Prior to the 2020 season, there might not have been a more controversial and hated player on the Denver Broncos' roster than left tackle Garett Bolles. A former first-round pick that was inching closer and closer to 'bust' status due to his nasty habit of drawing boneheaded penalties, Bolles was a hot topic in Broncos Country over the course of this past summer.

For good reason, too.

Bolles inconsistencies on the blindside had fans and pundits alike pining for his eventual replacement to be drafted following the fourth season of his career, citing his 45 total penalties over his first three seasons as a pro, including 10 total accepted holding flags in 2019.

Many fans feared for Drew Locks safety playing behind Bolles, fretting that it was only a matter of time before the young quarterback would get injured.

It seemed as if the Broncos were in lock-step with the general consensus across the fanbase. After all, the Broncos telegraphed their intentions by not exercising Bolles' fifth-year option this past spring.

The message was simple; either improve your play in the final year of your contract or find work elsewhere.

Despite the outside noise and being slapped in the face by the organization that made him the 20th overall selection of the 2017 draft, Bolles showed mental fortitude, dedicating himself to becoming a great player in order to silence his critics.

Bolles is now playing football at an unforeseen level compared to what he had shown in the past. With a drastic improvement in his technique and consistency, he has quietly grown into the best player on the Broncos' offensive line.

"I truly believe a man goes through a rough patch in their life for a reason, Bolles said on Tuesday. [Its] to make them better, and it speaks highly of how a man comes out of that.

I truly believe I came out of it on a high noteI learned from my mistakes.

Going back to the 2017 draft, Bolles was widely considered to be one of the top tackle prospects in the class. A raw but highly athletic specimen out of Utah with a mean streak, he was dubbed as a two-to-three-year project for whichever team drafted him.

It was going to take a while for Bolles to get up to speed in the NFL as he refined his technique, but once the investment came to fruition, the dividends are now being paid in spades.

The problem was, Bolles didnt develop his technique properly as he struggled to adapt his game to a different offensive line coach in each of his first three seasons in the league. With a learning disability serving to complicate and hinder his development, which was mistakenly identified as a lack of work ethic by outsiders, he was unable to adapt to the NFL game as a whole.

While Bolles' play in the running game was among the best in the league over those first three seasons, his pass protection was incredibly inconsistent, leading to several penalty flags to fly.

So why did Bolles struggle so much?

I think in the past I just used my athletic ability to get the job done, Bolles explained on Tuesday. But I think the more I've been in the league, the more I watch film and I watch myself, the more I really dial in on the technical side of things.

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One of the biggest aspects of self-improvement comes from self-scouting. Identifying the flaws within, learning to adapt to and overcome those flaws, and translating those flaws into improvement. As Bolles put it, he realized that he had to learn from those mistakes and grow as a player.

Sometimes, that realization can come at the expense of the ego. Acknowledging that he wouldnt change his mentality as being a dog out there, Bolles understood that he needed to improve his technique, and cited multiple flaws in his game.

What I did need to change is how I saw things, Bolles admitted. How I placed my hands and how I moved my feet, how I keep my shoulders and my numbers square for two kick slides or how I take two kick slides, pause, and get on my guy. Those were the things I had to learn, and it took time.

Through all of the criticism, both warranted and unwelcomed, Bolles knew that he had to do something different with his preparation for the upcoming season. Looking towards his idols legendary tackles Jonathan Ogden, Joe Thomas, and Joe Staley Bolles began to understand that improved technique, along with his incredible athleticism, could help him achieve his goals to become a top-flight left tackle in the league.

Those guys were technicians for a reason," Bolles said. "They were 10-time Pro Bowlers, first-time [Pro Football Hall of Fame] ballot players because of what they did on the field with their technique.

Seeing the deficiencies in his technique and understanding why that was the reason for the massive onslaught of criticism levied on his head, Bolles found a new way to improve himself as a player during the offseason, all while dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Without being able to access the Broncos' training facilities or film room, he got creative.

As Bolles and his wife were in the kitchen preparing their dinner, Bolles would practice his footwork without wearing shoes, feeling the floor against his feet and getting a better understanding of his balance and weight placement against a solid surface. A technique multiple offensive linemen, including ex-Broncos' All-Pro Louis Vasquez, have admitted to utilizing over the years.

But it didnt stop there.

I had my wife line up and she would run after me and I would take sets, Bolles said. Id put my hands on hernot hard of coursebut just enough so I can get into a repetition of continuing to do the same thing over and over again. Id run, Id hit the bag, Id get a pole and Id fit it like I was fitting a run game. Id do whatever I can to find myselfI was training in California to of course not break COVID rulesbut be by myself and go to the park and set up a tree or put cones on the ground and set, something like that. I always found something to do to continue to get my body in shape and get my mind where it needs to be mentally and physically and really dial in what I needed to do.

That creative mindset, alongside having back-to-back seasons with venerated O-line coach Mike Munchak, has turned a once-maligned career on its head. The focus on the little things, such as changing his diet, changing his sleep schedule, and not going through the motions, has transformed Bolles into a quality left tackle.

Bolles has only allowed nine total QB pressures on the season and has yet to surrender a sack through the teams 10 games. While he has had a few penalties as well, the yellow laundry has not fallen with anywhere close to the rapidity of the previous three years as his play drastically improved.

We're talking about a quanum-leap type of improvement as illustrated by his current ranking as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the league per Pro Football Focus' grading system.

Bolles' performance has completely changed the narrative surrounding his future with the Broncos, and he's now poised to receive a long-term contract extension following the season.

Bolles' focus remains on the present and becoming the best player he can be with his ultimate goal of becoming the best offensive tackle in the league. He knows that if he takes care of his business on the field, everything else will fall into place.

I mean, that would be nice, but its not up to me," Bolles said of garnering an extension from the Broncos. "Thats why I hired an agent. He talks to Mr. Elway. When they want to do it, theyll do it. Thats just how I look at it. I just want to be consistent. I have to go out there and play at a high level every single week. Fix my mistakes throughout the weeks but go out there and shine.

Follow Lance on Twitter @SandersonMHH and @MileHighHuddle.

View original post here:
Garett Bolles Opens Up on the Epiphany That Led to him Becoming NFL's Top-Graded Left Tackle - Sports Illustrated

One of the great journeys in life is to continually better yourself. Self-help is a billion-dollar industry and motivational speakers and authors make a living selling you advice on how to fix your life.

At the end of the day, though, most of their advice will not really improve your life if you're not psychologically ready to embrace change. For that reason, a lot of people spend way too much money over-complicating their costly self-help rituals.

Here are 3 easy ideas for how to think practically about self-improvement:

Virtually no one is completely healthy. Everyone's got something, whether it's bad knees, a congenital heart arrhythmia, or something simple like a minor allergy. While great strides have been made in destigmatizing medical conditions, especially in matters of mental health, many people still forgo discussing problems with their doctors because they are sheepish about disclosing personal details.

One of the most obvious and common examples of this is erectile dysfunction, which affects some 18 million American males. More and more men and their partners are acknowledging this condition and trying to do something about it. In the past, you could spend exorbitant amounts of money trying out pills, pumps, and even surgery to combat ED. These days, a safe and simple ED device can realign your blood flow and physiology without the side effects reported in other treatments.

Another example would be smoking. Smoking cigarettes is widely known to cause cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and a variety of other grisly health conditions. Many smokers are embarrassed by their habits and hide it as best they can instead of confronting their addiction head-on and seeking help. There is a new generation of smoking cessation aids that are more effective and less expensive.

