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For what doesnt October raise awareness?

Though there are actually two separate months to raise awareness for disabilities. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, while March is celebrated as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

But this cause is especially important. This year marks 30 years since the passing of theAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Yes, its been only three decades since America established a law to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, including those not visible to the eye.

Williamsburg-James City Public Schools acknowledged Disabilities Awareness Month back in March, but now the York County School Division is taking the time to highlight resources and feature students.

YCSD operates under an inclusion model and has programs for students who require additional support, said Elain Gould, director of Student Services.

The school division sent out instructional resources to their teachers and counselors to prepare for National Disability History and Awareness month, though Gould said these resources can be used all school year long.

We really focus on using tools from the Im Determined project, she said.

The project is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and helps students reflect on their goals and strength. The resources include tools to encourage social interaction where students can learn about themselves and one another.

More importantly, these social tactics can also be used during asynchronous learning while students are still learning remotely.

Every morning, students meet with their instructors to have a discussion. Gould said teachers can include these social tools for an asynchronous assignment then have students come back together the next morning to share.

The division also has an on-going social and emotional learning initiative, with a theme set every two months. The theme for this month is self-awareness.

We value the contribution of all of our students, and recognize they all have strengths, Gould said. These tools allow students to become more self-directed, goal-setting, self-determined individuals.

YCSD is also working on inclusion and representation outside of the classroom. Last year in August, the division did a youth summit for students with disabilities. The division was planning on having it again, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. Instead, they sent out a video compiled from last years summit in a newsletter to families.

The division also sends out a monthly newsletter where they provide more resources and activities for families.

Next week, the division plans on featuring alumni with disabilities.

We really want to know where some of these students are now, Gould said. Weve decided wed like to continue that throughout the year, so we think thats going to be a success.

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It doesn't matter what month it is, the work to raise awareness on disabilities continues for this local school division - WYDaily

Friday For Life

9Now

Created by Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace, The Last Ship) and inspired by real life events, this American legal drama stars Nicholas Pinnock (Counterpart) as Aaron Wallace, a club owner who receives a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. Determined to free himself and help those in a similar predicament,Wallace earns his legal degree and represents fellow inmates in court. It's a case-per-episode model, but with a sturdy overall narrative, as Wallace has to evade powerful adversaries while accepting that some on the outside, including his wife Marie (Joy Bryant), have already moved on. It's heavy-handed in part, but honest about institutional flaws.

Jennifer Lopez in Shades of Blue.

7Plus

Adapted from the 2011 novel by P.D. James, this Georgian murder mystery is sumptuous unofficial fan-fiction for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, where Darcy and Elizabeth (Matthew Rhys and Anna Maxwell Martin) have been happily married for six years. A grisly killing on the night the couple are hosting a ball sees Elizabeth's untrustworthy brother-in-law, George Wickham (Matthew Goode), charged with murder. First airing in 2013, it's a best of both worlds proposition for British TV devotees period manners and costumes with a crime to solve. It moves at a serious clip and has enough self-awareness to avoid dutiful homage.

Old-fashioned whodunit: Penelope Keith as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Death Comes to Pemberley.

ABC, 8.40pm

First seen victoriously exiting a London courthouse after taking legal action against a newspaper that accused him of corruption, Conservative party politician Peter Laurence is a hand-in-glove role for Hugh Laurie. Ebullient but calculating, the self-made cabinet member is a balancing act aiming upwards and hoping not to be dragged down. In this four-part BBC drama, the considerable machinations that swirl around Laurence a possible illegitimate daughter, rumours of a shonky past, and aggrieved adversaries don't frame him as a hero but rather a player trying to stay one step ahead of defeat.

As with the excellent 2018 Netflix series Collateral, Roadkill was written by acclaimed playwright David Hare. Both limited series look at power and institutions, although this time the setting is more 10 Downing Street than a police station interview room.With typically testy exchanges, the narrative examines which of people or structures bends to the demands of the other. "Well that was good fun," Helen McCrory's formidable prime minister Dawn Ellison notes after disappointing Laurence, and while this is a post-Brexit landscape sans pandemic, this promising show feels timely in the way it captures the political flux of conscience and consequence.

Nine, 7.30pm

The 16th season of Nine's home renovation contest is heading into its last two weeks. With front garden and facade week behind them, the contestants are now facing garage and studio week, with seven days until judging. The requirement is a garage with a self-contained apartment above it. There's a lot of plastering to be done, installation of many sheets of Gyprock and numerous skylights on display. There's also disappointment, exhaustion and tears, as well as budget blowouts and subsequent deficits.

