IDPs

Barkin Ladi (Plateau) The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, on Saturday donated improved seedlings to 50 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Ban, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area (LGA), of Plateau.

Presenting the seedlings, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Gana, the Assistant Coordinator of the NGO, said the gesture was aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the IDPs.

Gana, who said the gesture was supported by the Irish Aid, added that it would also encourage the IDPs, particularly those of them who are farmers to have more and better yields.

He said by supporting displaced persons to go into farming, it would enable them fend for themselves and increase their personal income; as well as that of the state.

We were here shortly before Christmas and donated food items to you, today we have come again, but to support you with some improved seedlings and seeds to support your farming activities.

We all know that majority of you are farmers, and now that you are gradually returning to your homes, we feel it is right to support you with these to encourage your farming activities.

We cannot continue to feed you forever, but teaching or encouraging you to feed yourselves is better and more rewarding.

So, after a careful assessment, we have selected 50 farmers among you to start with, and have come with improved seedlings of Irish potatoes, seeds of tomato, cabbage, and maize to give them, he said.

The Assistant Coordinator urged the beneficiaries to ensure the seedlings were put into good for their personal benefit, and the community at large.

He warned that anyone caught selling the seedlings would be blacklisted and denied any further support from the organisation.

Meanwhile, the organisation also donated sundry items to 340 displaced households in Bokkos LGA camps.

Gana, who presented the items, also said the gesture was aimed at encouraging them to maintain personal hygiene and sanitation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the items donated include bathing and washing soaps, body creams, detergents, towels and blankets, among others

He said poor personal hygiene and sanitation accounted for the continued spread of communicable diseases, particularly among rural dwellers.

In separate responses on behalf of the beneficiaries, the camp leaders, Mr Irimiya Magit and Mr Mandong John, thanked JDPC for the gesture and assured the organisation that the items would be used judiciously.

They called on government to support them in rebuilding their communities as they were eager to return to their homes.

(NAN)

MTN empowers 2,000 Nigerian with Kiosk as a Service scheme

FRSC doctorates 25 newly promoted officers in Nsukka

Read this article:
NGO donates improved seedlings, other items to IDPs in Plateau - SundiataPost

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust sustainability program and plays a vital role in contributing to the markets in which they operate in ways that extend well beyond finance. Throughout the years, Gulf Bank has been a leader in shedding light on major global challenges. By spearheading multiple corporate social responsibility initiatives, Gulf Bank has not only inspired local and regional enterprises, but is also leading by example on an international level with its unique approach to sustainability.

In 2019, Gulf Banks corporate social responsibility initiatives went hand in hand with international efforts, aligning with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

Gulf Bank proudly spearheaded a number of corporate social responsibility efforts in 2019, with an approach that consists of three pillars: community sustainability, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability. Through a combination of efforts on all of these fronts, Gulf Bank proudly met a majority of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals.

Commenting on Gulf Banks ongoing commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, Lujain Al-Qenaei, Assistant Manager for External Communications at Gulf Bank, said: Much like how the United Nations is shedding a spotlight on major global challenges, we recognize how important it is for larger enterprises to do their part on a local and national level. At Gulf Bank, we are not only aware of our role, but we are proud to take it on.

We also believe that the UNs 17 SDGs are all interconnected, and that long-lasting development must strike a balance between community, economic and environmental sustainability. We are proud to see so many of our initiatives moving hand in hand with international efforts, and are looking forward to paving the way for even more initiatives to come in hopes for a more sustainable future for our beloved Kuwait.

Community Sustainability Throughout 2019, Gulf Banks community sustainability efforts aligned with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: 2) Zero Hunger, 3) Good Health and Wellbeing, 4) Quality Education, 5) Gender Equality, 8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, 11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 17) Partnerships for the Goals.

As one of the most important social sporting events in the country, the annual Gulf Bank 642 Marathon aims to raise the level of health awareness and encourage the local community to adopt a healthier lifestyle. By partnering with Kuwait Red Crescent Society this year, Gulf Bank was able to assist in bringing medical aid to those who are unable to afford medical treatment. This years marathon attracted more than 9,300 participants representing over 100 nationalities from around the world, and more than 300 volunteers.

Gulf Bank is also keen on promoting a message of inclusion and diversity when it comes to hiring. Gulf Bank this year proudly employed 10 people with special needs among various branches, taking into account the unique needs of each individual. The Bank continues to strive to ensure to achieve gender equality and empowering women throughout the organization to deliver on the Banks mandate. Currently there are 43 percent female staff in comparison to 57 percent male staff. The bank was one of the first Banks in Kuwait to become a signatory of the Womens Empowerment Principles (WEPs) initiative by the United Nations to promote gender equality and womens economic empowerment.

