IN the cottage where I grew up, Dad had a little study where he would do all his writing. I didnt understand why hed pasted hundreds of letters to the walls, which turned out to be rejection letters from publishers.

Instead of being discouraged every time he received one, he stuck it to the wall and used it to motivate himself on to better things. Thats why he persisted after having 13 separate novels rejected by countless publishers before his first one eventually made it to print. Im so impressed by people who possess this unshaken self-belief in the face of countless disappointments, where others would simply give up and walk away.

I recently watched a TV programme about sprinter Usain Bolt, and what surprised me most was that he claimed to lack motivation to train, especially, after hed won his first Olympic gold medal. Once hed become the best in the world, where else could he go? The trigger that shook him out of his apathy was when he discovered that people thought he was not the best anymore, and that his nearest rival declared he would beat Usain at the following Olympics. As soon as he heard that, he was back training harder than ever, and as he retires this month, he remains champion in the Olympic 100m, 200m and 100m relay. Like my Dad, people telling him he couldnt achieve something just spurred him on, and that takes a particular kind of mental strength that many of us simply dont possess.

In his column from 13th August 1977, Dad talks about cleaning his study and having to remove pictures from the walls, which prompted him to think about the superstitions associated with them.

Apparently, if a picture falls from a wall, it foretells the death of one of the inhabitants of the house. The belief varied from place to place, with some saying it was only valid if the glass broke, whereas for others, just the picture falling was enough to prophesy a loved ones demise. There are other variations too, such as if the picture is a portrait, then that person will die, with others saying it doesnt matter what is in the picture for it to spell doom. A similar bad omen is associated with mirrors - if one falls unexpectedly from the wall, then a death is imminent.

This made me wonder what other signs we should be mindful of if we are to avoid an untimely death.

Black cats have long been associated with both good and bad luck, and if you hear one meowing at midnight, it means a death is coming (although at midnight, it might be hard to see what colour the cat is!). Be afraid if a black cat sits on a sick persons bed, and if one crosses the path of a funeral procession, as that foretells another death is not far away. A similar fear is held about white rabbits crossing your path.

Birds of varying kinds are portents of doom. Seeing a single crow or magpie is bad luck, although seeing two is good. Seeing six, though, spells death. If you open your door to a magpie staring at you, then go increase your life insurance policy at once, and if a bird flies into your house, cancel any plans youve made for the future. I could go on, but I fear you might never again open your front door if I do!

We moved from that cottage to a new house in 1981. We brought our pet cat, Marmalade, with us and at first she hated it! She fearfully slithered between rooms on her belly until finally she settled under the desk in Dads new study. The reason? Shed found the only piece of carpet that had come from the old house.

Continued here:
Countryman's Daughter: From motivation to superstition - Darlington and Stockton Times

BARCELONA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said on Friday his players will dig deep in the face of adversity as they begin the new season shackled by a transfer ban and with key players missing.

Atletico will be without striker Kevin Gameiro and left back Filipe Luis for the opening game at newly promoted Girona. Thomas Partey and Diego Godin are suspended, deepening the deficiencies of a squad banned from registering new players.

The ban, imposed by FIFA for the illegal transfer of minors and upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in June, means Atletico cannot count on the services of their one new signing, Vitolo, who is spending the first five months on loan at Las Palmas before joining up with Simeone's side in January.

The squad has been further weakened by midfielder Tiago retiring and Theo Hernandez leaving for Real Madrid, while the club has parted ways with Matias Kranevitter and Rafael Sante Borre.

Crucially, however, Antoine Griezmann, Saul Niguez and Koke have all been persuaded to stay, signing new long-term contracts, while Fernando Torres agreed a one year extension.

"The club has made a huge effort to keep its most important players and it's clear that the players who have stayed have a huge sense of belonging here and that reflects well on the club," Simeone told a news conference on Friday.

"Now we have to reflect that on the pitch. Some would see not being able to sign players as a weakness but we've taken it as a positive because we all know each other, we know how we want to play, and that boosts the essence and ideas of the team."

