"We aren't over the money taboo yet," said Majd Maksad, co-founder of Status Money, a personal finance site that allows users to anonymously compare their finances with that of their peers. "We're not at the point where people are going to sit with colleagues and friends to talk about how much they make, how much they owe and their credit score."

"Virtually everyone reacts to seeing what their peers are spending," said Francesco D'Acunto, assistant professor at Boston College's Carroll School of Management, "and everyone tries to move to their peers' level."

"It is the opposite of Keeping up with the Joneses" D'Acunto said. "This type of intervention has a sobering effect. It happens for people at all income levels and those with high levels of education, people who should know better."

Any conversation about money is better than not talking about it all, said Dr. Alex Melkumian, a financial therapist in Los Angeles, even if it is just a making a silly joke about "buying back my dignity" or posting a wine glass emoji on Venmo to show that you just repaid your friend for drinks the other night.

"Money is a bigger taboo than sex," he said. "We have an emotional attachment to money and there is guilt and shame about not being able to talk about it."

At his practice, which assists people in making behavioral changes regarding the way they relate to and use money, he asks clients to bring in something deeply personal, that perhaps no one else has ever seen: bank statements.

"It is amazing how much you can know about a person and how intimate that feels when you're reviewing their bank statement with them," he said. Patterns emerge and there is some relief that they are no longer suffering in silence, he said.

"We can talk about anxiety or poor behavior choices," he said, "but unless we look at the numbers and see where the money is going, we can't explore the emotional attachment to it."

A platform like Venmo, which allows people to directly pay one another often with an emoji-filled description that can be seen publicly, also helps make personal spending patterns more open, Dr. Melkumian said.

"What's interesting to me is that they could have set it to private," he said, noting the app has a setting that keeps transactions from being publicly disclosed. "Instead, they chose to put it out there."

But even if they want to share, they aren't being totally transparent.

"It is all coded with funny emojis or inside jokes between people," he said. "Ultimately what they are communicating is that they still aren't comfortable talking about money."

While the conspicuous consumption of those around us can be fairly evident -- the neighbor's fancy new car, for example -- we often don't know the full picture of our peers' finances, like how much they earn, what they spend on groceries or their debt load.

In some cases, the comparisons help users know whether they are even in the ballpark of appropriate spending and saving levels and can even influence them to change harmful behaviors or patterns.

"There is a pent up curiosity about 'How am I doing compared with other people?'," said Maksad. "There is a little fear. A little competition. A little encouragement to do better."

A social network on the site places users in a feed with people in their peer group and allows them to anonymously discuss and crowdsource their money questions, troubles and solutions.

"Being able to share this with other individuals and a community, without having to publicly divulge your identity, allows people to get the benefit of talking about money without enduring the personal psychological cost," said Maksad.

But to get the most out of Status Money, users will need to provide a good deal of personal information -- date of birth, annual income, whether they rent or own a home, an address and the last four digits of their Social Security number if they wish to link to a credit bureau report that provides score-related information. The app also asks users to link their bank accounts, credit card accounts and taxable and non-taxable accounts.

The anonymity that Status Money offers makes the social network for finance more feasible, said Maksad. "The social feed works because it is about preserving this privacy. People don't talk about money on Facebook or post about it on Instagram. This is purpose built for talking about your own finances."

Read the original post:
These apps are changing the way we talk about money - CNN

When he started as a Major Indoor Soccer League referee in the 1980s's, Brian Hall had one big wish. He wanted to work games with Esse Baharmast, the youngest fulltime referee.

"He was that model of the referee that I wanted to be," Hall said. "It was like, please appoint me with him. I want to learn from him. I want to see how he manages these games at the top level."

Hall got his wish, eventually following in Baharmast's footsteps as a national and international referee and working the 2002 World Cup.

Best known for whistling the correct penalty kick call during Norway's win over Brazil that stirred world-wide controversy and headlines at the 1998 World Cup, Baharmast cannot be defined by just that moment. His impact also has been felt domestically and internationally as U.S. Soccer Director of Referees, teacher, FIFA instructor and mentor.

"As an instructor, he's got this use of the language that draws pictures, said Hall, now the head of Concacaf referees. He has the ability to use analogies of other parts of life and tie that into reffing. The way he has conducted himself as a role model and as a mentor to so many people around the world it's pretty phenomenal."

Baharmast, 65, will be honored for his contributions to the game as recipient of the 2019 Werner Fricker Award at U.S. Soccer's AGM in Nashville, Tenn. on Feb. 15. The award is named for the late U.S. Soccer president who brought the 1994 World Cup to the USA.

"For Esse to receive this builder award, it is really significant because Esse is really the builder of the referee program of U.S. Soccer," said National Soccer Hall of Famer Dr. Joe Machnik, the awards presenter. "He's the foundation block. He's the referee who has accomplished the most and has continued to provide leadership."

Baharmast, who came to the U.S. at 18 to study English at the University of Kansas-Lawrence, got into officiating by accident, breaking his tibia and fibula in a game. A professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia suggested he become a referee.

As it turns out, Machnik, the MISL referee in chief, worked Baharmast's first pro game, an exhibition match in Wichita, Kansas many years ago. When a snowstorm prevented a referee from traveling to Cleveland, Baharmast officiated his first MISL game. He quickly moved up the ladder.

