Four empowered and resilient female entrepreneurs have found innovative and creative ways to provide services, coaching, and sage advice to new clients proving their mettle at a time when nearly 200,000 U.S. businesses have permanently closed due to the global health pandemic.

Although many of us are concerned about our personal finances and the overall economy due to COVID-19 restrictions, these are women business owners who carved out a new niche, changed their business plans, and successfully pivoted during the current health pandemic.

These women have garnered a myriad of life lessons that they are eager to pass on to the rest of us. Highlighted here are Philadelphia-area Public Relations Experts Hope Horwitz and her mother Sharla Feldscher, Philadelphia's Professional Food Service Design Consultant and author Felicia "Lisa" Middleton, Certified Life and Weight Loss Coach Karen Schaible, of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Mindset & and Alignment Coach/Consultant Karem Zafra-Vera of West Palm Beach, Florida.

From Philadelphia and Marlton, New Jersey, to West Palm Beach, Florida, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, these resourceful business owners have clear game plans for a successful future, during a time when most of us need it the most. Let's see how their plans can inform ours going forward.

Sharla Feldscher and Hope Feldscher Horwitz

Sharla Feldscher, President/Partner

Feldsher Horwitz Public Relations

Hope Feldscher Horwitz, Vice President/Partner

Years in business: 36 years

Links: Facebook, Linkedin, Linkedin

Publicist Sharla Feldscher was a kindergarten teacher who retired at the tender age of 25 to have a family. After both girls were born, she volunteered at Please Touch Museum, and, soon after, her volunteer work turned into a dynamic public relations business and passion that is not only going strong but has ebbed and flowed during this ever-changing landscape.

While volunteering at Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum, she learned an entirely new field and loved it. In less than a year, she was hired as the museum's first PR director. After four years, she was recruited to become the PR consultant for Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA., the nation's only theme park based on Sesame Street, a position she held for 26 years.

"When I said 'yes' to Sesame Place it meant that I had to start a consulting business in 1984, an entirely new venture. While having a business was new to me, I was confident in my ability to publicize programs for children," explains Feldscher.

Fast forward to 2020, Feldscher has the pleasure of working side-by-side with her daughter Hope Horwitz. This formidable team raises the profile of their clients, so they have more significance in the communities that matter to them, as well as increase their profitability by increased positive visibility.

Feldscher and Horwitz readily admit that their business has changed a great deal in the past five years, with a much larger focus on social media. For Feldscher, it has been fascinating to watch the changes in the field of public relations. "No more is a TV hit a one-time opportunity, and the same goes for print visibility," she explained. "Everything is repurposed. Everything is placed on multiple outlets so that the life of a publicity hit is much longer and has so much more value." There is a different strategy for social media, and we support clients by working with experts who have experience in engagement through social media."

Watching her mother in action while Horwitz was growing up was always a high energy day, a great deal of fun, and is what led Horwitz to want to follow in her footsteps. Hope and her sister, Amy, worked at many of the events of which Horwitz has fond memories. "When school was out and my mom's office was in Philadelphia, I would bring a friend with me and when we were old enough, we'd get a hot dog, pretzel, and a soda from the street vendors. We had a lot of fun back then. It's a different world now."

Horwitz worked for 15 years as an event planner and fundraiser and saw the importance of being able to give back to organizations in need. "As life progressed, I took a leap back into PR, and I felt like I was home. I enjoy the creativity, and I get to plan small events while working with clients. I can't think of a better way to spend my day."

What does this dynamic mother-daughter duo love about their business? "I love that I get to do a little bit of everything. I'm a partner with my clients and then use my creativity to find the newsworthy story to pitch," Horwitz explained. "Following up with the press and working with them to coordinate stories allows me the opportunity to constantly meet new people and be a part of a team."

Her mom added: "There are many things I love about doing public relations. Firstly, it's very creative we are always thinking about new ways to get press coverage. Secondly, I love working with clients being part of their strategic team, being trusted by them to guide them in a way that always keeps their positive image in the forefront, and then, thirdly, I love making things happen! It is so rewarding when an idea we have works and brings in revenue and builds constituencies for clients through publicity."

While business owners near and far have been looking for innovative ways to pivot during COVID-19, these public relations experts quickly realized that their business could not only continue, but it could thrive. "Our work can be done remotely, with no problem, since we don't need to see our clients in person to get the job done," Feldscher says.

"I am sorry to say that we don't have events, shows, or programs to attend right now. But, since our job is to communicate about clients' stories, we can do that from anywhere. We can arrange zoom interviews and our clients are still available to be resources to the press. Most of our clients have publicity opportunities, just different than we originally expected," she adds.

"In some cases, we've been put on "hold" especially if our clients are festivals that can't take place, but we have filled in with others whose events and publicity-stories are virtual or timely related to COVID-19. We help to strategize their businesses and how they can move forward in alternative ways."

Horwitz and Feldscher have discovered 'Silver Linings' both in their personal and professional lives during this global health pandemic. "I have really learned about what's important in life and what's not. And I will never take advantage of being able to hug someone again!" explains Horwitz.

Feldscher added: "I think I'll always use Zoom. I have saved a lot of time and expense by doing remote, virtual interviews and some clients say that will continue. Most of our clients are either in Philadelphia or New Hope, PA, which is 30 to 60 minutes away, and now we meet with them more easily. Personally, like Hope, I value, even more, the close relationships I have, and I will never take them for granted."

After several decades in the business, Feldscher says that what sets her company apart from others in PR is crystal clear to her and her clients. "Many have been colleagues for years and years. Many knew Hope when she was younger. These relationships are a real standout. In addition, Hope and I both have an excellent eye for detail, and we share a natural enthusiasm about life. We incorporated a sparkle in our logo and that "spark" seems to be clear to many people. I am very proud and everyone knows it to be working side by side with my daughter. I think people admire that and like being part of our PR team for that reason, too."

The optimistic pair stays "creatively productive" and timing is key. "I was always planning to have another book published in late summer. I wrote it before the pandemic. With the pandemic now, I have had much more time to work on the publicity and marketing of KIDFUN: 401 Easy Ideas for Play. I've been writing creative ideas to do with young children since I taught kindergarten, but now, more than ever, it's so important. I love that I have this creative outlet now," Feldscher says.

While Horwitz says she initially found the pandemic "trying and horrifying" since she is an outgoing and energetic person. She juggled work with homeschooling her seven and nine-year-old daughters, being someone who not only survived, but clearly thrived.

"We have more family dinners now and so as a couple, my husband and I can demonstrate love and interest in others on a regular basis," she explains. "It's helpful to know that we are showing our kids that we can survive everything as long as we stick together."

Feldsher loves having her daughter as her work partner and sees it as a clear advantage going forward. "Hope brings a whole new vitality to the business and thinks strategically about marketing us. She has the perspective of a younger generation and that is very important as we plan for our clients. I know our clients love getting both of our perspectives. The business is her future and its growth is as important to her as it to me. I am blessed!"

Says her appreciative daughter: "We are a family business and we often connect to our clients on a similar level. We enjoy getting to know the people who make up a company as much as we do the company. When we truly join their team, we're able to succeed in a much higher and stronger capacity. We also have fun at work, and I think that shows through to our clients. We smile and laugh as we work, whether it be together, with our clients, or with the media, we build relationships with."

Felicia "Lisa" Middleton

Author, Architectural Design Professional

Food Service Design Consultant

Urban Aesthetics Brands: The Foodie Builder / Aesthetically Speaking specializing in home maintenance and improvement

Location: Philadelphia

Years in business: 12

Author of: A Complete Guide To Creating Tasty Spaces

Homeowner's Guide to Renovations and Maintenance

Metamorphosis: Aesthetic Poetry eBook

Your PATH To Green: Designing an Eco-Friendly Map For Your Life and Your Space eBook

Podcast: Aesthetically Speaking

Felicia "Lisa" Middleton has several great loves architecture, writing, and people which is why she is so successful as an author and restaurant designer, home building expert, and entrepreneur.

"Educating my clients and helping them are my primary goals. The majority of my clients are business owners. Even when I design residential projects, most of the time I work for investors or contractors."

Middleton says her business has improved because of the way she utilizes social media, especially videos. She has also used her go-getter personality and drive to start a podcast, and hired videographers and a video editor as part of her time.