The longer you kick the can down the road on treating your medical problems, the worse - and more expensive - they will become. Embrace the journey.

In previous decades, pretty much everyone had a checkbook. They used checks for groceries and other larger purchases. Nowadays, with debit cards, Apple pay, Paypal, Venmo, Cash App, and the rise of online commerce, checkbooks are not nearly as common. People have checking accounts, yes, but much fewer people - especially younger people - actually carry around a checkbook and they are much more likely to use a card or make an online payment.

However, that doesn't mean that the principle of "balancing your checkbook" can't still be applied. The basic premise is keeping track of all your outgoing payments so that you always know your bank balance and can plan accordingly. The concept holds up even in this new post-check world.

New online bank account portals and even third-party apps allow you to easily organize your finances in a new digital incarnation of "balancing the checkbook." These tools are usually free.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the finances of millions of Americans, causing millions of job losses, defaults, and evictions. If you're living off your credit card right now, you should know that you are not alone. Many families are dependent on loans, cash advances, and credit right now to pay rent/mortgage, put food on the table, and keep the heat on during the winter.

However, if you have enough money, either in savings or as an on-going salary, you're much better off not driving up a credit card debt. It can really come back to haunt you later in life.

Once you reach a certain point with a large credit card debt, your monthly payments are no longer even chipping away at the balance - you're literally just paying off the interest that has accumulated. This is a morbid cycle to get into and one you should avoid at all costs.

Do you have any simple, frugal methods for self-improvement? Share them with us.

See more here:
A Guide to Substantially Improving Your Life in 3 Frugal Ways - University Herald

There are things that fans love about Dan, and still, there are many reasons why he's not a fan favorite.

Luciferis an epic story with characters that have evolved from Season 1. While many fans love characters like Ella, Maze, and Lucifer, characters like Dan get less of the love. When the show started, Lucifer nicknamed Dan "Dan the Douche", and he seemed to fit the nickname. He wasn't showing up for Trixie (his daughter with Chloe), and he constantly doubted Chloe.

RELATED: 16 Shows to Watch If You Like Lucifer

However, over time, Dan's character has grown, showing more nuances and interesting traits. There are things that fans love about Dan, and still, there are many reasons why he's not a fan favorite.

Initially, Dan didn't show up for likable and sweet Trixie as much as Chloe did. This changes, and he becomes a good father for Trixie. She is the key part of his family. Although he and Chloe are no longer together, he has retained a good relationship with her. He still sees her as family. Due to this, he is extremely protective of Chloe.

While he may act without knowing the full story, he often does so out of pure motivation to protect his family.

In the first season, Dan often second-guesses and doubts Chloe. In earlier cases, he encourages her to not make them complicated, to go for the easy answer. At this point, Chloe isn't as certain of her natural detective gift, and his opinion matters and causes her to doubt herself. Luckily, Chloe still follows her hunches despite Dan's doubt.

In time, Dan does come to trust Chloe. However, this is a trait that he has a hard time getting rid of completely. It results in a self-righteousness where Dan thinks he knows better for Chloe without asking for her point of view.

When Mum (the Goddess, Lucifer's mother) brought Charlotte back to life, Charlotte was confused. Dan and Mum (housed in Charlotte's body) had a relationship. Dan, not knowing that the real Charlotte had been absent from her body, assumed that his relationship was the same. However, when Charlotte says she doesn't know who Dan is, nor seems to feel at ease with him, it hurts him. Later, after Charlotte and he begin to get to know each other again, he tells Charlotte, "I like you, Charlotte. So if you need time, I can wait. You're worth it."

RELATED: Lucifer 10 Hilarious Quotes From Each Main Character

Apparently, waiting isn't quite Dan's strong suit, so in an episode shortly after, he tells her that if she wants space, he'll respect that, but he needs to tell her where he stands. He decides to tell her what he wants and says, "I want you. All in. The whole deal." It's a vulnerable moment. He opens himself up to her, and it works. They become a great couple.

No doubt, fans may not have expected Dan and Ella to hook up. The fact that they hooked up was interesting, not bad. They provided solace and understanding to each other as well as the comfort that both needed at the time. What was bad happened afterward. Dan tried to distract Ella from finding out his dubious role on a recent hit on Lucifer. Then after that didn't work, he tried to cast doubt in Ella's theory that a cop had been involved.

Later, when she discovers the truth of his involvement and decides to help him by hiding his role, he gets mad at her. He wants to be punished. So, basically, Ella can't do anything quite right. Luckily, their interlude never resulted in a relationship.

Dan comes across as pretty serious much of the time. This makes the moments when Dan is willing to try new things extra special. In Season 5, Dan tries to change, using self-help and improvement strategies. He borrowed a stack of self-help books from Linda. Also, he starts to wear an amethyst bracelet for chakra cleansing.

In previous seasons, Dan also does improv. He uses it to help him work through things. Dan also helps others use improv to heal and loosen up, such as when he brings Amenadiel to work through his issues. Unfortunately, each skit Amenadiel is in turns into one about his father. God, and how he may have to kill him.

There are multiple times that Dan has been the corrupt cop, such as when he tried to kill Lucifer by arranging a hit on him. Also, he once teamed up with Maze, to work outside of the law and get forced confessions. Even in the beginning of the show, Dan was a corrupt cop.

RELATED: Lucifer 10 Most Hated Storylines

Now, that Dan is becoming a more interesting and layered character, his corrupt cop role feels tired and flat. Hopefully, Dan will fight against his corrupt cop past and continue to grow into a more intriguing character.

When these two get on better, they have great humorous and petty interactions like siblings sometimes do. Lucifer steals Dan's pudding, which is a big deal to Dan. The two both mock each other. In Season 3, the two watch over a teen, who is part of a murder investigation. At first, they think she's an innocent witness. They take her to an amusement park at her bequest. Both tease each other; Lucifer even makes shirts of sick-Dan on the roller coaster.

When their relationship is like this, teasing, it's something to love. Dan also gives Lucifer advice from time-to-time, proving that the two might be a bromance yet (that is, if Dan stops trying to kill or harm Lucifer.)

At times, Dan sees all red with Lucifer. This leads him to think that he's doing a "good thing" by trying to get rid of Lucifer. When he thinks that Lucifer is human, he actually arranges a hit on Lucifer. When he finds out that Lucifer isn't human, he automatically believes that Lucifer is evil and must be stopped at any means possible.

Dan isn't always so good at listening to others during the best of times. But during the worst of times when he starts to hate and fear Lucifer, it brings out potentially disastrous conclusions--like his actions almost leading to Trixie's death.

This is a bromance fans can get behind. These two truly connect and respect each other. After all, Dan does bring Amenadiel to improv so that he can work through things. When Amenadiel becomes a father, it's Dan who gives him advice and helps him out. These two connect on many levels. They both are self-righteous, but they both are also extremely protective of their family.

The scenes with these two together truly shine and displaythe best parts of Dan. With Amenadiel, Dan doesn't come across as a "douche" but as a really good and wise friend.

While Dan has evolved throughout the series, he is still one of the easiest characters to manipulate. Michael proves this in Season 5, Part 1. In this season, Dan has finally seen Lucifer's true face, and he's terrified. He thinks that Lucifer is evil, and that he must save Chloe from Lucifer's influence. Michael tells Dan to shoot Lucifer, and Dan obeys easily. Normally, Lucifer would be dead because he was with Chloe and being with Chloe usually makes him vulnerable. However, things are changing, and luckily, Lucifer lives.

