Friday May1,2020at7:01AM

An article in a recent edition of the Repository quoted a Walmart employee as saying, I didnt sign up to be a hero. I dont begrudge anyone on how they react to this crisis. If you are scared, quit your job, stay home, or get another job. I am good with that.

But as for me, I served many years in my beloved Marine Corps. In 1991 I served as a dumb grunt in the corps during Desert Storm. I served because my country needed me. I served because I felt like I had something to offer.

In 2020 I am serving as a dumb grunt at Walmart during the pandemic. I am serving because my community needs me. I am serving because I think I have something to offer.

MIKE RIES, MASSILLON

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Letter to the editor: Motivation to serve now not different than before: My country needs me - Canton Repository

Amir Khan has admitted it would take a fight against either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao tomotivate himto make a ring return.

The former light-welterweight world champion has had 39 bouts in aprofessional career which began in 2005,the last of them being a stoppage win over Billy Dib in July 2019.

While he has faced pound-for-pound candidatesSaul Alvarez and Terence Crawford in recent years, Khan has made no secret of his desire to go up against both Mayweather and Pacquiao before retiring, two legendarynames he has chased in thepast withoutsuccess.

At 33, he has still not given up hope of securing a deal to take on one of the duo, though they are seemingly the only opponentsthat could lead to him heading back into the gym.

"I've almost had 40 fights now, so I'm just going to take my time and see what options are out there for me," Khan told Sky Sports.

"If the Pacquiao option is there, 100 per cent that is the motivation for me to go back in the gym and train hard.

"It's very hard to have those fights now that motivate you. I'm in a very good position where I've won the world titles and financially I'm good.

"What's left out there for me? The only thing, for me, is a big fight like a Mayweather or a Manny Pacquiao.

"Who knows [if such fights will happen]? That's up to them."

Khan's comments appear to rule out a long-rumoured showdown with Kell Brook, who said himself in April that he had "given that angle up" and moved on.

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Khan only motivated to fight again if he faces Mayweather or Pacquiao - Yahoo Sports

Maxi Kleber is stuck in his home just like you. Its clear he must be bored because he agreed to come on The Athletics Mavericks podcast earlier this week, hosted by me and Dave DuFour and produced by Sasha Ashall. If you dont subscribe, its called 77 Minutes in Heaven and can be found free anywhere you listen to podcasts. We will be publishing that podcast with Kleber on Sunday, which goes for about 40 minutes and ranges from stories about Germany, discussion about his quarantine, how he ended up playing basketball and to his many doubts that hed reach the NBA following two major injuries which caused him to miss two separate seasons as well as meeting Dirk Nowitzki for the first time. Its all in there!

To gently plug that episode, we wanted to share a brief transcript of Klebers adjustments to being a stay-at-home basketball player with limited access to proper weightlifting equipment and basketball gyms, as well as his...

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Books, Netflix and a guitar: Maxi Kleber talks about motivation, pastimes & more - The Athletic

They can sometimes veer into cheesy territory, but most of the time, theres nothing like a handful of positive quotes to offer motivation and inspiration, especially when youre trapped at home or feeling isolated or demotivated because of the coronavirus crisis. Whether you share positive quotes in a text, as a social media post caption, or as a spoken mantra, these uplifting, motivating words and sayings are sure to bring good vibes to any situation.

Just like love quotes can put your affections into words better than you may be able to on your own, positive quotes can share the encouragement youre looking forwhether for yourself or someone elsequickly and cleverly. Like New Year quotes or fitness motivation, theyre all about boosting confidence and increasing good energy. No matter what challenge you or your friend is facing, a few uplifting words can make that trial feel less insurmountable and more accomplishable. The positive quote that speaks to you the most can even become a mantra, something you repeat to yourself day after day to keep your spirits up even when life gets tough. (Depression and anxiety quotes can also help with spirit-lifting when needed.)

Positive quotes can be long or short, depending on your need and platform. (Short letterboard quotes are easier to set up, but long ones can be more satisfyingand theres no wrong choice.) Send these motivating quotes in a text, use them in an Instagram caption, or simply send your favorite quote to your old office buddy: However you share these positive quotes, theyre sure to do the trick.