Urban Aesthetics specializes in mid-sized commercial projects including Commercial Kitchens, Day Care Centers, Salons, Retail Establishments and Offices, Sign Permits, and Adaptable Design.

Urban Aesthetics, LLC is a full service, committed green business, EPA Certified Renovators, and a certified W/MBE design and project management firm located in Philadelphia. We provide design and permit services.

Her company is the top on many lists because her clients, who have been with her some five to 10 years, value her and her experience and are eager to refer her for subsequent jobs. "They trust me and they know that I am good and I know what I am doing."

Since COVID-19 restrictions entered our lives, Middleton has been networking online and expanding her connections outside of the Philadelphia geographic area. Now since the pandemic started, she has done work in Maryland, Illinois, and Delaware and has agreements for future projects in Texas and Washington, D.C. She has also been networking in Denmark and Vancouver and she is thrilled that her new book Homeowner's Guide to Renovations and Maintenance is being marketed in two countries!

"I am seriously thinking in terms of working globally as opposed to my local area or a few select locations in the U.S," says Middleton.

One of the reasons that clients consider Middleton trustworthy is because of her ethics and standards. "We always seek to work with and subcontract with trustworthy individuals who have shown integrity and a dedication to quality work. We thank all who we have worked with in the past and all who we will continue to work with going forward."

Her experience with COVID-19, both personally and professionally, has involved both celebrations (the 'Silver Lining') and sadness. "Unfortunately, I lost 10 or more loved ones, friends, and family members during the last six months, one of them to COVID-19. The celebrations have been amazing. Personally, my design business has been doing well. I published a book; a few additional articles, and I have been featured on several Podcasts.

This Pandemic has allowed her to slow down and be creative, something that this business author and businesswoman had missed quite often over the years. In addition, she has achieved three certifications in the foodservice industry and she is enrolled in additional certification classes to solidify her expertise in Restaurant Design and Planning. All of this, as well as productive networking, has led to book sales and new clients.

What sets her apart from others who operate similar businesses? "From the beginning, I decided to do two things: focus on what I love and where I have the most knowledge and experience," she explains.

"I have utilized the specific niches that I have worked in throughout the years and incorporated the type of work. For example, I have many years of experience in Residential New Construction, working for large firms like Toll Architecture. I also have experience working in Food Service Design and Planning."

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Karem Zafra-Vera: Mindset & Alignment Coach/Consultant Next Level Consulting, virtual and West Palm Beach, Fl. Two years in business; 12 years in personal development Links: Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube For Mindset & Alignment Coach Karem Zafra-Vera life is all about learning, studying, and expanding her knowledge on a deep level, beyond just what we can analyze. She strongly believes that each of us understands new knowledge when it is internalized and it becomes part of our being. "Every day I internalize one percent more and my favorite part is witnessing my clients experience this process and hearing about their successes, words of truth, and discovering their perfection within themselves."

Zafa-Vera, whose clients call her "a truly gifted and insightful coach and mentor," says she has long enjoyed helping and empowering people. "I have often been told that I have a gift of seeing more than others can see in themselves. My intuition helps me empower people to believe in themselves as I believe and see their potential."

This helps her clients understand and have control of themselves. "I want my clients to understand the basic idea that we can create and manifest anything if we have a clear understanding of the power within ourselves this means that our thoughts, feelings, and actions create the results we have. So, take a look at your results and it will be aligned with your thoughts; it doesn't lie."

While there are certainly other mindset coaches and consultants around the U.S., what makes her business stand out are her gifts, talents, and personal experiences. "It is all about my unique experiences and life lessons," explains Zafra-Vera. It is also about my dedication to and belief in my clients and my passion for helping them figure out their goals and aspirations and find a path to reaching them."

When COVID-19 transformed the way most of us operate our businesses, Zafa-Vera knew, within her heart, that it was the time to both "step up and show up." She sees her life lessons as to how we feed our garden (mind) is what dictates the flowers we bloom (the results that we create)."

As such, this season has taught her a lot. "It has empowered me to not only practice even more what I preach but to understand and connect on a deeper level with my clients and the clients I continuously attract. I am able to relate through my own experience with COVID-19 and empower others that we all have a choice in everything in life. We have a choice on how to perceive, we have a choice about what we focus on, we have a choice of every thought allowed into our conscious and subconscious mind. I understand that there is something good even through the worst experiences of life. The question is what are you choosing to SEE?"

In addition to being able to pivot during the health pandemic, Zafra-Vera sees many 'Silver Linings' during COVID-19. "I see the opportunity for so much expansion. The individual that didn't have the time before, now has time to create that dream-seeking expression. I see the quality time of rest, unity, and appreciation of each other and our surroundings. I see an increased appreciation of kindness and giving more than ever before. I see the quality time of self-growth. I see opportunities for new adventures. I see the opportunity of creativity all around us."

She adds: "It's amazing the creation of ideas and surroundings we create when placed in uncomfortable circumstances. This is the universe getting all of us out of our comfort zone, to wake us up and begin to live life on a different level."

How does she help her clients not just survive, but thrive, especially during the pandemic? "I am that coach that is reachable. I tell my clients all the time. Do not linger or simmer in a negative state of mind. I'm always available when needed. They know, I will touch back with them as soon as I can. Shifting and becoming aware of our energy is very important."

When times are tough this coach says her faith keeps her going. "I understand that every obstacle is teaching me something, no matter how horrible it is. Yes, we go through the emotions. It's important to acknowledge them. The critical question is how long do you let it consume you, take over your thoughts and emotions? We refocus on what the client wants to feel, be, and of course through a number of exercises to help them shift."

So, how does it feel when she hears from a client who made a major leap based on her advice? "OMG, that is the biggest reward I can experience. Understand, it's not because of what I said. It's because they have shifted and now have internalized, they are worthy of their success," she said. "Every quantum leap we can look back and recognize is only because you internalized your worthiness and clearly lived that version of the role model you want to be. I don't think we ever get there, because we are always upgrading our self-worth."

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Karem Zafra-Vera

Karem Zafra-Vera: Mindset & Alignment Coach/Consultant

Next Level Consulting, virtual and West Palm Beach, Fl.

Two years in business; 12 years in personal development

Links: Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube

For Mindset & Alignment Coach Karem Zafra-Vera life is all about learning, studying, and expanding her knowledge on a deep level, beyond just what we can analyze. She strongly believes that each of us understands new knowledge when it is internalized and it becomes part of our being. "Every day I internalize one percent more and my favorite part is witnessing my clients experience this process and hearing about their successes, words of truth, and discovering their perfection within themselves."

Zafa-Vera, whose clients call her "a truly gifted and insightful coach and mentor," says she has long enjoyed helping and empowering people. "I have often been told that I have a gift of seeing more than others can see in themselves. My intuition helps me empower people to believe in themselves as I believe and see their potential."

This helps her clients understand and have control of themselves. "I want my clients to understand the basic idea that we can create and manifest anything if we have a clear understanding of the power within ourselves this means that our thoughts, feelings, and actions create the results we have. So, take a look at your results and it will be aligned with your thoughts; it doesn't lie."

While there are certainly other mindset coaches and consultants around the U.S., what makes her business stand out are her gifts, talents, and personal experiences. "It is all about my unique experiences and life lessons," explains Zafra-Vera. It is also about my dedication to and belief in my clients and my passion for helping them figure out their goals and aspirations and find a path to reaching them."

When COVID-19 transformed the way most of us operate our businesses, Zafa-Vera knew, within her heart, that it was the time to both "step up and show up." She sees her life lessons as to how we feed our garden (mind) is what dictates the flowers we bloom (the results that we create)."

As such, this season has taught her a lot. "It has empowered me to not only practice even more what I preach but to understand and connect on a deeper level with my clients and the clients I continuously attract. I am able to relate through my own experience with COVID-19 and empower others that we all have a choice in everything in life. We have a choice on how to perceive, we have a choice about what we focus on, we have a choice of every thought allowed into our conscious and subconscious mind. I understand that there is something good even through the worst experiences of life. The question is what are you choosing to SEE?"

