Showing posts with label an. Show all posts
Showing posts with label an. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Google was working on an Oculus Rift competitor according to reports
Google was working on an Oculus Rift competitor according to reports
Google was working on an Oculus Rift competitor, according to reports Google is starting to take virtual reality pretty seriously, but according to a recent report from Recode, it’s focusing its efforts uniquely on mobile VR.
In fact, it actually had a more robust Oculus competitor in the works, but ended up killing the project in order to focus its resources on pr...-http://apkstoress.com/google-was-working-on-an-oculus-rift-competitor-according-to-reports.htmlArticles Review#ArticlesReviewhttp://apkstoress.com/google-was-working-on-an-oculus-rift-competitor-according-to-reports.html
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Sunday, February 12, 2017
Great Teams An Interview with Don Yaeger
Great Teams An Interview with Don Yaeger
I had the opportunity recently to interview Don Yaeger, the former Associate Editor of Sports Illustrated and author of twenty-five books, nine of which have become New York Times best-sellers. His newest book is titled, Great Teams: 16 Things High Performing Organizations Do Differently. Here are his responses to my questions. As a Patriots fan, I especially loved his answer to my final question!
1. You focus in the book on the notion that great sports teams build a strong high-performance culture. You say that matters more than having the right offensive or defensive schemes and strategies. Can you describe the most important elements of a high-performance culture?
Don Yaeger: Culture is a buzzword that is all over the business publications these days, so I think it’s important to define it. In considering how the word specifically applies to a team setting, I came up with two possible definitions: 1) the conditions within the organization that promote either growth or failure and 2) the shared understanding of what to do in adverse situations. The effort to achieve that culture can be broken down to four essential pillars that I believe set a truly Great Team apart from one that simply performs well.
• Targeting Purpose— The team is connected to a greater purpose. Members understand whom they are serving and why that matters.
• Effective Management— The team is able to think creatively and act dynamically in order to stay fresh, effective, and relevant.
• Activating Efficiency— Each member of the team brings a unique set of talents, experiences, perspectives, work ethic, personality traits, and know- how that melds with and complements those of the other team members.
• Mutual Direction— There is a strong sense of understanding, appreciation, shared responsibility, and trust that unites and motivates the team to work together.
After studying the subject carefully and discussing it with truly great leaders, I found sixteen defining characteristics that special teams— the ones that are in a class by themselves, that accomplish more than just a winning season or a successful fiscal year, that pack extra punch and bring a degree of excitement to what they do— all share. These traits can be worked on independently by individual team members, but the truly outstanding teams use them to build on one another. Organizations that exhibit real greatness combine talent, relationships, and innovation in a variety of ways for the sake of achieving a shared goal.
2. What makes it so difficult to build such an effective culture? What are some of the obstacles that prevent certain teams from achieving that type of culture?
Don Yaeger: Individual friction and dysfunction sink many teams and often lead to unhealthy cultures. While 100 percent camaraderie is the dream scenario for team culture, some degree of dysfunction is likely in even the best situations. When a team has strong personalities and talented people, there will inevitably be friction. Great Team leaders know how to manage friction and personality conflicts to keep challenges from derailing the team’s success. In this chapter we will consider examples of how some Great Teams handled dysfunction by promoting cultures in which the members were motivated to appreciate their respective values to the teams’ overall goals even though they didn’t always like each other.
3. What role does culture play in the recruiting process, and why is that so important?
Don Yaeger: Purpose and leadership are essential to building a team culture. Once an organization determines its “why” and aligns its leadership style with the needs of its members, it is on the right path to becoming a Great Team. But culture building doesn’t stop there. A team must also recruit the right talent. If done well, recruiting will result in a highly competitive team that is consistently motivated to seek and claim success. Great Teams recruit players who fit— who will thrive within the established team culture and add value to it. The talent of the employee or teammate is important, but fit trumps all. These organizations understand that Great Team culture establishes an environment conducive to success, but that success ultimately depends on the right kind of personnel.
4. You argue that purpose is essential to great teams, yet many businesses define their “why” incorrectly. Can you explain?