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53 Positive Quotes to Inspire and Motivate You - Real Simple

Ive been thinking about motivation lately. I dont know about you, but the idea of staying in bed, eating ice cream, starting cocktail hour at noon and watching movies 24/7 is becoming increasingly attractive to me as weeks at home stretch off into the ever-elusive sunset.

But to date I havent succumbed to these attractions, at least not completely, which has me thinking about why. What is it that wont allow me to embrace piling on my own Covid-15? What is it that gets me to leave my house on these blustery spring days when conditions arent really perfect for anything? I guess you can say Im motivated to stay fit and to be outside, but why?

Motivation is one of the few aspects of athletic performance that we can control or attempt to control. Most of us are limited in our physical endeavors by the body we are born with. There isnt much we can do to change our physique. Sure, we can train for speed and endurance, lift weights to build muscle mass and diet to stay lean, but for someone who is 6-foot-7 a sport like gymnastics is not going to come easily, and a 5-2 person isnt likely to excel at basketball.

Mountain sports are somewhat more forgiving in terms of body-type limitations, but our innate abilities are still just that. Innate. Something sets apart the good from the great, and part of that is inherent physical ability. A lucky few of us are born with raw talent. But we can develop the other aspect that allows athletes to excel. Thats motivation.

Its hard for me to articulate what motivates me to exercise at this stage of my life. Ive just always done it. Ive had some kind of fitness regime since I took up organized sports in high school, and thats a while back now. For as long as I can remember, Ive pursued at least a couple of hours of exercise most days of the week. If you asked me in college what motivated me, I would probably have said being part of a team and the joy of competition or, more specifically, winning.

I was lucky. I happened on a pretty successful crew, and winning was definitely a powerful reward for us in those days. I not felt not only the internal thrill of victory and the pleasure of achievement and teamwork but also the external recognition such achievement brought with it. That was a pretty heady mix of emotions, and they definitely motivated me to work hard.

After college I became a recreational athlete skiing, biking, mountaineering and climbing for fun rather than competition. Now when I think about what motivates me, Id say it is a mix of things, including the satisfaction of achieving a goal, the exhilaration of working hard in the outdoors, the beauty of the natural world and the social aspect of being out with friends recreating together. But, to be honest, I am not always conscious of what is driving me. It is just my lifestyle. I do it in part because everyone I hang out with does it. So maybe that, too, is part of my motivation.

Sports psychologists say athletes are driven by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are internal and intangible. You push yourself because it makes you feel good. You experience pleasant sensations such as excitement, fun and aesthetics. For example, you ski because you love the sensation of speed and the feeling of floating through untracked powder. You find joy in the beauty of the sun glinting through snow-covered trees and the view of mountains off in the distance. Those kinds of rewards can be hard to articulate and are more about how you feel inside than something you can tick off on a list of accomplishments. But for me they are an important motivator.

Extrinsic rewards are the tangible things: winning, recognition, sponsorship, glory and fame. Extrinsic rewards are seductive. Who doesnt want to be recognized for his or her accomplishments? Who doesnt like winning?

External targets are also critical to anyone who wants to be a professional athlete. You need to be the first, the fastest, the greatest, the strongest or whatever to be sponsored, so you need to achieve specific milestones in order to be successful. It doesnt matter if you do something that makes you feel good. If its been done before no one is going to pay your way for being second.

I remember back in the early 1990s Todd Skinner and Paul Piana were developing a bunch of climbing crags around Lander. In 1988 the pair free-climbed the Salathe Wall on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. That was a first and a milestone in the climbing world. Skinner and Piana used techniques hang-dogging, rehearsing climbing moves, bolting routes on rappel that are commonplace now but were controversial back then. People thought they were cheating, but maybe they were really critical, or jealous, of the fact that Skinner and Piana were the among the first Americans to successfully support themselves as rock climbers by actively publicizing their accomplishments.

It was something most climbers hadnt really done before, and it seemed as if it cheapened the pure motivations that had driven climbers in the past, the intangible because its there sentiment first articulated by George Mallory when speaking about his efforts to climb Mount Everest in the 1920s.

The fact is, promotion and external rewards are critical for anyone who wants to pursue athletics professionally and, therefore, have to be part of their motivation. You have to be looking for new ways to do things, new ways to break a record, new ways to be noticed if you want to be noticed. The controversy surrounding Todd and Paul seems almost quaint now, but it was a big deal back in the day. People who never met them dismissed their accomplishments with disdain. I, who knew them and knew their passion and joy for climbing, understood that they were figuring out a way to live their dream, and I found that admirable, but it was different. It put a price tag on achievement.