Baharmast's most memorable year was 1996. He worked the middle of the first Major League Soccer game between the San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United, the first MLS Cup played in a noreaster in Foxborough, Mass., Lamar Hunt Open Cup final and A-League (now USL) final. That likely will never be duplicated.

He also officiated the 1996 Olympic men's semifinal match between Argentina and Portugal, though he was criticized beforehand. Baharmast remembered reading the newspapers: "Why is there an American referee in that game? It's a high-risk game. blah, blah, blah."

Nothing went awry.

He caught FIFA's eye and was asked to ref a game between Japan and Korea in 1997 that would determine which team would qualify for the World Cup.

"There was a lot of history between the two countries," Baharmast said. "For FIFA to trust us with a big game like that, Japan and Korea in Korea at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, was incredible. That was another game where we had no problems."

Japan won, 2-1. "On the way back to the airport, the Japanese fans going back [home] were bowing in respect," Baharmast said. "It was incredible.

"After the semifinal of Argentina and Portugal at the Olympics, FIFA had seen the games that I could do, the high-risk games and they were comfortable giving those types of games to us."

Baharmast's defining moment came in Marseille at France 98. Norway and Brazil were tied in the 88th minute when he called Junior Baiano for a shirt-holding foul that denied Tore Andre Flo a goal-scoring opportunity in the penalty area.

"Immediately, I knew my angle was perfect," he said. "I'm looking straight at it. I don't believe he does it. How stupid can he be? Why is he doing it at the last minute? Even I hesitated a little bit because I don't want to call a penalty at the last minute. I am hesitating a little bit to see if an advantage comes. Maybe the ball goes to another Norwegian player who places it into the back of the net.

"No word from Junior Baiano. He was the first one out of there. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as protesting."

Norway converted the penalty for a 2-1 win, qualifying for the next round. Because the proper angle wasnt shown on worldwide television, it looked like a phantom call.

"To make matters worse, Morocco got eliminated from this and the Moroccan coach was Henri Michel, who was former French national team coach. He has the ear of the reporters who are talking, he said, adding that television stations showed a split screen where the Moroccans are celebrating and jumping with joy after beating Scotland and now, they're crying."

"I told the people, 'Hey, all these cameras, tomorrow I'm going to open a newspaper, there's going to be a picture from behind the goal that shows the picture in a clear shot and it would be good to go. No such thing. All it was talking about was scandal. It was a huge controversy. Incompetent referee. FIFA needs to send this referee home."

Vilified for "botching" such an important call, Baharmast remained steadfast. "If I had to do this 100 times over again, I'd do it 100 times over," he said. I know in my mind and my heart I made the correct call."

A few days later a Swedish television station posted a video and picture proving Baharmast was spot on.

"These things happen for a reason. Every tournament I went to I had to justify my presence there because everybody was cutting down the U.S., telling us 'You guys don't even have football, you call it by the name soccer. What do you guys know about the game? You have no business being here type of thing, he said. Even after my decision on television I remember that broadcasters who were showing the red card, who were saying, 'Send the referees from non-footballing countries back and the World Cup should have the best referees ... two from Germany, two from France, two from England. It was for us to endure the pain and ignorance of the people. ... Then they had to eat soccer crow after the video came out. It has served us well. Had the camera showed the correct angle immediately, it would have just been another penalty."

In 2011, the National Association of Sports Officials awarded Baharmast its most prestigious honor, the Gold Whistle. NASO called his decision one of the top 20 calls of all-time.

Beyond his personal success, Baharmast has been gratified by the growth of game officials in the United States. He is proud that more Americans have been receiving FIFA appointments at World Cups and world championships.

"Its really incredible because we are getting the respect that we deserve," he said. "The tree that was planted before is bearing plenty of fruit."

Baharmast has played a role in tending that tree. When he decided to hang up his whistle to become U.S. Soccer director of officials, his final match was the 1998 MLS all-star game. Hall was the fourth official. Late in the game, the ball went out of bounds and Baharmast walked off the field.

"He gave me the whistle and I finished the game, Hall said. It was like handing over the reins to the next person to follow him."

Sounds just like quintessential Esse Baharmast, paying it forward.

Excerpt from:
The Right Call: Esse Baharmast and the Making of a Great American Referee - U.S. Soccer

The following is one of several articles previewing BizWomen Mentoring Monday, a Feb. 24 program for women professionals in Northeast Ohio that is presented by Advance Ohio, including The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. See below for event details.

CLEVELAND, Ohio More than three dozen professionals from fields as diverse as banking, real estate, retail, science and the arts are scheduled to participate this Monday in Mentoring Monday, a special event that seeks to connect women professionals in Northeast Ohio with successful women willing to share advice.

Ahead of Mondays event, which is presented by Advance Ohio, including The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, several of the mentors were asked the following question: If you could give an aspiring businesswoman just one piece of advice, what would it be? Here are their responses:

Anne Harrill, owner, Oceanne Boutique: Look at the big picture. Sometimes we get so busy with the daily tasks we forget why we first started. It really helps me to remember my why and either push through challenges or sometimes just let them go. Deciding our values + mission statement also helped me focus on what really was important for my business.

Jean Angus, CEO, Saint-Gobain Life Sciences: Spend time to become aware of your strengths and passions. Leverage and build upon them. I personally have found my engagement, performance and career rose as I leveraged my own passions and skills.

Develop a strategy of where you might like to be in 5, 10, 15 years. Spend time with people you admire in these types of roles. They may very well offer you a footprint to follow.

