Worried stress may have begun to affect your health? Discover how you can start taking back control and make your stress levels more manageable

Stress may be a natural reaction leftover from our caveman days, but knowing that what we are feeling is normal doesnt feel very helpful in the moment. Between work, family, relationships, and finances not to mention the ongoing climate and political upheaval dominating the news its no wonder than nearly three in four (74%) of us have felt so overwhelmed that we feel unable to cope during the past year.

In the UK, over the past year weve losing 12.8 million working days thanks to stress, depression and anxiety. Lets not even get into the impact that has on our home lives. More and more of us are reporting feeling stressed about our lack of sleep, our mental health, and even how clean were keeping our homes.

At a time where we should be reaching out and seeking help, more and more of us are expressing feelings of reluctance. New research released in time for International Stress Awareness Week 2019 by EOS Scientific revealed that 30% of us are wary about approaching our doctors about mental health, as we dont want to be prescribed medication that may be too severe for our symptoms or may have negative side effects.

Medication for depression: what are my other options?

Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed who expressed reluctance to speak with their GP about stress and mental health were aged 18-34. While speaking with your GP should always be the first port of call if you are seriously concerned about your health and wellbeing, nearly a quarter (24%) of us are managing our own mental health using holistic and alternative remedies. What are our other options?

We all experiences different kinds of stress at different points in our lives. You may have the ongoing stress from a long commute, or the short-term stress of a big deadline looming at work. Clinical hypnotherapist Jon explains how solution-focused hypnotherapy can give a way for us to track and better understand our stress.

In solution-focused hypnotherapy, we often like to discuss the concept of a stress bucket. It is an analogy for the way in which stressful thoughts and incidents will eventually disengage our intellectual mind and engage our primitive emotional brain.

Imagine a bucket inside of you a bucket that gradually fills up each time you experience a challenging event, ruminate over upsetting aspects of the past or imagine things going wrong in the future. As the bucket gets fuller and fuller, the influence of the intellectual mind diminishes. Our mind and body misunderstand this increasing stress as a threat. We can find ourselves in the grip of a vicious circle the negative forecasting creates anxiety that fills up our stress bucket even more which only causes more negative thinking and so on.

REM sleep is natures way of emptying our stress bucket during REM we dream and move stressful experiences from the primitive brain, where they cause an emotional response, to the intellectual brain, where they become narrative memories over which we have better control. A skilled therapist will help you develop an optimal sleep pattern to maximise the benefits of REM.

Hypnotherapy can help you change unwanted thought patterns, directly addressing the issues you face through a solution-focused approach. Discover more about how hypnotherapy can help you to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Sitting down with a cuppa and a good book isnt just relaxing it can have a positive impact on our mental health. The Reading Well book scheme offers helpful information and support, highlighting some of the best books on mindfulness, mental health, and a whole host of issues as chosen by professionals.

Discover more about mood-boosting books, or check out our top five recommendations to help you uncover your stressors, create a healthier work-life balance, and overcome feelings of being overwhelmed with these five stress-reducing reads.

What we eat can have a surprising impact on not only our overall sense of health and wellbeing, but also on how we are feeling, and how able we feel to face lifes unexpected challenges.

As one nutritionist from Nutritionist Resource explains, there are small changes to your overall diet that can make a big impact on how you are feeling and able you feel to handle stress.

Increasing your vitamin D, zinc and omega-3 fatty acid intake by eating more eggs, oily fish, walnuts, flaxseed, or sunflower seeds can help to protect against depression. Ensuring you start the day with a balanced breakfast can improve not only your mood, but also your memory, concentration, and energy levels throughout the day.

If youre a big coffee or tea drinker, cutting back on caffeine and increasing your water intake could help; caffeine can exacerbate feelings of depression and anxiety, and may lead to dehydration without us realising. This can go on to cause headaches, mood changes, feelings of lethargy, slower responses, and poor concentration.

Stress can negatively impact digestion, lead to weight fluctuation due to changing eating habits, and may even lead to chronic fatigue. As Nutritionist Vanessa explains, although stress may now seem like it has become an accepted part of modern life, nutritional and lifestyle changes could help improve your situation.

Generally, if strategies for calming the brain and nervous system can be put in place at the stage of feeling stressed and strung out, then burn out can potentially be averted. However, if this doesnt happen then the adrenal and nervous system dysregulation can become a significant issue, sometimes leading to a virus resulting from lowered immunity.

It is thought there may be a certain personality type who is more likely to develop chronic fatigue syndrome and who will generally find it more challenging to manage stress (at least until they have developed an understanding). These are often A types, high achieving perfectionists who are usually highly sensitive. Recognising the pros and cons of these traits can be vital to recovery and to understanding and handling stress better in future.

If youre a stress eater, Nutritionist Joanne suggests making healthy, positive food choices before you feel too tired or stressed, as this can be when rational thoughts around healthy eating go out of the window.

Ensure you eat enough protein in each meal. Options include eggs, fish, chicken, seafood, meat or dairy, [or for vegetarians] vegetable protein sources include chickpeas, lentils, beans and tofu.

Introduce small protein based snacks to help keep you sustained in the morning or afternoon. For example, a few nuts, a matchbox amount of cheese or even a boiled egg.

Plan ahead by spending 10 minutes writing down what your meals will be next week. Stick it on the fridge or somewhere easy to see. Make use of healthy ready meals with chopped and frozen vegetables.

Being more mindful of which herbs we are choosing to use can also help to reduce feelings of stress. As one chinese and western herbal expert explains through Therapy Directory, herbs have been used for centuries to help with mood and health.

If you are experiencing digestive problems thanks to stress, incorporating chamomile tea may help with mild symptoms. Lemon balm or lemon verbena can also have a positive digestive effect.

It feels like theres an app for just about everything but is that really a bad thing? If you struggle to fit self-care in or learning more about small, positive changes into your regular routine, an app could be a great way to fit around your busy schedule.

Weve shared five of our favourite apps to help ease stress, or check out these seven great apps to help with feelings of stress and anxiety, as recommended by Counselling Directory.

Time-management is one of those adulting skills that can feel like it's just out of our grasp on a good day, let alone when were feeling stressed. If you feel like youre always running out of time or are struggling with productivity, working with a coach could be the answer.

Life Coach Directory member Rachel, explains

If we look at things in a different way, understand what heightens levels of stress or anxiety and learn to respond and think differently, the feelings will naturally subside. It may be difficult to do this alone but with help, it can really work.

If you find the right coach, they will be able to help you deal with your anxiety or stress and feel like yourself again. Look for someone who is happy to have a chat and listen to what you have to say - rather than someone who is just trying to sell themselves.

Ask how they might approach your situation. Also, ask how many sessions they think you may need and costs. Although the coach might need to meet with you first they should be able to give you a rough idea based on experience. Then you can decide if it is worth it to you.

There are many people out there who believed being stressed and anxious was just part of who they were and theyd have to put up with it. Yet, weeks later, after working through it, their panic attacks have subsided, they feel much more in control and far less stressed.

Find out more about how you can start decreasing your stress and maximising your productivity, or find out how technology may be able to help. If work-related stress really are becoming too much, it could be a sign that its time to make some changes in your career.

