Second-and-9 on the Titans 42-yard line.

It was the fourth quarter of the final game of the year, mere moments separating the Titans and Seahawks from finishing disappointing 2009 campaigns one decade ago.

No playoffs in sight for either team that afternoon, just the promise of a long plane ride home for the Titans, the opportunity to dwell upon what had happened to a season that began with championship aspirations.

But wait, what was this?

Why the pulsating energy in the Titans offensive huddle late in the contest? Why the electricity putting a charge into the chilly, gray afternoon at Qwest Stadium?

There was 37-year-old center Kevin Mawae, on the verge of completing a 16-year NFL career, showing the fire of a rookie as he charged up his teammates.

This is it! This is it! Mawae said, his eyes focused on running back Chris Johnson. Lets make history!

The Titans other starting offensive linemen ...

Original post:
'Let's make history!' Chasing 2,000 yards was motivation for the Titans and Chris Johnson in a lost 2009... - The Athletic

Rivalries are part and parcel of sport but five-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroftbelieveshaving British teammate Kare Adenegan as her main competition is driving her onto Tokyo success.

Adenegan beat Cockroft over the T34 100mtwice in 2018: once in the Diamond League in London where the young star set a world record, and later at the European Championships in Berlin.

ButCockroft re-stamped her authority over her younger British rival at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships,securing double gold in Dubai.

Retaining her crowns in the 100m and 800m ensured the 27-year-old clinched her 11thand 12thtitles atworld level and put her back on top as the one to beat.

Gold wasnt the only glory Cockroft gained in Dubai, as she reclaimed her 100m world recordina time of 16.77 seconds.

But knowing Adenegan is just behind will continue to spur her on.

Kare and I obviously dont talk around the track. Its an odd relationship between us, Cockroft said.

When were on the track were each others top rivals, so you cant be best friends. You cant give the game away to each other, but actually off the track were fine!

Shes a lovely girl, a hard worker and shes given me that competition that Ive been asking for my entire career.

No one can say now, oh youre only winning because theres no one near to you. I won this year because I was the best.

Knowing that Kare is there is what will keep me going through to Tokyo. Ill maybe train harder, it will motivate me.

And I know that Ill be her motivation to try to get that world record back.

Cockroft emerged as an outstanding racer at London 2012 when she secured theParalympicsprint double,winning the T34 100m and 200m.

Four years later and Hurricane Hannah retained her 100m title in Rio de Janeiro but also added gold medals in the 400m and 800m to her palmares.

With this yearsWorld Para Athletics Championships not taking place until November,the 2020 Paralympics are closer than they would ordinarily be.

ButCockrofthas beento get stuck back into trainingalmostimmediatelysince Dubai,continuingto make her mark with Tokyo on the horizon.

Its a healthy rivalry. I think its what every sports person needs to really show what they can do and get the best out of them, Cockroft added.

And hopefully people enjoy watching what we do. But I think in my head Im so aware that Tokyo is rapidly coming closer and it was such a long season.

Also, my fire is burning now, I want to keep being the best in the world. I know there are things I want to work on, and I just want to get out there and do it now.

Every athlete is the same after theWorldChampionships. We all said I just want to carry on through! I feel like I should be training! I cant afford the break.

Its a very busy next 12 months coming up but Im looking forward to most of it.

More here:
Cockroft: Having Kare as competition will motivate me for Tokyo - Isle of Wight County Press

Toto Wolff admits 2021 will provide a "completely new challenge" for Mercedes to stay on top in Formula 1.

With all-new regulations coming, theBrackley-based team face having to repeat what they did in 2017 and find a way to continue their domination of the hybrid era.

But with this all-new chassis design set to be introduced with greater restrictions on development and likely some standard parts, doing that is likely to be much more difficult.

"2021 is going to be a completely new challenge because the regs are being put upside down," Wolff said in a video released by Mercedes.

"What [exists] today in terms of aero will not exist anymore in 2021 and I believe it's an opportunity as a team to do a decent job and prove that we can go through a regulatory change and come out on top like we've done in the past.

Also Read:

"But certainly there is no sense of entitlement, last year's records don't buy us any credit for future seasons to come," the Austrian noted.

"It's something that is very exciting for us and I personally really look forward to have 2021 coming."

What also increases the likelihood of Mercedes' domination ending is how the gap between themselves, Red Bull, Ferrari and even the top midfield teams has shrunk in recent years.

But, reflecting on this season, Wolff explained how the potential to create history keeps his team pushing forward.

"Every single year since 2014, we have tried to set objectives that really motivate us," he toldCrash.net.

"In 2019, the overwhelming target was to win a sixth consecutive double championship, which wasn't done before in Formula 1 and up to our knowledge wasn't done before in any other sport on a world championship level

"So this was the target that really kept us going. Also on the difficult days helped us to push through the weekends that didn't run in the way we've expected. It's something that really kept us energised over the whole year.

The overwhelming thing this season was obviously Niki [Lauda] passing. That is kind of a shadow over the whole season, Wolff added.