The Bank has a strong focus on developing Kuwaiti professionals. In terms of human capital initiatives, the Banks graduate development program AJYAL is widely recognized for its intensive training to shape the future of banking in Kuwait. Accepting 21 applicants, AJYAL spans six months and aims to help candidates develop key banking skills, cultivating holistic bankers that have shown growth potential on both a personal and professional level. Since the programs inception in 2014, five generations have graduated with a total of 85 employees, to date.

Gulf Bank also demonstrated its commitment to preserving Kuwaiti heritage and traditions by sponsoring the production of Memoirs of a Sailor, an epic musical comprised of poems from the Kuwaiti poet Mohammed Al-Fayez. The production took place during the second quarter of the year at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center.

During 2019, the bank also hosted a number of family fun activities, including a Reading Fun Day for children to encourage reading and learning, in collaboration with That Al Salasil. Gulf Bank also held a Bring Your Kids To Work for their employees and their children. Throughout the year, Gulf Bank also participated in and sponsored Qout Market.

As part of Gulf Banks commitment to supporting and empowering Kuwaiti youth, Gulf Bank also sponsored the annual National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) Conference in the United States. During the summer, applications for Gulf Banks summer internship program were also available to interested student applicants. Gulf Bank also organized a mobile photography training workshop for aspiring photographers in collaboration with mobile accessories store, Cavaraty.

Gulf Bank also spearheaded other charitable activities during the holy month of Ramadan, including partnering with the Kuwait Food Bank and Saveco to distribute maachla foodstuff boxes to local families in need. Gulf Bank also launched a social media activation in recognition of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle during the holy month. The community initiative, titled Ten Minutes, consisted of a series of short social media episodes highlighting unique tips on how viewers can live a healthier lifestyle by enhancing their nutrition, mental health, fitness, and general well-being in only ten minutes.

In 2019, Gulf Bank also launched Al-Tijouri, an entertaining escape room competition in which teams from all across the country joined together to solve puzzles and compete for cash prizes. The activation, which took place in Phase 3 of The Avenues over the course of three days, resulted in a total of three winning teams, each of whom took home a KD 300 cash prize for solving the escape room in the least amount of time.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the bank launched a series of initiatives, including partnering with Mowasat Hospital and other local hospitals to provide special offers, exclusively for Gulf Bank clients, that aim to make the process of getting checked more convenient and more accessible. Throughout the month, the Bank also lit up its head office branch in Kuwait City in pink in an effort to encourage everyone to learn more about breast cancer.

Economic Sustainability In the past year, Gulf Banks economic sustainability efforts also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals of: 4) Quality Education, 5) Gender Equality, 8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, 9) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and 17) Partnerships for the Goals.

In keeping with annual tradition, Gulf Bank extended its support to INJAZ Kuwait, a non-profit, non-governmental organization for education and training in workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. As part of our strategic partnership with INJAZ, Gulf Bank sponsored numerous educational and entrepreneurial courses for high school and college students across both the public and private sectors.

To date, Gulf Bank has participated in five INJAZ Al-Arab programs, two INJAZ Kuwait Job Shadow Days, seven INJAZ Kuwait Innovation Camps and four INJAZ Kuwait Entrepreneurship Master Class workshops. Additionally, 282 Gulf Bank staff members have volunteered their time and efforts at numerous schools and universities across Kuwait, inspiring over 3,275 students.

This year, Gulf Bank has also extended its economic sustainability role to social media. In an effort to promote financial literacy and create a culture of financial awareness, Gulf Banks Economic Research Unit prepares weekly videos on topics including fintech, investment, saving, and general tidbits about the state of the economy. The one-minute tips are delivered by Tareq Al-Saleh, Deputy General Manager of the Economic Research Unit at Gulf Bank, and are aired across Gulf Banks various social media channels.

Gulf Bank also participated in a number of other activities as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the local business environment. In October 2019, Gulf Bank hosted a real estate market focus group to discuss the current state of the real estate market and its latest developments. Gulf Bank also sponsored the Central Bank of Kuwaits annual International Banking Conference.

In collaboration with the Manpower Restructuring Program, Gulf Bank also held the first-ever career fair for people with disabilities in Kuwait. In January 2019, Gulf Bank employees also participated in the Fikra Program, designed to equip Kuwaiti youth with the essential business skills and knowledge required to transform their ideas into businesses.

Environmental Sustainability Gulf Bank is committed to environmental conservation and sustainability with its community sustainability efforts in 2019 going hand in hand with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: 12) Responsible Consumption and Production, 14) Life Below Water, 15) Life On Land, and 13) Climate Action.

In 2019, the bank partnered with Omniya, a nationwide recycling initiative founded in 2015 by young Kuwaitis aiming to raise awareness for waste recycling. Through this partnership, the Bank committed to recycling paper and plastic waste, and strategically distributed recycling receptacles in front of Gulf Banks Head Office. By placing the recycling receptacles in one of the most visible locations in the heart of Kuwait City, Gulf Bank is raising awareness for recycling not only with its employees, but also with members of the local community.