Still, after all of Dan's self-reflection and self-improvement in Season 5, this is a call back to the original Dan, the one who wasn't so popular with fans.

NEXT: 5 Ways Supernatural And Lucifer (The Show) Are Similar (And 5 Ways They're Totally Different)

Next Game Of Thrones: Cersei's 10 Shadiest Burns, Ranked

Heather Frankland is a writer, teacher, and public health advocate. She has had creative work published in literary journals and online websites. She enjoys analyzing her favorite shows and movies and is happy to exercise that talent at Screen Rant, previously exercised in long conversations over beer with friends.

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Lucifer: 5 Things We Love About Dan (& 5 Reasons We Hate Him) - Screen Rant

Wednesday, 02 December 2020 Lifestyle

30 Nov, 2020 07:04 AM5 minutes to read

A Reddit user shared that one of their best life hacks is "smiling in the mirror when you're feeling down". Photo / 123rf

We all have a way of doing certain things that we know doesn't sound like it would work but actually does, a tip or a trick that we've learnt or has been passed down to us and that we know is worth doing.

A Reddit user asked people to share the life hacks they use that sound "crappy" but work really well. The answers did not disappoint.

"A knitted fake wasp nest. Our wasps buggered off the same day, haven't been seen since," one Reddit user replied with.

Other people replied to the same thread confirming the hack works as wasps are extremely territorial and will fly off looking for another spot if they think that one is taken.

"They actually are territorial and will leave if they think a specific area has already been claimed. I have heard a paper bag stuffed with newspaper and hung up will also work for this. Wasps don't have great eyesight," a user suggested.

Another user shared the always insightful piece of wisdom that "writing things down by hand helps you remember them better".

"Bending your knees up using a little stool to support your feet while pooping. It has changed my life," another Reddit user shared.

"Don't save your banking information on online stores. Makes impulse buying much more difficult if you have to track down your wallet," another user suggested. Very good advice for the upcoming holiday season, actually.

"If you keep forgetting if you locked your door/car/lock, do something silly after locking it. It will help you remember if you have to think back," one Reddit user posted.

Other users agreed, with one further adding: "I would always say "it's [day of the week] and I locked the door. The act of figuring out what frickin day it is helped me remember."

A Reddit user shared that one of their best life hacks is "smiling in the mirror when you're feeling down". "The act of smiling releases molecules in the brain that help relieve stress, pain and sadness," the user added.

A Reddit user took the opportunity to share some incredible advice on the importance of befriending what the user describes as "invisible" people.

"Befriend the "invisible" people that everyone overlooks, the hotel maids, the janitor at your office, anyone doing a thankless job that people often look down upon. Treat them like valuable human beings because they are. These are people working far harder than most of us can imagine, taking care of themselves and their families and often barely scraping by. You never know in this life when you're going to be the one interaction that saved someone's life, or at least made it a little bit better for a day or a moment. And you never know when some person who nobody paid attention to could end up being there for you, especially if they know and like you," the user posted.

Another user shared that they started saying "silly" instead of "stupid", "for example 'Oh I'm so stupid or 'that was stupid'". According to the user, saying the word "silly" instead improved their self-esteem.

"Kiwi juice has enzymes that break down meats, tenderising the steak," another user shared.

"Pineapple does the same thing, but has a much stronger flavour. So put a bit of kiwi mush on your steak about 30 minutes prior to cooking it and it will be amazingly tender without a strange flavour added."

And finally, one of the best pieces of advice on an already very useful thread: "If something's worth doing, it's usually worth doing badly."

A Reddit user went to great length to describe how you're better off doing something badly than not doing it at all.

"Half-assing the dishes is better than leaving them to fester in the sink. Sending old friends a happy birthday message when Facebook prompts you is better than losing touch entirely. Taking a quick shower without soap is better than not showering at all. Piling your laundry up in a basket instead of putting in the wardrobe is better than leaving it scattered over the floor," the user wrote.

"Also applies to self-improvement stuff as well as maintenance. Don't worry so much about doing 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and a 10km run that you do nothing, just walk around the block and do one of each of the others for now. Just write one page a day of that novel, and allow it to be terrible. Write simple, buggy programs. Draw badly. Watch YouTubers cook or fix their car or put on make-up or build something, even, if you can't find the energy to yourself," the person continued.

"If you're having trouble finding a date start pre-emptively assuming that everyone is off-limits and just focus on finding genuine friends who match your orientation.

"Somewhere along the line you'll lose your discomfort and start getting better at doing what you want or need to do."

For more useful life hacks, check out the full thread on Reddit.

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People share the life hacks that sound terrible but really work - New Zealand Herald

There are many times when I speak to students or clients about establishing business relationships, especially financial ventures and I have their attention of them constantly. At one point, I want them to ask the question, If you had your entire business going today and no-one bankruptity or losing the ability to work because of an illness, how would your business be? asks Sofiya Machulskaya.

Sometimes they estimate that they will be unable to get paid for their life insurance, leanings or supplements and this keeps them trapped in financial traps that are not attractive to most customers. At other times, they tell me about a family member and/or friend who was fired for poor work performance and now they are also trapped as they can pay their own premium or personal event insurance with the persons personal insurance policy. No wonder business relationships arent what they need to be.

I mention this question because I have seen many small business owners and executives in this position I refer to as trapped. Although I never actually asked them if this term describes them, as I believe my students and clients could look at their business like I do for them.

Typically, in an established business relationship business owner and employee have a personal relationship, one that is strictly professional, one that adds value and is relatively good at solving my problems. Initially, the person represents a huge value; they overcome all my benchmarks and specifications and meets some objective of a successful business relationship. During the time, however, I constantly have to spend more time and effort NOT to let the person slip away. There is often a great deal of frustration, anxiety and worry because it is clear that my relationship is NOT as good as it used to be.

Before anyone wants to say Thats not the way life is, stop and ask yourself if you have chosen a good business partner. Have you put into practice the following three simple questions that will aid you in deciding if a person has the skills to keep your business relationship in the good driver range.

After answering all these questions:

If you arrive at the conclusion your relationship is ONLY at the good driver or great driver stage how do you proceed to either mitigate or remove the uncertainty and begins to move towards your goal of a mutually beneficial business relationship explains Sofiya Machulskaya.

If I have chosen the best partneris there a remote possibility that they will actually want to close a deal with me? If the answer is no, ask yourself what you can do to make this relationship mutually beneficial and take the necessary steps to reduce the anxiety and intensity of the situation.

Have I asked for a 60% reduction in my business insurance rate during the next sixty days that I will stick to? If the answer is no I must ask myself why? What needs to be done to achieve improved or at least efficient business relationship?

If any of these questions are answered with a resounding No of course please ask yourself another one. If you have answeredallof these questions with agreement, operate in a business partnership and stick with it! There is nothing worse than someone developing an expectation that you will NEVER budge when it seems like a relationship is going nowhere. Once the relationship is going down the road you can now move on to the other two main reasons why business partnerships dont or dont work out.

The first is that you have chosen a self partner and not a partner owner.

I have been most successful in business when I have found a John Assum who is willing to give 100% to the John Assums idea and not take anything for himself for years, years! I would have eventually developed an expectation that it will take me way too long to ever be able to do anything. It was great in the beginning because I could proudly tell the world I had created a relationship that was the envy of the industry much to my surprise I never even had to tell my family and my friends. That death-defying feeling of success has now been replaced by feelings of feelings of negligent partners, dishonest partners and picked dominoes!