Don Yaeger: In the business world, a “why” is often misunderstood as a company mission statement or code of ethics— which couldn’t be further from the truth. Author and motivational speaker Simon Sinek has described a company’s corporate “why” as “always disconnected from the product, service, or the act you’re performing.” If an organization desires to become a Great Team in the business world, then it must understand how to utilize the “why” properly in order to galvanize support from its professional ranks. “When an organization lays out its cause, how it does so matters,” explained Sinek. “It’s not an argument to be made, but a context to be provided. An organization’s ‘why’ literally has to come first— before anything else.”
Companies that understand the purpose and philosophy behind the “why” are usually astute, high- performing organizations that tap directly into the pulse of those they benefit the most. When utilized correctly, this understanding can create a powerful sense of duty and purpose for business teams because the employees know exactly whom they are working for and to what end.
5. You say great teams “speak a different language.” What do you mean by that, and why is that so crucial?
Don Yaeger: Through success or failure, great leaders always know what to say to bring out the best in their organizations. Many teams undervalue the art of properly framing communication, especially in times of struggle. Successful leaders do not berate or chide team members but seek ways to positively articulate objectives and expectations. They have better coaching conversations, ask better questions, and drive results. Positive communication is not only a habit for high- performance teams but also a tool used to reinforce and enhance the values of organizations.
Communication that inspires, motivates, and encourages is one of the most important steps in achieving greatness. Through the good and bad, articulating praise and criticism in positive ways is essential to the success of the team. When you speak the language of a Great Team, you communicate constructive feedback that penetrates even the most unwilling ears— and keeps people motivated long after the feedback has been received. That language includes leading by example, asking the right questions, using effective praise, and affirming character.
6. Why is it so difficult for some successful teams to avoid complacency? Do you have any tips to guard against it?
Don Yaeger: Complacency is perhaps the most common pitfall for Great Teams. A hard- fought victory or successful season can make even the most dedicated organizations drop their guards or spend just a little too much time patting themselves on their collective backs. Overcelebration can easily consume the mood of an entire organization, stifle improvement efforts, rot work ethic, and create laziness. The glow of victory makes the pain and sacrifice of a championship easy to forget; however, Great Teams reject the sense of entitlement that comes after an epic win or championship. To win continuously, a team has to challenge the false belief that what’s been accomplished will naturally happen again.
The Great Teams avoid the common pitfalls of success by defying human nature. Consistently dominant teams realize that the most common reaction to any success is satisfaction. Overcelebration breeds complacency, and many championship teams fail to repeat due to a lack of focus after an epic win. For a team desiring to avoid a championship hangover, leaders should limit the time focused on celebrating victories— even as the championship banners are being raised. It’s never too early for a team to discuss the temptations of victory and new goals worth fighting for. The teams that sustain success make daily commitments to improve themselves and the company rather than rest on their laurels. Their leaders are culturally intelligent, and they restlessly search to find inspiration in the opportunities of tomorrow. They understand that what brought success won’t keep it. In the pursuit of greatness, these teams aren’t afraid to put their streak on the line when chasing after a new challenge. They always play to win instead of “not to lose.” Successful teams should ask themselves, “How do we respond after a record year? In what ways can we defy the natural human tendency to coast?”
Leaders should set aside time after an epic win to discuss new ventures, strategies, and improvements while the previous season or quarter is still fresh in everyone’s minds. This is the time to look deep within and also to examine the marketplace— to spot needs waiting to be filled and come up with unique ways to meet those needs. Repeat champions and industry leaders know how to handle the bull’s- eye effect. These winners stay aware of the targets on their backs and revel in the idea that competitors want nothing more than to take them down. Hungry competitors dethrone corporate giants all the time. But the Great Teams thrive in the midst of competition, leverage their platforms into new spheres of influence, and use the reality of the bull’s- eye effect as motivation to remain innovative. How do you handle the thought of failure? If you are currently sitting on a winning streak, do you merely play “not to lose” instead of to win? Does your team share this same mind- set? The greatest champions of our time expect to win. Why shouldn’t your team? For a Great Team, repeat success is often a byproduct of a high- performing culture. Maintaining championship or industry- leading momentum requires experienced leadership, cultural drivers, and clear communication of the end goal and how to get there. Team members must be connected to the new direction of an organization; people want to feel excited about the future and the potential of progress. Progressive leaders understand these truths and connect their teams to a culture that motivates, challenges, and empowers them to start and to keep winning. The captains of industry don’t stew in failure and defeat but instead are forward thinking, doggedly chasing after the next great opportunity. Always strive to remember complacency, the ultimate pitfall of success— and don’t let it derail your Great Team!