But from a performance standpoint, I would put it into three parts. The first one, we really did well in the beginning. We were really competitive.

Then after the summer, not, and then we kind of recovered and didnt drop the ball, and our competition did. This made us win the championship.

Read the original here:
Wolff talks Mercedes' 'new challenge' in 2021 and the motivation of making history - Inside Racing

Liverpool returned from being crowned World Club champions in Qatar by putting in arguably their finest performance of the season yet at nearest title challengers Leicester City to open up a 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Such was the imperious nature of the Reds' showing, the four-goal margin arguably flattered the hosts and has led some fans, as well as pundits, to claim Jurgen Klopp 's men now have one hand on the trophy even though there is still slightly more than have the league programme to be completed.

After the win, this is how the national media reacted to Liverpool's performance.

Henry Winter in the Times called out Liverpool as 'champions in waiting', suggesting the lead already built would need "the sort of catastrophic collapse that Jrgen Klopps side simply do not have in them".

"Liverpool have too much desire for a first title since 1990 to let it slip now, too much drive and concentration, the tone set by a manager who simply will not countenance complacency. Liverpool have the momentum and the motivation.

"They are European champions, world champions and will be English champions. They have strength of character, making light of the trip to the Club World Cup, and strength in depth, making substitutions of the quality of James Milner and Divock Origi.

"The reality, unfortunately for City, is that Liverpool started the season strong and maintained their pace."

Barney Ronay in the Guardian focused on the latest stellar performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who created two of the first three goals before applying the coup de grace with a stunning drive that a number of observers (including the aforementioned Winter) have compared to Carlos Alberto's immortal strike for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final.

"Every week the Premier League team-sheets seem to make the same category-mistake with Liverpools defence. Liverpools No 66 plays (it says here) at right-back. In reality Alexander-Arnold is something else, a 21-year-old footballer whose talent has redefined his role, creating in the process something new and excitingly disruptive.

"Alexander-Arnold made two goals, scored Liverpools last one in a 4-0 win and looked irresistible at times. He is an extraordinary player in so many ways, a full-back who operates at a constant level of creative urgency.

"Some will point to the occasional holes in the defensive part of his game, flaws that were apparent here at times early in the match. But this is to miss the point to a world-class degree.

"There is a basic sense of optimism about Liverpools running game, a feeling the team can shift like a single mass to cover its weaknesses with strengths. Liverpool do not have a goalscoring centre-forward (he scored twice here). Liverpool did not have their best defensive midfielder (they did not need him). And, of course, Liverpool dont have a world-class playmaker. Except they do and hes currently bombing forward from right-back."

Melissa Reddy writing in the Independent was impressed by the Reds' resilience in performing with such energy and verve despite the gruelling trip to the Middle East as well as their sheer consistency over the last season and a half.

"The scoreline, as impressive as it was, could easily have been more pronounced. There are 13 points between Liverpool, who still have a game in hand, and their vanquished rivals in second and the question now is not who can catch them, but just how do you ground such a resolute machine?

"That unreal standard, born out of Manchester Citys relentless brilliance in the previous two seasons, has seen the Merseysiders stung by just one defeat in the last 57 top-flight matches away to Pep Guardiolas side on 3 January.

"The hosts had produced a lights and firework spectacle before kick off, set to The Greatest Show. It was followed by a long highlight reel that included Leicesters Premier League trophy lift in 2016, shown on both big screens amid thunderous noise and the synchronised waving of blue-and-white flags.

"But when the whistle went to usher in the real entertainment, there was only one protagonist. The authority Liverpool showed here away to title rivals after an exacting Club World Cup campaign that required unwelcome long-distance travel and extra time in the final - was astounding."

David Armitage writing in the Mirror meanwhile was struck by the sheer authority and relentless nature of Liverpool's approach.

"Champions of Europe. Champions of the World. Surely the coveted Champions of England crown is now just around the corner.

"Liverpool put on a masterclass to cruch their nearest rivals and an agonising 30-year wait for the title seems to be over.

"There is no sign they will be caught. It would take a collapse of epic proportions and that does not look like happening."

See the article here:
'Champions in waiting have momentum & motivation' - media verdict - Liverpool Echo

In Hanoi, countdown events will begin at 7 p.m. on December 31 at the Ly Thai To flower garden and the August Revolution Square in downtown Hoan Kiem District.

There will be an electronic music concert featuring big V-pop names such as Soobin Hoang Son, Toc Tien, Min, Tuan Hung, and Da LAB band at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square by the iconic Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake. Cultural activities and folk games will be on in the nearby pedestrians-only zone.

Ho Chi Minh City, the countrys largest city, will ring in the New Year with firework displays, a 3D lighting show, and a musical countdown.

The 15-minute fireworks displays will begin at midnight at the Landmark 81, the country's highest building in Binh Thanh District, and at the Thu Thiem Tunnel area that links Districts 1 and 2 and Dam Sen Park in District 11.

On December 31 and January 1 nights there will be a lighting show using 3D mapping techniques at the city Peoples Committee office in District 1. Downtown streets will be decorated with lights.

