#now i just need to reach the impossible goal of getting it signed by jeff and wings :_;

[deadmanwalkingfanclub]

Finally got the poster up!

[bumbershots]

A CERTAIN ROMANCE

CHAPTER ONE: JUEVES

Author’s note: Hello! I’ve decided to give it a go, this is my first chaptered fic in this website. This story just occurred to me a while ago and I’ve tried my best to make some sense out of the concept which honestly is forever changing on my mind. I hope you don’t find many grammar mistakes, if you do please let me know. Enjoy! (:

Story masterlist ** Word count: 2.3K ** 

It's been years since Harry last had to use the tube, but it's not as hard as he thinks, buying the ticket was fairly simple and soon enough he was sitting on the train comfortably. The northern line wasn't too busy, no delays were announced through the speakers, his journey to Ladbroke Grove station was going to last around thirty six minutes. He suddenly can't remember how long the ride would be on a car. Maybe it's time to start using the London Underground a bit more, contributing to saving the planet, lessen his carbon footprint. With all the aeroplanes he takes a year, he should use it from now onto the rest of his life, he thinks with a bit of guilt.

He changes to the Hammersmith and city line with ease, passing by lots of people, no one truly pays attention to him. The school girls that would usually come up to him and ask for a picture are too busy gossiping among themselves, the grown up adults that are more fond of his solo work are too immersed into their own thoughts about annoying bosses. Harry likes to blend into the crowd that's gathered now at the station and awaits for the train. In the eyes of the others, he's just another guy patiently waiting for the train to hop on and get to his destination. Even though he was on his way to meet with the team that will take care of his house renovation, a property valued approximately on £4.175 million.

The train arrives and he follows the multitude that pile into the wagon, he isn't lucky to find a seat this time but doesn't mind as he finds a good spot to lean against, the doors close just as he skips the ABBA song he doesn't feel like listening at the moment and settles for Hanson instead. He bops his head along the tune before slipping back the mobile in his pocket, eyes traveling along the passengers' faces, trying to guess what they're up to.

A group of lads wearing the Tottenham jersey discuss the latest game, one of them praising Kane's goal and regretting him missing the next match. Harry knows a thing or two about football, he even plays it regularly with his friends not so far away from his home, but he doesn't keep up with Manchester United, perhaps he can do that from now on he thinks before letting his gaze fall upon the pack getting down on Baker Street and the few ones hopping on. Most of them are tourists chatting about the Sherlock Holmes museum, the singer smiles, remembering the first time he visited it with his family, many years ago. Sometimes he longs for those days to be back, so he can do the typical touristy things with the people he loves the most once in a while or have a date without a good amount of lenses focused on his every move.

Not that he regrets being a well known musician, actor, model. It comes with a lot of perks. But he's just moving on from a breakup that might have been his fault. He's a workaholic for sure, even though he's supposed to be taking it easy, his mind can't help but keep throwing song ideas for the next album. That is why Jeff suggested the home renovation, knowing that the project will keep him busy for about three months, maybe more if the contractors up sell their ideas.

Harry makes his way out of the station in one piece and without being spotted, he checks the address again on his phone, confirming the place where the meeting will be held is within walking distance and makes his way before choosing a Pink Floyd song for the six minute walk. He pulls his coat tighter around him, relishing in the forever changing weather of the city, this time he will stay and enjoy it in full, maybe even delight in the autumn too, have his mum over for a couple of weeks, maybe he'll even stay longer and take her to the ice rink.

Just as Harry plots on where to go when his favourite person pays him a visit, he reaches the private front garden off a beautiful car-free garden square. He remembers to text Jack, who doesn't take long to appear in the distance and unlock the gate for his friend.

"You're impossibly early mate," the man greets with an amused chuckle.

"Sorry, had to take the tube because of what you said about car-free development, probably miscalculated the time." Harry admits sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck as Jack leads the way through the garden. "Is this where they filmed Notting Hill?" He wonders with another look around.