In addition to being able to pivot during the health pandemic, Zafra-Vera sees many 'Silver Linings' during COVID-19. "I see the opportunity for so much expansion. The individual that didn't have the time before, now has time to create that dream-seeking expression. I see the quality time of rest, unity, and appreciation of each other and our surroundings. I see an increased appreciation of kindness and giving more than ever before. I see the quality time of self-growth. I see opportunities for new adventures. I see the opportunity of creativity all around us."

She adds: "It's amazing the creation of ideas and surroundings we create when placed in uncomfortable circumstances. This is the universe getting all of us out of our comfort zone, to wake us up and begin to live life on a different level."

How does she help her clients not just survive, but thrive, especially during the pandemic? "I am that coach that is reachable. I tell my clients all the time. Do not linger or simmer in a negative state of mind. I'm always available when needed. They know, I will touch back with them as soon as I can. Shifting and becoming aware of our energy is very important."

When times are tough this coach says her faith keeps her going. "I understand that every obstacle is teaching me something, no matter how horrible it is. Yes, we go through the emotions. It's important to acknowledge them. The critical question is how long do you let it consume you, take over your thoughts and emotions? We refocus on what the client wants to feel, be, and of course through a number of exercises to help them shift."

So how does it feel when she hears from a client who made a major leap based on her advice? "OMG, that is the biggest reward I can experience. Understand, it's not because of what I said. It's because they have shifted and now have internalized, they are worthy of their success," she said.

"Every quantum leap we can look back and recognize is only because you internalized your worthiness and clearly lived that version of the role model you want to be. I don't think we ever get there, because we are always upgrading our self-worth."

Karen Schaible

Karen Schaible Coaching

Retired Registered Nurse, Certified Life and Weight Loss Coach, and Certified Psychology of Eating Coach

Edmonton, AB. Canada (and virtual)

Started business in August 2019 using 27 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in many areas such as ICU/CCU, Psychiatry, Homecare, and lastly at the Bariatric Clinic

Links: https://karenschaible.com

Facebook: Women Losing Weight For The Last Time

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Karen Schaible can teach each of us how to take our gifts, experience, and passion and turn it into a rewarding service-oriented business. This is exactly what she did as a virtual certified life and weight loss coach.

With the best intentions in mind, the retired registered nurse started her now burgeoning business because it was disheartening working as a nurse at a Bariatric Clinic. At the one-year mark following many patient's surgeries, their weight loss had stalled or they had gained back some of the weight.

The problem, she explains, is that there were not enough resources to help with the underlying reason why these patients overate before their surgeries. "My passion is to teach women how to lose weight for the last time. Women who want to end the beating themselves up, the frustration, the sadness, the feeling controlled by food by learning a unique approach to weight loss," says Schaible.

Why is this so important to this caring medical professional? "This is my passion because I know what it feels like as I struggled for more than 20 years with the food and weight battle, and 10 years ago, I lost 100 pounds and I have successfully kept it off," she says. "It is so rewarding to watch my clients use my system to lose weight but, more importantly, gain self-confidence, feel sexy, have more energy, have better relationships, and live the life they have dreamed of."

Clients come to Schaible because they realize something more is going on than just knowing what to eat and how much to eat, and they need help finding these answers. "After following my system, my clients learn and shift what has been holding them back from losing weight, and as a result, they not only change their relationship with food, they are eager to refer their family members, friends, and colleagues."

More here:
How Philadelphia Business Owners Pivoted During The Pandemic - Patch.com

In those brief, glorious summer months when lockdown was lifted, I returned to my gym classes.

Id missed them more than I thought I would; as a writer, I spend most of my time alone and while I enjoy my own company, the other members were often the only people Id speak to someone outside my family.

During one of the last classes I took before Lockdown: The Sequel began, I noticed that the kettlebells I was using suddenly felt too light. It was strange, I thought, as they had been the perfect weight for me the week before, heavy enough to be challenging but not enough to cause an injury.

It seemed as if this new-found strength had literally happened overnight but the truth was it was a culmination of weeks, if not months, of hard work, building up my stamina until I instinctively knew that it was time for me to move on.

Thinking about it afterwards, it seemed like the perfect analogy for my own recovery. The easing of eating disorder symptoms felt almost miraculous, as if I had woken up one morning and decided that I was finally ready to heal.

Ready to let go of something that had been a part of my life for so long at 33, Id had an eating disorder for more years than I had not and I became doubtful that I would ever be free of this affliction. Looking back now, I can see that the day in June 2017 that I mark as my anniversary wasnt a bolt-of-lightning, St Paul on the Road to Damascus moment of metamorphosis; my healing had been a long time in the making, it just took a while for me to see the proof of it.

Ive been in full recovery now for over three years and, like that day in the gym, there comes a time when the work begins to feel light. Things I struggled with in the beginning now seem easy, second-nature, and Im faced with a choice.

Do I keep using the lighter weights? Ive been happy with my results and I feel comfortable, I know Im not going to get hurt here. Or should I challenge myself, push myself further when I dont know where that road will take me?

My therapist says the next step in this process is fully inhabiting my body. Settling into my bones and feeling all of my feelings. There will be no more dissociation if I take this route, no numbing out if I feel anxious or sad or hurt.

Ill sit with it all, no matter what. It sounds hard, I say to her, and worse, it sounds boring. But I know from previous experience that it will work. The key to success is consistency, the baby steps taken every day, the plodding determination to get to the finish line.

We dont want that though, do we? We want to drop a dress size in two days, we want a face serum to make us look ten years younger overnight. We dont want to hear of slow, steady progress. I see it when hands go up after an event and someone in the audience will ask, how do you write a book?

Its obvious they want you to tell them The Secret and they are visibly disappointed that you have none to share; the only secret to writing a book is to sit down at your computer every day and write the book. One word after another, over and over again, even when its hard and boring and you want to quit. You just keep going.

In my search for wellness, I have done past-life regression and hypnotherapy, I have had angel healings and Reiki, I have tried crystals and acupuncture and homeopathy and yoga and meditation. Some were more helpful than others (acupuncture and Transcendental meditation, take a bow) but none were the one-stop cure I so desperately wanted.

I would google Ayahuasca ceremonies with shamans in Peru and personal development courses that offered the equivalent of thirty years of therapy in one week and cost ten thousand-euro, money I didnt have. I wanted a miracle but one without true faith. Faith would have required turning up and doing the work with no guarantee of success. I was looking for a quick fix, an easy-way out. I was searching for a shortcut when there was none. I understand now that theres a reason why thirty years of therapy in one night is a bad idea, if not dangerous. Real change requires work, and its often tedious and painstakingly slow.

In our desire to rush through it as fast as we can, we dont stop to consider that maybe some things in life should be slow. That we need to take our time with the process in order to let it become a part of who we are.

Louise Says:

Read: Yaa Gyasis Homegoing was one of the best debuts Ive ever read, and her second novel, Transcendent Kingdom, confirms her incredible talent. Centring on the American children of Ghanaian immigrants, Transcendent Kingdom tells the story of a PhD student grappling with the legacy of her brothers Opioid addiction. Deeply moving.

Listen: I missed Conor Behans now-defunct Popsessed so much that I was over-joyed to hear he has a new podcast. In Housewives and Me, he is joined by some of his favourite people to talk about their shared love for the Real Housewives franchise.

Go here to read the rest:
Louise O'Neill: 'Should I challenge myself, push myself further when I dont know where that road will take me?' - Irish Examiner

Molson Coors Brewers UK and Ireland collects its award for Excellence in Learning and Development at the 2019 Personnel Today Awards

With just a few weeks to go until the Personnel Today Awards, we continue to celebrate those on the 2020 shortlist by taking a closer look at the Learning & Development Award finalists.

In a competitive retail environment, customer experience is key. This is why Aldi put in place a robust programme of customer service training that focused on behavioural interactions for all of its 30,000 store operations colleagues.

It developed a set of new customer service principles called CARE and selected Team Academy to help colleagues engage with them. The two parties developed seven workshops to upskill staff on the new principles, including interactive sessions that featured games, quizzes, role play and group work to create a memorable experience for colleagues.

The Personnel Today Awards are going online this year!Register here and join us in celebrating the winners on 26 November.