Id say mountain athletes are still uncomfortable with self-promotion. We prefer quiet, unsung heroes who come back from a great physical feat and almost offhandedly let out that they have done something never done before. We like people to be humble and understated.

You just have to read National Geographics Feb. 3 article The Problem with Colin OBrady to get a sense of that. The article doesnt really question OBradys physical accomplishments hes got lots of epic endurance records to his name it is more about how hes touted himself to achieve fame and fortune that makes people uncomfortable. Hes made it his life work to capitalize on his physical accomplishments, and his self-promotion and boosterism turn off a lot of people. He seems to choose goals based on how they benefit his image rather than on the purity of adventure. Or at least thats the way he comes off in the National Geographic piece.

Ultimately, for those of us who are never going to be famous, or sponsored, for our athletic pursuits, intrinsic motivation is better suited for helping us enjoy success and longevity in our sports. Performance and process-oriented goals directed internally rather than at a particular outcome allow us to feel accomplished and satisfied even when we fail. And, when external rewards are absent i.e. a global pandemic means you have to stay close to home and dial down your objectives its internal motivations that can motivate us to get off the couch.

Still, I realize as I struggle to get on my bike when the sky is gray and the wind blowing, external motivations have their place, at least for me. If Im honest, it helps me to think about my friends posting pictures of themselves biking or skiing on social media when Im feeling lazy. It helps me to remember that if I want to keep up with others this summer, I have to put in the work. It helps me to overcome the voice that tells me Im not going to have any fun riding my bike into a headwind if I know that other people are putting in the effort. It helps me to remember that suffering is, in its way, one of the rewards.

And so, while I like to think Im a pure, intrinsically motivated athlete, a little external pressure is useful, especially when the alternative staying at home watching television is becoming increasingly seductive.

Read more:
Mountainside: Motivation in the midst of pandemic | Outdoors - Jackson Hole News&Guide

Martin Brundle and Ayrton Senna went head to head on numerous occasions in British Formula 3, times that Brundle looks back on fondly.

Senna's closest competitor in British Formula 3, Brundle was unable to match the highs of the Brazilian in Formula 1, but the driver turned Sky Sports commentator revealed how Senna paid him the biggest compliment possible following a race at Thruxton in 1983.

"Ayrton told me at this moment, happy in F3 championship victory in the final few laps, that I was the best British driver since Jim Clark," wrote Brundle. "He was trying to make me feel better. I have this picture in my gym as motivation, second place hurts a lot. Senna Sempre."

Senna took the 1983 British F3 title scoring 132-points to Brundle's 123 - the pair streets ahead of third placed David Leslie.

Both drivers progressed from the championship into Formula 1 for 1984 but, while Senna would quickly move from Toleman, to Lotus, to McLaren, Brundle was left driving relatively poor machinery for several years.

Despite their closeness in the junior Formula, the mismatch in machinery meant that the two would only stand on the Formula 1 podium together once - the Italian Grand Prix in 1992.

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Brundle: 'I have this picture in my gym as motivation' - GPfans

Toronto rapper NAV has no problem speaking straight facts. The hip-hop superstar went online this week to dish out some major truth to his fans and haters alike.

The hip-hop heavyweight went to his Twitter page to speak up. NAV admitted he gives his own power moves priority over what others think.

If I gave a f*ck what people think id prolly still be livin w my mom -NAVs Twitter

Earlier this week, NAV went the cinematic route with a trailer to break big news. The video teaser revealed his new Good Intentions album title and its May 8 release date.

Clocking in at exactly one minute, the trailer forGood Intentionsis made up of a series of small clips of NAV working late nights in the studio. Backed by a lush arrangement of nocturnal piano notes, the trailer features voiceovers by NAV, explaining how hes been able to meet all his goals in the last year with his previous album, including reaching number one on the charts. The trailer also shows brief moments where other artists are with him in the studio, like the latePop Smoke, who is expected to be a feature on the LP other features includeTravis Scott,Young ThugandGunna.Good Intentionsis slated to land on May 8, packing a total of 17 tracks. (HYPEBEAST)

A few nights ago, NAV went to his Instagram page to unexpectedly apologize to producers Don Cannon and DJ Drama. He publicly extended his hand to both musicians about overreacting last year.