The bank also held a beach cleanup at the Kuwait Towers as part of its commitment to Earth Day. A non-profit NGO provided an awareness session on the hazardous effects pollutants have on our environment and assisted Gulf Bank employees in cleaning the beach. The Bank also joins global community efforts in reducing power consumption during Earth Hour, a worldwide initiative that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights.

With multiple CSR initiatives throughout the year, Gulf Bank is setting an example for local and regional players to make even more progress in line with international efforts by the United Nations. Through a combination of efforts promoting community, economic and environmental sustainability, Gulf Bank is proud to wrap up 2019 with an impressive round-up of CSR initiatives and activities, with even more initiatives to come in 2020.

See the article here:
Gulf Bank's 2019 sustainability efforts progress in line with global efforts by the United Nations - Kuwait Times

If you have been feeling down lately, the key to getting out of the slump may be health related. According to the Harvard Medical School, one in 10 adults in the United States struggle with depression. Research shows that exercise is an effective way to treat the condition and can even work as well or better than antidepressants.

Common symptoms of depression include reduced energy, appetite changes and increased pain perception.

So, how do you find the motivation to get into a new routine and change your mental mindset? Experts at Harvard suggest starting slowly to get your body used to being active before increasing your level of physical activity.

Here is some motivation to get started and keep the momentum going.There is a happier version of you waiting to get active.

How does exercise improve moods?

Physical activity is an important contributor to positive mental health. The JED Foundation, an emotional health nonprofit for teens and young adults, offers these benefits of becoming active.

Improves mood and mental health by releasing endorphins through your body to reduce anxiety and depressed moods while enhancing self-esteem.

Boosts energy and brainpower by delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain and various tissues.

Link:
Find motivation for better health - STLtoday.com

How do you find your work mojo now that your holiday halo has started to dim?

January is the most popular month to give your job the flick (and to file for divorce apparently - but this is outside the scope of our show!). We talk motivation with sports and organisational psychologist Dr Travis Kemp and Chris Low, head of vibe at Canva which has twice been named Australia's best place to work.

We discuss why things come to a head in January - just what's going on in our brains? Plus why personal values trump free beer, why money isn't our primary motivator, and how eating breakfast and lunch together helped online graphic design business Canva become a unicorn company (a privately-owned start up worth more than a US one billion dollars).

Chris also refers to the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. To hear more about this, listen to our previous show on this topic:

After ramp up your motivation, you might want to tackle one of the toughest challenges in the workplace and have that difficult conversation. Karen Gately from Corporate Dojo gives us her very practical and imminently doable take.

Producer: Maria Tickle

Go here to see the original:
Workplace motivation isn't just about pizzas and beer (although that helps) - ABC News

To have some of the mostrespected musicO.G.sincluding Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and David Fosterin your corneris no small feat, especially in today's highly saturated, internet-led space. Soulful songstress Shela has all this and morein 2012 she performed for the at the White House for Barack and Michelle Obama, for examplebut she values celebrating her heroes and inspiring the next generation above personal accolades and achievements.

At the first of the educational events during the GRAMMY Museum's special GRAMMY Week programming, the singer/songwriter/keyboardist treated students to a powerhouse performance, an informative interview by the Museum'sSenior Education CoordinatorSchyler O'Nealand thoughtful answers to the students' questions.

Read: 11 Things We Learned About Larkin Poe At The GRAMMY Museum

To start things off, Shela sang two songs"Summertime," the 1930's jazz number first popularized by Billie Holiday, and Bill Withers'1971 GRAMMY-winning classic, "Ain't No Sunshine." During the latter song, she encouraged kids to snap in time with her, and they all did; a few even kept the rhythm going when others took a break to soak in her powerhouse high notes.

"You're the future, so it's an honor to spend time with you," she said to the smiling group of students, consisting of high schoolers from four local Los Angelesschools.

When O'Neal asked how she got to where she is today, the "City of Angels" singer said, "I've been true to myself this whole journey," which required a lot of faith, honesty and heart. She also talked about working with and becoming friends with Wonder in recent years, who she's been a fan of since she was very young.

She collaborated with the 25-time GRAMMY-winning legend on "Love Fell On Me," the title track to her 2013 debut album, and "Pretty World," the first song off of her 2019 tribute album to GRAMMY-winning songwriter power couple Alan and Marilyn Bergman. She also shared that she has another song with Wonder on the way via his forthcoming project.