Do not be afraid to say yes to new roles (even if you do not have 100% of the skills required). With learning, hard work and perseverance, you can get there.

Margy Judd, owner and president, Executive Arrangements: The best piece of business advice I ever heard came from the Rev. Tracey Lind, former dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. She told a group of us once: Never let money be your primary motivation. Inauthentic people are easy to spot. Your vocation is where your passion intersects with what the world needs. It should give you energy and make you want to jump out of bed and do it every day. Dont settle for anything less.

Simrit Sandhu, chief supply chain and support services officer, Cleveland Clinic: Become comfortable with being uncomfortable and redefine whats safe. We often avoid situations where we might fail, but these opportunities are the ones with the most potential for learning and growth. You have to put yourself out there, you have to try the hard thing. You might stumble, but it will make you stronger and more successful in the long run.

Sue Workman, vice president for university technology and CIO, Case Western Reserve University: Random opportunities may appear throughout your career journey; these are often gifts that can propel you further or in a different direction. Dont pass these up take the challenge, learn something new, explore.

Shirrell R. Greene-Joe, director of customer experience at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, is scheduled to take part in Monday's event at Tri-C. (David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com)David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

Shirrell R. Greene-Joe, director, customer experience, Cleveland Metropolitan School District: The distance between your dreams and reality is called action. Map out your plan of action, and seek those whose wisdom can groom and guide you along the way.

Jodi Berg, president and CEO, Vitamix: If you allow your personal purpose to be your rudder, you can use the wind and waves of life to achieve great things. Without a rudder, you are at the mercy of the currents.

Laura Kepley, artistic director, Cleveland Play House: My advice to an aspiring female leader is trust yourself dont waste time and energy trying to be someone elses idea of a leader. Be confident that what you bring to the table is singular and of great value and then get to work!

Tari S. Rivera, president, Regency Construction Services: Always recognize that challenges, obstacles and closed doors are opportunities!

Flo Brett, founder and executive director, Effective Leadership Academy: If you stay focused on 1) your health 2) your people and 3) your organizational culture it will lead to success.

Carol Simbeya, vice president of sales and marketing, Charter Senior Living: Recognize when fear is present and push through it with education and questions to help you succeed through any situation.

Control your reactions to situations. All response should be purposeful to allow for a purposeful self-image and response from your audience.

These are two philosophies I have always kept at the forefront of all my actions and have served me well.

Julie A. Weagraff, vice president, fund development, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio: Step outside of your comfort zone to try new things and think creatively about problem solving. Aim to make new connections every day and build authentic relationships with people who can help you advance in your career.

Destiny Burns, owner, CLE Urban Winery: Take every opportunity to educate yourself not just about the products or services your business offers but also about how to run and grow your business successfully. Do your homework, be persistent and build your support network. As you grow and scale your business, plan to work more on your business than in it.

Susan Fuehrer, president, Institute for H.O.P.E., MetroHealth: Incorporate the best traits from leaders you admire but always remain true to who you are. Be your best you.

Ramona Hood, president and CEO, FedEx Custom Critical: Be courageous. Be courageous in your willingness to take risks, learn new skills and express your ambitions and goals.

Plain Dealer reporters Olivera Perkins, Julie Washington, Ginger Christ, Jordyn Grzelewski and Rachell Dissell, and assistant business editor Melodie Smith contributed to this story.

BIZWOMEN MENTORING MONDAY

What: A one-day mentoring program bringing together area women professionals and businesswomen seeking their insights. Presented locally by Advance Ohio, including The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. For the event schedule and a list of mentors, go to https://www.advance-ohio.com/mentoring-monday-mentors/.

Where: Cuyahoga Community College Metropolitan Campus, 2900 Community College Ave., Metro Campus Center, Room (MCC) 201.

When: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.

Tickets: $45 each, or $360 for 10. Cost includes a light breakfast. The deadline to purchase tickets is Sunday; go to events.cleveland.com/e/mentoring-monday.

More coverage: Join a Facebook Live event at 9 a.m. Monday at facebook.com/clevelandcom, and look for a special print section in this Sundays Plain Dealer.

Related stories:

Mentoring gets a reboot as more women professionals break into top leadership

Workplace mentorship can take many forms, says Cleveland Leadership Centers Marianne Crosley

Fount to open leather goods shop as part of LeBron James Cleveland Hustles show

Tari Rivera empowers women to pursue careers in construction, building and remodeling

CLE Urban Winery expanding as it marks year and a half in business

See the original post:
Northeast Ohio women leaders offer tips on seizing opportunities, pursuing your dreams: Mentoring Monday - cleveland.com

The tall trees inside the parking lot area even blocked the vision of the 6-foot-5-inch Price, forcing him to contort his wiry frame just so he could get a better view of his surroundings.

No, its the front. He stopped again for a moment, questioning where he was.

Yeah, this is the front, he finally concluded. Where do you want to do this?

There was a golf cart on one side, and another cart on the other, which had a longer back. It allowed Price to stretch out his long limbs, so, he plopped down on that one.

Much of the Dodgers complex had cleared out for the day. Price, meanwhile, had an appointment at 2:30 p.m. He didnt want to leave the stadium since his appointment was close, so the 34-year-old lefthander had a few hours to spare.

The setting is unfamiliar to Price, but hes a veteran whos been on the move before. Hes used to the business of baseball. Now, in his new home, he had time to reflect on his previous one.

