The process of designing a flagship digital camera is a heavily guarded secret. But in a rare exception, some of the key individuals responsible for the development of the Nikon Z9 sat down and explained some of the defining aspects that brought the camera to life.

Nikon pulled together a group of engineers and individuals involved with the development of the camera and shared their insights with PetaPixel. Because there are so many involved with the development of a new camera, the statements below represent that whole group rather than any one individual.

In 2018, Nikon released the Z7 and Z6 full-frame mirrorless cameras. However, as the professional demand for a mirrorless flagship model increased, it was acknowledged that further improvements to function and performance were needed to meet all the demands of professional users.

That meant the pressure was on the development of a true flagship model was of great significance both internally and externally, Nikon says. Every single person involved in the Z9s design and development felt they had a mission to complete.

Nikon adds that one of the goals was to surpass the D6, a model that many felt represented the perfect DSLR.

Indeed, the scale of the challenge and the timings set to develop it resulted in cooperation between Nikon departments on a scale never seen before.

To develop a flagship model that would surpass not only the D6 but also all rival models, we knew we would have to start from the very beginning and not allow ourselves to be bound by the premises of conventional technologies, the company says.

To Nikon, the most difficult aspect of making the Z9 was the consideration of the core specifications that it needed to have.

Building a foundation for the camera took a great deal of time because we started right from the beginning, building even the basic construction from a completely fresh starting point. And the requirements of new image-processing engines and the flagship models are enormous, so we from day one had to make some very difficult decisions given the limited development time frame.

Nikon says that through this process, what remained constant was the belief that it needed to be designed from a users perspective, and all specifications and functions that they adopted would need to exceed the expectations of professional photographers expectations that had grown to considerable heights thanks to Nikons competitors.

To ensure we exceeded expectations of photographers, we needed them to test the product continuously and thoroughly throughout its development. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, major sporting events normally used to evaluate camera operations and performance and take test shots were cancelled one after another, making evaluation under real conditions difficult, Nikon says.

But Nikon did not let a global pandemic stop the development of the Z9, and the company made moves to recreate those lost professional shooting environments.

In response, we invited university athletes to serve as live models in gymnasiums, skating rinks, and other sports facilities. And we began loaning the camera to photographers at very early stages of product development, so that their feedback could be considered while there was still time for modification and improvement.

Nikon previously shared how professional photographers were tapped to help make the Z9 from very early on, including working directly with Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographers from very early abstract prototypes all the way through to the finished camera.

Even with this in place, achieving the detection of nine different subject types, and simultaneously detecting multiple subjects that require processing of CV, AF calculation and lens driver operation for each shot under the limited time in 20 FPS high-speed continuous shooting, was a struggle, Nikon reveals.

The company says that every design decision that went into the Z9 was made following extensive consideration for the effect it would have on the camera and how it would be received by photographers.

An important one was that an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which tracks the intended subject in real-time, would be an absolute must for a professional flagship model. We cooperated across departments to find a solution that achieved the most natural and pleasing viewfinder display, Nikon explains.

We surpassed the performance of optical viewfinders (OVF) by encompassing the best of both worlds; the level of performance that would enable the unrestricted display of OVFs, with all the advantages that an EVF presents. Just as we did with the D6, we placed great importance on the way people see, feel and experience the camera. We recognize that there are important factors in design and function that cant always be measured quantitatively.

Nikon says that another major point of consternation centered around the rear LCD.

Once we settled on the Z9 having an integrated vertical grip, we took the decision to equip the camera with a four-axis tilting monitor as we believed this offered users more flexibility when framing their shots. However, we were conscious that tilting monitors have a reputation for being unreliable, so we prioritized reliability from the very start of the development process to ensure ultimate satisfaction.

One of the biggest decisions we made was eliminating the mechanical shutter altogether. There was real hesitation about abandoning one of the strengths Nikon has achieved over its history of technological development, Nikon says.

But the mechanical shutter was removed from the Z 9 because we were determined to place a greater priority on other features for the user, and because we were ready to usher in a new era for ourselves.

As part of this, Nikon did equip the camera with a light-shielding curtain unit that enabled long-exposure noise reduction and reduced the risk of dust and foreign materials adhering to the sensor.

As for shutter sound, while we choose something appropriate for each model, we were extremely particular about the audio data used for the Z9. This is because, since the days of film cameras, weve regarded shutter sound as an important aspect of photography; something that makes the shooting experience more enjoyable, the company adds.

Yet, with the advent of digital cameras, the sound of film feed was eliminated and then with mirrorless cameras the sound of mirror operation was eliminated. By not equipping the Z 9 with a mechanical shutter, all sound-producing mechanical parts have disappeared.

Going with this solid state-like design left the Nikon engineers wondering what sound would be best for the flagship.

We tried a number of possibilities and decided that the sound data should reproduce the sound of mirror and shutter operations, but then fine-tuned as needed. With early Z9 prototypes, the speaker was positioned near the control panel on the top of the camera, Nikon explains.

With actual test shooting, however, we found that this position was not optimal because it was noticeably different from where sound is heard with conventional cameras. It seemed strange for the shutter sound to come from the top of the camera. So, despite being well into camera development, we suddenly moved the speaker to a position at the center of the camera body to better mimic the sound of a conventional mechanical shutter.

Nikon says that through the development of the camera, it knew that 8K resolution would be a must.

We knew that 8K resolution will be the next step in the evolution of video. Nikon had an excellent reputation in terms of photo imaging but we had our work cut out for us to develop a camera that would be the choice of videographers as well, the company says.

We believe that this camera, in how it enables the shooting of the highest quality video with the minimum number of people, is a true game changer for professional videographers. It responds to video needs with powerful specifications such as 8K30p in 23-degrees Celcius environments, long-time shooting of up to 125 minutes, 4K 120p that can be taken in full frame, internal recording of HLG and N-Log, and the worlds largest number of nine types of subject detection in video.

To get the camera to perform with those specifications, Nikon says it knew that heat would have to be managed and developing the way to do this was of primary importance and says that it conducted various various heat-dispersion simulations from the early stages of development.

We faced the difficulty of equipping the camera with both the image-stabilization (VR) mechanism and means of dispersing heat. For context, dedicated video equipment generally uses cooling fans to disperse heat. As a flagship model, however, the Z9 must offer excellent drip resistance. In consideration of this, we decided it would be impossible to equip the camera with a cooling fan that requires an opening that admits cooler air from the outside, the company explains.

This resulted in the Z9 being the only model equipped with an integrated vertical grip that offers heat-dispersion performance sufficient for video recording over extended periods of time without using a cooling fan.

