Actor Ashmit Patel too called it the best news

It made my day, Ashmit added.

Thank youu for saving our country. This Virus named TikTok should never be allowed again, Nia Sharma tweeted.

Actor Nikitin Dheer shared advantages of banning Chinese applications.

A start to cutting off revenue, spyware, malware etc. And m****s asking why dont we attack China it just shows how ignorant you are, army doesnt need our advice on how to , if you have not read, a lot of industrial contracts have been cancelled, he wrote.

However, it seems music composer Vishal Dadlani is not impressed by the governments decision.

He tweeted: Banning Apps is to China, what Taali/Diyas were to coronavirus.

The Narendra Modi government on Monday banned 59 Chinese applications over national security concerns amid strained India-China relations after the death of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley clash with Chinese PLA troops in eastern Ladakh. The apps banned include TikTok, WeChat, WeSync, SelfieCity, Helo, UC Browser, Shareit, Kwai, Likee, and the game Clash Of Kings, which were popular in India.

Android & IOS users, download our mobile app for faster than ever Bollywood & Box Office updates!

The post From Malaika Arora To Karanvir Bohra TV & Film Actors Laud Government For Banning Chinese Apps appeared first on Koimoi.

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Tamannaah Bhatia Shares Fitness Tips With Fans & It's All The Motivation You Need Today | Ydraft - Ydraft

The impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the workplace has been far-reaching with many employers discovering that while there were certainly benefits to working at home, there were also a number of setbacks.

In fact, a recent survey conducted by digital marketing agency BlueGhost Czech polled team members across a number of sectors who said that working from home presented challenges: no overview of who is working on what, long energy-sapping virtual meetings, and an overall lack of productivity.

Nothing can hinder engagement like uncertainty and nothing can lead to low productivity and heavy losses like a lack of engagement says mentor and coach Rainer Bach, the founder of MyFeedBach, a company that specializes in helping frontline managers increase team motivation and engagement.

Bach says that a strong focus on the motivational aspect of leadership and a people-centered approach is now more important than ever.

The basic needs of employees autonomy, competence, and connectedness have not changed because they work from home, but the circumstances under which to satisfy them have, he says.

Bachs newly launched five-step mentoring program D.R.I.V.E. is a unique blend of coaching and training that combines his research and extensive experiences in leadership roles, particularly in the IT sector. It aims to help frontline managers who are experiencing low engagement in their teams.

Bach, who held a leadership position at Deutsche Telekom for more than two decades, started his freelance consulting career in 2014. During this time he helped a number of large clients in Prague lead digital transformation programs.

It was then that he realized how those in the project management roles were struggling to get things done in cross-functional teams.

They were feeling overloaded with functional and administrative tasks, he recalls. Project Managers typically didnt have time to care for the needs of the experts doing the actual work, and that had an immediate impact on those peoples engagement.

Bach discovered that a lack of care and the resulting frustration of employees needs also led to disengagement.

The line managers I observed didnt intend to give their direct reports a hard time. Being under pressure themselves, they were often failing to care for and motivate their people, he says.

One common problem he witnessed, particularly in the IT sector, was that those in charge often viewed themselves as subject matter experts above all.

Getting deeply technically involved, their analytical brain was operating at full capacity while their social brain, shut down. This makes sense because science shows us they are mutually exclusive, says Bach whose science-based D.R.I.V.E. program incorporates his studies into the psychology of employee engagement.

Bach, who has led popular seminars and workshops at co-working hubs around Prague also stresses the importance of helping those in leadership roles to understand their employees basic psychological needs and how to cater to them and in turn unlock their employees hidden capacities and talents.

Unawareness of what truly makes people go above and beyond and trying to approach motivation in a costly hit-or-miss kind of way often results in employee dissatisfaction, he says.

For knowledge workers of the digital age, Bach says opportunities for meaningful and challenging work, task ownership, and personal growth drive motivation not bonuses, incentives, gifts, or awards.

