Tim Rice-Oxley performs with Keane at The Fox Theater in Oakland on March 9, 2020. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF.

Drugs and reported infighting led to the demise of Englishsoft rock band Keanein 2013.

For frontman Tom Chaplin, it was a crippling drug addiction. Keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley, the bands chief songwriter, saw his own life turned upside down at this time, with a collapsed marriage and a DUI-arrestafter crashing his car into a ditch.

The band reunited a couple of years agoa likely surprise to many longtime fans.On Keanesfifth album,Cause and Effect,Rice-Oxley used some of his darkest and loneliest times as inspiration.

Its kind of emotionally intense, a little more cohesive than anything weve done before, Rice-Oxley said. It tells the story of a relationship breakdown; my marriage, specifically. And it talks about everything that comes out of thatthe falloutthe good stuff and bad stuff.

Keane formed in the mid-90s and struck gold in 2004 withpiano-heavy pop hit Somewhere Only We Know.But after releasing three more albums, Chaplin, Rice-Oxley, drummer Richard Hughes and guitarist Jesse Quin had reached the end. Chaplin has talked about how his drug use contributed to the collapse. But at the same time, the bands constant touring was strainingRice-Oxleys marriage.

Over the course of a hiatus, starting in 2013 and continuing on for the better part of a decade, the keyboardist went back to basics. He wrote songs for a solo album that hed never release. Mostly, he tried to find his balance again. And he had to redefine what he considered personal and professional success, now that his wife and his popularity was gone. Would it be playing shows? Connecting with small crowds? Writing songs that no one would get to hear? He had to find acceptance with that.

Ive certainly done a lot of thinking over the last few years about what constitutes personal success, he said. A lot of the time over the past few years Ive been on my own, just working away on my piano or at my little studio.

Thats what makes the Keane reunion so much more special. Chaplin is reportedly clean now. Rice-Oxley is happier.

The songwriter described Keanes 2019 album,Cause and Effect,as being less of a pop album than previous efforts. The keyboardist, who played a pivotal songwriting role, compared the experience tobeing brought back from the brink, and saiditdisplays more of an emotional standpoint to let fans in on what the members experienced and overcame during the break.

It really influenced the album, he said. And its something that a lot of people can relate to.

The album presents feelings of loneliness, grief, emotional upheaval and regret, but also finds resolution while recreating a sense of hope at the end of the tunnel. On single Stupid Things, for example, Rice-Oxleyfaces up to past mistakes and addresses the feeling of being stuck inside of a black hole so blue, while asking for forgiveness from his ex-wife, Jayne.Phases is another look through the tougher times, but envisions the end of painful moments while fighting through the motions.

Tom Chaplin.

While it has been a difficult journey, Rice-Oxley said thathe feels better than ever now that Keane is back on the road and sharing music with the world.

Weve had a little break and are now in a better place, mentally, he said.The happiest I feel about the songs Ive written is when I hear the stories about how those songs help to bring (people) back from very difficult times in their own lives.

Editor Roman Gokhman contributed to thisstory. Follow writer Amelia Parreira atTwitter.com/AmeliaParreira.

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Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane on finding new motivation, 'Cause and Effect' | Interview - RIFF

MISSOULA The moment flooded back to Rollie Worster earlier this week.

The Missoula Hellgate senior had a flashback to last years state title game. Its the last-second loss to Bozeman. A gut-wrenching, heartbreaking defeat on a buzzer-beating layup in overtime.

The crushing agony still hangs with Worster. Hes blocked it out most of the season, but it comes back as hes preparing for his final State AA tournament, starting Thursday in Bozeman.

Worster isnt thinking about it while doing shooting drills or running sprints from one sideline to the other during practice. But the memories of the shot he couldnt stomach to watch until a week after the game and the awful feelings associated with it, like coming out of the locker room to see the sadness on faces, seep through during the innocuous moments.

Just driving to school or back home by myself, I definitely think about it with state approaching, Worster said. It doesnt affect me. You obviously wish it didnt happen, but you cant control that anymore. Hopefully we can make some different memories this year.

A state championship is the one thing thats eluded Worster, a three-time all-state player and a one-time Montana Gatorade boys basketball player of the year. He owns one school record and is in the top three in two other categories. Hes even going to play basketball at Utah State in the Mountain West Conference, a rarity for a Montana athlete to go to that level of a Division I program.

Yet its that state title, the ultimate team award, that Worster so desires. Its been his goal since before he got to high school. He wrote it down as one of the many things he wanted to achieve. Hes crossed off those things one by one.

Just not the state title.

With his uncommon drive, the title is once again in sight. From playing hoops on the driveway against older siblings who never let him get anything easy to working with trainers since he was a kid to putting up shots in empty gyms on off days while others were resting to even exceling on the football field, its all been with an eye on being the best at whatever he does.

You cant work as hard as he does and not be driven to achieve those types of things, Hellgate coach Jeff Hays said.

Basketball is the unofficial Worster family sport.