Between smart watches that track our sleep patterns to apps that help us feel calm before bed, for some, technology has given rise to a new kind of stress orthosomnia. If you find yourself struggling to get a restful nights sleep thanks to insomnia, or stressing about how much and what quality sleep you are getting, there are a number of small tweaks you can make to help have a more relaxing night.

Making your bedroom a more sleep-friendly space can be a good first step. Removing unneeded gadgets and electronics, investing in heavy curtains, and creating a calm, relaxing environment can all help.

Incorporating mindfulness or meditation before bed can be a key component in creating a pre-bed self-care routine that works for you. If you find yourself feeling restless or tense, engaging in light exercise such as yoga can be a relaxing way to burn off that extra energy.

During periods of high stress, it can feel like your life is spiralling out of control. As Counsellor Greg explains, When stress builds up you may notice your reactions become more conditioned and automatic. You probably end up feeling overwhelmed.

Find yourself a quiet place like a bedroom, a park bench, or your garden. Any place that you use as a safe haven. Play some relaxing music, close your eyes and slowly turn down the white noise in your mind. Focus on your breath, until some calm is restored and your thoughts go down a few notches.

By working with an experienced, qualified therapist, you can not only address issues that may be causing you undue stress and anxiety, but can also learn how you can break negative cycles through self-regulation and other techniques.

If traditional routes of managing stress dont feel like theyre quite the right fit for you, there are a whole host of complementary therapies and alternative options out there that may help.

EFT (or tapping) can be used to help manage stress and anxiety. Essential oils can be a key component in de-stressing through aromatherapy massages, the use of scented candles, meditation, or the use of diffusers. Or working with a holistic therapist can help you to create a self-care routine that works for you. Discover more about the different kinds of therapies available.

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What Stress Solution Is Right For Me? - Happiful Magazine

Ranbir Kapoor, who is considered one of the finest actors of Bollywood, marked his debut in the year 2007. The actor is known for his ease of presenting his characters on the screen and has reportedly worked in 17 movies so far. Fansand the audience have always praised RK for his choiceof scripts. Here are some of the songs from the Roy actor's films you can listen anytime to motivate yourself:

READ |Deepika Padukone-Ranbir Kapoors On-screen Chemistry Sparkles In Ad

Penned by Javed Akhtar, composers Shankar-Ahesaan-Loy composed the track Aaj Kal Zindagi. The song was vocalised by singer Shankar Mahadevan who was praised for its relaxing music and relatable lyrics. The song is picturised on Ranbir Kapoor and KonkannaSharma in the film Wake Up Sid.

Though the Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor starrerAnjaana Anjaani was a debacle at the box office, the music album of the film was an instant hit. The song Aas Paas Khudawas sung by singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The lyrics written by Vishal-Shekhar was praised by masses.

READ |Kartik Aaryan Reveals Why He Is Envious Of Actor Ranbir Kapoor

The song Kun Faya Kun by A.R Rahman, Javed Ali and Mohit Chauhan is penned by lyricist Irshaad Kamli. The song picturised on Ranbir Kapoor was appreciated for its restful music. The music track has picturised the struggles of Ranbir's character in the film.

Barfi was not only critically acclaimed for the actors' performances but also loved for its background scores. The song Aashiyaan which presented the life of Barfi andJhilmil were much-loved by fans. Singers Shreya Ghoshal and Nikhil Paul George lent their voice to the song.

READ |5 Ranbir Kapoor Hairstyles That Will Give You Major Style Goals

The song Safarnama featuresin 2015's release Tamashawhich stars the Bachana-E-Hasseno duo, Ranbir and Deepika. The lyrics are pennedby Irshaad Kamil and the music composition is done by A.R Rahman. Itwas sung by Lucky Ali. The other song Tu Koi Aur Ha,vocalised by A.R Rahman, Alam Ferovic and Arjun Chandy, is considereda masterpiece by fans.

The Jagga Jassos actor's filmSanju caught the attention of the audience and also became the highest-grossing film of Kapoor's career so far. The song Har Maidaan Fateh on courage and hope sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Shreya Ghoshal is penned by Shekhar Astitwa. The song was an instant hit and joined the playlist of many fans.

READ |Lucky Ali: Here Are Iconic Songs In Bollywood Of The Famous Singer

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.

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Ranbir Kapoor: Songs featuring the Barfi star that cannot be missed - Republic World - Republic World

Sometimes throwing on a tune is the best way to blow off some steam, but sometimes it's hard to find that one perfect song for the moment. Well you're in luck: scientists have determined the most relaxing songs and we can even show you what they sound like.

What do you do when youre stressed? Go out for some fresh air? Or lie down quietly, stick your headphones on and put on some calming music? If you generally opt for the latter, weve got something for you. Manchester based trio Marconi Union, have an album of five songs that could come in very useful.

You may not have ever heard of Marconi Union before now. But their music is ranked as some of the most relaxing in the world. The song ranked as the most relaxing is titled Weightless. The eight minute track has been written and designed in collaboration with the British Academy of Sound Therapy. Its virtues have been scientifically proven. Scientists from the Mindlab Institution used the music in an experiment.

11% more relaxing

They recruited the help of 40 female volunteers who were made to listen to a whole playlist of music, some tracks being more relaxing than others. Whilst connected to sensors, the volunteers had to listen to the music, whilst they tried solving a puzzle in record time. For each track, the heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity and breathing of the participants were meticulously monitored.

All tracks labelled as relaxing helped to lower the heart rate and blood pressure, a sign of reduced stress. But Weightless was the most effective of them all measured as 11% more relaxing and helped in reducing stress by 65%. According to Lyz Cooper, founder of the British Academy of Sound Therapy, Marconi Union used a scientific theory to design the worlds most relaxing music.

To further strengthen the relaxing side, the group were shown a Zen style video clip. This was a time-lapse made with a drone that filmed for several hours a stretch of water in the mountains of the Lake District.

The 10 most relaxing tracks

But Weightless isnt the only effective track to relax. Here are the 10 most relaxing pieces of music, as approved by scientists.

10- Cafe Del Mar- We Can Fly

9- Mozart- Canzonetta Sullaria

8- Adele- Someone Like You

7- All Saints- Pure Shores

6- Barcelona- Please Dont Go

5- Coldplay- Strawberry Swing

4- Enya- Watermark

3- DJ Shah- Mellomaniac (Chill Out Mix)

2- Airstream- Electra

1- Marconi Union- Weightless

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According To A Study, These Are The Most Relaxing Songs Ever - Gentside UK

Hello, passengers. Seth Richardson is grounded today, so Im in the cockpit. You can follow me, Sabrina Eaton, on Twitter for coverage of Washington news that affects the Buckeye State.

Contracting economies in the Midwest could be a campaign theme in upcoming months, as both political parties plan outreach to key contingencies including rural voters and white working class women.

Dont bank on it: The economies of several states that were key to President Donald Trumps 2016 victory Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - will contract over the next six months, report Bloombergs Alexandre Tanzi and Gregory Korte. Presidents seeking re-election do well in a growing national economy but are endangered in downturns. The state-by-state data show a more complicated picture for Trump: The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia expects the national economy to grow by 1.48% -- but with slower growth in battleground states that Trump most needs to win.

