Leah Bracknell had dismissed smoking as the cause of her terminal lung cancer in an emotional chat before her tragic death.

The ex-Emmerdale star, who found nationwide fame playing Zoe Tate for 16 years in the ITV soap, had only been diagnosed with the disease when she was rushed to hospital for life-saving surgery, after four doctors missed her symptoms.

Leah - known to her family and friends as Ali - wrote movingly about the guilt she'd felt for having previously smoked, despite professionals reassuring her that it hadn't caused her cancer.

She also told This Morning hosts HollyWilloughby and Philip Schofield of her shock.

"I did smoke in the past. The lung cancer was quite a shock, I haven't smoked for decades and decades," she said during an appearance on the show in October 2016.

"Normally people are diagnosed later. It came honestly out of the blue.

"I was vegetarian, I dont drink that much. I was fit for my age."

In her blog, Something Beginning With C, the actress and yoga teacher railed against the lack of research dedicated to lung cancer, asking if it was because of the stigma attached to the disease.

"I myself have smoked in the past. And no one can make me feel more guilty about that than I did, let me tell you," she wrote.

"Even when I was told that the type of lung cancer with which I was diagnosed was not caused by smoking, it was a bitter sweet revelation, and let's be honest, it can't have helped. But to fail to fairly fund research into detection, screening, treatments etc due to prejudice seems to be almost inhuman."

She went on: "The nature of life is such that we mortals do do things that are not good for us, we drink, we smoke, we take drugs, we over eat, we don't excercise etc etc, and that all has health consequences, do we stand by and judge everyone and smear them with prejudice?

"If a person has skin cancer, are they blamed or shamed because they didn't use sunscreen?"

Leah added: "Every year thousands of people are dying from lung cancer, and maybe we don't all need to! So, do check yourself out if you have concerns.

"We need to raise awareness of the disease and inequality surrounding funding for lung cancer, to motivate the government to address the shortcomings, welcome early screening initiatives, and extinguish prejudice."

Her call to arms came too late for Leah, but her legacy and painfully raw writing about cancer has helped spread awareness of the disease.

Leah leaves behind her husband Jez Hughes and her two adult daughters, Lily and Maya, who confirmed her death in a heartbreaking statement.

"It is with the deepest sadness that Leah Bracknell's family confirm that Leah passed away in September, three years after her diagnosis with stage 4 lung cancer," they said.

"They would like to thank all the public for their support and generosity which contributed to the extension and quality of her life over the past three years.

"Leah continued to embrace life and faced her illness with positivity. Many aspects of her journey can be found on her blog.

"Leah was best known and much loved as Zoe Tate in Emmerdale.

"She also had roles in Judge John Deed, A Touch of Frost, The Royal Today and DCI Banks to name just a few, as well as numerous appearances on stage and in pantomime.

"As well as acting, Leah was also an accomplished yoga teacher and shamanic healer.

"Leah had an energy and enthusiasm for life, a kind heart and much love to give to those around her.

"Her family have asked for privacy at this very sad time."

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Leah Bracknell dismissed smoking as cause of her lung cancer in emotional chat - Irish Mirror

Professional development and career growth can be dauntingbut with the right resources and preparation, the only constraint preventing you from getting where you desire to be is your own ambition.

Thats why we should never say no to that extra push, and reading books that inspire us to get further might just do the trick.

With so many resources and opportunities at our disposal, building a successful career in just about any field is quite possible. By the same token, it is also easy to move to a different field altogether and rebuild your career from the ground up. Because its never too late to grow professionally and to broaden your experience, the eight books listed in this article may serve as both inspiration and guides that could truly kickstart your new life.

Said to be one of the greatest books ever written, author Stephen Covey communicates the power of personal worldview and how our perspective greatly influences our behavior. Focused on changing ourselves to transform the world around us, this book highlights key characteristics in our own control that we can adapt to influence our surroundings.

When looking at some of the reviews of 7 Habits, you can tell that the book truly helped readers to become betternot only as professionals but also as human beings. Perhaps, you, too, could benefit from reading it.