"Couple of scenes that didn't make the cut, our neighbour Mrs. Black will tell you all about it, if you happen to run into her around Hugh Grant's birthday." Harry laughs as they reach a private entrance with a well-maintained front garden adorning the forepart of the property, he follows Jack inside the home where a strong coffee scent greets them both.

The musician quickly scans the large open plan kitchen/reception room with large glass sliding patio doors to a delightful independent garden where a round table is surrounded by four mismatching chairs. He doesn't remember Jack's old place, but it certainly didn't look as the dream home they're standing in right now.

"Thanks for agreeing to do the meeting here mate," Harry's words are sincere his companion can tell, he tries to shove it off as if it's nothing, handing him the mug with coffee while he pours another one for himself, "I know it can be a handful, the NDAs too." Now he's almost blushing.

"We should be thanking you H, work from home for the next couple of months, my dream come true." Jack manages to make him laugh and feel at ease again, just before the steps of a third party come from the stairs and grow closer towards them. "Just in time, Harry this is Fernando Gonzalez, my housemate and architect of the team." He introduces the tall man to his friend and watches them shake each other's hand, "Fernando this is our client, Harry Styles."

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Styles," his voice is soft and melodic, like an aerophone instrument.

"Please call me H, all my friends do," the musician knows this is business, but he wants to have fun too, like Jeff suggested. And the guy looks way too young to be calling him Mister Styles.

"I warned you Fer, he likes to keep it easy, breezy." Jack says motioning both of them to follow his lead and sit down in their dining table that is covered with house design magazines, floor plans of Harry's home and a couple of what the pop star assumes are sketch notebooks. "Alright, tell us about your vision for this project." In all honesty, Harry doesn't know how to answer that.

He fights the urge to say that he had purchased the property knowing that not much is needed to be done to the décor. The style and the flow of the house is already lovely. After a quick glance at the plan he thinks that maybe, more room is needed and, most importantly, a new kitchen-dining-living space that would be grand enough to entertain in, but cosy enough to be the central 'hub' of his home.

"The windows, for starters, have to be replaced." He begins with a tone so confident that the pair before him don't suspect he's improvising the whole thing. "New bathrooms, perhaps from Lusso Stone, demolish an existing rear extension from the top and design and build an entirely new expansive ultra-modern one, like the one at Lou's home." Jack nods understanding what he means, "I also want a kitchen diner extension, pink granite worktops, if possible." Harry finishes before grabbing one of the magazines and starts flipping pages just to look busy.

The whole project can take six months, they let him know, through the summer and autumn. He's elated at achieving double the time he hoped for in the beginning.

"We'll send the paperwork to your team and see you next week to sign it once they approve it," Jack concludes the meeting as they all finish their coffee. "Are you busy on the nineteenth?" His friend's voice is warmer now that he's not on business mode, it makes Harry smile.

"I don't think I am, why?"

"It's Freddie's birthday, you should come, catch up with the lads," Harry nods while thinking about it, a bit unsure because it has been a while since he's seen the rest of the pack, he's not sure they'll welcome him just like that. "They're always asking about you, could be like old times, lads doing laddy stuff," the green eyed musician chuckles at that, not sure if he wants to go back to those activities of their youth.

"Sure I'll go, text me the address a few days before," his friend nods in approval to his request, "I better get going, I have to pick up my sister for dinner, see you both next week." The youngest nods and shakes Harry's hand before Jack leads the way out the house and square. The sun is setting now and the sky is a mix of pink and purple hues just as the two men bid their goodbyes until they meet again in a week's time.

Harry scolds himself for buying a one way ticket earlier instead of sorting out an Oyster card, he'll do that next time, he thinks before stepping into the train and finding a seat in the middle section of it. Led Zeppelin is a good soundtrack for his journey back home, for some reason he is craving the powerful, noisy, speedy rebellion that came with the band's songs, he loved to get so lost in the music that whatever activity he did came in second, every single time. Which is why he almost didn't get off at the King's cross stop, he hurried out of the vehicle, laughing to himself for being so immersed into the music.