Forward Luciano Vietto is reported to be on his way out to Italian side Sampdoria but has been named in the squad for the trip to Girona.

The Catalan side are gearing up for a first season in the top flight in their 87-year history and have signed experienced Liga players such as goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz from Athletic Bilbao and former Espanyol forward Christian Stuani from Middlesbrough in their bid for survival.

Girona have also brought in four players on loan from Manchester City, whose parent company, City Football Group, is reported to be close to purchasing a majority stake in the club.

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Excerpt from:
Simeone says Atletico can use transfer ban as motivation - Eurosport.com

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When I was a kid I was in love with sports. I played pretty much every single one growing up. Baseball was my favourite. I watched a lot of games. I collected cards and wrote out all the stats of the best players in chronological order just for fun. I was probably a little obsessive about it, okay extremely obsessive, but I loved it.

Catch in the backyard was my favourite activity. Id throw the ball until my arm was about to fall off and I couldnt see in the dark. I didnt feel the pain in my arm, or care if I could hardly see the ball. I would badger my dad incessantly on the weekends to come play catcher so I could pitch to him in the backyard. He took a lot of curve balls to the shins. Its not surprising thats where I fell in love with the sound of the word Fuck.

Like a lot of kids, I wanted to be a professional baseball player one day. Clearly, that didnt pan out. Thats because like a lot of kids, I fell in love with partying and out of love with the sport. Then came acting. I performed in a play in grade eight and fell in love. The adrenaline of going on stage in front of all those people, the rush of performing, dissolving into whatever moment you were portraying, and the sound of the applause and cheers that followed gave me chills. I was addicted and it became a drug to me. I devoured every bit of information I could read about the craft, watched interviews with my favourite actors and studied the process they used to get into character. To this day, Inside the Actors Studio is one of my favourite shows.

My next passion (addiction) that came was working out. I was all in, creatine and everything. Id work out for two hours and chart my progress by taking off my shirt in the bathroom and posing in the mirror like I was Christian Bale in American Psycho. I loved it because the endorphins made me feel something. For a while, I was known as that jacked guy.Then it was onto running. It started on a trip in Europe when I couldnt lift weights. Like Forrest Gump, I started running one day and couldnt stop. I ended up getting a hardcore case of heat stroke on that trip because I was so dehydrated from going for runs in the 30+-degree heat. That didnt slow me down from losing 50 pounds and running a marathon.I was passionate about all of these activities I loved them and they made me feel alive. I worked hard and succeeded at all of them in a strange and obsessive way.

I was unmotivated, lost, and didnt know what I wanted to do. This persisted throughout high school and continued through my years in college.

Yet in school, most people would have called me lazy, a slacker. I was unmotivated, lost, and didnt know what I wanted to do. This persisted throughout high school and continued through my years in college. It was a continuous struggle always searching to try and find my thing.

I was known as that party dude, the social butterfly, that guy who threw all the awesome parties. It basically meant I was really good at having fun. But what does that even mean? The party has to stop one day. I definitely didnt want to be thought of as the guy that didnt care about anything.

So I travelled, explored, experimented and did as much and as many things I could. Nothing came to fruition.

But one drunken night while travelling and living in Australia, I sat down at the computer and started writing. Why? Was it boredom? Some unknown inspiration? Heartache?

I used to write short stories as a kid, but didnt think anything of it. My English teacher in high school told me I was a good creative writer, but I was too focused on what I was going to do on my lunch break to give it any real thought. My mom tried to tell me I should study Journalism in college, but I was too lazy and blas to think twice about it.

One particularly libatious evening brought a moment of precise and specific clarity. Through my drunken fog, I found my key.

I had unlocked my artist within.

In this moment, sitting down and putting words on a page, I had an important realizationI cared so much, had so much to offer, but I just hadnt found the key to bring it out of me.