A book cultivated on principles to become a more successful person, Think and Grow Rich curates the habits of the wealthy and successful, breaking them down into executable objectives that are easy to implement in our own lives. Three of the most impactful habits demonstrated in this book are autosuggestion (or self-fulfilling prophecy) to visualize your goals into reality, sticking and standing by your decisions by filtering cheap opinions, and joining a mastermind group of people working toward the same goals.

If youre looking for something clever that is also accessible, this handy guide will do the trick.

Focused on getting you where you want to go by shifting your habits, this book shows us that our habits comprise the majority of our decisions. So when we become stuck in a routine that is leading us nowhere, the book helps us to focus on making conscious changes to have a lasting effect. The book also discusses the importance of establishing willpower through delaying gratification, such as training for a marathon or following a strict diet to build consistency over time.

These lessons are important and useful to everyone, so even if youre not trying to change careers at the moment, you will be able to take something positive from The Power of Habit.

Considering the fact that we make numerous decisions on a daily basis, The Slight Edge presents the argument that our decisions can be harnessed to create a compounding effect, resulting in the lives we truly desire to live.

Because every bit of information we need can be grasped at our fingertips, this book attempts to instill the philosophy that success is achieved by winning everyday battles, focusing on how repeated behaviors can help us achieve our desired outcome.

Ultimately, determining what we actually want to achieve can be one of the most critical aspects of planning our careers trajectory. Therefore, this book targets different ways to discover your strengths in order to build a fulfilling career.

With a methodological approach, The New Rules of Work is an excellent career resource, walking readers through a precise system of steps that will help them choose and refine their profession.

A fascinating read, this book debunks the myth that following your passion is key to a fulfilling career.

Instead, author Cal Newport articulates the important idea that how you do what you do is far more significant than what you doarguing that passion comes after discipline and that skills that make you an expert are far more valuable, especially during the preparation process.

To some, the truths in this book might be somewhat hard to swallow. Nevertheless, the reader walks out with the feeling that, at least, he knows what he needs to do to get his career on the right path.

In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.

For decades, weve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. "F*** positivity," Mark Manson says. "Lets be honest, s*** is f****d and we have to live with it."

In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesnt sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it isa dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***is his antidote to the coddling, lets-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.

Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade but on learning to better stomach lemons. Human beings are flawed and limited"not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault." Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

There are only so many things we can give a f*** about, so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better because true wealth is about the experience.

A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.

Tina Fey isnt a beauty queen, shes a comedian. But more than a comedian, shes the boss. With Bossy Pants, Fey teaches the reader that managing a team as a woman isnt as easy as she makes it seem, especially in the wilderness that is the entertainment industry.

In her book, which many believe to be a simple memoir, Fey offers pearls of wisdom in the form of condensed one-liners, producing an effectiveand funnyhow-to guide that teaches the reader to be an effective leader without having to rely on the drama.

We all need a little more comedy in our lives, and Fey makes it a business model. Needless to say, she nails it.

No matter the trajectory you intend for your career, each of these books offers excellent guidance and tools to continue down any path.

As she so eloquently puts it in the book, we should never waste our energy trying to educate or change opinions.

Go Over! Under! Through! and opinions will change organically when youre the boss. Or they wont. Who cares? Do your thing and dont care if they like it.

Whatever the case, Fey gives the unlikely new boss of his own career a foolproof blueprint, and one that doesnt center around blood, sweat, and tears, but fun, sarcasm, and wit.

For any readers desiring career advice, these books provide more than a sense of direction, as they also offer a framework that helps the reader find passion in any career path.

No matter the trajectory you intend for your career, each of these books offers excellent guidance and tools to continue down any path. Now its up to you to decide which one speaks to your needs and faults and let the book do the talking.

Original post:
8 Books on Personal Growth That Can Help Launch Your Career | Chloe Anagnos - Foundation for Economic Education

ARIES

March 21 to April 20

MOVING from a partnership sun to a personal change sun is such a positive shift. You balance give and take, finding ways to reinvent your true self.

Career-wise, you have strong emotional control, which means you can push through tough plans but stay focused. Cash you earn means more than a generous gift.

1

April 21 to May 21

A communication-rich moonscope shapes your chart in a fascinating way as you break through old barriers and reach faraway names.