7. Do you have a favorite team or two that you studied and why?
Don Yaeger: I enjoyed studying two of the most successful teams of the 21st Century: the San Antonio Spurs and the New England Patriots. Often outside of the spotlight, the Spurs have built a dynamic team culture and a strong, evolving road map to success and have been exceedingly successful in developing camaraderie through open communication. The Patriots have won consistently despite a constantly changing roster with quarterback Tom Brady being the only surefire Hall of Famer on the squad. Despite very different styles, the two teams have established dynasties in this era of parity.
Don Yaeger Bio:
Don Yaeger is a nationally acclaimed inspirational speaker, longtime Associate Editor of Sports Illustrated and author of 25 books, nine of which have become New York Times Best-sellers. He began his career at the San Antonio (TX) Light and also worked at the Dallas Morning News and the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville before going to work for Sports Illustrated.
As an author, Don has written books with, among others, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden, baseball legends John Smoltz and Tug McGraw and football stars Warrick Dunn and Michael Oher (featured in the movie The Blind Side). He teamed with Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade to pen the 2013 best-seller “George Washington’s Secret Six,” a look at the citizen spy ring that helped win the Revolutionary War and then again in 2015 writing Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates: The Forgotten War that Changed American History.
Don left Sports Illustrated in 2008 to pursue a public speaking career that has allowed him to share stories learned from the greatest winners of our generation with audiences as diverse as Fortune 10 companies to cancer survivor groups, where he shares his personal story. More than a quarter-million people have heard his discussions on “What Makes the Great Ones Great.” He has also built corporate webinar programs on lessons from Great sporting franchises on building Cultures of Success which has naturally led to his newest keynote speech on “What Makes the Great Teams Great.”
Learn more at www.donyaeger.com or contact Don at don@donyaeger.com
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Monday, February 6, 2017
Goth Teens and Depression An Open Letter to Parents
Goth Teens and Depression An Open Letter to Parents
To the parents of Goth teenagers,
Hello, my name is Mary Rose. Im a blogger here at The Everyday Goth and I discuss fashion, decor, music, literature, the social scene, and other facets of the Goth subculture. Im a twenty-one year old student, employee, daughter, and sibling who has been in the Goth subculture for almost a decade now, and I want to talk to you about your Goth child.
The reason youre here, my guess being, is because of an article discussing the recent findings of the Lancet. For those of you not in the know, the British academic journal The Lancet published a study which reported that out of about 3,000 teenagers who were studied at both ages 15 and 18, those who identified with the label "Goth" in their self-reported questionnaires were more likely to be depressed at 15 and self-harm at 18 than their peers who chose other labels, including "chavs," "populars," "sporty," and others.
Of course, this kind of study prompts all kinds of ill-informed, scare-mongering articles from various news publications. I myself was invited onto BBC World Service radio to discuss the study and while I stand by the points I made, I thought I would reiterate them for those of you who werent listening to the radio at six in the morning GMT.
The moment I heard about this article I knew what was going to happen. Firstly, I was going to get an e-mail from a young goth reader saying "Im a Goth and my parents think Im depressed so theyre not letting me be a Goth anymore, but Im not depressed. What do I do?" Or, even worse, "Im a Goth and I do have depression but my parents are blaming my depression on being a Goth, so theyre not letting me be a Goth but my depression is still going untreated. What do I do?"
You can imagine my distress with these kinds of e-mails. Theres only so much I can suggest that these young Goths do. So, I wanted to write this letter to parents of Goth teenagers directly.
First and foremost, lets talk about what Goth is and is not. Goth is a subculture which came out of the United Kingdom in the 1980s as an offshoot of the dwindling punk movement. Goths are characterized by an interest in Goth music, darker fashion and aesthetic choices, and an appreciation for the darker side of beauty. You might recognize famous Goths in the media, such as the character Abby Scuito from the investigative television show NCIS, but many shows, especially those geared at kids and teenagers, have some kind of alternative, Gothy character. Goths come in all races, from all countries, and are of all ages (yes, even career-holding adults!)