Nikon says that what it has chosen to share here are just a few of the anecdotes from the development cycle of the Z9 and only scratch the surface of the challenges, opportunities, and solutions that were part of the cameras development. The company says that there were features that it wanted to include in the camera at launch that were considered initially but did not make the production deadline. But not to worry: it plans to add those in with firmware updates that allow the camera to improve over time.

The company has already done this once with a major firmware update that arguably could have constituted an entirely new camera.

Ultimately, this is only the beginning of the story, Nikon says.

The tremendous amount of feedback weve received encourages us to push further ahead still. Our mindset is to never be satisfied with things as they are at a particular moment, and our vision is to continue to offer products that exceed user expectations time and again.

Continue reading here:
Untold Stories of the Nikon Z9's Development - PetaPixel

25 Jul 2022 --- Premier Foods is acquiring 100% of The Spice Tailor shares. The Spice Tailor is an authentic Indian and South East Asian meal kit and accompaniment brand. On a cash and debt-free basis, the purchase price amounts to 43.8 million (US$52.5 million).

The Spice Tailor is expected to generate revenue of 17.3 million (US$20.7 million) in the 2022/2023 financial year.

The Spice Tailor is popular with consumers who like scratch cooking and value the strong authentic flavor profiles the products produce. Scratch recipes combine fresh ingredients with pre-prepped or pre-made ingredients.

The Spice Tailor is said to benefit from increased levels of marketing investment to drive product awareness and household penetration, additional new product development resources and access to Premier Foods commercial capabilities and strong retailer relationships.

The authenticity of The Spice Tailor collection is demonstrated in the fact that the great majority of its goods are created in India, via outsourcing to BRC recognized vendors, while operating an asset-light business strategy.

A great majority of The Spice Tailors collection of goods are created in India, making it authentic.Spicing up expansion

Alex Whitehouse, CEO of Premier Foods explains that the acquisition is well aligned with the companys growth strategy and the company sees a clear opportunity to build on the track record of The Spice Tailor.

Premier Foods intends on doing this by leveraging the elements of our branded growth model. He further explains that this acquisition represents a highly complementary geographical fit, and the company sees potential to expand The Spice Tailors distribution in all their target markets.

Adarsh and Anjum Sethia, the founders of The Spice Tailor elaborate on the acquisition and say that they are looking forward to unlocking further growth for the brand which they have nurtured since its inception.

We see Premier with their track record of brand investment and strong commercial relationships, as the perfect fit for The Spice Tailor, driving it onto the next stage of its evolution, they say.

Food industry kitted out

In other meal kit developments, Boskovich Fresh Food Groups subsidiary Fresh Prep launched its retail line Fair Earth Farms. Fair Earth Farms is the first in its category to package organic salad kits and salad blends in plant-based, fully-compostable bags.

The line offers two salad kit flavors and four salad greens blends. The two flavor-forward salad kits speak to the health and earth-conscious consumers looking for a meal with on-trend ingredients.

Each brightly colored package lists the kit ingredients and the fully compostable promise. The triple-washed greens varieties can be found in vitamin-rich options such as Baby Spinach, Baby Arugula, Spring Mix, and Power Greens.

Chef Andrew Hunter of Wolfgang Puck, Niman Ranch, and Kikkoman R&D creatively developed these flavors and recipes for Fair Earth Farms, delivering products that are unique with clean, fresh, and craveable ingredients.

Edited by Mieke Meintjes

To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com

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Premier Foods acquires Indian meal kit brand The Spice Tailor for US$52.5M - Food Ingredients First

Marketers are obsessed with statistics. Over the last decade, customer data collection, usage, and regulation have evolved dramatically. Customer data appears to be a complete solution at first glance.

It allows marketers to personalize campaigns and communications to the individual customer. Benefits also include accurate attribution of marketing expenditure to outcomes. This is termed data-driven marketing, and it wont be possible without a wealth of data.

However, there is a negative side to data availability that marketers are increasingly being forced to confront: data privacy. Companies are changing how they gather and manage customer data as a result of new laws, regulations, and efforts designed to protect user data and adhere to local data laws.

Digital platforms including websites and even performance popular apps understand that consumer opinion is responsible for the heightened focus on data privacy and security. Consumers have become increasingly interested in how their personal information is used and how much of it they are willing to divulge.

As consumers become more aware of data collection methods, their concerns are becoming more pronounced. Anyone who surfs the digital space feels some level of anxiety about access to their personal information.

This growing trend in the users fear of data collection and use looks set to change the face of marketing.

Data privacy refers to the secure management and utilization of user data. There are three major data security issues that data privacy addresses: how entities collect and store user data; if they share user data with third parties; and regulatory privacy laws.

Privacy represents the users right to control data usage by the entities they interact with. Data collected could be:

While this is a basic list of the various elements contained in digital privacy, it gives you a decent understanding of the types of data that your organization is likely already using for marketing analytics.

All the latest reforms in data privacy have had a largely negative impact on marketing teams. Privacy compliance is a primary concern for marketers across all marketing channels.

Part of this process is ensuring that the proper procedures and protocols are observed to keep customers advised of how their sensitive data is managed.

Its easy to see why: a marketers capacity to collect and draw insights quickly is harmed by this heightened attention on privacy, which even makes some of their past marketing technology applications obsolete.

Analytics, on the other hand, is only half of the equation. Marketers are the trustees and caretakers of a companys brand image, and disregarding privacy concerns, whether by choice or circumstance, could harm the companys brand value.

Mishandling consumer data can have serious ramifications for businesses. Marketers have the unenviable job of trying to balance user opinions and data analytical efforts.

Although data privacy and data security are intricately related, they are not synonymous. While data security is concerned with preventing data breaches, data privacy is concerned with the collecting of data and the management of large datasets with data warehouse software such as Apache hive.

This should concern marketers not simply because it is unlawful to mishandle user data, but also because breaching user privacy is bad for business. Collecting more information than is required can undermine a companys reputation.

Data privacy is concerned with acquiring proper consent as well as fully expressing what data will be gathered and how it will be used.

Lets highlight the role of specific data privacy restrictions in todays marketing landscape.

As more consumers become concerned about the unlawful usage of personal information by digital marketers, laws and regulations governing usage are becoming more prevalent.

As a result, marketing professionals need to be conscious of their actions in terms of protecting personal information.

There are two important data privacy legislation that you must consider: the EUs GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act).

Both of these regulations govern how businesses acquire data and provide people the option to opt-out.

