House Democrats have reportedly requested testimony from the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine, who questioned President TrumpDonald John TrumpFederal prosecutors investigating Giuliani: report House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and top Republican to introduce sanctions bill against Turkey Trump lashes out at 2020 Dems, impeachment inquiry MORE's motivations for withholding aid to the country.

Democrats requested to depose diplomat William Taylor as part of their impeachment inquiry, but have not yet scheduled an interview with him or issued a subpoena, multiple sources familiar with the situation told CNN.

In text messages turned over to the House during adeposition from Kurt VolkerKurt VolkerIn testimony, Dems see an ambassador scorned, while GOP defends Trump Cracks emerge in White House strategy as witness testifies Democrats request testimony from US diplomat who questioned Trump motivations on Ukraine MORE, who served as the special envoy to Ukraine, Taylor suggested U.S. military aid was being withheld from Ukraine for political reasons.

Trump had delayed the hundreds of millions in dollars in aid, which had been approved by Congress, just days before he pressed Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky on July 25 to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenFederal prosecutors investigating Giuliani: report Trump lashes out at 2020 Dems, impeachment inquiry In marathon testimony, Dems see an ambassador scorned, while GOP defends Trump MORE, a leading 2020 contender.

Taylor said in a Sept. 9 exchange that the delay of assistance hadshaken [the Ukrainians] faith in us.

As I said on the phone, I think its crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign, he added.

U.S. Ambassador to thethe European Union Gordon Sondland, who had reportedly spoken with Trump on the issue, replied that Taylor was "incorrect about President Trump's intentions" and said he believed Trump had no intention of a "quid pro quo."

Sondland then suggested he and Taylor stop texting on the subject.

Democrats on House committees looking into Trump have also requested that other State Department officials including Sondland testify, but Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoPompeo: 'I wish the NBA would acknowledge' China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims Dem senator urges Pompeo to fire State official accused of retaliation, harassment Democrats request testimony from US diplomat who questioned Trump motivations on Ukraine MORE has sought to block their testimony.

The House has subpoenaed Sondland and he said in a statement Friday that he plans to testify next week in light of that development. It is possible Pompeo will try again to prevent Taylor from testifying.

The Hill has reached out to the House committees and the State Department for comment.

Taylor is the charg daffaires of the embassy in Kiev. He served as ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009.

Read more here:
Democrats request testimony from US diplomat who questioned Trump motivations on Ukraine | TheHill - The Hill

With Mr. Robot on its way out, Rami Malek is one of those actors that seems to have blown up overnight. As the lead in last years award-winning film, Bohemian Rhapsody, Malik quickly became one of Americas sweethearts. But, his overnight success story is actually a long time in the making.

Way back in 2004, Maleks first acting credit was as Andy on the long-running show, Gilmore Girls (yep the one that also starred This Is Us heartthrob, Milo Ventimiglia).

It was a one-time gig so if you blink, you may have missed him. Youve got to start somewhere and this wasnt a bad place to start. Once the acting ball got rolling, Malik found himself in projects like Night at the Museum, 24, The Pacific, and BoJack Horseman before landing the ultimate gig as Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot.

All in all, Maliks resume covers many more areas that recent success will have you believe.

Its been a very slow burn for me career-wise and I think thats kept me very steady, Malek told E! News ahead of Mr. Robots fourth and final season premiere. He credits his family and co-stars for keeping him humble, particularly Carly Chaikin who plays his Mr. Robot on-screen sister.

From the beginning, we became very close and very brother and sister, Chaikin said. He is still him and I always tell him he knows, I dont give a s**t if you won an Oscar. I think its nice for him to have us around, that have known him before that, that just see him for him.

As far as Malik becoming a household name, you can thank his epic performance as Queen frontman, Freddy Mercury, for that. While Bohemian Rhapsody was his breakout role in terms of major accolades, Malik laid the groundwork with his talents for years.