A concert by pop star Son Tung M-TP will be held on the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street on New Years Eve.

Foreign tourists walk on Bui Vien pedestrian street in downtown HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

In Da Nang, the countrys third largest city and a popular tourist destination, there will be celebrations at the September 2 Square.

A 15-minute fireworks display will light up the sky at 9 p.m. after the countdown party. For many years, the central city, famous for its annual international fireworks festival, has been popular with foreign tourists.

HCMC, Hanoi and Da Nang are among 100 most visited destinations in the world, according to the annual Top City Destinations Ranking report released last week by the U.K.-based global business intelligence firm Euromonitor International.

Da Nang rings in the new year 2018 with a fireworks party on Han River. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

The ancient town of Hoi An, a neighbor of Da Nang, will also have lots of events.An Hoi Sculpture Garden will host an event at 9.30 p.m. featuring an arts performance, a lottery and a singing contest. There will be a fireworks display near the Hoai River.

In the south central province of Ninh Thuan, a grand music festival and a fireworks display will take place from 9:30 p.m. at the April 16 Square in Phan Rang-Thap Cham, the capital of Ninh Thuan.

An art program will be held at Phan Thiet, home to the popular resort destination of Mui Ne in the neighboring province of Binh Thuan, from 8 p.m. at the Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, followed by a fireworks display.

The UNESCO heritage site of Ha Long Bay will host a concert featuring well-known pop singers and DJs at the October 30 Square from 8 p.m.

Around 5.2 million foreigners visited Ha Long Bay last year, or 30 percent of the countrys 15.6 million foreign tourist arrivals.

Phu Tho Province, around 100 kilometers to the northwest of Hanoi, and home to the famous Hung Kings Temple, will welcome the new year with fireworks displays and art programs.

Letting off fireworks has long been a tradition during important festivals and major national celebrations like Reunification Day on April 30 and Independence Day on September 2.

As disposable incomes rise and the country becomes increasingly open to the outside world, Vietnamese have begun to celebrate foreign festivals likethe New Year,Christmas and Halloween with enthusiasm.

The countrys GDP growth is among worlds highest over the past decade. Vietnams GDP growth of 7.02 percent this year exceeded the parliaments target of 6.6-6.8 percent as well as forecasts by several international organizations.

Global real estate consultant Knight Frank earlier this year said the number of extremely rich individuals in Vietnam is set togrow at the fastest rate in the world,by 31 percent in the next five years.

New Year's Eve party in Bui Vien - the backpackers' street

See the rest here:

Vietnams top tourist destinations ready to ring in New Year - VnExpress International

Toronto Raptors fans react to their team's first NBA title inside Jurassic Park, an open air viewing space outside Scotiabank Arena that became the epicentre of Toronto fandom during the playoffs.

With 2020nearly here, it's time to take a look back at the biggest news stories of the year in the Greater Toronto Area and what a spin around the sun it's been.

To reflect on 2019,CBC Toronto has curated a list of some of the year's most talked-about headlines.

The Raptors' incredible NBA championship win has to be a contender for story of the year in Toronto.

The team's incredible playoff run;Kawhi Leonard's unforgettable buzzer-beating shot;$120,000 courtside seats and a victory parade attended by more than a million fans the Raps made headlines for three straight months.

It was a chapter of sports history that Toronto will never forget.

While many people seem ready to forget her, it's impossible to reflect on the year that was in news without mentioning 'chair girl.'

For some reason incomprehensible to most people,Marcella Zoia, 19 at the time, decided to throw a folding chair from the balcony of a downtown Toronto highriseonto the streets below.

A short video of the toss made Zoia instantly infamous. In November, she pleaded guilty to one count ofmischief endangering life. She is scheduled to be sentenced in January.

Like any other year, there has been no shortage of tragedy in the GTAin 2019. But one, in particular, hit Canadians especially hard.

Riya Rajkumar, 11, was the subject of a late night Amber Alert onFebruary 14.

Hours later, the Brampton girl was found dead in a basement apartment where her father lived.Roopesh Rajkumar, 41, was charged with first-degree murder in her death, but died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in hospital just a few days later.

Riya was remembered as a beautiful, lively young girl who "touched a lot of lives" in her short life.

Premier Doug Ford's government captured the country's attention during a whirlwind year in Ontario politics.

Its first budget in April set the stage for major changes in hot-button areas of policylikehealth care, autism treatment and services, public transit and education just to name a few.

Ford's aggressive agenda has sparkedclashes with influential interest groups and even led the province to walk back some of its movesin the face of staunch opposition.

There were also some more outlandish controversies, like a plan to purchase a $50K custom van for the premier and his teamto travel in and a number of eyebrow-raising patronage appointments that preceded his chief of staff's resignation.

Oh and, of course, the province changed the slogan on Ontario licence plates.

It'sa tale of workplace rivalry gone dangerously overboard and one that, apparently, lots of Canadians could empathize with (for lots of different reasons, we assume).