I must be realistic and admit the risk is a little high having partners who are self-extended but in my opinion I have found if I have a John Assum or John Assum Big Fish who dont care, who refuse to grow and change, who are out to hurt anyone, which consists of your John Assum and your John Assum Big Fish of course I must look out for myself. On the other extreme, I have found that many seemingly self-improvement gurus/teachers, despite the best of intentions are actually someone who is most likely a perpetually poor or a self-improvement guru/teacher and who operates out of spite and destruction of the self vs personal growth of the person/team.

More:
The 3 Most Important Questions to Ask Before If and When You Stop and Ask for the Business by Sofiya Machulskaya - ABCmoney.co.uk

The social barometer is flailing wildly as you read. In twos and threes and more, it is being discussed in hushed tones and sometimes openly that Aiteo will be celebrating 21 years in business in few days. Age 21 is a significant milestone for an individual or an institution. It is the age that is globally accepted that one is fully welcomed into adulthood. For Aiteo, however, it had long been a primus inter pares in the continents oil and gas industry, taking on challenges and charting new terrains where otherwise established companies dither. Attaining this new age in an industry famed for its high mortality rate is, therefore, a testament to Aiteo longevity, consistency and commitment to truly serving the needs of communities across Africa, helping the continent to reassert its energy independence and building a high-quality asset base, while increasing market share, revenue and shareholder value, writes Lanre Alfred

With just a clear-cut vision and a bullish ingenuity and industry, Benedict Peters, the CEO/Founder of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, has built an integrated energy group with the experience and assets necessary to provide oil and gas on a regional and global scale. Over the past two decades, the company has grown from a peripheral player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry into a leading full-service energy company exploring and conquering territories that others dare not allow cross their imagination. In the intervening years, the company now discovers, produces, stores and delivers energy resources to marketplaces worldwide.

Aiteo, which contributes over 5per cent of Nigerias daily oil production, has one of the largest private storage facilities (with a capacity of more than 320 million litres at Port Harcourt and Apapa) for refined petroleum products in sub-Saharan Africa while it is also involved in refining and production, bulk petroleum storage, trading, marketing, supply, power generation and distribution. The company states on its website that each of these areas holds massive potential, with a global focus on the future of energy generation, significant oil and gas reserves still to be found throughout Africa, and a large number of alternative revenue streams to be found in the refinement of different petroleum products and derivatives.

A conglomerate with a turnover of over $20billion annually and a downstream business of bulk storage of over 300 million litres per annum, Aiteo has evolved into an integral contributor to the advancement of the African energy industry. Its integrated value chain in the upstream, downstream and power sectors is underpinned by extensive local capacity development with significant opportunities to sustain its future business. Aiteos major fields now include Nembe (Flowstation), Santa Barbara, Ogoroba, Oloibiri and Nembe Creek Truckline.

Aiteos strategy is to be a vital part of the worlds energy solution by developing its core assets in the areas of oil, gas and electrical power areas. As such, it has acquired three power plants that have a combined capacity of 2300 megawatts and it believes that Nigerias power shortage could be resolved through optimal utilisation of the nations huge gas deposits.

Twenty-one years is a long way from when Peters launched Aiteo. A native of Onicha Oloma in Delta State., the University of Benin graduate of Geography and Town Planning, he began his career in the oil and gas industry in the early 1990s, working with Ocean and Oil, the entity now known as Oando Nigeria Plc. He moved to MRS Oil Nigeria PLC as Group Executive Director, ending as its Managing Director, before leaving in 1999 to establish Sigmund Communecci, a petroleum products supply and trading company, which gave birth to Aiteo. When Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) announced its decision to divest some onshore assets it considered disposable in the Niger Delta, Aiteo raised the single largest debt-financing in the Nigerian oil and gas sector from local banks to become a successful bidder for 45per cent per cent of OML 29 at Nembe Creek Trunkline in 2014. The same year, Ventures Africa magazine named him the 17th richest person in Africa and the 7th richest in Nigeria.

He has also diversified, through his Bravura Holdings Company, into the development of a platinum mine in Zimbabwe by investing an initial $1bn. The 3,000 hectare (7,413-acre) concession where it plans to dig the mine is in Selous, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Zimbabwes capital Harare and close to existing platinum mines. Peters Bravura, which has little experience in mining, also intends to explore mining lithium, rare earth minerals and tin in the landlocked Southern African country. The big time came but with its variegated pitfalls.

Trashing Stereotypes

Commerce is far too precious and fundamental to be left to the wiles and exploits of villainous characters hence Benedict Peters believes that the doctrine of altruism and love must be preached as counteraction to the doctrine of mercantilism, cut-throat competition and greed that has overtime become the norm in business circuits.

Indeed, the story of Aiteo can never be disentangled from the founder, Peters. It is the story of a man who was bold enough to brave the odds of the uncertain and unstable international oil business because of a personal and profound belief in the Nigerian system.

Sigmund Communecci was Aiteos forebear. Sigmund Communecci owned and operated a petroleum storage terminal in Abonnema Wharf, Port Harcourt. In October 2000, the company sought and secured a credit line of N250million from City Express Bank with a 365-day repayment window. Having satisfactorily fulfilled its end of the bargain with an inspiring performance of the first loan, the company got another loan of N500million from the same bank in May 2002, and another N350million a month later. The company became attractive to several top banks as facilities were extended to it on the strength of its corporate uprightness. In his quest to make it a 360-degree energy conglomerate and ensure phenomenal growth and transformation, Peters rebranded Sigmund Communecci in 2008 and renamed it Aiteo.

There is no gainsaying billionaire extraordinaire, Benedict Peters is an inspiration to most of his peers; he paved his path to acclaim like the proverbial fortune hunter who dared the odds and braved through storms to create eternity from a moment. Peters wealth bears the sweet, dazzling glow of infinity; pundits would say its because he worked for it. Even his detractors would acknowledge that he toiled really hard to attain his current height.

Yes, in top business schools across the continent and beyond, the corporate exploits of Peters are veritable case-studies for academic researches. And there seems to be unanimity of opinions that the patently self-effacing businessman has created phenomenally successful businesses and changed the world in significant ways.

A force of nature; a towering force of hope and entrepreneurial depth, indeed, very few men can knead the tripartite traits of genius, modesty and character into that moral and human centaur that remains unattainable to generations of tycoons and multi-billionaires like this entrepreneur extraordinaire.

No doubt, becoming an industrialist however, is not mere lip service. It requires consistent effort and focus to grow from just being an entrepreneur with interest in a particular business to becoming a respected and renowned empire builder. Nigeria is blessed with many of such men who started from the scratch, kept their nose to the grindstone and turned seemingly insignificant ideas into behemoth industries. Yes, billionaire extraordinaire, Benedict Peters is one of these great Nigerians.

He is one man that would be sent to Mars and still treat it as a stepping stone to Saturn the quality of constant invention and self-improvement that has earned him worldwide acclaim and prosperity.

Peters has become the high watermark by which his contemporaries are measured. Innovative and insightful, he is a ruler of his world and not bound by a time clock, yet he does not abuse the privilege. Today, he is celebrated at home and abroad as one of Nigerias league of extraordinary entrepreneurs.

Interestingly, however, there is no gainsaying the business terrain is like a wilderness riddled with storms. But despite its inherent dangers, Peters navigates through its perilous paths with a stubborn resolve and unyielding spirit, like bog-hardened seekers.