Rural revival: Trumps re-election campaign hopes to secure an advantage by increasing his support among rural voters in states like Wisconsin, writes McClatchys Alex Roarty. He found its voters view Trumps blunt, outspoken style as an antidote to Washingtons pervasive corruption. Democrats are taking the threat seriously and arms of the party have launched their own counter-effort in states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida dead-set on running the kind of effective campaign in these places they say was missing during the last presidential election.

Womens work: Reporting from Iowa, McClatchys David Catanese describes buyers remorse from white, working-class women who voted for Trump in 2016. They liked Trumps populist stance in 2016, but now these key voters in eastern Iowa, central Minnesota, southwestern Wisconsin, northern Ohio and throughout Michigan see his rhetoric as divisive, impulsive and hostile. Additionally, they say their wages arent keeping up with the cost of living, leaving them open to other options. The profile of the eventual Democratic nominee will matter to these voters, as will the issues he or she chooses to prioritize.

What Iowans care about: Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Lyz Lenz disputes the idea advanced by some of the states politicians that Iowans dont care about the behavior by President Trump that triggered an impeachment inquiry in the U.S. House of Representatives. The cynicism and amoral politicking on what Iowans care about is a game that no one wins. And misses a fundamental aspect of Midwestern nature, which is that Ive seen Iowans bleed from the head and aggressively insist they were fine and there is nothing to talk about, just to be polite. Why should it be any different for the open wound in the White House?

Gloves coming off in Iowa: Democratic candidates vying for their partys presidential nomination are escalating their attacks on one another as the Iowa caucuses approach in less than three months, writes Des Moines Registers Stephen Gruber-Miller. Youve seen some light sniping, some candidates trying sort of backhanded comments, but youre going to see open attacks, open criticism, good old-fashioned attack ads, said Grant Woodard, a Des Moines attorney and former Democratic campaign operative who is not aligned with a 2020 campaign.

The cost of debate: The University of Michigan agreed to pay at least $2.5 million to secure the Oct. 15, 2020 presidential debate at Crisler Center, according to a contract obtained by The Detroit News. The university is visiting schools that hosted past debates to figure out their full costs, so it can fundraise and budget appropriately, reports Beth LeBlanc.

Digging out coal: Last weeks bankruptcy filing by Ohios Murray Energy mining company has raised concerns that the states funds to clean up abandoned mines will be overwhelmed, writes cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer. An actuarial report released earlier this year indicated the state would have to pay $202 million to reclaim all 13 of Murrays Buckeye State locations, but the states Reclamation Forfeiture Fund only has about $23 million in it meaning the remaining money would have to come from the states general revenue fund.

Coal comfort: The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed relaxing two Obama-era regulations on waste products from coal-fired power plants, a move environmental groups say would prolong the risk of toxic spills or drinking water contamination, writes Reid Frazier of State Impact Pennsylvania. The agency wants to ease restrictions on coal ash the solid residue left over from burning coal and wastewater from coal plants. In the rule changes announced Monday, plants could have up to three more years to begin closing unlined coal ash ponds, which can leak contaminants into surrounding groundwater.

Carpe diem: Michigan says it remains willing to contribute $8 million toward initial stages of a project to prevent Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, the Associated Press reports. Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichinger affirmed the commitment Tuesday in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The funding would pay for preconstruction, engineering and design of a planned barrier system at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. Congress has been asked to cover most of the projects $778 million cost.

Dayton drive-by: Determining that Dayton displays almost every trend affecting modern America, from the opioid disaster to mass shootings to the departure of large factories, The Atlantics James Fallows is planning a series of regular dispatches from the city. His inaugural installment discusses the August shooting with Mayor Nan Whaley, who told him I would like us to be known as a place that action came out of.

Gun policy under fire: An Ohio gun store owner is running a 30-second TV ad that criticizes Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewiczs woke policy of questioning the vendors from whom it buys guns about whether they make assault weapons and sell them to civilians, writes Sarah Elms of The Blade. Steve Thompson, who owns ADCO Firearms in Sylvania, says that if the commercial prompts at least one person to question the mayors policy, it will be worth the $1,000 he spent on the four-month slot on Channel 24.

Abortion case: Indiana backs Ohios efforts to ban women from getting abortions if the fetus has Downs syndrome, according to Dan Carden of nwi.com. The states GOP Attorney General, Curtis Hill Jr., submitted a legal filing Friday on behalf of Indiana supporting Ohios efforts to restrict a womans right to abortion based on the reason why the woman wants to terminate her pregnancy. His friend of the court brief filed at the federal appeals court in Cincinnati says states should have the right to limit abortion based on the womans reason for choosing the procedure to prevent eugenic targeting of certain characteristics.

Expedite expungement: Michigan lawmakers want to make it easier for people with felony convictions to expunge their criminal records, including a proposal that would allow for automatic expungement after 10 years without another crime, writes Riley Beggin of Bridge Magazine. Research shows that expungement which makes certain criminal offenses invisible to the public while remaining visible to police and prosecutors improves access to higher wages and better jobs without threatening public safety. But the process can seem labyrinthian for people who cant afford a lawyer, and criminal justice advocates argue far too few people qualify under existing law.

Pot arrests a plus: Having a pot-related arrest or conviction used to be a liability for job seekers, but a criminal record might lead to a job in Illinois legal marijuana industry, writes Tom Schuba of Chicago Sun Times. The states legalization law gives an edge to budding ganjapreneurs vying for licenses to sell and grow recreational weed if most of their employees have been arrested for or convicted of a cannabis offense thats eligible for expungement. In addition, companies can get a leg up in the process if their workers live in an area disproportionately impacted by past drug policies or have an affected family member.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared at a coffee house in Philadelphia on Monday night, according to Allison Steele of The Philadelphia Inquirer. She spent most of the event making a case for her electability before a crowd of about 350.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/amy-klobuchar-fishtown-philadelphia-20191105.html

Former Vice President Joe Biden was holding a fundraiser in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, writes Julian Routh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Attendees were to include real estate executives, deep-pocketed Democratic donors and the youngest son of the late Steelers chairman, Dan Rooney.

Dignitaries who spoke at Mondays funeral of longtime Michigan Democratic Congress member John Conyers included former President Bill Clinton and Detroit music legend Stevie Wonder, report Kathleen Gray and Todd Spangler of Detroit Free Press. The most important thing to remember is how different the playing field was when he began and when he ended, how steep the mountain he climbed over and how many real lives were improved by his labors, said Clinton. Like all great jazz musicians, (John) Coltrane, Miles (Davis) and Charlie Parker, he wasnt perfect. But that makes his achievements all the more important.

Entrepreneur Tom Steyer will attend several campaign events in Milwaukee on Wednesday, his campaign says. They include a breakfast with Milwaukee Latinx leaders, a speech before an American Federation of Teachers Forum, and a town hall hosted by Milwaukee Democrats.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will make a series of Iowa appearances with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Nov. 8 and 9, according to the Des Moines Registers candidate tracker. The pair will hold a rally at Iowa Western Community College on the 8th, conduct a climate crisis summit at Drake University on the 9th, and a rally later that day at the Coralville Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

I worry about him the most because I think a lot of voters, particularly in the bubble, forget its more about a gut check than a policy list. Its a gut-check thing.

-Republican former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, referring to Bernie Sanders being a formidable opponent for Donald Trump in rural Wisconsin, according to Alex Roarty of McClatchy. Walker, however, emphasized that rural voters would be drawn to Trumps authenticity and anti-establishment moxie, Roarty writes.