Matsa Beliashvilisaysthat she went through "hell" as her one-time co-worker at theEsteLauder counter in the downtown Hudson's Bay location allegedlytainted her drinking water with Lysol cleaning sprayon multiple times over several months.

Beliashvili, then 33,hadbouts of nausea, headaches and skin irritations, she said. In some instances, she had to take days off work because she felt so ill.

After security cameras caught her co-worker in the act, police charged the woman withone count of administering a noxious substance with intent to cause bodily harm and one count of mischief to interfere with property.

It was a whirlwind affair that began with a Saudi teen barricaded in a Thai hotel roombravely defying the laws of her country, and against long odds, refusing to return to her allegedly abusive family.

Just days later, Rahaf Mohammed al-Qununwas on Canadian soil, flanked by smiling officials and local service providersamid the flash of cameras a swift resolution to a story that could have had a very different ending.

The #SaveRahaf campaign would have been impossible without help from an online group of like-minded Saudi women who campaigned for women's rights online.

In a one-on-one interview with CBC News, the teen opened up about what she'd been through.

"I was exposed to physical violence, persecution, oppression, threats to be killed. I was locked in for six months," she saidin Arabic, describing what happened after she cut her hair, something her family was strongly against.

"I felt that I could not achieve my dreams that I wanted as long as I was still living in Saudi Arabia."

With a little detective work and help from a DNA test, an Ontario woman recently found three sisters and a brother she never knew she had.

This is a story about the strength of familial bonds and love between siblings that captivated readers across Canada.

It was a big year for homegrown GTA talent.

In July, it was announced that Mississauga'sSimu Liu will be Marvel's first Asian-American superhero on the silver screen.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsis slated for release in 2021.

Liualso plays Jung onthe CBC sit-comKim's Convenience.

Video

That same month, Mississauga teenMaitreyi Ramakrishnangot news that she had beat out 15,000 competitorsto snag the central role in Mindy Kaling's new Netflix comedy series.

She was at home in her dining room when Kaling best known forThe OfficeandThe Mindy Project and co-creator Lang Fisher called to give her the good news.

Inspired by elements of Kaling's own upbringing, the series is said to be a coming-of-age tale centred on Devi, a modern-day, first-generation Indian-American teen.

One of the things Ramakrishnan is most excited about is that the series will tell stories through the lens of a youngSouth Asian woman growing up in North America.

"I'm a firm believer that if you don't see what you want in the media or in the world in general, you should go out there and be that change and take up that space," she said.

"Go after your dreams. Don't stop for anyone," she told CBC News.

If you, like an ever increasing number of Torontonians, live in a highrisebuilding or near one, than you can probably relate to this story on some level.

In February, residentsof a century-old historic building downtown told CBC Toronto they were fed up withtheir neighbours vomiting andtossing bottles, bones, and cigarette butts down onto their balconies.

"It's a beautiful building, but it's a shame," said Richard Blundell, who lives in a fifth-floor penthouse unit in the building.

As home to one of the busiest airports in North America, the GTA serves as the setting for all kinds of hellish travel stories.

This year, Canadians were particularly interested in the ordeal of David Kitchen and his fellow passengers aboard a flight to Victoria. The weary travellers boarded the Air Canada plane at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday but didn't take off until almost 3 a.m. the next day.

You read that right: they spent nearly seven hours stuck on the tarmac.

"The underlying thing is there was just really no communication," said Kitchen.

About a month later, passengers on a Sunwing flight from Toronto to Cancun had their own infernal air travel experience.

On the night of Aug. 24 on Lake Joseph in Ontario cottage country, Linda O'Leary was driving a boat involved in a crash that killed two people,Gary Poltash, 64, and Suzana Brito. 48. Both were on a vessel that was struck by O'Leary's boat and they suffered fatalhead trauma in the collision.

The wife of entrepreneur and media personality Kevin O'Leary known for his cantankerous on-screen personaO'Leary's case garnered a lot of public interest.

She has since been chargedwith careless operation of a vessel under the Canada Shipping Act. If found guilty, she could face a $10,000 fine. Themandriving the other boat, Robert Ruh,and is charged with failing to exhibit a navigation light while underway.

CBC News reported in November that the OPP sayO'Leary had alcohol on her breathin the hours following the crash. She says she was a given vodka beverage by someone after the collision.

O'Leary is scheduled to be back in court in January.

Sometimes among the deluge of discouraging headlines it can be easy to lose sight of how dynamic and interesting Toronto can be.

At the beginning of 2019, Toronto unveiled a stacked container market built on a 2.6-acre plot of city-owned land that had been vacant for years.

The complex at 28 Bathurst St. eventually opened in the spring and remains a popular spot near the waterfront.

The more than 100 recycled shipping containers house dozens of businesses.

Lots of CBC readers said they were happy to see an otherwise vacant space used for something a little more stimulating.

