irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Thursday, March 8, 2012, 15:09

Soccer:Lionel Messi shrugged off another night of personal achievement to focus on helping Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Pep Guardiolas side were at their unplayable best with young substitute Cristian Tello also scoring twice as they advanced 10-2 on aggregate. Messi, 24, was the undoubted star but he was quick to play down his own role to concentrate on the bigger picture.

He said: The most important thing tonight is that all these goals we scored take us one step closer to winning the Champions League, which is our objective. We went out there, wanting to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals and we achieved that.

I have always said that its fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. Thats what happened against Leverkusen. The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals.

Messis modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display. The FIFA World Player of the Year earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area.

Last nights haul plus the recent hat-trick for Argentina against Switzerland means Messi has scored 14 goals in his last five games for club and country. Its all about enjoying the moment; from how it went with Argentina the other week to how its going right now for my club.

The sweetest part of it, for me, is that the team continues its run of form at the moment, winning games in style; thats the way to go as far as we can in the Champions League.

As for the draws for the next rounds, I dont care which opponents we end up facing or when. Any club which has reached this stage is only here because it has done its work very well, and whoever we draw is going to be tough opposition.

Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas claimed Messi is the best player ever to play the game. The midfielder said: You can expect anything from Leo. He is the best player in history; we have never seen anyone like him. He didnt play at the weekend and he wanted to do well. He enjoys being on the pitch and we are happy to have him.

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Messi champions team over personal glory

At its 2012 Annual Business Conference, Ziegler financial advisor, Trent Barringer, was presented the companys award for Outstanding Personal Performance and was named to Zieglers team of Elite Advisors. The awards were presented to Barringer by Zieglers CEO, Tom Paprocki.

(PRWEB) March 08, 2012

Barringer was one of four Ziegler associates to receive the Outstanding Personal Performance Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements as a financial advisor. Our clients interests come first, said Paprocki at the firm-wide recognition ceremony held on February 28, 2012, at the Chicago House of Blues. We create high value relationships for clients, knowing that their success will assure our own. Trent goes above and beyond for his clients and for Ziegler. He supports our brand and maintains Zieglers core values.

Additional to receiving one of Zieglers most prestigious recognition awards, Barringer was also named to the firms Elite Advisors team of 15 advisors. The Elite Advisor Award is presented to Zieglers top performing financial advisors who go above and beyond in their daily routines to put their clients interests above all else.

Barringer joined Ziegler Wealth Management in 2004, and has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. His focus is on financial and retirement planning, working with his clients to identify their financial goals and needs, and offering investments and advice tailored to help each client achieve their financial goals.

Barringer lives in Sheboygan with his wife, Angela, and daughter, Erica, and is very involved in the local community. He is an active member of The Town of Sheboygans Lions Club and has involved the entire Ziegler Sheboygan office with the "Meals on Wheels" food program for seniors.

Zieglers Sheboygan office is located at 1414 North Taylor Drive, Suite 215, in Sheboygan. The general phone number at the office is (920) 458-7751. For more information about Barringer and Ziegler, please visit http://www.Ziegler.com/Trent-Barringer.

About Ziegler:

The Ziegler Companies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ZGCO) together with its affiliates (Ziegler) is a specialty investment bank with unique expertise in complex credit structures and advisory services. Nationally, Ziegler is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms in its specialty sectors of healthcare, senior living, religion and education finance, as well as corporate finance and FHA/HUD. Headquartered in Chicago, IL with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler creates tailored financial solutions including bond financing, advisory, private placement, seed capital, M&A, risk and asset management. Ziegler serves institutional and individual investors through its wealth management and capital markets distribution channels.

Christine McCarty Ziegler 312 596 1617 Email Information

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Trent Barringer Receives Outstanding Personal Performance Award, Named to Elite Advisors Team

By Eva Kuehnen and Annika Breidthardt

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank signaled its policy course was slowly turning on Thursday, delivering a surprise warning on inflation and calling governments and banks to build on its recent blitz of radical support measures to foster a full crisis recovery.