Rollies uncle Randy Worster began his basketball career at Washington before transferring to Weber State, where he played for three years in the 1980s. His father Scott Worster also played briefly at Weber State. Both of his sisters played in high school and had the chance to continue at the NAIA in Montana, with one going on to play and the other passing up the opportunity.

Its those very siblings who got Worster started in basketball. His father bought him an orange Nerf basketball and a mini-hoop that hangs onto the top of a door to shoot baskets, although Worster was too young to remember those times shooting hoops while still in a diaper.

Id rebound it for him and try to make sure he was getting some decent form, Scott Worster said. He also got that from his two older sisters, following them around. He always watched them and tried to emulate them.

Rollie more so recalls those battles with sisters Sami, 23, and Shannon, 21. Theyre four and two years older than him and never let anything come easy for him on the court.

Theyd get into arguments while playing on their driveway, at Target Range or at the Peak. Rollie sometimes left to storm into the house and slam shut the door to his room.

They were bigger than me and older, and they liked to pick on me a little bit and wouldnt let me shoot on their basket sometimes, Worster said. Just little stuff like that. I think it kind of just drove me, though, to get better and helped me a lot being that we were really competitive with each other growing up.

Worster would also attend his sisters basketball practices when he was around 5. Hed shoot on empty baskets or jump in on any drill he was allowed to do.

Worster came to the attention of former Hellgate coach Eric Hays, Jeffs dad, when he was in first or second grade. His sisters came to Erics basketball camp at Hellgate, and Scott asked if there was room for Rollie because the single father couldnt leave Rollie home alone.

We snuck him in there and weve had him in camp every summer since, Jeff Hays said. Weve known him for a long time. Hes always been that kid whos super focused and driven, even at a young age.

Worster believes it was around fifth or sixth grade that he finally beat his sisters in basketball. By seventh grade, he finally took down his father in a game of h-o-r-s-e.

The hours spent on the court and his own physical growth finally paid off. Soon hed be accomplishing one of the goals he wrote down: start as a high school freshman.

I think I just kind of naturally have the drive to excel, Worster said. But it also started with my sisters, playing against them. That was big time.

Worster exceled as soon as he got to Hellgate, earning first-team all-state honors as a freshman.

Hed go on to earn two-more all-state awards and could make it a clean sweep later this month. He was also named the Gatorade Montana boys basketball player of the year after last season, a bittersweet individual award considering it was coupled with a loss in the state title game.

As he matured, Worster also moved up the all-time lists. He owns the schools career record for points, is second in assists and third in rebounds. Hes also shown his propensity to steal the ball right out of another players hands and block shots.

If you could build a player in those video games, hes that guy, Jeff Hays said. Hes amazing. If he were 6-10 or something, that would be the only thing.

Hes got all five of those physical tools to be a five-tool player, but hes also got that mental makeup that hes not going to give in, hes not going to quit. Hes that fighter and competitor that pushes himself to be the best. But he does it in a way that hes also the best teammate.

Hays knew he had someone with great potential in Worster as a freshman. He didnt know how high the ceiling was because he didnt how tall Worster could end up growing.

Worsters growth as a player came in part from how he transformed his body from a 6-foot, 160-pound freshman to a 6-3, 205-pound senior. He credits his physical growth in part to his trainer, Steve Pitts.

Worster was introduced to Pitts around age 5, once again tagging along with his sisters because his father didnt want to leave him home alone. So, Worster would get up at 5 a.m. to run ladder and cone drills with the girls before later graduating to weightlifting.

Ive never seen a drive like his since my brother, said Scott, who would regularly watch games with Rollie as they broke down film together and talked about how Rollie could improve his game. I dont know where he finds the energy. But thats what makes him the player he is.

Worster has been a headache for opposing high school coaches since he started at Hellgate. Sentinel coach Jay Jagelski said its all about trying to contain Worster because stopping him is next to impossible.

I would say he is one of the most fundamental and smartest basketball players thats come out of Montana, Jagelski said. Hes very fundamental, very smart. And hes become very unselfish over the years. Those are very important qualities that are going to help him at the next level.

Helena Capital coach Guy Almquist raved about Worsters shooting ability.

The thing that separates Rollie is he can get his shot at any time, Almquist said. You put two guys on him, and hell still find a way to get it to go in.

For Hays, its Worsters ability as a two-player that sets him apart.

I feel like hes the best offensive player in the state at almost any position, Hays said. He might even be the best defensive player at each of those positions, except for maybe at the center position where theres some bigger guys that might bother him more. Hes just such an amazing two-way player. We havent seen that here at Hellgate and probably never will again.

College basketball wasnt always the path Worster knew he was going to follow.

He grew up playing basketball, football and baseball, loving all of them. He decided around seventh grade that he had to drop baseball because itd interfere with football and AAU basketball in the summer once he got to high school.

He didnt know if hed have a college opportunity in basketball or football as a freshman, but the basketball interest came quickly. The Montana Grizzlies offered him a full-ride scholarship prior to his sophomore season, and he accepted the offer.

Montana and Montana State both came along with football offers before Worsters senior season. He decommitted from the Griz, weighed his options although he knew he wanted to stay with basketball and ended up signing with Utah State.