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The economy, stupid : The Flyover - cleveland.com

As we began to climb the near 90-degree slope, it felt like one step forward, two steps back, our feet sliding through the sand back down the slope.

Dune du Pilat is 360 feet high and stretches for two miles along the French Atlantic coast from Arcachon in the north towards Biscarrosse Plage in the south. It attracts scores of tourists climbing the slopes up to its rim and then down to the sea.

For those less adventurous than us, there are flights of steps helping people to enjoy the summit without the challenge of the sandy slopes.

But my wife, 11-year-old daughter and eight-year old son were determined that the dune would not defeat us and eventually we made it to the top, to rest in the white sand and admire the scenery. From its peak are stunning views across the bay and, as a popular paragliding spot, you can watch the enthusiasts taking to the skies.

We were staying with Eurocamp at the five-star Domaine de la Rive in the Landes department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine a family-focused parc complete with pools, slides, a spa, bars, shops and restaurants.

Eurocamp has a wide selection of accommodation offering different sizes and specifications of holiday home. We stayed in the three-bed Avant, which has a fully-fitted kitchen and living area, shower, deck and gas barbecue. The layout of the parc means accommodation is fairly tightly packed in, but the space of the surrounding area more than makes up for this.

The parc is located at the edge of Biscarrosse Lake and seven miles from the town of Biscarrosse with its wine shops and markets. Its setting means there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy water sports such as windsurfing, canoeing or pedaloes.

Another of the options is cycle hire. We borrowed bikes for a day, touring the area which is mainly flat around the lakes, but with some surprising hills towards the coast.

The region has an excellent set of cycle routes both on designated pathways and shared roads. On the whole, its easy going, whether youre an experienced cyclist or a novice. We followed the routes direct from La Rive through winding lanes and along the lake. There was something quintessentially French as we cycled along, especially listening to the accordion music drifting across the route from one of the roadside bars.

It was then on up and over the hills and through the woodland to Biscarrosse Plage a popular town and seaside resort where we took time to visit the many tourist shops, get a bite to eat and then spend time on the beach, enjoying the heat of the afternoon sun.

Back we then pedaled along the picturesque routes into Biscarrosse in time for coffee and milkshakes before heading back to La Rive. It was a fantastic way to spend time together as a family and feel a sense of achievement as we climbed the hills and later totted up the number of miles we had covered.

The area is fairly rural with a gentle feel and slow-paced lifestyle, but just an hours drive north is the port city of Bordeaux, famed as the centre of the wine-producing region. We drove to the outskirts and then caught the tram into the bustling city with its narrow streets and tall buildings. The historic part of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its 18th century architecture.

Buying a Citypass you can get free or discounted access to many of the tourist sites, including the iconic Cit du Vin museum, which takes you on a journey through the world of wine.

We also enjoyed a tour of the city on an open-top bus before walking along the riverside towards the Cit du Vin, taking in the views across the famous water mirror and watching the street artists. You can jump on board a river boat, borrow a bike or ride the tram to take in more of the city.

The south west of France is a region which has been missed off my list previously,, but has so much to offer.

Flights are available to Bordeaux, but we opted to take the car and travel with Brittany Ferries to Santander a four-hour drive on to Biscarrosse. The overnight ferry journey takes about 24-hours, or more with Brittanys Economie service, but means you dont have to think about the journey and can relax on board. On the way back we travelled aboard the quicker Pont-Aven and enjoyed a superb four-course evening meal before relaxing in our cabin, ready to wake up the following morning well on track for our journey home.

Spending just a week in the Grand Lacs was only enough to scratch the surface of what this area has to offer. Im sure at some point well be back on the bikes, climbing the sand dunes and soaking up the history of this beautiful stretch of the Atlantic coast.

Accommodation:Tim Hopkinson and family stayed as guests of Eurocamp at La Rive. Prices start from 333, for a family of six staying in a two-bedroom Azure Plus. For more information visit http://www.eurocamp.co.uk Travel:Brittany Ferries operates the longer routes from Portsmouth and Plymouth directly to northern Spain. Fares from Portsmouth to Santander start from 648 return for a family of four and a car including an en-suite cabin on both sailings. Book online at brittany-ferries.co.uk or call 0330 159 7000.

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Exploring new heights on France's record-breaking dune with a view... - The Scarborough News

(Credit: Janine Guldener)

The Berlin-based mezzo-soprano Bettina Ranch dreamed about a career as a singer since childhood. And while she started off her musical path as a violinist, she eventually made the switch, which has led her to a major vocal career greater than even her dreams could handle. She has been an ensemble member of the Aalto Musiktheater Essen since the year 2016 and has performed with such companies as the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Komische Oper Berlin, and Salzburg Festival, as well as such orchestras as the Hamburg Philharmonic, the Stuttgart Bachakademie, the Kammerakademie Potsdam, the Dresden Philharmonic etc.

She recently talked to OperaWire about her career and its development over the years.

Bettina Ranch: I always wanted to sing, as long as I remember myself. I would say to my parents that I will be a singer and I was singing every day, even when I felt sick.

My father was a violinist though; he was the first chair in the orchestra so violin always had a role in the family. Playing the violin was fun for me as well, I enjoyed it and Im sure I had talent. Also, I always felt too lazy for this profession although I played for a long time and I was studying in Berlin academy. I knew I will not make to be the first chair in the orchestra and I wanted no other chair.

Then I made my decision to go back to singing. Actually I started relatively late to professionally learn to sing, but it was not too difficult, because I knew I always had singing in me. To this day there is just no alternative of what I could do in my life. After quitting violin I started to take private lessons and made my soloist my solo debut in concert with the Bachakademie Stuttgart under Helmuth Rilling and on the opera stage with the title role in Handels Giulio Cesare at the Staatstheater Kassel. I always wanted this.

BR: As a kid, I was going a lot to the operas in Berlin. I was visiting Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the Komische Oper Berlin and it kind of felt like at home. I was listening to how singers then were talking about rehearsals and their work. I used to think that they were very cool. So the theater world and its air was a familiar place to me. I really grew up listening to opera. And the reality is not that far away from my idea of it.

Of course, when you experience yourself, you understand that not everything in this profession is just glitz and glamor. Its lonely, it requires hard work. Of course, I wouldnt think about that when I was the kid. But the emotional payoff is as real and strong as I imagined it.

BR: Yes. There are so many singers that have prior played the violin because it is a very melodic bel canto instrument. Still, the violin sings, I always had this impression. Not like a piano that has percussive qualities.

So since childhood, I could express myself with violin, learning about phrasing, dynamics, and dramaturgy of the sound. It was important for my singing career. Its a big advantage to have such musical training.

BR: My singing teacher is the most important for me in my work. We dont meet every day, but she is like my voice-mother, to which I can call and ask for advice. During the years she has taught me a lot. Of course, many things about vocal technique and interpretation. She herself was a very fine singer and she had sung in many opera houses worldwide, she has lots of experience.

I like that she is honest with me, and often says yes, what you think is correct, but unfortunately things do not work in this way. She reminds me about the emotional origins of music and singing, you have to understand the reality of the situation. Only she can give me that.