Shout-out to DJ Drama and Don Cannon. I definitely over reacted last year! Nothing but love 100. Album Coming Soon. -NAVs Instagram

Last year, NAV publicly called out both Cannon and Drama. He pointed the finger at them for not clearing a verse by their protg Lil Uzi Vert for his album.

I had an open verse for the longest, and Uzi blessed us with one, NAV said about a song titled Habits before sharing why it didnt make the cut. Unfortunately, DJ Drama and Don Cannon wont clear his verse legally. I used to be a big fan of them since Gangsta Grillz mixtapes and thought they support new artists. I guess its all about the $$$$ for them now! (The FADER)

nav

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NAV Reveals His Motivation and Why He Doesn't Live With Mom - SOHH

The days blend into one. COVID-19 life, as we know it, has become one of constant repetition.

It can be hard to find motivation in pretty much anything under lockdown.

After interviewing three motivational speakers for Mancunian Matters, it quickly became evident that they undoubtedly have the necessary tips and advice to boost morale amidst a global pandemic.

Ranging from business strategies to mental health to goal-setting: these motivational speakers have shared the essential ways of keeping and staying motivated in lockdown.

ENJOY THE CALM

A specialist in business, Campbell Macpherson has been working within the industry for nearly thirty years. Whilst he is primarily known in the business world, Macpherson has also revealed his lockdown advice for the general public.

Enjoy the calm. Ive seen so many posts from social media gurus and life coaches that say this is your opportunity to play the piano and write the book youve always wanted to, and whilst that is good, this is actually the time to enjoy the calm.

Youve got the time to actually call up friends you havent spoken to for so long. Youve got the time to sit and contemplate.

If youre in a safe place, theres no need to be rushing around and worried: just enjoy the calm.

Having won at the 2018 Business Book Awards with The Change Catalyst, Macpherson has also added his expert advice for the business-orientated audience in lockdown.

Now is the time to plan. Enjoy the calm but actually now is the time to plan how youre going to take off. Youve studied the plane, youve landed the plane, now plan for takeoff because the world will be very different in the future.

Is your strategy fit for purpose? Are you really clear about why you exist, and for whom, and why people would choose you? Do you have a digital strategy? Do you have a sustainability strategy?

Now is the time to put those things together because youre not so frantic with your day job.

CONNECT

Maria Mander specialises in positive well-being, aiming to incorporate a culture of wellness & positivity into the workplace.

A Reiki practitioner, mindfulness tutor, and qualified life coach, Mander has emphasised the importance of mental health during this time.

Mander takes direct inspiration from the new economics foundations guide on wellbeing & incorporates their ways for wellbeing into her own advice.

First of all, its connect. Making sure youre connected to your friends, colleagues and family. I think thats absolutely key to supporting your mental wellbeing.

The second one is exercise. Make sure youre exercising every day and be creative with that.

Take notice, use this time. Youre never going to get this time again. Declutter your house, read a book or rediscover an old hobby: use this time to do all those things you never get a chance to do.

Mander has also stressed the importance of disengaging with the news so often, enhancing your ability to maintain your wellbeing and mental health.

Tune out of the news. Watch the news once a day but try and tune out of it so youre not living in constant anxiety and fear.

BIG, FAT, HAIRY GOAL

David Hyner is a renowned specialist in goal setting & motivation. Therefore, its no surprise that Hyner values this status of lockdown as a period where people can start setting their own goals.

Set yourself a big, fat, hairy goal. A massive goal.

Do not set a realistic and achievable target, because thats what everybody does.

The top 3% of people: be it business, sport or science; the most effective people on the planet set big goals.

"Set a big goal, break it down into realistic & achievable steps. If youve got a massive goal and everything is realistic and achievable, nothings stopping you.

Having previously hosted radio shows on positivity for the BBC, Hyner notes that a source of positive thinking can come from helping others during this time.

Take personal responsibility, that could even mean doing something for somebody else.

Doing something that means you have to get out of bed at 7 am because you have to take an old ladys dog down the road every single day. Do something that gives you a sense of responsibility.

It keeps the mind absolutely switched on.

Main image courtesy ofManchesterphotosvia WikiMedia Commons, with thanks.