The Emmy, Oscar, and Golden Globe winner may not think of himself as anything more than a working actor, but to watch him in action is an experience in and of itself. That slow burn a Malik calls it set the stage for all his successes now.

On USAs Mr. Robot, Maliks character, Elliot, is a cybersecurity engineer and hacker who battles with a social anxiety disorder and clinical depression. Not only that, but Elliot also suffers from dissociative identity disorderand was a drug addict.

His voiceovers may be unreliable at times, as he becomes an important player in a game of global dominance. Elliot and his allies work in the shadows to take down the corrupt corporation they work for.

The Sam Esmail creation took off in 2015 and the buzz remains as solid as it was when the series began. With Mr. Robots fourth and final season airing Oct. 6 on USA, Malek reflected on his time as Elliot.

Its a been a phenomenal time in my life, Malik said in the same E! News interview. I mean, I dont even know how you can properly articulate whats happened, but its extraordinary.

He continued: Just to have a moment right now where you see where it all began about five years ago, beginning this show, not knowing quite how it would be received by the audience, by America, by the world at large.

Malek concluded the response has been astonishing, and honestly, hes not wrong.

Oftentimes, a name suddenly catapulted into the limelight has been working behind the scenes for years like Malek. As for why he took on the iconic Freddy Mercury role, he felt a make or break scenario in his career.

Kind of the gun-to-the-head moment, he told The Guardian ahead of Bohemian Rhapsodys release. What do you do? And I like to think if its a fight or flight situation, Im going tofight. The scariest endeavors that Ive chosen to take in my life have been the most fulfilling and rewarding. And this has proven to defend that equation.

In Maleks winning Oscar speech for Bohemian Rhapsody, he acknowledged he wasnt the obvious choice but added hes forever in their debt.

In that same speech, Malek spoke of his humble beginnings, confessing his lifelong struggle with identity as the son of immigrants from Egypt. Im a first-generation American. But my story is being written right now and I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you and everyone who believed in me.

Maleks rise was not overnight, just as most top-earning celebrities werent. If anything, his story of perseverance and taking chances is the one thing you might need today to make your own dreams a reality. Heres to you, Rami Malek.

See the article here:
Rami Malek's 'Overnight' Success Story Is All the Motivation You Need Right Now - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

At the end of yet another week when the prevailing rugby mood was a bit on the glum side the postmortem on Thursdays narrow 35-0 win over Russia not making for mood-lifting reading James Slipper reminded us that there is always hope of a brighter day.

After scoring his first try for Australia in his 94th appearance, against Uruguay at the crack of dawn on Saturday, his beam was almost as broad as the gap between the teams. Hopefully the floodgates will open now, he said.

They might too now that hes finally cracked the try-scoring code. But it brought to mind that horrendously cruel terrace chant of old: If Emile Heskey can play for England, so can I.

Maybe we need something similar for our journey in Japan, something like: If James Slipper can score a try for Australia, Ireland can find their World Cup mojo. Its not as catchy, admittedly, but weve heard less inspirational things.

Like, for example, on ITV on Saturday when Mark Pougatch showed Lawrence Dallaglio some dressing-room footage from his days as England captain when he told his underlings before a highly important game that if they didnt win theyd not only be letting their living family down, theyd be failing their dead relations too.

This, we thought, was a rather extreme approach to the art of motivation, sort of your deceased loved ones will spin in their graves if you dont go out and do the job and on your consciences be it if you fail, but Lawrence was evidently very proud of the speech, his nostrils flaring quite violently as he reviewed the clip.

All you could hope was that Johan Deysel didnt impart the same class of message to his Namibian colleagues ahead of their Sunday meeting with New Zealand, because no matter how plucky they proved to be, it was never going to end well. Nor did it.

Plucky they were, though, even surviving the Haka, the performance of which by the All Blacks in front of Namibia being akin to Conor McGregor bullying a five-year-old in the school playground and threatening to knock the living daylights out of him if he didnt hand over his bubble-gum before running for the hills.