Aiteos Arrival and Continued Financial Integrity

Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited, the succeeding entity for Sigmund Communecci, was founded with a commitment to provide responsible energy extraction and production and fuel economic growth while improving the quality of life of Nigerians through its diverse activities.

Many had expected that the change in its corporate identity would come with concern and uncertainties from banking partners and perhaps, the likelihood of withdrawal of the financial goodwill that the company used to enjoy under its former name. Rather, the credit facilities increased as Aiteo became more audacious and ambitious.

Precisely on Friday, March 6, 2009, Aiteo got a $30m Inventory Finance Facility from Ecobank to part-finance the local purchase/importation of petroleum products unde

Continued here:
Aiteos 21 Years of Consistency and Commitment to Serving Africas Communities - THISDAY Newspapers

On May 29, Chrissy Rutherford set up her phone in her bedroom and pressed Record. A beauty and fashion expert with over 145,000 Instagram followers and a decade-long career working in fashion media (including at Hearst), she was accustomed to using social media to express herself. But this time was different. I dont know George Floyd and the many that came before him, she said to the camera. But understanding that someone has been murdered for having the same skin color I have, its a lot to deal with. And the last 36 hours, Ive just felt so overwhelmed trying to process whats happening.

Rutherford, 34, described the physical toll the news was taking on her: stressed body, stiff neck, lack of sleep. She went on to explain the differences between covert and overt racism and stressed the importance of speaking out on social media, rather than letting the news cycle pass. Its not enough anymore to just be like, I have good intentions. Im not racist. You need to actually take the time to educate yourselves to be antiracist. And thats where white people are falling short right now, she told her followers. Antiracism is the name of the game right now. And thats it.

As the video racked up millions of views, Rutherford began to receive a flood of DMs, texts, and calls from non-Black friends and acquaintances in the fashion world, most of whom were unsure of how to proceed on social media during such a critical moment. They needed guidance on continuing to live life online in a way that was both tactful and impactful. And many of their peers had made missteps they wanted to avoid. A lot of influencers Im friends withand these are top girlswere all blowing up my phone, wanting to get my advice, Rutherford tells me. Should I post? What should I say?

Makeda Sandford

Her close friend Danielle Prescoda 32-year-old Black woman with a large following and a long career in fashion and beautywas in a similar position. The two had spent years trying to advocate for Black representation in fashion and beauty, often struggling to make their voices heard. But during this summers Black Lives Matter uprising, there was a widespread social media reckoning that pressured many, from giant corporations to small brands, from influencers to civilians, to finally publicly grapple with racism in themselves, in their companies, and in society as a whole. Overnight, everyone needed to do the worka call for antiracist education and action that became so widespread it felt like a clich within weeks. But the reality was that most couldnt do the work alonethey needed help trying to figure things out.

Danielle and I were DMing each other, commiserating over how everyone was coming to us and it was overwhelming, Rutherford says. They wanted to help disseminate antiracist messaging, but they couldnt exactly spend all their waking hours giving friends free advicereviewing statements, offering up antiracist resources, gut-checking content. She and Prescod had a mutual epiphany: We need to teach themand charge them.

A lot of influencers Im friends with were all blowing up my phone, wanting to get my advice. Should I post? What should I say?

The ideals of equality and social justice, along with bursts of activism in the wake of police brutality, are not new. But after the murder of George Floyd, something shifted dramatically. With tens of millions of people unemployed, and much of the country sitting at home in quarantine with little to do besides check social media and read the newsand with a presidential election rapidly approachingthere was an unprecedented collective opportunity. And it was not just police brutality that drew attention; the downstream effects had implications across every professional and social dynamic. Criminal justice reform, workplace discrimination, the pay gap, and hiring practices that systemically disadvantage Black Americans, to start. There were also more abstract issues to consider: representation of Black people in advertising and pop culture; tokenization in media; and more covert expressions of racism, like microaggressions, tone policing, and spiritual bypassing.

When internal bias reveals itself in subtle wayslike when, say, people of color are complimented for speaking perfect Englishthat leave them feeling uncomfortable or insulted.

Using notions like Were all one human race! to avoid doing the real work of dismantling systemic racism.

Criticizing or invalidating arguments if they are not delivered in the right gentle tone rather than addressing the substance.

A white person who provides help to nonwhite people in a self-serving manner. For example: when white people on vacation post photos on social media posing with impoverished orphans of different races.

Taking action to up your own social capital rather than a cause, from posting a black box on Instagram without doing further antiracism work to using Black people as virtue-signaling props in photos.

If you looked, there was more and more evidence of underhanded or overt racism to be foundand people were keeping track. Spreadsheets began to circulate, tracking how major brands or businesses had responded to George Floyds death. For some, there was a deafening silence. Others drew ire by making statements so vague as to be meaningless. Predominantly white industries and non-Black individuals were compelled not just to coast on the assumption that they couldnt possibly be racist, but to provide proof that they were proactively investing in an antiracist society. And to do so, they needed professional assistance.

Americas economy is crumbling, but the business of allyship is booming. Antiracism, once just a passive stance, has become both an aspiration and an outlet for ambitionfor some, it is yet another realm in which to prove one can excel in a self-improvement-driven culture. I dont think theres ever been this kind of outpouring from millions of people in this country to acknowledge, Hey, I really dont know enough about racism. I dont think theres ever been millions of people within a compressed amount of time saying Yes, I am willing to do some of this work, says Crystal Marie Fleming, PhD, a professor of sociology and Africana studies at SUNY Stony Brook and the author of How to Be Less Stupid About Race. In June, she saw her book sales soar and received an influx of media and public speaking requestsan exciting turn of events that also felt overwhelming, given the emotional turbulence she was experiencing as a result of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others.

Fleming was not alone in the increased spotlight she gained as Black Lives Matter activity ramped up. Publications began producing lists of Black-owned businesses to patronize. By late June, the New York Times best-seller list was dominated by titles about race. Print editions of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo (who is a white woman) were sold out, with readers eager to post photos of their new reading materials on social media. If they wanted to get more serious, they could pay for an elective training program.

The antiracist educator Monique Melton, for example, offers an antiracism 101 course ($97 for five audio lessons), a 12-week interactive online course ($3,500), and a four-day in-person antiracism intensive. Her Instagram following jumped from 17,000 to 220,000 in a single week. I would refresh, and it would be another thousand every couple of minutes. It was overwhelming, Melton says. The prominent antiracist educator Rachel Cargle offers a sliding-scale model for access to The Great Unlearn, her program dedicated to deconstructing historical narratives and relearning them through the eyes of educators of color.

For those with less time or a limited budget, there were hundreds of free spreadsheets and documents filled with antiracist resources being passed around on social media. More inventive initiatives began to sprout up, too, like a new program from the text messagebased platform The Nudge. For $5, participants could sign up for something called The Ally Nudge, a monthlong antiracism education program developed in collaboration with longtime diversity and inclusion consultant Akilah Cadet. During its first month, over 10,000 people signed up for The Ally Nudge in 1,700 cities.

Americas economy is crumbling, but the business of allyship is booming.

Even Black people who previously hadnt been positioned as formal educators were suddenly receiving an influx of attention: Chrissy and I both got this surge of followers in June, Prescod says. Because people realized they werent following anyone Black. As Patia Borja, who compiled a popular antiracist resource guide, said in a podcast interview, social media suddenly began to feel like Americas Next Top Ally.

Cadet says she has spent the last five years advising leaders at major corporations on how to make their workforce more diverse and inclusive. Before May, those were the kinds of neutered, corporate-friendly terms she needed to use. To many white higher-ups at the companies she worked with, concepts like antiracism and dismantling white supremacy were too confrontational. Cadet says she even struggled to suggest that workplaces should foster a sense of belonging for all their employees.