Growing up, Id had one thing after another come and go, which meant they werent the right things. But as I grew up I got away from what made me successful in the past: loving what it was I was doing. That was my key to success. It took me sitting down and suddenly caring about what I was doing to remind myself that I was capable, daring to utter the words to myself, I think I might have a talent for this.

Like a lot of writers with a love for big moments in stories, I validate this experience as my reincarnation and awakening in my story. I credit this experience as the one that finally allowed me to admit to myself who I wanted to be, who I really was all along but hadnt been able to clearly see.

I suddenly became motivated, obsessively motivated to the point of annoyance to all of my family members and closest friends. That OCD-focused kid who would sketch every stat of every player in the MLB, that kid who continued to play catch into the dark, that kid who stepped on stage in grade eight and fed off the energy of the crowd, that kid who found the will and motivation to train every single evening to run a marathon just because he loved running, that kid who went to the gym to lift weights even when he had strep throat, had finally been released, or rather, been re-released.

Perhaps I knew it all along but just was too afraid to commit to it. Perhaps like a lot of people, I was afraid of failure, and surrendering to the path that was laid out for me.

I had re-connected myself with my key to success. Perhaps I knew it all along but just was too afraid to commit to it. Perhaps like a lot of people, I was afraid of failure, and surrendering to the path that was laid out for me. Maybe it all just meant that all these previous things Id fallen in love with were part of a process of elimination I had to endure to land on the one thing I was sure about. I was born to be a writer.

Now I get paid to do the thing I used to do before we even knew what careers were, or cared about making money and being successful.

Growing up, I wasnt a slacker, I wasnt lazy, and I definitely wasnt unmotivated. In fact, I was quite the opposite. I was burning with passion; fired up with motivation, yet with no direct channel to capitalize on all that obsessive energy I had swirling inside me. I had forgotten the formula I needed to work hard, to be successful at something. I needed to be passionate about it. I needed to do it because I wanted to do it, not because it was required of me or someone told me to do it or thought I would be good at it.

Now, I take pride in the fact that those who are closest to me would probably say that Im one of the hardest working people they know.

The point of all this is a few things.

First off, what motivates you? Is it money? Is it passion? Is it community? Is it power?

Its about understanding what is going to turn you on, what is going to energize you, what is going to get you excited to get up and do something. The quality of your work, all that you get out of everything you do, is an immediate effect of the amount of energy you put into something. If you dont give energy to the things you do in your life, youre not going to get much in return. That is true in your career, in your relationships, and everything you do in life.

In a career, if you can be lucky enough to find work you love, a job that actually makes you feel alive instead of slowly killing your soul a million deaths, you can take comfort knowing that no matter what happens, you will always have the feeling you get from your work. This is indispensable and more valuable than any paycheck you will receive in your lifetime.

Secondly, the key will be different for everyone. Some people dont need a key, as they have the ability to motivate and preserve blindly. They do not need an emotional response to something to be motivated and work hard. But I promise you that will only get you so far. The people who will change industries, write game changing mission statements, start movements, and become legends at what they do, become that way because what they strive for is being led by an emotional desire, a vision that gets them excited. That is how youre going to create a legacy and quality work in your lifetime.

Thirdly, its cool to care about things. Growing up, we try so hard to fit in with our peers that were afraid to really care about things. So we adopt these carefree and I dont give a shit attitudes in order to blend in and run with the crowd. But the ones who dont fit in, the ones who stay deeply interested in things and carve out their passions and follow through with them are the ones who end up succeeding. Knowing this now, I wish Id cared about things when I was younger the way I do now. I wish I knew then how to work as hard as I do now. Caring about your vocation and avocations is what life is all about, makes you successful, makes you rich, makes you great, fulfills and satisfies you. Caring makes you happy.

So what is your key?

For me, it was passion. Passion was my key. I wanted my job to embody who I was. I wanted to find something that would give me the will to do things when the average person would stop. I wanted something that would drive me mad and insane, but allow me to feel things. I wanted something that brought me back to how things made me feel when I was a kid, when everything was alive and exciting.