They were the first to provide guidelines for how site owners should treat users from specific geographic areas, such as the state of California or the European Union.

These regulations made it mandatory for everyone to comply with best practices in some way, which was a game-changer.

However, they arent the only regulations available. As more people become worried about how their data is used, local and international legislation is beginning to emerge.

This is why its critical to stay up to date on the latest developments in data privacy. Keep your finger on the pulse of the situation to adapt your methods within the law.

After discussing what digital privacy is and how its evolution is changing the face of marketing, its time to consider how advertisers should adapt.

While there are a variety of ways to accomplish this, including maximizing data, marketers must realize that the days of personal data abundance are long gone.

Unrestricted user data access and usage is gradually becoming obsolete and therefore, its essential to have a strategy for going forward.

Here are some ideas to help you cope with the new wave of data privacy concerns:

Raise advert and communication frequency for a more robust strategy rather than relying solely on a standalone message that gets to the core of your target audience instantly. Orchestration can help data teams easily handle complicated workflows and tasks.

Marketers main focus has been on matching content to certain KPIs up until now. This is where a shift to a greater emphasis on quality content becomes critical.

Instead of trying to appeal to a variety of smaller demographics, you need advertising and creative media that appeal to a large number of people at once.

Its critical to integrate openness and compliance in your data collection approach, as weve seen since the GDPRs implementation.

While you may not always have control over certain aspects of your website, such as Apple and Facebook adverts, you do have some control over others.

Make sure your privacy policies and other policies are easily available on your website. Another good step is to make it easy for people to opt-in or out of certain things, such as email campaigns.

The more transparent you are about these activities, the less your chances of facing user complaints or fines.

Digital advertising is evolving from what it was just a few years ago. New approaches like affiliate marketing without a website have altered the marketing landscape in recent years.

Its vital to keep in mind that consumer behavior hasnt changed drastically in general. People continue to purchase items to meet a need or engage with businesses they trust.

Instead of depending solely on analytics to make all of your marketing plans, its time to take a closer look at your target audience and figure out how to create the best experiences for them.

So, what could advertisers expect in terms of digital marketing and privacy in the future? Here are some expectations to watch out for:

This may seem self-evident, but when it comes to personal privacy, there will be a greater emphasis on giving consumers more choices.

This means that brands must be prepared to offer a variety of opt-in and opt-out options to ensure that users are happy with the entire data collection process.

Its also a good idea to plan for future legislation that makes all of this mandatory.

As additional jurisdictions begin to implement regulations such as GDPR, your website and marketing channels must be prepared to change as needed.

As more territories implement data privacy legislation, process transparency will become more important.

This means that marketers must be willing to give customers a behind-the-scenes look and clearly explain how particular sorts of data are used. This may be both a blessing and a curse for marketers in fiercely-competitive niches.

Consumers are aware of the need for personal data when theyre interacting with a certain brand, and they usually approve of that brands use of their data.

Their attitude changes when such information is shared with a third party.

As a result, marketers should expect less digital data to be sold to third parties in the future. There will likely be a specific opt-in approach that allows consumers to dictate their preferences.

The good news is that technology is advancing to keep up with demand. Hadoop and other similar tools make it easier to handle data processing and storage for large data applications.

As Google moves away from cookies, alternative solutions for giving marketers comparable data sets to operate with are emerging.

In reality, many of the latest data-driven marketing solutions integrate versions of AI (artificial intelligence) to analyze customer behavior more effectively.

This would mean better data analytics than we had in the past.

Establishing a transparent, permission-based connection with customers with a clear value proposition can help companies create trust. Companies who invest in these aspects of data relationship management have the chance to assume a leading position regarding data privacy, which could pay off in the long run.

Tune in to Martech Cube Podcast for visionary Martech Trends, Martech News, and quick updates by business experts and leaders!

Pohan Lin Senior Web Marketing and Localizations Manager, DatabricksPohan Lin is the Senior Web Marketing and Localizations Manager at Databricks, a global PySpark and AI provider connecting the features of data warehouses and data lakes to create lakehouse architecture. With over 18 years of experience in web marketing, online SaaS business, and ecommerce growth. Pohan is passionate about innovation and is dedicated to communicating the significant impact data has in marketing.

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Tackling The Issues of Data Privacy in The Marketing Landscape - Martechcube

THE leader of a California 'cult' which has landed Google in a lawsuit is abusive and has given a chilling warning to those who want to leave, a current follower has claimed.

Former Google video producer Kevin Lloyd is suing after alleging the tech giant's studio in Mountain View, California was made up mostly of members of The Fellowship of Friends.

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The controversial religious sect, led by Robert Earl Burton, has its headquarters based in Oregon House, a small town deep in the Sierrafoothills, around 200 miles away from the Google studio.

Lloyd alleges in his lawsuit he was fired after complaining about the department's link to the Fellowship and its bizarre practices, including Burton's rumored 'love fests' where he tried to bed 100 male followers in a day.

News of his firing came after a bombshell Spotify podcast, Revelations, hosted by investigative journalist Jennings Brown, who spoke to men claiming they were sexually exploited.

The Fellowship, also known as Living Presenceand theFourth Way School, was founded by Burton in 1970, who previously settled a sexual abuse lawsuit in the 1990s.

A current member of the group has now bravely decided to break ranks to speak to The Sun about the allegations the leader has faced over the years, while he has never been criminally charged.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, said she believes the many survivors who gave harrowing accounts of alleged abuse in the podcast.

The Fellowship of Friends, which has around 1,500 members worldwide, is still active and run by Burton, 83, who lives at the headquarters in northern California.

Asked how she feels to hear about the latest claims featured in the podcast, the member told The Sun: "It's horrible. It bothers me, it's always bothered me. It should be called out."

She added: "Nobody that's in the group is supposed to talk to you."

The member, who said she rejoined years after leaving as her late husband and friends were still followers, said Burton should be removed, saying: "I do think it would be wonderful for the health of the community."

Asked if she feels the Fellowship is a cult, she admitted: "It's absolutely a cult. It meets all the criteria, it's leader centric, and you're punished if you leave."

Quizzed on what members are told will happen, she cackled: "Oh, you are going to the outer reaches ofhell!"

She added that when someone starts "exerting their spiritual authority," the choices are to speak out against what's happening within the group or leave.

"But for many people it's like, this is their social life, this is their spiritual life, this is their family, you know, it's a lot to walk away from," she admitted.

"These are not made up stories and I'd say, 'Why doesn't it bother you?' They [the other members] just put it back on me; 'Why does it bother you?'