Prices career with the Red Sox was a polarizing one. He knows that.

He came over to the Sox before the 2016 season, inking a record-setting seven-year, $217 million deal. At the time, he tied Miguel Cabrera for the richest average annual value in major league history.

I went there to win, Price said. To me, that is the reason why I went to Boston. I wanted to be able to win right now. I wanted to be able to win the year after and the year after that. That was something I wanted to be a part of. I was comfortable in the American League and even more so in the American League East.

Yet the general thought among media members and fans was that Price didnt like Boston and never quite fit in. The belief was that he didnt want to go to Boston, but couldnt turn down the money former president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski put on the table.

Price said that wasnt the case.

I do think it was overblown, Price said. I didnt feel like it mattered what I said. Theyre going to make their own assessments and thats completely fine. If I didnt enjoy it, I wouldnt get there at 12:30. I love baseball, I love being around the field, and that didnt change in Boston.

Price said a player is under a microscope in Boston. He noted he could feel the difference, even in the tone of his introductory news conference in Boston. His core, in a way, was hardened from the start of his tenure with the Sox. Its no secret that his relationship with the media, at times, soured.

In Boston, theyre all competing against each other, he said. Theres a bunch of different big papers. Theyre all trying to get the big story. I get that.

Prices career with the Sox wasnt linear. After leading the league in games started (35) and innings (230) in 2016, he made just 11 starts in 2017 after dealing with an elbow injury. In 2018, he rebounded, compiling a 3.58 ERA in 176 innings. The Sox won the World Series and Price probably should have been named World Series MVP. In 13 innings against the Dodgers, he tallied a 1.98 ERA, shining in the closeout Game 5 when he went seven innings and allowed just three hits and a run.

He defeated his biggest foe: the postseason.

Yet at his postgame news conference, Price infamously said, I hold all the cards now and that feels so good, which some critics viewed as an odd time to say that.

That card was played, Price explained. That was the first question I was asked in my introductory press conference in Boston. It was, You think you can win in the playoffs? That card had been held over my head for a long time a very long time. It took a while. To go out there and do it once and then do it again. That felt good. It wasnt anything scripted.

As Price spoke, a FedEx truck pulled up. Music blared from the speakers, but Price didnt lose his train of thought. A kid and his father passed by and wished Price good luck on the year. He thanked them and got right back to his conversation.

The fresh air now allows for Price to have a clear perspective. Some of the Boston criticisms, Price knows, came from his missteps.

I could have made a bunch of better decisions, Price said. But thats life. You make bad decisions, you make poor choices. You live with the consequences. Whether people could forgive you and move past that, thats one thing. Im human. I make mistakes.

Price finished his four-year Boston stop with a 46-24 record and a 3.84 ERA in 98 starts. He wishes they could have won more, but winning one World Series is hard enough. He found peace in knowing that.

I went there to win multiple World Series, Price said. But we won one and that experience was pretty special. Ill always remember it. Both my kids were born in Boston. I got married while I was in Boston. It was a very significant chapter of my life.

Price now enters a situation where he might not be looked upon to be the No. 1 guy and he can blend with the other pitchers. He is situated between Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, Prices mentee who also attended Vanderbilt, in the spring training locker room.

Hes one of the first guys that put that [Vanderbilt] program on the map, Buehler said. He was really accessible to all of us.

Said Kershaw: Were excited to have him. If hes healthy hes a really good pitcher.

Theres some gray in Prices beard now. Hell be 35 in August.

Manager Dave Roberts said his spring training workload will largely be dictated by Price. Price said his wrist is healed, and he threw his first bullpen session Saturday morning. Hes entering the twilight of his career and has just one goal in mind.

For me, Im going to put team success in front of my personal success, Price said. I want us to win a World Series. Whatever it takes to do that, Im on board for it.

The move has brought about a fresh perspective. Hes weighing the possibility of selling his home in Florida and moving his family out West. Video calls dont suffice.

After nearly an hour, Price got up from the cart. He knew where he was going this time. He had an appointment to make, but first had to go back to the clubhouse to change.

Is that David Price? one kid yelled out from afar.

Indeed, it was.

See, I told you, he told his friend next to him.

By that time, though, Price was long gone. A clean slate and possibly his final act ahead of him.

More:
With Red Sox, David Price admits, I could have made a bunch of better decisions' - The Boston Globe

Coming out of the lockout in 2004-05 the Vancouver Canucks made one of their most important hires: Alain Vigneault. The new Canucks coach would take the team to new heights through its most prosperous period in team history. In his first season with the Canucks he guided the team to a record 49 wins, which earned him a nomination as one of the finalists for Coach of The Year, which he won. Jason Botchford was in Toronto for the awards; here is his story:

TORONTO If Michel Therrien had his way, Alain Vigneault never would have been in a position to beat him out for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year Thursday.

If Therrien had his way, Vigneault would have joined his Pittsburgh Penguins staff in 2005 as one of his assistants.

But Vigneault remained the head coach of the AHLs Manitoba Moose, which landed him in Vancouver and the rest is now coach-of-the-year history.

I am so glad for him, Therrien said. But we tried to get him in Pittsburgh. And if he wasnt hired by Vancouver, (theres) a good chance we would have brought him in. We talked about it. Hes such a good hockey mind. He knows so much about the game and the season he had proves that.