Incidentally, the kick-off time in the New Zealand v Namibia game was 5:45am, and if you werent up in time youre only a World Cup fly-by-night. Looking at you, Tommy Bowe, not a sign of him and his Eir Sport crew for the game, himself, Eimear Considine and James Lowe only turning up for the 8:45am clash of France and Tonga.

By then we had a choice of Eir, RT and ITV, all three of them showing this particular game, until now RT only airing Irelands fixtures. Daire OBrien suggested to Bernard Jackman and Fiona Coghlan that it was an almighty relief to get a break from covering our lads games, the pairs heads nodding so hard they nigh on fell off their shoulders.

A more than decent game it was too, although there was a stressful moment for ITV commentator Martin Gillingham, already worn out from apologising for audible fruity language, especially from those uncouth backs, when Tonga brought on Leon Fukofuka as a sub.

Thankfully, were on first name terms with Leon, he said, although over on Eir, Eddie Butler was having no such problems, him displaying his legendary and unrivalled powers of pronunciation, somehow turning Fukofuka into something that sounded like a fragrant flower.

France prevailed, but just. They havent brought their je ne sais quoi to this World Cup, more their je ne sais pas, Pougatch said to Paul OConnell, who asked him to translate because, he intimated, he wasnt taught the language in Ardscoil Rs.

No translation was needed for Le Relief of Le French when they performed the Icelandic thunderclap in Japan after beating Tonga, while a gaggle of supporters in Italian shirts looked on, lest you hadnt grasped the Worldly Cup nature of this adventure.

Back on RT, Daire OBrien was finding his inner Karl ...its too early on a Sunday for a Marxist rant, but at the same time theres such global inequality, theres not much between France and Tonga, only money... a discussion that was not being had at all over on ITV.

The Pougatch man was too busy focusing on all things England. The day the World Cup got serious, he said of Blightys tussle with Argentina.

Irish, Scottish and Welsh fans might well have said Fukofuka you.

Read the original post:
TV view: Dallaglio shows he is deadly when it comes to motivation - The Irish Times

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Former Ohio State safety Christian Bryant managed to exhale as the seconds expired to give the University of Cincinnati a 27-24 upset victory over then-No. 18 Central Florida last Friday night.

It was the Bearcats first victory over a ranked opponent in 10 years. And, more impressively, the defense snapped Central Floridas scoring streak of 30 points per game, the longest streak among any major college team in the poll era (since 1936). The streak ended at 31.

The defense, in part, received a boost from Christians younger brother, cornerback Coby Bryant, a Glenville grad. Against Central Floridas explosive offense, Coby Bryants six tackles were tied for third best on the team.

Big brother, who also played for Glenville High School, was pleased with the outcome but continued his ongoing critique.

Were proud of him, said Christian, a former NFL player drafted by the Rams in 2014. But he has to keep going and make plays on the football.

The relationship between Christian and Coby has been a mix of tough love and instruction since Coby was born when Christian was seven years old. It was Coby who tagged along when his brother played pee wee football and Coby who imitated his brothers drills while he prepared for high school and college football.

Cobys earliest football memories are all about Christian.

Hes been the best big brother I could ever ask for, said Coby, whos 6-1, 190. Christian taught and still teaches me a lot. Each week Im asking him something about school or about something on the field. Im so grateful for my brother.

The bond between the Bryant brothers actually dates back before Coby was born, and it relates to the debate on which family member first suggested his name.

Coby, who was named after NBA great Kobe Bryant, says his parents gave him the name because they were fans of the basketball legend.

Christian says otherwise.

My dad and I still disagree with this story, but Im the one who said he should be named Coby, said Christian, who is involved in real estate in Columbus. Im also a fan and what better name can you name a boy, especially since the plan was already laid out that he was going to have that sports killer mentality like Kobe.

But Coby did not have to watch the great NBA player for his sports example. Coby lived in the same house with his idol.

I always stressed to Coby to duplicate what he sees, said Ronnie Bryant, their father. Hes always seen Christians work ethic and hes benefited from it.

