5 principles to help you deal with adversity and come back stronger

We aspire to become and achieve many different things in our lives, and it all begins at a young age. But the reality is, life doesnt always offer us an easy path toward all our goals. There are many challenges on the way in our quest to fulfill our aspirations.

Based on our experiences and knowledge, we all react differently in different situations. But no matter how differently we react, at some point we fall. This is where resilience comes in. No matter what life throws at us, resilience is what helps us learn the lessons of experience and get back on track as quickly as possible.

In the past week, I had a great opportunity to discuss the topic of resilience during the Techsauce Global Summit. Understanding resilience and how it affects you is very important. Resilience is all about how we bounce back from every adversity we face. Throughout our lives, were going to face many different problems. But how do we recover quickly? Here are 5 principles of personal resilience we can begin with.

The first principle is gratitude. Zig Ziglar, the American author, salesman and motivational speaker once said: Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. This is true in many ways. Without getting into the neuroscience of it, gratitude correlates to the positive feelings within us. With this positive energy, resilience thrives as every challenge faced makes us grateful for the lessons we will learn.

The second principle is compassion. Compassion doesnt necessarily mean only toward others, but also toward ones own self. Sometimes, we make mistakes and fail and the biggest critic we face is ourselves. Be more compassionate to yourself and learn from those mistakes so you can bounce back quickly.

The third principle is acceptance. Sometimes, the reality of our situation is hard to accept. We have experienced being in denial after adversity has hit us. But acceptance doesnt mean being okay with the bad things happening to us; it means accepting that reality can be tough and that we must do our part to control the things we can control and accept those we cannot.

The fourth principle is meaning. It is only human of us to find meaning in our lives through positive encounters. However, through adversity, meaning and value can rise. Finding meaning in challenges can help us grow in many ways and also build our strengths to face future, similar adversities.

The final principle is forgiveness. This is the most difficult thing to do, but also very important. It is forgiveness that allows us to set aside those things holding us back. Challenges arent the only things that stop us from succeeding, and sometimes theres some things we cannot let go. Forgiveness can help us let go of the things that stop us from getting back on track.

While these principles are things we need to work on daily, here are some tips to kickstart your journey and practise so that you can strengthen your resilience to meet goals in career and life.

First, become more self-aware. We need to understand that our usual ways of doing things may not work since our world has shifted to a new situation and context. Becoming more self-aware of what works and what doesnt will be an important part of the learning curve.

Additionally, self-awareness isnt just about knowing the situation. It also helps us understand ourselves and where we stand in the current situation. This is especially relevant to the third and fourth points mentioned above, where we begin to develop ourselves in ways to strengthen our resilience.

Second, strengthen your foundation, beginning with mindset. There are a lot of great mindsets we can develop to support our resilience.

Finally, set actionable goals, whether its with work or life. While resilience first and foremost is about getting back up from a fall as quickly as we can, it is also about what we must do next. We cannot just get back up and continue with the same old ways.

Resilience is an essential skill to help us face all kinds of adversity in our work and lives. While it can be applicable to organisations and businesses as a whole, it all begins with the individual resilience. Id like to leave you with a quote for inspiration from Maya Angelou, an American poet, and civil rights activist. She said: I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.

Arinya Talerngsri is Chief Capability Officer and Managing Director at SEAC - Southeast Asias Lifelong Learning Center. She can be reached by email at arinya_t@seasiacenter.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/arinya-talerngsri-53b81aa. Explore and experience our lifelong learning ecosystem today at https://www.yournextu.com

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Building personal resilience for career, business and life - Bangkok Post

Every new year we are supposed to make resolutions. Some are about losing weight, others are about working harder or even spending more time with family and friends. My favorite is the annual goal of working out to get into better shape.

This year, my goal is to have a flatter stomach and maybe even a six pack that you see on the TV commercials for gym equipment. Therefore, I will set my sights on 18,250 sit-ups and that should wrap it up.