Venus makes love rules fun and partners can reconnect fully. If you are single, a personalised number plate is a passion giveaway. Mars inspires you to top a fitness best.

Your week starts with high creative activity, so be on alert to record every idea. You will strike gold when you least expect it but will recognise at once.

A moon of practical cash talks and choices ends a time of indecision but do be clear about who is going to do what, at home and at work. Love is physically amazing.

June 22 to July 22

Your sense of belonging warms up and you are able to commit so words of love that once stalled flow freely.

Elsewhere, you extend a circle in some wonderful ways as the sun lights up your zone of performance and play.

Language meant for fun finds an audience as Mercury helps refine it. Your writing talent gets expert praise.

July 23 to August 23

Your chart brims with positive communication opportunities, so take the next couple of days to work out exactly what you should say to someone special.

Dont let the moment pass! A moon of digging deep and letting your true feelings show takes a personal goal to the next stage. A clear conscience has no price tag.

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August 24 to September 22

A moon of sharing but also protecting yourself makes this the perfect time to tackle unfairness, setting out new rules while still keeping key names onside.

Love is chatty and warm but helping with a word puzzle can spark hot new feelings. A positive mindset sun reframes career changes into exciting challenges.

September 23 to October 23

The sun is on the move and leaves your sign in great shape, so this is the time to act on deep, unspoken ambitions.

You have a layer of confidence to protect you along any path and you now feel sure about what and who really matters to you. Neptune and the moon soften a tough love line.

October 24 to November 22

You cant avoid strong emotions this week, so embrace them and find sincere ways to show special people you care.

A cool, casual attitude no longer fits with what you want and need. Elsewhere, as the sun moves into your personal zone, ambitions wake up and so do you. Ready, steady, action. You are a fast and smart learner.

November 23 to December 21

You naturally steal the show but now is the time to step out of the limelight and work out deeper dreams. They are smaller but more intense, so listen to your heart.

Your moonscope centres on strong personal development. In love, you say and do all the right things. Single? Look twice at a twin.

December 22 to January 20

What you want and what you need are not always the same but now you know the difference, it is time to take back control of your heart and your ideas.

Elsewhere, a sharing sun turns a group chat into a successful stepping-off point and the moons focus on gentle cooperation takes a learning goal to the next level.

January 21 to February 18

Not everybody is on the same page as you but the planets keep conversations open and efforts flowing, making your chart persuasive.

You really play to your personal strengths this week. A transformation moon matches with a success sun and you can be whoever you want. Passion is hottest at a friends celebration.

February 19 to March 20

WHAT THE CHOP Woman leaves hairdressers during 70 colour 'for food' - and never returns

HAVING A BALL Thrifty mum wears 10p dress she found in charity shop to black tie event

that won't wash Can you spot all the errors in Primark's mistake-riddled tea towel?

SCRUBBING UP Woman uses Mrs Hinch's favourite 1 cleaner to get grotty bath sparkling

SLEEP DREAMS Scientists claim lying with your kids until they fall asleep is good for them

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Mum transforms stairs for 70 by shopping at Ikea, The Range and B&Q

Your charts gift is the ability to use every aspect of your life and personality to work towards a key goal. But you also have the strength to let stale dreams go for something that suits you better.

This is a world-beating combination! Neptune softens your heart so a sincere apology gets through this time.

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Daily horoscope for Sunday October 20 heres what the stars have in store for you today - The Sun

Before his team played its preseason finale Friday night, Brett Brown labeled the game as something approximating a dress rehearsal. But, unless a flurryof unexpected misfortunehits the Sixers before their regular-season opener Wednesday night vs. the Celtics, Furkan Korkmaz will not start, as he did against the Wizards in place of Ben Simmons (out with back tightness).

It does appear, however, that the Turkish wing will play legitimate minutes early this season. Brown seemed to confirm as much before the Sixers' 112-93 loss, talking about Korkmazs progress and resilience in glowing terms.

The Sixers declined Korkmazs third-year option last season, then ultimately re-signedthe 22-year-old in late July.

I am [looking for him to contribute]. And I dont want to be harsh about itthats what hes gotta do," Brown said of where Korkmaz finds himself now after his struggles last year. "Thats part of life in the NBA. Its not like hes an established player. This is not the league for the weak.