When the questions were opened up to the audience, the kids followed up with some great questions. One of the most moving ones came from Oscar, a senior who bravely shared he's struggled with anxiety and self-doubt for much of his life. He wanted to know if Shela had any advice that could help him overcome these difficult emotions that he knew were holding him back. She reminded him, and everyone in the audience, to remember "You're not alone," as many other peopleincluding successful, creative peoplealso face these feelings.

Related: Christina Bell On "Going" & Playing Twinkie Clark In The 'The Clark Sisters' Biopic

Shela also highlighted the importance of having the people closest to youlift you up and hold you accountable to your goals in a compassionate way. Even if it's just one person, she stressed, having someone "that will do it in love, in a way that will resonate with you" is a great way to stay motivated and grounded. Underscoring that it can take time to find these people in your life,Shela pointed out thatit's equally important to champion yourself, citing how affirmations have helped her. "Affirmations set to music are song formation," Shela noted before reciting some with the group. Hearing "I am enough" echo through ourselves and the theater was a powerful moment for everyone there.

Explore 'Beyond Black: The Style of Amy Winehouse' Kicks Off At The GRAMMY Museum

The final student question came from a girl who wanted to know what the biggest moments in Shela's job were, to which she replied,"This is why I do what I do, to give to the next generationYou're going to go above and beyond what I'm doing. That's real, the realest thing."

Another very brave student, Isaiah, volunteered to take the stage for a special mini-vocal coaching lesson with Shela. He chose to sing Alicia Keys' GRAMMY-winning bop "If I Ain't Got You" and with some guidance and encouragement, was able to drop into his body, move past some of his nervousness and hit a higher register.

Finally, the "Because Of You" singer wrapped up the event with a songBob Dylan's oft-covered 1997 track "Make You Feel My Love"before taking a group photo and selfies with the smiling students.

The GRAMMY Museum's jam-packed GRAMMY Week programming continues with more student-centered educational programs, like Music Of Hawaii and Careers In The Music Industry, as well as all-ages events with The Cranberries and Linda Perry. Visit the Museum's programming page for more info on what you can attend.

And stay tuned toGRAMMY.com, where you'll getmore behind-the-scenes looks at 2020 GRAMMY Week events, including the 62nd GRAMMY Awards, airing live on Sunday, Jan. 26 on CBS.

Subscribe Now

Nipsey Hussle 2020 GRAMMY Tribute To Feature John Legend, Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill & More

Link:
Shela Serves GRAMMY Week Motivation: "This Is Why I Do What I Do, To Give To The Next Generation" - Recording Academy | Grammys

The last time the Toronto Raptors visited the AT&T Center, bedlam ensued.

A sold-out crowd, thirsty for blood that was hopefully only metaphorical, booed lustily from the opening tap. Fans taunted and jeered, and at the end of a 125-107 Spurs victory on Jan. 2, 2019, that stood as the most satisfying of last season, they erupted in raucous, sneering applause.

DeMar DeRozan, a Raptors castoff who recorded what remains the only triple-double of his All-Star career that night, remembers the occasion well.

It was extremely fun, DeRozan said.

Of course, most of the juice that night was supplied by the return of Toronto forward Kawhi Leonard, who the summer before had spurned the Spurs and orchestrated a trade that landed him north of the border.

As the Raptors return to San Antonio on Sunday afternoon, Leonard will be 1,300 miles away in Los Angeles, preparing to lead his newest new team, the Clippers, in a game against Orlando.

Facing the defending NBA champion Raptors sans last seasons Finals MVP, the Spurs will be left to manufacture their own motivation.

That often has been easier said than done this season for a Spurs team that cant seem to piece together a winning streak longer than three games.

Weve just got to be consistent, guard Derrick White said. Thats been the moral of the story all year. Just consistency and being ready to play whoever is out there in front of us.

The past three weeks have been an exercise in head-scratching for a Spurs squad that has shown both the ability to beat some of the best teams in the league and lose to some of the worst.

In that span, the Spurs have beaten each of the top four clubs in the Eastern Conference, including a 105-104 victory in Toronto that involved a comeback from 18 points down.

They also have dropped narrow decisions at home to Atlanta and Phoenix, teams that would be lottery-bound if the postseason began today.

Victories over the leagues upper crust have allowed the Spurs to remain firmly in the mix for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Losses to the leagues dregs have kept them from running away with it.

I think we are learning stuff every game, guard Patty Mills said. No matter if we win or lose, there is stuff we are finding out about ourselves as a group. We talk about putting it in the bank, and at some point it will pay off in the long run.

Against the Suns, the Spurs lost 103-99 mostly because they couldnt find a way to make the ball go in the basket.

The Spurs finished 5 of 25 from the 3-point line, including 1 of 7 in the fourth quarter.

It was a far cry from the 17 of 31 the Spurs buried Monday night in Phoenix on the way to a 120-118 victory.

The Spurs 3-point clang-a-thon against Phoenix represented their worst shooting night from distance since a Nov. 27 loss at Minnesota, when they converted only 17 percent.