Vigneault, 46, beat out Therrien and Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff to win his first Jack Adams Award in what was the surprise of the night.

He took the stage to take the award and in a personal moment thanked his two daughters, Andreane and Janie, who were his dates for the awards show.

The divorced father, whose daughters live in Quebec, made a point to say how difficult it can be to balance a family with life as an NHL coach. It was one of the nicest moments of the evening.

Many were convinced Therrien would win the Jack Adams thanks to a 47-point turnaround in Pittsburgh. But he finished third. Vigneault finished with 134 points (18 first-place votes), Ruff 126 (11 first-place votes) and Therrien 91 (11 first-place votes).

Head coach Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks smiles as he looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Arena. Jeff Vinnick / PROVINCE NHLI via Getty Images

Vigneault said he was taken off guard when he was announced the winner for his formidable role in boldly turning around a sagging Canucks team.

He returned forcefully to the NHL last season for the first time since 2000. He leaped onto the Vancouver scene. He played no favourites. He benched starters right off the hop. He made his players earn their playing time.

And in so doing, he got a team to buy in to a cultural sea change that showed he had learned plenty since being fired from the Montreal Canadiens.

Its not easy to get here and its not easy to stay and its not easy to come back, Vigneault said. It was a long journey back. But Ive done my best everywhere Ive been. Ive tried my hardest to get back to the NHL.

Therrien, who was hired by Montreal on Vigneaults recommendation, replaced Vigneault when he was fired by the Canadiens.

We both got our first opportunity in Montreal and we are both very passionate about the game, Vigneault said. You know, Montreal was a great time and a great experience. The reason I this award is because of the experience I learned in Montreal.

Vigneault made it clear he doesnt think the award should be viewed as an individual one.

Its not an honour for myself, but the whole organization, Vigneault said. It means I had a lot of good people working with me.

Its just using this individual award to say the team is on the right track.

Vigneault heaped praise on his coaching staff, including Rick Bowness, Mike Kelly, Barry Smith and Ian Clark. He said he was allowed to hand pick his staff. He wanted strong personalities. He didnt want coaches who would just be puck pushers.

I had worked with Rick before, I knew him, and I worked with Mike before, so I knew what he could bring to the table, Vigneault said. One of the best decisions I made was to keep Barry Smith. And Ian is one of the best goaltender coaches Ive seen in a long time.

They all share their opinion with me and usually we talk it out.

As the Canucks celebrate their 50th season, were looking back at the moments that stand out as the biggest in franchise history on the ice and off, good, and a few bad. Were highlighting the top moments from the 1970s through November, the 80s in December, the 90s in January, the 00s in February and the 10s in March.

If you have any great memories of where you were when your favourite moments happened, or what they meant to you, send them to pchapman@postmedia.com

CLICK HERE to report a typo.

Is there more to this story? Wed like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email vantips@postmedia.com.

Originally posted here:
Canucks at 50: Signing of Alain Vigneault as head coach was crucial to team's success - The Province

When it comes to establishing your brand and spreading the word about your company, content is still king. Content marketing is as potent as ever because it offers a genuine way to share your brand story, its more authentic than traditional advertising and it helps you establish authority in your industry.

But like all things in the attention economy, the most popular types of content -- and the best ways to execute them -- are changing rapidly. For success in 2020, there are four key trends you should work into your content marketing strategy:

1. Capitalize on videos ever-growing popularity

Video is wildly popular, and mobile video consumption increases every year. In fact, six out of 10 people would rather watch online video than TV. So, video should definitely be a part of your content strategy -- but not just any video.

When you work video into your marketing plans, it should accomplish two main objectives: Sell your products or services in a compelling way, and share your brand story.

In 2020, this means creating content for video-first platforms like TikTok and competitors like Lasso and Byte. These videos are short and low-budget but have a more organic feel than a slick TV commercial. They also have the potential to go viral. For proof, look to one of 2019s most popular songs, Old Town Road by Lil Nas X. The song started on TikTok and exploded into a viral dance challenge. And it went on to break the all-time record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In addition to short-form video, its also important to ensure your videos are properly formatted for each platform. For example, square videos work best on Facebook, while Instagram favors vertical videos. A one-size-fits-all approach wont work across multiple social media networks.

Also, you need the availability to scale your video production, whether that means building out an internal team or bringing on a third-party partner. Properly scaling your production capability means your videos will have a consistent look and feel, regardless of where you share them. Plus, youll be able to make videos quickly and capitalize on trending topics in your industry.

2. Focus on value-added content

While its important to entertain, the content you produce should educate the viewer or reader, and it should serve a specific purpose. A great way to accomplish this is through value-added content, or content thats exclusive to your brand. Its original and informative, and your customers cant find it anywhere else.

For an effective example, look to Mozs "Whiteboard Friday" videos. Each week, a Moz team member walks viewers through a complex SEO tactic or tech topic (e.g., intro to Python or the value of podcast transcripts) using a detailed whiteboard. The videos are distinct and engaging, but they also provide a high degree of value by breaking down expansive topics into accessible chunks of information.

Whether youre churning out videos, blog posts or newsletters, make sure your content is designed to share knowledge and enhance your customers lives.

3. Personalize the experience

On one hand, the reins are being tightened on data sharing thanks to more expansive domestic and global regulations about privacy. However, when data is gathered and analyzed responsibly, it can be used to create a more intuitive online experience for customers. The result is personalized content.