I enjoy football a lot, but theres something with basketball that just gets me, Worster said. Basketball you can play year-round, which you cant do in football, especially in Montana. That might have had an effect on why I love basketball so much more and why I chose that route.

Hellgate football coach Mick Morris is adamant that Worster could play football in Division I. Worster was a two-way all-state player for the Knights, suiting up at quarterback and switching between linebacker and safety on defense.

The Knights didnt have a varsity football team Worsters freshman year, but he helped lead the charge in bringing back the program. They returned to the football field his sophomore year, ended a 57-game losing streak his junior season and won three games his senior year.

I think hes as important or more important than anyone, even the coaches, in bringing the program back, said Morris, whose kids will be wearing Worster jerseys at the state tournament this week. We certainly couldnt have done the things we did without him. We had a lot of kids who were instrumental, and we couldnt have done it without a lot of them, but hes an incredibly special football player.

That showed through not only on the field but in Worster leading guys in the weight room or in footwork drills or by throwing around the football when no coaches were around. It was the type of leadership that Morris knew he needed when he took over the program, accepting the job in part because he knew Worster would be going to Hellgate.

Our football team being so young lacked knowing how to compete, Morris said. Rollies competitive in everything he does. Kids certainly fed off of him. He brought the fire and intensity, which is a requirement to have. It was pretty phenomenal.

While football is over for Worster, he learned the valuable lessons of perseverance. He also benefited from on the field. The physicality he learned transferred over to banging bodies in the lane in basketball. The ability to cut on the football field helped him drive through defenders on the court.

What hell remember most is the wins and the time with friends, the latter a key reason why he stuck with football after already committing to college for basketball.

I think everyone was just really proud of what we did, Worster said. We can look back and say we rebuilt the program and brought it back on its feet.

Worster doesnt prefer the spotlight, although hes been in it most of his high school career.

Hed rather go about his business in quiet and not take too much credit, always ready to praise his teammates. He knows winning that state title cant be accomplished on his own anyway.

I know thats what he wants, Hays said. Thats what motivates him and motivates all of us. Hes made me better as a coach. He holds me accountable. I dont want to see that come up short for any of us.

Worster constantly hears from his sister Shannon about how she won a state title at Sentinel her freshman year, not to mention a national title at Montana Western last season. So, he joked he needs to win one just to have something for family arguments.

But on a more serious note, winning a championship has been his stated goal since starting high school. Without one, his journey would be incomplete.

With that crown, itd be the proper ending to a stellar career.

To end of as high of a note like that, it would mean a ton, Worster said. And then last year with what happened and being so close and not achieving it, I think it drove everybody to work harder. I know it drove me to work harder. It would mean the world to finish out on top.

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'He's that guy': The making and motivation of Missoula Hellgate's Rollie Worster - 406mtsports.com

Personal trainer Sean Hawthorne asks, if we know what to do, then why dont we do it?

In answering the questions laid out in part one of our 4-part series Ive suggested that planning, preparation, and discipline are the vital behaviours required to avoiding finding ourselves in situations where we need to rely on willpower, the third ingredient in behaviour change. Weve looked at what willpower is, how it differs from motivation, and strategies to strengthen it when life throws us a curveball and our plans go awry.

Time now to turn to Tired, the final physiological state in our acronym H.A.L.T., that can so negatively impact our plans for change. With tired, we are talking lack of sleep and sleep is an interesting state of being, some of us need less, some more, but we all need it because without it we die. At least all the rats in the long-term sleep deprivation studies that I looked at did. Ill spare you the details of just how they kept those little critters awake, but in just two weeks without any sleep the rats bodies broke down, stopped working, and they perished.

Without adequate amounts of sleep our bodies and our brains dont function well. In short term sleep deprivation studies, researchers have found that after as little as 24 hours without sleep our blood pressure rises, followed by chaotic fluctuations to our metabolism which result in intense cravings for carbohydrates and were not talking long grained-brown rice, but foods composed of high fat, high glycemic carbohydrate. Not exactly an ideal situation if youre looking to lose some weight, but that aside, lets take a closer look at that time period of 24 hours without sleep. If Im normally awake for 15 17 hours a day, with only a 30% extension, my mind and body begin to behave erratically, and I lose the ability to function effectively. Now, its not often that I extend my waking hours by 30% (been a while since I pulled an all-nighter) but it appears that the same negative side effects occur when the waking hours are extended continually by as little as 5%, or about an hour a day.

So, how much sleep do I need? Unfortunately, theres no easy answer because it depends on age, gender, and your unique genetic profile. Some of us are larks, early risers who function best in the day, and some of us are owls, people whose productivity is best in the evening, some need more and others less, but given the modern environment of cellphones, televisions and artificial light its safe to say that most of us are at least mildly sleep deprived. This is a bad place to be when were trying to change our health or our body composition because as I said earlier chronic sleep deprivation messes with our health and plays havoc with both our metabolism and our brain.