Aldi and Team Academy also engaged the board and senior leaders in the new principles, encouraging them to act as role models for the messages they wanted to get across. These senior leaders attended the same training programme as Aldi store colleagues, while Team Academy developed a train the trainer programme to transform Aldis best managers into the best trainers maximising the resources Aldi had at its disposal.

The programme represented an investment of 2.24m and all staff received five paid training hours. In 2019, Aldi delivered record customer satisfaction at 76.7% a 4.78% uplift on the previous year. The Institute of Customer Service recognised the supermarket for being the best grocery retailer and Which? named it the second-best grocery retailer (up from 38th the year before).

Research carried out by GSK found that its graduate chemists were not securing senior roles within the business, indicating that the training it provided did not provide them with the skills they needed to progress within the organisation. This prompted it to develop a two-part programme of continuous professional development.

After forming a specialist team to lead the project, a training needs analysis was conducted and found a successful programme would require a number of factors, including flexibility to support career breaks, an externally recognised qualification and recognition of formal training and experiential learning.

It partnered with the University of Kent to deliver a postgraduate certificate in professional development, which has been completed by 42 employees; and with the University of Strathclyde to deliver an MPhil/PhD programme, from which 36 staff have graduated.

Graduate-entry GSK chemists have progressed into senior positions that have been predominantly filled by postgraduate-entry chemists previously. Five moved into leadership roles when new departments were created and 10 are now key liaison links with UK universities to foster a relationship with chemistry departments. A further nine GSK staff are supervising PhDs.

Programme details have been included in GSKs recruitment campaigns for full-time graduate chemistry positions. In one campaign, 250 applications were received double the number received following a previous campaign.

HiBob is a supplier of HR information systems. After a couple of years of rapid growth, it noted that staff were not generating enough sales leads or conversions, especially new starters. They were taking too long to hit sales targets which had a direct impact on commissions and salaries, leading to increased staff turnover.

It brought in sales psychologists Salecology to support its people to perform and win more business from competitors. Its training focused on three key areas: understanding the customer; structure, process and methodology; and emotional-intelligent selling.

Workshops were carried out to map the various target customers and categorise them into Strategic, Managerial and Operational levels. Customers at each level were interviewed to understand more about their role and needs, and a persona was created for each to help educate the team on how to adapt their sales messaging to engage them.

Behaviour and habits take longer to embed than knowledge, so the programme was designed to roll out across a 10-week period. Each week two or three new behaviours were trained, with actions defined to practice across the week. Support material such as e-learning modules, videos and printed material were provided throughout the process. Managers underwent separate coaching to educate them in spotting sales behaviour and coaching behaviour change.

Sales lead generation increased by 140% and time to complete a sale reduced from four months to four weeks. In the past six months, voluntary staff turnover reduced to zero.

Investor services group IQ-EQ made a series of acquisitions throughout 2018 that tripled its headcount and expanded its global footprint into 23 jurisdictions, bringing an array of business cultures and management styles into the organisation. Striving to become an employer of choice, it wanted to develop effective people management skills, with a particular focus on line manager capability.

Basecamp, an in-house programme for managers, was born. New or developing line managers attend a two-day offsite event followed by eight monthly one-hour virtual training sessions to embed key learnings and introduce additional topics. Although based in theory, the learning comes from continuous in-the-moment reflection. Each delegates thinking is challenged and they come away with improved self-awareness as well as simple, practical steps to put their learning into practice.

Cohorts are formed of 15 to 20 people who might not normally work together, and guest speakers join sessions to share their own management journeys, reflect on learnings, and offer mentoring opportunities. Myers Briggs Type Indicator testing is also used to increase self-awareness and provide a common language.

Thirteen Basecamp programmes were held in 2019, training 229 delegates from 16 countries. A nomination process and waiting list have had to be introduced because of its popularity.

Instances where company leavers have cited their line manager as the reason for leaving have fallen from 38% to less than 7%.

To give customers a better experience and increase customer acquisition, commercial equipment firm JLA developed The JLA Way to develop a new culture and mindset around skills development and behaviours. It decided that using a blended learning approach was the best way to do this, as was getting sales staff to own their own personal development, not the L&D team.

The sales team undertook a 12-week learning programme, developed in partnership with Salecology. Each session focused on one or two behaviours, which were embedded before the next session. Education and application were separated, with behaviours introduced via video, workbooks and online material and classroom time focused on applying the skills learnt.

Each manager sat two formal exams around The JLA Way and spotting and coaching behaviours. When passed, delegates were awarded Sales Behaviour Analyst certification through Salecology.

With The JLA Way defined, the induction process was completely overhauled to include the new methodology and focus new starters with the right behaviours, building their confidence and providing robust, consistent sign-off levels.

Several new coaching tools for managers were adopted, including one for sales observation. A new monthly review process was introduced and a quality team was established to listen to pre-booked appointments and provide coaching and feedback.

JLA has seen its net promoter score double and the proportion of staff hitting their sales targets has increased by 11%.

This year, car manufacturer Kia launched a $25 billion strategy known as Plan S to transition into an electric vehicle manufacturer within five years, with ambitions to hold 6.6% of the EV market share by 2025. To do this, every team member from junior sales staff right up to C-suite level must have an in-depth understanding of electric vehicles and a skillset to compete in a changing industry.

Working with DBLX, it created a digital learning experience accessible to every employee across the globe. The 40-minute programme combines video, animation, 3D print and storytelling to provide an immersive learning experience, taking the learner on a journey where they discover how electric vehicles play a key part in Kias strategy, how they help meet tough emissions targets, how they are charged, how the different types of EVs are designed and built, and how they can fit in with a customers lifestyle. Learners also get to build their own EV in a custom-designed virtual factory.

The programme was initially offered in English but has since been translated into seven other languages. This has allowed almost everyone across the Kia group to complete the training.

Kia had an expected completion rate of 80% and to date has far exceeded this. It has been taken by 98% employees with an additional six countries requesting local translations.

Kia has seen a 4% growth in market share and 2.7% increase in sales, which it has attributed to the training. Employees have reported increased levels of confidence in their self-assessments, which has been echoed in the competencies reported in performance assessments undertaken by managers.

In March 2020, with Covid-19 infections increasing rapidly and the NHS coming under intense pressure, NHS England and Improvement recognised a need to provide rapid, evidence-based support to managers operating in a high pressure environment. Evidence suggested that post-traumatic stress disorder was a real risk, but it was also a possibility that they would emerge with a sense of greater resilience and renewed purpose, sometimes described as Post Traumatic Growth.

It formed its approach by launching a buildathon a virtual, agile design event, bringing together 30 expert contributors from the Centre for Army Leadership, NHS England and Improvement, the Leadership Academy and from the psychological and wellbeing practitioner communities.

The group developed a 10-point plan on leading compassionately through Covid-19; produced a series of authoritative three-minute guides, each linked to a theme in the 10-point plan; introduced dynamic support resources, including videos and podcasts offering bite-sized guidance from experts and perspectives from leaders and managers across the healthcare system; and Leadership Support Circles to provide an interactive forum for managers.

The support circles were run virtually and included people from mixed disciplines and organisations. They included evidence-based learning content, but focused on enabling colleagues to share their learnings and stories.

What would have traditionally taken six months to set up was introduced in a matter of weeks. The programme has an average net promoter rating of 91% and 700 managers have taken part. One manager said: The session helped me to develop key focus areas for staff wellbeing strategies within my own organisation.

See the article here:
Personnel Today Awards 2020: Learning and Development Award shortlist - Personnel Today

1931-1990

The Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was the spiritual leader of the Rajneeshee religious sect headquartered at Rancho Rajneesh in the Central Oregon desert from 1981 to 1985. He attracted hundreds of thousands of red-clad followers from around the world, known as sannyasins. These followers, mostly educated and affluent, followed Rajneesh's teachings which he argued did not reject but rather built on, other religions. Described by reporter David Sarasohn as a combination of Eastern mysticismand the Western human potential movement, the Rajneesh believed that meditation and sexual exploration were essential to spiritual enlightenment.