But finding your key is up to you to figure out. Perhaps you dont need a magic key to unlock some secret side of yourself. Maybe you already know what you want to do. Maybe you like what you do and dont need some definitive calling to rest your hat on. Perhaps your moment wont be as dramatic as mine. Im a writer after all we tend to gravitate towards the dramatic.

Whatever it is, when you find your key, you will know. It will be clear. It will be powerful. And you will know exactly what to do with it.

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This article originally appeared on Jamie Rea

Photo credit: Getty Images

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Finding the Key: Unlocking Your Motivation - The Good Men Project (blog)

Motivation isa daily struggle for entrepreneurs, so Ive put together these motivation-boosting tips from 10 of todays successful entrepreneurs.

In an article that he wrote forBloomberg, Mark Cuban stated that he uses the fear of failure for self-motivation.

No matter what business youre in, youre always at risk -- particularly in technology, where it changes so rapidly youve got to put in the effort to keep up, writes theShark Tankpanel member. Theres always the opportunity for some 18-year-old to come out of nowhere and crush youthat motivates the hell out of me.

Every one of my companies, whether something I started or something I invested in, is a scoreboard. How am I doing? A lot of investors or advisers play it as a numbers game.

If they invest in 20 companies, as long as one success covers 19 losses, they did OK. I look at every loss as ahuge failure. I had an investment go bad recently. I lost $1.5 million on it. It pisses me off to no end."

Failed at something? Ask these Mark Cuban questions.

"You can also use it as motivation. What did I do wrong? Who did I trust that I shouldnt trust? What can I learn from this situation so I can avoid it next time?

Related:5 Habits of Successful People

This is the key. However, as Chalmers Brown, co-founder and CTO of Duewrites, We want to not only make a lot of money but enjoy what we do as well. We are willing to take on the risk of unstable pay in exchange for following our dreams.

Unfortunately, your dream job may not always be the best decision financially. Sometimes your hobbies are best kept as projects in your spare time for fun (which is great!). If you do want to try to turn your passion into a full-time job, these tips can help you get started the right way.

Brown gives the tips below:

Related:12 Millionaire Habits to Start Making Serious Money Soon and Build Wealth in a Hurry

Its so easy as an entrepreneur to get sucked into feeling exhausted or frustrated, and often the blame is yours alone,writesMurray Newlands, founder of online invoicing companySighted. But a negative mindset sucks up mental bandwidth and energy that you need to stay focused and successful.

"It is crucial to maintain an optimistic attitude in the face of setbacks. Whenever you see a quote or a picture that helps you stay positive, place it front and center so you can remember what this journey is all about.

Related:WhyAffirmationsHave Failed You and 4 Steps to Change That

On June 26, 2008, our friend Michael Seibel introduced us to sevenprominent investors in Silicon Valley. We were attempting to raise $150,000 at a $1.5M valuation. That means for $150,000 you could have bought 10 percentof Airbnb."

"Below you will see fiverejections. The other twodid not reply, writes Airbnb Co-Founder Brian Chesky onMedium. The investors that rejected us were smart people, and I am sure we didnt look very impressive at the time.

Today Airbnb is valued at just under $30 billion.

Related:Airbnb Pilot Connects Refugees and Evacuees With Housing

"No one does it alone," said Mark Zuckerberg during aQ&Ain 2016. "When you look at most big things that get done in the world, they're not done by one person, so you're going to need to build a team."

When building your All-Star team, seek out people who excel in the areas where youre not strong or have less experience. "You're going to need people that have complementary skills," Zuckerberg emphasized. "No matter how talented you are, there are just going to be things that you don't bring to the table."

Related:20 Weird Things You Didn't Know AboutMark Zuckerberg

All of my best successes came on the heels of a failure, so Ive learned to look at each belly flop as the beginning of something good,saidBarbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group and Shark onShark Tank.

