#And also a personal milestone :) Something that tipped the scales!

[sysig]

Stick figure skeletons (Patreon)

[mudassir160]

“I Felt Worthless”: How One Man Lost 207 Pounds and Rediscovered His Self-Worth

James Thompson had always been a big guy. Growing up, he was the funny, lovable friend who used humor to mask the deep insecurities he felt about his weight. But as he entered adulthood, those insecurities turned into something darker — a profound sense of worthlessness that haunted him every day. At his heaviest, James tipped the scales at 425 pounds. He avoided mirrors, social gatherings, and any activity that reminded him of the life he felt was slipping away.

Behind closed doors, James was battling demons that few could see. He struggled with depression, anxiety, and the constant feeling that he was trapped in a body he no longer recognized. Food had become his solace, a way to numb the pain of feeling inadequate and out of control. But the more he ate, the more the weight piled on, and the more isolated he became. The cycle seemed unbreakable.

One evening, after a particularly difficult day at work, James sat alone in his apartment, feeling more defeated than ever. He was exhausted — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. As he looked at old photos of himself, he realized how far he had drifted from the person he once was. But then, something clicked. It wasn’t just about the weight; it was about the self-worth he had lost along the way. For the first time in years, James made a decision: he was going to fight for his life, not just to lose weight, but to reclaim his sense of self.

The next morning, James woke up with a new determination. He knew the road ahead would be long and challenging, but he was ready to face it head-on. He started small, setting manageable goals that he could build on over time. He began by cutting out fast food and sugary drinks, replacing them with healthier options. He joined a local gym, even though the idea of working out in front of others terrified him. But James pushed through the fear, showing up every day, no matter how uncomfortable it felt.

The first few weeks were brutal. James struggled with cravings, self-doubt, and the physical strain of exercise. But he kept reminding himself of why he started — because he deserved to feel good about himself again. Slowly, the pounds began to come off. Ten pounds, then twenty, then fifty. Each milestone was a victory, not just for his body, but for his spirit. With every pound lost, James felt a little bit lighter, not just physically, but emotionally.Today, James continues to live a healthy, active life, but his focus is no longer on the scale. It’s on maintaining the self-worth he fought so hard to regain. His story is a powerful reminder that while weight loss can change your body, self-love is what truly changes your life.

“I used to think that losing the weight would solve all my problems,” James says, “but what I learned is that true happiness comes from within. I had to learn to love myself at every stage of the journey, and that’s what made all the difference.”

James now shares his story with others, hoping to inspire those who feel as lost as he once did. He knows firsthand the pain of feeling worthless, but he also knows the incredible power of reclaiming your self-worth. He often reflects on his journey, not as a story of weight loss, but as a journey of self-discovery and self-love.

By the time James had lost 207 pounds, he was unrecognizable — not just in appearance, but in his entire demeanor. He was confident, outgoing, and full of life in a way he hadn’t been in years. But the most significant transformation was internal. For the first time in his adult life, James loved himself — not because of the number on the scale, but because of the person he had become.

As James continued his journey, he realized that losing weight was only part of the equation. He needed to work on his mindset, to stop seeing himself as worthless and start recognizing his value. He began attending therapy, where he confronted the deep-seated beliefs that had held him back for so long. He learned to replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations, reminding himself daily that he was worthy of love, respect, and happiness.

[subho95]

Cultivating Success: My CropBytes Journey

As a seasoned farmer in the virtual realm of CropBytes, my journey has been nothing short of exhilarating. From overcoming challenges to celebrating milestones, every moment on the farm has been a learning experience filled with growth and excitement.

Share Your Journey: My journey on CropBytes farms began with humble beginnings and a determination to succeed. I faced various challenges, from managing resources efficiently to strategizing my crop rotations effectively. However, through perseverance and experimentation, I gradually honed my skills and learned the intricacies of virtual farming. Overcoming these challenges not only taught me valuable lessons but also instilled in me a sense of resilience and determination.

Earnings and Achievements: One of the most rewarding aspects of CropBytes is witnessing the fruits of your labor manifest in earnings and achievements. Through strategic planning and diligent management, I've been able to reach significant milestones and set personal goals for myself. By diversifying my investments and leveraging the various earning opportunities available in the game, I've maximized my profits and continued to grow my virtual empire.

Favorite Features: CropBytes offers a plethora of engaging features, but one of my favorites has to be the animal breeding mechanic. There's something incredibly satisfying about nurturing and breeding animals to create unique and valuable offspring. Additionally, the dynamic market system adds an element of realism and unpredictability that keeps me coming back for more.

Team Appreciation: I'd like to express my sincere appreciation for the CropBytes team for their dedication and commitment to delivering an exceptional gaming experience. The regular updates, exciting events, and responsive support truly set CropBytes apart and contribute to its vibrant community.

Expectations for Conquest: The upcoming Conquest Gameplay has me buzzing with anticipation. I'm particularly excited about the prospect of world-building and engaging in intense PvP battles with fellow farmers. I believe Conquest has the potential to elevate the CropBytes experience to new heights, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Community Interaction: Interacting with the CropBytes community has been a highlight of my gaming experience. From participating in events to collaborating on projects, I've forged meaningful connections with fellow farmers from around the world. The sense of camaraderie and support within the community is truly inspiring and adds another layer of enjoyment to the game.

Farm Expansion Strategies: For new farmers looking to scale up for greater profits, my top tip would be to focus on diversification and efficiency. Invest in a variety of crops and animals to spread your risk and maximize your earning potential. Additionally, prioritize upgrading your infrastructure and equipment to streamline your operations and increase productivity.

In conclusion, my journey on CropBytes farms has been a fulfilling adventure filled with challenges, achievements, and camaraderie. As I look forward to the future of the game, I'm excited to continue cultivating success and exploring all that CropBytes has to offer.

[autistickhunsam]

i guess i wouldnt say that season two was bad but it wasnt good either? it didnt measure up to the first one for sure. it felt disorganized and boring at times. first season was so well put together and every episode was gut punching, it told you something, it built the characters and their stories, it was leading somewhere while also being able to stand on its own, without sacrificing story

what was the point of the second season aside from setting up season three? some of the girls didnt seem to have a story/arch or it didnt happen until towards the end. dot was just there. martha and leahs breakdowns were bumpy, like they were fine and then they lost their shit. okay i know they werent fine fine but leah was starting to let go and suddenly she just straight up has hallucinations? she didnt have those when she was in a worse place. it wasnt built properly is what im saying. i spent most of the season wondering if toni was suddenly a calm, level-headed person through the magic of love and im glad that she wasnt because thats not how it works but it took what like six or seven episodes? nothing was really happening with most of them until the end. 

i dont care about the boys im not even saying they were bad and i even liked some of them and the story was interesting sometimes but those interesting parts werent explored enough and also i didnt sign up for this show to watch a bunch of guys and definitely not for them to hijack screentime. and while their story had good moments it just wasnt...it felt flat compared to what we got with the girls in season one. they also just werent as complex or engaging. and again the whole season felt disorganized

im guessing how it ended is where it was always head but it isnt what i thought it was gonna be. which isnt a bad thing in itself but i think we all thought this was gonna be about the girls and then it turns out that it was gonna be about both idk its kinda disappointing

but yeah i dont wanna watch the boys anymore and i dont want them infringing on the girls time with each other. and it seems like they might be setting up some romance between leah and raf which why no one needs that (the only way id be interested in that is if it means a love triangle, jealous fatin and leatin happening). actually i dont wanna see any romance between the boys and girls except for maybe martha but thats it

gretchen just seemed straight up incompetent. the experiment going sideways was in large part her fault. i do think that she picked a violent operative for the boys on purpose though. i do think she likely wanted to tip the scales

susan says that the boys got reached some milestones faster than the girls and were preserving food which the girls never did. what was the point of that?

there are other things but this is already long and probably not that coherent 

[boycritter]

:o tell me abt hermitcraft!!

:D okay im gonna talk specifically about joe hills bc i love him /parasocial and also im watching his stream so hes on my mind

joe hills is one of the weirdest people ive ever seen and that is so /pos

his sense of humor is just.. unparalleled. hes got a bunch of quippy humor, more 'wait that was a weird thing he just said' than 'haha that was really funny', some notable examples being 'just because somethings poorly conceived doesnt mean its bad, just look at children!' and 'its not a race, its a speed contest'

hes also?? a really good builder??? his base is called the strait of joebraltar. it features things such as the brandenburg gate, with actual live horses on top, the tower of hercules which he uses as a calendar, a wizard of wines winery surrounded by thousands of berry bushes, and his dog sanctuary called joerassic bark.

im devoting a special paragraph to joseph's amazing technicolor dreamboat bc its amazing. the technicolor dreamboat is a 2/5 scale model of the evergiven that has actually succeeded in blocking commerce. his neighbor needed to transport a villager through the strait and couldnt bc of the boat.

joes streams are also fantastic!! he streams on both yt and twitch, so you can watch wherever is easiest for you. it takes like no time at all for a joe stream to make me feel totally safe and comfortable. he does this bit where every $20 dollar tipping milestone he grows his webcam, to represent the money going to his head. eventually it turns him into the jhost, aka the joe ghost, to represent the money killing him.

hes a genuinely really good person? he bans everyone bigoted in his stream chat and says that thats the reason hes not as big as he could be but its fine bc hes not depending on bigots for money. bigots also regularly get called out by name by him or his chat, then banned. on tdov he called his stream 'happy international transgender day of visibilty' and wasted no time in banning a transphobe that showed up spewing bs about superstraight pride.

he has loudly proclaimed, mostly unprompted, 'walk away nazis'. he only has mods when he does events and cant mod the chat himself, bc he cant afford to pay him for near-nightly 2-3 hour streams and he doesnt want them to work for free. (also refuses to pay them less than $16/hour)

if you show up in the middle of a stream either via raid or just showing up and saying hi, he'll probably tell you what hes doing and (in the case of a raid) show you around!!

he writes pardodys of songs, and then his brother sings and produces them and he plays them on stream!! theyre really good!!