Then, everything changed. On May 27, there was an influx of requests, saying What can we do? Cadet says. What you saw, which was really fascinating, was a lot of big brands and companies saying Dismantle white supremacy. Or Being part of the problem, we need to change our leadership. Black lives matter. Cadet quickly made some revisions to the language she uses. I was able to put antiracism on my website, she says. And now when people are interested in engaging and putting together a contract, Im bringing up white supremacy and antiracism.

Not only did brands understand there were new standards of accountability on social media, Cadet says, but a lot of these companies are recognizing the importance of the Black dollar, the $1.3 trillion that Black people spend. Emily Heyward, a cofounder and chief brand officer of the branding and business development company Red Antlerresponsible for the brand identities of Casper and Allbirdssays that antiracism must be part of the DNA of any new brand or company. Every human, every business in America is playing a role in social justice, Heyward says. I would put antiracism more in the category of something like sustainability. Part of launching a modern business is caring about sustainability, and it is also looking at your own hiring processes.

Makeda Sandford

Within a week of Rutherford posting her viral antiracism video, she and Prescod had their first brand clients. Soon they launched a weekly antiracism seminar, geared toward fashion and beauty influencers. For $300a third of which is donated to a Black charityan influencer could participate in a two-hour Zoom call that was part race studies class, part consciousness-raising course, part career coaching session. It is very much tailored to the influencer space, [essentially showing] them how they have benefited from and upheld the standards of white supremacy, Rutherford says.

Each session is divided into two parts. First, theres an hour-long presentation about race and antiracism. We give tips for navigating conversations around race, and tips on how to hold brands accountable. We talk about how to be a good ally, Rutherford explains. The second hour is a Q&A during which participants are invited to ask everything from broad theoretical concerns about race to tactical, targeted queries about social media. Well get questions like, How do I apologize without making it about myself? How do I navigate this, balance my normal content with my activist content? Rutherford says.

Tracy Reese on How Fashion Can Become Anti-Racist

Katie Sturino, a body acceptance advocate and founder of the cult skin care brand Megababe, had known Rutherford and Prescod personally for years. When she saw that they were doing seminars, she quickly enrolled. My main goals in attending were to listen and learn on behalf of both myself and my business, she tells me. I read all of my comments and DMs, and I receive a lot of feedback. But you have to be careful about how you value, interpret, and act upon that feedback. Chrissy and Danielle talked about what voices to listen to, and that resonated with me.

There was even interest from outside the U.S., from influencers who wanted to get a better grasp of what was happening in America. Since I dont live in the U.S., hearing what is going on firsthand was very important for me, says Xenia Adonts, the founder of Paris-based clothing brand Attire The Studio, who has 1.5 million followers. Of course, Europe is not very different; we have similar challenges with racism and the systemic disadvantages faced by minorities. As a white, privileged girl, its easy to overlook those issues.

As Patia Borja, who compiled a popular antiracist resource guide, said in a podcast interview, social media suddenly began to feel like Americas Next Top Ally.

Of course, participating in an antiracism seminar may give influencers a line of defense against their worst fears: cancellation and public shame. Shame is a powerful motivator, Prescod admits. In the early Zoom seminars, when dozens of major brands and influencers were being publicly called out, anxiety levels were high. Most influencers and brands are pretty paranoid about the potential that they might get canceled, Prescod says. This is the largest anxiety we see: how to avoid cancellation, what to do if you get called out, how to respond, and how to apologize.

The Anti-Racist Reading List

For a lot of these girls, Rutherford says, its the first time theyre really even considering the privilege they have. Paying $300 for tutelage was certainly a start. The bigger question was whether theyalong with all the businesses and individuals newly awakenedcould continue to absorb the lessons beyond the Instagrammable moment. These seminars give us a formal place to ask questions, listen, and learn in a way that is far from casual conversations, Sturino says. [But] I know the burden is on me to continue learning.

People have been listening and learning for decades in a way that hasnt always led to meaningful change. The business of diversity, allyship, anti-biaswhatever you want to call ithas cycled through many waves as corporate America has woken up, fallen back asleep, and reawakened. Bias and diversity training took prominence in the late 1990s and 2000s, after a spate of discrimination lawsuits required major financial firms to shell out hundreds of millions of dollars. (In 2013, Bank of America Merrill Lynch alone paid out $160 million to settle a race discrimination suit.) Shaken by the idea of such massive payouts, companies began to expand diversity initiatives. Anti-bias training became de rigueur at seemingly every corporation in America (training that, this summer, many corporations refreshed, made mandatory, or overhauled).

The positive effects of diversity training rarely last beyond a day or two.

Yet these initiatives did not result in meaningful change in boardroom representation. A landmark study in 2016 in the Harvard Business Review by Frank Dobbin, PhD, professor of sociology at Harvard University, and Alexandra Kalev, PhD, associate professor of sociology at Tel Aviv University, found exactly the opposite. It turns out that while people are easily taught to respond correctly to a questionnaire about bias, they soon forget the right answers, they noted. The positive effects of diversity training rarely last beyond a day or two.

This year, a few months removed from the surge in antiracism, some educators have already noticed deflated levels of commitment. People are on to talking about blueberry muffins, Melton says. It was an eight-week time span of demand. And now its like, Oh, weve checked that box.

According to Dobbin and Kalevs research, companies that institute diversity training to avoid lawsuits found that force feeding employees could actually activate bias, thwarting progress. What does show lasting impact are programs that spark engagement, increase contact among different groups, and draw upon peoples desire to look good to others. Voluntary behaviorlike the elective reading so many have sought out since Junemay also impact attitudes long term. We tend to respond more favorably when we believe we have agency, Fleming says. When we feel we have an opportunity to learn, but were not being forced to view the world in a particular way.

Makeda Sandford

Prescod and Rutherford note that once their influencer clients have acknowledged the social justice movement publicly, many have asked, How do I go back to my regular content? Even for girls whove taken our course, it resonates with them in the immediate moment, but it doesnt really have the long tail wed hoped it would, Prescod says. It isnt like theres an expiration date on this, Rutherford adds. Sure, they dont need to be posting 10 slides on antiracism for the rest of eternity. But you know, make sure youre doing the right things. Build relationships with Black creators.

But some newer elective programming that offers a starting point for a more sustained mindset might be more effective than stodgy corporate versions. By July, Prescod and Rutherford had received so much interest that they formalized their antiracism training, launching a new business called 2BG (Two Black Girls) Consulting. Even if the changes spurred by the postGeorge Floyd activist movement do not prove to be long-lasting, at least Black educators are being paid for their work. Three months after they began, Prescod and Rutherford are still conducting Zoom antiracism seminars. They now also offer a version for noninfluencers at a discounted rate of $75.

One Friday in August, Prescod and Rutherford hold their first noninfluencer seminar. They begin the class by addressing 21 women on camera. They share a slick PowerPoint primer on racism and antiracism: They discuss the terms and offer a set of dos and donts for social media and beyond, folding in personal anecdotes. Crucially, they also give examples of brands and influencers whove gotten it right, and wrong.

After about an hour, its time to pass the mic to the students. Most questions are not about these attendees own racism. Many need help navigating racist circumstances at work, or they want to help guide colleagues or family members. One woman says her company decided to feature a number of Black creators on their social media in June, only to receive backlash from non-Black clients. Is it best to just ignore them, and write them off as racist? she asks. Prescod advises her to respond to these clients openly, explaining why they were taking the initiatives and saying We hope youll join us.