Bach recalls seeing people feeling bad despite having received a bonus because they were the only ones considered, even though the success was a team effort. On the contrary, he vividly remembers people around me having been on cloud 9 for days simply because they made progress on their work which they truly felt attached to.

He believes that motivationally savvy team leaders understand what people are intrinsically driven by and support them in getting there. Less skilled leaders run the risk of thwarting peoples needs and drive employees into disengagement.

There is the old saying that people leave managers and not companies. It rightly suggests that the direct manager takes the lion share when it comes to influencing the well-being and, therefore, the engagement of the individual, says Bach, whose program encourages managers to value their peoples daily needs, while interacting with empathy.

When people give reasons for their frustration or for leaving a job, it almost always starts with My manager and continues doesnt support my growth, doesnt give me meaningful work, ignores my ideas for change, or micromanages me, Bach adds.

He is convinced that when you listen and act upon your employees needs, you engage their competencies fully helping them develop into proactive problem solvers who ensure the smooth flow of business operations and ultimately contribute creatively to your firms innovation and success,

In the end, Bach believes that team leaders whose teams lag far behind in their targets due to low employee satisfaction will benefit greatly from his new program, which ratchets up leaders motivational skills while ensuring learning retention and goal attainment with follow up coaching.

When you effectively turn your employees into guardians of your high-quality business operations and give them a great sense of well-being at the same time you will see incredibly positive results, he says.

Do you want to learn more about D.R.I.V.E.? Visit MyFeedBach.eu

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How to jump-start team motivation and performance in the digital age - Expats.cz

People want to help each other, even when it costs them something and even when the motivations to help dont always align, a new study suggests.

In research published earlier this month in the journal Science Advances, sociologists found that people overwhelmingly chose to be generous to otherseven to strangers, and even when it seems one motivation to help might crowd out another.

It is the first study to examine how all the established motivations to be generous interact with one another.

We wanted to do an exhaustive study to see what the effects of those motivations would be when combinedbecause they are combined in the real world, where people are making choices about how generous or kind to be with one another, said David Melamed, lead author of the study and an associate professor of sociology at The Ohio State University.

RELATED: Johns Hopkins is Offering Free Online Course in Psychological First Aid

The study involved more than 700 people, and was designed to help researchers understand prosocial behavior.

It means doing something for someone else at a cost to yourself, Melamed said. So one example would be paying for the person behind yous order at the coffee shop. Or right now, wearing your mask in public. Its a cost to you; its uncomfortable. But you contribute to the public good by wearing it and not spreading the virus.

Scientists previously had determined that four motivators influenced people to behave in a way that benefited other people.

MORE: How to Be Happier During COVIDDecades of Science Shows That Gratitude, Love, and Connection Can Save Your Life

One: The recipient of a kindness is inclined to do something nice for the giver in return. Two: A person is motivated to do something nice to someone that she saw be generous to a third person. Three: A person is likely to do good in the presence of people in their network who might reward their generosity. And four: A person is likely to pay it forward to someone else if someone has done something nice for her.

Those four motivators had all been studied isolated from one another, and some had been studied as a pairbut until this experiment, scientists had not conducted a comprehensive study about how the four motivators might affect one another in the real world, where the motivation to be kind to others might be influenced by multiple factors.

In the real world, the conditions under which people are nice to each other are not isolatedpeople are embedded in their networks, and theyre going about their daily lives and coming into contact with things that will affect their decisions, Melamed said. And these experiments show that all the motivations work. If you want to maximize prosocial behavior, it was a really great thing to see.

CHECK OUT: The Science of KindnessBiology Proves How We Are All Connected

For this study, which was done online, participants had to decide how much of a 10-point endowment to give to other people. The points had monetary value to the participants; giving cost them something.

Then the researchers created different scenarios that combined one or all four of the potential motivators for giving.

Melamed said that prior to the experiment, he thought the motivations for kindness might crowd one another out. For example, a person may be less apt to indirectly reward anothers generosity toward a third person when he is focused on directly giving back help that he received.