[ghoste-catte]

okay so I've been a big fan of your work for like almsot three years now and you kinda inspired me to want to start my own gaara fanfic. I am absolutley in love with your characterisation of him (especially in sleep talk with me) and wondered if you maybe could give me some tips? because my story would also take place in the sweet inbetween after the chunin exams and before he becomes kazekage. (and to write him in this time frame is so so hard. damn you barely excitent canon content.)

OMG anon?? That’s such a nice thing to say!! I’m so thrilled that you’re inspired to write your own stuff! I hope you’ll drop me a link to it when it’s finished!! I’m sure it’ll be amazing!! I love that time period for Gaara. 

To be honest, I don’t feel like I’m super qualified to give writing “advice” (I say, preparing to give advice), because I’m really just an amateur doing this for fun. But that being said, there’s a couple things that I think are fun or interesting or compelling to explore with Gaara during that timeskip period between OG Naruto and Shippuden ... (Caveat here that these are just my opinions and there’s no one right way to explore this character, and that there’s plenty of interpretations that are worthwhile and fantastic and honestly better than mine!) 

So, the first and biggest thing I had to keep drilling into my own head as I was writing Sleeptalk was how staggeringly YOUNG all the characters are pre-Shippuden. Gaara is, like, twelve or thirteen at the chuunin exams and he becomes Kazekage around age fifteen. I don’t know if you remember being fifteen, but I was barely qualified to work my little part-time job at that age! Hell, I’m shocked they let me drive a car (with a learner’s permit, but still). So picturing someone making the decisions he did at that age, even in the context of the militaristic, child-soldier-normalizing context of Naruto is ... a lot. 

The biggest thing I think with Gaara--as an adult or as a teenager--is keeping in mind how strongly his trauma shaped him. What Gaara goes through between the end of the chuunin exams and his first appearance in Shippuden is basically an (unrealistically) accelerated trauma recovery. From age 6 to age 12, he basically has no personal connections, no affection, no mentorship or anything other than what appears to be basic “wrangling”. The Naruto wiki says that his dad is the one who trained him in ninjutsu, but it’s hard to picture him being particularly tractable after Yashamaru’s death, so I imagine those trainings were short-lived and probably fairly brutal. After all, it’s said Rasa’s magnet release was the only thing that could control Gaara if he let Shukaku take over. If anything, Rasa’s training methods are probably a lot closer to the Hyuugas’ than to, say, the Akimichi. So I think in addition to the onscreen traumas (the early loss of his mother, his overall rejection by Suna, the forcible termination of his relationship with his siblings, the assassination attempts, and of course Yashamaru’s betrayal), we probably also are looking at someone who was abused in addition to being neglected. Healing from trauma is a lot of work, and it has missteps and backslides in addition to forward progress, so there’s a lot of potential for development of his character there. Thinking about what his healing journey was like, what his setbacks might have been, and how he handled those. And what his major milestones were, too. What were his big signs of progress? His red letter days?

There’s actually a lot we don’t know about Gaara’s childhood between when Yashamaru died and the Konoha Crush, and there’s a lot of room to play in that space and explore possibilities. For example, who took care of his basic caregiving needs? Who made sure he had clothes and food? What did he eat? What were the major events of those six years? Did he ever try to reach out to Temari or Kankuro? To his dad? To Baki? What was the context of the additional assassination attempts? Did he play, and if so, what sort of games might he have played? We know, for example, that he has some artistic talent with the sand--was that something he ever explored? What did he do at night, since he couldn’t sleep? How was he kept awake, and by what or whom? There’s a lot of potential to explore additional, non-canon events that might have been formative. And how did any of that change after the chuunin exams, when he decided he wanted to be seen as more than a weapon? What sorts of things did he have to learn?

We know a very bare minimum about the Suna Council and the politics and culture of Suna, too, and I think there’s a lot of potential interest there. How would the Council have approached Gaara’s announcement of his intention to become Kage, when there were two older (and more emotionally stable) candidates from the same lineage? We know from the light novels that there is still backstabbing and subterfuge and that Gaara’s appointment is controversial even when he’s an adult, so I think there’s a lot of opportunity for political intrigue in the years between part 1 and Shippuden, if that’s your thing. 

One of the biggest and most important things that I think was sorely neglected by canon was Gaara’s relationship with his siblings. There’s so much growth that needed to happen there, and Temari and Kankuro were probably still pretty scared of him at first! There’s so much potential for them to grow together as people and to form a new family unit, and exploring how they went from being wary of him (and potentially needing to be prepared to kill him if he got out of control) to a loving sibling relationship! There are a lot of firsts that could be explored there--when did he first acknowledge Kankuro as his older brother, for example? Who was the first to try to give him a hug, and did he (or the sand) allow it?

Finally, I do really want to emphasize the mental health component of Gaara’s journey. Canon leans really heavily on the fact that he has a literal demon sealed inside him and that he’s protected by his mother’s spirit through magic sand, but a lot of his reactions and ways of handling things are really just that of a traumatized child, with or without the additional magic component. If you took a kid Gaara’s age and put them through traumatic events on the scale of what he went through--with or without magical ninja skills--you would likely see similar reactions. The only difference is that Gaara has access to fundamentally unlimited power. (And I think learning that, too--that he can’t just kill or hurt people to get what he wants--would be a huge part of his development and learning process.) So I personally don’t really care for interpretations of his development that lean too heavily on the ‘literal demon voices in his head’ and ‘actual conversing with ghosts/spirits’ interpretations, though they’re perfectly valid ones given what canon portrays. I much prefer an interpretation where a lot of Gaara’s symptoms--and they are symptoms!--are actually things that are going on with him emotionally and internally rather than being literal magic events that are happening. For example, I like to think his discomfort with the full moon has a lot more to do with negative emotions associated with the memory of Yashamaru’s betrayal than a literal issue with Shukaku thirsting for blood.  

Anyway, I’ve rambled on forever, but if you have other questions please feel free to pop back up! And I hope you’ll link me to your story when it’s done--I’d love to read it!!

[sciencespies]

Giant Panda Cub Xiao Qi Ji's Best Moments—in Video

https://sciencespies.com/nature/giant-panda-cub-xiao-qi-jis-best-moments-in-video/

Giant Panda Cub Xiao Qi Ji's Best Moments—in Video

Smithsonian Voices National Zoo

January’s Best Giant Panda Moments—In Video

February 10th, 2021, 8:44AM / BY Laurie Thompson, Marty Dearie and Mariel Lally

January was a month full of firsts for giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji. The growing bear played with enrichment toys, took his first bites of sweet potato and bamboo, and had his first encounter with snow!

January was a month full of firsts for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s giant panda cub, Xiao Qi Ji. The growing bear played with his first enrichment toys, sampled his first sweet potato, took his first bite of bamboo, let fans into his habitat during his first livestream and experienced his first encounter with snow! Through each of these milestones, giant panda assistant curator Laurie Thompson and keepers Marty Dearie and Mariel Lally helped keep fans at home connected to our cub.

1. Tumbles and Toys (Jan. 11, 2021)

Spending more time out of the den presents our cub with more opportunities to explore — and play! While we have presented Xiao Qi Ji with enrichment items before (most notably a pumpkin for Halloween) we have seen his interest in them grow exponentially since the beginning of January. These items encourage our giant pandas to keep physically active and mentally sharp; they also give the bears an opportunity to use their natural behaviors and choose how to spend their time.

With Xiao Qi Ji becoming more aware of and interested in his surroundings, keepers gave him two toys to investigate: a small red Jolly Egg (perfectly sized for a panda cub) and an empty PVC puzzle feeder. When Xiao Qi Ji is exploring the habitat and happens upon them, he usually stops for a few minutes to paw at them, pick them up and give them a nibble.

Some toys built for cubs are made from softer materials to help the animals grasp or chomp on them. Our team is very careful to watch Xiao Qi Ji as he plays during the day, since Mei Xiang’s more powerful teeth and jaws could damage the toys. Before we leave for the day, we remove these toys from the enclosure. Neither Mei Xiang nor Xiao Qi Ji seem to mind, content to eat or play with their bamboo overnight.