All told, it resulted in the end of a three-game winning streak, one victory shy of a season high.

If we hit those 3s, its a different story, White said.

In the meantime, the Spurs aim to control what is controllable.

Coach Gregg Popovich continues to cajole his team into approaching each game with the same focus. Appropriate fear, he calls it.

Weve never concentrated on one game, Popovich said. Its always about getting better, executing and competing for more of the 48 minutes than your opponent. Thats your goal every single night. It doesnt matter who you are playing.

It might not hurt the Spurs attention span that the Raptors even with Leonard plying his All-Star trade in sunny California remain a good team.

Second-year coach Nick Nurse has kept Toronto in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, tied for second with Miami at 31-14.

The Raptors enter today on a six-game winning streak, which roughly coincides with All-Star forward Pascal Siakams return from the injured list. Toronto hasnt lost since Jan. 12, when the Spurs absconded from Canada with a one-point triumph.

Were just ... comfortable in every situation, Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry said. We understand what to do, and weve been here before.

The Spurs are expecting Torontos best shot, much as they took Phoenixs best shot Friday.

Four days after the Spurs squeaked out a two-point win on the Suns home floor, Phoenix held on for a four-point revenge triumph at the AT&T Center.

The Suns were clearly motivated, DeRozan said.

Small things like that you dont forget as a team, and you try to come out (the next time) and you want to get a victory, said DeRozan, who scored 30 points in the loss. Thats the league. Any given night, especially when you are fresh off playing a team, they are going to be ready.

The Raptors, like the Suns, owe the Spurs one.

Two weeks ago at Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter and 82-69 headed to the fourth.

A 19-5 run to start the fourth quarter led mostly be DeRozan, who finished with 25 points in his second return to Toronto helped lift the Spurs to an improbable victory.

At the time, it seemed as if that would be the latest stirring outing that would at last allow the Spurs to turn a season-long corner.

Two nights later, they dropped a 106-100 decision at Miami. Two nights after that, the basement-dwelling Hawks stole a 121-120 win at the AT&T Center.

For the searching Spurs, todays game against Toronto could be a jumping-off point. Again.

We just played them, and they are going to try to come in and beat us on our home floor, DeRozan said. All these games are important now. Weve got to be ready to go from the jump.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Jeff McDonald began covering the Spurs for the San Antonio Express-News in September 2007, three months after the team's fourth championship.

View original post here:
San Antonio Spurs face new challenge in healthy, motivated Toronto Raptors - San Antonio Express-News

During the past several years, a number of studies have shown that graduates do not need to attend an elite college (e.g., Harvard, Yale, Stanford) to be successful. Instead, the studies consistently showed that students generally have a comparable or even better chance for career success when attending non-elite colleges that are a better fit for their majors, provide environments better suited to their interests and expose students to opportunities for solid internships.

For instance:

The most comprehensive discussion on the topic is a book called Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni, a columnist for the New York Times and author of three bestsellers. It provides many examples in which students who were not admitted into elite colleges still became very successful from opportunities realized at non-elite colleges.

Highlighting the findings of the Gallup-Purdue Index, "Measuring the Most Important Outcomes of Higher Education," Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University, said, "Our survey clearly indicated that it wasn't so much where you go to college as much as it is how you go to college what you extract from the campus experience."

In an extensive research paper, "A 'Fit' Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity," Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success, says, "Engagement in college is more important than where you attend," and "while some employers might check the name on your college transcript, most care far more about your track record in the field, basic communication and problem-solving skills and the attitude and work ethic you bring to the table."

The educational backgrounds of the Fortune 100 CEOs validate the position that attending an elite college does not make a significant difference in future earning power. In fact, a dominant 89% of Fortune 100 CEOs graduated from non-Ivy League schools, according to Kimberly A. Whitler, author of "A New Study on Fortune 100 CEOs: The (Surprising) Undergraduate Institutions They Attended."

While working with and mentoring many successful professionals during my 40-year career as a growth manager and CEO of large environmental consulting companies, I always found that the college my associates attended was not nearly as important as their basic intellect and work ethic. For example, of nine colleagues who founded and built their own successful companies, as large as $270 million per year, only one attended a college that would be considered "elite."

In fact, we never directly recruited from any elite colleges, and generally, the college any recruit attended was not a major hiring factor. Instead, our primary hiring criteria was the candidates' level of self-motivation, the extent they appeared to be good and passionate about our type of work, their abilities to fit into our "team-oriented" culture and their experiences, including internships. Satisfying these criteria assured us that they would be engaged and happy in their work.