The ECB kept interest rates at a record of low of 1 percent for a third month running as expected, after completing two monster injections of cheap cash which have flushed over a trillion euros of three-year money into the euro zone.

Despite lowering its euro zone growth forecasts, it strengthened its rhetoric about a euro zone recovery, saying there were signs of a pick up, rather than the phrase "tentative signs" it has used since the start of the year.

The central bank also raised its forecasts for inflation this year, partly because of climbing oil prices.

"At least for the time being, a rate cut is clearly off the table ... they took away the easing bias," said ING economist Carsten Brzeski. "They sounded a bit more positive but staff projections were worse ... at least the chance of the euro zone falling off the cliff is very low right now."

ECB President Mario Draghi left little doubt that unless there was a relapse in the debt crisis, the bank had now done all it planned to in terms of extraordinary measures and that governments and banks needed to take up the baton.

"Both LTROs (3-year loan injections) have had such a powerful effect ... we have to see exactly how the financial landscape has changed as a result," Draghi told the post meeting news conference.

"I think the ball is in the governments' and the other actors' - especially banks - court to continue their reforms, to repair their balance sheets so that they can actually support the - especially banks now - support the recovery."

MIXED FORECASTS

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ECB fires inflation warning, trumpets success of cash flood

By Eva Kuehnen

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank lowered its euro zone growth forecast after holding interest rates at record lows on Thursday, and said things would have been much worse without its dramatic action to pump a trillion euros into the banking system.

The ECB's staff forecasts showed the economy could shrink by 0.5 percent this year and at best grow by a meagre 0.3 percent, a slight downgrade of its previous estimate.

"Available survey indicators confirm signs of a stabilisation in the euro area economy. However, the economic outlook is still subject to downside risks," ECB President Mario Draghi told a news conference, after the central bank left interest rates at 1.0 percent.

Meanwhile, a recent 20 percent rise in oil prices is rekindling inflation to some extent. It is now forecast to be higher, at between 2.1 and 2.7 percent this year, above the ECB's target of close to but below two percent.

"Owing to rises in energy prices and indirect taxes, inflation rates are now likely to stay above 2 percent in 2012, with upside risks prevailing," Draghi said.

The latest Reuters poll of 74 economists suggests the ECB will hold rates at 1.0 percent until well into 2013.

German Bund futures rose while European shares and the euro trimmed gains after Draghi said growth forecasts had been cut.

"In our view, the projections are still relatively optimistic as hard data have failed to show the "stabilisation" process, especially in the (euro zone) periphery. Risks are clearly skewed to the downside," said Annalisa Piazza at Newedge Strategy.

Draghi was in no doubt that the ECB's twin three-year funding operations, which pumped over 1 trillion euros into the euro zone banking system, had saved the currency bloc from a serious crisis.

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ECB sees slower growth, flags success of money flood

Sam Bakhtiar Is Not Only Helping Out His Clients through His Personal Training Expertise, He Is Also Helping Other Trainers with His Personal Trainer Marketing Knowledge

Chino Hills, CA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012

Dr. Sam has recently shared these tips on his website super-trainer.com. On the website, Sam along with many renowned personal trainers, regularly shares useful and valuable knowledge and experiences with aspiring trainers in need of proper guidance.

Speaking about the ten tips he shared in his recent blog this Sunday, Sam said, New trainers always wonder how we have managed to reach this level of success. It is all about your dedication and effort, but you just cant go anywhere without proper marketing. Lucky for me, I have got my business and marketing education, but what really helped me throughout my career are these ten golden rules of marketing.

Although the tips as shared by Sam are focused on personal trainer marketing, they can be equally fruitful for other businesses as well. For instance, the very first tip is about being the best and letting people know about it by every mean possible. Sam emphasizes the importance of enhancing the knowledge by reading more books and attending seminars, etc. also, it is very important to speak out and share knowledge with others by addressing as an expert in seminars.