Personality-wise, Xiao Qi Ji seems to take after his mother. Like Mei Xiang, he is careful and cautious when it comes to exploring his environment. Now that he has mastered walking, he has started to practice his climbing skills. He is very deliberate about the paths he takes when traveling up or down the rockwork—more so than siblings Tai Shan, Bao Bao or Bei Bei were. He has taken a few tumbles here and there, but not nearly as many as his brothers and sister did at this age. Luckily, these bears are built to be robust and have thick, wooly fur to cushion their fall.

2. A Playful Panda Cub (Jan. 15, 2021)

Giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s word of the week seems to be: play! Our 4.5-month-old cub’s interest in his surroundings really took off this week. He seems to explore the world with his mouth. He nibbles on everything from his paws and enrichment toys to mother Mei Xiang’s ears. While she is eating bamboo, we often see Xiao Qi Ji try to initiate a play session with a few not-so-ferocious bites. After Mei Xiang shifts outside in the morning, he often emerges from the den to “supervise” the keepers as they clean and get the habitat ready for Mei Xiang’s return.

Xiao Qi Ji received his first enrichment toys a few weeks ago and plays with them whenever they catch his attention. Those who have followed his siblings’ stories have asked when Xiao Qi Ji will get a rubber tub. With the adults, we often put leaf-eater biscuits or sensory enrichment (like bubbles) into these tubs. Cubs, though, seem to enjoy the exercise of climbing in and out or just sitting in this cub-sized space.

We weigh Xiao Qi Ji in one such tub. This week, he tipped the scales at 19.8 pounds (9.04 kilograms). He also receives tubs to play in during the day. He is not quite big enough to get out from underneath a tub if it were to overturn on top of him, so he only receives this enrichment during the day when we can keep an eye on him.

3. A Parcel of Sweet Potato (Jan. 22, 2021)

Just like his mother, Mei Xiang, our giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji is curious yet cautious about the world around him. Yesterday — the day our cub turned five months old — we decided to introduce him to something new. Using a piece of bamboo shred as a spoon, we scraped some cooked sweet potato onto the end, then handed it over to Xiao Qi Ji. He grabbed the bamboo in his mouth, paused for a moment to take in the new taste, then lay back and licked the remainder. When we offered him more, he wouldn’t stop nibbling on it!

Xiao Qi Ji clearly enjoyed this new treat, which is not surprising since both Mei Xiang and his father, Tian Tian, are also fond of sweet potatoes. In addition to bamboo, nutrient-rich biscuits, carrots and apples, sweet potatoes are part of our pandas’ balanced diet.

Even though Xiao Qi Ji is beginning to sample some new foods, Mei Xiang’s milk is still his main source of nutrition. Around 1 year old, bamboo and other solid foods make up the majority of a panda’s diet. However, Xiao Qi Ji may nurse for comfort up to 18 months of age. He typically nurses at night and in the early morning. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, he weighed 20.79 pounds (9.45 kilograms), and continues to make good gains.

4. Livestream with Xiao Qi Ji (Jan. 27, 2021)

This was a big week for our little panda cub! On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the giant panda team hosted our first-ever virtual encounter with Xiao Qi Ji. An important part of saving species is being able to tell their stories, and it was wonderful to see in the comments that many of you are as enamored with our adorable ambassador as we are. Your kind words and support for our bears and our team are much appreciated, especially as the Zoo remains closed and we continue to navigate this “new normal” brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xiao Qi Ji’s newest enrichment toy made an appearance in Wednesday’s broadcast. This week, we gave him a bright green ball with a small handle. Since it is made from a softer material than the adults’ toys, it’s perfect for him to chew on and sink his claws into. It is also scented like green apple, providing some olfactory enrichment, too!

During the livestream, this ball was at the center of a friendly game of tug-of-war between Xiao Qi Ji and keeper Marty Dearie. Don’t let Xiao Qi Ji’s small size fool you—he is remarkably strong! Just before Xiao Qi Ji stole everyone’s hearts — and wrestled his new green ball away from Marty — we placed him on a scale for his weekly weigh-in. Since his last measurement seven days prior, our 5-month-old cub gained another two pounds. This week, he weighed 22 pounds (10 kilograms).

5. A Bear’s First Taste of Bamboo (Jan. 29, 2021)

This week, bamboo was on the menu. We saw Xiao Qi Ji munching on some of his mother Mei Xiang’s leftover leaves. As Xiao Qi Ji’s walking and climbing skills improve, we are starting to see him explore more and more of his habitat. Yesterday, he walked out of the den, through both indoor enclosures, and over to the opposite den. He sat up and pressed his face against the “take out window” where we routinely feed Mei Xiang. It was hilarious to see our curious cub waiting at the same window for us!

6. First Encounter With Snow (Jan. 31, 2021)

(Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

As snow blanketed the Washington, D.C. region, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s animals woke up to a winter wonderland. With this weather event came another significant milestone—giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s first encounter with snow! Keepers say although he seemed nervous at first, eventually he worked up the courage to take a little nip at the fresh powder.

7. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian Enjoy the Snow (Jan. 31, 2021)

Slides, somersaults and pure panda joy. Happy snow day from giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian!

8. Tian Tian Has a Ball (Feb. 2, 2021)

Giant panda Tian Tian had a ball in the snow. Literally.

This story was featured in the February 2021 issue of National Zoo News. Behind these ‘aww’-inspiring moments, an expert team works tirelessly to provide our panda family with everything they need to thrive, ensuring a bright future for this species. If this cub sparks joy for you, please consider making a donation to the Zoo. On behalf of the animals we care for and protect: thank you! Please note that the Zoo is temporarily closed as a public health precaution to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

#Nature

[minimarker]

The Talllle of Glennnn and Daaaale

(and Gaiiiil and Marrrrsha)

(Note: some of the footage of the 2017 P4A was lost. This compilation was the best I could do from my memory and the footage available. If I made any mistakes or forgot any parts I apologize.) 

In the 2017 Project for Awesome the Missoula crew were hanging out the first night when Brit Garner brought a bunch of props from a local theatre. As Hank said, “Brit is here and she brought… something terrifying.” That terrifying thing was Glennnn the sheep. From one angle Glennnn looks like he smoked a bunch of weed and then killed someone. From another angle Glennnn looks like he’s very tired and knows a lot about you. From yet another angle Glennnn looks proud, like a spiritual teacher. Like a gentler Rafiki mentor. Apparently, Victoria looks at Hank like Glennnn a lot, especially when he has “ideas.” Glennnn reminds Hank of Undertale. At one point Glennnn was called the Merlin to Hank’s King Arthur. Hank quickly became so attached to Glennnn that he promised to work Glennnn into the sequel to his book.

Glennnn came to the stream with two hats: a green visor and a gold crown. When wearing the green visor, it seemed like he will do your shady taxes and launder your money for you. Or maybe play poker with his friends. Does he have a gambling problem? No, he’s just a CPA. When wearing the crown, he is King Glennnn. We will get to that later.

Soon a consensus was made on the spelling of Glennnn. Glennnn must have 4 n’s, three of which are silent. It does not matter which three are silent. Later we learned that Glennnn is pronounced “Glen” if the last three n’s are silent and “Gle-n” if one of the later n’s is the audible one. At this point chat was overtaken with sheep emojis, all from Glennnn the Sheep Father. Some chatters went overboard and were informed that Glennnn can’t have five n’s, we must keep it reasonable!

Quickly we learned more about Glennnn: he is a hollow shell full of wisdom … and MURDER. Hank claimed that NASA is hiding the fact that for years they have observed Glennnn through a powerful telescope. Someone claimed that Deadpool wishes he didn’t wear such a skin-tight suit and instead wore Glennnn’s hat… and nothing else. 

Meanwhile, the nerdfighters quickly made social media accounts for him. Glennnn The Sheep soon had an Instagram with a screenshot of the P4A stream as the profile picture. The bio read “Hi, my name is Glennnn, the last three n’s are silent. My favorite people are the Nerdfighters that are currently watching the livestream of the Project for Awesome!” A twitter account was also made for Glennnn, @GlennTheSheep. Later, when describing the discrepancy in n’s on social media, we were advised to type as many n’s as your heart tells you to find Glennnn on social media. 

Soon Matthew Gaydos joined the stream and was introduced to Glennnn. Matt found his legs “interesting” and when chat asked him how to buy the sheep Matt said “You can’t! Glennnn is a human! No, he’s not!” Hank questioned if Glennnn is 100% sheep and Matt clarified that he is 4% wood and 96% sheep. When Matt had to step away he left Glennnn in charge of the stream.

Somehow Glennnn lost his hat. Matt gave him the crown and declared him King Glennnn. King Glennnn of the Glen, Hank added. It is Glennnn’s Glen, he is not king of the forest. Daaaale is his brother, King of the Dale. And Marrrrsha, of the Marsh, is their sister. Clearly glens were named for Glennnn. As Hank said “If Glennnn can see you, you are in his Glen. You are turning into a sheep. Can you feel it?” 