See the original post here:

These were the stories that got Toronto talking in 2019 - CBC.ca

Today

Conor Scott The Sunflower, Belfast

Andy White The American, Belfast

The Unholy Gospel Band, Both Barrels Betty, Drew Hamill Band etc The Liggers Ball, Kellys, Portrush

Saturday December 28

Joshua Burnside, Jarlath Henderson Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast

Daithi Voodoo, Belfast

The Skallions The Glassworks, Derry

Sunday December 29

Acoustic Dan The Black Box, Belfast

Tuesday December 31

The Bonnevilles, Swall Monkey, The Peculiar etc The Errigle, Belfast

The Vibes, Amy Montgomery, The Skallions etc Suited & Booted, The Empire, Belfast

Space Dimension Controller, Phil Kieran Voodoo, Belfast

Friday January 3

Dea Matrona The Black Box, Belfast, 1pm

Ryan Robson-Bluer Oh Yeah, Belfast

Cup O'Joe Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast

Saturday January 4

Nine Below Zero The Black Box, Belfast

The Utopia Strong Ulster Sports Club, Belfast

Tuesday January 7

Gary Edward Jones Something About Simon, The Black Box, Belfast

Thursday January 9

King Creeper, Anto & The Echoes, The Caged Hearts etc The Empire, Belfast

Friday January 10

Paco Pena The MAC, Belfast

Glasshouse Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, The Black Box, Belfast

Saturday January 11

And So I Watch You From Afar Jettison, The MAC, Belfast

Blue Rose Code, Malojian The Black Box, Belfast, 2pm

Martin Stephenson & The Daintees The Black Box, Belfast

David Keenan The Empire, Belfast

Rixe, United Bottles, Takers & Users, The Jollars Oh Yeah, Belfast

Rhys Lewis The Glassworks, Derry

Sunday January 12

David Lyttle, Joseph Leighton The Black Box, Belfast

Friday January 17

Elder Druid, Slomatics, Nomadic Rituals etc Voodoo, Belfast

Snow Patrol The Limelight, Belfast

Portico Quartet The Black Box, Belfast

Happy Out Nerve Centre, Derry

Saturday January 18

Badly Drawn Boy The Black Box, Belfast

Altan Duncairn Arts Centre, Belfast

Saint Sapphire The Speakeasy, Belfast

Rachael Boyd, Junk Drawer, Conor Mason Figure 8 by Elliott Smith, Oh Yeah, Belfast

Sunday January 19

The Darkling Air The Black Box, Belfast, 2pm

Tuesday January 21

Petrol Girls, Sister Ghost McHugh's, Belfast

Ryan Bingham The Black Box, Belfast

Excerpt from:

Gig guide: Live music for the week ahead - The Irish News

By: Kerry Pipes and Helen Bond | 380 Reads 3 Shares

A solid franchise development program starts with doing the little things right--all the time, every day, with every prospect. Those "little" things are more important than ever because, by the time you hear from them, today's prospects are more educated about your brand than ever before.

This year's annual Mystery Shopping Survey found that while franchisors have more opportunities than ever to connect with qualified prospects, their challenge is making those connections count. To do so, successful franchisors must have systems in place to keep pace in a 24/7 digital world where prospects form opinions about brands long before they make contact.

"The way prospects research brands has evolved. The ability to conduct most of their due diligence online gives them plenty of information to vet brands," says Therese Thilgen, co-founder and CEO of Franchise Update Media, which mystery shops conference attendees each year. "An opportunity exists to engage with prospects before the first phone call takes place."

In the 2019 annual review of franchise recruitment best practices, researchers evaluated brands by directly calling them from information provided on their development websites; submitting online forms from those websites and grading the subsequent phone call response; thoroughly reviewing each brand's development website elements; grading each brand's social media activity and effectiveness; and measuring franchisee satisfaction.

This year's mystery shoppers were Michael Alston at Landmark Interactive (mobile); Art Coley at CGI Franchise (telephone); Rick Batchelor at Qiigo (social media); Don Rush and Ben Foley at Franchise Update (websites); Jayson Pearl at ServiceScore (website response); and Michelle Rowan and Eric Stites at Franchise Business Review (franchisee satisfaction). Culled from their extensive research and analysis, the following is a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of franchise recruitment today.

Smartphones continue to surge as the most popular way for franchise prospects to begin their research. Among Landmark's findings for 2019:

"To connect with consumers on the ever-changing world of small mobile screens, we have needed to rethink how our websites and mobile apps are designed," says Michael Alston, president of Landmark Interactive. "That quick and reliable connection translates into high-quality prospects who are ready to learn more about exciting franchise concepts."

Landmark's mobile findings also reinforce the need for development teams to have robust systems in place to respond to inquiries whenever they're received. Landmark's study of daypart data suggests that more than two-thirds of prospects are in shopping mode outside of regular business hours. Overall, 67% of new investment prospects researched franchises and initiated contact during nights and weekends. This means that for every 10 daily leads, the odds are that only three are generated during the 9-to-5 workday.

"Knowing that part of the problem is a round-the-clock scheduling challenge, sales teams can adjust their process to better address the daypart differences," Alston advises.

Given the time zone differences in the U.S., the task is even tougher for brands that centralize franchise recruitment. For East Coast prospects, 66% initiated contact on nights and weekends; on the West Coast it was 71%.