Sam also stresses the importance of cross-promotional opportunities and special offers. It is like give-and-take, the best bargain ever. Youd be surprised at the amount of promotion you can get this way, Sam added.

To read the complete Top Ten Tips for Personal Trainer Marketing and other useful information regarding fitness marketing, visit the website super-trainer.com

About Sam Bakhtiar

Sam Bakhtiar is a Persian born American with over twenty years of experience in fitness training and body building. After completing B.S in Premed and Nutrition, Sam also received a degree of doctorate of Chiropractics. Along with being one of the best fitness trainers, Sam is also a business and marketing expert. After establishing a successful fitness training business with substantial income, Sam is helping other professionals in the industry to achieve their business goals. For more information, please contact using the following information.

Contact Details:

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Personal Trainer Business Guru Shares Ten Tried and Tested Personal Trainer Marketing Tips

"I have always said that it's fantastic when things come off for you and you play well, but only if you meet your aims for the match. That's what happened against Leverkusen.

"The team played very, very well, the performance had some beautiful moments and we scored lots of goals."

Messi's modesty failed to deflect attention away from another magnificent display.

The Fifa World Player of the Year earlier became the first man to score four times in two Champions League games - he also hit four against Arsenal in 2010 - before adding a fifth with a crisp left-foot finish from the edge of the area.

Wednesday night's haul, plus the recent hat-trick for Argentina against Switzerland, means Messi has scored 14 goals in his last five games for club and country.

"It's all about enjoying the moment - from how it went with Argentina the other week to how it's going right now for my club," he said.

"The sweetest part of it, for me, is that the team continues its run of form at the moment, winning games in style; that's the way to go as far as we can in the Champions League.

"As for the draws for the next rounds, I don't care which opponents we end up facing or when. Any club which has reached this stage is only here because it has done its work very well, and whoever we draw are going to be tough opposition."

Barca team-mate Cesc Fabregas claimed Messi is the best player ever to play the game.

The midfielder said: "You can expect anything from Leo. He is the best player in history, we have never seen anyone like him.

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Humble Lionel Messi puts Barcelona success before personal glory after five goals in 7-1 rout of Leverkusen

UK based company JMH Aspirations has launched its eagerly awaited website for people who are currently facing redundancy, returning to work after a period of absence, or newly qualified and trying to launch their career.

(PRWEB UK) 8 March 2012

The current UK financial climate has brought many signficant challenges. Unemployment has risen, particularly amongst young adults. In the three months to December 2011, 22.2% of 16-24 year olds were reported as unemployed. According to the Office of National Statistics, although unemployment had generally levelled by February at 8.4%, 26.7 million people were still looking for work--the highest rate since 1995. There also remains growing concern over UK graduates with 25% of those leaving University at the end of the 2011 academic year still unemployed in February 2012.

There are many examples of successful people in the world today who have achieved fame and personal success, Richard Branson; Margaret Thatcher; Ralph Lauren; J. K Rowling. They have vision, purpose and personal confidence, all of which drives their strategy for success. This is all within anyones reach when they have the self- belief to achieve.

JMH Aspirations courses are desgined specifically to teach skills that assist people in recognising and unlocking their personal strengths so they can forge their path to personal and professional success. With entreprenural tax reliefs and the creation of 21 enterprise zones last year, the UK government is eager to encourage the launch and growth of new businesses. For those looking to change career and start their own business enrolling on a course can help them get started towards achieving success.

With an already busy event schedule, the team is expecting its first events in Yorkshire and Sheffield to be a success: Choose a New Path to Travel Meet Your Challenge of Redundancy/Redeployment and Develop Strategies for Your Future - Return Confidently to Your Career are events which will strive to meet the specific needs of people facing redundancy, returning to work after a period of absence or looking to start a career. The company hopes that people will leave with a positive self belief, recognise their strengths and abilities, and have confidence and sense of empowered to take that first leap in their career/life.