Coby sucked in all of those benefits when he traveled along with his father to all of Christians high school games and during his camps in the summer. Coby continued to tag along with the family when Christian played at Ohio State, under defensive coordinator and one-year head coach Luke Fickell.

Coby would make his own name at Glenville, but unlike his highly-recruited brother, his college choices were limited. But Fickell became head coach at UC and a call was made.

I expected more [calls] but I was grateful for the ones I received, said Coby, a communications major. I was excited coach Fickell wanted me and I took the opportunity and ran with it.

But Fickell didnt take his familiarly with Coby for granted. He still put on the full-court press in his recruitment.

I told Coby that I didnt want him settling for us because I knew he had dreams of being just like his brother and following in his footsteps [at Ohio State], Fickell said. I told him that it was a different opportunity for his brother and this would be an opportunity for him, and wed have a great relationship and have a great time doing this.

The Bearcats are having an especially great time in Cobys junior year. After suffering a blowout loss to Ohio State, the Bearcats (4-1) have won three straight and are ranked No. 25 in the country.

Fickell credits Coby with the teams resolve.

That loss to Ohio State was tough and we kind of loss a little of our mojo, Fickell said. But guys like Coby, who are competitive, challenged the locker room, not so much by what they said, but by their actions and how they went about doing things.

In five games, Coby leads the team with four passes defended. Hes tied for fourth on the team with 22 tackles.

The Bearcats play 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Houston on ESPN2, which could possibly give Houston an upset opportunity given last weeks emotional victory by UC.

Coby said the team doesnt overlook anyone.

Weve come into this week like we do every week - by attacking it, Coby said. Well play our style of football and improve everyday in practice so we can play at our best in the game.

And just in case Coby forgets, Christian will remind him.

We always talk over the phone and when I call him today hell ask me how can I improve from how I played last week, Coby said. He tells me theres always room for improvement and to stay hunger. My brother will never allow me to forget [how to get better].

Read the rest here:
Big brother is watching and helping: Glenville grad Coby Bryant motivated by Christian Bryants career - cleveland.com

Believe in yourself, and you'll get there eventually.

October7, 20191 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In this video, Entrepreneur Network partnerBrian Tracy asks a simple question:What difference would it make in your life if you had unshakeable confidence?

To achieve your biggest aspirations, you must live your life consistently, following your most important values and your highest goals with utmost confidence.

Click the video to hear more.

Related:Advice, Tips and Tricks for New Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Networkis apremium video networkproviding entertainment, education and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. We provide expertise and opportunities to accelerate brand growth and effectively monetize video and audio content distributed across all digital platforms for the business genre.

EN is partnered with hundreds of topYouTube channelsin the business vertical. Watch video from our network partners ondemand onRoku,Apple TVand the Entrepreneur App available oniOSandAndroiddevices.

Originally posted here:
Self-Confidence Is the Best Motivation for Chasing Your Goals - Entrepreneur

ONE bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes is about to fight Kevin Belingon for the fourth time. The pair will collide with the bantamweight title on the line at ONE: Century this Sunday in Tokyo, Japan.

Despite the fact that hes once again preparing for a familiar foe, Fernandes says his focus hasnt wavered.

Im excited to fight Kevin one more time, Im motivated, Fernandes told BJPenn.com in Tokyo.

Fernandes never expected to fight Kevin Belingon four times, but after beating them with a first-round kimura in their first fight, he never expected a second fight either.

I believed it was finished after the first time, he said. But he always wins his way back to me. Thats ok too. I keep myself motivated.

Ive done jiu jitsu all my life. Sometimes you have to fight a guy 10, 6 times. No problem. I can prove my skill.

While Fernandes has no objection to fighting Belingon again, he is of course looking to put a decisive end to their rivalry in Tokyo so that a fifth fight is not necessary.

I have to go in there and fight Kevin, he said, emphasizing his intention to push the action. I have to be ready for striking, grappling, everything in the fight. Ill make little adjustments and well see what happens.