I cant stress how important sleep is when trying to lose weight, not enough sleep increases our appetite for garbage carbohydrates, reduces our ability to resist these cravings and slows our metabolism, a condition where no amount of exercise or calorie reduction will work. This is a recipe for certain failure. By losing as little as an hour of sleep a day I could create a situation that might make my goal an impossibility and even worse, I might establish a core belief that Im a failure (back to part 3) when its the situation and not me thats the issue.

When I was younger, Id say goodnight, put my head on the pillow and out! Now, not so much. So, I can talk about both the research and what Ive done to improve my adventures in dreamland. (If youre interested in this topic, Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep, by David K. Randall is the best one Ive read). The first thing I do is: keep it cold. Were all different and I sleep hot! I keep my room cold: meat-locker, ice-box-cold, and since adjusting the temperature to suit me Ive improved my sleeping tremendously. But what if your significant other likes it warm? A giant fuzzy blanket and flannel sheets warm? Well, there are innovative products that cool one side of the bed and warm the other that can solve that issue, unfortunately this didnt solve the issue of my snoring or mild sleep apnea, but if co-sleeping is important to you and youve got some temperature discrepancies, then its well worth the investment.

Having tried a number of different strategies over the years to help improve both mine and my clients sleep, Ive recently turned to light, putting two different lamps to the test, one a desktop lamp intended to simulate sunlight and improve energy and mood and the other an alarm clock, shaped like an orb that starts out dull red and simulates the rising sun, also intended to improve daytime energy and disposition. I get up very early, typically have a long day and I felt that elevating both my energy and my mood would help with productivity and eventually lead to falling asleep earlier and easier.

Looking at the first lamp, there a number of different studies that support the use of a SAD (now they call them HAPPY, much better marketing) Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp. The one I use is a 10,000 Lux rectangular desktop lamp that I got from Costco online. I keep it angled on the desk beside me and I use it whenever Im doing admin and on my computer. Now, some of these studies are funded by the product manufacturer so its easy to dispute their veracity, but I like the lamp. I dont care if its placebo, or the simulated sunlight striking my pineal gland, all I care about is the effect and I feel better and more energetic on the days that I use it.

Before I go further, my intention is to simply share my experiences working with others and myself, these are not double-blind, randomized, controlled studies, just my personal evaluation and I profit in no way from these products. In fact, I havent provided hyperlinks or even the name of the lamps I use! That said, the second light-based strategy Im currently employing is an alarm clock that simulates the sun, it starts out a dull red and over the course of 20 minutes it changes colour to a brilliant, bright white. I absolutely love waking to a pseudo-sunrise and not the noise of an alarm.

Sleep (or the lack of) has become a hot health topic over the last few years. For good reason. The correlations between chronic sleep deprivation, the advent of artificial light, and a host of health issues are clear and while proof that obesity, decreased libido, elevated blood pressure, even cancer are caused by our modern extended hours lifestyle has yet to be established, getting some quality sleep and feeling energized is an excellent place to start any plan for change.

Willpower. The most important thing to remember about willpower is to do our very best to be disciplined, plan ahead, and to never have to rely on our internal ability to resist! Strategizing and ensuring that we avoid the conditions described in the acronym H.A.L.T. will not only keep us strong for emergencies when we do need to rely on our willpower it will also improve our mental and physical health. See you next time when we look at the final component of behaviour change Motivation.

Missed part 1 to 3?

Willpower versus motivation, part 2

Sean Hawthorne is the owner and operator of OneLife Health and Wellness, Kelownas first and longest running private, personal training facility. While working in Dubai, UAE as a Contracts and Project Manager, Sean decided to leave his successful career in Civil Engineering Technology and pursue his passion for health, fitness and helping others achieve their goals. He returned to Canada in 2001, taking formal education in Exercise Science and starting his career in the field of health and fitness. Working in collaboration with their clients, Sean and his team of health and fitness professionals strive to continually improve their skills and to help everyone reach their goals.

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HAWTHORNE: Willpower versus motivation, part 4 - Vernon Morning Star

The jury of seven men and five women acquitted Weinstein on the most serious charges, a single count of first-degree rape as well as two counts of predatory sexual assault, which carried a potential life sentence. Those charges relied on testimony by actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s.

On Monday, Weinsteins lawyers urged Burke to impose the minimum possible sentence of five years, asking him to consider Weinsteins charitable activities while saying a longer sentence would likely mean Weinstein would die in prison.

His life story, his accomplishments, and struggles are simply remarkable and should not be disregarded in total because of the jurys verdict, they said.

Before the fall

Weinstein has been awaiting sentencing in New Yorks Rikers Island jail, where he was moved last Thursday after a 10-day hospital stay at Bellevue Hospital where he underwent a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

He was a powerful figure in Hollywood and a contributor to Democratic candidates. He won an Academy Award for producing Shakespeare in Love and was responsible for other acclaimed films including Pulp Fiction, The English Patient and Gangs of New York.

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises of career advancement in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

Haleyi testified at the trial that Weinstein invited her to his home in 2006 after she had worked on one of his television productions, backed her into a bedroom, held her down on the bed and forced himself on her orally.