He should go to Europe if that was going to dismember his spirit. Hes great people, and hes fighting to stay in the league, hes fighting to get minutes hes fighting. Thats the phase and the stage that the young man is at, and I give him credit for not blinking. He just didnt go away. Now, here he is.

Browns answer was impassioned, and his words weren't bogus. But Korkmazs character and attitude alone dont warrant a spot in the Sixers rotation. He started Fridayfor one primary reason the notion that he is an outside shooter.

Though Brown praised Korkmazs defense and his maturation, the Sixers head coach also said this:

Were always just trying to mine shooters. Youre trying to find and mine and help cultivate shooters. If he is anything, he is that.

Korkmaz has, in fact, not been a good shooter at the NBA level. Hes shot 38.8 percent from the field in 62 NBA regular-season games, 32.3 percent from three-point range. After a 2-for-9 performance Friday, he finished 10 for 25 overall during the preseason, 4 for 13 from behind the arc.

The concept of Korkmaz filling a three-point shooting void after JJ Redicks move to the Pelicans is, on its face, appealing tothe Sixers. Korkmaz has a pretty shot; hes done well in international play; he had an incredible July night last year in Las Vegas, scoring 40 points in a summer-league game.

Perhaps those hints of promise will translate to the NBA. However, if theres an assumption that Korkmazs identity as a shooter makes him worthy of a rotation spot, it would be misguided.

There are alternatives in that mix for bench wing minutes, though theyre also young and unproven in the NBA.

Shake Milton, a two-way player last year,has played both at point guard and on the wing during the preseason. The SMU product, who averaged 24.9 points in 27 G-League games as a rookie, is a more advanced playmaker and a superior defender to Korkmaz.

The 23-year-old told NBC Sports Philadelphia he hasnt been given an indication yet of his regular-season role.

No, he said. My job is just to come in and do whatever the team needs me to do. Ive kind of been flip-flopping during practice. Ive just got to do whatever the team needs me to do, bottom line. Guard and either make plays for others or be ready to knock down shots and score.

This time last year, Milton was returning to competitive basketball aftermissing summer league because of a stress fracture in his back. He acknowledged Friday night he feels more explosive, and hes looked it, showing off a burst on the fast break that wasnt present early last season.

I feel like its been a huge jump, personally, he said. For one, the confidence that I have out there, my body feels good, feel physically ready. I go out there with confidence, my teammates have confidence in me, the coaches have confidence in me. Just going out there and being fearless.

Zhaire Smith, meanwhile, has been seen exclusively in garbage time this preseason. Just as Korkmazs shooting or Miltons versatility might be attractive to Brown, one would think Smiths pogo stick athleticism and penchant for on-ball defense could boost his stock.

That hasnt been the case, with Smiths novel of a rookie year one that included a broken foot, a severe allergic reaction and jumpers with tubes in his stomach putting him behind Milton and Korkmaz at the moment, in Browns eyes.

Hes expecting me to develop all around, Smith said Friday of Browns expectations. Last year we tried to develop, but then obviously I had the setback. He feels like this is my rookie year, like this is [about] development.

The perspective that this season should be centered on learning and personal growth for Smith is fair enough. So is the idea that Korkmaz might have unique value for the Sixers.

He hasnt delivered it yet, though. The Sixers would, in this writers view, be wise not to let their vision of his potential block out other options.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

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Sixers will waive 3 players, which should leave them with roster for opener - NBCSports.com

A quarter of secondary schools in Southend are falling behind the required standard, the education watchdog says.

Of the 12 schools in the area, Ofsted rates one as inadequate, its lowest mark, while two require improvement, as of 30 September.

Its latest figures list five as outstanding and four as good.

The regulator visits all new schools, including academies, within three years of opening.

Inspectors judge them on categories including the quality of teaching, personal development and welfare, the effectiveness of the leadership and pupils' achievement.

Schools requiring improvement will be inspected again within 30 months, while those rated inadequate now face mandatory conversion into academies, funded directly by central government.

In Southend, there are 52 schools registered with Ofsted including primaries, one of which is rated inadequate while six require improvement meaning 13% overall are below standard.