"Some of the antiracism work has to be recognizing the limitations you have."

Many women preface their inquiries by apologizing for asking a really dumb question. Nothing is too dumb. This is a safe space, Rutherford assures them. Then Prescod chimes in: We literally had someone ask why its not okay to say All Lives Matter. The group laughs, comfortable in their collective understanding of why this was actually a dumb question.

After one query about dealing with racist colleagues, Prescod gives the groupa collection of obviously earnest, well-meaning womena disclaimer. I would not encourage anyone to do something that is going to put your job in danger, she says. Its almost not worth it. One day you might have the power to hire whomever you want. But it doesnt sound right now like theyre receptive to noticing where they have blind spots.

Some of the antiracism work has to be recognizing the limitations you have, she continues. The relief among the group is palpable, as if theyve been told they can relax for a moment, and that the future of racial justice in America does not lie squarely on their shoulders.

As the class winds down, one woman asks a tricky question. Shes in charge of a campaign at work featuring creators of color, and feels its necessary to get feedback from a colleague of color on another team. In other words, she wants to ask the lone Black person to do extra unpaid work. When is it appropriate to ask a person of color their opinion on something? she asks. Prescod and Rutherford take a long pause. After all, doing the work of antiracism doesnt mean shifting more work onto Black people. Unless youre paying them, that is. It sounds like your company should hire us, Rutherford says. Because thats what we do.

This story appears in the December/January 2021 issue of ELLE.

See original here:
The Big Business of Being an Ally - ELLE.com

The official UFC rankings have been updated after last Saturdays UFC Vegas 15 card, and there have been a handful of interesting changes.

While the card lost its originally scheduled Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis fight at the last minute, it still featured one ranked fighter as top-15 light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith submitted Devin Clark in the short-notice main event.

That win was enough to move Smith ahead of his former victim Volkan Oezdemir in the light heavyweight rankings. Smith and Oezdemir were previously tied at No. 6, but after UFC Vegas 15, Smith stayed put at six, while Oezdemir dropped down to No. 7.

See the updated UFC rankings below (via MMA Mania):

Note: +/- = movement in rankings *NR = Not previously ranked (T) = Tie

MENS POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov 2. Jon Jones 3. Israel Adesanya 4. Stipe Miocic 5. Kamaru Usman 6. Alexander Volkanovski 7. Dustin Poirier 8. Max Holloway 9. Petr Yan 10. Justin Gaethje 11. Deiveson Figueiredo 12. Conor McGregor 13. Robert Whittaker 14. Tony Ferguson 15. Francis Ngannou

FLYWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: Deiveson Figueiredo

1. Brandon Moreno 2. Joseph Benavidez 3. Askar Askarov 4. Alex Perez 5. Alexandre Pantoja 6. Brandon Royval 7. (T) Kai Kara France 7. (T) Rogerio Bontorin +1 9. Matt Schnell 10. Raulian Paiva 11. David Dvorak 12. Tim Elliott 13. Tyson Nam +1 14. Jordan Espinosa -1 15. Amir Albazi

BANTAMWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: Petr Yan

1. Aljamain Sterling 2. Cory Sandhagen 3. Marlon Moraes 4. Cody Garbrandt 5. Frankie Edgar 6. Pedro Munhoz 7. Jose Aldo 8. Jimmie Rivera 9. Raphael Assuncao 10. Dominick Cruz 11. Rob Font 12. Merab Dvalishvili 13. Cody Stamann 14. Song Yadong 15. Marlon Vera

FEATHERWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI

1. Max Holloway 2. Brian Ortega 3. Zabit Magomedsharipov 4. Yair Rodriguez 5. Chan Sung Jung 6. Calvin Kattar 7. Josh Emmett 8. (T) Jeremy Stephens 8. (T) Arnold Allen 10. Sodiq Yusuff 11. Dan Ige 12. Shane Burgos 13. Ryan Hall 14. Bryce Mitchell 15. Edson Barboza

LIGHTWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV

1. Justin Gaethje 2. Dustin Poirier 3. Tony Ferguson 4. Conor McGregor 5. Dan Hooker 6. Rafael dos Anjos 7. Charles Oliveira -1 8. Paul Felder 9. Diego Ferreira 10. Al Iaquinta 11. Kevin Lee 12. Beneil Dariush 13. Islam Makhachev 14. Gregor Gillespie 15. Drew Dober

WELTERWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: KAMARU USMAN

1. Colby Covington 2. Gilbert Burns 3. Leon Edwards 4. Jorge Masvidal 5. Stephen Thompson 6. Tyron Woodley 7. Demian Maia 8. Michael Chiesa 9. Neil Magny 10. Vicente Luque 11. Geoff Neal 12. Anthony Pettis 13. Belal Muhammed 14. Robbie Lawler 15. Khamzat Chimaev

MIDDLEWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: ISRAEL ADESANYA

1. Robert Whittaker 2. Paulo Costa 3. Jared Cannonier 4. Jack Hermansson 5. Yoel Romero 6. Darren Till 7. Derek Brunson 8. Kelvin Gastelum 9. Uriah Hall 10. Chris Weidman 11. Edmen Shahbazyan 12. Omari Akhmedov 13. Marvin Vettori 14. Brad Tavares 15. Ian Heinisch

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: Jan Blachowicz

1. Glover Teixeira 2. Thiago Santos 3. Dominick Reyes 4. Aleksandar Rakic 5. Jiri Prochazka 6. Anthony Smith 7. Volkan Oezdemir -1 8. Nikita Krylov 9. Johnny Walker 10. Misha Cirkunov 11. Magomed Ankalaev 12. Ryan Spann 13. Jim Crute 14. Paul Craig 15. Ovince Saint Preux

HEAVYWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: STIPE MIOCIC

1. Francis Ngannou 2. Curtis Blaydes 3. Jairzinho Rozenstruik 4. Derrick Lewis 5. Alistair Overeem 6. Alexander Volkov 7. Junior dos Santos 8. Shamil Abdurakhimov 9. Augusto Sakai 10. Aleksei Oleinik 11. Walt Harris 12. Sergei Pavlovich 13. Blagoy Ivanov 14. Ciryl Gane 15. Andrei Arlovski

WOMENS POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS

1. Amanda Nunes 2. Valentina Shevchenko 3. Weili Zhang 4. Rose Namajunas 5. Jessica Andrade 6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 7. Germaine De Randamie 8. Holly Holm 9. Aspen Ladd 10. Katlyn Chookagian 11. Nina Ansaroff 12. Cynthia Calvillo 13. Yan Xiaonan 14. Claudia Gadelha 15. Julianna Pena

WOMENS STRAWWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: WEILI ZHANG

1. Rose Namajunas 2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 3. Yan Xiaonan 4. Carla Esparza 5. Nina Ansaroff 6. Claudia Gadelha 7. Michelle Waterson 8. Marina Rodriguez 9. (T) Tecia Torres 9. (T) Amanda Ribas 11. Mackenzie Dern 12. Angela Hill 13. Virna Jandiroba 14. Felice Herrig 15. Livinha Souza

WOMENS FLYWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO

1. Jessica Andrade 2. Katlyn Chookagian 3. Lauren Murphy 4. Cynthia Calvillo 5. Jennifer Maia 6. Jessica Eye 7. Joanne Calderwood 8. Roxanne Modafferi 9. Viviane Araujo 10. Maycee Barber 11. Andrea Lee 12. Gillian Robertson 13. Alexis Davis 14. Antonina Shevchenko 15. Montana De La Rosa

WOMENS BANTAMWEIGHT RANKINGS

Champion: AMANDA NUNES

1. Germaine de Randamie 2. Holly Holm 3. Aspen Ladd 4. Raquel Pennington 5. Irene Aldana 6. Julianna Pena 7. Ketlen Vieira 8. Yana Kunitskaya 9. Sara McMann 10. Marion Reneau 11. Lina Lansberg 12. Macy Chiasson 13. Sijara Eubanks 14. Pannie Kianzad 15. Julia Avila

What do you think of the updated UFC rankings?