Mann told jurors that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in March 2013, about a month into what she described as an extremely degrading relationship with him that continued for several years after the attack. Mann called Weinstein a Jekyll and Hyde character, charming in public but prone to rage when they were alone.

Weinsteins lawyers argued during the trial that the six women who testified against him were reframing consensual encounters as assaults out of regret.

In Fridays filing, prosecutors listed more than a dozen accusations going back to 1978, when they said he sexually assaulted an employee of his Buffalo, New York-based music company in a hotel room.

Court documents unsealed on Monday included an e-mail to Weinstein from his estranged brother, Bob Weinstein, telling him he belonged in hell.U deserve a lifetime achievement award, Bob Weinstein wrote in the November 2017 message, for the sheer savagery and immorality and inhumaneness, for the acts u have perpetrated.

Reuters

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Movie mogul and #MeToo motivation Harvey Weinstein gets 23 years in prison - Business Day

Like looking for a new place to live, job hunting is one of those things when it rains, it pours. But leading up to that point you face a serious, and often long, drought.

Lets be real, its bloody hard to find the motivation for a long job hunt. REALLY hard. At a certain point we start to believe well be rejected before we even begin and stop putting so much effort into our applications which is really the main way to sabotage our chances and continue the vicious cycle.

Next time youre on the hunt, try these three tips to stay motivated and get out of your rut or avoid them int he first place.

I know all that self-helpy, write-down-your-goals stuff can seem super lame, but theres a lot of evidence backing up the idea that having clear goals set on paper can help you achieve them.

In terms of job hunting, writing down your career goals will make it easier to know WHY youre hunting and what sort of role will be beneficial to your professional life.

Once you know those things, you can start narrowing down the roles youre applying to. I know that sometimes we just need to get the heck out of our current situations, or we find ourselves without a job and need one asap. In that case, you obviously might find a need to expand the search again.

However, typically we just know were ready to move on from our current jobs but have no great hurry. So be selective and dont burn yourself out applying to jobs that dont sound exciting or helpful to your career advancement.

No-one can work forever without burning out, no matter what the task. The same is true of looking for a new role. The best way to maintain motivation in a long job hunt is to take a regular step back from it.

Read, go for a walk, hit the gym, see friends: whatever it is, give yourself at least a day to forget about looking for a new career and to just reset.

Happy hunting!

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How To Find Motivation For A Long Job Hunt Even When You'd Rather Poke Yrself In The Eye - Pedestrian TV

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Bow Wow, 33; Brittany Snow, 34; Matthew Gray Gubler, 40; Juliette Binoche, 56.

Happy Birthday: Gravitate toward the people and places that make you feel the most comfortable. Take on what fits your schedule and will encourage you to use your skills where it makes the most sense. What you contribute and how you get along with others will determine the outcome. Go with the grain, not against it, and youll find yourself on the path to victory. Your numbers are 5, 17, 24, 27, 31, 38, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Diplomacy and charm will help you avoid a situation that can put a dent in your reputation or position. Let everyone else voice his or her opinions first. Refuse to let anger take over and compromise your chance to get ahead. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Talk to people who can offer knowledge and insight into something that interests you. A new lifestyle or educational pursuit will change the way you do things as well as how you prioritize. Personal change is favored. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dont waste time or energy lamenting over something you cannot change. Strive to learn something new and apply it to your life and prospects. Use your intelligence to stop people from using emotional manipulation to take advantage of you. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Recognize your potential and what you can do to make your life better. Opportunity is within reach, but you have to be willing to compromise and make necessary adjustments. A personal change will make you more easily understood. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Dont let anyone interfere in your life. Rumors will lead to a problem with someone you love. Take up a new hobby or work on personal growth and accomplishments. Using reverse psychology will help you get your way. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Set up meetings, and you will accomplish what you set out to do. Your power of persuasion will come in handy when you want someone to step up and do his or her part. An idea will lead to changes at home. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Dont misinterpret what the messenger is telling you. Listen to someone who has always been there for you. Do things differently, and offer incentives to get your way. Anger does not become you, so dont go there. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Dont procrastinate if you move forward. Show everyone whos the boss and how good you are at handling whatever comes your way. Strive for perfection, and youll make an impression. Love and romance are on the rise. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Observe what others are doing, and you will see who is making all the decisions. Stay on top of situations to avoid being left out. A power play involving money will cause stress. Dont reveal secrets or what you plan to do next. 2 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Do your best to secure your position. If you want to be a leader, act like one and make decisions. Legal contracts can be drawn up and signed. Your expertise will give you the edge you need to seal a deal. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Helping others will bring out the best in you. A partnership that can offer benefits will put you in a good position. Negotiate on your behalf, and dont be afraid to tackle something new. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A personal change will motivate you to aspire to higher levels and to reach out to people with whom you feel comfortable discussing your intentions and plans. A positive outlook will result in more significant opportunities and gains. Romance is in the stars. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are aggressive, smart and determined. You are competitive and persistent.