This is, though, in line with the 15% average for the East of England.

Across England, 20% of all schools were classed as outstanding, 66% good, 10% requires improvement and 4% inadequate.

But with more than 1,000 "outstanding" state schools going without an inspection in a decade, the National Education Union warned this did not accurately reflect the quality of education they offer.

Dr Mary Bousted, the union's joint general secretary, said: "The fact that some schools haven't been inspected for over 10 years demonstrates that the information Ofsted provides is misleading at best and may be downright wrong.

"This is yet another reason that Ofsted is past its sell-by date."

The Department for Education recently announced it will consult on plans to remove the exemption for outstanding schools, a move Ofsted says it welcomes.

"This is something that Ofsted has long argued for, so we're pleased the Government has made this announcement," said a spokeswoman for the regulator.

"Routine inspection assures both parents and schools that the quality of education on offer is of a good standard.

"In the interim, inspectors can and do go into outstanding rated schools if necessary.

"We have powers to inspect at any time if we have concerns about the standard of education, or if there is a safeguarding concern."

A DfE spokeswoman added: "This Government is committed to providing world-class education for all students and, where a school is judged as inadequate by Ofsted, the Department will not hesitate to step in and ensure that swift improvements are made so that all children at the school can receive the education they deserve.

"The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed considerably in both primary and secondary schools since 2011.

"Teachers and school leaders are helping to drive up standards right across the country, with 85% of children now in good or outstanding schools compared to just 66% in 2010."

See more here:
1 in 4 Southend secondary schools 'falling behind' national standards - Echo

It was clear this offseason that GM Elton Brand built the Sixers with a specific ideain mind.

He wanted his team to be a gargantuan defensive bully. The Sixers have bought into it, with just about every player stating the teams goal of wanting to be the No. 1 defensive outfitin the NBA.

The biggest concern seemed to be their lack of three-point shooting with the departure of JJ Redick. Unfortunately for Brett Brown, his team did little to quell those concerns.

A rough shooting preseason was capped by a 7-for-27 performance in a listless 112-93 loss to the Wizards Friday night(see observations).

When asked about it before the game, Brown thought the storyline was overblown.

I think it's not as big of a problem as maybe the marketplace does, Brown said pregame. I think that we have shooters here. Are they at the standard of JJ Redick? No. But if that's the bar, well, it's pretty high. And so I think as you go through the list of players, although you're not seeing like a high volume, low 40 percent type of high-volume threes at such a pretty high percentage you're not seeing that on the roster. But I still have confidence that we have a team that can shoot. Will that be our identity? No. Will it be needed? Yep. But I think that we're a better shooting team than what I sense the marketplace thinks.

The numbers dont help Brown here.

Al Horford and Mike Scott both shot over 40 percent from three. None of the other main rotation players even shot league average not including Ben Simmons immaculate 1 for 1.

Josh Richardson (33.3), Tobias Harris (25), Joel Embiid (22.2), Matisse Thybulle (26.7) and James Ennis (12.5) contributed to the Sixers shooting a paltry 31.7 percent from three this preseason.

Even given those numbers and the especially poor performance Friday, Brown is still standing by his claim.

I stand by my comment, Brown said postgame. I think that we have better shooters than the marketplace believes. Those comments, my comments, aren't well supported when you look at the statistics in the preseason, but I do think that. I still think that and it's stuff that we need to believe in that and not shy away from it. I don't want to at all and we won't shy away from it. I think that the attention that we have given to offensive rebounding may help ease some of those misses if we can do what we hope to do from that perspective. But I think that we have better shooters then we have shown in the preseason.

Brown does have a point in that aforementioned players have shot much better throughout their NBA careers than theyve shown through five preseason games.

But it has to be considered a legitimate concern. The Sixers are sort of bucking trends by trotting out their huge, defensive-oriented roster, but they recognize that shooting is still a must.

In the second quarter Friday, the Wizards went to a zone defense. Its not the first time the Sixers have seen that this preseason and, after how poorly they managed it Friday, it likely wont be the last. The obvious caveat is that it was a flat performance by the Sixers in general. They definitely had the feel of a team just going through the motions as a date with Boston on opening night looms.