LOOK: Doing Something Nice For Others Can Immediately Relieve Sensations of Physical and Mental Pain, Says New Study

People have a self-bias, he said. If you do something nice for me, I may weigh that more than if I see you do something nice for someone elsebut we found that all the motivators still show up as predictors of how much a person is willing to give to someone else, regardless of how the differing motivators are combined.

This research helps us understand the remarkable quantity and diversity of prosocial behavior we see in humans, Melamed said.

From an evolutionary perspective, its kind of perplexing that it even exists, because youre decreasing your own fitness on behalf of others, Melamed said. And yet, we see it in bees and ants, and humans and throughout all of nature.

Reprinted from Ohio State University file photo by Toa Heftiba

Restore Your Friends Faith In Humanity By Sharing This Inspiring Research To Social Media

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People Try to Do Right by Each OtherNo Matter the Motivation, Says New Scientific Study - Good News Network

Hina Khan has shared a new video on her social media and it definitely looks like something that we can all benefit from amid the ongoing lockdown. Check it out right here.

The lockdown has given everyone time to spend on themselves and something that we all have been working on is to work out and stay fit. While some have made efforts to get back to fitness, others have made an attempt to stick to their routine schedules and be disciplined. Talk about it and you cannot miss Hina Khan, who keeps sharing photos and videos as a part of glimpses for the fans.

And now, she went on to share a video of her workout which is about 5 minutes long and it sure will prove to be helpful for anyone who wishes to keep up with their fitness. While the week has just started, some motivation does go a long way and hence, we can all make some use from this video, especially if you are someone who wishes to get to it. The actress has kept it simple and well, we bet it is something that is good to get habituated with as a part of everyday routine.

Apt much? Try some of them out and drop your comments on how did it go.

Meanwhile, Hina also spoke about the ongoing debate on nepotism and she went on to say, "If I talk about myself, I have done TV, films, web series, music videos and now I am doing a digital film. I am giving my best because I know that I will have to perform well in all my films then someone might notice me. We need to work very hard to get noticed by a big producer or director,"

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Hina Khan shares a workout video and it is all the motivation you need to start your week on a fit note; WATCH - PINKVILLA

The start of the week always has us wishing the weekend did not end, so we could just sleep a little bit longer or just relax without doing anything. It is very common to have the Monday blues, cause we all know that we will have a gruelling week of work ahead that will leave us with no time for rest. So we all need a bit of motivation to get our week started on a positive note and for it to continue till the next weekend. Also Read - These Inspirational Sunday Quotes Will Keep You Thinking And Going Throughout The Week

The quotes below are from well known personalities of the world, and they not only motivate us to get up and get going but also how to think positive thoughts so that we go through the week without any problems. Also Read - Feeling Down And Out? Here Are 10 Inspirational Quotes by The Dalai Lama to Lighten Your Load

1. Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasnt arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and Im going to be happy in it. (Groucho Marx) Also Read - Here Are 10 Inspirational Quotes From Mahatma Gandhi to Help You Live Life to The Fullest

2. When you start to do the things that you truly love, it wouldnt matter whether it is Monday or Friday; you would be so excited to wake up each morning to work on your passions. (Edmond Mbiaka)

3. Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier & healthier life. (Germany Kent)

4. If you dont design your own life plan, chances are youll fall into someone elses plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much. (Jim Rohn)

5. Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. (Albert Einstein)

6. Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. (Dalai Lama)

7. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from a horse master. He told me to go slow to go fast. I think that applies to everything in life. We live as though there arent enough hours in the day but if we do each thing calmly and carefully we will get it done quicker and with much less stress. (Viggo Mortensen)

8. Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again. (Richard Branson)

9. Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. (Mark Twain)

10. The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others. (Unknown)

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Monday Motivation: These 10 Inspirational Quotes Will Leave You Eager to Start The Week - India.com