Hank invented a new version of Instagram for Glennnn: Glennnnstagram. All pictures on it are of sheep and glens, except the one picture of a dale from when Glennnn visited Daaaale. Chat suggested a Glennnn theme park and Matt seemed confused about what that would entail. Hank suggested making a hat with Glennnn on it as a perk for P4A 2018 (as of the posting of this it has not been announced as a perk but Glennnn and Daaaale plushies are totally a thing!). Much of this conversation happened while Hank’s face was being painted to look like Pizza John. Hank then declared that Hank-Pizza John Green of the Glen is a subject of King Glennnn. Chat requested that someone kiss Glennnn and Matt promised that someone would at 1.4 million dollars. Hank offered to kiss Glennnn, although I am not sure if he ever did. 

Soon talk turned to a major event in Glennnn’s past. Apparently, a sheep’s hair is only shorn when he loses in battle. Glennnn’s hair is the longest in the Glen. Daaaale’s hair is slightly longer. Glennnn of the Glen is the hero of the Battle of Glen-Dale. The elves know him. Songs have been dedicated to Glennnn. It is proposed that Lin-Manuel Miranda or Al Roker should write a musical of the battle of Glen-Dale. 

Then Rodney appeared and it was confirmed that Glennnn has Rodney’s back because, of course he does. Rodney said, “the sheep is everything” and as Glennnn was passed from person to person we learned that holding Glennnn feels so right that you forget he’s there. For a time Glennnn wore the frog hat instead of his crown. We also learned that Glennnn plays the banjo just like Ed Helms and Ryan is his middle name. Maia and Valerie drew Glennnn eating corn in a timed competition.

The next day we learned that Glennnn is everyone’s baby. He belongs to the world. Unknowingly, Destin was encouraging donations by offering to write donors’ names on magnets and one was a sheep. The chat insisted that the sheep was Glennnn. Soon a donation came in from Glennnn but Destin rejected his name because he “is not a real person.” The chat declared that while other magnets were worth a certain donation amount the sheep should cost $1000 in honor of Glennnn. Ben donated $1000 and Destin insisted “but does he want the sheep?” He then offered that Ben could name the sheep whatever he wanted. When Destin wrote on the sheep he could feel how much it mattered to chat. “This is the most important thing I’m gonna write on a sheep, probably in my life.” Destin writes “Ben (Glenn)” and chat quickly corrected: Glennnn has four n’s. 

Back with the Missoula crew we learned that Glennnn is Tuna’s favorite quadruped. Since we had last seen the Missoula crew, Ashe had made a painting of Glennnn. The donations reached a milestone and Brit brought in a surprise. DAAAALE HAD ARRIVED! Daaaale bowed to Glennnn, for he was the hero of the Battle of Glen-Dale. 

“All hail Daaaale!” someone declared. “Disagree!” countered Hank. Soon it was questioned where Marrrrsha is and Brit clarified “I drive a Honda Civic, I can only do so much.” After a brief debate, it is confirmed that Daaaale has four a’s and can be pronounced as “Dale” or with a bleating sound in the middle (like a sheep). Soon the battle between Glennnn and Daaaale was sparking again, they began to tally a donation battle between the brothers. “Is the vote just a tally? I’ve made a spreadsheet!” someone said, proving how nerdy we all are. The spreadsheet was put to use as the tally was called the “popular vote” and the spreadsheet was used to count the amount donated to each sheep. Suddenly most of the Missoula crew was on Daaaale’s side. “We’re just excited by the new thing” said Caitlin (and seconded by Hank). 

The following was determined about the First Battle of Glen-Dale: 

-It took place in 1994 (Possibly 640? Possibly yesterday? It couldn’t have been yesterday!) 

-Different spellings are all accepted: Glen-Dale, Glennnndale, Glennnn-Daaaale 

-Hank’s recap of the Battle: “This is Glennnn, king of the Glen. This is Daaaale, king (queen?) of the Dale. The Dale and Glen were once one land until the Battle of Glennnndaaaale. Very sad for Gaiiiil, their mom. Their sister, Marrrrsha, inherited the Marsh that no one wanted, so it is a peaceful land.”

Now we are in the Second Battle of GlennnnDale! Accusations were thrown at the brothers and slogans were created: 

-Glennnn had cow pox and did not tell his lady-friends about it 

-A vote for Glennnn is a vote for cow pox for the entire flock 

-Tip the scale for Daaaale 

-Justice for Daaaale 

-A win for Glennnn is a fail for Daaaale

-Daaaale has kind eyes (contrasting the discussion of Glennnn’s eyes from the first day) 

-“If Daaaale fails I will wail”- Julie 

-Glennnn is such a good friend! 

-RiverDAAAALE! 

-What do we know about Daaaale? Nothing! 

-Daaaale is against Net Neutrality 

-We are feeling sheepish about Glennnn 

-Daaaale will prevail 

-Tip the scale for Daaaale 

-Glennnn and Daaaale have beef with each other 

-A vote for Daaaale is a vote for a world of snacks

The Battle paused to introduce and catch up the new guests. Brit explained everything as “Brit brings props from community theatre but they are now their own things and stories.” At this point Daaaale was wearing Shrek ears because Shrek lives in a swamp. (I’m still confused on this one since a dale is not a swamp.) The new guests were happy to jump into the Battle and insisted that cow pox gave us vaccines. As their connection to the stream went in and out it was commented that the Battle is causing wooly connections and shear brilliance of puns. I’m not sure you herd me. Chat declared the puns to be flocking awesome. 

As the Battle waged on and the donations continued to pour in Brit called for peace: “I need to take them back in the same vehicle.” Hank agreed, adding that Glennnn and Daaaale need to go sit in the same basement together. Soon donations were submitted for peace and were tallied under the joint ticket of Gaiiiil and Marrrrrsha. Unfortunately, this peace was short-lived as the debate was reignited by the question of if Glennnn or Daaaale is older. Eventually it was decided that they are twins but Glennnn is older. 

As is to be expected, Harry Potter was soon pulled into the battle. In the heat of anger Glennnn was declared a Slytherin but it was soon walked back. He is a Gryffindor. Daaaale is definitely a Hufflepuff. Both Glennnn and Daaaale love Harry Potter. The discussion of Harry Potter brought us back to Nerdfighteria and Brotherherd 2.0 was born, as were its fans the Herdfighters of Herdfighteria. Quietly Brit lamented, “Why do I feel like they are never going to be returned?”

“I’m for Daaaale, but when I look into Glennnn’s eyes I feel the need to vote for him” commented Hank. There is definitely something about Glennnn’s eyes. Ben (possibly the same Ben from before) made a big donation in Glennnn’s name. He was declared Glennnn’s SuperPAC which was soon replaced with SuperHERD (or SuperFLOCK). Since Glennnn was given larger donations than Daaaale, Glennnn was declared a puppet for Big Sheep. Soon the Second Battle of GlennnnDaaaale was ended due to the $5154 donation that did not vote for either sheep. The votes were tallied and Glennnn won the Second Battle of GlennnnDaaaale. 

As they were finishing up for the night Brit went to wash dishes and found a picture of Reed hugging a different sheep from the theatre… and also a large goat (which Brit did not bring to the stream because it was too big). 

You would think that would be the end of Glennnn and Daaaale for the evening BUT NO! They traveled to Synema Studios to visit that crew into the wee hours of the morning. Michael Aranda questioned why Glennnn gets to be the lord and savior (and wear the crown). He was then given a quick recap of the story. Soon it was discovered that Glennnn and Daaaale were in marching band together as drummers. As the stream continued the Synema crew gave Daaaale a lot more attention than Glennnn because Glennnn is a king and “Daaaale just lives in a swamp” (Note: a dale is not a swamp). At the end of their shift Michael declared that it was more of an honor to be in Daaaale’s presence than Glennnn’s and chat was offended. 

As the 2017 Project for Awesome came to a close Hank thanked Glennnn and Daaaale for their efforts. Glennnn appeared to celebrate the end of the livestream. After John and Hank said goodbye the last shot of the stream was Glennnn.

(Here’s a link to my Butfartman Lore Compliation.)

[asking-jude]

I didn't know that I was feeling this way until recently, but I have struggled with self esteem issues (particularly with my body) for a long time and this was due to my mother continuously hounding me. Now that I'm older and she's stopped, I still feel this way and probably even worse because seeing all my friends look so beautiful (and small) is really starting to take a toll on me. I'm really worried that I could potentially harm myself in an effort to become this way as well. What do I do?

Thank you for reaching out to Asking Jude!