The music that started it all might already be familiar to you, depending on your age. Famous groups include The Cure (with their famous Friday Im in Love) and Depeche Mode (which British football fans will know from the Celtic anthem, Just Cant Get Enough) but there are, of course, more obscure groups as well. What defines Goth music is a complicated question and there is a lot of overlap in genres. Generally speaking, the genre involves a lot of emotional rawness in the lyrics, a certain reliance on 80s synthesizes, and a minor key.
You can look up "what is goth" articles and videos from many different Goths online and every one that Ive found agrees with me on this next point: Goth does not endorse or encourage depression and destructive behaviors including self-harm, violence, or drug abuse. This stereotype is perpetuated by a scaremongering media with their own agendas, but it is just a stereotype.
Goths can and do lead normal, productive, happy lives. We go to school (and many of us do quite well,) we get married, we have careers, we have kids, we go to the grocery store, we go to church, we vote. Were normal people. Part of the reason I chose the moniker "The Everyday Goth" was to make the point that Im a Goth and a normal human being. A student, an employee, a daughter, a friend.
So, I would ask that concerned parents of Goth teenagers not make assumptions about your childs mental health just because of this study.
Mental health stigma has lead to a lot of misconceptions about depression, that its just being sad all the time, or that one can just snap out of it. If youd like to learn more about depression, Id recommend listening to this lecture by Andrew Solomon, Depression, the Secret We Share and doing your own reading to help explain what depression is, where it comes from (hint: not wearing all black and listening to Bauhaus), and what can be done about it.
The Lancet study does not show that a teenager will become depressed just because they become a Goth. There are many other ways that this kind of correlation can come about, including that teenagers who are already depressed join the subculture in search of community and emotional support.
You see, the Goth subculture is full of people who have considered themselves "alternative" to the norm so we find comfort in each other--we are self-proclaimed freaks, weirdos, geeks, and creeps. We know what its like to have people at school or at the office, or even just on the street, make rude comments about our appearances. Theres a collective understanding of what its like to be mocked for being different. The music we listen to is emotionally raw and shows an understanding of the darker side of life, so the subculture tends to have a very emotionally open atmosphere. In Goth, its okay to admit youve had a bad day, or want to vent, and theres a great support network there for you whether you be venting on online communities like Tumblr or while sharing poetry with your friends in real life.
But, that being said, the media stereotype has caused a lot of negativity towards Goths which has some unpleasant side effects. Certain depressive conditions and self-harm can be caused (or at least exacerbated) by bullying, and Goth teenagers are often bullied more than their "popular" or "sporty," classmates. Many parents I know are terrified that their child will be bullied because theyre a Goth. Thats completely understandable, there are only so many things you can do when you send your child to school or camp or a youth program where kids are merciless and picky. However, if you try to stamp your childs Gothness out of them you are just going to become another bullying, oppressive force in your childs life. Thats not a way to cultivate a good relationship with your child even if you have their best interests at heart.
Instead? Let your child know that you are on their side. Defend them if another relative or one of your friends makes a negative comment about their appearance. Stand up for your child and be clear that you support them. Dont make dismissive comments about it being a phase. If you would like, do some reading on your own and study up on what Goth is. Gothic Charm School by Jillian Venters and What Is Goth? by Aurelio Voltaire are great books on the subject.
All Im asking really is that if, as a parent, youre concerned about the mental health of your child, listen to them and support them before jumping to conclusions drawn from this study. That is the only way to be sure that youre taking care of your young Goths mental health.
If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at theeverydaygoth@yahoo.com and Id be happy to discuss your child or your concerns about the Goth subculture.
Best,
Mary Rose,
The Everyday Goth
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Thursday, February 2, 2017
Grow An Avocado Tree!
Grow An Avocado Tree!
Theres nothing more fun than growing your own Avocado Tree!
"How do I do it?"
Open the avocado and remove the pit from the center. You can eat the fruit of the avocado, its yummy and is full of nutrients!*
Wash the avocado pit under cool running water, you dont need soap to clean it. With your fingers gently wipe away and remove any of the green fruit that might be on the pit. Rinse it well and then blot it dry with a paper towel.