The ball movement at times has been excellent and its led to some great looks. To a certain extent, the shots just didnt fall in the preseason.

I think the looks have been good, Harris said. I think we'll just continue to find each other's own games and where we want those looks from beyond the arc. It's obviously early too in preseason of games where we've been able to get some good looks. Some of them haven't fallen, but they'll continue to come with time and just us figuring out where each other needs the ball, wants the ball with threes we want to take, and I think the more we hunt the threes, the better off we are to be able to shoot it at a higher percentage.

The Sixers are going to hang their hats on the defensive end, but theyll need to shoot at least a little to get where they want to go.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

Read more from the original source:
Sixers will hang their hat on defense, but those shooting questions haven't gone away - NBCSports.com

Half of secondary schools in Swindon are falling behind the required standard, the education watchdog says.

Of the 12 schools inspected in the area, Ofsted rates two as inadequate, its lowest mark, while four require improvement, as of 30 September.

Its latest figures list none as outstanding and six as good.

In Swindon, there are 86 schools registered with Ofsted including primaries, six of which are rated inadequate while 14 require improvement meaning 25 per cent overall are below standard.

This is above the 17 per cent average for the south west.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: Myself and Robert Buckland continue to work and support our fantastic local schools and the dedicated staff.

Swindon has had its challenges, in part because of Labours unfair funding formula, but thankfully recent announcements to significantly level up funding and the addition of a number of brand new schools including the Great Western Academy and The Deanery shows our children will have the best chance of fulfilling their potential.

Ofsted visits all new schools, including academies, within three years of opening.

Inspectors judge them on categories including the quality of teaching, personal development and welfare, the effectiveness of the leadership and pupils achievement.

Schools requiring improvement will be inspected again within 30 months, while those rated inadequate now face mandatory conversion into academies, funded directly by central government.

Across England, 20 per cent of all schools were classed as outstanding, 66 per cent good, 10 per cent requires improvement and 4 per cent inadequate.

But with more than 1,000 outstanding state schools going without an inspection in a decade, the National Education Union warned this did not accurately reflect the quality of education on offer.

Dr Mary Bousted, the unions joint general secretary, said: The fact that some schools havent been inspected for over 10 years demonstrates that the information Ofsted provides is misleading at best and may be wrong. This is yet another reason that Ofsted is past its sell-by date.

A DfE spokeswoman added: "Teachers and school leaders are helping to drive up standards, with 85 per cent of children now in good or outstanding schools compared to 66 per cent in 2010."

Continue reading here:
Half of Swindon's secondary schools fail to impress Ofsted inspectors - Swindon Advertiser

Posted on Oct 18, 2019

Nic Redfern, Finance Director, KnowYourMoney.co.uk

The traditional workplaceculture today is a far cry from what it was even a decade ago. Arguably, one ofthe most significant shifts that has taken place is workers changing attitudestowards flexible working.

Flexible working is anarrangement whereby workers enjoy more freedoms in terms of how long, where, andwhen they work. There are plenty of reasons why this has become an attractiveproposition, be it reducing the number of hours spent commuting between homeand the workplace, to fitting work around ones personal and familycommitments. And importantly, the option to work from home one or two days aweek, or to shift working hours to better fit a personal schedule, has become akey consideration for people when exploring their job options.

With the world of workchanging, this presents an opportunity for businesses to better support theneeds of their workers. So how can companies adapt to this trend and makeflexible working work better for both employees and their employers?

How strong is the allure of flexible working?

To uncover professionals attitudes towards flexible working, Know Your Money recently conducted a survey of more than 2,000 UK adults in full-time or part-time employment, which explored some of the major changes that are shaping the future of work.

The standout takeaway fromthe research is that employees are seeking greater control over certain aspectsof their working lives even if it means making certain sacrifices. Almosthalf (49%) of the people we surveyed said they would be in favour of a four-dayworking week, even if it meant they would have to take a 20% pay cut. Three-quarters(75%) would also be in favour of a shortened working week if they still had tocomplete their current number of weekly working hours in fewer days.

Meanwhile, just over 70% ofUK employees consider flexible working (in terms of hours and location) as veryimportant to their overall job satisfaction, with women placing a higheremphasis on this than men. What these findings ultimately show is that workersfeel their employers have not yet caught up with the flexible working trend,despite strong inroads being made in recent years to promote change.