Continued here:

UFC rankings update: Anthony Smith gains ground at light heavyweight - BJPENN.COM

Chicago, United States: The report comes out as an intelligent and thorough assessment tool as well as a great resource that will help you to secure a position of strength in the globalProduct-based Sales TrainingMarket. It includes Porters Five Forces and PESTLE analysis to equip your business with critical information and comparative data about the Global Product-based Sales Training Market. We have provided deep analysis of the vendor landscape to give you a complete picture of current and future competitive scenarios of the global Product-based Sales Training market. Our analysts use the latest primary and secondary research techniques and tools to prepare comprehensive and accurate market research reports.

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Comprehensive pricing analysis on the basis of product, application, and regional segments

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A roadmap of growth opportunities available in the global Product-based Sales Training market with the identification of key factors

The exhaustive analysis of various trends of the global Product-based Sales Training market to help identify market developments

Table of Contents

Report Overview:It includes six chapters, viz. research scope, major manufacturers covered, market segments by type, Product-based Sales Training market segments by application, study objectives, and years considered.

Global Growth Trends:There are three chapters included in this section, i.e. industry trends, the growth rate of key producers, and production analysis.

Product-based Sales Training Market Share by Manufacturer:Here, production, revenue, and price analysis by the manufacturer are included along with other chapters such as expansion plans and merger and acquisition, products offered by key manufacturers, and areas served and headquarters distribution.

Market Size by Type:It includes analysis of price, production value market share, and production market share by type.

Market Size by Application:This section includes Product-based Sales Training market consumption analysis by application.

Profiles of Manufacturers:Here, leading players of the global Product-based Sales Training market are studied based on sales area, key products, gross margin, revenue, price, and production.

Product-based Sales Training Market Value Chain and Sales Channel Analysis:It includes customer, distributor, Product-based Sales Training market value chain, and sales channel analysis.

Market Forecast Production Side: In this part of the report, the authors have focused on production and production value forecast, key producers forecast, and production and production value forecast by type.

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Covid-19 Impact on Product-based Sales Training Market Analysis, Importance and Regional Outlook 2020 | ASLAN Training and Development, DoubleDigit...

NATIONAL REPORTHospitality industry members are taking on new roles. Heres a look:

Marriott Vacations Adds Gustafson as EVP/Chief Brand and Digital Strategy OfficerMarriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation has named Lori Gustafson as its new EVP/chief brand and digital strategy officer.

She is also a member of the companys executive committee. In her new role, Gustafson is responsible for the enterprises global brand footprint and driving growth and customer satisfaction through digital innovation.

In her most previous role, she served as SVP, global brands & digital for Wyndham Destinations, where she was responsible for driving the global brand and digital marketing strategy including the vacation clubs portfolio and the RCI exchange business since 2018. During her tenure at Wyndham Destinations, she successfully launched the new branding for both Wyndham Destinations and Panorama and was responsible for the brand transformation of the global portfolio of more than 10 brands.

Prior to her time at Wyndham Destinations, Gustafson held the role of corporate VP of digital, eCommerce and media at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, where she was responsible for the companys growth in brand recognition, CRM and direct revenue. Additionally, she oversaw the media distribution strategy for all 12 of SeaWorlds U.S.-based theme parks and led the companys digital transformation and customer experience strategy, which culminated in multimillion-dollar increases in eCommerce, the companys leading sales channel.

Earlier in her career, she provided her digital expertise to Darden Restaurants, where she worked on enterprise initiatives for their portfolio of brands including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.

Cua Named VP at Peachtree Hospitality ManagementPeachtree Hotel Group has named Jamey Cua VP of business development for its hotel operations and management division, Peachtree Hospitality Management (PHM).

In the newly created role, Cua is responsible for creating growth in third-party management partnerships by leveraging industry relationships and identifying new management opportunities.

Prior to joining Peachtree, he oversaw Sage Hospitalitys third-party, managed development throughout the U.S. as SVP. Previously, he served as VP of development for Marriott International, and senior director of development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Oakwood Appoints Ahrens as VP of Sales in North AmericaOakwood has appointed Ryan Ahrens as VP, sales North America.

Ahrens, a longtime hospitality executive with more than 22 years of experience in sales and operations, brings a track record of success in turning around properties and preparing them for fast-growth and profitability. In her role, Ahrens will be based in Southern California and report directly to Michelle Low, global head of sales, revenue and distribution at Oakwood.

Prior to joining Oakwood, Ahrens served as senior director of operations at Jacaruso Enterprises, where she was responsible for managing revenue and overseeing sales operations for 396 hotels across the U.S. and Canada. She began her career in Houston at The Lancaster Hotel and moved around the country to take on management roles at prestigious properties, including the Omni Austin Hotel Southpark, the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara and the Adams Mark Hotel in Dallas (now Sheraton).

Ahrens is also a noted authority and educator in sales training and customer service. She has developed training modules and continuing education programs to help sales professionals maximize revenues, increase client engagement, and develop successful online marketing strategies to cross-sell products and services. Earlier this year, she was appointed as an advisory board member for the CX Certificate Program at the University of California, Irvine.

AAHOA Vice Chair Vinay Patel Appointed to U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory BoardSecretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross appointed Virginia hotelier and AAHOA Vice Chair Vinay Patel to a two-year term on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.

The board provides advice and counsel to the secretary on issues and concerns that impact the nations travel and tourism industry. The secretary appoints up to 32 members to the board representing companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry from a broad range of products and services, company sizes and regions.

In addition to his role as AAHOA vice chair, Patel is the president of Fairbrook Hotels, which owns and operates 11 properties, including Marriott, IHG, Hilton, Radisson, Choice and Wyndham brands. Patel serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Hospitality and Tourism Association and is the president of the Herndon Hospitality Association. Previously, he served on the boards of directors of AHLA and the Loudoun (VA) Convention Visitors Bureau.

The Castell Project, Inc. Adds Tracy L. Prigmore to Board of DirectorsOfficials of Castell Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the careers of women professionals in the hospitality industry, has appointed Tracy L. Prigmore to its board of directors.

Prigmore expanded TLTsolutions in 2014 to create opportunities for individuals, families and entities to obtain passive income by investing in residential, multifamily and hospitality projects. The firm has a multimillion-dollar portfolio of real estate assets under management in four states.

She also began the She Has a Deal platform in 2019. The competition is designed to create new pathways to hotel ownership and development for women by providing education, networking and investing opportunities. Its pitch challenge creates a pipeline of women hotel owners and developers by exposing early career women to hotel ownership and development. Prior to entering real estate development, Prigmore spent 25 years as a healthcare executive and held senior leadership roles in strategic planning, business development and operations for three of the nations largest healthcare systems.

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People on the Move at Marriott Vacations, Peachtree Hospitality Management, More - Hotel Business