BR: The main difference between Berlin and the other music centers of other European countries is that in Germany, each opera house has a permanent ensembles of singers. As an opera soloist, you commit to one opera house for few years. In other countries they dont have such a system they commission new artists for every performance. You are usually asked to perform the same roles you performed well before, so there are not that many possibilities for growth.

While working on different productions in one opera house you can broaden your repertoire and challenge yourself with new roles. And you grow to start your residence with smaller roles and later on performing as a lead vocalist in an opera production. That is the main difference.

BR: It comes down to the organization. When everything is clear the trains drive and the plains fly then there is no stress. But too often things dont go according to plan and that is tiring. In general, I feel good while traveling; every day is a new experience. For instance, few days earlier I visited Ljubljana for the first time and it was beautiful. You get in touch with new cultures, different lifestyles and you always take something for yourself. Of course there is discipline, there is work. But nevertheless it is so exciting to share the music with the whole world.

BR: I exercise my body and my voice every day. I go to the fitness studio, try to keep myself fit. I am also in contact with my vocal teacher in Berlin. For me as a singer, it is important to have someone that would give some feedback because it is difficult to hear yourself. Maybe it sounds absurd, but human ears are pointed to the sides so we never really hear ourselves in the way we truly sound.

BR: I work in Opera Theater for 11 months a year, so I dont listen to opera in my free time. During my summer holidays, I go to Greece and try to forget everything that has to do anything with my professional life. Maybe I listen to only Sirtaki music. Classical singing and opera are just not on my head at that time.

Of course, after the vacation I cant go straight to work, I have to start exercising my voice somewhat a week prior. Again, like sports athletes. Human voice works just like any other muscle and it has to be trained. For my voice I can stop singing for three days and be okay, but if I stay silent for long, I have to train and warm up again.

Now after the summer holidays I will have a week to go back to my daily professional regime. Others try to sing every day, but I think it is very important to take breaks to relax your voice and nourish your body and soul. Even the athletes go on vacation. In order to be good at your job, you have to be well-rested and healthy. There is just no other way around. After the holiday I always feel so fresh, as if I would be born again.

BR: In the beginning, you must prepare your repertoire or your role alone or with a pianist. The interpretation usually comes from within me at this period. Sometimes it works out you go to the conductor with your idea and he thinks its great. He also has a similar approach to music as you do. Of course, thats a dream, it happens, but rarely. Usually, another scenario plays out you come to rehearsal and the conductor has his own idea about the piece that is different from your interpretation. Then you have to work that no one would have to give up on their interpretation and find a compromise that would more or less satisfy everybody.

Same goes in staging the opera. You rehearse for six weeks and you are looking for compromises with conductor every day. You try to understand each other and to come up with the solution. Sometimes it is important to say, that one or another idea would not work because of the limitations of your voice or of your physical abilities. As a singer, you always know your voice better and some compromises just cant be made, because that would compromise the quality of the performance. You have more time, though.

Rehearsing for a concert you have a day or a few, so you have to make compromises quicker, all the process is just faster. But for a concert it is enough. Of course, prior to orchestra rehearsals, you work alone and know every detail of how do you want to perform this music.

BR: It depends on the role and on the repertoire. Some roles feel close to me, I can understand them immediately and therefore the interpretation comes with ease. Sometimes I have to bring male roles to life. This is not so easy, but it is very interesting and you have to watch men a lot and depict the way they walk and stand, how do they carry themselves. This can take a long time for me. Sometimes it happens that I fully form an interpretation only after the premiere of the opera. You try one thing, you try another, you think you understand what the performance is about, but after the premiere, everything falls into its place.

When creating a character I usually start with getting familiar with their story and trying to understand the lines they say. I try to understand why he or she is behaving in this way? What are they reacting to the most? I look at the past and the future of their story. Then, when I get a grasp of what kind of person they are, I try to connect to these qualities in myself.

BR: Yes. Baroque music is very much ornamental; you have a little more artistic freedom for improvisation than in pieces of the romantic repertoire. While performing Wagner you have to be more accurate and focused. I also like performing contemporary music. It is more difficult for intonation and I usually struggle learning it, it takes time.

BR: I try to avoid stress. I try to relax, take a walk, and meet people. If the weather is nice, I stay outdoors. Usually, I take a short nap and after that, I feel like it is a beginning of a new day you wake up at afternoon, you take a shower, you eat something, you go to work, they get you in a costume and you go on stage. I take my time before the performance; I need to find my voice, to make sure people around me are okay.

My usual fear is that I will forget the text at the opera performance. Then I read everything again, make sure I remember the entire libretto. But that doesnt happen at the concert, so then I just try to stay healthy and happy. Of course, you are disciplined on a day of the performance, but I try to avoid stress and keep myself relaxed as much as possible.

BR: I try to express with my voice everything that music and text are trying to say. It is also important to me to perform through my heart. Through the interpretation, I also try to express my voice, my individuality. Some like the performance some dont, but it is important to bring quality on stage. I also think people should come to opera to relax and forget the stress. Its a pity when people are stressed about watching the opera, then they usually criticize it and leave unsatisfied.

One time it was a performance of the second Mahler symphony and I notice that two people in the audience were crying. I thought that was amazing. I like that people are allowing themselves to really relax. There is too much stress already. I also genuinely enjoy when people are satisfied with the performance, that it had reached their hearts in some way. That is important to me.

I think it is getting difficult for singers today because there are so many music recordings and people are choosing less to go to concerts. I think that is a shame. Of course, you cant compare life performance and voice from the edited CD recording. At concerts sometimes there are very difficult conditions, you have to sing in the very hot or very cold temperature, maybe you have some allergies going on, sickness, and your voice is being affected. Of course, it is easier to stay at home with your headphones. But going to a concert is an entirely different collective experience. You are giving yourself time to relax after work; the singers also stay disciplined in order to bring others a nice moment in the evening. It is a shame that now we consume everything so fast one entertainment, then the next.

BR: I hope that people will still be interested in operas and concerts. Organizations like Wiener Staatsoper or Salzburger Festspiele in Austria are very successful and popular amongst people. I think that proves that we still need these types of cultural events and organizations. I hope the ticket prices will be lower in the future because it is still very expensive to go visit opera and it is a shame. I believe there are people that love opera but cant afford the ticket.

So my biggest wish for the future is that concerts and opera performances would be more affordable and that the recording industry would not take away the moment of live singing and playing instruments. It is a different connection to music when you hear it live. I also wish more children and young people would be educated about classical music, I believe it is important. That is still a long way to go.

I am worried about the future of church vocal music. Germany has a beautiful tradition of church concerts. When I perform there I see only elderly people in the audience. Then you start to think about whether anyone would go to such concerts a few decades later. Church music has long traditions it is in many ways a foundation of contemporary music. It is important to keep such traditions alive, I think.

BR: For me personally, I would like to broaden my repertoire and in the future still on other Wagner parts and e.g. the Eboli work. I dont know if I would dare to ask for more because so many dreams have become the reality in my life. To have performed in many major opera and concert halls and the Salzburg Festival this was not a concrete dream of mine, but I am happy for what I have achieved and I look forward to what the life will bring to me.

I would like to stay healthy; I would like to keep my voice healthy so I could continue doing what I am doing. And of course, I would like to stay happy. Work-life balance yes, this is a dream of mine.