Why should businesses take flexible working seriously?

Businesses seeking to acquire,and retain, top talent must consider how they can offer a more supportiveworkplace environment. Indeed, most employees will have commitments outside ofthe world of work from childcare to looking after elderly relatives, or evensimply pursuing other interests which cannot always fit around thetraditional 9 to 5 schedule.

The business case forflexible working has also been demonstrated time and time again. The CharteredInstitute for Personal Development (CIPD), for instance, recently releasedguidance on flexible working, noting that in many cases it has led toimprovements in motivation, creativity, mental wellbeing and productivity levels.

How can businesses support the needs of theiremployees?

First and foremost, itsimportant to be open-minded to the mutual benefits linked with flexible workingpatterns, while also acknowledging the logistical barriers that exist within anorganisation which might prevent employers being able to seek out flexiblearrangements. The responsibility has now shifted onto employers to offerflexible working options and ensure that the people they employ arewell-equipped to carry on their activities regardless of when or where they areworking. Of course, implementing such change will differ based on profession.

Its difficult to talk aboutflexible working without also recognising the important role that technologyplays in enabling remote working. Smartphones, tablets and laptops with accessto online data storage, shared file services, emails and electronic resourcesnow mean that a significant majority of office-based tasks can be completedalmost anywhere so long as an internet connection is to hand.

As more and more workers demandwork flexibility, its essential that companies invest to ensure they have theonline systems in place for their employees to operate outside the remit of theoffice. This isnt limited to physical devices, but also extends to softwaresolutions like Slack which enable connectivity allowing employees tocommunicate effectively and share data as and when they need to.

Ultimately, the main goal of flexible working is to help employees achieve a better work-life balance. And theres no denying that this is becoming a priority for many of the countrys workers. As demonstrated from the Know Your Money research, workers are open to flexible working arrangements that strike the right balance between required hours in the office and the opportunity for remote working.

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The flexible working revolution has arrived heres why business need to adapt - HR News

Ma Anand Sheela, former close aide of Rajneesh, on Sunday opened up about the way of life at Rajneeshpuram, a utopian city for the controversial gurus followers in rural Oregon in the US, and how she still follows the communal lifestyle. Sheela, who is on her first India visit in 34 years, spoke with filmmaker Karan Johar at The Conversation, organised by Humans For Humanity in association with Sipping Thoughts.

Sheela worked as the personal secretary of Rajneesh, popularly known as Osho, from 1981 through 1985 and managed Rajneeshpuram. Sheela, who recently came to limelight as the central figure in Netflixs 2018 docu-series Wild, Wild Country, said contrary to popular perception, sexuality was never misused in both of Bhagwans communes Pune and Rajneeshpuram. There was no misuse of sexuality in our commune in Pune or in Rajneeshpuram. We talked about sexuality openly. Its like when you are attracted to somebody, you express your attraction, she said.

Also read: Wild Wild Country review: Netflixs unbelievable inside look at Oshos sex cult will haunt you for days

One message which I want to give to everyone present here is to be yourself; I am me and will always remain like this. I have learnt to live communal lifestyle from Bhagwan Rajneesh, she added.

Sheela, 69, is known for wearing her heart on her sleeves and when asked whether she had unrequited love for Rajneesh, she said the guru was also very much in love with me.

... You should see some of the photographs and see how he looked at me. And the way he said Seela... Sharing an anecdote, Sheela recalled an evening she spent with Rajneesh as he watched the classic Umrao Jaan, featuring Rekha and Farooq Shaikh.

There was a poetry on love in it. We finished our work and then Bhagwan said, Seela, come sit here. I sat with him and he explained every word of that poetry to me. It was divine, she said.

When Karan pressed to know the nature of their relationship, Sheela counter-questioned the filmmaker if he was curious about the physical aspect of their equation.

Also read: Oshos controversial secretary and Wild Wild Country star Ma Anand Sheela in her most honest interview ever!

There was no sex with Osho. Our relationship was not sexual. The integrity mattered because I was already drowning in him... she said.