Carefully push three toothpicks into the thickest width of avocado, you want to push the toothpicks into the pit about a 1/2" deep. (Its okay if you push them in deeper or even a little less) The toothpicks will help suspend the avocado pit in water and keep the top part of the pit in fresh air and the fat base of the pit under the surface of the water. Be careful pushing in the toothpicks, they have pointy edges and could hurt if they poke your hands, its all right to ask a grown-up to help with this.
Suspend the pit over a glass filled with water....the toothpicks will rest on the rim of the glass and hold the pit in place so it doesnt sink to the bottom. Always check the water level in the glass and see that the water is covering the fat base of the pit by about an inch depth. If the water is below that level youll need to add some more. Slowly and carefully pour in more water from a small cup to avoid splashing.
Place the glass in a bright windowsill. In about three to six weeks the top of the avocado pit will begin to split and a stem sprout will emerge from the top and roots will begin to grow at the base.
When the stem grows to about five or six inches pinch out the top set of leaves. In another two or three weeks new leaves will sprout and their will be more roots.
Its now time to plant the young avocado tree. Place enriched potting soil in a large flowerpot (maybe 8" to 10" across). Fill the soil to about an inch from the top of the pot. Make a small depression in the center of the soil and place the pit, root-side down into the depression. Dont put it too deep...you want to have the upper half of the pit above the soil line. Add some more soil around the pit to fill in any air holes by the roots and then firm it into the soil by gently pushing the soil around the base of the pit. The trees stem and leaves should be straight and pointing up (like a flagpole).
Give the soil a drink to water the pit. Water it generously so that the soil is thoroughly moist. Water the soil slowly and gently so that when its poured in it doesnt gouge out holes in the soil. Keep your tree watered but dont let the soil be so moist that it ever looks like mud.
How do I care for my avocado tree?"
Keep your tree in a sunny window, the more sun it gets the bigger it will grow.
Remember to give it frequent light waterings but dont let the soil get muddy. If the leaves turn yellow it means that the plant is getting too much watering, let the trees soil dry out for a couple of days, then return to light waterings.
Keep your tree in a sunny window, the more sun it gets the bigger it will grow.
Remember to give it frequent light waterings but dont let the soil get muddy. If the leaves turn yellow it means that the plant is getting too much watering, let the trees soil dry out for a couple of days, then return to light waterings.
When the stem grows six more inches pinch out the top two sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another six inches pinch out the two newest sets of leaves on top.
"Can my avocado tree ever go outside?"
Yes it can go outside in the summer. If your winters are cold ~ below 45 degrees (F) or 7 degrees (C) ~ you must bring your tree inside for the winter. Otherwise, if your winters are cool and mild, the tree may stay outdoors year round.
"Will my tree ever grow fruit?"
Sometimes they will begin setting fruit after they are three or four years old. It helps to have several avocado trees growing together to aid with pollination.
"How tall will my avocado tree grow?" An avocado tree is a medium to large tall tree. It can grow between 20 and 40 feet tall. With pruning it can be kept at a much shorter height.
*Avocado Nutrition Facts*
Avocados contain just 5 grams of fat per serving.
Avocados contain NO cholesterol and NO sodium.
Avocados contain 60% more potassium per ounce than bananas!
Avocados are high in fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium and folate.
==============================================
Enjoy sprouting your avocado pit and growing your tree!
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Giveaway!! Win an owl mug
Giveaway!! Win an owl mug
Youre more than 1000 to follow my work on this blog! I cant believe it, and well... thank you! :)
To celebrate I decided to giveaway a hand painted mug. Leave a comment to enter and I will randomly pick a winner in one week! Feel free to spread the word!
Heres the mug! Its hand painted and its unique, no one will have the same as you. Its a porcelain mug, dishwasher and microwave safe, and oh, its Caroll the owl.
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And if you do not win, you can always find more original mugs on my Etsy shop. I try to add new ones quite often but work keeps me really busy! Heres a new one : Melvin the penguin.
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And there is also new prints from me available on Inprnt.com.
Henriiiii
Emergency
See you in one week, to find out whos the winner!
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