Born Rajneesh Chandra Mohan in 1931, Rajneesh grew up in Kuchwada in central India. In 1955 he earned a masters degree in philosophy and taught at two universities until 1966. In 1974 he founded an ashram (commune) in Poona (Pune), India where his success as a spiritual leader began. On July 10, 1981, his assistant Ma Anand Sheela, the president of the Rajneesh Foundation International, purchased the 64,000 acre Big Muddy Ranch straddling Wasco and Jefferson Counties in Central Oregon. The Bhagwan renamed it Rancho Rajneesh and moved there in August 1981.

The Rajneeshee developed the city of Rajneeshpuram, whose population was estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 in 1983 and 1984. They also planned a communal farm on the property. As the population of sannyasins increased, so did local resistance. Reports surfaced that Rajneesh was exercising mind control techniques on his followers. To the suspicion of the residents of the nearby town of Antelope, he owned fleets of Rolls Royce cars and private jets, while sannyasins on the commune labored 12 hours each day without monetary compensation. A lengthy struggle between the Rajneesh and their neighbors erupted, attracting the attention of the international press. On September 13, 1985 Sheela, his assistant, fled the commune for Europe amid criminal charges.

Despite Rajneesh's attempts to distance himself from Sheela, the commune collapsed, and on October 28, 1985, he too fled. Arrested when his jet refueled in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rajneesh was tried in Portland on charges of immigration fraud. Immediately after his trial on November 14, Rajneesh left for India and changed his name to Osho. He spent the rest of his life in several countries including Greece and Uruguay. He died on January 19, 1990 in Poona, India where his followers still operate an ashram.

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Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh - History of Oregon

The Rajneesh movement made its way to Oregon in 1981 and was led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. The religious cult made national news after engaging in immigration fraud, busing homeless people to their commune, and perpetrating the largest bioterrorism attack in US history in an attempt to overthrow local government leaders.

The group had several disagreements with neighboring cities and the authorities before the community was disbanded in the mid-1980s. More recently, interest in the Rajneesh movement has been reignited by the Netflix documentary Wild Wild Country. Here are ten shocking facts about the Rajneesh movement.

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, born in 1931, was a guru and meditation teacher from India. His success as a spiritual leader began in the city of Pune. He taught his disciples to live in the world fully without becoming too attached to it. He also taught dynamic meditation to help people experience the divine, and he had a progressive approach to sexuality.

In 1981, he moved to the United States, and a year later, he incorporated Rajneeshpuram. This was the new city in Oregon he planned to build for his followers. The spiritual leader attracted thousands of followers from around the world. Many of his devotees were highly educated and wealthy. Several years after opening the large ranch for his followers, Rajneesh was arrested on charges of immigration fraud. After his trial, he immediately left for India and changed his name to Osho. He spent the rest of his life in several countries before his death in 1990.[1]

Many people were attracted to Rajneesh and his teachings largely due to the embrace of materialism and sexual hedonism. Rajneesh was a wealthy man himself, and he didnt mind flaunting it. He often wore expensive watches to show his wealth. Many of his followers were already rich or had a higher education and were attracted to his wealth.

Rajneesh also taught that sex is a path to enlightenment. He believed sex is divine, and the primal energy of sex has the reflection of godliness in it. He said that in the moment of sexual climax, the mind becomes empty of all thought. The empty mind is like a void, and a vacuum is the cause of the shower of divine joy.[2] Its obvious to see why Rajneesh attracted so many followers with teachings centered on wealth and sex.

When Rajneesh moved to the US in 1981, he purchased the Big Muddy Ranch just outside of Antelope, Oregon. The community was named Rajneeshpuram, also known as Rancho Rajneesh, and was briefly incorporated as a city in the early 1980s. People from all over the world escaped here to create a utopia filled with spirituality and a free love atmosphere. The community was self-sufficient and had everything it needed.

Legal issues soon shook Rajneeshpuram as Rajneesh and several others found themselves in legal battles for criminal activities. The Rajneesh movement quickly collapsed, and Rajneeshpuram was evacuated.[3] Montana billionaire Dennis Washington bought the property to be used as a destination resort, but he ran into zoning issues later. The Washington family later donated the land to Young Life in 1996. The land is now home to Young Lifes Washington Family Ranch, which is a 64,000-acre Christian youth camp that features zip lines, an Olympic-sized pool, go-karts, a man-made lake, water slides, and an 8,200-square-meter (88,000 ft2) fitness center.

Rajneeshs right-hand person and secretary was Ma Anand Sheela. She instantly became devoted to Rajneesh after meeting him when she was just 16 years old. She helped convince him to come to America and managed the commune while also being the president of the Rajneesh Foundation International. She was a fearless and ruthless leader in Rajneeshpuram and made many media appearances to troll the neighboring towns and those who hated the Rajneesh people.

She was looked at by many as someone who shouldnt be crossed, but her crimes started catching up with her. In 1984, she attempted to influence a local election by using hundreds of homeless people and registering them to vote. After the plan failed, she arranged for Rajneesh scientists to contaminate food at local restaurants to make people sick before the elections.[4] She was also accused of wiretapping and attempted murder.

In 1986, she pleaded guilty to attempted murder, wiretapping, immigration fraud, and engineering a salmonella outbreak. She was released from prison early for good behavior, and she now lives in Switzerland, where she cares for 29 mentally disabled patients in her two care homes.

The Rajneesh people are responsible for one of the largest recorded marriage fraud cases in the United States. It is said that there were more than 400 sham marriages perpetrated by the Rajneeshees. The immigration fraud was believed to be headed by Ma Anand Sheela when they moved to America. The marriages were between US citizens and visiting foreigners. They were created to give the foreigners permanent residence in the United States and bypass American laws.

Authorities were aware of the possible illegal marriages, though, and the Rajneesh people could feel the pressure. The religious cult stayed in a legal battle with the US over the immigration fraud, but they eventually lost the fight.[5] Several people were arrested for immigration fraud, admitting that the marriages were a sham to allow followers to settle in Oregon with Rajneesh. Rajneesh also pleaded guilty to immigration fraud, was ordered to pay a $400,000 fine, and was not allowed to reenter the country.

Thousands of homeless people were being bused into Rajneeshpuram to live and work in the commune. Followers claimed this was a massive new charity being performed by the group to give homeless people another chance at life. Critics of the group claimed the homeless were being shipped to the area to boost voting for members of the religious group. The leaders of Rajneeshpuram wanted to start getting members elected into government positions to give the group help with certain things, but they would need more people to vote for their members in order to get elected. This was the reason homeless people were being moved to the location and registering to vote.

The cult soon realized that many of the homeless were mentally ill and refused to vote for them or live with their ridiculous rules at Rajneeshpuram. The homeless people were told they would receive a ticket back to where they came from, but instead, they were dropped off at nearby cities, causing an influx of homeless people to these towns. Many of the homeless were even part of a $40 million suit against the Indian guru after learning they were used for voting.[6]

The people of Rajneeshpuram wanted to take over the local government, and another one of their crazy plans to do so would be more harmful than shipping homeless people in and out of their town. Since they didnt have enough people to swing the votes their way, they decided they would take out their competition. After conducting an inspection of the ranch, Wasco County Executive William Hulse and Commissioner Raymond Matthew became ill. They had drunk ice water from the commune that had traces of salmonella in it.

Followers of the group didnt stop there, though; they would also be responsible for the largest bioterrorism attack in the United States. Salsa bars, vegetable and salad bars, table-top creamers, and other foods at a dozen local restaurants and supermarkets were contaminated with salmonella. Nobody died, but more than 750 people were sickened due to the Rajneeshees actions. They had hoped that if enough people were sick during the election, they could throw it to get their leaders in. The plot didnt work, though, because the locals were angry and turned out to vote against the Rajneesh people after suspecting it was them who caused the illness.[7]

The controversial guru was accused of brainwashing his followers. They would always wear certain colors and a portrait of Rajneesh around their necks. Dynamic meditation was performed every day by the Rajneeshees to get them out of their heads and bodies. There were four phases of the mediation that gave the followers the experience that their minds were leaving their bodies. This was believed to be part of the mind control that Rajneesh employed on the Rajneeshees.