Thats the goal for the year and it is a finite number that I not only wrote it down, but have it stuck in my head for me to accomplish this year. Well, as we both know thats a pretty big number and it kind of sticks out at you. I have another way to look at this, how about 50 sit-ups per day. If so, fairly easy to do and maybe a three- to five minute routine. This way by the end of the year I will hit my magical work out number of 18,250.

Whats the point here? Simple, break things down into bite-sized pieces. This way they are easier to digest and the goals can be reached with more consistency and discipline. Trust me, even if you did 18,250 sit-ups in one session, the results will not last long.

Look at this in a simple phase: A goal without a plan is a wish. We wish to do things, but we plan out our specific goals. Zig Ziglar, the motivational speaker summed it up perfectly when he said Isnt it amazing how much stuff we get done the day before our vacation. It seems we always put off the things we do not want to do, and we always find time for the things that bring us pleasure.

Setting goals is not that difficult when you keep in mind the four basic rules:

It has a specific time frame (days, weeks, or months).

It is measurable (so you know when youve achieved it)

It is realistic (so you dont get frustrated and give up).

It is challenging (so you have a sense of accomplishment).

If you keep in mind a little common sense, do what you think is right, and most importantly set aside the time to accomplish your goals you will find out that you have achieved what you originally set out to do.

In the workplace sometimes we are either given too many things to do, try to accomplish too much in a short time frame or give ourselves self imposed deadlines that can be unrealistic. The key is to sometimes strategize with yourself what can be done, which task needs priority and what the outcome will be.

We have more stress in our lives due to the onslaught of technology. As we are trying to accomplish one thing, either the texts, emails, telephone calls or notifications come in which can cause distractions, frustrations, or even anxiety. What I have been trying to say is do what you can, break things down into smaller pieces and do your best, and above all enjoy the day. You might find little more peace and happiness that way.

Hal Becker is a nationally known speaker on sales and customer service. He is the author of numerous business books including two national best sellers Can I Have 5 Minutes Of Your Time? and Lip Service. Hals newest book on sales is titled Ultimate Sales Book. He can be reached at Halbecker.com.

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

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Break things into bite-sized pieces - Cleveland Jewish News

ATHENS Georgia has won its first three games by an aggregate score of 108-37, this in the SEC, where only two undefeated teams remained so early in the season when the Bulldogs left the field Saturday. But thats not the biggest reason we can look at the Bulldogs as having national title potential. The reason the bar is so high for Georgia this season is how often it managed to walk face-first into that bar Saturday and still beat a pretty good Tennessee team 44-21.

Here now is a selection of comments from Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, who opted not to go all sunshine and Zig Ziglar on his players after the game. Smarts objective going into Alabama week was decidedly closer to: Listen to me now as I keep everybody grounded, and possibly below ground, as I verbally hit them over the head with a mallet.

On his teams lack of execution: We self-destructed. We went backwards. Offensive pass interference, holding, chop...

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Schultz: Georgia's imperfections are problems of college football's 1 percent - The Athletic

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The National Speakers Association (NSA) inducted its current National Chair Barry Banther, CMC, CSP into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame during a virtual award ceremony in August 2020.

Based in Tarpon Springs, Florida, Banther is among an elite group of only 255 professional speakers throughout the world to ever receive this honor. Well known past recipients of the CPAE designation include: President Ronald Reagan; Norman Vincent Peale; General Colin Powell; Art Linkletter; Jim Rohn; and Zig Ziglar.

Upon accepting the award Banther said, "It has been said that a person is a reflection of the people they spend time with. I am a reflection of the many friends, teachers, colleagues, and clients who have invested so much in me."

Banther continues, "Receiving the CPAE designation from my peers is one of my proudest professional accomplishments. I thank my wife, family and everyone who has enriched and blessed my life. I am forever grateful and humbled by this honor."