Ill cut angles, he added. I think thats very important in this fight.

Bibiano Fernandes comes from a jiu jitsu background, while Kevin Belingon comes from a Wushu striking background. Despite their differing origins, Fernandes believes he is Belingons equal on the feet perhaps even his better.

I come here to get the knockout or submission, I dont fight for decisions, he said. If I can get the finish, Ill do it.

My striking has very improved. I was close to [knocking him out] last time we fought. When you look at Kevin, hes a striker. But my striking has better technique. Kevin has the spin-kick, thats the one thing he has, but I believe my striking is better.

The time is almost at hand for Bibiano Fernandes and Kevin Belingon to settle their score once and for all. Fernandes is looking forward to the opportunity to do so, then head home to be with his family in Vancouver.

I want to defend my belt then go home to my kids, he said. Then well see what happens next.

This article first appeared onBJPENN.COMon 10/11/2019.

See the original post:
Bibiano Fernandes motivated as ever for fourth fight with Kevin Belingon - BJPenn.com

Tech teams make up one of themore oftenoverlooked departments of a business, yet they are critical tothe company's functionality and growth. Managers from other departments may not even know tech teams are around. Yet if they were to disappear, even temporarily, it's very likely that some of the most basicfunctions of the businesswouldbe compromised, not to mention the impactthis would have on the development of new products, features or functions.

Just like any other employee, tech teammembers need to be motivated and happy on the job in order to perform to their best ability. Employees who feel motivated are not only more productive, but are also more efficient and forward-thinking than those who see the job simply as a chore.

Below,seven members of Forbes Technology Council explore how a business could motivate and satisfy its tech teams. Here is what they advise:

1. Make Sure They Know Their Importance

Dig in with them and learn how they work. Use their communications mechanisms and participate in daily stand-ups. When they hit a critical milestone, reward them. Give them opportunities for publicity if they desire, and make sure they are integrated into strategic business planning to ensure they know how important they are to the overarching vision. - Tom Albert, Measured Risk Inc.

2. Convey The Right Mission And Vision

The basis is the right mission and vision. As we're in the field of artificial intelligence, this might be even more important than in other sectors. AI has the potential to kill many jobs but used in the right way, it can augment humans with superpowers. Besides the mission-critical vision and purpose, I believe in giving tech people as much freedom as possible, to hire the best and let them be successful. - Marc Vontobel, Starmind

3. Understand Their Career Goals And Help Them Grow

People are our assets. Continuous engagement with the team is key, and understanding their career aspirations and goals is important to enabling them to feel that the company is giving them a platform to grow. Every team member is an entrepreneur in their heart and that is what we need to identify. Thats my mantra for success. - Bhavna Juneja,Infinity, a Stamford Technology Company

4. Let Them Use Their Skills To Solve Problems

I find that my teams are motivated and energized when I can layout objectives, explain their role in achieving those objectives, and remove roadblocks to let them do the great things they can do. Most technology people want to solve problems and use their skills. I let them do that. - BJ Vander Linden, Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment

5.Treat Them Like Internal Customers

Measure your technical team on metrics they can improve on, create a friendly competitive environment and give them time to step away when needed. In the office, we have ping pong, bags and other games they can play to break up the day. Treating employees like internal customers will create a much happier employee who will deliver better service to our customers. - Edward Lennon, Votacall, Inc.

6. Provide The Right Kinds Of Challenges

We focus more on motivated and engaged instead of happy. We believe that for us to get the best out of our folks, we need to rightsize the challenges they are going to overcome, as well as provide challenges that are going to help them develop professionally. - Patrick Emmons, DragonSpears, Inc.