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The long and winding road: Lockdown advice from three motivational speakers - Mancunian Matters

COVID-19 has placed one-third of humanity into a lockdown. Manufacturing, supply chain, event management, travel, and trade are some of the worst-hit industries. The world is facing the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The global economy is tumbling.

Organizations of all sizes have implemented cost-cutting measures to minimize losses. While some have enforced mandatory pay cuts, others are laying off people. According to NPR, 26 million people have lost their jobs in a matter of 5 weeks. All of us have been affected to some extent.

These are worrisome times, indeed. Every source of inspiration is valuable at the moment. Former U.S. President Harry S. Truman famously said, Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. Books have the power to inspire. They impart positive thoughts. This is crucial to get you back on track.

Heres our list of the best motivational books to read during the lockdown:

Some more motivational books youd like to read:

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These Are The Best Motivational Books To Read During Lockdown - CEOWORLD magazine

Alain Ngalani has been given the momentous task of welcoming former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort to ONE Championship, and he relishes that challenge. In fact, its providing him with new motivation after a prolonged period of listlessness.

Ngalani, who hails from Cameroon and now lives in Hong Kong, says the bout will most likely occur in the ONE light heavyweight division under a modified rule setthough the pertinent details are still being hashed out. The date of this showdown is also a moving target amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Whatever the case, Ngalani is fired up for the opportunity to step onto the canvas with a legend like Belfort. He views this fight as the perfect opportunity to get back on track after a tough loss to former Cage Warriors champ Mauro Cerilli and a stretch of diminishing motivation.

Vitor Belfort is a legend, theres no denying that, Ngalani said of his adversary. To me its a privilege to meet him in ONE Championship. Im looking to redeem myself and this fight is bringing me a lot of excitement. It brings the motivation and lights a new fire in me.

We as fighters go through a lot. We go through injuries, we go through ups and downs, and sometimes we lose ourselves. You lose yourself, and youre there but youre notthere.Youre lacking that fire, youre lacking that thing you need to identify and find yourself again. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity because its bringing joy to my training, its bringing excitement, its bringing the fire, and thats what I needed. I needed something to wake me up.

While Ngalani is thrilled about the opportunity at hand, the task of beating Belfort will not be an easy one. That being said, the kickboxing specialist likes his chances particularly under a special rule set that will most likely emphasize the striking side of the mixed martial arts arsenal.

The rules will be altered, he said. If we base it on striking, Im pretty happy with that.

Ngalani also believes his size and physicality could be a big factor in this matchup. He naturally floats around ONEs light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, whereas Belfort will likely have to hit the weight room to bulk up for this matchup.

I can see his training [on social media], Ngalani said. I can see hes training with some big, tough guys, and thats good for him.

My size hasnt changed, he added. Im naturally this size. Im very comfortable walking around at this weight, and I think thats an advantage for me. Im not forcing it.

Despite his confidence, Ngalani recognizes hell be an underdog in this matchup. Hes 44 years old, and 4-5 in MMA, so his doubters will have plenty of ammunition.

They can only motivate me, Ngalani said when asked about the people counting him out in this fight. Ive heard it all. Ive heard a lot of negative comments, and so on, and fair enough. You know, I went into MMA just to have fun and compete and challenge myself, and sometimes I felt, in my last few fights, that I wasnt there. There were also injuries that I was dealing with. [All of that] brought my record to what it is, and its not in my favor, and it doesnt reflect greatly on me.

I can understand people saying negative things about me, but it doesnt take away from the fact that I remain who I am. I remain dangerous, I remain athletic. I remain a very capable knockout artist.

Alain Ngalani considers this Vitor Belfort matchup the biggest fight of his combat sports career in MMA, kickboxing or Muay Thai. Needless to say, hes going to be overjoyed if he can prove his doubters wrong and win it.

Its going to be awesome, he said, envisioning the win. Its one of those rare moments where you have an opportunity, and you go out there and you do what you do best. This is what I do best. I love this sport, and a moment like that [beating Belfort], I cant imagine. Im so excited that words cant describe it.

I respect Vitor. Hes a great athlete. But at the end of the day, were going to go out there and draw swords. After that, Ill still have 100 percent respect for him, no matter the outcome of the fight, but Im going there to take that [win].

This article first appeared onBJPENN.comon 4/30/2020.

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Alain Ngalani finding new motivation in special rules bout with Vitor Belfort - BJPENN.COM