Like the quotes above, it has always been my view that the extreme effort and stress of trying to get into an elite college often would be better spent pursuing other colleges where the student would excel in a major best suited for them. This is especially true for students whose GPAs and SAT scores would make them marginal candidates for acceptance at elite colleges. At an elite college, they might be near the bottom of the "curve" of grades and professor recognition, which can cause major stress and decrease the potential to be hired into the most attractive organizations upon graduation.

If, on the other hand, those same students were to enroll in "less-elite" colleges that are well-suited for their majors, they could be at or near the top of the student grade "curve." This, in turn, would lead to special recognition and very positive interactions with professors. Because of those strong associations, they would be much more likely to be introduced to solid internships or part-time work, which are critically important for employment immediately after graduation into an attractive organization.

Like many other organizations, our firms frequently offered positions to interns at our company immediately upon graduation and at a salary significantly higher than what was typical for a new hire. Generally, this "head start" stuck with them in their careers, and many were well on their way to promotions to higher levels and eventually into management positions.

In my experience, the most important employee qualities that lead to promotions and management positions are (1) their level of self-motivation, (2) their degree of engagement and (3) the degree to which they exhibit "soft" or "leadership skills" critical for successful managers. These include communication, team-building, strategic creativity, flexibility and time and risk management, none of which are in the curriculum of most majors for any colleges. Instead, these talents are learned on the job as the individual rises up the management ladder.

A final interesting point is that while our firms were considered to be elite service providers, our clients never asked from which colleges our staff graduated. Their interest was only that our team would consistently provide high-quality support for their most important environmental and permitting projects.

View original post here:
Elite Colleges Aren't As Important As Self-Motivation And Choosing The Right Major - Forbes

Students who use digital technology excessively are less motivated to engage with their studies, and are more anxious about exam tests.

Students who use digital technology excessively are less motivated to engage with their studies and are more anxious about exam tests, according to new research.

This effect was made worse by the increased feelings of loneliness that the use of digital technology produced, said the study, published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning.

For the findings, 285 university students, enrolled in a range of health-related degree courses, participated in the study. They were assessed for their use of digital technology, their study skills and motivation, anxiety, and loneliness.

The research found a negative relationship between internet addiction and motivation to study. Students reporting more internet addiction also found it harder to organise their learning productively and were more anxious about their upcoming tests.

The findings also found that internet addiction was associated with loneliness and that this loneliness made study harder.

About 25 percent of the students reported that they spent over four hours a day online, with the rest indicating that they spent between one to three hours a day.

The main uses of the internet for the student sample were social networking (40 percent) and information seeking (30 percent), the researchers said.

In addition to the links between levels of internet addiction and poor study motivation and ability, internet addiction was found to be associated with increased loneliness.

The results indicated that loneliness, in turn, made studying harder for the students. The study suggests that loneliness plays a large role in positive feelings about academic life in higher education.

According to the researchers, the poorer social interactions that are known to be associated with internet addiction make loneliness worse, and, in turn, impact on motivation to engage in a highly social educational environment such as a university.

Read: Making effort to display real emotion in office is more productive

Read: Men might be more susceptible to cancer- Study

Read more here:
Excessive internet use reduces motivation to study in students: Study - India Today

Ah, perfection! It's what so many of us unthinkingly strive for. Yet achieving perfection, the pedestal Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY perches upon in the eyes of so many, invites a whole set of calamities, chiefly complacency and inertia. Worshipers at the altar of perfection would understandably strive to replicate the voice of Julie Andrews and the grace of Audrey Hepburn in presenting Eliza Doolittle - or the sublimely calibrated gruffness of Rex Harrison in reviving Professor Henry Higgins.

Their perfection has seemed to add layers of tamper-proof portrayals to Frederick Loewe's cavalcade of memorable melodies, Alan Jay Lerner's concise and pungent lyrics, and the duo's deft adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Over the decades since it premiered on Broadway in 1959, our concepts of the ideal Fair Lady have become the sound of the original cast album (a #1 best seller) and the lavish look of the Hollywood film (Oscar for Best Picture).

But what about the stage show? There we tend to be rather vague. If you've been following theatre in Charlotte for the past 30 years or so, seeing as many as half-a-dozen local revivals as I have, you dimly remember one or two of them. Last national FAIR LADY tour to stop in Charlotte? Never happened before the current tour now playing at Ovens Auditorium.

Launched this past December, five months after it closed on Broadway, the acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Bartlett Sher dares to mess with the perfect musical. You'll most readily notice Sher's ministrations in the final scene, where Eliza's response to Higgins' peremptory "Fetch me my slippers!" seems to draw a "did-that-really-happen?" reaction from the Professor. But Sher also makes a sumptuous meal of "The Servant's Chorus," a song that I could not remember hearing live before, an 84-second relic from the film soundtrack that was apparently shoehorned into the 1993 revival.