Tuesday, which comes after Monday, is in many parts of the world considered to be the second day of the week. For most, the day is no different from the first day of the week as there is still a lot of work to get done. Bogged down with work and working from home, is making many feel the Tuesday blues and in need of a bit of inspiration to keep pushing on. Also Read - Monday Motivation: These 10 Inspirational Quotes Will Leave You Eager to Start The Week

In a bid to inspire you, we bring to you 10 quotes by well known personalities with the hope they make you think positive, work hard and smart. Also Read - Feeling Down And Out? Here Are 10 Inspirational Quotes by The Dalai Lama to Lighten Your Load

1. Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The suns rays do not burn until brought to a focus. (Alexander Graham Bell) Also Read - Here Are 10 Inspirational Quotes From Mahatma Gandhi to Help You Live Life to The Fullest

2. Im a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. (Thomas Jefferson)

3. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. (Thomas Edison)

4. Dont judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. (Robert Louis Stevenson)

5. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. (Dale Carnegie)

6. Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself to whatever you do, whether youre a janitor or taking your first summer job because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life. (Tyler Perry)

7. Dont be afraid to give your best to what are seemingly small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. (William Patten)

8. Dreams can come true, but there is a secret. Theyre realized through the magic of persistence, determination, commitment, passion, practice, focus and hard work. They happen a step at a time, manifested over years, not weeks. (Elbert Hubbard)

9. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. (Steve Jobs)

10. Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work. (Stephen King)

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Tuesday Motivation: Check Out These 10 Quotes That Will Inspire You to Work Hard And Smart - India.com

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Having the freedom to go and enjoy watching my kids play sports and other activities without having the pressure of missing a workout or training session was one reason it was easy to retire, to walk away without any doubts.

While you're still on a roster, training probably is the most important thing going on in any athletes house. For the most part, the entire household moves on the same schedule as my workouts and running.That even goes for sporting events for the kids. Family vacations, cookouts and events usually dont happen until after minicamp.

Things sure have changed this year.

Every weekend, we now load up and head to the parks to watch baseball, although the COVID-19 spike couldshut that down soon, too.Still, I enjoy having something to do and it being sports. I really enjoy it. Im usually the one who packs up the van with a wagon, a cooler full of drinks, a tent and foldable chairs. You know, just a typical day of kids playing baseball at the park.

We were lucky last time, as we had early games before the Tennessee heat and humidity kicked in. The kids went 2-0 in the morning and had to wait for the results that would land them in their pool play for the rest of the weekend. And what was different about this 2-0 start was the team did it without one of their best players.That kid and his family went on vacation, as many families do this time of the year. Id be lying if I didnt say I expected us to struggle some because he bats leadoff and plays shortstop. Hes a really good athlete.

As we were leaving the park, I said to my brother, You know it sucks to know youre one of the best players on the team, and for the first time since the season started, your team goes 2-0 without you.

This isn't an indictment on the kid for going on vacation and missing those games. Nope, we're talking about the psychological side of sports when the fear of missing out will make you feel guilty over something you cant control.

FOMO (fear of missing out) is aterm I've heard athletes use when they feel like an opportunity is missed.

In the world of sports, this happens a lot. Guys miss games because of injuries such as sprained ankles, MCL sprains, concussions or a season-ending setback that leaves you feeling like the world is crashing, especially if your team is having success. At Baltimore in 2014,I sprained my ankle. Any sensible person should have let the next man up finish the game. Except no one had to say anything to me about finishing the game. If I could control the pain, I wasnt leaving.

I finished the game with a heavily taped ankle and a wobble, but playing at Baltimore is a game I wasnt going to miss if I could help it. Check it out on YouTube, near the end of this video:

We've seen players take big hits and still come out and play the following week. I know guys who had MCL surgery and were back on the field within two weeks. The mental makeup of guys wanting to play no matter the circumstance is something that sometimes cant be put in context. I would've rather played a game hurt and have a couple of bad plays than to miss a game.