Former members of the cult have even spoken out about how they believed they were brainwashed after arriving. Roselyn Smith claimed that she was part of a sophisticated program of mental manipulation. She remembered entering a four-day breath therapy group after arriving at the commune, and she said that by day three, shed entered into a cathartic state that lasted for hours. She then went through a five-day intensive enlightenment group, a sensory deprivation tank, and a 14-day insight group. She said it took her years of expert counseling to regain self-confidence and self-worth after leaving the group.[8]

As stated earlier, Rajneesh embraced materialism and enjoyed the finer things. He owned a massive fleet of expensive cars which he would use for his daily drive-bys, which was a drive along the road of Rajneeshpuram while the followers would line the road clapping. Rajneesh once said, Wealth is a perfect means which can enhance people in every way...So I am a materialistic spiritualist.[9]

His first two Rolls-Royces were a Corniche and Silver Shadow, which were shipped from India to the Oregon ranch. His collection would eventually grow to a fleet of 93 Rolls-Royces. After Rajneesh left the country, the Rolls-Royces were auctioned off. The cars were in mint condition and had very few miles on them because Rajneesh drove a different one each day. The cars were sold for anywhere from $60,000 to $265,000 a piece.

Devotees of the religious leader plotted to assassinate Oregons US attorney and its attorney general in order to prevent criminal probes against Rajneesh. The plan was uncovered by FBI agents investigating the followers.[10] The group decided to murder the US attorney and then assembled weapons and spied on him, but they never carried out the plot.

This was the end of the Rajneeshees in Oregon; Rajneesh had already been deported from the United States. Several of the other top members had fled the country as well. Sheela served time in prison and was eventually deported to Switzerland (where she could not be extradited). Seven cult members had been indicted in the murder conspiracy by 2006.

Im just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life. http://www.MDavidScott.com

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10 Shocking Facts About The Rajneesh Movement - Listverse

"I would be lying if I said that my mother's misery has never given me pleasure."

This is the first of many barbs of truth unleashed in Avni Doshi's debut, a lacerating look at a toxic mother-daughter relationship.

Antara's mother, Tara, is losing her memory. She forgets to pay the electricity bill, the name of the road she lives on, what century it is.

She claims to have bought razors and threatens to use them if things "deterioriate". She rips up Antara's artworks, douses them in alcohol and sets them on fire.

Antara feels her mother neglected her during the reckless years that included a spiritual interlude at an ashram as the guru's lover, a stint begging on the streets and an affair with a photographer, Reza Pine.

Tara's dementia seems to her a final elusion of responsibility. Antara - of Tara yet un-Tara - has spent years honing her resentment like a blade, but now she cannot make her mother feel guilty about things she claims not to remember.

Doshi holds nothing back in this portrait of warped motherhood, of two women entrenched in despising one another, yet so inextricable that they sometimes slip into, even usurp each other's places.

She excels in her control of the novel's sensory aspects: assailing the reader with a miasma of details, like in Antara's childish memory of the ashram as a spit, sweat and sex-soaked nightmare.

Elsewhere, she draws back with cool economy, loading compact phrases with layers, as in her descriptions of Dilip, Antara's affluent America-bred husband, as a man who "breaks his rotis with two hands" and prizes his wife's odourlessness in pungent Pune.

Tara is a talented cook and food fills the narrative, beginning with the evocative title, something sweet that has been pushed too far.

Doshi picks out tastes and scents that stick in the mind, like the pickled Kashmiri garlic that Tara's mother-in-law eats daily, filling their house with "the particular smell of digested allium".

By Avni Doshi

Hamish Hamilton/ Paperback/ 231 pages/ $32.10/ Available at bit.ly/BurntSugar_AD

Rating: 4 Stars

Both Tara and Antara try constantly to escape: Tara, the farcical strictures of her marriage and society, but also the hurt she has caused others; Antara, her body - first puberty "opening (her) up from the inside" in uncontrollable ways, then motherhood, as she has her own daughter and is dismantled by the ensuing depression.

"Maybe this is the point of a pregnancy, of motherhood itself," she thinks. "A child to undo the woman who bears it, to pull her safely apart."

Above all, they try to escape each other and fail, bringing the novel to its febrile climax. Motherhood means not being able to choose who you love. But it is love, however much it hurts.

If you like this, read: Everything Under by Daisy Johnson (Vintage, 2018, $18.95, available at bit.ly/ EverythingUnder_DJ), another Booker-shortlisted debut about a fraught mother-daughter relationship. In this Oedipal retelling, Gretel is confronted with the dementia-stricken mother who abandoned her 16 years ago after raising her on a canal houseboat.

Writing about postpartum depression did not prepare Avni Doshi, 37, for actually experiencing it.

"I didn't know I had postpartum depression," says the mother of a son, two, and a newborn daughter.

"Even though people had spoken to me about it, I wasn't able to recognise the various symptoms in myself. I just thought I was tired or a little stressed out. I couldn't really see the depth of the despair I had fallen into."

Doshi was born in New Jersey to parents from India and previously worked as an art curator in Mumbai. She began her debut novel Burnt Sugar eight years ago, moving in the meantime to Dubai, her husband's home town.

She never thought it would get published, let alone make the Booker shortlist. When her editor called with the news, she was convinced she was hallucinating. She sat there in quiet disbelief until she received an e-mail confirmation.

In Burnt Sugar, set in Pune, India, the narrator Antara experiences postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter.

Antara, an artist, is also struggling to care for her mother Tara, who has dementia. Antara feels her mother neglected her as a child, running away from her marriage to an ashram.

The relationship between mother and daughter in the novel is so toxic that it upset Doshi's mother before she had even read it.

"People must have told her that it's quite intense and difficult," she says over Skype from Dubai. "So she said, 'You've exposed me, you don't have a right to do that, how can you write about things that are private?'

"Then she read the book and realised it was nothing like us, so that calmed her down a little bit."

Doshi has a "relatively good" relationship with her mother, whom she says is "very proper" and not in the least like the rebellious Tara.

Still, much of her novel is drawn from reality. Many relatives from her mother's side belonged to the Osho ashram in Pune, founded by the controversial guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.

Doshi's grandmother in Pune was diagnosed five years ago with Alzheimer's disease. Doshi became obsessed with researching the condition. She read scientific journals, listened to podcasts and talked to doctors about it.

"I thought, I'm going to cure my grandmother," she says. "I have no background in science, so obviously that wasn't a possibility."

Just as Antara uses her artwork to comprehend her mother's condition, so Doshi used her novel to try to understand what was happening to her grandmother.

Becoming a mother in the process of writing her novel has shifted her perspective on motherhood, she says.

"I think now that I'm a mother, I realise how important it is to be able to decide that you don't want to be a mother. The more I understand about motherhood, the more I realise it's not the best choice for everyone.

"I can understand how having, for generations, that kind of pressure where motherhood is a decision that's made for you automatically, can be extremely difficult and damaging for families."