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Virgo: Your ability to persuade will help in motivating others - Lewiston Sun Journal

As a business leader trying to build a brand in this crazy, fast-paced world, much of your job will come down to engaging and motivating your employees. After all, if top talent is what youre after and if employee retention is your goal, you need to be proactive and you need to incentivize and inspire them to stay at your side through thick and thin.

Dont be fooled into thinking that your team members will want to stay just because youre handing out hefty paychecks every month (although thats also an important factor), because theyll have no problem leaving you for a sweeter deal after all, the modern job market is vast and full of opportunities, and millennials arent afraid to quit. That said, you shouldnt break the bank trying to woo your team members either, so lets take a look at some of the most cost-effective ways to motivate and engage your employees.

Communication is the foundation of trust, transparency, honesty, company culture, and everything in between. The common trait of just another boss is that they dont really care about the individual, nor do they appreciate them for who they are. Rather, they see their team members as merely cogs in a wheel, pawns helping you and your company achieve its goals. As you might have guessed, this is a surefire way to drive the best of the best straight through the front door.

To prevent this, its important that you make communication more natural, personal, and oriented towards work and non-work-related topics. Sure, you have a lot of work to do and deadlines to meet, but that doesnt mean that you cant joke around on company time, engage in meaningful conversations, or diverge from the subject for a bit to lighten the mood before getting back into it because it might just help you boost morale and re-energize your team.

Speaking of effective communication and what it can do for your employees morale, always remember that the modern employee wants and needs to feel appreciated and respected. That said, in order to make your team members feel this way, you also have to earn their trust, so all of this has to come together through personalization. Engaging with the individual and showing them that you care is one of the most powerful and rewarding things you can do as a leader, so dont waste this opportunity.

Start by doing your research. Notice how every one of your team members behaves in the workplace, and how they interact with their colleagues. Note down their most prominent characteristics. Next, engage in personal and meaningful communication. Be their friend, invite them to your office for a quick chat, and just ask how theyre doing, if theres anything you can do for them, and let them confide in you. This is how you set yourself apart as a true leader.

You cant hope to build a team of devoted employees if your company is still clinging to the old ways. Quite simply, you need to change and evolve with the times and the trends that shape the modern workplace, and that means providing the perks your employees need to feel valued, empowered, safe, and happy.

For example, you might think that paying your employees on time is enough, but going the extra mile and implementing a payroll system that is more convenient for them can make a big difference. Traditional paper checks can be a real hassle, so opting for employee income cards will show your employees that you care. Payroll card programs are more convenient and less wasteful, and it can be time-saving both for you and your employees.

The modern employee cares about the brand they work for, its unique identity and culture, as well as the values it promotes both internally and externally. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to create a traditional corporate environment that your employees cant connect with, or want to connect with for that matter. This is why you need to build a positive company culture, and promote your brand among your team members.

Promotional materials work wonderfully for this purpose, as these materials allow you to position your brand as an important part of their everyday life, and help them associate that positive company culture with your name every time they use the product. Remember, its not just about nurturing a positive work environment, its also about those finer details that make a brands image truly stick.

And lastly, dont forget to give plenty of praise for a job well done. That said, a simple pat on the shoulder and sincere smile wont do, as you should create a comprehensive reward program for your team members that will reward them with something truly meaningful, something they actually need or that improves their overall quality of life. And whatever you do, be sure to tailor the reward to the individual to make it more personal, functional, and ultimately, show that you view them as an important part of your brand.

Motivating the modern employee to give it their best all every single day is definitely not an easy task. We live in a stressful, fast-paced world where the game is changing constantly and new opportunities are popping up at every corner, so its important that you recognize what truly matters to your team members, and provide them with the incentives they need to fall in love with their workplace.

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5 Cost-Effective Ways to Motivate and Engage Your Team Members - socPub

Even as the world reels under the COVID-19 crisis and more and more companies are asking employees to work remotely, home offices are slowly becoming the new norm. However, working from home doesnt have to be drab! Besides better work-life balance and no commute, a home office allows you to design the workspace that inspired you and reflects your personality.

Here are a couple of tips to help you spruce up your workspace.

Light up your life

One way to glam up a home office is by refreshing your lighting. Bring in an element of quirk that reflects your personality.

This floor lamp fro Studio Oorja is from the Bengaluru-based collection called Fibre fables, that comprises light fixtures that harmoniously bring together two contrasting materials. While the main structure is made using faux concrete sourced from the quarries, the weaves through which the light filters are made from Water Hyacinth flowers from the Tungabhadra river or with banana fibre.

A touch of green

Add some life to your space, so youll want to linger. A plant is said to keep you feeling calm, cleans your air looking pretty is a bonus!

In addition to being low-cost, terrariums need little additional care and they can be tailored to fit in any room. We recommend thejade plant is a succulent and a renowned good luck plant to attract wealth.

Get artsy

Even if you're crunching numbers all day, fill your office with vibrant art to energise your space and make you feel motivated. Try creating a wall gallery with some of your favourite pictures, quotes or even doodles.

Here are some of our favourite Indian artists and their doodles that you could add to your workspace. Woodle Doodle Designs, Vimal Chandran, Paper Planes Doodle, Alicia Souza.