If you just hang in there, youll find that something is right around the corner. Its that belief that keeps me motivated. Ive learned not to feel sorry for myself, ever. Just five minutes of feeling sorry for yourself takes your power away and makes you unable to see the next opportunity.

Related:Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran: 'All the Best Things Happened to Me on the Heels of Rejection'

Inspiration is a driving force that you can use to motivate you. Lyft Co-Founder Jordan Zimmermansaidthat, Right now, my daughter is a huge inspiration. Thinking about the future of our cities, the world and what environment shes going to grow up in.

Also, the driver and passenger stories we hear every day. In a past team meeting, we had a mother come in and tell the story herself. She is a Lyft driver living in New York and her daughter is in Los Angeles.

"The daughter was going through a rough living situation with a roommate and had to leave and move into a new place. The mother called a Lyft for her daughter, had a quick conversation with the driver and the driver took care of her daughter in this tough situation.

These stories inspire us to think how we can make things more efficient and create a platform for two people to have a really positive interaction?

Related:Lyft Co-Founder John Zimmer: 'You Should Never Veer Off the Path of Your Own Values'

Yes. Think about your vision. But dont spend too much time over it or it will bog you down. Elon Musk, for example, only spends around30 minutes a weekon his vision of SpaceX colonizing Mars. Besides those 30 minutes, Musk spends a majority of his time focused on the milestones that are the most immediate and critical.

Related:SpaceXPushes Back Mars Mission Timeline

Most of the time when people ask me about motivation, 80 percentof the time I attribute it to gratitude. If you want real fuel to win, be grateful,writesGary Vaynerchuk.

Gratitude is what has gotten me through my toughest moments in business. Whenever I have lost a deal to a competitor, or an incredible employee, or millions of dollars in revenue, I default to gratitude. Its impossible not to stay motivated or get too down when youre feeling grateful.

Related:Gary VaynerchukSays the Key to Lasting Success Is Practice. Period.

So many people wait to feel motivated before they do anything. Heres a newsflash: happyproductive peopledo not wait for motivation, they just get on with it,'' said Marie Forleo.I suggest that you watch the entirevideowhere Marie shares her tips for motivation. Its spot-on.

John Rampton is an entrepreneur, investor, online marketing guru and startup enthusiast. He is founder of the online invoicing company Due. John is best known as an entrepreneur and connector. He was recently named #3 on Top 50 Online Influ...

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10 Success-Boosting Motivation Tips From Millionaire Entrepreneurs - Entrepreneur

HUDSON, Ohio The Hudson football team has lost in the state semifinals each of the last three seasons. Leaders on the team said they believe were close to reaching the state final and are motivated to prove it starting Week 1.

Second-year head coach Jeff Gough and the Explorers joined each other for the first time when camps opened Monday across Ohio. Thursday, the coaching staff conducted individual workouts before the teams first scrimmage against Mayfield Aug. 12.

Last year, the Explorers won a share of the Suburban League National Division with Stow. Hudson is seeking its first state title after 10 playoff appearances.

Watch the video above and the preview capsule below to learn more about the Explorers.

HUDSON EXPLORERS

Coach: Jeff Gough (second year, 11-3 career)

OHSAA division, region: Division II, Region 5

Conference: Suburban League National Division

2016 finish: 11-3

Base offense: Multiple

Base defense: Multiple

Returning starters

Andrew Studer, DL/OL, Sr.

Angelo Donatelli, LB, Sr.

Brady Ludewig, DL, Jr.

Colin Paltani, WR/DB/PR, Sr.

Colt Pallay, QB, Sr.

Dawson Wervey, RB, Sr.

Dean Palumbo, LS/TE/LB, Jr.

Grant Gonya, K, Sr.

Greg Mailey, WR, Sr.

Jack Nord, OL, Sr.

Kevin Callahan, RB, Sr.

Matt Rudy, DL, Sr.

Nathan Slater, OL, Jr.