Meanwhile, the winners are smiling and apparently cruising. At a couple of points, foreman Dan gets his ruler out, which is rarely a good sign for the team working on the house that he's surveying. Dan and his fellow foreman, Keith, take one contestant whose spirits are sagging out to lunch and offer an appreciated pep talk. There's also time for the contestants to share a Mexican dinner. The relentless promotions for sponsors, which are firmly concreted into the proceedings, continue unabated and unabashed.

Ten, 10am

This will be a Cup Day like no other. No crowds in the stands, no car-park picnics, no Birdcage or themed corporate marquees with celebs swanning around, sipping bubbly and nibbling on gourmet canapes. But the races through the day will go ahead, culminating in the one that traditionally stops the nation at 3pm. Ten's coverage of the Spring Racing Carnival's biggest day begins in the morning with Studio 10. The team covering Flemington will be led by Stephen Quartermain and Gorgi Coghlan, with racing host Michael Felgate. Francesca Cumani, who's a reliable asset on racing coverage, will provide her analysis from the UK. The telecast will also feature The Race of Dreams, a virtual race pitting 24 past champions of the Cup against each other.

ABC, 8.30pm

Written and directed by Kriv Stenders (The Principal, Red Dog, TV's Wake in Fright, The Go Betweens: Right Here), this profile of champion racing-car driver Peter Brock focuses on his remarkable achievements on the track and skips more lightly over other aspects of his life. A picture of an obsessive and phenomenally talented driver emerges, a man who learned "mechanical sympathy" from an early age and could "trick" a car into doing what he wanted. Brock dominated the touring car circuit for nearly 40 years, winning the 1000 Endurance race at Bathurst nine times between 1972 and 1987, a record that remains unbroken. He was "the messiah of motorsport", says sports commentator Garry Wilkinson, who's one of the many interviewees including

family members, racing-crew colleagues, rivals and commentators. Brock is depicted as a uniquely talented and charismatic figure who loved attention, hated being alone and could be difficult to work with, as his on-again-off-again relationship with Holden indicated. There was a darkness beneath the charm and Stenders' profile alludes to that, as well as celebrating his mastery of the circuit.

SBS, 8.30pm

Jenny Brockie, who's been the host of this discussion program for nearly 19 years, is taking her final bow in the arena. Calm and capable, she's been a steady pair of hands at the helm, helping to steer a program that is one of TV's quiet achievers. However, there won't be a highlights reel to mark the milestone. Instead, SBS is screening the 2018 episode Hungry, which asks why 3.6 million Australians, including one in five children, don't have enough to eat.

The problem is as pressing today as it was then and the discussion covers issues such as food insecurity, bill shock and the importance of charity organisations. The episode puts a human face on the problem, with several families detailing their stressful situations. Brockie navigates the territory with her customary skill and compassion. She'll be missed.

10play

The 18 Kiwi castaways vying for the $250,000 prize on New Zealand's second season of Survivor look like a buff bunch. They're strong, fit and telegenic. They arrive at their temporary new homes, located on a lake between Thailand and Myanmar, and are welcomed by host Matt Chisholm. As those familiar with the format of this long-running reality-TV contest will be well aware, things get hairy from there. While the scenery is spectacular, close-ups frequently indicate the abundance of potentially scary local wildlife: snakes, spiders, monkeys, even tigers.

Then comes the division into tribes. Chani, which is Thai for gibbon, is yellow; Khangkhaw, meaning bat, is blue. The newly formed teams set about constructing their shelters, trying to make fire to cook their rice, and contemplating the best locations for toilets. Soon, some of the cannier competitors are surreptitiously searching for hidden immunity idols. It's game on and all 15 episodes of the season are available.

9Now

It only lasted three seasons (2016-18), but this star vehicle for Jennifer Lopez has qualities to recommend it, including supporting cast that features Ray Liotta and Drea de Matteo. The police drama created by Adi Hasak focuses on the murky morality that can come with police work. Lopez plays detective Harlee Santos, the single mother of teenager Cristina (Sarah Jeffrey) and the most effortlessly glamorous detective on the New York streets.

However, she's introduced looking shaken and battered, recording a confession into her laptop as something has clearly gone badly wrong. A swing back to two weeks earlier sees Harlee as a confident cop, one who walks with purpose and swagger and feels at home in her role and with her fellow officers, whom she regards as family. She has an especially close relationship with her boss, Matt Wozniak (Liotta). In the pilot, directed by Barry Levinson, the complexities and compromises of her world quickly become clear. A botched assignment with her rookie partner (Dayo Okeniyi) sees her covering up the truth of an apartment raid that led to a death.