Olivia Ho

Read more from the original source:
A portrait of warped motherhood, Arts News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Greece became the latest European country to declare a national lockdown on the same day England entered a four-week shutdown to combat the accelerating spread of Covid-19. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak extended the furlough wage support scheme until March.New cases in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic climbed to records, while unprecedented numbers of coronavirus patients are in intensive care in Belgium. The European Commission cut its economic forecast for 2021, projecting growth of just 4.2%.AstraZeneca Plc said its ready to supply hundreds of millions of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine and will seek approval for its shot in many countries at once. The pandemic continued to spread in the U.S., with almost 100,000 new cases. Coronavirus deaths and infections worldwide surged by daily records, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Key Developments:Global Tracker: Cases surpass 48 million; deaths top 1.22 millionEuropes lockdown wave risks double-dip recessionsBrexit in a lockdown is worst of all worlds for U.K. businessAmericas Covid-19 hotspots stuck with TrumpCaution arises on rapid tests in asymptomatic peopleVaccine Tracker: Clinical trials restart in hopeful signSubscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloombergs Prognosis team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on coronavirus cases and deaths.Sunak Extends U.K. Furlough Wage Support to March (7:26 a.m. NY)U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak extended furlough payments to employees of shuttered companies until the end of March as he sought to provide certainty to the countrys coronavirus-ravaged economy.Government payments of 80% of wages for workers at companies forced to close because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions will continue after the end of the partial English lockdown on Dec. 2, Sunak told the House of Commons on Thursday.Speaking on the day England entered a new four-week lockdown, Sunak abandoned his previous position that the program should end on Oct. 31 in order for new, less-generous measures to focus on supporting viable jobs.Regeneron to Ramp Up Antibody Output (6:47 a.m. NY)Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it should have enough of its Covid-19-fighting antibody to treat 80,000 patients by the end of the month, and 200,000 doses of the medication that President Donald Trump dubbed a cure by the first week of January.It plans to produce another 100,000 doses to fulfill its $450 million contract with the U.S. governments Operation Warp Speed by the end of January. It submitted data to support an emergency use authorization of the experimental antibody cocktail last month.Montenegro Tightens Rules After Funeral of Cleric (6:35 a.m. NY)Montenegro imposed new restrictions after thousands of people ignored existing distancing measures and flocked to the funeral of a famous local Orthodox cleric. On Sunday, an open-casket funeral of Bishop Amfilohije, who died of Covid-19 last week, drew masses to the capital of Podgorica despite a ban on gatherings.Exponential growth in new infections, a consequence of a disregard for measures and mass gatherings in recent days, require the tightening, health authorities said late Wednesday by email. Restrictions will be tightened in four cities, including Podgorica, by closing down schools, bars and restaurants.Astra Preparing to Roll Out Vaccine Supplies (6:48 p.m. HK)AstraZeneca Plc is poised to unveil coronavirus vaccine test results by year-end and to begin supplying the world with hundreds of millions of doses shortly afterwards if it gains approval from regulators, Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said on Thursday. Soriot dismissed reports of delays and manufacturing snags.After summer delays, a recent resurgence of the virus has allowed scientists to gather the clinical data they need, Soriot said on a conference call. Astra is keeping the vaccine in a frozen bulk state for now to maximize its shelf life while it awaits final test results and regulatory clearances.Norway Restricts Alcohol Sales in Bid to Avoid Lockdown (6:38 p.m. HK)Norway is banning alcohol sales at bars and restaurants after midnight, extending measures already imposed in some municipalities nationwide. The new curbs also limit gatherings in public places to 20 people, while Prime Minister Erna Solberg urged people to stay at home if they can and advised against unnecessary domestic travel. Norwegians will still be free to travel to their cabins, provided they can avoid contact with others.Solberg said the latest rise in infections means theres no time to see whether restrictions introduced last week are enough.Greece to Enter National Lockdown on Saturday (6:08 p.m. HK)Greece will go into a three-week national lockdown from 6 a.m. Saturday after a prolonged rise in coronavirus infections and an increase in the number of patients in intensive care, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.If we continued to see the same rate of increase in cases as in the past week wed have thousands in our hospitals, Mitsotakis said in a nationally televised address.Greece recorded a new daily record high of 2,646 new cases Wednesday, while the occupancy rate of total intensive-care units currently stands at 69%. The total number of infections in the country of around 11 million people is now 46,892.Europe Economy Faces Sluggish Recovery in 2021 (6:00 p.m. HK)The euro-area economy will grow 4.2% in 2021, less than previously anticipated, the European Commission said. The European Unions executive arm does see a shallower recession this year, though that doesnt include the latest government lockdowns, which could push some of the regions biggest economies back into recession.The outlook is for a sluggish recovery next year that leaves EU nations open to rising company failures and long-term unemployment, the Commission said.Polish, Czech Infections Hit New Records (5:44 p.m. HK)Poland confirmed 27,143 new coronavirus cases in the last 234 hours, a record, with 367 more deaths, the countrys health ministry said. That pushes the countrys infection rate over a threshold set by the government for the imposition of a full lockdown.The Czech Republic also registered a record daily caseload, with 15,729 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, according to health ministry. The countrys health-care system is under pressure and a state of emergency was recently extended until Dec. 3.Swedish Economy Disappoints, PM Enters Isolation (5:40 p.m. HK)Swedens economy grew less than expected in the third quarter, when a lull in the virus during the summer months allowed businesses and households to return to a semi-normal existence. Gross domestic product grew 4.3% from the previous quarter, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday, less than economists predictions of 5%.Separately, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he is self-isolating after being exposed to a person who tested positive for Covid-19. Lofven said on Facebook that he has no symptoms and feels well.Top Serb Clerics Get Covid-19 After Funeral (3:50 p.m. HK)The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, and one of his bishops tested positive for the coronavirus days after holding service for another top cleric whose funeral in neighboring Montenegro drew crowds that ignored health warnings.Patriarch Irinej, 90, has been hospitalized in Belgrade, the Serbian Orthodox Church said by email late Wednesday. Bishop Joanikije, another dignitary of the denomination, also tested positive.Both attended the funeral on Sunday for Bishop Amfilohije, who died last week from Covid-19 in Montenegro. He was a prominent political figure whose support of opposition groups helped them defeat the long-ruling party of President Milo Djukanovic in August elections.Bank of England Boosts U.K. Stimulus (3:00 p.m. HK)Policymakers at the Bank of England voted unanimously to inject an extra 150 billion pounds ($195 billion) into the U.K. economy by increasing the size of its government bond-buying program to combat the effects of the accelerating pandemic.Officials also slashed their economic growth estimates, saying they now expected a contraction in the fourth quarter. The U.K. economy will shrink by 11% in 2020 before expanding 7.5% in 2021, the bank said.German Cases Climb to Record (2:28 p.m. HK)Germany registered a record increase in new cases, days after the government imposed the toughest restrictions since a national lockdown in the spring.Europes biggest economy had 31,480 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday morning, bringing the total to 608,611, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The figures have fluctuated wildly in recent weeks, with daily infections falling to the lowest in almost two weeks on Wednesday.India Adds More Than 50,000 Cases (12:09 p.m. HK)India reported 50,210 new infections Thursday, the first time in 10 days that cases have topped 50,000. Daily infections have dropped from a peak of more than 97,000 in mid-September, but a rise in cases is expected as India kicks off its festival season -- culminating in Diwali on Nov. 14.Total cases in India are at 8.36 million, the second-highest globally behind the U.S., while the countrys death toll rose to 124,315 as of Thursday.Record Worldwide Deaths (11:33 a.m. HK)Daily coronavirus deaths worldwide set a new record of more than 10,000, while global infections passed 600,000 in a day for the first time as the pandemic gathered pace, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Hokkaido Outbreak Grows (10:25 a.m. HK)Infections in Japans northern-most prefecture Hokkaido, where cases have spiked since October, may break through 100 for the first time today, according to local broadcaster FNN.Hokkaidos governor and the mayor for the prefectures biggest city met Wednesday to discuss possible restrictions, such as asking restaurants in the citys nightlife district to shorten operating hours in exchange for subsidies, FNN reported.China Suspends Entry for U.K. Visas (9:10 a.m. HK)China will temporarily suspend entry by non-Chinese U.K. nationals who hold valid visas or residence permits, the Chinese Embassy in the U.K. said in a statement.The suspension is in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and will be assessed as it evolves, the embassy said. Entry by holders of diplomatic, service or C visas wont be affected, it said.Denver Mulls Tighter Rules (8:15 a.m. HK)Denver is considering more tools to restrict gatherings and avoid a stay-at-home order, said Theresa Marchetta, spokeswoman for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Its safe to say everything is on the table.Pueblo, the ninth-largest city in Colorado, last week imposed a two-week, overnight curfew.U.K. May Unveil Furlough Details (7:33 a.m. HK)The U.K. is expected to unveil details of a wage support program Thursday, amid calls for more generous help for people who cant work due to coronavirus restrictions.The Treasury announced Saturday it would extend furlough payments at 80% of employee wages until Dec. 2 to support workers during a second lockdown that starts Thursday. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is due to announce further extending the program beyond Dec. 2 in areas under the highest levels of restrictions, the Sun newspaper said.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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Trial launched to test app that promises digital self-help for youngsters - Yahoo Finance UK

New items are available at the Hancock County Public Library.

The following items are available at the Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. For more information on the librarys collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.

Adult Fiction

The Book of V. by Anna Solomon

Suzanne Falter's book encourage women to take care of themselves amid a busy life. submitted

"The Book of V" examines the lives of three women over time to determine how things have changed -- or not changed. submitted

Three women: Lily, Vivian and Esther.