With personalized content, you can ensure that customers are only receiving the content they care about. Instead of sending every customer on your list the same email, you can use their online behavior and preferences to segment the messages you send.

What does this look like in action? You can start small by removing generic greetings from emails and inserting the customers name. Instead of Hello, Subscriber, its Hello, James. This might seem minor, but 90% of marketers who used personalization techniques saw an increase in their results.

You can also personalize calls to action (CTAs) in your communication. Or you can operate different versions of your site so that new and returning visitors see different messages. A first-time visitor might see a prompt to sign up for your email list, while a returning visitor might see a prompt to check out a new product.

4. Use the power of podcasts

Twenty-two percent of Americans listen to podcasts regularly, and an estimated 70% of Americans have heard at least one show. Podcasts are growing steadily in popularity because they appeal to just about everyone. There are thousands upon thousands of shows that cater to all sorts of interests, both niche and popular. But marketers love podcasts because they present an unprecedented advertising opportunity.

A 2019 Nielsen study showed that podcast ads are more effective than digital ads. Among the many reasons, podcast listeners form personal relationships with podcast hosts, and many podcast ads are read by these hosts. So, even though its advertising, it feels more like a friend is recommending their new favorite product rather than a company forcing it on them. Including podcast ads in your 2020 content strategy could give you access to your core audience in a way thats both engaging and effective.

In 2020, content strategy is all about meeting customers where they are. Its about telling compelling stories on the platforms theyre already using, tailoring the content they see to their individual tastes and inviting them to experience your brand in ways that are less overt than traditional advertising. Embrace these trends, and youll be ahead of the game -- and in your customers inboxes and podcast feeds.

Read more here:
Four Content Marketing Trends To Keep An Eye On In 2020 - Forbes

Contenders from left, Stormzy, FKA twigs and Lewis Capaldi. Composite: PA/Redferns/Getty Images

Coldplay Foals Bring Me the Horizon D-Block Europe Bastille

Speaking from the venal, artistically disinterested, industry-beancounter point of view that is appropriate for the Brits, groups are nothing compared with solo artists in 2020. None of the acts up for group of the year has received any other nominations; its only the second time ever that no group has been up for album of the year, and none are scheduled to play live tonight. Which is a shame because there is some middling-to-good talent here. Coldplay are perhaps too big to fail, with their album Everyday Life a spirited, adventurous and by their standards politically engaged record. But given Academy members could give two votes to Foals, for each of their two robust albums last year, Chris Martin et al are likely to lose out. Bastille continue to slip down the zeitgeist like a lubed toboggan, and D-Block Europe, while a heartening independent British success story, rely too much on trap cliche. Bring Me the Horizon deserve this their album amo was a towering confection of pop, emo and hard rock, like a cloud of black candy floss.

Will win: Foals Should win: Bring Me the Horizon

Mabel Freya Ridings FKA twigs Charli XCX Mahalia

There are so few women on this years ballots that you half expected the Brits to try and put a shaved Ed Sheeran forward for this category. Much ink has been spilled here on this topic but suffice to say, it is shameful that Mabel is the only British woman to appear elsewhere. Its likely she will win after a year in which she broke through into proper pan-demographic pop success (even if she hasnt yet matched Finders Keepers), though FKA twigs deserves it and in a perfect world, album of the year for her emotionally forthright Magdalene. Mahalia deserves her nod but will make better records; Freya Ridings doesnt deserve her nod and will perhaps make less awful records. The evergreen Charli XCX, meanwhile, has that particularly horrible kind of fame that means youre so famous to your fans that they feel they own you, while you remain totally unknown to nearly everyone else.

Will win: Mabel Should win: FKA twigs

Harry Styles Lewis Capaldi Dave Michael Kiwanuka Stormzy

As the BPIs chairman tried to spin it, these shortlists are merely what voters, who are nearly 50% women, went for. Well, yes, but Academy members were given 26 women to pick from in British female, versus 84 men in this British male category an imbalance that could be addressed immediately by the Brits, and more profoundly by labels who should be bringing more female talent through to make it to the longlist (which is currently dictated by chart success). All that said, there is some formidable male artistry at this years awards and every kind of good male charisma: lawful-good from social consciences Michael Kiwanuka and Dave, neutral-good from statesmanlike sex magnets Stormzy and Harry Styles, and chaotic-good from larky emotional wreck Lewis Capaldi.

Will win: Lewis Capaldi Should win: Lewis Capaldi

Aitch Lewis Capaldi Dave Mabel Sam Fender

As if to prove the efficacy of the major-label assembly line that is the Brit awards, one former rising star award winner (Sam Fender) and two former nominees (Mabel, Lewis Capaldi) make it to the big leagues. Capaldi has this sewn up: he had the biggest-selling album of last year in the UK, topped the singles charts in the US and UK, and did it all with the demeanour of a substitute teacher who cant really be arsed. In a Britain that is allergic to pretension and addicted to really sad ballads, Capaldi is our god. Aitch will have to console himself with a new award at the Brits this year, the Ben Beaumont-Thomas Memorial Award for Troublingly Childlike Rappers Who My Girlfriend Would Nevertheless Risk It All For.