Harlee and members of her squad are also engaged in profitable side hustles that involve the trafficking of stolen goods, and they hire themselves out to provide security. In order to keep the peace and maintain low crime figures in his precinct, Wozniak has made some dubious deals. It's a strong start and all 36 episodes are available.

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What's on TV: Friday, October 30 to Thursday, November 5 - Sydney Morning Herald

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Variations in employee circumstances, preferences or requirements within the same workforce could lead to the rise ofHybrid Teams, which areteamsin which some members work in the one co-located workplace while others work remotely.

JP Morgan Chase led the way calling certain employees back to the office. Now Googles CEO has alluded that his company will follow suit, even after announcing earlier that employees could work from home until the summer of 2021. Covid-19 cases are rising in 21 states and there still isnt a vaccine, so many people are probably wondering, why the sudden shift to return to the office?

Researchers at the Martec Group, a market research firm, know why. The research firm conducted an Emotional Intelligence survey of 1,214 individuals across various industries, demographics, and seniority levels and found that employees reporting good mental health has dropped from 62% to a mere 28%. Productivity has also taken a hit. 40% of employees saying their productivity has worsened at home, 42% say they have less focus and 42% also say their stress has increased.

With so many companies facing this move towards a hybrid in-office and work-from-home approach its critical for leaders everywhere to get clear on what needs to be implemented, changed and supported.

The good news is that Hybrid Teams arent necessarily new. Companies that have leveraged global and satellite teams have been working with Hybrid Teams for years. Though there are some easy lessons to glean from their experiences, there are some unique factors when it comes to Hybrid Teams in todays climate.

Leaders need to understand and plan for the key factors that will impact Hybrid Teams. Due to the pandemic, there are levels of risk, emotion and compliance that make the management of Hybrid Teams more complex.

The mass and rapid transition to a remote workforce has surfaced these key issues:

Technology & Resource Reliability Unreliable internet service, equipment that doesnt match the office space quality and the lack of home space to ensure distraction free work.

Personal Obligations Individual familial and personal obligations or health concerns are no longer separate from their job obligations.

Rapid Pace of Change Rules and regulations are shifting constantly from a federal, local and internal company level.

Increased Complexity of Change Lack of clear-cut solutions that can meet the demands of the various nuances such as health requirements, scheduling, availability and deadlines.

Health Risks & Protocols Multiple gray areas and evolving guidelines regarding workplaces and in-person interaction.

Ensuring staff feels and is safe by following all health and safety protocols issued at the federal, state, county and company level is going to pose its own challenges. But leaders will also need to level up their skills and approach to ensure they are able to effectively build the synergy and productivity in their blended team.

Chuck Bean, Chief Marketing Officer with the Martec Group shares, The logistics, though they may be challenging, are easier to solve for because theyre tactical. Leaders will have to navigate a lot of the grayer areas to break down the dichotomy of in office and at home team dynamics.

Key areas to focus on include:

Self-Awareness Getting honest about their preferences regarding working in the office or remotely is critical to ensuring they arent penalizing the members of the team operating on the opposite side of their work biases. This means if you have a preference for seeing people working in the office, youll have to combat the urge to discount work done by those working virtually and not as visible to you. Or you may have to work harder to connect with the in-office team members if you prefer the virtual side of work.

The managers preference can no longer be the guiding force on managing Hybrid Teams. Its critical for leaders to be able to foster trust and productivity across all team members. Well need to really listen to our employees the way we listen to our customers to set us all up for success, advises Bean.

Purpose Driven Decisions Its more critical today than ever before to have a vision for the team. Its also critical that everyone understands the purpose behind operating as a hybrid team that goes beyond logistics. Discussing with the team the benefits to morale, creativity, availability and engagement should also be clear to everyone.

Interpersonal Skills Managers can no longer let office tensions slide, assuming time will work things out. Without the opportunities for frequent engagement, resentments tend to grow and spread. Mediation skills will be paramount, as well as the ability to foster a culture of dialogue, feedback and candor.

Communication Rituals In the midst of chaos, its critical to have some predictable moments of engagement, in particularly regarding feedback, expectations and collaboration. Creating these anchors for the team ensure that people feel comfortable bringing up issues as they show up vs. waiting for things to blow up. It also helps to connect the dots and ensure everyone is making decisions with the bigger picture in mind.

Culture & Team Building A proactive and intentional effort needs to be made to ensure teams are not developing a we vs. them mindset due to the different experiences of remote to in-person work. Taking intentional measures to bring team members together across work location will ensure there is a cross-section of communication. However, the leader will be key in setting the tone that everyone is one team by the way they speak to and talk about the team as a whole.