Lily is a mother and a daughter, a second wife and maybe a writer. Or she was going to be, before she had children. Now, in her rented Brooklyn apartment shes grappling with her sexual and intellectual desires, while also trying to manage her roles as a mother and a wife in 2016. Vivian Barr seems to be the perfect political wife, dedicated to helping her charismatic and ambitious husband find success in Watergate-era Washington D.C. But one night, he demands a humiliating favor, and her refusal to obey changes the course of her life and the lives of others. Esther is a fiercely independent young woman in ancient Persia, where she and her uncles tribe live a tenuous existence outside the palace walls. When an innocent mistake results in devastating consequences for her people, she is offered up as a sacrifice to please the King, in the hopes that she will save them all. In author Anna Solomons The Book of V., the lives of these three characters overlap and ultimately collide, illuminating how womens lives have and have not changed over thousands of years.

Adult Nonfiction

The Extremely Busy Womans Guide to Self-Care: Do Less, Achieve More, and Live the Life You Want, by Suzanne Falter

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Imagine your perfect day. What if that perfect day was every day? Youre probably doing a lot: taking care of your family, killing it at your job, volunteering, organizing, scheduling and delegating. At the end of all of that, do you have any time or energy left to take care of the most important person: you? If you are ready to step out of feelings of frenzy, guilt, stress and overwhelm, this is the perfect book to guide you on that journey with simple steps you can take each day to improve your self-care. Self-care movement leader and author Suzanne Falter gets it. In fact, she lived the life that every woman today feels expected to lead, chasing career goals while balancing the commitment of raising a family. But after facing an unthinkable tragedy, Suzanne transformed her identity as a stressed-out workaholic to find her way back to wholeness and balance after experiencing overwhelming grief. In The Extremely Busy Womans Guide to Self-Care, Suzanne shares simple, bite-sized suggestions to help you ease onto the path of effective self-care in a way that feels doable rather than demanding.

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Off the Shelves November 5 - Greenfield Daily Reporter

Mary Carney Published 7:08 a.m. ET Nov. 5, 2020

Even though were gaining an hour of sleep, coming out of Daylight Saving Time can have an affect on our natural sleep cycles. Buzz60

At the outset of COVID-19 in early March, there was overwhelming support for our health care workers. As we enter flu season and COVID-19 infections in Indiana continue to rise, there is a heightened need for 24-hour care availability for patients.

While frontline and essential workers in all industries face risks as they work to keep the country running in the face of a global pandemic, shift-work fatigue is an invisible risk they face.

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Fatigue is a public health problem on a local and global scale. Humans are the only species that pretend to be nocturnal, but willpower cannot overcome biology.

There are many risks involved with fighting the need for sleep, including impaired reaction time, judgment and vision, problems with information processing and short-term memory, decreased performance, vigilance and motivationand increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors.

Mary Carney is the Western Governors University state director of nursing in Indiana.(Photo: Provided)

Nationwide, 16% of wage and salary employees follow shift-work schedules outside of the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., including 10% who work evening shifts or night shifts. More than 43% of workers are sleep-deprived, and those most at risk work the night shift, long shifts or irregular shifts.

Furthermore, fatigue is estimated to cost employers $136 billion a year in health-related productivity. While there is no perfect solution for night-shift work, meaningful steps can be taken to improve the impacts related to shift-worker sleep and fatigue.

In general, employees receive little education on the importance of sleep andsleep disorders and the consequences of fatigue. And while night-shift work is necessary in many industries, there is a growing body of evidence that its negative impacts can be mitigated through onboarding education, science-based scheduling and rostering, and increased recognition of the added burden shift work places on employees.

Employers are in a unique position to educate employees on how to avoid fatigue-related safety incidents. These strategies can help this nocturnal workforce mitigate their inherent risk, improve their quality of lifeand increase productivity in the workplace.

The pandemic has layered an additional burden on shift workers with the loss of child care, remote learning for their children (most of which is scheduled during the daytime hours), and the loss of an already limited social life.

Working in hospitals and health care facilities creates an increased chance that friends and colleagues become sick and must isolate themselves, which also creates additional emotional challenges for an already stressful line of work.

If one good thing has come of COVID-19, its that the pandemic has made employers think more carefully about mental health resources for their employees and learn to be more accepting of the mental-health burden that goes alongside night-shift work.

While fatigue impacts workers across sectors, its particularly important for health care workers who cannot properly care for patients if their own needs arent met first.

Their self-care must be prioritized and supported by family, friends, neighbors and peers. I encourage anyone who knows someone in the health care industry to remind them to take time for themselves and even lend a helping hand.

One small but mighty way to honor the important and often unrecognized contributions of night-shift nurses and shift workers is to thank those who had to work an extra hour during their normal shift due to the daylight-savingtime change on Nov. 1.

This is one reason why Western Governors University Indiana launched its Night Shift Nurses campaign, which will deliver 1,900 appreciation kits to night shift workers at health care facilities statewide this year.

We must remain aware of the sacrifices of those on the front lines and learn how we can best help them care for themselves so they can care for the most vulnerable.

At this critical time, I am urging employers and communities to prioritize health care workers sleep health through education, resources and self-care.

Mary Carney is the Indiana state director of nursing in Western Governors University.

Read or Share this story: https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2020/11/05/op-ed-health-care-workers-literally-lose-sleep-over-pandemic/6004717002/

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Op-ed: Health care workers literally lose sleep over pandemic. That's bad for patients. - IndyStar

November 03, 2020 03:08 ET | Source: Research and Markets

Dublin, Nov. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Digital Transformation Initiatives Post Pandemic to Drive Marginal Growth in the Global Airport Self-service Market, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The total self-service market was worth $981.7 million in 2019 and, considering the impact of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.3% through 2025.

The airport self-service market is poised to witness the advent of latest solutions that improve passenger experience and process efficiency of airports. This study covers the global market and provides a 6-year forecast from 2020 to 2025.

This research covers self-service check-in systems, self-service bag drop systems, self-boarding, and self-service security and immigration systems which are widely adopted at airport passenger touch points. The self-service check-in segment has the highest market share, followed by bag drop, boarding, and security and immigration. Major growth will be observed in the North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions during the forecast period.

Major airports across the globe have reached their maximum capacity and are facing capacity constraints. Large numbers of congested airports are in the process of expansion or have long-term plans to expand their infrastructure. Major airports are also focusing on digital transformation, which will help them to improve their process efficiency.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a liquidity crisis at airports, which in turn has halted expansion plans and forced airports to realign their digitalization journey. The pandemic has severely lessened passenger traffic at airports reducing congestion, but health regulatory guidelines such as social distancing and contactless travel will strain capacity even amidst such reduced traffic. This provides an opportunity for self-service solution providers to deliver new, tailor-made self-service solutions as per the requirements of airports.

These solutions will not only help improve process efficiency but will also enhance passenger experience and ensure the maintenance of high standards of health and safety. Leading vendors in the airport self-service market are pivoting their focus on enabling a contactless experience by integrating new technologies like biometrics, near field communications (NFC), robotics, cyber security, and blockchain, and on delivering them within a short timeframe. The market leaders are also partnering with start-ups and developing a complete portfolio of self-service solutions.

Additionally, new entrants are bringing innovations and utilizing new technologies to enable a seamless and touchless experience. In the coming years, the increase in usage of self-service solutions will automate passenger processes across multiple touch points, leading to an increase in collection of sensitive passenger data. All stakeholders (airports, airlines, and solution providers) involved need to ensure fair and transparent use of such critical data. Vendors need to develop their solutions with a security-first approach and ensure adherence to local and global data regulations.

Key Issues Addressed

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Overview

3. COVID-19 - Impact of the Pandemic

4. Drivers and Restraints - Total Market

5. Key Market Trends

6. Key Technology Trends

7. Forecast and Trends - Total Market

8. Market Share and Competitive Analysis - Total Market

9. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action

10. Self-Service - Check-In Segment Analysis

11. Self-Service - Bag Drop Segment Analysis

12. Self-Service - Boarding Segment Analysis

13. Self-Service - Security & Immigration Segment Analysis

14. The Last Word

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i6lcp0

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Global Airport Self-service Markets, 2019-2020 & Forecast to 2025: COVID-19 Impact - Market is Expected to Expand at a CAGR of 0.3% -...