Rajneesh was famous for advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality and when the director asked if she personally believes in his theories of free sex, Sheela had an interesting answer.

Not just me, but I think everybody believes in it secretly. They want freedom from their relationships and enjoy themselves. In 1986, after a fallout with the guru, Sheela pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault for her role in the 1984 Rajneeshee bio-terror attack. She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and paroled after 39 months and moved to Switzerland.

Sheela then married Swiss citizen Urs Birnstiel, a fellow Rajneesh follower. She settled in Maisprach, Switzerland, where she bought and managed two nursing homes.

Sheela, who addressed Rajneesh as my lover, said she had no regrets in life.

Im living whatever Ive learnt from Bhagwans communal lifestyle where you compliment one another and I cared for Bhagwan in his commune, I care now for my own disabled people.

I created these homes because I was missing my parents and if people want to see it as redemption then I must need redemption, take it and move on. In 1984, Sheela initiated attempts to murder Rajneeshs caretaker and girlfriend, Ma Yoga Vivek, and his personal physician, Swami Devaraj (real name George Meredith), because she believed they were a threat to him.

When Karan asked what she would say to Rajneesh if given a chance to meet him one last time, she said, I would tell Bhagwan, You went with the wrong people who drugged you. And you shouldnt have allowed it and you were too smart for that... But it was his choice. Sheela is in the country till October 25.

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First Published:Oct 01, 2019 10:48 IST

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Oshos controversial aide Ma Anand Sheela recounts how the guru loved her, explained Umrao Jaans poetry... - Hindustan Times

A few years ago, I wrote a piece in this space all about the road signs, bumper stickers and other pieces of priceless wisdom I gathered while out of town on vacation. Similarly, I recently returned from a fall holiday after visiting our nations tiniest state Rhode Island.

While traveling to any number of historic places and centuries old seaports, I once again decided to jot down some of the sage advice both funny and profound I witnessed in old country stores and cafs, public pubs and tiny taverns as well as country inns where I stayed. Heres a sampling of the discoveries I made along the way.

In a rural restaurant somewhere between an obscure village and the city of Newport, a hand-painted poster suggested Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside. About the same time, on an old truck that looked like it must have seen much better days bore a bumper sticker which read: I wish Morgan Freeman narrated my life.

In a downscale wine shop, a sign declared: You may call it boxed wine we call it Cardboardeaux. Cute, dont you agree? In that same store, another sign really hit home: I have a good heart, but this mouth

Browsing a charming used book store I enjoyed this bit of advice hanging above the counter: Whisper I love you to a butterfly. It will fly to Heaven and deliver your message.

Then in a decades old (my favorite kind) antique shop with an equally old proprietor I noticed this statement which was hand-written on a piece of cardboard richly expressing the owners attitude: Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am awake.

Since Halloween was rapidly approaching, I was reminded of that fact with signs such as If you cant fly with the big girls, stay off the broom. Or how about When the witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, tis near Halloween.

Then no one could miss the massive poster decorating the front window of a candy store cleverly announcing: Trick or Treat, Bag of Sweets, Ghosts are walking down the Street. And in that same shop I laughed when I sighted this posting: Free Flying Lessons BYOB (that would be bring you own broom).

In a hotel laundry, I chuckled when I saw this bit of reasoning: Wouldnt it be great if we could place ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes and come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?

One of the things I love most about traveling, especially to New England, is the abundance of colonial history to be found almost everywhere. Posted above the front door of a delightful 18th century tavern I noticed this quote: If not in haste, do stop and taste. You bet I did.

And speaking of history, after visiting the birthplace of American painter Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) whose famous portrait of George Washington has appeared on the dollar bill for decades, I was impressed with the iron marker on the side of the old house: He yearned to portray our greatest citizen. His portraits embody the wisdom and dignity of Washington

So, during my trip I managed to fill my notebook with so many more nuggets of inspiration as well as thoughts about how to live and to behave such as: Be the reason someone smiles today. Or In a world where you can be anything, be kind. And although I dont recall where, I liked this posting: Dream without fear, love without limits.

I suppose it goes without saying, reason and enlightenment are everywhere. All you have to do is look.

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Look for the signs of reason, enlightenment | Lifestyle - Herald Zeitung