I am crazy grateful for my career. To dream of becoming a singer in childhood and actually becoming it this is the biggest dream come true moment of my life. How many children dream of professions and then move on to do something different, probably more fitting to them? I had a desire to sing and it didnt abandon me throughout my life. Now people want me to sing and opera houses hire me. I am happy because of it. Maybe my desire for singing will end; I also can lose my voice at any moment.

But I know that the world is full of beautiful things to do, anyways. I know it would be just fine and this is very relaxing.

Read the original post:

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Bettina Ranch On European Musical Tradition, The Future of Singing - OperaWire

Author, speaker, and social entrepreneur Jess Ekstrom.

Might success be as simple as being willing to start where you are and have the required optimism to believe that things can be better than they are currently?

According to author, speaker, and social entrepreneur Jess Ekstrom, its that simple.

In her recently released book Chasing The Bright Side, she shares practical steps and stories of vulnerability to help embrace optimism, activate your purpose, and write your own story.

However, this isnt one of those sunshine-and-rainbows type of stories. For the first time, she shares what happened when her family got caught up in her Great Uncle Bernie Madoffs Ponzi scheme. Then she encourages the reader to chase the one life youve been given.

In our conversation, we cover why optimism is so critical to your success, the difference between uncertainty and possibility, starting before youre ready, a new paradigm for failure, becoming more resourceful without any more resources, and choosing your purpose.

Take a read:

Darrah Brustein: Why is optimism your core message?

Jess Ekstrom: I was really tired of the same success narrative: one day I had this idea, then I did it and the next day I was a millionaire. But really, success is not born out of skill, school, where were from, whom we know, or what we scored on the SAT. None of us was born ready or knowing what to do.

But we are born with something more important than skills. Were born with optimism: the initial seed for success. Optimism fuels the belief that you can be the one to create the good the world needs.

I want Chasing the Bright Side to show a different success narrative: one where you dont have to know what youre doing to know that you can get there.

Ekstrom with her newly released book.

Brustein: You share a story youd never before shared about your familial connection to Bernie Madoff and the impact that had on you and your family financially and emotionally. What has surprised you since you shared that story?

Ekstrom: I really battled whether or not I wanted to share it. But at the end of the day, one of the main takeaways of Chasing the Bright Side is that our experiences and stories are two completely different things.

Our experiences are tangible life events that we cant control: the weather, our flight delay, the post offices being closed right when we need it. But our stories are how we internalize and respond to our life experiences. So although we cant always control our experiences, we can always write our story.

Being related to Bernie Madoff was such a pivotal experience in my life that wrote such a different story that I can now see over ten years later. I hope by sharing about something so vulnerable, it helps readers come to terms with some of their life experiences that have blindsided them.

Brustein: Please talk about the difference between uncertainty and possibility.

Ekstrom: Sometimes we scroll through our newsfeeds or read the paper and we see these crazy things happening all over the world. We file these things away in this part of our brain that says, That wont ever happen to me.

Never would I have imagined the scenario which my family went through with Bernie in 2008, but it taught me that anything can happen. And this idea that anything can happen gives us a choice: we can live in fear of the unknown or excitement about possibility.

Anything can happen could mean the apocalypse could happen tomorrow, or it could also mean that you pick up a guitar for the first time and you go on tour with Coldplay in a year. Optimism is about taking this idea that anything can happen and leaning into the excitement of all the possibilities.

Brustein: We both have studied improv and have taken away a core competency of the yes, and framework for life. Please share about this and how it applies to what you teach.

Ekstrom: One of the golden rules of improv is a response called, yes, and . . .. When youre improvising with someone in a scene, they could say something like: Hey, Jess. Do you see that big mountain of spaghetti off in the distance? Then you have to acknowledge their improvisation as the truth by saying yes and justify it with your own truth built on top of that, which is the and . . .: Yes, Billy, I do see that mountain of spaghetti off in the distance, and we should go run through these pastures of risotto and cross the alfredo lake to get to it. Then, your partner would yes, and . . . to what you just said to continue to build the story. But imagine if the scene went like this:

Partner: Hey, Jess, do you see the mountain of spaghetti off in the distance?

Me: No.

End scene.

Not exactly a story wed tell at parties. When we say yes to something, it moves us from one place to the next. It takes us to the mountain of spaghetti and lets us ride down it on a meatball. But when we say no, we stay in the exact same room were in right now. Saying no keeps the door shut, but saying yes leads to possibilityeven when we dont know what that possibility is.

Headbands of Hope began when I said yes to an internship at Disney World. I really didnt have any thought or reason behind it, but I knew that more opportunities could happen to me if I said yes rather than no.

Sometimes we have these internal checklists for things to which we say yes. Who will be there? Whats the risk? Do they serve free food? But sometimes we just have to focus on the possibilities if we go for it, instead of trying to check all these boxes.

When we say yes to an idea, an opportunity, a new relationship, or even a new item on a menu that you cant pronounce, were expanding our palette of experiences. And when we expand our palette of experiences, we have more opportunities for stories and growth. We cant taste food weve never tried. We cant shake the hand of someone weve never met.

Brustein: So many of the readers struggle with not feeling ____ enough (ready, smart, pretty, thin, rich, prepared, etc). Please share your thoughts on this, particularly as someone who started her first business from her dorm room.

Ekstrom: A really freeing revelation for me was that every expert was once a beginner. Teachers first had to be students. Anyone who runs first had to learn to walk. Everyone whos ever solved a problem was once just pondering an idea. But everyone whos done something great had to have a moment where they turned that idea into action.

So if everyone had to start somewhere, why not here? And if success isnt about our skills or all of our expertise, then why not you? Everyone whos ever done something great has always had to believe that he or she could be the one to do it.

Brustein: I love your point about how you see companies fail not because they lack resources, but because they are not resourceful. Please share more about this.

Ekstrom: I got my first logo by persuading a graphic design teacher to make my logo creation an assignment for her class. I made my first website by paying a computer design student in Chipotle burritos.

When I got the idea for Headbands of Hope, I didnt have a lot of money or experience, but I looked at what I did have and started there. Its so easy to look over the fence and think about what you dont have thats holding you back. Instead, focus that time and energy into being resourceful with the things that are right in front of you.

Brustein: Im such a believer in the power of relationships, and you share about the power of in-person relationships, not just virtual (to the point that youll hop on a plane to connect). How have those benefited you, and what do you say to someone who is only connecting online and by phone with his or her network?

Ekstrom: I share stories about how I hopped on planes to meet with people who agreed to meet with me since I was in the area. If theres one thing I take a gamble on, its meeting in person. Relationships move so much more quickly face-to-face, and its also so much more productive than a long email chain or even navigating phone or video conversations.

It might sound like more legwork to meet in person, but those in-person meetings were pivotal to the future of my company.

Ekstrom smiling with one of the recipients of a free headband.

Brustein: Lets talk about quitting and failure. Theres a lot of conversation that leads one to believe that winners never quit or that failure is the thing to fear (or the opposite these days: fail fast to fail forward). Whats your take on quitting and failure?

Ekstrom: I had a massive failure in the beginning of Headbands of Hope. Lets just say it had something to do with a loan from a family member and a fraudulent manufacturer. In the wake of this event, I seriously thought about quitting.