The way back to the northern line was now familiar, but not as busy, he decided not to walk too fast after confirming that he had enough time to go home and take a shower before going over to Gemma's. Waiting at the platform he decides to change his playlist, again. Just as he's about to settle for Wings, out of the corner of his eye he spies what the person next to him is listening to and he stops from hitting play on his own device.

The who.

It's been ages since he heard them, three years if he is being honest. The train arrives and the girl next to him puts her phone in her coat pocket as she prepares to board the wagon, Harry does the same, but instead of training his eyes on the descending passengers, he lets them focus on her. She's wearing a nice burgundy coat, a black newsboy cap, high-waisted jeans with a blue polka dot blouse tucked underneath them. She's much shorter than he is, probably about Helene's height, he thinks as they make their way inside.

Without meaning to, he follows her and leans on the wall, across from her. She doesn't seem to notice how his stare is burning holes into her face, he's itching to ask her where did she buy the red boots she's wearing. Harry knows the moment he speaks to her, it will all go to shit. Some of the school girls sitting nearby might recognise his voice, his dimple could pop out to play and give him away too. She might also think he's a creep and kick him in the shin, leaving a nasty bruise that would heal in about a week, unlike the invisible one in his ego.

"Are you telling me, you developed a ten feet tall crush on someone you saw on the tube?" Gemma asks later that night, her fork full of linguine was stopped mid-air, making her brother roll his eyes but nod bashfully. "I'm speechless." The fork resumes its trajectory and she chews her pasta slowly.

"It happens to everyone, only because you both know that there's almost no chance to see each other again." Harry shrugs and bites a piece of bread, still feeling weird about the situation.

"Did she make eyes at you?"

"What?" He's completely taken off guard by his sister's question, his northern accent coming out and making him drop the 't' at the end.

"Yes, did you flirt with each other making eyes," Gemma's eyelashes flutter as if she was a Disney princess meeting her love interest for the first time, Harry shakes his head in denial, "what was it then?"

"I don't know! It was weird, couldn't take my eyes off of her but... she didn't even notice, I sound like a dirty man," he does, his sister agrees but the pink spots on his cheekbones tell a different story.

"I once had a crush like that, with a cashier at Waitrose," she remembers before sipping her wine, "he was nice to look at, one day he wasn't there anymore, just like that." Gemma sighed and took her younger sibling's hand on hers before adding. "If our lives were a Nicholas Sparks novel, perhaps we would be getting ready to have a date with those lovely people but..." Harry laughed and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"How's the sunnies collaboration going?" He asked before taking the last of his gnocchi. Listening to his sister talk about things that she enjoyed was the highlight of his days, he managed to push his silly underground crush to the back of his mind.

But there was the truth of what Harry couldn't see, or say. He'd probably like to have a shot with a girl like that and if Gemma could only see her, she would agree. Agree that there might be a story around there.

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Let me know if you like the story! *** Join the taglist!

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Next chapter

[writers-hes]

falling -- sequel to cherry

based on a request by anon ! i decided to make a sequel / prequel thing for cherry and this fic will definitely be confusing with the time jumps and etc ! the story takes place in harry’s point of view, three months after you broke up. the dashes will help as guide. 

please don’t forget to leave a feedback! 

if you haven’t read cherry yet, you can read it here.  if you want to be a part of my taglist, like/reblog this post. 

don’t forget that requests are open! this may be the final instalment to the cherry universe but i can make a third instalment if i get enough requests. 

thank you so much and enjoy !