"Barry Banther is the master of inspirational storytelling. Pulling from a Wikipedia-level trove of true stories, he has the ability to instantly recall, sequence, and deliver precisely the right anecdote from his own life and learnings to motivate anyone to be a better leader, contributor or person," said Past President of the National Speakers Association, Brian Walter, CSP, CPAE who presented the award. "He was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame in recognition of what audiences perceive as his speaking gift, but what his speaker peers know is a half century's dedication to his craft."

ABOUT BANTHER

A highly sought after business consultant and inspirational speaker, Banther has created over 50 leadership training programs used by Fortune 500 companies around the world and smaller regional businesses throughout America. He combines four decades of experience as a business leader, corporate executive, and educator.

Banther served in the administration of three Florida Governors as the appointee to oversee private higher education. He was elected to an unprecedented four terms as Chairman of the Florida State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities. This body of work has earned him the highest accreditation from the Institute of Management Consultants as a Certified Management Consultant and from the National Speakers Association as a Certified Speaking Professional. He is one of fewer than 50 professionals world-wide to hold both designations.His latest book,"A Leader's Gift: How to Earn the Right to be Followed," achieved #1 Best Seller status on Amazon.

ABOUT NSA

The National Speakers Association (NSA) is part of a global network of more than 3,000 members whose skills, expertise and experience represent the most recognized and respected community of thought leaders in the industry.

Founded in 1973 byCavett Robert, CSP, CPAE, NSA has comprehensive resources, cutting-edge tools, insightful education and productive events that speakers need to develop their brands and grow their businesses. NSA members include experts in a variety of industries and disciplines, who reach audiences as speakers, trainers, educators, humorists, motivators, consultants, and authors.

InFebruary 1977, the National Speakers Association established the Council of Peers Award for Excellence Speaker Hall of Fame to honor professional speakers who have reached the top echelon of platform distinction. Inductees are evaluated by their peers through a rigorous and demanding process, and must excel in seven categories of speaking excellence and professionalism.

MEDIA CONTACT FOR BANTHER Robert Stack 561-601-9991 [emailprotected]

SOURCE Barry Banther

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National Speakers Association Inducts Leadership Expert Barry Banther Into The Speaker Hall of Fame - PRNewswire

This week we recommend at least 5 very good works that will solve all your doubts in talent management, not only to improve your work performance, but also your growth as a person.

Inside Your Own MBA: What You Learn in an MBA for the Price of a Book, Its Author Josh kaufman He offers us a title in which he launches himself against traditional education that, he says, is often out of step with the economic and commercial reality of the world.

This author assures that he has extensive experience creating his own company and all the knowledge he acquired when opening and operating it, is what he offers in this work in which he warns, details everything that gives you an MBA, but at the price of a book.

Kaufman also assures in his work that there are basic principles of business management and based on these, business improvements can be made.

In One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days, its author Brendan kane He offers you what he calls the best strategy to build a massive fan base in 30 days.

Kane is committed to a very serious fan-building plan and does so thanks to the experience he has gained working for Taylor Swift, Rihanna, as well as advising brands such as MTV, Skechets, Vice and IKEA.

To achieve a massive base of followers, the author proposes in the 11 chapters of his work how to generate strategic alliances, choose the message that works in a massive way and how to create content that motivates to be shared.

Within Marketing Strategies on Instagram, Juanjo Ramos presents us 8 chapters in which he takes us through a roadmap to detail everything about marketing applied to Instagram.

The author starts from very basic principles such as creating a company account within this social network, it helps us discover how to optimize the descriptions of the captions, a fundamental task to achieve greater visibility.

Within this aspect we are taught what it says is the power of a hashtag to be able to have a greater reach and shows us how to create our own television channels to Install, as well as the types of content most appropriate for our strategies.

The last two chapters are dedicated to teaching us how to advertise on Instagram and sell products on Instagram Shopping.

The shark mentality is the proposal of Manuel Sotomayor, so that through his work Shark Mindset: The 13 System Laws To Maximize Your Mental Power you can maximize your mental potential, since they help you discover the potential you have, with a tool to innovate and build.