Coaching for Growth & Development Managers will need to ensure career-conversations, skill development and growth opportunities are the cornerstone of their management approach vs. seeing it as a nice to have when there is time. Ensuring individuals drive their own development will help tailor the types of conversations being held. However, leaders need to make it a policy to have one-to-one conversations on an annual or bi-annual basis with each of their direct reports, regardless of their performance levels or work location. This ensures an objective and consistent approach to growth and development across the team.

Though figuring out the different compliance issues, rearranging desks and installing plexiglass guards will be the topics most people focus on during this pendulum swing to the middle ground of blended work environments, its the people side of leadership that will make the biggest and most long-term impact.

Follow this link:
Effective Hybrid Team Leadership: The New Performance Factor For Successful Companies - Forbes

SASKATOON -- Morgana Scully has anxiety and depression and has found that face masks help her keep focused on what matters.

Its been nice because you dont have to focus so much on the facial expressions, she said.

Masks also make it easier to hide things which shes having a bad day, she said.

Alana Demkiw works at a bar and says she is often told by customers to smile more. With the mask it doesnt come up anymore, which is allows her to focus on her work.

The performance is a huge part of my job. Servers have to be smiling and laughing all the time and now we have a little bit of freedom with that, she said.

I dont have to laugh at the old, tired jokes like oh you forgot my beer I guess I dont have to pay for it then, ha ha ha. Its been really nice to communicate without the expectation of a fake smile.

This residual positive effect of mask-wearing takes away some self awareness, according to a professor of psychology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Anytime where our personal identity is hidden it can lead to a little bit of dampening our self consciousness. The positive of it is how we can go out and not worry about what we look like, Jan Gelech said.

That sense of blending into the group can be very positive and safe place for those dealing with social anxiety.

However, anonymity has the potential to increase behaviour in some people that they normally wouldnt do, Gelech said.

Social psychologists would start to wonder are we going to see an increase in uninhibited behaviour. Im not saying there is any evidence this is actually happening yet, but interestingly a lot of research has been done on Halloween masks indicating this is true.

In those cases, children wearing costumes in which they cant be identified would engage in thefts or vandalism where they wouldnt have before, Gelech said.

Read the original:
How masks are helping these Saskatoon residents beyond stopping COVID-19 - CTV Toronto

So much of life happens remotely now. The Pandemic removes familiar feedback we know how to process.

Relating in uncertainty can impact our sense of our self-worth. Children feel it as they experience radical adjustments in schooling formats and social connections.

How do we help children know their self-worth when theyre developing in distance learning and digital play dates?

Remote relationships have repercussions on our view of ourselves and the world around us. Students lose their motivation when waking up to meet with a Zoom group. Knowing projects wont be shared or celebrated with peers makes inspiration elusive.

And why work hard on a college application for acceptance into more virtual lessons? Kids need a reason for making an effort in isolation.

Gallup survey results released in June 2020 report concerns of 1,200 parents of K-12 students, 97% in distance learning. 29% of parents said children were already experiencing harm to their emotional or mental health.

Learning now looks radically different for most children than it did a year ago.

God designed a childs concept of self to grow gradually across the ages and stages of development. By age five children begin to play games with rules, just in time to learn to cooperate and share.

Around age seven, friends become more important, and by age ten children may develop a best friend and curiosity about the opposite sex. Feedback from peers and adults helps children learn the rules and norms of who they are.

But now, masks cover a vital source of information: faces. Distance puts children at a disadvantage in practicing how to interact with peers and people of all ages.

Remote delivery replaces much of the regular reinforcement shaping a childs developing self-concept and self-worth. Without receiving vital information via environmental feedback with familiar rules, its hard for a child to construct their self-worth.

Its more vital than ever for loving grownups to connect with children in meaningful ways. Three intentional adult practices help children grow a healthy self-worth.

With a broader set of input absent, a parents modeling matters more than ever. A loving grownup first needs to invest in their own healthy self-worth, while possibly managing their own isolation.

Self-awareness goes before ability in supporting a childs need to know their value. By prioritizing the care and feeding of our own body, mind, and soul, we strengthen the structure of our own self-worth.

Gods word declares how he sees us as worthy of great love. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a)

Loving adults cant model a godly vision of their self-worth without first getting a godly vision of their self-worth.

When grownups wrestle with their value, it spills over onto a watching child.

Adult anxiety has a way of seeping out into parent-child relationships. Our personal perspective works either way, to influence either a distorted sense of self-worth or a godly sense of self-worth.

When the writer Paul was in a dark place, a literal prison, he invited learners to mimic him, saying, Therefore I urge you to imitate me. He was able to welcome the inspection, saying, my way of life in Christ Jesus agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church, (1 Corinthians 4:16-17).