Will win: Lewis Capaldi Should win: Lewis Capaldi

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber I Dont Care Mabel Dont Call Me Up Calvin Harris and RagnBone Man Giant Dave ft Burna Boy Location Mark Ronson ft Miley Cyrus Nothing Breaks Like a Heart AJ Tracey Ladbroke Grove Lewis Capaldi Someone You Loved Tom Walker Just You and I Sam Smith and Normani Dancing With a Stranger Stormzy Vossi Bop

Over the last few years mainstream pop songs have gone from being galumphing EDM brutes crashing on to the dancefloor with a tray of Jgerbombs to sleek wallflowers slipping through the crowd with an espresso martini. Location, Ladbroke Grove and Vossi Bop flirt lightly; Giant and Dont Call Me Up bang politely; and Dancing With a Stranger and Nothing Breaks Like a Heart stoically hold their tears back even though theyve just seen their ex getting off with someone by the loos. In the end, its likely to be a big ol traditional blubfest that wins, though AJ Tracey could perhaps pull an upset.

Will win: Lewis Capaldi Someone You Loved Should win: Sam Smith and Normani Dancing With a Stranger

Ariana Grande Billie Eilish Camila Cabello Lana Del Rey Lizzo

Traditionally a powerhouse category, and even more so in 2020. In any other year, Ariana Grande would win for an album that expertly flips between flippancy and seriousness, Camila Cabello for releasing the song of the summer, Lana Del Rey for releasing the critical darling album of the year, and Lizzo for being a flute-huffing, glute-quaking, pop-cultural life force. However, theyre up against Billie Eilish, a fount of pop invention who makes it feel like the wind has changed whenever she comes on the radio.

Will win: Billie Eilish Should win: Billie Eilish

Bruce Springsteen Burna Boy Tyler, the Creator Dermot Kennedy Post Malone

A much less predictable but no less high quality field here. Tyler, the Creator rightly won a Grammy for his album Igor, but he remains a much more cult artist in the UK; Burna Boy is British pops brilliant sideman du jour but is yet to have a solo breakthrough in the UK beyond the Afro-swing faithful. Springsteen is the equivalent of the dad waiting in the car outside the O2 while the kids have their fun. Post Malone has more streams than a Welsh mountain in February and his Lords of Anarchy: The Musical shtick is really quite brilliant, but, a bit like Eurovision, Academy voters might go for just-across-the-water Irishman Dermot Kennedy, whose raw talent powers his standard-wattage songcraft with a steady glow.

Will win: Dermot Kennedy Should win: Tyler, the Creator

Stormzy Heavy Is the Head Michael Kiwanuka Kiwanuka Lewis Capaldi Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent Dave Psychodrama Harry Styles Fine Line

Capaldis utterly cleaved psyche allowing him to sing of devastating heartbreak one minute and record fish-out-of-water comedy for Instagram the next might trouble his therapist, but it is surely catnip for Academy voters. He is the whole entertainment package, like Kevin Bridges and Adele spliced together by a nefarious Live Nation promoter. Yet he shouldnt really win the big prize here, as his album while containing some really strong songs, such as Hollywood, Grace and of course Someone You Loved lacks range compared with the rest here. Styles is unlikely to win despite the excellent quality of his microdosed soft rock, but Kiwanuka, Stormzy and Dave are all heavyweight contenders, artists knitting together the personal and social. There is the tiniest bit of daylight between all of them in one of the strongest ever fields in this category, but ultimately, it feels like Capaldis year.

Will win: Lewis Capaldi Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent Should win: Dave Psychodrama

Excerpt from:
Brit awards 2020: who will win every award and who should - The Guardian

HOUSTON Nona Jones held her first executive role with a Fortune 500 company at age 23. She always was destined for success, but realized she was trapped by emotional trauma from abuse she suffered as a child. Jones knew that no amount of success would make up for this pain unless she dealt with it.

Jones' new book "Success From the Inside Out" shares her story and helps people realize they don't need to be trapped by pain they have suffered in life. It is possible to break free and succeed. The book helps readers navigate their personal storms. "Success requires more than a changed mindset, it requires repairing a broken spirit."

To order "Success From the Inside Out" by Nona Jones, click here.

For more on Nona Jones, log on toNonaJones.com.

Follow Nona Jones on Facebook at @NonaNotNora

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Nona Jones helps you create success from the inside out - KHOU.com

Life doesnt have to be perfect to be wonderful, Monica Meyer said.

In her own imperfect yet wonderful life, Meyer has overcome the challenges of serious illness to achieve professional and personal success.

Born with a rare blood disorder that makes her more susceptible to infections, Meyer has shaped her life choices around the chronic, but manageable, condition.

Although she dreamed of becoming a nurse and working with cancer patients, for example, Meyer was unable to complete nursing school because the risk of infection was too great.

I learned not to take anything in life for granted, she said.

Instead, Meyer focused on a career in the restaurant industry, in which she has worked since age 19.

For the past 20 years, she has been the heartbeat of Coralville restaurant Monicas formerly known as Bobs Your Uncle. She is quick to point out that she is the namesake and general manager of the restaurant, not the owner.

Randy (Larson, the owner of Monicas) has been so supportive and has kept me employed even at times when Ive been unable to work, she said.

For his part, Larson speaks highly of Meyers contributions to the restaurant, which regularly appears on best of lists for the area.

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She is the reason the entire staff works collaboratively and strives for excellence, Larson wrote in nominating Meyer for a HER Award. She is so admired and respected that no one wants to disappoint her by falling short of her gentle, patient but consistent expectations.