Most of what you read says something along the lines of quitting is for losers, which is usually printed on a poster of a lion chasing its prey or a snow-capped mountain with a guy hanging on with his pinkie. But thats not my take on it. I dont want to feel trapped in what Im doing, because we always have choices. I want to work toward something I want to do rather than work toward something I feel as if I have to do. And if that feeling changes, Ill pass the baton and do something else.

Telling yourself you can quit at any moment isnt a reminder of weakness; its a reminder of choice. And when we choose to keep going, were choosing to recommit to our purpose.

Brustein: The courage to begin where one is can be the thing that makes all the difference. How do you encourage people just to start?

Ekstrom: One question: what feels light to you right now?

Dont think about all the things you have to do and the long journey ahead, just break the seal and do something small today. Sometimes we can get so distracted and discouraged with trying to win the Super Bowl that we dont focus on just getting the first down.

Start with what feels easiest and what youre most excited to do. Maybe thats sketching out your idea for how it would look. Maybe its doing a bit of research. Maybe its asking to meet with someone whos walked a similar path.

Baby steps are still steps. When we dont burden ourselves with the heaviness of a massive to-do list, it makes everything seem more manageable. And the baby steps add up. One day youll look back and all the small things you did will accumulate to something really big.

Brustein: Focusing on our success, our journey, and the timing of it can make a massive difference in our progress and trajectory. You talk about the downsides of things like comparing our chapter one to someones chapter seven or thinking that someones failure makes room for our success. Please expand on this.

Ekstrom: Ive realized that most judgments about ourselves are in relation to someone else. Isnt that crazy? Anytime Im hard on myself, I can usually point it to feeling less than someone else, not because of my own personal standards. Its a flaw Im working on.

We cant compare our chapter one to someone elses chapter seven. What we see across from us on the subway, on Instagram, or parked in peoples driveways is not a good metric for how were doing . . . because we only see what people are willing to expose. We dont see all the things theyre not willing to admit.

Someone elses success does not make yours any less. Someone elses failure does not make you any better. The only metric that matters is our own individuality.

Brustein: Please share about Give Gala as well as your suggestion to readers to do silent acts of giving.

Ekstrom: At Headbands of Hope we give a headband to a child with cancer for every headband we sell. Its a small accessory that makes a huge difference in a childs confidence.

Small acts of kindness are still super powerful, so we created an event that celebrates just that. Give Gala: The Worst Fundraiser Ever is a no-money fundraiser that raises acts of kindness for patients and families at local childrens hospitals.

However, when we hear about giving, its usually the Ellen DeGeneresstyle giving that involves a massive check to charity or sending a kid to college who couldnt afford it. Or funding a new jungle for endangered species to live in. And when we cant give in a massive way, we sometimes feel that we cant give at all.

When we focus on a mountain of trash, we dont see the single piece sitting right in front of us that we could easily pick up and throw away. Were too fixated on the impossible task of picking up all the trash instead of the small but very possible tasks that are right in front of us.

Optimism doesnt mean you have to revolutionize the world. Optimism is about a perception of the world that influences positive behaviors: big or small.

Brustein: Please share about alignment versus attention, and the danger of chasing the notion that happiness is achieved when something else transpires.

Ekstrom: I fell into this trap with my business where I was constantly chasing tangible achievements: awards, press, measurable goals. All of those are great and deserve to be celebrated, but we cant treat them as our final destination.

Success is something that cant be measured, it can only be felt. In other words, if you can quantify it, its not success. If what youre chasing is only validated by the likes of others, then stop chasing it. But if what youre chasing is something that is meaningful to you without the attention, then go for it at full speed.

Think about the last time you felt really good about something. For me, its my time spent in the hospitals interacting with patients.

When the likes go away and the applause falls silent, is what youre doing right now still meaningful to you? If your next point of impact did not get a like, a retweet, a share, some followers, or a pat on the back, would you still go through with it simply because it mattered? Do you really think that one more award will make you feel fulfilled?

Ekstrom in the cancer ward giving out free headbands to the kids.

Brustein: Purpose is both a buzzword and hard for many to identify, however, you have a unique approach to it. Please share.

Ekstrom: Ill give you an example of my definition of purpose. When I interned at Disney World, I met two other interns who were both custodians in the parks. One of them absolutely loathed her job and said she just picked up trash and it was dirty and she wanted to go home.

The other custodian who had the exact same job thought that he had the best job ever. He would greet guests as they walked into the park, hed help them plan their day, hed stop by the office and pick up Fast Passes and hand them out to kids, and he was helping keep the park clean so the guests could have a better experience.

These two people had the exact same assigned work: their contracts were the same, the list of tasks they are expected to do was both the same. The difference was one saw trash and the other created purpose.

Ready to run a business that doesnt run your life? Then check outMind Your Business, the first-ever year-long virtual acceleratorfor entrepreneurs who want to grow and scale their business, without sacrificing their lifestyle.

Read the original here:
The Initial Seed Of Success Youve Not Yet Considered (And How To Grow It Exponentially) - Forbes

A bus and pedestrian pass an advertisement for the Apple iPhone 6 in north London.

Neil Hall | Reuters

Apple's dedicated ad agency is cutting staff.

Media Arts Lab, a unit within Omnicom Group agency TBWA that's dedicated to Apple advertising, laid off several staffers Monday. The company wouldn't say how many were laid off, but a report from Bloomberg, which first broke the news, placed the number at 50.

"Yesterday was a difficult day, as we had to part with some of our talented colleagues," a TBWA/Media Arts Lab spokeswoman said in a statement to CNBC Tuesday. "Our relationship with Apple has never been stronger, but as the needs of our client continue to evolve, we must adapt and continue to evolve the composition of our teams. Decisions like this are never easy, nor are they taken lightly, but unfortunately it is the nature of the advertising business. We are incredibly grateful for the many contributions of those who are leaving us and the impact they have made at MAL and on the work."

Apple has a decades-long relationship with Omnicom Group agency TBWA, the agency behind the iconic "1984" commercial, which introduced Apple's first personal Macintosh, and "Think Different." In 2006, TBWA created TBWA/Media Arts Lab as Apple's bespoke creative agency. Lee Clow, the founder of Media Arts Lab and a close friend of Steve Jobs, officially retired earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Apple's often lauded in-house creative operations group has been adding to its ranks. The company hired Nick Law, chief creative at Publicis Groupe and creative superstar, several months ago. According to Law's LinkedIn profile, he now serves as a vice president of "Marcom Integration" at the company. Tor Myhren, VP of marketing and communications at Apple, joined from WPP's Grey back in 2016. Apple recently hired Evelyn Neill, previously of TBWA/Chiat/Day, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Myhren, in an emailed statement, said Apple has asked its agency to "evolve" as it changes its own marketing approach.

"Apple's confidence and trust in MAL as our singular ad agency is a strong as it's ever been. As we continue to evolve our marketing approach, we've asked MAL to do the same," he said.

The shift comes as Apple is marketing a slew of new products and services, from Apple TV+ to its new branded credit card. Earlier this year, Media Arts Lab hired new executive creative directors for the agency's Los Angeles headquarters to oversee creative for the iPhone and for services including work for Apple TV+, Apple Music and Apple Pay, Adweek reported in May.

Apple began building out its in-house shop in earnest several years ago, part of a broader trend of marketers taking certain advertising functions in-house to regain control or save money.