This type of work becomes an important reference to learn new talent management guidelines, thought from the mentality that professionals must have, to be a key element not only in the companies in which they work, but within their own ventures .

In Sales 101: What Every Successful Professional Salesperson Needs to Know Zig Ziglar it teaches you the value of being able to persuade clients with resources like ethics and frequency.

The author assures that the experience in sales that he has taken has allowed him to lay down the basic principles of this activity with topics such as discipline to be able to have control in your life and time.

Ziglars proposal is to move from customer service to customer satisfaction service, in addition to helping you create sales knowing the ABC to be able to carry them out and how to find solutions to needs.

SUBSCRIBE TO PREMIUM CONTENT FOR JUST $ 299

Originally posted here:
the works that will help you in your talent management - Explica

With todays national health challenges, winning involves more than one area in your life in order to maintain balance.

Your victory includes developing a strategy for physical, mental, and spiritual victory.

Before focusing and on your own victory and strategy to succeed, it is important to first look around and consider helping others who appear to be less fortunate in life.

Studies remind us that we are in one of three places in life: (1) you may be entering a storm, (2) you may be in the middle of a storm, or (3)you may be coming out of a

storm.

Keep in mind ,you succeed when you help others to succeed.

Regardless of your position in life ,you have a story to share from lessons learned from yourself or from helping others. Yes! You will gain wisdom and awareness as you are going through! Your amazing brain will be come creative as you overcome each moment of your struggle. You will remind yourself that you will be better prepared the next time you come face-to-face with a similar situation.

You will learn that it is vital to heed the warning signs. In other words, you will not assume it is just your imagination. You will realize it is accompanied by your intuition giving you foresight.

Success stories share that your intuition prompts you to make your best move and works with your imagination visualizing the end result.

Albert Einstein shared that your imagination is a preview of what is to come.

In closing overcoming,learning with insight, and sharing your strategy for victories is an art that will make you a valuable tool in helping others to win their life battles.

I was reminded by the late Zig Ziglar that It is not what you accomplish in the end but who you become in the process.

Jumpstart your brain; jumpstart your life.

https://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2020/07/web1_Harris.jpg

This writers opinion is their own and not the opinion of this newspaper

Marcia Harris, MA, CLL YOUnique Whole Brain Life Skills, LLC 740 821 9515

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The Art of Winning your Battle - Portsmouth Daily Times

February is Black History Month in the United States. US President Barak Obama described it thus:

"During National African American History Month, we recognize champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point, we honor the contributions of African Americans since our country's beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character."

The #MeToo and Times Up movements in the United States demonstrated that while great strides have been made to open doors for women and minorities, significant work lays ahead to equalize the playing field for all Americans. Issues critical to achieving racial equality include police ethics, the income gap, equal access to high quality education, employment discrimination, workforce diversity, and the impact of redistricting and voter ID requirements on voting rights. In this article we address racial bias, which impacts all aspects of the employment continuum from hiring, pay, promotion, and overall retention of people of color.

Different faces of racial bias

According to the Psychology Today, racial bias is the act of holding prejudices against someone based on their race. Racial bias can take various forms, so lets understand the distinctions:

Practice tips

Racial bias prevents a company from leveraging the full potential of its entire workforce. Studies have long demonstrated the financial benefits of a diverse workforce. With the authority and legal tools to support the companys commercial objectives while steering leaders, managers, and supervisors clear of potential claims, in-house counsel are uniquely positioned to provide the right guidance and challenge bias. Follow this guide to prevent racial biases at your company:

1. Take an implicit bias test

Maintained by Harvard University, this test exposes implicit biases that exist outside the consciousness in categories such as race, gender, gender identity, weight, and religion. If your results denote a bias, dont be dismayed. Now you can consciously ensure that your bias does not manifest in the administration of your work responsibilities.