I know how hard it can be to look at yourself and think that you are not as attractive or “the perfect” weight as others, but the truth is, you are perfect in your own way, you are beautiful in your own way, and you should not base/compare your own unique attributes to others as you will find you will never win this battle for many reasons. One reason being that if believe in your mind that you are “ugly, fat, too skinny, too tall, etc.,” you will always look at yourself this way no matter how much you change in appearance. You must appreciate yourself, own your unique attributes, and have confidence that you can change anything if you want, and I mean changing in a safe and healthy way for you, not for others or to look like others. Everyone is built and created differently – we all think, believe, feel and express, and look differently in our own ways, so embrace yourself with positivity and happiness, otherwise, you may always feel down on yourself. Some ways to change in a safe and healthy way is to start an exercise routine, change your diet such as choosing healthy foods to eat, and don’t look at your self as losing weight or getting skinny, look at yourself as feeling emotional and physically well. Start slow, don’t crash diet, and don’t overwork yourself as it may take many months to see results, and instead of stressing about losing weight, keeping to a diet/healthy change in meals and watching portion sizes, focus on how this can be a normal, every day routine for the rest of your life, not just a short period of time. The point is to focus on what you want and not what others want and to go with what makes you feel good within and without.

Set a small goal for yourself and celebrate every milestone/goal you accomplish, for example, losing five pounds, losing two inches, etc. as this will keep you going and help you to stay confident in what you can offer yourself. Don’t make it a chore, make it a routine that you can enjoy. If you really want something, no matter what it is, you can set your mind to it and accomplish it if you are willing to try. Reach out to friends and family and work together such as getting a gym membership or going on evening or morning walks together, or even reach out to friends and family for support and guidance as they can also help you to stay on track and appreciate yourself no matter what. Some healthy, safe, and fun ways to stay in shape and lose weight is to try new recipes, try new exercise routines, and challenge yourself by setting goals. More specifically, I personally look at my weight loss through my clothing and not by weighing myself as woman especially can gain extra water weight and fluctuate in weight from one day to the next, plus I find this (weighing self) really puts a damper on my emotions and mood when I find I have not lost weight. Another tip is to know that (and from my own personal experience) it is possible to gain weight while working out, but I was losing weight in inches and appearance such as through my clothing, so I was building muscle and toning my body, so know that this is a good thing and not a bad thing. Don’t rely on the scale, rely on actual appearance and how you begin to feel emotionally and physically as I find this will enhance your motivation to keep pushing forward and not to give up or doubt yourself.

Lastly, you are beautiful and unique no matter what and know that you no matter your weight, your appearance, etc., you are fine just the way you are so embrace it, be happy, stay positive, and don’t look at others as if they are perfect, because everyone has their own personal “demons” and they may look at you the same way you do at them such as wishing they could have your hair, your smile, your legs, your eyes, your personality, etc. No one is perfect, and everyone is special in their own way, so take what you have to offer yourself, strive for anything and everything you want in your life, and don’t give up! Here is a link that may help guide you in the right direction as well https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/63-ways-to-build-self-confidence.html 

Also, there are other ways to build your independence, self-confidence, self-appreciation, and happiness so don’t be discouraged. You can always find new hobbies, join clubs and events, and get with friends regularly. Always try to do something for yourself whether it be buying a new top or going out to a movie as this will help you to feel as if you have control as work, school, family and friends, etc., can sometimes cause stress to surface and feel as if you are doing things for everyone besides yourself. Take time to relax, enjoy your surroundings and even change your surroundings to increase happiness within your home and yourself such as redecorating your room/house with positive quotes, paintings, and pictures. Don’t give up and know that you can do anything you put your mind to! Good luck and always stay hopeful! For more guidance, check out Asking Jude’s YouTube page��https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy4mB7luO09mz1ZFo5sBA-Q 

I wish you the best!

Sincerely, 

Tiffanie

Asking Jude needs YOUR help! Donate pocket change here and save our safe space.  

[devontroxell]

How to Run a Startup Remotely: Tips for Hiring, Managing & Scaling

For traditional founders and team leaders, the idea of running a completely remote business is fraught with anxiety. Yes, there’s an opportunity to lower overheads and recruit from anywhere, but is it really worth it at the expense of growing a cohesive brand culture under one (literal, physical) roof?

Many businesses have had to find out quickly if remote working works for them (for obvious 2020 reasons), but lots of successful startups recognized the benefits long before a pandemic forced their hand. Companies like Buffer, Mozilla, and Zapier have blazed a trail when it comes to WFH, while tech giants Twitter and Google are now offering their staff the opportunity to work remotely forever.

So, how do they make it work?

As we’ll discover in this post, there are few key elements to getting it right, namely in the hiring, growing, and managing stages. And woven throughout are the three non-negotiable core principles of remote working:

Trust

Communication

Collaboration

Without further ado, here are our best tips to grow your startup remotely and build a culture from wherever your people are.

1. Hiring remotely: Spot and recruit talent quickly

The best thing about growing your startup remotely is that you’re not limited to your local talent pool. You can cast your net far and wide to find the best people for your situation, no matter where in the world they’re based.

Yet, while the choice of applicants is undoubtedly larger, the goal of hiring for a remote job isn’t all that different from hiring in-person. Ultimately, you’re still being tasked with spotting, vetting, and interviewing talent — you’re just doing it entirely online.

Let’s take a look at how to do this effectively.

How to Identify Talent for Your Startup

The aim of any recruitment drive (short-term or long-term, online or off) is to find and hire people you can trust.

But doing this remotely for a fast-growing startup introduces an element of time pressure. You can’t always stick an ad up on social media and wait for an influx of applicants. Sometimes you need to go out there and find the right candidate yourself, fast.

The good news is, there are a number of digital platforms designed for this. Websites like Upwork, Fiverr and others are solid options for low-skilled, one-off, or short-term needs. You can usually find a verified freelancer for simple graphic design, data-entry, or copywriting tasks on these sites with very little fuss.

Hiring remotely for high-skilled, core team roles, on the other hand, requires a slightly different approach. There’s more risk involved when building your team, rather than simply delegating smaller tasks to hourly freelancers. You need to ensure that anyone you’re adding to your payroll has the right mix of skills, personality, and culture fit to hit the ground running – otherwise, you’re back to square one.

Beyond the conventional freelance or contractor hiring sites, new platforms are starting up and changing the game by handling the burden of due diligence and filtering out anyone who doesn’t fit your needs and profile. They’re bringing in things like strict vetting, using technical assessments, video interviews, and reference checks. This reduces the amount of time and energy you spend on assessing the suitability – or credibility – of a candidate, and means that you can hire smarter, quicker.

Here are a few more resources to help when recruiting and retaining remote employees:

How to attract, hire and retain remote employees via Workable

Hiring remotely is the new reality. Here’s how to do it with speed via Fast Company

3 mistakes not to make when hiring remote employees via The Muse

2. Growing remotely: Implement the right tools and processes

Speaking at a Google Startups panel, Sid Sijbrandij, co-founder and CEO of GitLab said that entropy is lower for remote startups. Why? Because everything is written down.

“There is less shoulder tapping. Days are more predictable,” according to Sid.

So, to grow your startup remotely without disruption, you need to nail those processes. Write everything down. And remember, communication is key here.

Repeat: Communication is key

As we’ve mentioned, along with trust, communication and collaboration are non-negotiables when it comes to effective remote working. You need transparent communication processes to enable effective collaboration. You also need buy-in from your team; every single one of them must grasp the importance of regular contact with their co-workers.

It’s, therefore, a good idea to start each day with a team check-in.

Just as you would have a stand-up meeting or a scrum in the office, jumping onto a video call first thing gives you a chance to address questions and concerns, ensures that everyone knows what they’re doing, and gives your team the chance to see and speak to one another. This also keeps siloes from forming, or individuals becoming lonely or disenfranchised.

Over and above this, you should also run regular, company-wide meetings (monthly or quarterly) to keep everyone in the loop regarding overall progress and provide opportunities for internal feedback.

Choose and use the right remote management tools

To get your remote team up-to-speed and communicating like pros, you need to provide them with the right set of tools.

At a minimum, this should include:

Company email for formal communication.

Slack or Teams to power day-to-day internal messaging.

Zoom or Google Meet for quality, reliable video calls.

Dropbox or Google Drive for cloud file storage and collaboration.

Trello or Notion for task allocation and project management.

Once you’ve selected your preferred remote tool stack, you need to build it into your onboarding process, familiarizing each new hire with the ins and outs of each platform.

3. Managing remotely: You’re learning all the time

Managing a remote team is not without its challenges. And perhaps the most significant of those is the fact that you don’t get as much in-person face-to-face time with your employees.

Sure, you can hop on a video call, but it can still be difficult to pick up on subtle emotional cues and changes in body language that you might spot if you were sitting in the same room. This means you could miss out on identifying the employees who need your help the most.

To guard against this, you need to ensure that your employees are motivated by meaningful work, that they know that you care about them (professionally and personally), and that they have an avenue through which to express concerns, ask questions, and offer feedback.

Motivation is mission-critical

Here’s the truth: Bored People Quit.

It’s up to you to make things non-boring. And the best thing about working in a startup, in general, is that each person has a very specialized, significant role geared towards growth. Everyone can see that what they’re doing is having an impact.