"The tricky part about this is that there's some really powerful, important ideasthat underpin the Fellowship, that are overlaid with a lot of personal, cultish ideas, proposed by Robert Burton.

"He is a very, very flawed human being, he carved out something that worked for him."

In the podcast, Brown says he spoke to seven men who claim Burton sexually exploited them, two of which also alleged they participated in the rumored sex ritual where he attempted to sleep with 100 of his male students in one day.

They also claimed the Fellowship helped them obtain religious visas.

"They told me they were just two of many who had this experience. So if this has been going on, why has nothing been done to stop it?" Brown said in one episode.

The journalist also told The Sun this week: "I haven't heard of any law enforcement investigations since the podcast came out.

He added: "More survivors have reached out to me, making similar allegations [since its release]."

An insider claims the alleged victims have been too afraid to speak to law enforcement on the supposed historic abuse due to the statute of limitations and feelings of shame.

Brown's podcast also revealed in 2005, ICE received a tip, alleging the Fellowship was bringing non-citizens into the US on religious visas, for sexual exploitation.

The investigation only found that "non-citizens were brought to the US to work non-religious menial jobs for extremely low wages," according to Brown's reporting.

Five years later, in 2012, ICE agents raided the Fellowship's compound a second again. This time along with the DEA.

Fellowship President Greg Holman confirmed in the podcast there was a "big bust," telling Brown: "I mean, they put on a hell of a raid on this property, with FBI, Immigration, Fire Department, Sheriff's Department. It was amazing."

Brown obtained records from the Department of Homeland Security through a Freedom of Information request, which claimed some followers were paying membership funds with cash made from drug sales.

The agents seized marijuana plants and arrested three people, but the organization itself was reportedly never charged with any wrongdoing.

The report said that Homeland Security joined the DEA in the raid because it was still pursuing allegations of human-trafficking connected with the group.

Brown reported: "An ICE representative told me that the investigation didn't substantiate allegations that the Fellowship was using religious visas to bring non-citizens into the US for sexual exploitation.

"Even though the Homeland Security investigation into possible human-trafficking was set in motion by a tip about sex abuse, the reports show that agents didn't even ask members about that."

President Holman also told Brown he did not believe the reports of sexual abuse, but that he would listen to any member who had concerns, warning they must be "loaded for bear" with facts and evidence.

The Sun has also reached out to Holman and the Fellowship for comment about the sexual exploitation claims, but did not receive a response.

The anonymous member told The Sun followers have turned a blind eye to the latest claims, saying: "When you go to an event with Robert, it's usually a dining event, or it could be a concert.

"There's no conversation. It's all about him.He completely controls the environment.

"In terms of what is said, who gets addressed to speak, it's not like people spontaneously [speak]. There could be 20 people at a table, and there's no side conversations."

According to Brown's reporting, a Fellowship lawyer previously asked Burton about the allegations on behalf of the board of directors.

He said in the podcast he obtained an internal record of the exchange and that Burton insisted he "did not brainwash or coerce his students," and that all his relationships were consensual.

Burton, a former Arkansas school teacher who tells members he speaks with 44 angels, reportedly added that they monitor everything and "would not allow sexual abuse."

"The lawyer asked Robert why he had sex with male students even though, at the time, homosexuality was forbidden in the Fellowship," Brown went on.

"Robert responded by quoting the creator of the Fourth Way, Gurdjieff; 'When a man crystallizes into a conscious being, there are no longer any laws for him, he is a law unto himself.'"

The Sun visited the headquarters, named Apollo, and can confirm the group is still recruiting, handing out bookmarks often hidden in stores with a phone number for introductory meetings.

A reporter also stopped by local shops, with many staff members admitting to being paying members, including a cafe close to the compound.

When questioned about the accusations of abuse, one waitress's face fell, as she asked: "What have you heard?" before declining to talk further about the group.

Local resident Eric Stark, 22, also told The Sun he was concerned about the Fellowship having heard the accusations over the years.

He said: "They keep themselves to themselves, but everyone knows about the reports. I would like to see justice."

The member who spoke to The Sun said she originally joined the Fellowship back in the early 1970s, and left after her own issues with Burton which she cannot openly discuss.

But she said her husband was still a part of the group, along with many of her friends, and she decided to rejoin years later as they refused to leave - choosing to keep her distance from Burton.

The anonymous member says she feels powerless to do anything about their leader, adding that many followers do not agree with her views and ignore negative press.

She alleges Burton was initially confronted many years ago about rumors he was having sex with male students, to which she alleges: "He immediately recoiled and said, you know, my private life is my private life."

The member was shocked by the "distressing" claims as he had allegedly banned homosexual relationships within the Fellowship, along with sex outside of marriage.

She says a small group of members wrote to him around 1985 asking him to stop exploiting men after the allegations came to light, but claims their concerns fell on deaf ears.

"They said, you've got to stop this behavior. Ultimately they all left, because his behavior did notstop," she claimed to The Sun.

"I'm in that group. But I would like them to clean up their act around these issues, absolutely.

"Call out that behavior and let the group try to heal and go back to what was really good."

She said her late husband was "shocked" by the allegations from past members and "it took a few years for it to sink in", saying he insisted he wasn't sexually exploited by Burton.

But she claims the were both "under his sway" over the years.

Unlike many members, who live at the main headquarters, a 1200-acre plot of land, she has her home outside of Oregon House.

"I have friends that have places up there, so I visit them. And my husband is buried there [at Apollo], which is really the main reason [why I stay in the group]," she went on.

She added that she had heard of the Google lawsuit but that it was "a bit complicated" and she was unaware of the claims brought by Lloyd, who also wrote a medium essay about his alleged experiences.

A Google spokesperson told the New York Times they investigated the concerns and claimed Lloyd's "assignment ended due to well-documented performance issues," but the suit is ongoing.

The member admitted to The Sun she has spent "hundreds of thousands of dollars" on the Fellowship but insists it has still helped her immensely on her own religious journey.

Burton studied the teachings of Russian philosopher George Gurdjieff, who focused on heightened self-awareness, which the woman says has given her comfort throughout her life.

She remains a member, paying an undisclosed annual fee, and says the community feels like family, despite its bad reputation.

"People became classical musicians, and excellent craft workers. My husband lived a refined life," she said, noting there are millions of dollars worth of artwork and antiques at the compound, which also hosts events and lavish dinners.

"He was a lover of ballet and opera, world travel and art, there were a lot of wonderful experiences that people had in that, absolutely."

"But, you know, bad behavior is bad behavior, there is no excuse for it.