He could invite imitation, because he knew his own worth in Christ and lived it out, even from prison.

Pauls modeled a strong self-worth while weathering storms of trouble in and around his life. Paul practiced contentment, transparency, and availability with his spiritual children.

Despite distance and separation, he found a way to be present in their lives, inviting them to lean in and see his example.

Working from home or not working at all has taken a toll on many adults. Some days the Pandemic feels like a prison. Add in distance from friends and family and separation from our usual support network, and adults have struggled to steady our own sense of self and value.

Who are we in this?

As we hold fast to our identity in Christ with life shifting around us, we have all we need to stand firm. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness, (2 Peter 1:3).

Kids notice how we navigate these shared hardships. They learn from our example as they figure out their own self-worth, sorted out inside new interactions.

Hardships have a fresh way of helping us find who we are and what were worth.

With regular means of connection missing, children forming a concept of their worth need the nearness of loving adults more than ever.

Being trapped by Stay-Home orders doesnt always count as quality time. Being physically together falls short of filling our intimacy shaped hole.

Childhood requires the safety of close relationships to bear the fruit of a strong sense of our value.

With the time pressures of adulthood mixed with those of the Pandemic, helping our children means praying for wisdom in how we use our time.

Oh God, who created us and our children with deep, enduring value, Teach us to number our days,that we may gain a heart of wisdom, (Psalm 90:12).

Teenagers between ages 15-17, for example, seek identification with a group to know who they are and who theyre becoming. Many teens today feel untethered, looking to TikTok for affirmation in the emptiness.

Somewhere between Pandemic restrictions and social media no mans land, teens find a trusted peer group out of reach.

Kids need to know theyre wanted and valued. With peer voices distant or muffled, meaningful time with trusted adults can soften the creeping sense that theyre alone because no one wants to be with them.

Children need adults to be more than just in the room. They need us to be fully present.

Be present in ways that reflect the high value you and God place on your life and the life of your child. Manage your time with a heart of wisdom to show your child they are worth your time.

The heart of a child hungers to hear affection from the heart of their parent.

Comparing his love for his spiritual children to that of a mother for her child, Paul said his affection caused him to be delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

When we regularly receive messages of affectionate affirmation for who we are, rather than only what we do, we experience affirmation as Gods beloved creation.

Writer Peggy OMara encouraged mothers to remember, The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. Affirmation strengthens our understanding of the self-worth God wove into the fabric of who we are.

We feel loved and worthy of that love.

Perhaps one blessing of the Pandemic has been a collective pause on busy schedules we once juggled. Good things have been forced to wait, to breathe, to be reconsidered.

In the quiet spaces taking the place of appointments and practices, events and happenings, we are left to look at who we are.

Ripe is the ground for tending our self-worth and that of our children.

Children need to have their questions answered to inform the shaping of their self-worth. Whats my value, mama?

How much do I matter, daddy?

Will I always matter?

Nothing changes our purpose in childhood or adulthood, whether in times of peace or times of pain, For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do, (Ephesians 2:10).

The ears of our children strain to hear us affirm who they are and who theyre becoming as the handiwork of God. Find powerful words of affirmation to speak into your children's hearts in this article!

Parents hold simple, powerful keys to guiding children on their journey of finding out their life is of greatest value.

If God considers the life of a sparrow precious (Luke 12:6-7), how much more valuable is his handiwork, fearfully made and knit together by his hand inside a mamas womb? (Psalm 139:13-14).

So worthy is the life of children and adults made in the image of God that he demonstrated his expansive love by giving his perfect life for our fragile ones.

Parents hold great power. In a time when children need feedback, information, and interaction to grow their understanding of their self-worth, they look to and listen to our lives.

At arms length from so much theyve known, who will step in to shape their delicate core of confidence about who they are in this fragile world?

Simple, powerful, parental actions help children gain this confidence.

When we model our own self-worth before our children, manage our time in their lives, and message our affectionate affirmation of who God made them to be, we set them up to be certain of their great value whatever comes.

Photo Credit: golibtolibov

Julie Sanders is an educator and leader who loves helping families find Gods peace. She and her husband of thirty years serve leaders globally from their home in the Northwest. Julie is the author of The ABCs of Praying for Students and enjoys creating resources for parents. She can be found at juliesanders.org or connect on Facebook or Instagram.

Read more here:
3 Ways to restore Self-Worth in Your Kids after an Uncertain Year - Crosswalk.com

Following an event held in tribute to her husband, the late Kevin Cummings, at Griswold Park last Friday, Joyce Doherty related how proud she was of the city of Revere and Revere Youth Baseball League for coming together and supporting one of their own.