2. Stand up

Renowned motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, You've got to be before you can do and do before you can have. For your companys inclusion efforts to stick, choose a philosophy of inclusion and exhibit it in your thinking and the guidance you give your company.

3. Examine company policies

Critically examine your company policies and their enforcement for unintentional yet disparate outcomes. For example:

Want more articles like this? Sign up for ACCs weekly, smart Corporate Counsel Now newsletter.

4. Address felony convictions

Use the three-part test recommended by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in determining whether to hire a candidate with a criminal conviction.

5. Address double standards

In considering a minority candidate, if a manager emphasizes the need for the candidate to be qualified, while suggesting it would be a stretch role for an unqualified white candidate, unconscious bias might be at work. If, despite a minority candidate demonstrating all objective criteria required for a job, the hiring manager still has unspecified concerns.

6. Examine your preferences

If your year-end bonus were dependent on the racial, cultural, and ethnical balance of your direct reports, would you receive 100 percent payout? Would you resort to the I cant find qualified minority candidates mantra as an excuse? If so, scrutinize your practices.

7. Have the courage to ask

We see this failure in advertising all the time: A company releases an ad and is blindsided by negative backlash for a what appears to be (in hindsight) an obvious bias failure that threatens the products revenue as consumers vow boycotts. Have the courage to ask those affected, and foster an encouraging environment that welcomes sincere feedback.

8. Check your language

If your coworker refers to the black employees sitting together in the cafeteria as a gang or some other derogatory term, address the language of bias.

Parting thoughts

Undoing racial biases, whether implicit or unconscious, is an arduous challenge for one person, let alone an entire society, to undertake. And though you might not be able to change the world, you can do your part to improve working conditions for minorities in your company.

This article was originally published for Black History Month.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global legal association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations through information, education, networkingopportunities and advocacy initiatives. With more than 45,000 members in 85 countries, employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.

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8 Tactics to Roll Back Racial Bias at the Office - Lexology

Photo credit: John Francis

From Cosmopolitan

I know youre feeling some type of way about going back to school soon. Dont lieyou clicked on this story for a reason. Maybe its your love of highlighters (same) or just seeing your friends on the reg. Or maybe its because you know that back-to-school szn 2020 is going to be weird.

Regardless, if youre here because youre looking for a quote to write in your planner, caption a gram, or create some fun DIY art to deal with those feels, we got you. (Even if youre stuck at home for another semester instead of on campus with your Twin XL sheets.)

Here, we gathered more than 30 (!!!) quotes to turn up your school spirit again. Your 6-hour study sessions, 20-page papers, and finals week are no match for this positivity boost to go alongside your 3,210,328th cup of coffee.

School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside. Lon Watters

Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom. Oprah Winfrey

You learn something every day if you pay attention. Ray LeBlond

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world. Malala Yousafzai

The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. Abraham Lincoln

Learning is never done without errors and defeat. Vladimir Lenin

The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited. Plutarch

He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. Chinese proverb

Powers not given to you. You have to take it. Beyonc Knowles Carter

A good education is a foundation for a better future. Elizabeth Warren

You dont have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Zig Ziglar

Youve got to get up every morning with determination if youre going to go to bed with satisfaction. George Lorimer

Im not going to school just for the academics. I wanted to share ideas, to be around people who are passionate about learning. Emma Watson

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton

Everything is a learning process: Any time you fall over, its just teaching you to stand up the next time.Joel Edgerton

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. Sydney J. Harris

If you dont go after what you want, youll never have it. If you dont ask, the answer is always no. If you dont step forward, youre always in the same place. Nora Roberts

The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action. Alexander Graham Bell

Story continues

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Eleanor Roosevelt

When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally. Meghan Markle

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. Maya Angelou

Knowledge will bring you the opportunity to make a difference. Claire Fagin

Believe you can and youre halfway there. Theodore Roosevelt

Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. Its about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life. Shakuntala Devi

Dont try so hard to fit in and certainly dont try so hard to be differentjust try hard to be you. Zendaya