7.Enable An Inquisitive, Learning Culture

First, help them understand the company's or group's vision and show them what an integral part they are to achieving it.Second, provide them with interesting problems to work in addition to their day-today-day activities, as well asautonomy and a sense of ownership for the team to execute and thrive. Third, enable a dataor consumer-centric decision-making culture, giving people room to disagree or propose alternative strategies. Finally,make sure your culture is always inquisitive and open to learning, keeping up with trends, and figuring out methods to incorporate this into their groups. - Brian Sathianathan,Iterate.ai

Originally posted here:
How To Keep Your Tech Team Motivated And Engaged: Seven Proven Methods - Forbes

Campaign Trail is our analysis of some of the best and worst new creative efforts from the marketing world. View past columns in the archives here.

Mattress ads often depict people resting atop a cloud or jumping near a glass of wine to illustrate how cushy a bed is. Nectar's latest campaign contrasts with this serenity, instead riffing on over-the-top styles of motivational speakers. A high-energy parody video that dropped this week introduces Yawn Yawnson, the direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand's new fictional spokesperson, as a sleep-obsessed evangelist revving up massive crowds around the power of a good nap.

In a series of videos, the hype man of sorts works his fans dubbed Bedheads into a frenzy around the importance of sleep and reveals his go-to solution for insomnia is a Nectar mattress.The 90-second hero spot accompanies 25 other assets for an "unhustle" campaign that will run through the holidays.While hyperbolic, the self-proclaimed "motivational sleeper" at the center of the effort embodies Nectar's goal of countering social norms that reward sacrificing sleep to work and achieve more.

"We live in a self-help culture. Everybody's trying to give everybody tips on how to do more and take on more and be their best selves. I think that oftentimes comes at a sacrifice," Nick Guastaferro, VP and head of brand, creative and communications at Nectar's parent company Resident, told Marketing Dive. "We have to fit more hours into the day to have the 'hustle' mindset that, decidedly, we believe is an indicator of success."

Marketers often produce one longer-form video that's spliced into shorter cuts to fit a variety of advertising formats for simplicity's sake. Nectar and Brooklyn-based agency Mustacheworked in reverse and began with the Yawnsonconcept. They then selected ad placements and produced more than two dozen assets tailored to each platform where the campaign is running,working with YouTube and Facebook to translate the idea into custom content that matches the context where users view the ads.

"The story began to tell itself,"Guastaferro said. "We were almost at a place where we had an embarrassment of riches, where there was so much creative around the central idea that we actually didn't have the challenge of coming up with content."

The bigger challenge surrounded prioritizing the assets and delivering them to consumers in a particular order, based on whether they have seen the campaign's hero video and where they fall in the purchasing funnel.

Much of Nectar's marketing is powered by data-driven insights and targeting to ensure a person is delivered a shorter cut a 15-second spot or Facebook ad, for example only after having viewed a longer video that more clearly introduces them to the campaign messaging. Guastaferro said the company's investments in data help to provide contextual relevance and optimize ad placements.

With Yawnson, Nectar appears to be drawing inspiration from other brands' spokespeople, such as Progressive's Flo or Geico's gecko. Adding a face to Nectar humanizes the brand and could deepen consumers' connections with its "unhustle" messaging.

Yawnson will continue to develop a personality through marketing content, including a Q&A-style interview on Nectar's website. His role in Nectar's marketing helps to differentiate the brand from competitors in the crowded mattress space, Guastaferro said. Around 175 companies pack the market, according to GoodBed.com data cited in CNBC, meaning brands need to get progressively more creative as they vie for top-of-mind positioning.

The category is filled with "a sea of sameness," according to Guastaferro, where mattress brands talk over one another without educating consumers on the value of a restful night's sleep. This opportunity pushed Nectar to fill the gap and position itself as a brand working to address a cultural issue around consumers sacrificing sleep at the expense of health and wellness.

"It was all very zen, sleepy marketing, and as a sleep brand we thought there was an opportunity to add some energy to it with the 'motivational sleeper,'" he said.

"What we've seen is that [Yawnson] really became the hype man in a tongue-in-cheek parody way that almost holds a mirror to consumers of the challenges and the sacrifices we make at the expense of sleep."