Mr. Cummings was a beloved baseball coach and devoted father to Kasey Cummings and Kyle Cummings. Mr. Cummings died on Oct. 22 after a long illness. He was 61.

Speaking about the event that featured softball games, baseball contests, and raffle drawings, Joyce said, In such a turbulent time in our society, to see everyone just come out with love and support, its absolutely amazing. There were so many people, especially the Leones, the Cassidys, and Lewises, they went above and beyond.

The gift of Mr. Cummings coaching and his own incredible baseball prowess that saw him earn a tryout with the Boston Red Sox will continue through his sons, Kasey and Kyle.

When Kyle was born, Mr. Cummings realized that his difference in age to his older brother, Kasey, would allow them to enter the Revere High baseball program together.

Next spring, Kasey Cummings, a senior, and Kyle Cummings, will make their fathers dream a reality when they play high school baseball as teammates.

They played for the 18-Under team this fall, said Joyce Doherty. Both of my kids played and it was beautiful to see. The coaches were amazing. It was a lovely last game for the family. It was always my husbands dream he did the math when Kyle was born. He said to me, Do you know when they go to the high school, theyll be in the same school and maybe theyll both play on varsity together? Hes been talking about that forever.

Read the original:
Revere Baseball Leagues Honors the Life of Coach Kevin Cummings - Revere Journal

Patrick Mahomes is an investor in Whoop's latest round of funding.

Source: Whoop

Some of the biggest names in sports are investing in the wearable company Whoop amid a global pandemic.

The fitness tracking company announced Wednesday it closed a $100 million financing round, valuing it at $1.2 billion.

The latest round of investors includes Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, champion golfers Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant (via his business venture ThirtyFive Ventures).

Whoop makes fitness trackers that can monitor vitals like movement, sleep and workouts. It's been the fitness tracker of choice for a number of recognizable pro athletes, and has been used to help monitor potential symptoms of Covid-19 as sports came back after play was suspended due to the pandemic in the spring.

"I've always loved Whoop the product, but I learned that Whoop the business was just as good. I'm proud to be investing again in this round of financing and very excited about the company's prospects," McIlroy said in a statement. The four-time Majors Champion also serves as a global ambassador to Whoop.

The funding round was led by venture capital firm IVP, which will get a board seat with Whoop. Other participating investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Accomplice, Two Sigma Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Thursday Ventures, Nextview Ventures, Promus Ventures, Cavu Ventures and D20 Capital.

"A lot of the capital will go towards investing in membership, the overall experience, software, analytics and hardware," Will Ahmed, Whoop CEO said in an interview with CNBC. "It's really about bolstering the coaching aspect of Whoop. We aspire to be a 24/7 life coach to tell you what you need to do to improve."

The Boston-based sports wearable company got its start in 2012 and now has more than 330 employees after a surge of recent hires. Ahmed said the company has hired 200 new employees in 2020.

The company wouldn't provide revenue numbers but said its subscribers have been growing quickly over the last 12 months due to an increased interest in health during the pandemic. Whoop has raised more than $200 million in funding to date.

"Whoop has built best-in-class wearable technology and an aspirational brand that have propelled the company to an impressive period of hypergrowth," Eric Liaw, General Partner at IVP, said in a statement.

Ahmed said Whoop members range from professional athletes, Fortune 500 CEOs and fitness enthusiasts. The nylon band equipped with sensors is designed to gather data to measure everything from exertion levels to sleep patterns to help users improve their overall health. Whoop's business model is based on a subscription service. Users sign up for a monthly subscription starting at $30 and the wearable devices are included for free.

Whoop has seen recent success and raised its global profile during the pandemic as many users have noticed changes in their health scores as early indicators of coronavirus symptoms.

Ahmed said that Whoop members have reported Covid-19 symptoms "thousands of times" with the app and the company will have additional announcements in its July study that is about to be peer reviewed.

Whoop has raised $100M, valuing the company at $1.2 billion.

Source: Whoop

In June, PGA Tour golfer Nick Watney said it was his wearable fitness tracker that first alerted him that he may have coronavirus. Ahead of the RBC Heritage event, Watney noticed his respiratory rate had spiked from Whoop's app. Despite not feeling any of the physical symptoms associated with Covid-19, Watney decided to get tested and discovered he was positive for the virus.

Following his diagnosis, the PGA Tour signed a deal with Whoop to make their product available to all golfers and caddies on the Tour who wanted one. The Tour finished its recent season with fewer than 10 positive cases over 18 events.