"At this point, I feel like he's [Burton] pretty harmless sexually. I mean, he's 83 or something. But for the health of the spiritual community, it should be called out.

"I have asked people what's going to happen when he dies because he's like the glue that has held it all together, at least all these years. And they say, 'Well, there's a succession plan and you know, we'll see'."

Lloyd also claimed in his medium essay that he was told members were forced to have abortions, which echoed what ex-followers told Brown in his podcast.

The previous suit settled by Burton in the 1990s was brought by ex-member Troy Buzbee, who asked for $5million in damages, claiming he was assaulted from the age of 17.

He alleged in court documents Burton brainwashed members into a state of "absolute submission," allowing him to feed a "voracious appetite for sexual perversion."

According to Brown's podcast, Burton had previously sexually assaulted Troy's father, Richard Buzbee, who wrote to fellow members to warn them of the alleged behavior.

The Sun has reached out to Troy and Richard Buzbee for comment, but did not hear back.

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Here is the original post:
Google cult leader who tried to bed 100 male followers in a DAY gives chilling warning to betrayers, mem... - The US Sun

A SURVIVOR of an ultra-secretive "cult" that preyed on New York City's elite has revealed how the group's "insane" leader brainwashed members into manual labor and seized control over every inch of their lives.

Spencer Schneider, now 62, was 29 years old when he was introduced to the group, then known only as School, by an Ivy League-educated friend called Malcolm in the spring of 1989.

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Unbeknown to Schneider at the time, School - otherwise referred to as the Odyssey Study Group - was an alleged cult run by one-time actress Sharon Gans who siphoned cash from her loyal followers to fund her and her husband Alex Horn's lavish lifestyles.

The couple, who have both since died, first co-founded the group in San Francisco in the 1970s under the name "The Theatre of All Possibilities".

However, they were effectively run out of town in 1978 after the San Francisco Chronicle published a story exposing the physical and verbal abuses members of the group had been subjected to.

Gans and Horn then reopened shop in New York City in the early 1980s under a new name and preached the teachings of Russian philosophers George Gurdjieff and Piotr Ouspensky, who believed hard labor and intentional suffering were the keys to self-improvement.

In his new book, Manhattan Cult Story: My Unbelievable True Story of Sex, Crimes, Chaos, and Survival, Schneider also discloses how Gans, who held herself in the same esteem as "Christ and Buddha", dispensed what she called "ancient oral wisdom."

It was through these "wisdom" forums that Gans seized complete control of her followers' lives, Schenider says, advising people on their sex lives, telling them where they could and couldn't work, who they could marry, whether or not they could have an abortion, and even forcing couples to divorce.

"The amount of control Sharon Gans had over us was significant, total," Schneider told The US Sun.

"She really controlled how I thought about things and she had ultimate authority on all important decision-making in my life - I ran everything by her.

"I was single, she knew I wanted to get married, and she knew a woman in the group who wanted to get married, so she put us together and within nine months we were husband and wife."

Calling the union to his now ex-wife an "arranged marriage" Schneider said many members of the group got married even faster at Gans' instruction, some within just days.

"But my situation was no way near as bad as others," he added.

"She had gay people marry straight people, because she believed in gay conversion which of course doesn't exist, and she would also break up marriages.

"I didn't realize how bad it was until I was about 10 or 15 years in and I finally saw how mercilessly she treated people, and how they weren't trying to improve anyone's lives but instead hurt them.

"But I couldn't get out because of how wrapped up my whole life was in that group.

"I was very afraid of leaving."

At the time of his introduction to the secret sect in 1989, Schneider was a big-shot corporate lawyer who was also in the throes of a quarter-life crisis.

Having endured the nonstop grind of college and law school before graduating to work 60 plus hours a week in the Big Apple, Schenider was looking for a reset, a new purpose, and a new sense of direction.

He was also mourning the loss of his father who had died suddenly four years earlier and contending with a growing sense of loneliness - watching on as many of his friends moved out of the city to start families while he was still single, married only to his job.

One night a friend by the name of Malcolm offered him the chance to change his life as he knew it.

Malcolm told Schneider he was a member of an "esoteric school" that met a few times a week, which was inviting very select people to join their ranks.

The group, Malcolm told him, met to discuss two niche Russian philosophers and applied their teachings to their lives in an effort to improve themselves.

He also referred to School as the most important thing in his life.

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"I was a philosophy major in college and I had never heard of the people he was talking about," Schneider said.

"I'd never heard of the group either and nor did I initially have any interest in it because of how secretive it all was.

"I was very suspicious and told him the group sounded like a cult, so I told him I wasn't interested and I kind of stormed out."

A few days later, Schneider called Malcolm to apologize for his abrupt exit, and during the same conversation, his friend insisted School was not a cult but rather an unconventional study group from which he could benefit a great deal.

The first month of membership was free, Malcolm added, and each month after would cost around $300, which would buy him lectures with Gans, in addition to things such as boxing and acting classes, and parties and retreats.

A reluctant Schneider agreed to go and check School out for himself but was forbidden from mentioning it to anyone else.

Around a week later Schneider arranged to meet Malcolm outside of an old industrial building in downtown Manhattan.

The two men stepped into an elevator up to the third floor, where the doors opened up to a loft with around 40 smartly dressed people - in their late 20s and early 30s - sitting on plastic lawn chairs in a circle.

Any fears Schneider had that School was a cult were allayed when he looked around the room at the seemingly sophisticated and well-to-do crowd - made up of fellow lawyers, doctors, teachers, and heiresses - that was gathered inside the room.

These people weren't strangely dressed individuals who lived on a commune and shaved their heads, he thought, nor were they the kind of extremists who branded themselves for supreme leaders like Charles Manson.

And while School didn't have any of the traditional trappings of a cult, a cult it was, Schneider now believes.

But the extent of his miscalculation that night in 1989 wouldn't be realized for more than two decades.

For now, School was in session; and Schneider believed his path to a better and more enlightened life was about to begin.

Quickly, Schneider found himself swept up in the group's belief system as he was introduced to Gurdjieff's The Fourth Way principle, requiring him to subject himself completely to the will of others.

This period of "brainwashing", as Schenider calls it, started slowly with him surrendering small decisions to longer-serving members in the group at first.

But before long, "you really started to obey them in really big life decisions, like where you worked, who you married, decisions about your children and your friends," he said.

"They used this method to take control of your mind."

After a year of attending "class" at the shadowy school, Schneider met its enigmatic leader Sharon Gans for the first time.

He attended one of her rituals in which she would sit in the center of a circle of students, issuing lavish praise and cruel criticisms to her followers as they shared intimate details about their lives in an open forum.