Thats why its important to have coaches who will shut players down and protect them. Given the opportunity to play, guys are going to take it. If I had something going on during a game, Maurkice Pouncey and I had a method of knowing when to talk to the athletic trainer without feeling like we were letting our teammates down. If Pouncey needed checked out, I always brought it to the attention of the training staff. It takes away the doubt of having others question your toughness or commitment, and it forces pride to take a backseat when your brother looks out for you.

I'm sure my son's teammate and his family checked on the scores over this weekend, and I'll bet the kid had a fear of missing out. It can put a heavy burden on your mind when playing team sports.

During training camp in 2018, my knee was hyperextended on the first day wearing pads at practice. I had pulled ligaments and a deep bone bruise, and, at the time,I thought my season was over and my career possibly was coming to an end. When the MRI came back, I was relieved and optimistic about being able to play again. I pushed hard to get healthybecause I didnt want to miss out on any action.

True pros realize the train keeps moving. It was my intent not to miss that train. I went to every meeting to see who was lining up at left guard and, truthfully, was hoping they werent doing better than I was before being injured.

That might be an eye-opener for readers, but its the truth.

I wanted to start Week 1 against the Browns and prove myself to my guys. I probably was close to 90 percent for the opener, and I had a few things working for me in that, soon after camp, the weather became cooler and it happened to rain that day.

And you know what? I made it.

The biggest advantage I had was the fear of missing games and seeing the team succeed without me. Sports have a lot of life lessons in them. If youre right-minded, you find ways to do things you never did before, pushing and pushing to never feel left out.

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Ramon Foster on playing through pain: Fear of missing out great motivation - DKPittsburghSports.com

49ers' Raheem Mostert reveals how he stays motivated after breakout 2019

Raheem Mostert's journey in the NFL hasn't been a smooth one. After going undrafted coming out of Purdue in 2015, Mostert was cut by six NFL organizations before landing in San Francisco by joining the 49ers' practice squad in November 2016.

Fast forward three years and Mostert is the lead back on the NFC's best team, and he rushed for 220 yards in the NFC Championship Game as the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV. Despite all the success that came with his breakout 2019 campaign, Mostert revealed that he hasn't forgotten all the teams that chose to pass on the 28-year-old.

[RELATED:Rich Eisen believes 49ers have had best offseason of all NFL teams]

"In my phone, in my notes," Mostert told ESPN's Jordan Schultzwhen asked where he keeps the list of those six NFL teams that released him. "Always there. It's never leaving until I can write it off."

Mostert rushed for 1,108 yards between the regular season and three playoff games, adding five touchdowns in that postseason run alone. When pressed on it, Mostert's goals go far beyond what he accomplished in 2019.

"My mindset is always going to be, if I don't make the Hall of Fame," Mostert continued. "I'm going to be more agitated with myself that I didn't do enough. And me missing so many years definitely is going to take an effect to that, but if I do make the Hall of Fame, and all that type of stuff, and that's my attitude, then that's when I'll finally be able to write that off my list and say, 'It was a nice journey and this is what I went through.' "

Given that Mostert had just 41 NFL carries prior to his coming-out party of a2019 season, he's a long way away from the career numbers required of a Hall of Fame running back. Former Arizona Cardinals star Edgerrin James, who will be inducted in 2021, amassed over 12,000 yards over an 11-year NFL career. Mostert enters the 2020 season -- at the age of 28 -- with just 1,069 rushing yards (excluding postseason numbers).

The running back clearly is motivated for 2020, and with most of the 49ers' dynamic offense returning to the lineup, Mostert is in line for another big season in San Francisco.

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Nick Bosa and Joe Staley were at opposite ends of their NFL careers.

It became a regular post-practice scene during training camp last summer when the player in his first NFL season would walk off the field and compare notes with the player taking part in thefinal training camp of his 13-year career.

Staley, an NFL All-Decade left tackle, certainly made Bosa better. Bosa likely did the same for Staley.

Staley is no longer with the 49ers after announcing his retirement in April. Now, Bosa should have a chance to advance his game even further with daily practices against another top-flight offensive tackle assuming camp takes place as scheduled through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The 49ers acquired Trent Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowl performer, in a trade with Washington in April. Williams takes over atleft tackle, where he and Bosa will go up against each other plenty during practice sessions.