Pat Burdett, TE, Sr.

Stephen Bianconi, DB, Sr.

2017 schedule

Aug. 25 at Austintown-Fitch

Sept. 1 vs. Strongsville

Sept. 8 at Canton McKinley

Sept. 15 vs. Brecksville*

Sept. 22 vs. Nordonia*

Sept. 29 at North Royalton*

Oct. 6 vs. Cuyahoga Falls*

Oct. 13 at Stow*

Oct. 20 at Twinsburg*

Oct. 27 vs. Wadsworth*

*Denotes SL game.

Contact sports reporter Nathaniel Cline on Twitter (@nathanielcline) or email (ncline@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

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Hudson football carries playoff loss as motivation: 2017 football camp visit - cleveland.com

Zoe Moore remembers the day her baby took her last breath.

It was Jan. 10, 2010.

Dana Harvey was 27 and lived on the south side of Seattle. She had been battling mental health issues for most of her adult life. But that didnt stop her from buying a gun.

She bought her gun from a pawnshop, Moore tells me.

Were speaking in a ballroom in downtown St. Louis, where Moore is gathered with more than 500 other people most of them moms, many of them survivors of gun violence for Gun Sense University, a yearly event sponsored by Moms Demand Action. Moore lives in a poor, mostly black neighborhood in a part of her city in which gun violence is a daily occurrence. She describes a place that could be the Ville, Fairground Park, Gravois Park, College Hill.

The kids grow up thinking dying at the hands of a gun is normal. They can tick off the names: brothers, uncles, moms, cousins, friends. Dead. Dead. Dead.

She worries about their futures. Growing up around such death can be toxic and lead to the mental problems that killed her daughter.

What are we bringing them up to? Moore asks. What kind of future?

Thats a question that Victoria Anwuri and her colleagues at Washington Universitys Institute of Public Health are trying to answer. Since the spring of 2015, when the university launched its gun research initiative, researchers have been focusing on gun violence as a public health issue like smoking, like seat belts, like drunk driving.

Because Congress has discouraged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from studying gun violence, there is a lack of data available to judge its effects in neighborhoods such as Moores. But the toxic stress that comes from experiencing daily shootings in places such as Seattle and St. Louis is very real, Anwuri says. She was on a panel with me at Gun Sense University to talk about the effect of gun violence in America.

The real experts were in the crowd.

Moore found her daughters body the day after she shot herself.

She was mentally ill and she was able to get a gun, Moore says.

Whenever the next big shooting happens at a school like in Newtown and Littleton, or at a public gathering place like in Orlando and Aurora the American narrative will repeat itself.

We cant talk about guns now. Its too soon.

The problem is mental health, our political leaders will say.

Then theyll slash funding for treating mental illness, and another person with easy access to a gun will kill again. Rinse. Repeat.

Becky Morgan has lived through the cycle.

The first time was 1991 in St. Louis, where she lives.

A mentally ill person who was under treatment bought a gun and killed her father.

Morgan was 19. For her, it wasnt the right time to talk about it. She buried herself in school work, finished college, started her own family.

Then Sandy Hook happened. Twenty children and six adults were mowed down by a mentally ill man with a gun.

It was time for Morgan, now a mom, to talk guns.

When Sandy Hook happened, it really made me look for the first time at what happened in my life, Morgan said.

So she joined Moms Demand Action, which was founded by Colorado mom Shannon Watts after the Sandy Hook massacre. Watts, a 1995 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, was a stay-at-home mom who turned to Facebook and started a page where moms could talk about gun violence prevention.

Her organization gathers this weekend in a state that politically is a poster-child for the National Rifle Association. I dont know whats happened in my old state, Watts says. After college, she worked in the Missouri House, and later for then-Gov. Mel Carnahan. Missouri was a bellwether for the nation then, and it had relatively strong gun laws. Thats no longer the case. Missouri is more extreme than even most of the Southern states.