With her fiery-red hair, strange clothes, and even stranger demeanor, Schneider said his first impression of Gans was that she was "completely nuts."

"Imagine like someone who dresses like they're in a Shakespearean period piece who acted like they were Lady Macbeth.

"And she had this flaming red hair, very pale skin, and this sort of regal manner about herself ... she looked crazy.

"But we were told she was the leader of the people who were our leaders, and they showed such deference and love to her, so we thought we were missing something, maybe she's okay.

"We just didn't get it ... but turns out I wasn't wrong - she was completely nuts."

Despite his initial reservations, Schneider went to form a close relationship with Gans, to the extent that he would run every decision in his life by her so she could instruct him on what to do.

The group also started to rapidly expand, with its membership reaching the hundreds in both New York City and Boston, as Gans continued to mainly target the wealthy.

Schneider was tasked with recruiting affluent new members, while also acting as Gans' chauffeur around the city for free.

While calling the work exhausting, Schenider acknowledged he was let off lighter than other members of School, many of whom were forced to provide slave labor to buildher properties in Montana and Upstate New York.

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Many of the workers were forced to do so for 24 hours at a time without a break, with men stripping logs and installing plumbing and electricity - none of which they wereprofessionally trained to do.

The women, meanwhile, were forced to cook and clean for free, for both Gans and the working men.

Numerous injuries were sustained in the building of Gans' properties with one member almost losing an arm.

She also sourced revenues of income beyond just membership fees, seeking to exploit her loyal followers out of even more cash.

In his book, Schneider writes about one young finance executive bragging about a $20,000 bonus he'd just received.

Gans, according to Schneider, made him sign it over to her on the spot.

Despite the various abuses of power Gans was allegedly indulging in before their very eyes, members of School didn't question her rule believing their personal suffering was all for a greater good.

It was a facade Schneider blindly bought into until around 15 years into his "studies" when he said he was left particularly disturbed about an interaction he'd shared during a conversation with Gans.

At the time, Schneider and his wife, the woman Gans had selected for him to marry, were having trouble conceiving a child.

According to Schneider, Gans' solution to their problem was for Schneider to attempt to impregnate his 19-year-old step-daughter instead.

"When she said that to me it just shocked me," Schneider told The US Sun, "and I realized at that moment I wasn't willing to go that far for her.

"I was very unhappy and I just began seeing Sharon in a different light, as something eviler than I had before, but I still felt very stuck and I couldn't just leave.

"I didn't want to lose my marriage because the people who were married in the cult if one of them leaves, she forced them to divorce.

"So I was really stuck between a rock and a hard place."

As the years continued, Schneider became increasingly disillusioned by School and Gans, and the ways in which members were abused and humiliated.

There were "constant" public humiliations, he said, and increasingly members were ordered by Gans to do bad things, such as "giving children up for adoption instead of having abortions" or coercing women into having sex with men who were already married or forcing gay men to marry straight women.

Such instructions caused Schenider to really question Gans' morality.

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When his marriage started falling apart in 2010 he also became increasingly more concerned about the hold she had over his life, resulting in him having a nervous breakdown.

"I think it was just so many boundaries of mine that had been crossed by sharing all at the same time and they just reached a crescendo that I couldn't cope with anymore because my mind and life were so controlled by her," Schneider said.

"By the end of 2012 I was very depressed and I went to a therapist. That's when I realized this thing called School was actually really harmful.

"I then decided to leave and only after my exit did I realize that it was a cult."

More than a decade after freeing himself from Gans' shackles, Schneider said he's still in the process of rebuilding his life, calling the project a "working progress" through laughter.

Looking back on his 23 years inside the cult, Schneider said it's difficult to believe he surrendered so much of himself to the group while being in what he called a "hypnotic state of brainwash."

"It has none of the physical trappings of a cult: were not on a commune, or shaving our heads, or being physically branded," Schneider said.

"It was just a cult where businessmen and women met in the evenings to talk about philosophers.

"But what the leader did to us in our minds and our bodies was every bit like any other cult."

Gans died from Covid-19-related complications in January 2021 at age 85.

She passed away in her $8million apartment inside the Plaza Hotel, funded by the money summed over to her by Schneider and the hundreds of other members like him.

While once seeing Gans as an incredibly charming individual, he now views her as someone who was "very troubled and very dangerous, who also ruined a lot of lives and hurt a lot of people."

The School is still in existence today, according to Schneider, and is run by a small group of followers who inherited it from Gans in her will.

Following the release of his book, Manhattan Cult Story, Schneider is the first former follower of Gans to come forward with his story.

Speaking of his decision to tell all, he told The US Sun: "I was apprehensive at first but felt compelled to do it because I thought it was important to pull back the curtain on these people and to help save other people who were in the group.

"Some of it was really actually very painful to go back and look over.

"But now that it's over and written, I do feel a great deal of release and closure."

Link:
Inside NYCs secret cult that forced gay people into conversion therapy & brainwashed high-achievers into... - The US Sun

Self-awareness has become a widely recognized meta-skill of the 21st century, as described by Tasha Eurich in her book Insight. Self-awareness consistently shows up as a critical element for leaders in any business to master if they want to motivate a team to produce results. In fact, self-awareness is the key to increasing confidence, building better relationships, and living a meaningful life. The irony of self-awareness is that those that are most confident in their abilities are usually the least competent. In fact, it is very likely that they will overestimate their ability as a leader, colleague, athlete, parent, or even drivers to name a few skills.

Known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, we all suffer from a type of cognitive bias that acts like a pair of rose coloured glasses that prevent us from seeing ourselves the way the rest of the world sees us. We have all experienced a moment where we (or somebody else) are humbled by reality regarding our level of fitness, the actual number on the scale when we weigh ourselves, our performance on an exam or the lack of laughing at what we think is a great joke or in the case of a CEO, the deafening silence that follows their request for some honest conversation amongst the executive team.

You cant see your own bias

Rather than start a debate about how self-aware you or your team are, I want all of us to accept that our perspectives on ourselves are all a little bit skewed, laced in optimism and lies that are designed to make us feel better about ourselves. The truth is, unless you are getting feedback from somebody else, its going to be a lie. Further to this point, depending on how you approach seeking feedback and the people you approach, they may be less than forthcoming with the truth due to fear of conflict. An even greater fear that holds true for all of us is being ostracised or ousted from the group as a result of our well-intentioned honesty.

Whats the end goal?