My impressions are, the tape Ive watched of him, its pretty impressive, Bosa said last week during the 49ers State of the Franchise virtual event. Im just excited we have a player like that on our team.

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Williams rejoins Kyle Shanahan, for whom he played his first four NFL seasons. In the first year of Mike Shanahan as Washingtons head coach -- and with Kyle as offensive coordinator -- Williams was the teams 2010 first-round draft pick at No. 4 overall.

Im excited that hes familiar with Kyles offense, so (he's) just a great replacement for Joe and Im going to have a really good challenge all training camp, Bosa said. Itll be interesting.

[RELATED:How Nick Bosa's D-line knowledge impressed 49ers legend Bryant Young]

Bosa registered nine sacks during the regular season and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He collected four more sacks in three postseason games.

Williams did not play last season. He held out through the first eight weeks of the season after alleging that Washington team doctors misdiagnosed a cancerous growth on his head. After reporting to the club, he ended up going on the non-football injury list.

It seems like the 49ers just wrapped up an impressive 2020 NFL Draft that saw them add defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, tight end Charlie Woerner and offensive lineman Colton McKivitz.

That's because they did. It's only been about nine weeks since the draft, and due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the 49ers' rookies haven't been able to take the field yet with their teams, learning with coaches by Zoom instead.

While the excitement for the 2020 class is palpable, it's never too early to look at the 2021 class and prognosticate about who the 49ers might add next April.

The 49ers have a loaded roster that's ready to win now. While they don't have a lot of holes to fill, general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan will be looking to add talent at positions they expect will experience turnover in the near future or have a need to upgrade immediately. Now, we know it's way, way, way too early for this and the 49ers' draft spot won't even be determined for six months. But, there's no hard in looking.

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Here's who some of the experts have the 49ers drafting in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 49ers kept Joe Staley's retirement under wraps and were able to swing a trade for Trent Williams to keep their Super Bowl train on time in 2020. The 49ers hope to re-sign Williams after the season, but the interior of their line could use an upgrade.

Humphrey is a center by trade, but he also can slide over and play guard where the 49ers will have an immediate need after releasing Mike Person this offseason. The 49ers will head into 2020 with Daniel Brunskill, Ben Garland and Tom Cotton competing to be the starting right guard. While Brunskill played well in a pinch last season, it's unclear if he's the long-term answer at right guard.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has the 49ers selecting Humphrey, who elected to return to Oklahoma for his senior season. He's a high-IQ center who knows how to leverage his body and frame against defenders. He's a powerful blocker, with good mobility and awareness.

Etienne stunned everyone by electing to return to Clemson for his senior season. Instead of entering a loaded 2020 class, Etienne will be the runaway No. 1 back on the 2021 draft board.

Etienne is a walking home run with incredible breakaway speed and a knack for destroying pursuit angles. He's a huge weapon in the passing game and would give Shanahan yet another YAC weapon to torment defenses with.

CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso has the 49ers selecting Etienne late in the first round. While running back isn't the 49ers' most pressing need and it's normally frowned upon to take one in the first round, it's hard to argue that Etienne wouldn't be a star in the 49ers' offense.

[RELATED: How Aiyuk's potential impact stacks up with loaded rookie class]

The 49ers will need to do something to address their secondary in the 2021 NFL Draft. They enter the 2020 season with no cornerbacks signed after this season.

So, adding a cornerback who can start and be productive immediately should be at the top of the list.

USA Today's Ben Easterling has the 49ers selecting South Carolina cornerback Israel Mukuamu at the back end of the first round.

Mukuamu, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, is an athletic, rangy corner who held his own against NFL caliber receivers in the SEC. He needs to be more disciplined with his footwork near the line of scrimmage, but is a high-upside, press corner who should be able to start on Day 1.

Link:
Mostert reveals how he stays motivated after breakout year - Comcast SportsNet Bay Area