Mix and match

Don't be afraid to steal decor from other rooms in the house. A mix of vintage and modern makes a home feel warm and lived in and personal.

Whether its an aged roll top desk or vintage lamp, and pair these with brand new items, like bright chairs for guests to use when youre hosting a meeting from home.

Let the light shine through

Stay connected to the great outdoors by letting natural light in this also makes space feel much bigger.

Move your desk close to the windows, but place it parallel to the panes. This ideal set-up gives you the happiness benefits of natural light, and a good reason to turn away from your computer every few minutes to take in the scene.

Read more here:
5 home office ideas that will keep you to motivated to work all-day - Indulgexpress

The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWT) set out to explore what is necessary for it to achieve its mission of inspiring and growing women in tech. To that end, MCWT conducted a study that involved input from a range of ages and stages for its 67-page report, Explore, Focus, Grow: A Tech Career Journey in Michigan.

Close to 500 participants were surveyed from girls as young as fifth grade to college students to women working in tech and even the people whose job it is to recruit and retain tech talent. The questions they answered revealed what motivates them to enter the field and what keeps them on the tech track. (Read We Asked Why There Aren't More Women In Tech.)

It also shared their recommendations for inspiring, recruiting and retaining women in tech, starting from middle school.

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It all begins with motivation. For many, their motivation goes back to elementary school as a spark of inspiration from a parent or teacher who showed them the possibilities of tech. The quotes from the young women aspiring to tech careers include this one:

"Just being able to be on the forefront of all big change. I think technology has the ultimate power to make a difference, and I want to be a part of that.

While they recognize that tech is a consistently growing field that will offer them a number of different job opportunities, they also see it as offering them the possibility of fulfillment. (Read What Do Women in Tech Want?)

They cite different motivations:

Over a quarter of the university level students (26%) said they were concerned about women being underrepresented in tech. Impostor syndrome is also an issue, as 23% admitted they were not as confident of their abilities as they should be.

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Among the quotes recorded on that was this:

I think my main concern is just being taken seriously and also taking myself seriously. I suffer from a textbook case of impostor syndrome which I think can sometimes hold me back.

The concerns reported by women already working in the field are similar. About a third (34%) cite lack of representation, and 27% complain of gender bias.

One of the respondent quotes was:

It's still very much a male-dominated field, so proving your value and demonstrating thought leadership is still challenging.

Another observed:

I find myself being the only woman at the table more often than not, and whether true or perceived, I often am made to feel 'less than. However, she added a note of optimism: With a stronger team of women, we will be able to make a stronger impact.

MCWTs position is that the remedy for most of the womens concerns is continued exposure to role models and getting connected to mentors. The importance of mentorship for women is a general theme among those giving advice for women in tech, as we saw in Top Career Tips for Women Working in Technology.

The difference between having a mentor and not having one can determine whether a woman will take a particular position and if shell stay at the company down the road. (Read 12 Top Women in Tech Right Now.)

That is consistent with what university students told MCWT when asked for their recommendations for improving the situation of women in tech as 26% recommended increasing the networking/mentorship/internship opportunities for women.

As one observed: Seeing women in the jobs you want to be in makes it seem more possible and real.

Increasing outreach was the second most popular recommendation (23%) That included suggestions to come to schools with some specific ideas like job fairs that would include:

Resum checks and mock interview sessions to help better prepare young women for the workforce.

The events were also suggested as a way to boost exposure to female mentors that provide a positive role model.

Another 22% recommended stepping up these activities for the younger set:

Get students started young, relate the love of technology to the devices that they use everyday already.

One of these suggestions accentuate the positive outlook that this particular woman has found in her own experience:

Everyone says engineering is hard, and forget to mention that it is so much fun. I have never felt like I am being treated differently because of my gender. We should focus more on how nothing is impossible.

Given the concerns about impostor syndrome, 9% offer recommendations to reinforce confidence:

I would tell them to make sure the young women know how smart they are and to never doubt themselves in a field like this.

From the perspective of those who want to attract women in their open tech positions, it can be valuable to know what they look for. For 35% of women already working flexibility is a priority. The same percentage expressed regard for work-life balance in tech.

Other priorities they noted included the opportunity to connect with mentors (26%) and further training (21%).

But they also are looking for the possibility of career advancement as shown by other women who have made it up a higher rung on the corporate ladder. Its the consensus of 95% of the women surveyed that: Highlighting women in leadership positions was very to somewhat effective when it came to recruiting female talent.

The reason there are far fewer women at the top in tech is that about half of them drop out at some point in their 30s, according to a Harvard Business Review special report.

This is why retention is as important as recruitment in achieving parity. The women surveyed offered their answers to the question: What is your driving motivation for continuing to work in IT/technology over other fields?

Some of the answers echoed the list of motivations for entering the field, though in somewhat different levels:

But its not just about a fulfilling outlet or time for family. The top consideration in making a career of tech was: Compensation for effort.

Furthermore, which 58% of women identified among the top three reasons for working in tech.