Last year, Missouri lawmakers passed a bill making it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Morgan and hundreds of other moms in the five growing state chapters of Moms Demand Action descended on the Capitol to fight against the bill. They lost.

Its frustrating, Morgan says. She leads a St. Louis chapter with about 1,000 members. Its also motivating.

Next year, the Legislature will be back with more pro-gun bills. Morgan and the other moms will be there to talk guns and mental health. For more than 20 years, she didnt want to talk about those issues. They were too personal. Too painful.

Then a sick man with a gun killed 20 children and helped her find her voice.

She will be quiet no more.

Don't miss a single column: Sign up for Tony's weekly e-newsletter.

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Messenger: A movement of moms finds motivation in fighting gun ... - STLtoday.com

Arsene Wenger has no doubt Alexis Sanchez will have the motivation to help Arsenal's Premier League title challenge should he remain with the club.

Sanchez's future has been the subject of much speculation, the Chile forward heavily linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

But the former Barcelona man appears poised to remain at Emirates Stadium despite expressing his desire to play Champions League football, something Arsenal cannot provide this term having finished fifth in the Premier League last season.

Wenger said this week that Sanchez is going nowhere and, asked if he believes Sanchez will give his all this season, the Frenchman replied: "Of course. Why not?

"My conviction - and if you look well - it's always in your interests, even if you have a short contract, to do well. And the kind of character he is.

"He is a winner. When he goes on the football pitch, he wants to win. He is a guy who loves football. He has advantages and disadvantages on both sides going into a situation like that.

"When you have made 75 points [last season], your target is to get 10 points more. And with 10 points more, you are in there [the title race]."

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Wenger: Sanchez will have motivation for title fight - FourFourTwo

FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An app that uses familiar game elements could help college students get higher grades and keep them from dropping a course, a new study suggests.

The app includes game elements such as "leaderboards" and digital badges, and lets professors send course quizzes directly to students' electronic devices.

Researchers tested the app on 394 first-year accounting or science students at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, where it was developed. Professors tailored the app's content to their specific course.

On average, app users' marks were 7 percent higher than those who didn't use it, the findings showed. And 12 percent more students stayed in a course during the semester when the app was introduced, compared with the previous semester.

The study was published Aug. 3 in the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education.

"Evidence-based research into student engagement tells us that well-engaged students are less likely to drop out. Our results imply that students are willing to use learning apps and that performing highly on the app may predict their future academic success," corresponding author Ekaterina Pechenkina said in a journal news release. She is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

However, the app's novelty might have fueled its success, the study authors said, and use might decline over time.

And, because students could choose to use it or not, the study sample might have been biased. More conscientious students who were open to new experiences might have been more apt to try the app, the researchers added.

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Student Motivation 101: There's an App for That | Health, Medicine ... - Sioux City Journal

Ive been talking about it for years: The ways we measure salespeoples motivation levels and why. By understanding what motivates salespeople, sales managers can tap into an individuals type to help him or her succeed.

Historically, when weve analyzed the motivation type of salespeople and candidates alike, weve found two main categories: Extrinsic and Intrinsic.

Well, thanks to Objective Management Groups never-ending quest for improvement and precision predicting success in a changing world, a new insight has been discovered. Theres now a third category: Altruistic motivation and weve been evaluating the impact of this new type.

Not everyone falls perfectly into one type or another. Its also not unusual for an individual to be classified with two types, and sometimes three. But why, as a manager, should you care what type your salespeople are? Well, consider how much easier your life would be if you could motivate salespeople effectively. Not everyone of them will respond to across the board incentives. But by understanding each salespersons motivation type, you can individualize incentives to what each will respond to. After all, as the manager, it is your responsibility to inspire each individual individually.

What percentage of salespeople fall into each category? We assessed the first 1000 salespeople classified using the new motivation type. The chart below shows our findings.