"We don't advise texting or calling anyone back at 2 a.m., of course," says Alston. "But knowing when a lead was generated can help sales teams prioritize appropriately so that no one falls through the cracks."

Recruitment teams continue to struggle with picking up the phone and calling prospects back, according to this year's results gathered by CGI Franchise. "We do the phone mystery shop to analyze the responsiveness of recruitment teams to an actual live person raising their hand and saying 'I want to learn more' about a specific brand," says Art Coley, CEO of CGI.

"Brands have become, more than ever, spoiled and complacent. It takes a lot for someone to pick up the phone and say they want to learn more. Why are we not answering the phone and responding back to them in a timely manner?" he asks.

Overall, CGI's evaluation uncovered lower performance scores for brands responding to telephone inquiries from potential prospects and found less of a personal touch than in previous years. "The big brand websites look like they are too big to care, with no way to reach them," he says. "They shouldn't become too big to grow."

This year the CGI team called 125 franchise brands, each caller posing as a qualified lead seeking information about franchising with the brand. The mystery shoppers measured how brands did with their initial response (receptionist/qualifier/appointment setter/director); information obtained (timing, location, financial, personal, etc.); emails and text communication; and overall responsiveness.

Brands were called three times at all hours at different times of day. Instead of seeing calls returned within the first 24 hours, Coley found an increased use of automated response and texting tools. In some cases during business hours, he says, it appeared that brands intentionally did not answer the call and instead called back within minutes.

In their research, the mystery shoppers at CGI were looking for the following:

Coley offered four recommendations to improve performance in this critical aspect of franchisee recruitment:

The business world is experiencing a massive shift in consumer buying behavior, and franchising is no exception. That's why online brand perception is critical, says Rick Batchelor, CEO of the franchise marketing firm Qiigo.

Batchelor and his team shopped 145 franchise brands and evaluated 2,600 Facebook posts, measuring fan counts, engagements, and posts as they applied to franchise development.

"For example," he says, "we looked at things like fan count--the count of the number of fans a Facebook page has. Then, for comparison, we calculated the national average for all the metrics among the brands."

The general idea, says Batchelor, was to determine how a brand engaged with its consumers, looking at the following factors:

Unquestionably, social media continues to change how business is conducted, and franchise recruitment is not immune. Local social media marketing, online reviews, and other consumer opinions affect franchise development efforts. Brands that engage their consumers benefit from more cost-effective franchise development leads.

Recommendations resulting from his research, says Batchelor, include the following:

"Franchise prospects are much more sophisticated today," says Batchelor. "Consumers research your brand long before they decide to reach out to you."

A new pair of mystery shoppers took on the task of measuring franchise recruitment websites this year. Franchise Update's Director of Technology Ben Foley and Web Developer Don Rush expanded how websites were evaluated this year, adding new categories and more granularity to previous years' categories.

By the time today's franchise prospects arrive at a brand's website they already have a lot of information. That's why it's critical for franchise opportunity sites to be performing at optimal levels and providing as much relevant information as possible to potential franchisees.

In addition to researching a brand's franchise opportunity pages, potential prospects also are researching how brands are interacting with their customers. Thus, prospects should be able to move easily between a brand's franchise opportunity site and its consumer site. Amazingly, 100% of brands surveyed had hard-to-find links from the consumer site to the franchise opportunity site.

"Key Content" measurements remained the same this year (including a dedicated About page, an investment chart, benefits of the franchise, earnings claims, FAQs, etc.).

The "SEO Readiness" metric--which includes items such as title tags, meta description, Open Graph tags, and social image--was expanded to include more points of assessment. Likewise for "Website Usability," which included factors such as franchise content accessibility from the home page, process of learning, security and privacy), effective use of technology (video, online chat, responsive website, invasive popups, etc.), and overall site presence.

"We expanded on those last two sections with data that is important in today's web development world," says Foley. "GDPR, privacy, and security concerns are at an all-time high with web users. Mobile is now the dominant player and social media marketing is the latest frontier for generating traffic. And having your site sharable is critical to your digital marketing success."

The researchers found near uniformity among brands in three distinct areas. 1) Nearly all websites were responsive (mobile-friendly); only two were not. 2) Nearly all sites were fully secured (https); however, a few had https but also had other unsecured elements that resulted in a non-fully secure site. 3) A majority of the franchisors used a unique website for franchisee recruitment.

Other observations by the website shoppers were that very few brands used a full application form. Instead, most relied on a short form with basic contact information; a few used a short form with a financial qualifier, time frame, or lead source. Nearly all websites were functional and easy to use, but did not have a cookie policy in place. Nearly all websites included links to their social media.

The following is a list of the items that should be included on a brand's website for prospects, and how well the brands shopped by our researchers did this year (by percentage of those who included the items and/or did it well):

In the end, the overall scoring breakdown is as follows, with 89 as the top possible score. Only two brands--Sport Clips and Tropical Smoothie Cafe--scored above 80; and 17 either had no website or were not a franchise.