The expert at anything was once a beginner. Helen Hayes

Youre perfect when youre comfortable being yourself. Ansel Elgort

It always seems impossible until its done. Nelson Mandela

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, Im possible. Audrey Hepburn

If people did not do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done. Ludwig Wittgenstein

Courage doesnt always roar. Sometimes, courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow. Mary Anne Radmache

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Get These Back-to-School Quotes Tattooed On Your Brain - Yahoo Lifestyle

by Wendy Turrell

On April 24, Walter BudWisneiskicelebrated his 100thbirthday with the same attitude of gratitude and enjoyment that have been histrademarkthroughoutalong life.In reply to Happy Birthday and congratulations on reaching 100 years,Wisneiskicheerfullyreplied, Imstarting on my second 100!

He added, Physically I dont feel any different than I did yesterday, the day before, or the day before that. I am happy to have arrived at 100. Ive had a great, enjoyable life. Im really appreciative of all of it, the bumps in the road and the high spots.

Wisneiskiwas eagerly anticipating the following day, when nearly all of Richfield would turn out in a parade past his house to honor him. A total of 78 cars, a bicycle or two, and the Richfield Police and Fire Departments honoredthis longtime Richfield resident, who has given alifetime of community service.

Wisneiskiserved in the Army Air Corpsin World War II not as a pilot, but as a meteorologist, then called an aerologist.He gatheredweather information from the North Atlantic to guide the delivery of fighter planes from the U.S. through Newfoundland, Iceland, Greenland or Scotland to London and France;and togather data forEuropeanmaps that wouldaidAllied troupe deployment, including the famous D-DayLanding inNormandy.

WhenWisneiskiwas discharged from the servicein 1946, he and his wife Mildred had two children.He began his career as a teacher at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, where eventually he would become principal.They settledinwith her parentsin a household that included Mildredsbrother Elmer,whowasmarriedtoWisneiskissister,their child, and his mother-in-laws mother.

We out-populated that house, he recalledwith a laugh. He took the $2,000 he got from his army discharge, and the young couplebrieflyrented a house in Brecksville,before buyingan old farmhouse in Richfieldfor the princely sum of $9,900.TheWisneiskiscontinued to live in Richfield, with a lively family that ultimately included sixchildren, and aseventhlost tragically soon after birth.

Wisneiskistwo daughters, Jane in Denver and Ellen in New York state, had tickets to join their father for his momentous celebration but, I asked them to stay home, with the danger of flying with the Coronavirus outbreak,Wisneiskisaid.

Son Doug fromSan Diegoisstayingwith his father. I havent been out of my house for 17 weeks at this point, and having my son here has been a lifesaver, the centenarian said.

Completingthe Wisneiskifamilyare oldest son Phil, who lives in Naples, Florida; second oldest son Jeff, a doctor who lives in Pepper Pike; and son Jack, who lives in Denver.Wisneiski isalsograndfather to five.A sixth grandchild is deceased.

Wisneiskisbirthday parade began from the parking lot of his longtime church, the Richfield Church of Christ, where he assumed many leadership roles over the years. These have included moderator, which in UCC parlance is the lay leader, and Chair of the Stewardship and Administrative Board.

Wisneiskislegacy of service includes being a Bath-Richfield Kiwanis Club President of Distinction, and starting the Richfield youth baseball team, back when he had to borrow equipment from the Akron Athletic Association.

Wisneiski used to be an avid golfer, buthegaveit up at age 95, When I couldnt hit a fairway shot more than 75 yards. Eighteen years ago, Wisneiski was instrumental instartingthe annualBrecksville-Broadview HeightsBud WisnieskiAlumniGolf OutingatSt. Bernard Golf Club on Streetsboro Road,whereWisneiskis home abuts the 15thgreen. He is quick to give credit to others,insistingBBVH alum Bob Miller, whom Wisneiski taught in high school, did the hard work tostart thetournament.