About JMH Aspirations

JMH Aspirations was founded in 2011 to provide a range of events and individual coaching opportunities to assist people to achieve their personal and professional aspirations. The company provides the tools and advice that people need to transform their lives and help their businesses thrive and succeed. Their staff are qualified Master Practitioners in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), qualified registered practitioners in Change Management and hold a wide range of other relevant professional and academic qualifications. Visit their website http://www.jmhaspirations.co.uk for more information.

JMH Aspirations

07939221229 Email Information

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JMH Aspirations Launches New Website to Help People Achieve Personal Success

The Innovations In Luxury Series Is Sponsored By Mercedes-Benz

Quintessentially, a luxury personal concierge service, was launched in London in December 2000.

The company's founders, Aaron Simpson, Paul Drummond, and Ben Elliot (fun fact: he's the nephew of the Duchess of Cornwall), have since expanded into 63 cities with a network of 1,500 employees worldwide.

In addition, Quintessentially boasts a portfolio of 33 sister businesses, including an art advisory service and a bespoke luxury experience company, to cater to clients' needs.

But what exactly is a personal concierge service? And why would people want to use one? We spoke with Stacey Gordon, director of business development and communications at Quintessentially, about the company and its deep network of global connections.

Below is our conversation, edited for clarity:

What is Quintessentially?

Quintessentially is a personal concierge service which basically takes care of the needs of individual private members. Those private members purchase annual memberships which are divided into three different levels: the general level, which is a reactive service where you write in to a team of lifestyle experts and place a request and they fulfill that request. The next level up is the dedicated level, which is more of a personalized proactive service where not only are we filling your requests on a reactive level, we are also reaching out to you proactively based on your profile and your preferences.

The next level up is elite, where you have up to four account managers around the world. These are our most experienced account managers that have been with Quintessentially the longest. And they really are working with our members' personal and executive assistants to run their second homes, to plan their family trips, to do personal shopping, to buy gifts for their staff, et cetera. It's a hands-on level of service where the answer is really never no.

And the personal concierge is basically taking care of anything from restaurant reservations to hotel bookings to travel itineraries to fitness; anything that would fall under a lifestyle request.

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A Personal Concierge Service That Will Do Your Errands—And Book You A Yacht On The French Riviera

david finch, paul varellaANDdavid deephouse From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published Thursday, Mar. 08, 2012 2:00AM EST Last updated Thursday, Mar. 08, 2012 7:33AM EST

Ontario versus Alberta? East versus West? Last weeks oil sands comments by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty harkened back to the national energy debate in the 1980s, when Calgary mayor Ralph Klein said: Let the eastern bastards freeze in the dark.

Do Canadians in Alberta and Ontario differ dramatically on this issue? We polled 400 people in Edmonton and Toronto. We wanted to know how much ones attitude toward the oil sands is influenced by regional proximity to the oil sands. The answer: Surprisingly little.

Both Edmontonians and Torontonians are concerned about the environmental impact of oil sands development. Yet, more than 80 per cent of both populations believe its possible to develop this resource in a way that balances economic development and environmental protection. Surprisingly, neither those in Toronto nor Edmonton view the oil sands from a regional lens: Both view it as important to all of Canada.

Our goal was to explore how personal interest influences attitudes. In other words, how strongly do our own perceived interests influence our opinions? The answer: a lot.

Regardless of where they live, people who perceive oil sands development to be linked to their personal prosperity are likely to show positive attitudes toward the industry. Transforming the oil sands discussion into a national debate is thus important to oil sands supporters. If industry can connect the dots between the oil sands and personal economic well-being, Canadians, regardless of geography, will support policies that encourage balanced development. Our research shows that Canadians have started to connect these dots.

The research also suggests that personal relevance affects opinions about environmental issues around oil sands development. The data, for example, indicate that, whether living in Leduc or Mississauga, 90 per cent of Canadians recognize climate change as one of our most important issues. Thus, geography plays no role in predicting whether individual Canadians think climate change is important.