That was followed by job stability for 45% and: "opportunities for personal growth" for 44%. Flexibility and work-life balance only ranked fourth and fifth, garnering 38% and 36% respectively.

The same concerns come across in the recommendations women wrote in for retention, though the percentages shift somewhat. The recommendation offered by 46% was centered on offering training, growth opportunities and support.

However, some merge that with women in leadership, as evidenced by the quotes:

Make a conscious effort to promote female talent. And: More women in leadership.

Flexibility was suggested by 29%. One of the quotes reflected the level of detail that can only come from direct experience:

What this also reveals is that women dont want to suffer any career setbacks for the perk of flexibility. They dont want to be mommy tracked.

Close to a quarter (24%) also pointed out the need to address and correct bias in culture.

Strive for a culture that includes women in key roles so female talent can see a career path, suggested one.

Another put it in more concrete terms:

Treat women with equal opportunity as men. Do not talk over women or treat women as emotional beings.

While pay was identified as primary priority for women, only 12% mentioned pay equity in their recommendation. It is possible, however, that they considered included in the recommendations to address bias and offer opportunities for advancement.

Certainly the cultural aspect is implied in one of the quotes: Pay women well and hire men who are professional and capable of working well with women.

As we saw in Minding the Gender Gap, women are far from equal in the tech field, holding just about a quarter of the positions and getting paid close to 12% less than their male counterparts.

What they want is what men want, which is to be taken seriously about their career choice and given the opportunity to advance according to their merit without any bias against their sex holding them back.

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A Women in Tech Study: Motivation, Recruitment and Retainment - Techopedia

The Lake Catholic wrestling team is flying under the radar this week. They might even feel a little disrespected.

That's OK with them.

When the Cougars' contingent of eight walks into the Jerome Schottenstein Center for the state wrestling tournament that will run March 13-15, they will do so without any projected state champions and as an afterthought by many, if not most, on the Division II state leaderboard.

Just the way they like it.

"I keep telling our guys the rest of the world is probably counting us out," said Coach Scott Hivnor. "I think we have the capabilities of getting many placers and several finalists and champions. We're more than capable of coming home with a trophy."

In the most recent rankings by IntermatOhio wrestling guru Josh Lowe, Lake Catholic is projected to place eighth in the Division II team race this weekend, with 113-pound Brendan McCrone (projected to finish as state runner-up) and 182-pound Cole Hivnor (projected to finish third) the only two wrestlers given a shot at state-title possibilities.

Not like they would know.

Scott Hivnor has put a gag order on his wrestlers looking at rankings or talking about them.

But they DO know not much is expected of them.

And that's part of their fire this weekend.

"I really don't look at them, per se," said junior Cole Hivnor, a two-time state placer of rankings. "I always know where I'm ranked. I know if I don't get beat, I'm not moving (in the ranks)."

Senior Nick Coreno, ranked eighth at 138, agrees.

"I never look at my weight class and division," he said. "I pretty much know who is in my weight class. It doesn't matter where anyone is ranked anyway."

Cole Hivnor, McCrone and Coreno will be joined in Columbus this weekend by freshman Brock Herman (106), sophomore Ethan Smith (132), junior Anthony Trivisonno (145), junior Rob Boley (160) and senior Owen Weaver (195).

Nearly two decades has passed since Lake Catholic had last sent eight wrestlers to the state tournament. The Cougars have accomplished that feat two years in a row.

"It says a lot," Cole Hivnor said of eight qualifiers this year. "Nobody thought we'd get eight. Our coaches the whole time said we were gonna get eight-plus. And that's what we did. We just trusted our training."

The Cougars feel their schedule this season has tested them well for what they're about to encounter at the state tournament.

A group of five Herman, McCrone, Coreno, Trivisonno and Hivnor wrestled in the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, touted as the toughest high school tournament in the country. The Cougars also took part in the Grizzly Invitational in Wadsworth, the North Canton tournament and the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, all featuring a Who's Who in Ohio wrestling lineup of teams.

Additionally, the Cougars advanced to the regional finals in the dual tournament, losing to Aurora, 31-30.

Even before all of that, five Cougars Smith, Boley, McCrone, Hivnor and Trivisonno wrestled in the freestyle nationals in Fargo, N.D. over the summer.

"I think that's a huge advantage our guys have," Scott Hivnor said of the Lake Catholic schedule. "We've wrestled the best kids in the country, not just the state. That makes tournaments like the state tournament a little less intimidating."

The current group of Lake Catholic wrestlers is a tight-knit group, Scott Hivnor said. They wrestled in the Lake youth club, all the way up through junior high, freestyle and now the state tournament.

"We've been all over the country trying to prepare our kids for big arenas and big venues," he said. "So when they get to state, they realize, 'Hey, we've wrestled in big places like this before.'"

The Cougars believe in themselves, their training, their schedule and where it's led them.

They believe, even if not everyone else does.

"These kids love each other support each other and want to win," Scott Hivnor said. "That culture is a big reason we are in this position right now."

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Lake Catholic wrestling: Lake Eight motivated to prove pundits wrong - News-Herald.com