Now managing college students who were her age when she started out in the business, Meyer views her role as helping young people be the best they can be in the service industry so they carry a service mind-set to wherever their careers take them.

I know their journey, but they still have to go through it themselves, she said.

I want to show young people that its OK to be comfortable in their own skin and not have such terribly high expectations of themselves.

One of Meyers personal accomplishments, despite the challenges of her medical condition, was starting a family. Three years ago, at age 39, Meyer gave birth to her first child, a boy.

I was never told not to have children, she said. But there was a 50-50 chance I could pass on the blood disorder on to my children.

She said thus far her son has shown no signs of the disorder.

Especially since the birth of her son, Meyer said she has come to recognize the importance of her role as a mentor to young people.

I hope what I do has a ripple effect beyond my reach, she said.

Business 380 spotlights HER magazines Women of Achievement, published by The Gazette. The awards were sponsored by Farmers State Bank.

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Women of Achievement: Monica Meyer has mentored many in the restaurant trade - The Gazette

Getty

When was the last time you asked for something?

I mean, boldly and clearly asking for something you wanted.

For most people, the concept of asking for what they want doesnt even get put onto their mental to-do list.

In my time consulting with business and entrepreneurs, the one common thread I have seen separate the amateurs from the pros is their ability to ask for what they want..So why do so few people actually do it?

One things for sure: you dont get what you dont ask for.

The good news is, its totally possible to make your asks while maintaining your composure and worth. Here are 5 tips to help you ask for what you want and get everything you want in life.

1. Ask someone who can actually give it to you.

When it comes to networking and asking people for help, I cant keep track of the times clients have said they network but when I find out who they are talking to, it is abundantly clear why they arent landing interviews.No matter how great your people skills are, if you are talking to the wrong people, you wont ever get the right job.

This one sounds obvious, but its not.

2. Be clear in what you are asking for.

There is nothing worse than someone saying, I am not happy and need help, but when asked what can be done to help them, they have no ideas or direction on their specific needs.

Start to focus on exactly what you are asking for. If it is a new job, be clear on the exact function or type of job you want to do, what city you want it in and what industry would be ideal. People cannot help you if you are not clear. Like my grandma used to always tell me: a confused mind always says no.

When you can give someone a powerful visual of what you are looking for, it will help stick in their memory. The phenomenon of the pictorial superiority effect affirms that people tend to remember visuals over audible words.When talking to someone, create as much of a visual as possible. This means being specific in your ask.

For example, if you are a consultant, and someone asks what kinds of business you are looking to work with, dont answer, Oh, I will work with anyone ... This is a blank slate.Instead, get specific, for example: I really thrive when working with medium-sized businesses that are in the finance industry.

Suddenly, the person youre talking to knows where to look, and who to talk to.

3. Be vulnerable.

When it comes to support and trust in a person or a brand, 86% of people say authenticity matters. If you arent being authentic with your request, you arent going to get what you want.

The truth is, authenticity requires a level of vulnerability and being open about your needs and wants.It is hard to be authentic when you consider how vulnerable it makes you, especially if someone responds to you with a no.

Remember, theres a fine line between addressing an insecurity and shining a spotlight on a weakness. Theres a fine line between whats personal and whats private, and I recommend assessing within yourself: what feels personal and vulnerable? Alternatively, what feels private? Stepping into opening your heart and creating connections through personal stories and truth is a powerful career move.

4. Ask again.

When it comes to making asks, realize that you dont have to live in scarcity. You have every reason to be able to keep asking for what you want because remember: some of the greatest works of art were rejected before the artists were recognized for their magic.

Commit yourself to be persistent in the pursuit of what you want. Realize that creativity is actually the result of persistence.You will begin to find the connection between seemingly unrelated things. Your persistence will begin to show you avenues to get your yes that werent so easy to see in the beginning. When it comes to success, persistence does play a contributing factor and research shows it even trumps talent.

I am not saying to spam a few contacts over and over with your request, but just because someone said no today, doesnt mean they would still say no in a month, or a year.

On that note, never underestimate the power of a follow-up email. Take note to follow up with people who didnt reply, as its a key leadership move not to take their silence as a rejection. Perhaps after you follow up, if you dont hear back, its then time to simply ask someone else to support you in achieving what you want.

5. Be gracious when you receive a no.

Rejection once doesnt mean rejection forever.And if it does, choose to respect the grace.

You dont want to react with anger or aggression when someone turns down your request or doesnt hire you. This will only burn more bridges for your future. You never know what led them to say no in the first place; perhaps it was out of their control.

Also realize that how you relate to someones no is one of the biggest determinants of your long term career success. Its not personal, and its not a rejection. People simply offer up what theyre game to offer, and you can always relate to someones no or non-response as a permission slip for you to also say no sometimes. Youre human, and that means you cannot do everything neither can the people youre asking!

Instead, thank them for their time and choose to view it as a learning lesson and opportunity to become better. Your response to rejection actually affects your health. People who have a glass-half-full attitude are less likely to have poor cardiovascular health, blood pressure and risk for viral infections.

I hear it all the time, a company says no, and the candidate replies with dignity and affirms their long term interest and the company ends up circling back around later to offer an opportunity.

Dont be afraid to step into your voice and speak from your heart to get what you want.Trust me, you will be surprised by how many people are willing to help.

Now get out there and go after what you want!

Excerpt from:
The Secret To Get Anything You Want In Life - Forbes