The insertion of this interlude, between "Just You Wait" - with its gawky vowels and dropped aitches - and Liza's breakthrough "Rain in Spain," makes delicious dramatic sense, giving us some idea of the flower girl's arduous toil to master proper English pronunciation and Higgins' merciless prodding. A gaggle of servants scurries through a mammoth two-story house that Sher has tasked set designer Michael Yeargen to build in such grand fashion that it revolves, showing us three different rooms in Higgins' home.

Extending Liza's struggles into epic spectacle makes her sudden latenight "Rain in Spain" triumph that much more rewarding. The crowning point of the sequence, Liza's exuberant "I Could Have Danced All Night" after Higgins and servants have wearily trudged off to sleep, had never moved me so much before, a true revelation.

But improving on perfection ran into technical difficulties on opening night. To clear the upstage wall for its subsequent rotations - and likely to ensure its stability - the two-story set must come forward a few feet toward the audience before it's properly secured and ready to roll. Instead, there was a slight lurch before the mighty edifice stalled. True to the hallowed show-must-go-on spirit, Laird Mackintosh as Higgins launched into the scene with one of his butlers, only to be shut down by the crew. Houselights came up as the curtain came down, and we heard the dreaded announcement on the PA, which confirmed a problem rather than describing it.

The third stop on the new MY FAIR LADY tour had come to a dead stop. After a half-hour delay, I felt thankful that the snafu had occurred at the top of the scene so that the whole revelatory sequence was eventually delivered without interruption. Mackintosh as Professor Higgins and Shereen Ahmed as Eliza make a wonderful pair. Ahmed doesn't have the #MeToo energy and cleverness attributed to Lauren Ambrose when she brought this production to Lincoln Center in 2018. She almost doesn't need to with all the abrasiveness, conceit, and disregard that Mackintosh brings to Higgins' misogynistic treatment of Eliza.

We feel like Eliza is being abused long before the Professor's aborted physical attack on her, and Mackintosh never surrenders all the cruel edge of Lerner's lyrics in "I'm an Ordinary Man" and "A Hymn to Him" to their comedy. Nor is there more potent testimony to Eliza's triumph than Mackintosh's chastened, broken rendition of "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." Sher manages to remind us in his nuanced staging that women are still mobilizing behind the cause of suffrage at the time the action is set in 1912. We can cut some slack, then, if Ahmed seems a little deferential towards Higgins' erudition, wealth, and gender - and, in turn, we can cut Mackintosh some slack for his troglodyte arrogance.

Sher also judges keenly in giving us a more youthful Higgins, for Mackintosh can react to Ahmed emotionally as she wins his admiration, almost sweeping away thoughts of her desirability as a maidservant or private secretary. That youthful casting gives Ahmed more to be giddy about when Higgins shows her his first glimmer of approval and pride. In "I Could Have Danced All Night," Ahmed's whole body seems to awaken to undreamed-of possibilities that surpass the prospect of becoming a private secretary or a flower shop owner.

Ahmed does sing superbly, showing steel and vitality in her bellicose songs, "Just You Wait," "Show Me," and "Without You." Helped along by Catherine Zuber's smashing costumes, Ahmed also transforms magnificently from the grubby Cockney we meet in the opening scene into a vision of regal elegance that credibly explodes Higgins' wildest expectations of success for his phonetic experimentations - and his gentlemen's bet with Colonel Pickering.

Pickering and Higgins' patrician mom, whom you might expect to oppose Eliza, turn out to be her staunchest supporters. Sher doesn't tamper with their traditional essences, bespeaking the good-heartedness of upper-crust Brits, getting zesty and stylish performances from Leslie Alexander as Mrs. Higgins and Kevin Pariseau as the Colonel.

Yet when it comes to the young gentleman smitten by Eliza, Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Sher calls upon Sam Simahk to augment the chap's dopiness and devotion. That allows for a broader comical take on Eliza's gaucheries at the Ascot races in her society debut. And it equips Liza with a lovestruck, puppy dog valet throughout most of Act 2, reaffirming her new sheen. Simahk only slightly trims back the rhapsodic splendor of "On the Street Where You Live" in pulling off this alteration.

Drunken, vulgar, and rascally, Adam Grupper as the irrepressible Alfred P. Doolittle now seems heaven-sent, purposed to make Higgins seem enlightened and evolved by comparison. Holding his hat respectfully in Higgins' study as he sells his daughter's virtue for five pounds sterling, or dancing the night away with barroom sluts the night before his wedding, Grupper is a quintessential scoundrel, lit up with earthy, peasant merriment. His "Get Me to the Church on Time" production number is even more extravagant than the pivotal "Servant's Chorus," with climactic funeral imagery in Christopher Gattelli's choreography on loan from the Scrooge movie musical.