This has to remain true even when you’re growing your startup remotely. Every single employee should have visibility (and be visible) as you pursue your next growth milestone. They cannot be allowed to work in a silo, wondering if what they’re doing really matters.

Publicly celebrate success

A continuation of the last point, to keep your startup team motivated, you can’t let an individual or group win slip under the radar without a bit of fanfare — especially when you’re working remotely.

Something as simple as a public congratulations (with all your favorite Emojis and Gifs) on your general Slack channel will quickly draw attention to good work and those responsible. You could even spring for some perks to make things extra special.

WordStream recognizes and celebrates employees who embody our core values each month at our all-hands meeting

Plus, publicly celebrating success shows that you’re paying attention (employees feel valued) and that you truly care. Same goes for highlighting important milestones in your employees’ personal lives. Give shout outs for birthdays, charity work, family events; prove that you’re interested in more than their work performance.  

Do regular performance reviews

Regular performance reviews are a staple of every successful business, but they take on extra significance when you’re growing a remote startup.

Once you’ve set expectations and clarified what success looks like, a remote performance review provides a designated, structured touchpoint for each employee to reflect on their role, their performance, and look ahead to their next period’s goals and objectives. What’s more, performance reviews offer a platform for your employee to share concerns or provide you with honest feedback on how you’re doing.

This formal one-to-one is conducive to a healthy remote working environment, but it shouldn’t be the only opportunity for dialogue. Try to schedule regular, informal meetings to check-in frequently over a (virtual) coffee — this will give you the chance to catch any minor issues early before they mushroom into real problems.

The bottom line: To succeed remotely, lead by example

If you’re going to succeed in growing your startup remotely, you can’t just pay lip service to the core principles of remote working. You need to eat, sleep and breathe communication, collaboration, and trust – putting them into practice at every opportunity.

Of course, there’s a balance to be struck. You need to trust that your employees can work autonomously, but you can’t be so hands-off that they feel abandoned. And you need to ensure that lines of communication remain open, but you shouldn’t micromanage and insert yourself into every conversation or collaboration.

In short, you need to lead by example, showing your employees how it’s done. Remember, trust is earned. “Do as I say, not as I do” simply won’t cut it in the world of remote working.

About the author

Jaron Soh is co-founder and COO of Traktion, a freelancing platform dedicated to the world’s best marketing talent.

How to Run a Startup Remotely: Tips for Hiring, Managing & Scaling published first on https://wabusinessapi.tumblr.com/

[talabib]

How To Create An Effective, Efficient Team

Truly successful executives are those who can thoroughly mine the intersection of efficiency and effectiveness to maximize their value and that of their team’s whether that team is a small group or an entire division, department or organization.

Recall that effectiveness is doing the right things; efficiency is doing things right. Doing the right things right are the tactics by which you get things done and achieve strategic execution at the right time in the right place.

We know that time management determines how well we manage not only our own operational, day-to-day responsibilities but that of our teams as well — and most of us do try to make sure we handle it in a manner that’s both efficient and effective.

Your best formula for both personal and team success is to make a serious effort to consistently value your time. To do the best job possible, value your time both realistically and highly.

Depending on your leadership position, your value to the organization may be thousands of dollars per hour. Once you’ve pinned down the value of your time, use these tips as you move forward:

Delegate your authority and tasks as widely as possible, to capable people who can do certain things better than you can. Retain the few high-priority, high-value tasks only you can do most profitably.

Avoid false economy. If what you’re doing costs more in terms of the value of your time than it’s worth, stop doing it.

Crack the Whip on Time-Wasters. You’ve no doubt learned how to apply self-discipline, or you wouldn’t have made it as far as you have in your career. Now apply that discipline to your team to ensure they aren’t wasting valuable time either.

Clarify goals and review them at regular intervals. Also clarify the organizational environment your team works in, explaining to team members precisely what you’ll accept, what you won’t and what’s explicitly against the rules. Make it clear that, while you don’t intend to be punitive (unless something goes badly wrong), you expect people to accept responsibility for everything they do, regardless of the outcome — yourself included.

Act as a role model and follow company policy. Don’t expect the team to do what you say rather than what you do; the real world doesn’t work that way.

 Master Data Handling and Workflow

How executives organize their personal work matters more now than it ever has. Things as simple as efficient time management, organization and email processing help you save time and sharpen the knife of effectiveness.

Technology has been a blessing in this regard, but it’s a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s helped make modern workers more productive. Conversely, technology can be tyrannical. Not only do you risk Schlimmbesserung (the effort to make something better that actually makes it worse), it sometimes makes it easier for others to steal proprietary information. You may also become trapped by your technology, unable to survive without it.

Reduce Your Information Intake

The only way to overcome “infobesity” is to triage mercilessly, then reduce the amount you take in forever. Keep these tips in mind as you work toward stemming the info-tide.

Limit your exposure to external information at work.

Check your email as little as possible.

Employ the right means of communication. Carefully select the most efficient means of communication for each issue.

Maximize reading time. Adopt a speed-reading system, or carry around material for downtime reading in your briefcase.

Pioneer New Technology

New technology can have its dangers. Improperly implemented, it can slow or stop productivity. Additionally, inexperienced or malicious users can leave backdoors open for hackers and identity thieves to waltz right in and steal or corrupt data. So before you dive in, dip a toe in the waters first. Before you take the plunge with new technology, study its impact. Will the new technology really upgrade productivity? Calculate the costs, and include an exit strategy.

Test the new technology to make sure it does all it promises — and don’t hesitate to roll back to your old tech if it doesn’t

Maximize Speed with Agility

Agility means responding to change of any kind with speed and flexibility, whether it’s a new client demand or a paradigm shift. Handling new challenges on the fly, swerving onto a new course, stopping suddenly and reversing direction — it’s all in a day’s work for the modern business professional.

Given today’s go-go-go approach to modern business, agility is applicable to most fields. A flexible model breaks a project into manageable pieces, all with independent milestones, due dates and testing phases that team members can handle independently if necessary. That way, when a delay occurs in one area, it doesn’t stop the entire project dead in its tracks. Take these actions the next time you assign your team a new project:

Examine it carefully from all angles.

Focus on the needs and requirements first.

Think about where and how you can split the project into discrete pieces that particular team members or subteams can handle.

Cut the diamond. You can easily “part out” some projects, but you will have to deal with others more carefully, much like cutting a diamond. Once you’ve determined you can split the project into pieces, do so.

Hand the pieces out to the people best suited for them, complete with their own specific milestones and deadlines.

Build in flexibility. A project built from many independent parts is naturally more flexible than a sequential project. It more easily absorbs the need for changes, additional testing and new features as they arise. You can also implement feedback more quickly.

Put it back together. As sections of the project come in, slide them in place, leaving space for the later bits to allow greater flexibility in terms of responding to customer and market needs.

This requires careful planning and preparation, perhaps more so than traditional project management. Also, if you want your team, division, department or company to truly improve, you have to hire for versatility, not indispensability. If someone is indispensable, then you can’t replace them. If you can’t replace them, the team can’t advance without them. So if that person dies, leaves or even takes a vacation and forgets to leave the keys to the filing cabinet (metaphorically speaking), the team is unable to move forward.

Instead, make sure your teammates are somewhat interchangeable, so you can maintain your productivity no matter what.

Sustain Your Physical and Mental Health

In order to be an effective, efficient leader, you have to take care of yourself at least as well as you take care of your team, by maintaining balance in your life. We certainly know we do better, more productive work when we feel well. And yet many of us get stuck in a vicious cycle.

When we work long hours and run short on time, we cut into our precious free time — the time when we would do the things that keep us healthy: exercise, sleep, eat and drink properly and have fun.

Good health doesn’t automatically produce productivity, but it prepares you for it. You can’t control all the factors contributing to good health, but you can control most of them.

The Big Five (sleep, eating well, hydration, exercise and mental health) are inextricably interrelated: sleep impacts weight as well as mental health, as do exercise and good diet; too much weight from poor diet and lack of exercise can contribute to self-esteem issues; happiness can convince you to take better care of yourself … you get the picture. Strive to get each of these factors under control, and your productivity will scale upward.

Working hard and doing your job well are important. That said, you shouldn’t live to work. Instead, you need to regain control of your productivity so you can get out of the office on time — not only to recharge and recapture your mental edge but also to devote time to the people you care about and who care about you.

These days, it’s not enough for an executive to do the right things; he or she has to be superbly efficient, too. As executives, we must manage this intersection of efficiency and effectiveness carefully to ensure we do the right things right, wasting as little time as possible in the process

[southeastasianists]

On a muggy Friday afternoon, Edmund Wee is spinning a yarn in an office unit tucked away in one of many industrial parks scattered across Singapore’s heartlands. The founder of local publishing house Epigram Books is adamant that a new wave of disgruntled Singaporeans are turning their hand to writing novels to voice their frustrations at the order of the day.