Today, companies like Tory Burch are using Whoop in their offices as a way to track their health and fitness. Ahmed said the enterprise opportunity has become a meaningful business for Whoop, which is working with a number of businesses that want to be able to help large audiences and teams better understand their bodies and health.

"I think when you're building a business you have to adapt to the environment," said Ahmed. "We've had to learn how to support our customers during an unusual time but also at a time where health monitoring has become more and more important," he said.

See more here:
Whoop, maker of the fitness tracker that pro athletes love, is now valued at $1.2 billion - CNBC

ETBureau: What improvements do you think are required in the productivity tools available in the market today?

Zeb Evans: As the need for productivity and collaboration solutions increased, so did the number of tools and platforms claimed to help. The problem is, there are just too many tools.

The average employee uses between 3-5 separate programs to manage their workday, usually having one app for project management, one for chat, one for email, one for document management, and so on.

The influx of all these different solutions has actually had the opposite effect. Theyve made companies less efficient overall, becoming more time consuming to manage and requiring more communication, not less.

Read More: Data Center Infrastructure Market in India to Hit New Low in 2020

To optimize productivity, solutions should be streamlined so that all of the necessary tools are in a single platform that keeps track of everything: projects, tasks, schedules, conversations, docs and more. Otherwise, employees will lose time juggling too many productivity tools.

ETBureau: How do enterprises ensure the work-life balance for employees in this new remote working normal? What initiatives would you suggest?

Zeb Evans: Work-life balance means different things to everyone, especially while most are working remotely. Its crucial for enterprises, as well as SMBs, to provide the tools that increase remote work efficiency to support those striving to maintain more life balance. Also, these tools should enable employees to work at full capacity and to work more when desired.

The key is transparency and alignment. Open communication between managers and employees can help avoid issues, but when employees do express issues with work-life balance, some policies can help.

Read More: Do All Enterprise Devices Have Security Restrictions Configured?

One policy is ensuring notifications (like Slack for example) are turned off company-wide outside of work hours. Apple can also assist with this using app controls to require employees to stop from working in certain timeslots. Time management software can also help managers see when certain employees are overburdened and vice versa.

Its also essential for leaders to be empathetic and understand where certain life situations might affect someones work/life balance and cause stress outside normal parameters. Managing kids at home, depression from staying inside, and loss of regular vacations can all increase stress in these remote times, and enterprises can help with extra benefits like mindfulness programs, life coaching, personalized support, and more.

ETBureau: What trends do you think will take a stronghold within productivity tools?

Zeb Evans: More consolidation. As companies add more required apps and platforms for employees to use to manage their workloads, employee burnout will increase.

Companies are most efficient when employees spend their time executing, not managing five different apps that all serve another purpose but dont contribute to overall results. There will always be those companies that chase tools and trends.

However, executives and managers that understand the value of getting things done and not just appearing productive are able to notice when too much of an employees time is spent reporting on work rather than working and look for the solutions that combat this app fatigue.

ETBureau: How has the rise of pandemic changed the landscape of collaboration and tools for enterprises?

Zeb Evans: The workplace, as we know, is changing. Trends that were anticipated to play out over the next 10 years were accelerated to account for quarantine needs. While some companies experimented with remote work in the past, many were not prepared to transform into a digital workplace overnight.

Read More: Digitization The Most Critical Technology Need Across the Healthcare Industry

The pandemic has proved the need for adaptability and flexibility. Not every company will stay remote forever, but several enterprise giants have already announced work-from-home plans into mid-2021. Companies will need to consider their most valuable asset their employees and their preferences in figuring out what model works best for them.

My best guess is that many workplaces will move towards a flexible or hybrid workplace, where some employees are in the office and some are remote. Collaboration tools will need to reflect this new way of working and accommodate teams across all locations.

They will need to be intuitive, robust, and flexible enough to work across all departments so that every employee can work from the same platform and deliver transparency, even in remote conditions.

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Addressing the inefficiencies in the Productivity Tools - EnterpriseTalk

Teen-parenting coach and mother of eight, Vanessa Baker, announces the pre-sale of her first book, From Mean to Real Clean: How to Create a Fully Functional Relationship with Your Teenager.

Set to release in December, the book serves as a straight-forward guide to teach parents to reinvent their mindset on being a parent, according to a press release.

As a teacher and a parent myself, I have a deep and compassionate understanding of the various issues that come with the territory of raising teenagers, says Ms. Baker in a prepared statement.

Dedicated to helping parents and their teens effectively and positively communicate through her coaching company called Vanessa Baker Mindset, the new book From Mean to Real Clean, published by Balboa Press, is available for pre-order for $20 at vbakermindset.com/m-rc-book.