Nick Guastaferro

VP and head of brand, creative and communications at Resident

A second phase of the campaign extends into February, when Nectar will work with influencers ahead of Daylight Saving Time to bring to life relatable moments around losing an hour of sleep. The mattress brand will then drop another 25 pieces of marketing content, Guastaferro said.

"Awaken Great Sleep"aligns with Nectar's broader creative strategy of delivering playful, cheeky marketing to attract potential buyers and build brand buzz online. The mattress company last year debuted a three-minute video that riffed on the old "this is your brain on" adage to highlight how people develop "grumpy brain" from a lack of sleep.

What made the video, titled "Make America Sleep Again," particularly compelling was that it starred animated versions of world leaders President Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. The humorous campaign, along with others that featured grown adult heads superimposed onto babies' bodies or mattresses being delivered by a team of butterflies, illustrate Nectar's goofy, memorable take on the world.

"With Yawn, this campaign really takes a hyperbolic approach and sort of breaks from the category conventions by forcing consumers to step back and reappraise what's really important to them via the motivational sleeper," Guastaferro said. "What we've seen is that he really became the hype man in a tongue-in-cheek parody way that almost holds a mirror to consumers of the challenges and sacrifices we make at the expense of sleep."

More here:
Campaign Trail: Nectar cuts through snoozy mattress marketing with 'motivational sleeper' - Marketing Dive

That enjoyment finds Matthews reborn in the gym as well, seeing the world of a fighter for the first time through the eyes of a parent.

Without consciously thinking about it, I just seem to push harder in training now. That sort of breaking point where you get tired and relax, its extended out further now. I dont know if its due to becoming a dad or not, but thats definitely happened since weve had the baby. If anything, its improved my drive, my motivation. And hopefully something I can take into the fight.

The fight he speaks of is Saturdays tilt against Swedens Rostem Akman, a fierce striker with only one professional loss on his record.

I think its a good fight just to get back on track, get back into the win column. Hes in the UFC for a reason, hes a tough guy. Is he the caliber of guy that Ive fought before? No. But in saying that, Im going in there as if Im fighting a world champion, like I always do. So, to me, hes the toughest guy in the world. Its a good fight, mentally. If they brought out a big-name guy, nerves might be racking up a little bit more. The goal for this one is just to get a nice, quick finish. Put the statement out that Im still here, still active, still getting wins.

Read more:
Motivation Easy To Find For Jake Matthews - The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Motivation is the key to everything

Published on: Sunday, October 06, 2019

By: James Sarda

If you are not motivated, you can be in the best school, have the best teachers and the best chemistry, physics and maths books and even the best computers but you will still not study.

It (motivation) can make you a totally different person and we all need it, he said, at the recent 37th Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates, the worlds third largest.

He said the needed motivation can come from a talk, through a book or through a discussion with friends and that whatever it is, one should find a way to keep oneself motivated.

Chetan has a knack for churning out stories that are turned into Bollywood movies.

The latest which is a romance-murder mystery set against the background of the Kashmiri conflict was his eighth and has already been slated for a movie.

Just like four others Five Point Someone that became the popular Hindi flick, 3 Idiots, The Three Mistakes of My Life, Half Girlfriend and 2 States.

He said there was a time when he even thought that motivation talks were nonsense and became a motivation speaker by accident when he put up something in his blog and a college invited him to speak to a group of students.

It was in his early days in the corporate sector and as a writer. He was nervous not knowing what to say to the students.

Before I knew it, that became a job for me. Then people started calling me and before I knew it, that became a job for me. I really saw the difference.

The other thing is positive thinking.

For everything that happens there is something good there, so trust that from above. Whatever happens in life happens for a reason, to make you a better person, etc. Have that faith, he said.

He also said that family and health is what matters most in life and should take precedence over everything, no matter who you are, how rich you are or how famous or successful you are.

This is what life is about. Everything else is illusion. Nothing really matters. Its like a gamesometimes its there. Sometimes its not there.

But if you have these basics right, nothing can touch you. It is a matter of time things will get better. But the core basics you must keep it right.