But important is different than personally relevant. Unemployment is personal, but carbon dioxide is abstract. So when we asked whether people would be prepared to pay an extra $500 a year to fight climate change, most in Edmonton and Toronto said no. Its important but not personal.

This lack of personal relevance may explain why environmental groups have changed their tactics. A message that the oil sands will increase the planets temperature by a few degrees in 100 years is being replaced by one telling local farmers, local councils and first nations that the oil sands and their pipelines will risk the resource we hold most dear: water. Water is real, not abstract. Using this approach, environmental groups prompted the Obama administration to deny the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route in Nebraska. The conversation was now about water contamination; it was personal.

The rules of engagement of this oil sands battle are now driven by personal relevance, not historic provincial boundaries. Industry wins if Canadians connect the dots between oil sands development and personal economic prosperity. Environmental groups win if they can demonstrate personal negative environmental impact.

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Making the oil sands personal

SCHILLER PARK, IL--(Marketwire -03/08/12)- Life Fitness, a global leader in fitness equipment manufacturing, will debut a system for personal trainers on March 15th at IHRSA, the world's largest fitness trade show. The new Synrgy360 combines several popular total-body, dynamic exercises into a system that helps personal trainers more effectively train individuals and groups, giving users fun, unlimited ways to exercise.

"Synrgy360 capitalizes on major worldwide fitness trends synergized in one solution with unlimited variety," said Dan Wille, vice president of global marketing and product development for Life Fitness. "This system helps create a personal training focal point to facilitate individual personal training and small group training. It includes accessories, flooring and educational materials together in one complete solution."

Synrgy360 can facilitate eight of the top 20 trends highlighted in the 2012 annual American College of Sports Medicine survey of fitness trends, including functional fitness, strength training, exercise and weight loss, personal training, core training, group personal training, boot camp and sport-specific training.

Synrgy360 supports exercisers of all fitness levels in accomplishing a wide variety of training goals, including metabolic weight loss and improved balance, coordination, speed, agility, flexibility, power and strength. To achieve these goals, the system combines several popular training applications, including functional training, boxing, suspension training, core training, reaction training, sports-specific training and strength training.

The modular design of Synrgy360 makes it possible for customers to choose a configuration that meets varying training philosophies. Gyms can choose four customizable exercise spaces on the Synrgy360x, like a boxing space, rebounder space, cable motion space, versa space, and versa cable space. It also features a monkeybar zone and two TRX Training Zones. The Synrgy360s has three customizable spaces with optional TRX Training Zone suspension bars. Depending on the configuration selected, Synrgy360x covers a minimal live training area from 720 to 802 sq. feet and accommodates up to 16 people at one time. The Synrgy360s also ranges in size but can occupy a live training area from 330 to 344 sq. feet -- the ideal size for an old racquetball or squash court -- and includes 3 exercise spaces.

Both Synrgy360x and Synrgy360s products were created in collaboration with the Life Fitness Academy and come with three recommended configurations, accessories, flooring, and educational materials designed to optimize training on the product. All product configurations include built-in accessory storage to keep facilities organized and maximize space. Each exercise space is designed with the appropriate storage for the space's required accessories. This allows trainers and users to focus on the workout rather than trying to find the right accessory.

IHRSA attendees can try out the new system by participating in a 30-minute express group fitness class during the show. Life Fitness trainers will host classes on Friday, March 16 at 6:45 a.m. 7:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. To register for a Synrgy360 class, visit http://www.LifeFitness.com/IHRSA. Space is limited.

Booth attendees can also take on a Synrgy360 Challenge, which takes place on March 16th during early morning workouts and from 11:00 - 3:00 p.m. One male and one female winner will be awarded prizes.

The Synrgy360 will be on display at IHRSA, March 15 and 16, 2012 at the Life Fitness Booth #2001. For more information about Synrgy360 and events at IHRSA, visit http://www.lifefitness.com/IHRSA.

[Editor's note: To obtain an image to accompany this story, contact Lauren Kamm at lauren.kamm@lifefitness.com]

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Life Fitness Debuts Personal Training System at IHRSA