Coinciding with the book, Ms. Baker has launched an interactive course that goes through each of the aforementioned steps and then goes indepth in a fifth part that guides parents through five big life-changing steps.

The course includes a three-month subscription to a private Facebook group featuring live group coaching, exclusive coaching videos and content, monthly level up challenges, a community in which to share wins and challenges of the process, plus discounts on coaching services, according to the release.

Ms. Baker also offers the Real Clean Family Total Overhaul Package featuring four days of customized coaching including intensive group work and highly individualized coaching.

Ive combined my own experiences and strategies raising children with my expertise in this field to create a simple, streamlined program to help parents transform their relationships with their children, she states.

With direct approaches designed to help parents achieve real change and form new bonds with their teenagers, the book is broken down into four parts:

After pursuing what she calls a fancy/show-off consulting job right out of college, Ms. Baker returned to school to become a high school business teacher, where she found her true passion, according to the release, adding that the Arizona State University Honors College graduate has a bachelors in business-supply chain management and a secondary education teaching certificate.

She has worked with hundreds of young people to help them understand important values such as how to make things happen, how to take ownership of their lives, and how to feel proud and confident.

Trained in leading challenging personal growth seminars as well as long-term, project-based courses and coaching business clients worldwide on well-being, performance and productivity, Ms. Baker has taught high school and community college levels.

A top-rated performance coach for Growth.com, a coaching company, she launched Vanessa Baker Mindset to serve family clients via online or in-person coaching sessions as well as seminars and courses, and through balance and hard work, she strives to help families connect through her methods.

See: vbakermindset.com.

Read more here:
Parenting coach releasing book to help parents with teens - Your Valley

Neighbors please be mindful of social distancing guidelines while you do your part to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. See the latest guidance from the CDC here.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Join here at 8:00PM PT on Wednesday November 4: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8488...

Debspresents A LIVE SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE for your listening pleasure...in the warm, cozy, comfort, and safety of your own home. Delight and savor in marvelous magical musical talents** as they lift your spirits, touch your heart, illuminate your soul, inspire your mind, and brighten your night. Sit back, relax, rewind, restore, rejuvenate, and revel in the healing power of music. These skilled vocalists are all at the top of their game.

**Gretje Angell (with Brian Ward), Mary Bogue, Jamila Ford, Tom Francini, Diane Hubka (with Rick Mayock and Wendy Sue Rosloff), Lauren Kinhan, Elisabeth Lohninger, and Ada Bird Wolfe.

These concerts are being presentedto support creativity and live music while giving back to the community. All proceeds go directly to the Innocence Project, an amazing organization that finds the necessary DNA evidence to finally free innocent victims who have been falsely accused, wrongly convicted, and unjustly incarcerated for decades. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you'd like to donate to the Innocence Project please visit our link: https://innocence-fundraising-...

Inconsideration of the entertainers, please plan to join PROMPTLY AT 8:00PM PT. There will be no admittance during performances. It is mandatory that you are MUTED and OFF VIDEO throughout the entire concert. You can use the CHAT ROOM to applaud, comment, and kibbutz with other attendees. Please use only positive and supportive language. If you need to communicate with the host for any reason, feel free to text me at 818-326-9003. For participation at a future event, contact Debs at sleeplessinstudiocity@gmail.com

Many of these acclaimed artists appear on DrDebzz call-in talk radio show, "Sleepless in Studio City," airing nightly at 9PM PT / midnight ET at AmericanHeartsRadio.com.

Hear them in candid interviews revealing the meaning of music in their lives, sharing what they believe is the key to finding and keeping love, giving valuable advice for aspiring artists, and much, much more. Link to additional artist interviews here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/po...DrDebzz isa columnist, life coach, and family mediator, who ishonored and privileged to offer heartfelt help, gentle guidance, positivity, a nurturing spirit, and transformative tools. Testimonials: "DrDebzz has such a gift for interviewing people and for paraphrasing what they say to cut to the core." "So inspiring and such good life lessons. I am completely in awe of her talent and skill in doing this." "DrDebzz is my favorite talk show host." "Her words of wisdom are gems." Brilliant! DrDebzz is a natural at this." "A true treasure. Her advice is always spot on!!!" "DrDebzz opening shpiel is worth its weight in gold."

For a limited time only, DrDebzz isproviding Complimentary Covid Coaching Sessions. Set up a consultation the old fashioned Alexander Graham Bell way at 818-326-9003; or by emailing her at: sleeplessinstudiocity@gmail.com To view past showcases visit:

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Local Event: Debs' Vocalist Showcase & Benefit for the Innocence Project - Patch.com