"[Media Arts Lab] is competing now with one of the best agencies in the business, and that's the in-house agency of Apple," said Avi Dan, founder and CEO of Avidan Strategies. He added that by marketing a widening array of products and expansion areas, the company might be seeking more intricate creative operations and relying more on internal resources to do that.

Greg Paull, principal and co-founder at consultancy R3, said the push and pull of creative work between Apple's in-house operations and its dedicated agency aren't necessarily new.

"The pendulum has always been swinging between Media Arts Lab and Apple for many years. The agency is a little at the mercy of Apple's whims and directions," he said.

But while brands seeking the success of Apple's in-house agency might be inspired by its results, Paull says one difference is the people Apple has inside it.

"The difference between everyone else's in-house agency and Apple's in-house agency is talent - the world's best are attracted to Cupertino and it makes it easier to develop big ideas in-house."

Go here to read the rest:
Apple's ad agency has layoffs as the company beefs up its in-house ads group - CNBC

Todays epic collegeadmissions scandal holds three practical, actionable lessonsfor parents. No prison time required.

MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Actress Felicity Huffman was recently released from prison after serving 11 days for her involvement in the ongoing college admissions scandal. Huffman was convicted of paying $15,000 to have her daughters SAT doctored to help her get into an elite college.

But Huffman isnt alone. More than 30 other well-to-do parentsinfluencers in business, sports, education, healthcare, and entertainmentare involved in the scandal, not to mention those who have yet to be exposed. Stories like this demonstrate the lengths to which parents will go to give their children a competitive advantage.

Yes, seeing our kids succeed is a universal desireand, thankfully, theres an easier way than participating in a criminal conspiracy.

The educational landscape in America has shifted. It used to be enough to get good grades. Those who excelled in school could be fairly well assured of a viable, living-wage career awaiting them at the end of their higher education. It was a nice systemwhile it lasted.

Today, its no longer enough to excel in the academic realm. While robust academic performance is still important, young people who truly want to get ahead must add two other critical attributes to their portfolio: technical competency and professional skills.

Technical competency (or hard skills) can be gained in a variety of ways, including career-focused programs, internships, apprenticeships, licensures, and more. Even part-time employment can deliver technical abilities to some degree. Many employers are now looking at demonstrable skills and experience rather than the letters behind an applicants name. Whether theyre college, career, or military bound, every young person can benefit from the cognitive rigor required to master a technical ability.

When an individual has the academic and technical credentials, professional skills (or soft skills) complete the package. Professional skills are simply the personal attributes and character to succeed in the workplace: work ethic, punctuality, communication, leadership, ability to accept feedback, integrity, critical thinking, problem-solving, stress management, and many more. They are universal across all levels, in all industries, at all times, and are increasingly in demand.

There are many rewarding routes to educational and career success. Parents can play a vital role in helping their middle or high school student discover what theyre passionate about and make a plan to get therewhether college is in the picture or not. Here are three ways you can support their educational and career journey.

To succeed in the new, ever-changing workforce, your child will need robust academic knowledge, technical competency, and professional skillsa trifecta of competitive, economic advantage. And your support can make it happen. No prison time required.

See the rest here:
You Dont Have To Go To Jail To Give Your Kid An Edge - Forbes

A black cat got fans on their feet as it dashed onto MetLife Stadium during the Giants-Cowboys "Monday Night Football" game. Storyful

The Chargers and the NFL have backed themselves into a corner of their own design.

The league allowed the Chargers to destroy their home in San Diego, certain there would be a market for the team in Los Angeles despite all warnings to the contrary. Sure enough, its three years later and the only market where the Chargers are thriving is the secondary one.

Their temporary home only seats 30,000, yet it is repeatedly overrun by opponents fans. Sales of personal seat licenses for theswanky, soon-to-openSoFi Stadiumare reportedly feeble. With almost no history in Los Angeles, the Chargers have not been able to get a foothold in a town where interest in the NFL has never been particularly strong.

Chargers fans are often surrounded by empty seats at home, or by fans of the opposing team.(Photo: Sean M. Haffey, Getty Images)

Now come rumblings, via a report Monday in The Athletic, that the NFL is concerned enough about the Chargers long-term viability in Los Angeles that it is at least exploring the option of making the team its first full-time franchise in London.

Its total (expletive) (expletive), Chargers owner Dean Spanos said Tuesday. Were not going to London. Were not going anywhere. Were playing in Los Angeles. This is our home, and this is where we are planning to be for a long (expletive) time. Period.

The NFL wasn't quite so, umm, colorful, but no less definitive.

"No consideration has been given to the Chargers playing anywhere other than Los Angeles ... next season and beyond," the league said in a statement. "Both our office and the Chargers are entirely focused on the success of the team in Los Angeles."

Uh-huh. The success of the NFL's London games means some team is moving there, likely sooner rather than later, and right now the Chargers and the Jacksonville Jaguars are the most obvious candidates. Lets see what happens after a season or two of the Chargers dragging down the NFLs attendance numbers, or only being able to sell out their games at SoFi Stadium with the help of their out-of-town friends.

In the meantime, forgive me if I have zero sympathy for and am actually enjoying the predicament in which the NFL and Chargers find themselves.

The Chargers abandoned San Diego, their home of more than a half-century, for no other reason than greed. The loyalty of the fans, the impact the departure would have on a smaller-market city, the jobs that were lost Spanos didnt care about any of that. He wanted a new stadium but didnt want to pay for it, and when San Diego called his bluff, he picked up his ball and went to a new city.

That Spanos then accepted the NFLs $650 million relocation fee without batting an eye is some next-level hypocrisy. But I digress

The Chargers were always going to be a bad fit in Los Angeles, and just about everyone could see that. Los Angeles is all about glitz and glamour, but it has never been a big sports city. Not in the traditional sense, anyway. It loves its Lakers and its Dodgers and its USC football and UCLA basketball, but that has as much to do with the titles the teams have won and the stars who have played for them as anything else.

The Clippers, another San Diego transplant, have been in Los Angeles for how long now? And its taken a super team and a hyperactive and quirky owner who can spawn a new meme at any moment to make them semi-relevant in their own town.

Los Angeles history with the NFL was not exactly heartening, either. It had lured and lost two teams, the Rams and the Raiders, and didnt seem to mind being without an NFL team for 20-some years after they left. Didnt really seem to notice, if were being truthful.

To foist two teams on a city ambivalent about the NFL and think both would thrive was either arrogant or ignorant or a little bit of both.

At least the Rams had a history in Los Angeles, along with a small fan base that stayed loyal while the team was in St. Louis. The Chargers had nothing.

Plus, those in Los Angeles who cared about the NFL already had their allegiances, whether it was still to the Rams or Raiders, or some other team. There was no room for the Chargers, and no want to create any for them, either.

The NFL and the Chargers seem to think all of this will change when the team moves into SoFi Stadium, which it will share with the Rams. That the people of Los Angeles will be so dazzled by the new digs that they will embrace the Chargers and forget about the ugliness in San Diego.

But the Chargers need more than a change of address if that address is still in Southern California, that is and the NFL needs to be realistic about the market in Los Angeles. Allowing the Chargers to move to Los Angeles was a bad idea, one that looks worse with every game they play there.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

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Opinion: Chargers are never going to make it in Los Angeles - USA TODAY