“The person that is totally happy and just wants to relax will never write,” he says from atop a high stool, his face illuminated by piercing LED lights that hang from an exposed ceiling. “As a whole, you can say Singapore is part of the first world, but there is a lot of dissatisfaction here – just like in the West with Brexit and Trump… So now you have people who want to be full-time writers – and I think, in the future, even more people will write.”

In the minds of the local literati at least, Singapore is in the throes of a literary renaissance – one that can be traced back to the late 1990s, when people realised fewer and fewer pupils were studying literature, according to Angelia Poon, an associate professor of English literature at Singapore’s National Institute of Education.

“Once the problem was highlighted, there was a reaction not only from teachers, but also curriculum planners in the Ministry of Education, writers themselves and other people who loved literature and felt that this was something that needed to be addressed,” she says. “The scene now is quite vibrant: there’s quite a number of people writing and new works coming out every year.”

Wee, who is in his late 60s but could easily be 20 years younger, is one of the “people who love literature” to whom Poon is referring. A former journalist and designer who spent 12 years at the state-owned Singapore newspaper the Straits Times, Wee established Epigram Books in 2011 when his design business began slowing down. Four years later, he set up an annual fiction prize for Singaporean novelists to encourage interest in the form, awarding 25,000 Singapore dollars (USD18,375) to the winner.

Out of the 72 entries received in the first year, four were shortlisted and published. All four sold out their initial run of 1,000 copies within two or three months, a milestone that normally takes bestsellers a year to reach in Singapore, according to Wee.

“Until recently, the Singapore novel was a rare thing. That has changed,” says Peter Schoppert, president of the Singapore Book Publishers Association. “Epigram’s Fiction Prize has given the form a big boost, and other publishers have stepped up their game as well.” However, while more Singaporeans are writing books, few read them.

A 2015 survey by the country’s National Arts Council (NAC) found that only 44% of Singaporeans had read at least one literary book during the past year and that only one in four Singaporeans had read literary books by Singaporean writers, a deeply entrenched discriminatory attitude that falls on the shoulders of multiple parties, according to Wee.

“For many years, it has been in Singaporeans’ minds that foreign books are better and local books not so good,” he says. “I blame everybody. I blame the schools because literature is not compulsory. I blame the bookshops. I blame the press because they still want to interview famous international authors instead of local authors.”

But Wee has a plan. Earlier this year, to get more Singaporeans reading books written by local authors, he opened up a shop in the UK. It sounds paradoxical but, in Wee’s eyes, it isn’t. Only books that are published in the UK are eligible for the Man Booker Prize – the world’s most celebrated literary award – and Wee believes that a Singaporean winning the prize may be all it takes to stop Singaporeans from overlooking local writers.

“I’ve been running this company now for six years. I’ve reached practically the bottom of my pocket. I’ve really got no money left,” Wee says. “The last throw of the dice is opening in London. If London flops, then I think it’s not going to work.”

Economics also played its part in Wee’s decision to establish a UK imprint. While Singapore’s population is a little over five million, and not all of its citizens speak English as a first language, the UK is home to more than 65 million potential customers. And that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the advantages enjoyed by Western publishers, according to Schoppert.

For one, Singapore allows parallel imports, which means that if a Singaporean publisher has sold the rights for a local title to an overseas publisher, the overseas edition may find its way back to Singapore and compete with the original edition. Given the larger economies of scale they enjoy, overseas publishers can actually afford to undercut their local counterparts.

To date, Wee’s UK imprint has published six books, with two more scheduled for release later this month. While he has only sold 100 copies of each title to UK bookstores so far, he remains “convinced” that his UK venture will be a success and hopes that his quixotic quest for Booker recognition will bear fruit. “A Singaporean novel doesn’t even have to win the Booker prize, but at least get shortlisted, mentioned in the same breath,” says Wee. “I hope that if that happened, that would be a turning point for people to see that Singaporean books aren’t that bad at all.”

[thehikingnerd]

Day 111.

I woke up and got off to a bit of a rough start.  My newly purchased wall charger, not having worked overnight, had left my phone dead. It was always a real bummer to wake up and find that your phone or battery pack hadn’t charged right before you are planning to head out.  It is a major inconvenience and in some cases on the trail could even put you in a tight spot where you might even need to stay an extra day to recharge your device since it was your maps and communication and emergency everything. Fortunately, this was not a perilous section of trail we were looking at, and Butt’rs also had a phone.  So it wasn’t the end of the world, but I let it charge on a borrowed charger while we finished getting ready and just was annoyed since I had just bought a new charger that wasn’t going to work for me. Also, a few days earlier my glasses had a screw come loose and one of the arms wasn’t functional.  So, being in a home I thought to ask Deidra if she had a tiny screw driver.  She did, and I was ultimately successful in fixing my glasses, but it was a long and very frustrating task to complete, near blindly working with just small parts. Finally, we were packed up and ready to head out; complete with supplies and clean laundry.  We said our good-byes and back off down the road we went.  It was, unfortunately, too far down the road before I realized that through all the conversation and catching up and preparations, I had forgotten to get even a single picture with them before leaving. I could have kicked myself for forgetting to do so, but there was no going back by that point, especially with my ankle still in such bad condition.  We had breakfast at Jimmy John’s (I generally avoid the place, but you don’t have as many choices when you are relegated to 2 miles per hour and have to walk everywhere) and then passed by a little drive thru/walk up coffee place.  We talked to the workers for a second and they told us they were running a promotion where if it was our first time as a customer there, we could get a free drink. So we each got a large iced mocha and left a nice tip before continuing down the road.  We passed by a second hand store and I glanced in real quick hoping to see a used scooter: the kind that people with broken legs use to get a round.  My ankle was in such bad shape that I wanted to buy a used one for the road walking we had ahead for the next few days. I debated whether this was cheating, but to be honest, if I had found one, I wouldn’t have cared. My ankle hurt badly enough that I didn’t want to continue, but didn’t have any other choice.  Time (overall trail-wise) was already running short at this point and we had to push on.  At some point we started to see dusty cars rolling past, going southbound on the road. I smiled. I knew what they were. They were burners returning from their week at Burning Man.  I remembered that before starting, I had delusions of maybe taking a week long break from the trail and going back to Burning Man for the 3rd time if I were ahead of schedule.  Well, I certainly was not ahead of schedule and I knew I wouldn’t be able to attend long before the festival was to start.  But it was fun to see everyone rolling back into town in their playa covered vehicles and to know that they had just had one hell of a week. As we walked, it was always fun to entertain ourselves with all of the bizarre things we found by the side of the road.  On this day I had found a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses and an American flag. I felt free and happy even if I was walking along a roadside with cars flying past, but it was a good feeling overall. So, I wore both that day as I walked down the road.  I realized that we were quickly approaching was should have been the 2000 mile marker on the trail.  A milestone I had been looking forward to since the half-way point in California. Since there wasn’t a marker on the side of the road outside of Bend, we were forced to improvise and fashion one of our own.  I made two actually: one I just drew in the dirt with really big numbers with a stick and we both took pictures for one another to remember to occasion, and another, smaller one made from metal and washers I had found along the side of the road which just seemed so appropriate that day. At some point, we passed by and stopped in at a place called Maragas Winery to cool off and get a cold drink before pressing on.  We even saw a weight station and walked on the scale as we went and it read fairly accurately I thought with me and my pack coming in at around 200lbs. Finally, at just before 9pm, we made our way to our next town called Madras and found a Burger King that was about to close. We managed to get a meal just in time.  It was getting late and we needed to figure out our plans for the night.  We stopped into a small motel to ask the price for the cheapest room for a night. We both wanted to be conservative with our money and decided if it were around $50, we would go for it and split the room.  But the cheapest we could get was more than that and we walked on.  Just up the way was a city park and we figured we might give it a try.  I mean what you have to realize is that it takes thousands upon thousands of dollars to buy your food, new equipment, and hotels along the way on the PCT, and the vast majority of people have a fairly tight budget and you are budgeting on about a hotel room only once every week or so and saving by sleeping in your tent most nights.  Since we were on a major detour, going through towns that had no place for us to camp, we didn’t have any real options other than getting hotel rooms. But if we did that every night we would blow through a months’ worth of hotel budget in a few days and not really need all of those comforts each night.  So… yeah… we decided to sleep in the town park.  It scared us because we didn’t know if it was legal or if anyone like the police or even random other people would attempt to harm or maybe even rob us, we just didn’t know with neither of us ever having to sleep in a town park before.  By all accounts at this point we felt like we were homeless and were being perceived as such by people in these towns.  So, we saw a pavilion type shelter and set up to cowboy camp under it.  I was excited to even find an electrical outlet there too, and decided to sleep next to it while my phone charged and hoped that I would hear and wake up if anyone tried to steal my phone while I was asleep. Having gone to meet Angie in Portland for that week off, I had drank a 40 from a brown paper bag behind a dumpster at a train station… I thought that would have been the peak of my hobo experience on the trail, but this was a whole ‘nother level here. I kept thinking we are no longer going “nobo”, but were instead now officially going “hobo” on the PCT, lol.  But it was what it was and we set up and went to sleep.  At some point I heard noise and felt something and woke up.  Butt’rs and I had both picked spots that were now getting hit with sprinklers.  I rotated to miss most of the water and only was barely getting some spray, enough that I could ignore and go back to sleep, you really get used to the elements and don’t let things get in the way of your ever-so-crucial sleep.  I had noticed also that in the night we had a 3rd homeless person come up and sleep under the same sheltered area, but he was obviously more experienced than us as he’d chosen the perfect spot that avoided all the sprinklers.   Butt’rs also relocated a bit and promptly went back to sleep.