He also said reading is central to all these. Books are very important because they are the only things that stir your imagination. When you read a book, you will imagine.

Your brains activate and your imagination gets fired. Books are the only things that build concentration. Other things wont build your concentration power. Imagination, focus and concentration are very useful for a decent life.

He said this explains why well read people have a different personality. Therefore, books are always going to be important. Hence, to say that other things have taken the place of books is like saying lifts and escalators have come and there is no use for the stairs.

There will always be stairs, as there will always be books. He also says in his 15 years of writing, his focus has been on the younger set. He notes that too many youngsters today are addicted to phones, especially watching video content.

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His other concern about todays youths is that they tend to look at life passively and would pay for this mistake later. It is the same advice, he said, he gave to his kids.

The advice I gave my kids is that you can have a lot of fun from the ages of 15-20. I will not study, I will party, watch videos and post selfies all day. Do nothing but just party, party and party.

But you know what happens when you reach 40? The bill will come. Life will give you a bill. You will not have a good degree, no good job, no money in savings to buy a house, pay a hefty loan for 25 years and always stuck.

So from 30 to 80 you will suffer or you can have Plan B where you work hard from 15-30. Im not saying dont have fun but first just do your work. The priority changes work first, fun later. The first plan was fun first, work later.

You just make work first. Later be entitled to your fun. It is a good age to have fun. By age 30 you have a great job, a good education.

You have enough money to save and achieve whatever. So when you retire you can live with a lot of dignity. Your assets will be earning money, instead of having a lot of loans to pay.

So from 30-80 you can enjoy. Its up to you which plan you want to take, he said.

Another Indian who has made some impact in the literary world is Akil Sharma.

Unlike Chetan whose work relates to the Indian context, Akil experimented with both American and Indian crosscurrents in his works based on his experience of being an Indian immigrant in the United States.

He said he felt culturally isolated since ending up with his family in the US when he was eight. He didnt get much encouragement to read. In fact, his dads advice was to put something in a book if you want it to remain a secret because nobody reads.

Nevertheless, he ended up reading a lot to make up for being both unhappy and lonely. He would watch TV and have a book on standby to read when the commercials came.

When he began writing at 15, it was about white Americans although he did not know and certainly did not visit their homes.

I did not know what they ate or what they did, except that they must be very important, he said, and at some point started writing about Indians because of his background.

He found that where relationship was concerned, being American was so much different from being an Indian. Because in Indian societies women were traditionally viewed as a burden, he found his relationship with his dads brother was different from that with his mothers brother.

He found it hard to relate this to American audiences. I didnt know to communicate this, he said. He also related his experiences as a child in the US that convinced him that despite being an immigrant he was important when he pushed the buttons for the elevator when he was in it for the first time and it opened.

Another of his experiences assimilating into American society was that of seeing his mother crying when she abandoned the sari and wore pants in order to fit in and look like an American so as to stand the chance of landing a job.

All these things we can relate to like when we find ourselves unattractive. When I write, I feel like I have to draw from my own experiences.

There is no other way to communicate other than through things very specific to me. The more specific they are to me, the more universal they will be to you.

When I look at you, I will imagine who you are as a person. Im comparing my insights to your outsights, whereas when we are reading a book we can acpmpare our insights to other peoples insights.

Akil said for a book to work, it must be able to communicate these small things that are specific to me but are universal to humanity.

He said that as a writer, he is only doing part of the job. That he can write something but its the reader who actually brings the life into what he has written.

It is the reader who makes the book real. I only do part of the work, you do most of the rest.

Sharing some tips, he said he begins with an idea of what is important and urgent. I write for as long as I can and usually it dies if the idea is not converted into a story. I go back and start again.

So there are a lot of dead ends and I keep going back and forth and sometimes theres no solution.

Asked by Daily Express whether somebody can actually make a living writing books that people may never get to read, he said some can.

He said what makes it possible for him to write is that he is a teacher.

Continued here:
Motivation is the key to everything - Daily Express