As Higgins proceeded afterwards to toy with thoughts of reconciliation and matrimony, I could see more clearly than ever before that he and Doolittle are kindred spirits. I could also appreciate more keenly the delicious irony that Higgins' benevolent sponsorship of Doolittle's welfare, which has a sequel beyond that five-pound note, is what lands Alfred P. in his matrimonial pickle.

But if you don't like the ambiguous ending of MY FAIR LADY, you can take comfort in the fact that George Bernard Shaw didn't write it. Unlike the 1938 screen version, the true source of Lerner's adaptation, the GBS play ends with Higgins exclaiming, "Marry Freddy, ha!" A 14-page postscript incorporates Shaw's prognostications about his vibrant protagonists' futures.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

More here:
BWW Review: Sher Tinkers With MY FAIR LADY, Recalibrating Its Perfections - Broadway World

This photographer is highly motivated. He has read a lot of motivational books and attended several motivational seminars.

He has taken photos for a national magazine and was assigned to get pictures of a great forest fire. However, smoke at the scene was too thick to get any good shots so he frantically called his home office to hire a plane. It will be waiting for you at the airport! he was assured by his editor. As soon as he got to the small, rural airport, sure enough, a plane was warming up near the runway. He jumped in with his equipment and yelled, Lets go! Lets go! The pilot swung the plane into the wind, and soon they were in the air. Fly over the north side of the fire, said the photographer, and make three or four low level passes. Why? asked the pilot. Because Im going to take pictures! Im a photographer, and photographers take pictures! said the photographer with great exasperation and impatience. After a long pause, the pilot said: You mean youre not the instructor?

On January 6 of this year, I posted this material in my digital spaces. Some people cannot perform better because they lack motivation. Not really. Motivation is frequently overrated. Many times, it is not the motivation they lack; what they lack is clarity. The clarity to know how to do things well. The clarity to know the repercussions of their work and their effect on others. The clarity to appreciate the rewards of work delivered with excellence and, most importantly, clarity to understand how the process affects the character and the being of the person doing the work. Clarity is power.

Motivation is overrated. Motivation without knowledge is dangerous. As a popular, witty book author once said, Give me an idiot, I will motivate him, and you end up with a motivated idiot, and thats not a good thing. To level up and do greater things, what is needed is clarity.

Now this makes a lot more sense to men than women and has something to do with the urinals. There is something about Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam that has made a significant contribution to cost savings that is devoid of any motivational push.I wondered why urinals in hotels seem to have a bug or a fly near the center of the fixture. At first, I thought I saw a fly in the urinal, but then later, I notice every urinal has a fly in it. Here is the explanation. During the 1990s, the cleaning staff at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam came up with a brilliant idea on how to deal with spillage around the floor. They installed a small sticker that looked like a fly near the center of the urinal, and guess what happens? The men stepped up to the urinals, and they aimed for what they thought was a bug. The stickers improved their aim, and the result was that the reduction of spillage cut their cleaning costs by eight percent every year. Here is clarity in its literal sense.

You forget to take your daily vitamins. You think you are not motivated to appreciate the importance of health. Motivation is overrated. All you need to do is to place your vitamins where your daily morning habit of water or coffee drinking is, then you would take your vitamins regularly. All you need is clarity.

Those extra pounds you gained during the holidays still has not melted away. You think you are not motivated enough to exercise? When you wake up in the morning make sure that one of the first things you see is your exercise gear. Put them on immediately before you do anything else. That is clarity.

If you want to eradicate unhealthy habits, then you do the reverse. Want to manage your weight or lose a couple of pounds? Remove all the snack foods away from sight. Want to have sane moments to do something useful? Then charge your phone in another room. Turn off all the notifications. Dont have it near your bed if you want uninterrupted sleep. It is not motivation; its clarity you need.

But clarity encompasses a body of knowledge that aligns with truth and reality. A lack of knowledge would render things unclear, and all those silly motivational stuffs you do would not help you achieve substantial success.

As well-meaning as many of my clients are, they introduce me as One of the most sought-after motivational speakers in the country... I cringe a little bit. I do not motivate people. I wish to educate people and share ideas that provide clarity for them so they can improve their work and themselves.

After going through my Level Up Leadership training, most participants would describe the experience as Very Inspiring! None would say, It was Very Motivational! They discovered that the ideas shared are useful, and through their insights and realizations, they can begin to use them for growing their businesses or making themselves better.

Motivation might deal with the manipulation of emotions and feelings. But the transformation from these is not sustainable. Education and inspiration deal with the intellect that inspires the person to become self-motivated. Yes, motivation is many times overrated. I hope this brings clarity to the point I am making.

(Francis Kongs Level Up Leadership 2020 workshop-seminar runs on March 11 and 12 at Makati Diamond Residences. For further inquiries or reservations contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at http://www.levelupleadership.ph)

Read the original:
Motivation is overrated - Philippine Star