The good news is that the brands that scored the highest used proper basic search engine optimization and employed good use of technology on their sites, such as video testimonials. Their websites were easy to navigate and content was well laid out.

The commonality among franchises with lower scores was a lack of information provided, such as benefits of their brand, requirements, investment information, franchisee testimonials, and frequently asked questions.

"These are the areas that could use improvement," says Foley.

ServiceScore focused on evaluating the website responsiveness of 133 brands or multi-brand franchisor parent companies. Researchers submitted a lead form to each, positioning themselves as a qualified lead. This year a new item was added to get a sense of how frequently brand qualifiers are mentioning at least one differentiator about their brand.

"In other words, giving at least one reason for the prospect to take the next step versus the competition," says Jayson Pearl, president of ServiceScore. "This was based on the observation from years past that often screeners aren't taking advantage of actually having a candidate on the phone to engage with them and share something special about their franchise offering. They're just asking a few screening questions, or worse, just calling a candidate to tell them that an email is coming and ask if they have any questions."

Here are some of the key metrics from ServiceScore's mystery shopping:

"We know that candidates today have researched a brand before they 'raise their hand' to ask it to tell them more through an online form submission or a call to a franchise development line," says Pearl." There's a great opportunity for brands to take advantage of this to find out what sparked the prospect's interest and share and reinforce those attributes that are special and unique."

Additional findings ServiceScore unearthed included the following:

"A best practice we're seeing--and a growing trend over last year--is from brands re-directing the site to engaging information that allows the viewer to spend more time on the site learning about the brand," says Pearl.

Franchise Business Review (FBR) researched 71 brands representing 25,799 business outlets. A total of 7,894 franchisees completed an independent survey consisting of more than 50 questions related to their business performance, satisfaction with their brand, and general business demographics. Results were compared with benchmark data from about 25,000 franchisees representing more than 330 leading franchise brands across all industry segments.

Satisfaction was measured across eight key areas: training and support, franchise system, leadership, financial opportunity, core values, franchisee community, self-evaluation (franchisee performance), and general overall satisfaction. Overall, the Franchise Satisfaction Index score of the Franchise Update group (69.4) was very close to the FBR Franchise Sector benchmark (71.7), which represents data from those 330-plus franchise brands in the benchmark group.

Nearly 8 in 10 (78.2%) of franchisees in the Franchise Update test group would recommend their brand to others. Brands earned high marks for franchisee enjoyment, general satisfaction, community engagement, and the belief in the honesty and integrity of their franchisor. The group scored lower when it came to the financial opportunity their franchise provides, training and support, innovation and creativity, and how well senior management involves franchisees in important decisions.

Of the three major industry sectors researched (food, retail, and services), FBR found that food franchise brands ran 5% to 10 % lower in franchisee satisfaction overall.

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Shopped for Success: Annual Mystery Shop of Recruitment Practices Reveals Strengths and Weaknesses - Franchising.com

PROVO, Utah, Dec. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Maybe it's no surprise to learn success in 2020 won't hinge on luck. But a new study shows success in the coming year will also not be the result of the decisions you make or your natural talent. New research from VitalSmarts, a Top 20 Leadership Training company, reveals that the most important factor to your success in 2020 is your habits.

According to the study of more than 1808 workers, people attributed nearly 46 percent of their career success to having the right habits. That means a person's simple, routine behaviors were more than twice as critical to their success than even the decisions they made (22.5 percent). And for those who feel they're simply not cut out for the job; the good news is habits far outweigh natural talent (24.6 percent). It's likely no surprise, that habits also trumped good old-fashioned luck, which people attributed to only 6 percent of their success.

"When it comes to success, nothing trumps good habits," said Emily Gregory, lead researcher and VP of Product Development at VitalSmarts. "No amount of luck, talent, brains or good decisions can compensate for your habits and your routines. And that is good news for anyone looking to make changes in 2020. Ultimately, you're just a few habits away from success."

The study asked workers to rate their success in five different areas of life: career success, economic success, physical success, inner success and parental success. They were then asked to estimate how influential habits, talent, decisions and luck were in contributing to success in each of those areas.

And it turns out, habits weren't only influential in a person's career but they also had a disproportionate impact on success in every area of life. On average, respondents attributed around 50 percent of their overall success to having the right habits. They attributed only 5.8 percent to luck and also said their habits are more than twice as important as the decisions they make (24.7 percent) or their talents (19.5 percent). Additionally, the more successful a person rated themselves in a particular area of his life, the more he attributed his success to having good habits.

And while there are likely keystone habits for success, what's surprising is that many of the habits people attributed to their results are less heroic than they are simple. For instance, some of the career habits respondents felt made the difference between success and failure include:

"A lot of these habits are what we call Trigger Habits," says Gregory. "While they seem small, they actually trigger a series of other powerful habits. For instance, 'Thinking yes before saying no,' is likely to create a habit of being less impulsive, more thoughtful, and even more visionary and creative. In fact, many of the good habits successful people have at work carryover into their personal life."