In 2008, Wisneiski needed to have a Peg tube placed in his abdomen, through which he has taken all liquids, medications and nourishment ever since. Agregariousman, even this hasnt slowed down his delight in going out for dinner with friends. He jokes, The rest of them cant talk with their mouths full, so I have a captive audience!

Although Wisneiskis fathers family lived well into their late 80s and 90s, he is the first to reach 100. He attributes it to good luck and good living. By the time he got out of the service, he had developed duodenal ulcers. The doctor told him to give up smoking and drinking caffeine, which he promptly did. The other factors to whichWisneiski attributes long life are a reflection of his positive outlook:

1. Dont hold grudges. Be able to forgive. It takes a lot of pressure off you.

2. Be grateful. Wisneiski quotes the 1960s inspirational speaker Zig Ziglar with a saying he lives by: Be grateful for what you have. Dont complain. It bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesnt solve any problems.

3. Be curious. It gives you a zest for life. Wisneiskis zest for life continues, amidst Coronavirus or reduced circumstances. He concluded, I enjoy life, even though now my day consists of getting up, feeding myself, putting on compression hosemy isometric exercise for the day! I sit in my chair and think. I have difficulty with my eyes, so I cant read much, but I answer my emails. I usually have a lot of visits from friends, which makes the time pass so quickly. We enjoyeach otherscompany.

Feature image photo caption: Bud Wisnieski

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Walter "Bud" Wisneiski marks 100 years of positive living | Scriptype - scriptype.com

We became friends in 2008 when I assumed office as the pioneer Executive Director/CEO of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Lagos, where I initiated media parley with the management of the foundation. Waheed Bakare was among the several Muslim journalists that honoured my invitation even though he knew me not before that time. Waheed as popularly called was an unassuming person. That was the first impression I got from him on the first day of our meeting and remained consistent until his demise.

Within the span of those years, it was either we met at one of the events of the foundation or another Muslim programme. On other occasions, we spoke on phones about upcoming events of the foundation or Nigerian Project or how to support the Muslim journalists by building their capacity. Waheed was a selfless journalist who put the interest of his colleagues in the media profession above his. Any opportunity he had with me, he always centred his conversations on the need for the Muslim Ummah to work insidiously either through collaboration or partnership with local or international organisations on the human capital development of Muslim journalists. I recall a particular day when he called me on phone to express his joy upon hearing that our foundation had muted the idea of sponsoring Muslim journalists abroad for training. He was very excited and appreciative of the initiative and wished that many other Islamic faith-based organisations could emulate our footstep.

Waheed was also a reliable, trusted and loyal friend. During the wedding of one of my daughters, he was among those I sent late invite to. In spite of his previous commitments which clashed with the date of the wedding, he honoured my family with his attendance from the beginning to the end of the ceremony. Waheed demonstrated his loyalty as a true friend.

To say Waheed Bakare was a Muslim activist and core professional in the media sector is an understatement.

Aside being a practising Muslim, he used the pen to propagate Islam, defend its image and represent the interest of the larger Ummah without infringing on the rights of non-Muslims. He was able to balance Islamic activism with professionalism. Like the sayings of Ali bn Abi Talib, the value of every person is found in what he is best at, inspired by altruistic motive, I can say that Waheed was never found wanting in his journalism profession by any of his employers and within the space of the Muslim Ummah till his soul returned to its creator.

My tribute to Waheed will not be completed if I do not mention that he was humane, kind-hearted and generous. Many people have wrong impression about journalists. Majority will even throw caution to the wind by associating beggary with journalism. Of course, this is far from been true. Again, I recall early this year, 11th January 2020, when I created a WhatsApp group named A Helping Hand used for crowd funding to bail out a young school certificate girl that lost her father and her family were ejected from their apartment because they could not afford the rental fee among other existential challenges. Though I dont know the girl before our conversation, I promised to assist her.