The goal here is to enable you to see yourself the way others see and experience you. In other words, to close the gap between reality and your perception. Stepping outside yourself and seeking feedback from another persons perspective is the best way to do this. True perspective is the positive alignment of how you see yourself with how the rest of the world sees you. The greater the overlap, the better your leadership will be. Of course, if you see yourself negatively and so does the rest of the world, you are aligned but your leadership will be terrible.

Whats the best tool to use?

Traditionally 360-degree assessments, a survey that contrasts your self-view with that of your manager, peers, and direct reports, is the go-to tool to increase self-awareness but be warned that unless youve established enough maturity, curiosity and openness within yourself, you will likely reject or ignore any feedback. This is a damaging outcome for you, but its an even worse outcome for the people who provided the feedback in the first place. It signals to them that you dont care, dont want to change, dont respect their opinions and dont value their perspectives. If youre comfortable with this, then you shouldnt be in a leadership role.

Instead, before you jump into seeking feedback, you must first have clarity about how youd like to be experienced. When youre clear on the type of person and leader you want to be, feedback is received in relation to this clarity so you can close any gaps between your ideal self and the reality other people experience. Im talking about receiving feedback on the legacy you are actively trying to create as a leader. To help you with this try answering the following questions for yourself.

Lastly, developing self-awareness is a non-negotiable part of leadership but everyone can get better at it. It is an iterative process that oscillates between awareness and action. Before asking for help from others, stake a claim as to what you stand for, how you lead and how you want to be remembered.

Written by Joe Hart.Have you read?Amor LeadershipbyLeo Bottary.Reimagining the future of sustainable hospitality with a 2050 mindset.Living Your Values as a Key for Resilient Leadership A Conversation with Mike Ward (CEO IKEA Canada)byCraig Dowden.How to Build a Leadership Team that Delivers Great ResultsbyMichael Dattoli.Making Difficult Decisions Easily Based On Value SystemsbyRene Pardo.

The rest is here:
How leaders can build greater self-awareness and why it matters - CEOWORLD magazine

Umeetas Around the Plate in 6 Senses is a book that sheds light on how our senses can assist us in bringing awareness to the bodys signals. Written by Ansari Ori who is a registered psychological counselor and a certified international health and wellness coach. Ori has a double Masters in Holistic Psychology and Coaching and Around the Plate in 6 Senses is her debut book.

She speaks with Gisele Wertheim Aymes about how she hopes to inspire more people to become more aware and mindful of their health-related choices.

You can eat all the kale in the world, right? But if you are not attending to the other aspects of your life, then it doesnt really create a sense of well-being for you.

She was inspired to write Around the Plate in 6 Senses in 2018. After two years of extensive research, her writing process took a turning point in 2020, when she found herself stuck in South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdown, and unable to return home. She completed her book during her four months stuck in the country.

In six senses, I added intuition because it has, for me, in my experience, been the one thing that has helped me realize, in many aspects of my life, when something is wrong. Its not always easy to hone into the intuition factor. But I think its again, and Im saying this over and over again, just more awareness.

The book is a reminder to slow down in your tracks, take a breath, and listen to your body communicating to you via your senses. Living a healthy life definitely involves what is on your plate, but it is not the only factor determining your health and well-being.

We have so many processes going on at the moment, even though we are not mindful or aware of it. But when something goes wrong in our system, which is the body, it is bound, okay, maybe not 100% of the time, but most of the time, it is bound to give you an alert and alert of some kind.

Ori emphasizes the need to focus on self-awareness and self-care of the mind and body to make the best decisions to optimize your health.

She says, So responsibility, to an extent, does lie with us in the sense that we just need to be more mindful of what is going on. Nobody will know what is going on with you, except yourself. You go to a doctor, and you explain to him as well. You know, these are my symptoms and all sorts of things, you know, but everyone is different.

Ori also did research that showed how background noise or music influences eating behavior. For example, slow-tempo music in a restaurant results in customers staying longer and consuming more beverages, while loud music is associated with increased soft drink and alcohol consumption (club scenes).

She adds, if you read my book, you will understand Im surrounded by music here. My husband is a musician. He plays instruments and music has been found to also influence how you eat, what you choose to eat, and how fast you eat.

Photo by Pixabay

The book also looks at how the senses help you make appropriate food choices and make you aware of the signs and signals that your smart-bod continually gives you when there is an imbalance in the system. You will be in awe of the transformation in your health by the awareness of the role the senses play on and around the plate.

When you are given any kind of health advice, what works for me may not work for you. Depending on many years, depending on your lifestyle, depending on your likes, depending on lots of things. Find out what works for you. Thats important. One size does not fit all. The other thing is, I think we need to teach our children, which, for me, is very critical. And I wish I had been taught this when I was younger, to teach children where food comes.

Around the Plate in 6 Senses is available for purchase on Amazon. Go on and enjoy this sensory journey of health and well-being.

The video interview contains the full dialogue of this interview, and you can watch it below.

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Originally posted here:
Around the Plate in 6 Senses: Journey of selfawareness, and well-being - Longevity LIVE

Rebuild your leadership momentum by doing a mental checkup.

As the July heat smolders, you realize that the year is half over. And what is happening with your momentum? You know - that feeling that you have the wind at your back.

With momentum, you feel strong and exhilarated. You are making significant progress, and you are unrestrained. Nothing can stop you now, right?

Perhaps you fit the description, or maybe you, like many, are just not feeling it right now. Perhaps you are stalled. Possibly you feel like you are standing still or falling behind rather than moving forward with vigor.

The path to momentum can be complicated. However, crucial to find it is aligning how you allot your time and energy with the aspects of your life and work most meaningful to you.

As you stop and reflect on your current priorities, you may find what you truly want from your life, work, and leadership has shifted over the past couple of crisis-ridden years. Maybe your actions havent kept up.

To reclaim momentum, take a time-out to ponder whether your efforts are still aligned with your deepest desires.

Here are three steps to get you started.

When your time and energy commitments are out of line with what you consider to be your highest priorities, you are very likely to feel some discontent. The restlessness you experience can depress your momentum.

You may not even realize why you are edgy. High-achiever leaders tend to put their heads down and do the work before them without pausing to ask themselves whether it is worth the effort.

As you think about where you are spending the most time and energy at work, ask yourself these questions:

Are the goals you are working towards the right ones for our times? The pandemic led to significant shifts in our world and our work. Have you examined your plans for continuing relevance?

Do you still believe in the importance of what you are doing? Does it align with your values? Your desires? Your strengths?

As you examine your top life priorities, consider whether your work or some other aspect of your life is taking over and drowning out other priorities.