[kgyifan-blog]

As a soldier, it is not that little to nothing scares you. Your body is simply prepared for the worst, trained to highlight the signs of danger and see something to question in a situation the moment it gives you a reason not to trust anything or anyone. They prepare you for their version of the ‘worst’. But they never prepare your mind for what happens after. 

Yifan feels the heavy weight of a handshake from Benjamin Dunstone.

“You’re just as reserved as you were when you were a child, Kris.”

“I’ve only inherited the best traits from my father.”

Everyone laughs, and he feels his father’s hand on his shoulder, squeezing. He’s winning approval. Usually Yifan opts out on these events-- it’s not even a milestone affair for Kingsman, and most of the European acquaintances thrive in his father’s network. Yifan knows he’s being groomed to take over that legacy. He’s literally avoided that fact for years and become a workaholic in the process.

His fiance had not accompanied them to the UK, and Yifan tries to ignore the bristling irritation beneath his skin. His knuckles are still slightly bruised, a fact one of Dunstone’s daughters takes notice of. Her thumb runs over the hill of his knuckle, and she comments on how stiff he seems when she gets close.

Lips part, but no sound comes out. No words of his ‘fiance’ or life in Seoul. The ground shakes beneath his feet. Affiliated guests are bewildered, but trained Kingsman agents act immediately. Yifan cradles the girl in front of him, ducking beneath the window before glass shatters and his ears are blown out by the sound of the second explosion.

--

One month prior.

“His cancer is in remission.”

Yifan wrung hands together, as if trying to find an emotion he’s supposed to feel. He waited for relief to sink throughout his body. Instead he’s greeted with a rush of overthinking.

“I’ve never seen such a stiff reaction to this type of news before.”

Yifan breathed out on a laugh. If it was anyone but the family doctor, he would have snapped.

“You can argue all you want, I know you love your sister more. You were shaking like a leaf during her updates.” Dr. Lee shuffled through several papers, and offered one to Yifan. “It must come as a shock, considering how your father’s condition took over his life for the last five years. And yours, in a way.”

Yifan glanced over the report confirming his father’s health, stiff shoulders sinking as if his whole body released a held breath.

“Do you want me to cry, Dr. Lee?”

“No.” Keunsuk shook his head, slipping the report out of Yifan’s hands again. They offered him a smile, even if it appeared heavy. “I want you stop feeling so responsible for everyone around you.”

Then, they slapped his knee with the manila folder, forcing the tension out of Yifan’s expression.

“Stress kills, you know.”

--

He knows how to react in high stress situations. Fearing for himself is the last priority. He had carried Dunstone’s daughter out of the building, saved by nothing but quick reflexes and being in the right place at the wrong time. Yifan always had been teased for lingering near exits at large events, eyes always trained on ‘escape’. Humor is lost now that he is one of few surviving.

Paramedics check him despite his protest, flashing a light into his eyes.

“You have a concussion, sir. Please stay still.”

“A concussion...” It doesn’t make sense to Yifan in that moment, who can walk fine, speak well enough to refuse medical assistance. “There’s people inside.” His father is still inside. “I’m fine,” he assures, even as they wipe over a stream of blood sinking from his hairline down to his cheek. “I’m fine--”

When he sees the entire building swallowed up in smoke and fire, Yifan jumps up only to be restrained again.

“You’re experiencing shock.”

Yifan laughs, but the noise catches in his throat. His breathing is shallow, one hand over his chest. He breathes deeply through his nose and out through his mouth.

Panic attacks are common for those who suffer from ptsd. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Yifan.

“There’s people inside.” The weight in his chest grows heavier, and he closes eyes. My dad is inside.

The single thing that calms him down is the sound of a ringtone. It’s a noise he’s long since associated with one person.

Yifan lifts his phone in a position so she can see his hands and face, all lingering panic and tension leaving his expression.

Meimei. He greets her, making sure she sees his hand signs even when he talks. His sister happily greets him, rambling about the events of her day. Yifan’s smile is small, but there. The moment she notices his surroundings is when worry intrudes her voice, pulling lips into frown and eyes flashing panic. “Yifan-- where are you? What’s happening?” He can hear his mother’s voice in the background. “I’m scared. Mom says something really bad happened-- Yifan?”

Where is dad?

--

“Your father was an invaluable member of Kingsman. Irreplaceable.”

Cuts are still fresh enough to be noticeable on his face, palm of his hands littered with healing scratches. It’s the only visible sign of the week’s earlier events. His hands form into fists at his sides until nails dig into skin. He thinks of the circumstances surrounding his father that earned him a place within Kingsman to begin with. Someone inside the organization had questioned his father’s agenda from the beginning.

Just like he always had.

“Thank you, sir.”

Yifan feels apart from the situation, as if he is not standing in front of one of Kingsman’s most accomplished knights.

“What is also invaluable is your personal account of the attack.”

Yifan bites the inside of his cheek.

“Of course, sir,” he agrees, noticing the shift in his tone. Unfortunately, so does his superior.

“I’ve been told you’re prepared to return to field work as soon as possible.” There’s a lingering question underneath the statement, waiting for Yifan to offer a contest. He’s surprised into silence, knowing how his first conversation with Xiangyu had gone. To be encouraged for field work after that was shocking, and he almost trips on his words.

“Yes, sir.” He clears his throat. “I was given medical clearance as of yesterday.”

Their arms cross. Yifan remains still, and meets their eyes.

“We need your full report as soon as you can give it. This is beyond our own division now. Distractions of any kind could lead to unnecessary casuality on a worldwide scale.”

Yifan’s fists loosen immediately.

“I understand.”

His superior turns away, signaling for Yifan to leave.

“It’s best that you do.”

--

Shanghai, China.

January 22, 2004.

Yifan is 14 years old, sitting alone and staring down at the floor of Beijing’s international airport. It’s not the floor he’s really staring at, but the thoughts that cloud his vision until he sees the tips of black shoes.

“Wu Yifan.”

He looks up. A stern looking man stands in front of Yifan. Graying hair sticks out to him, along with the harsh lines in their forehead.

“You’re tall.” The man doesn’t laugh, seeming more baffled by Yifan’s first words than amused. “Mom always said you were as short as your promises, but I think that’s because she was mad.”

The man-- his father-- yifan has to get used to that word. His father takes Yifan’s duffle bag. He feels a hand on his face, not moving when his father tilts his chin up.

“Did anyone ice that black eye?” Yifan is quiet, standing up and shoving his hands into his pockets before he walks ahead. “The first thing I’m going to teach you is how to defend yourself.”

Yifan stops, struggling to take his bag from the man-- father-- it hangs comically large next to his small wiry frame.

“I wanna’ learn how to fight.” He’s particularly adamant about carrying his own bag and the statement. Enough so that his father actually smiles just for a second. Yifan nearly doesn’t think he saw the expression considering how fast it disappears.

“You want to know how to properly defend yourself.” He allows Yifan to carry his own bag, giving up on his stubborn son. “Anyone can fight, like a dog backed into a corner. You’re not a dog, are you?”

Yifan frowns, quiet as he thinks.

“You were crying.”

Yifan’s frown deepens, and he decides he really doesn’t like this man.

“I wasn’t.”

His father stops outside a fancy black car. At least it’s fancy to a kid who grew up in a one-room apartment in downtown Shanghai. Yifan refuses to give up his bag to an unfamiliar man in a grey suit. His father waves a hand, and they return to the driver’s side.

“So you’re a troublemaker and a liar?”

Yifan bristles, dropping his bag purposefully on his father’s feet. His mouth opens to say a lot of things--

You weren’t there.

You left us.

You can’t just come back into my life like this.

But all that comes out is silence, and his own frustrated tears. His father’s hands falls on his shoulders.

“Let yourself feel this now.” His father’s face is stern, and cold. “So your emotions do not control your future.”

Let yourself cry.

--

History is not stationary in the place time left it or merciless to the ones that forget the significance of learning from mistakes. History remains dormant until people forget. Vengeful and full of its true details

His father was killed during the explosions of October 8th.

Yifan returns home with this news, and comforts his sister and mother. He locks his own emotions inside and returns to work.

They teach you how to hold a gun and how to save a life, but they never prepare you for the moment you find yourself alone in your apartment. They do not prepare you for the moment your chest feels as if it might explode and you clutch your head between hands like you want to crush your skull. If only to not think about what could have been done.

The tears never come. He does not want to feel this moment.