At that time, I was financially constrained. I thought of what to do for this girl that wolfs in human skins wanted to take advantage of. Allahs guidance came at hand. In my own words, quoting from the wall of the group However, due to the urgency and circumstances beyond my control at this period, I am unable to do the needful. Hence, I have to reach out to kind-hearted people like you for a FAVOUR on behalf of a distressed Muslim sister, who needs urgent assistance of #500,000.

The late Waheed Bakare was among the few kind-hearted friends I added to the group. Within 24 hours, I was able to realise N750,000 for the distressed girl. Waheed kept sending private sms explaining the difficulty he was experiencing from network failure which caused his inability to make his donation. I was impressed that some men such as Waheed from the fourth estate of the realm could be so passionate and moved by altruism to support the distressed girl. He never rested until his payment transfer was successful. He donated handsomely. Indeed, in the words of Abubakar, the first Caliph, Taking pains to remove the pains of others is the true essence of generosity Without mincing words, Waheed Bakare contributed in removing the pains of others. He was indeed a generous person.

Waheed Bakare did not stop after his donation; he was also a strong advocate of crowdfunding for the benefits of others. In his words when I initiated the crowdfunding, he said: This should not be a one-off thing please. Five months after he uttered the statement, Waheed never had any premonition that his journey on the path of humanity would be terminated so soon. Succinctly put, the fourth Caliph, Ali bn Abi Talib said: Days are the pages of life, so make them eternal with your best deeds. Waheed had paid his dues on the path of goodness to his creator and fellow human beings.

Despite the great pains his exit has caused us in the last day of the month of forgiveness, mercy, blessings and period of Eid-il-Fitr celebration, one is hopeful and prayerful that Allahs mercy will be on his soul and Jannatul Firdaws will be his final abode. For, Allah is with the doers of goods. Q29:69.

Finally, as advocated by Waheed himself, part of my tribute to him is the need to use the same crowdfunding strategy to mobilise fund for his immediate family (wife and children) in order to soothe their pains and reposition the familys economic sustainability and human capital development. As a suggestion, if the funding strategy is efficiently handled, may be by his immediate constituency the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), I believe, a reasonable millions of naira could be realised within a short time to wipe the tears of the family Waheed Bakare left behind. In the words of William Shakespeare in As You Like It, Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love. Indeed, those that have genuine love for Waheed Bakare, this is the time to rise and do something tangible for his family. Albert Einstein once said Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. Let the friends and colleagues of Waheed add values to the friendship we had with him even after his demise. For, Hilary Hinto, popularly known as Zig Ziglar said You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.

Therefore, let us use crowdfunding to humanise his family. Crowdfunding is a cost-effective and impactful strategy of raising fund within a short period for an urgent and time bound challenge or event. I will end my tribute with the summary statements of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salis (SAS), on the crowdfunding I used which Waheed participated. SAS said:

Before we shut down the platform, permit me to share the lessons this exercise has further reinforced in me.

1) Muslims are responsive and do donate to a worthy cause, contrary to self-denigrating narrative we like to parrot about ourselves. 2) The response is directly proportional to the credibility and social capital of the anchor. 3) Break any problem down to smaller bits, it is easier to chew the bits and solve the problem in no time. 4) Eniyan lasomi Build and network that you can always tap into, whenever there is need. The young lady did, our brother, Abdullah, just demonstrated it. 5) Dont hide the finger that hurts you and keep lamenting. Share the problem appropriately and the help may be on the way.

Less than 24 hours ago, the target was oversubscribed by 50%.

These principles are applicable to not only raising N500K but any other project.

I wish some of our numerous WhatsApp platforms will do less with copying and forwarding over circulated and irrelevant posts and use social media for more meaningful engagements.

Lastly, I thank my friend, Abdullah Shuaib, PhD, for the initiative and the window he offered to us to be part of this commendable effort.

May Allah reward us with the best of our intentions.

Dr Abdullahi Shuaib, CEO, Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Abuja

Vanguard Nigeria News

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Waheed Bakare: A clear definition of altruism - Vanguard