So instead of agonizing over every decision, counting yourself down and out because you aren't as gifted as the next guy, or even wearing your lucky socks to work each day, Gregory and her team at VitalSmarts recommend creating new, simple habits that will jump start your workplace performance. The skills to learn and adopt new habits are taught in the training course The Power of Habit, which is based on the New York Times best-selling book of the same title by Charles Duhigg.

3 Tips to Learning New Career Habits in 2020:

About VitalSmarts: Named a Top 20Leadership Training Company, VitalSmarts is home to the award-winning Crucial Conversations, Crucial Accountability, Getting Things Done, The Power of Habit, and Influencer Training, andNew York Timesbest-selling books of the same titles. VitalSmarts has consulted with more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies and trained more than 2 million people worldwide.www.vitalsmarts.com

SOURCE VitalSmarts

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Resolving to Find Career Success in 2020? New Study Says Habits Trump All--Even Decision-Making and Talent - PRNewswire

Too often, high-achieving professionals are frustrated, desperately trying to balance aspects of their lives that simply do not exist in a state of equilibrium.

A body or object is said to be in equilibrium when the sum of the forces acting on it is equal to zero. But I believe there is no magic organizational skill and no amount of planning or self-care that makes this possible. Work-life balance is, for many, a mythological concept because we attempt to expend equal effort where unequal effort would bring success.

Even as the literal concept of spending equal amounts of hours at leisure as spent at work became largely disregarded by well-meaning companies (that never had any responsibility to structure the lives of their employees at home), the phrase insists the only way to "have it all" is to have professional and personal success in equal measure. This unhealthy and unattainable standard can lead to an almost constant feeling of failure.

Here's how I coach clients to demote balance from its mythical, idealized status and develop a clear vision of a well-integrated life that honors individual circumstances and journeys:

Begin with the end in mind.

In his book The 8th Habit, Dr. Stephen Covey wrote, "People are working harder than ever, but because they lack clarity and vision, they aren't getting very far. They, in essence, are pushing a rope with all of their might."

Refining your vision is more than setting smart goals; it reaffirms who you are, puts your goals into a larger framework and context and moves your ideas into the real world. Your personal vision should not be a one-time, specific goal or target that can be met and discarded. It serves as a guide for activities over time; these activities are specific actions that can be adjusted based on circumstantial interpretation, and they should always move you closer to the abstract vision.

Writing the vision is important, as it gives body to the intangible as you design the life you're seeking. Ask yourself what you want your life to look like in one, two or five years, and include as much detail as possible. What are you doing? Who are you with? How do you feel? Vision is the foundation of intention. Your responses create the basis for your vision and the standard by which you will set your goals and tasks.

Break free of standards that are not your own.

I was initially surprised by how frequently executive coaching clients measured their present and future success against standards they didn't set themselves. We all have expectations that come from well-established scripts of how things are or should be in the world.

However, conforming to an ideal of balance or success simply because you believe people in your circle or reference group think you ought to is personal treason. From my perspective, this self-minimization fails to recognize individual conditions or ambitions, constraints or strengths and causes you to wage an internal war against yourself in the form of negative self-talk or other self-deprecating emotions.

When designing your vision, it is critical that you eliminate anything that does not represent the life you desire. It doesn't matter who wants it for you; they cannot achieve it and deliver it to you. If your dream career is to be a data analyst, it doesn't matter that you have been told you'd make a fantastic corporate attorney.You cannot integrate your life in a way that brings peace if there are standards that are warring against your personal vision.

Prioritize rather than compartmentalize.

Once you've developed your vision and identified the standards against which you should measure your progress and success, you can begin to prioritize based on your lifestyle and needs. Rather than siloing each aspect of your life, develop strategies to prioritize within your blended lifestyle.

When you compartmentalize, the limits of 24 hours in each day require you to de-prioritize goals and tasks that might be significant in an effort to give equal time to items that can wait. Without a plan, it's easier to fall into a reactive cycle rather than staying proactive toward your personal vision.

Prioritization might require a decision to forgo something you enjoy or deciding to work on the task that gets you closer to your own goals when everything on your list feels crucial. Compartmentalizing might cause you to work a full eight-hour day feeling the need to give 100% to the work compartment when a five-hour day would give you extra time for dinner and a strategy session with a mentor. If you're in reactive mode, its easy to overlook times when youre falling away from your priorities. This is when mindfulness becomes a true ally and time-management tool.

Embrace renewal as an intentional strategic practice.

Because life does not exist in equilibrium, we must approach renewal as a time to realign. There are so many forces working within our lives daily, staying upright and true to our "north" can be exhausting. Taking a moment away from all work modes renews our energy levels so we can continue and opens our minds for a creative spark.

Mindfulness is a time-management tool. It ensures we are expending time validly. The beginning of any control over our lives begins with identifying our treasure, developing our talent and prioritizing our time. This is where harmony and peace are found and perhaps what we might call "balance."

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Getting Past The Pressure And Myth Of 'Work-Life Balance' - Forbes