Momentum grows with alignment and balance.

Maybe you are already clear on how to contribute and what impact you desire through your leadership. However, some leaders fail to consider these critical decisions. They take for granted their responsibility to fulfill the role they play within the parameters handed to them.

Perhaps. However, most find their enthusiasm for their work rides on whether they experience it as meaningful.

You bring personal purpose, strengths, and aspirations to your work. A disconnect between what you want and what you do can depress your motivation and satisfaction.

Of course, you may feel constrained by personal responsibilities tying you to your role, even if it isn't a good fit with what you desire. But dont accept these constraints too quickly.

Clarify the impact you crave and consider how to modify your role to increase it. Talk with your colleagues, team, and manager to explore possibilities.

And if you come out empty-handed, consider looking for a role that will provide more of what you are looking for.

Momentum is more significant when you work at something meaningful to you.

For many years, corporations took for granted that companies should organize into a hierarchy. Furthermore, most assumed power should flow from official roles of authority. Few questioned a command and control form of leadership.

Yet over time, research showed this traditional leadership style wasnt working well. A recent Inc. Magazine headline proclaimed, Command and Control Leadership is Dead. The article said this outdated type of leadership leads to dissatisfied employees and is unsuitable for innovation.

The call for more collaborative leadership picked up steam during the pandemic. Turbulent and uncertain times call for an increased emphasis on trust. And collaborative leadership builds it.

Now is the time to reconsider carefully your framework for leading. The workplace and workforce changed as a result of past and present crises.

In our fast-paced and turbulent times, leaders and companies must be agile and flexible - characteristics conflicting with hierarchical organizations and command and control leadership.

What does this mean for you? Now is the time to consider whether your leadership framework is still effective.

Try out some fresh ways of leading. You may discover you have been running up against leadership limits you werent aware were dampening your effectiveness.

So where does this fast, challenging, and changing world leave you as you search for a way to rebuild momentum?

If your energy is flagging, take a timeout to raise your self-awareness. Reboot if you discover your habits, beliefs, and actions are limiting motivation and effectiveness.

In an article in the New York Times, columnist David Brooks suggests that as the world changes, everyone must learn how to reorganize your mind, and see with new eyes. Wise words for regaining your momentum.

Link:
How To Rebuild Leadership Momentum In Three Easy Steps - Forbes

Often times, it takes both added distance and the passing of time to see a clear view of the path that led you to where you are today. Celebrated singer-songwriter Mary Bragg takes an honest look on a tough but transformative season of life within her upcoming self-titled album, set for release on Sept. 30 via Tree Tone Music.

"This record covers just about every corner of my heart," Bragg explains. "In writing these songs, some of which I really didnotwant to write, but had to, I discovered with a fresh sense of renewal the power that writing through pain has."

Her new single "Panorama" is a striking reflection of a moment long past that left a lasting image in her mind. Backed by aching pedal steel alongside a blend of electric and acoustic guitar, Bragg finds herself looking back at a moment through a new perspective.

"'Panorama" describes a perspective shift, when your awareness of a place, and of the relationships surrounding thatplace, changedrastically," she notes. "Its a view you canonly find once you take a look at it from, say, the top of a ferris wheel at thecounty fair, or manyyears later, from a thousand miles away."

Listen to "Panorama" below:

"Panorama" is one of 12 new tracks featured on Bragg's self-titled LP, which includes collaborations with Nashville-based singer-songwriters Caroline Spence, Erin Rae andPeter Groenwald of the Hush Kids. The project takes an honest look at a time of intense personal rediscovery, change and growth that occurred over the past three years.

In 2021, Bragg relocated from Nashville to New York City to help grow her skills in the field of music production. The choice to shift her focus towards working in this creative field came after she discovered how widespread the lack of female representation was within the production side of the recording industry.

"When thepandemic hit, I finally had the time to evaluate what I really wanted, both personally andprofessionally," she explains. "Id beenproducing a lot on my own, but I still didnt consider myself arealproducer. When Ilearned that only 3% of producers on theBillboard charts right now are women, I decided to strip myself of that self-consciousness and go all in."

Mary Bragg panorama

Bragg is one of this year's official showcasing artists at AmericanaFest 2022, which will be held Sept. 13-17 in Nashville. You can find more information about all of her upcoming tour dates, as well as additional ticketing information, at Mary Bragg's official website.

Mary Bragg's Self-Titled Album Track List:1. "Love Each Other"2. "Hard Time" (feat. Caroline Spence)3. "The Lonely Persistence of Time"4. "Same Kid"5. "Please Dont Be Perfect"6. "Nothing More to the Story"7. "Panorama"8. "Colorblind" (feat. Peter Groenwald)9. "Constellation Change"10. "In the Light" (feat. Erin Rae)11. "Good Side of Blue"

Prine's lyrical stories were both fantastical and simple; he wrote with a Midwest-bred honesty and humor that kept listeners on their toes.His catalog, spread over 18 albums, contains vivid stories ("Lake Marie"), insightful looks at the human condition ("Hello in There") and sweet love songs ("Aimless Love").

These 13 Prine lyrics -- largely pulled from his songs' choruses -- are some of his very best:

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Mary Bragg Shifts Her Perspective in Soaring New Track 'Panorama' - The Boot

Were entering a second disruption of re-emergence into the new normal. This endemic requires reorientation, adjustment, and a different kind of learning. People in organizations, businesses, and social systems feel this need. Women, perhaps, feel it most strongly. Data and anecdotal evidence show that women especially are devoting more time responding to childcare, eldercare, and homecare, often at the expense of careers and a sense of well-being.

As a woman, a coach, and a group facilitator, Im interested in strategies of resilience and adaptability that support reframing disruption as a potential opportunity for positive change. Resilience refers to the capacity to work through and to overcome setbacks. Adaptability refers to the ability to make necessary adjustments that let us move forward. Resilience and adaptability need to be embedded in the narratives we use when confronting adversities.

My late mother serves me as an example of such a narrative. After surviving the loss of her family in WWII, she immigrated to Montreal, Canada. Despite few resources and formidable social and language challenges, within 10 years, she began a fifty-year career as a successful realtor. A compelling story of resilience and adaptability can be empowering; a catalyst to keep trying. We all carry the stories we tell ourselves about what is and is not possible. Among the first steps in managing disruption is to review those stories. Do the stories you tell yourself reinforce your fears, or do they inspire your sense of possibility? Choose what is inspiring, and take actions to exercise and build your resilience and adaptability. Here are some ways to do so:

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Resilience and Adaptability in the New Normal - SWAAY