Webcast, August 9th: How to Drive Bottom-of-Funnel Results from Your Blog

Keep this in mind, you must adjust your strategy to fit each individual salesperson. Note that intrinsically motivated salespeople make up the biggest segment. This group will respond more to the satisfaction of doing a good job , and taking care of customers, rather than by having additional monetary compensation thrown at them.

Adapt your coaching and how you inspire salespeople to go that extra mile by understanding how each is motivated. It will make your life easier and your salespeople will be more successful.

Gretchen Gordon is owner of Braveheart Sales Performance, a consulting firm that guarantees improvement in profitable sales for its clients. With data-driven sales team evaluations, sales effectiveness training, salesperson recruitment and sales management outsourcing, Braveheart helps businesses increase revenue and the bottom line. Viewfullprofile

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A New Insight into Motivation and How to Inspire Your Salespeople - Business 2 Community

Joshua Boyd jboyd@wickedlocal.com

The Pan-Mass Challenge hits the roads across Massachusetts for its 38th year beginning on Saturday morning, Aug. 5, and running right through Sunday, Aug. 6.

Riders of ages spanning many generations will get on their bicycles with one mission make it to the end; and one motivation every mile means money raised for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The PMC is the largest athletic fundraiser in the United States, providing $547 million to the Jimmy Fund since the PMCs inception in 1980. Each years PMC accounts for 52 percent of the Jimmy Funds annual fundraising. This years goal is $48 million.

The Record caught up with Georgetowns three Pan-Mass Challenge riders for some comments and information about how often, where and why they ride.

How many PMCs will this be for you?

James Smith: This will be my 11th PMC.

Jennifer Stanley: It is the second time for me.

Chris Geberth: This is my first PMC and I will be riding with a team from the company I work for, Cynosure. Cynosure is proud to support such a wonderful program. Last year, the team raised over $60K.

What route will you take this weekend?

Chris Geberth: Since this is my first year, I decided to ride from Wellesley to Patriot Place. I am just getting into cycling and believe that this is a great way to explore the sport, while also raising money to support cancer treatment and research.

Jennifer Stanley: Im doing the two-day ride.

James Smith: I am riding from Wellesley with my son-in-law for the second time.

What are your favorite memories of prior years PMCs, or any cycling memory that stands out?

Jennifer Stanley: It's the best workout of my life. I love when the kids lining the ride spray you with hoses to cool you down.

James Smith: My favorite PMC memory was seeing a long-time rider and cancer survivor return to the ride after going through her third bout with cancer. I look for her every year and continue to be inspired by her courage. It is always a thrill to cross the Bourne Bridge at sunrise with thousands of riders!

Chris Geberth: As a family, we rode our bikes in Acadia National Park in August 2012. The carriage trails and the scenery were amazing. We covered a lot of ground and enjoyed cycling together. I enjoy cycling because I can challenge myself, get in shape, and relieve some stress.

What advice do you have for someone considering doing the PMC in the future?

James Smith: Make the commitment, train as best you can and be a part of something truly special that will affect others forever. Each year that I train, I think it will maybe be my last, but when the ride is complete and I cross that finish line, I know that I will be back next year.

Chris Geberth: First of all, this is a great cause and also a great way to stay in shape. I didnt realize that there were various route options until the Cynosure team began to explore the PMC. Dont be intimidated by the challenge or the route you chose.

Jennifer Stanley: If you like to cycle this event is awesome. Theres great support. Ride at your own pace. Its not a race, just finish.

What are your thoughts on the PMC, and the Jimmy Fund in particular?

Jennifer Stanley: It is the biggest and best fundraiser out there for cancer research.

James Smith: The Jimmy Fund is an amazing organization and, when you see the pictures of all of the children that you are helping along the way, you cannot help but feel humble and proud to be a part of it all.

Chris Geberth: We all know people and families who have been affected by cancer. I believe that we can beat cancer through continued research, diagnosis, treatment and support. The Jimmy Fund provides the fundraising to fight this battle.

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Georgetown's PMC riders share motivation, memories and advice - Wicked Local Georgetown