WARNING: unedited + cussing + mentions of alcohol

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it’s been three months since Harry decided to break things off with you. It was a mutual decision but it still hurt knowing that you could be out there, with a new man. That was always you—trying to use the remainder of the love that you had for someone on someone else. He regretted it and he wanted you back. He wanted nothing more but for you to call him, telling him you wanted he back and if you did—if the universe permitted it, if you called, he would go to you, in france and knock on your door with his knees on the floor. 

he never believed in signs but he was asking for one now—he was so fucking desperate. he missed you and loved you. if it was possible, his love grew more and more each day even if you were gone. it was impossible to think that you would love him more. the thought of you with someone else under the sheets, you kissing somebody else that wasn’t him, sent him into overdrive. he’s been writing songs about you since you called things off and it’s too much—he would always go to the studio in tears and leave in tears. he was so hurt, so fucking hurt. he ruffled his hair. he was currently in his london home, a place where you once were. his living room was reeking of alcohol and his back hurt from staying idle on his sofa the whole day. he just got back from shang ri-la malibu. jeff and mitch told him to take a break and he agreed.

he opened his phone and opened his messages app. he scrolled until he found your name, clicking on it and reading the unsent text message he’s been dying to send you. he can’t, though. you seemed to be looking at your best, your friends posting photos of you. your smile was still beautiful, it will always be.

hello. i thought of you today but i’ve been think about you everyday and will probably do so till i die. 

i just got back home here in london and i noticed that your things are here anymore. it seems like it’s just me, harry all alone again. the room is barren of you ever being here. i tried to smell the bedsheets in hopes to smell you but there wasn’t any. i also rummaged through my closet, wanting to find one of your old shirts that i could put over your favourite pillow just to feel you here but i didn’t find any. the only proof that you were here was your letter to me and i’m still hurt. still hung up over you, still drowning my senses in alcohol. 

i love how you made sure i wasn’t home when you packed your bags. anyway, the keys to my house will still be where you know it was, under the welcome mat, so you know that you’re always welcome here. 

tears cascaded from his eyes and he couldn’t stop sobbing. should he press send and wait for you to call back? was it worth the risk? was it worth the humiliation if you decided not to call? he had to take a breather first. he’s drunk and all he wanted was for you to scold him about the dangers of alcohol poisoning. all he wanted in that moment was for you to give him a glass of water and light up your favourite lavender candle so he could slowly drift off to sleep but he couldn’t even fucking find the candle. you took it with him and he wishes to be sober so he could remember that particular lavender scent that you loved dearly. 

he hated you, suddenly. how dare you compare him to adrien? how could he ever compare? you told him you loved him but still managed to tell him you loved adrien too? was this all a joke to you? he drifted to sleep, embraced by the brown liquor on the coffee table. he just wanted you back, was that too much to ask? 

he wasn’t thinking clearly the next day. the sunlight that streamed through his window was too bright. there was a pounding in his head and he knows that if you were here with him, you’d fix him your favourite hangover breakfast. his shoulders slumped, if there was a way for it to be even more slumped. your favourites became his favourites and his favourites became yours. why couldn’t you be where he was? all he wanted that morning was your açai bowl but he couldn’t have that because you weren’t there to freeze the bananas. he was so dependent on you and it was killing him knowing that you would never be in his arms again. tears running down his face he decided he wanted to go to versailles and ask for your forgiveness. do you still love him even after three months? 

———

it was the day after and he was in versailles, staying at a hotel near your apartment. he could still remember your floor and your room number. he just had to make sure that you were home. he was tired and dull from the flight but knowing that you’d be with him in a few hours was enough for him. the excitement and the anxiety that courses through his veins was more powerful than coffee. how have you been? did you cut your hair? did you change your hair colour? did you change the way you dress or do you still dress the way harry does? do you still like your coffee sweet and milky? what about your tea? do you still like it with a slice of lemon and a teaspoon full of honey? 

as he was unlocking his phone, he noticed a huge amount of notifications that bombarded his phone. it was usually like this but he had more than usual and he didn’t post anything for three months. so what was this? he decided to check it out, only to see pictures of you with another man. your lips was touching his lips and for a moment, harry was dumbfounded? did you really move on that fast? 

HARRY STYLES’S EX-GIRLFRIEND HAS MOVED ON! 

words that made him see red. words that he didn’t know was coming so quickly. did you even love him? he opened his imessage app and erased the draft that he was about to send you last night? god, he couldn’t believe he was about to profess his love for you last night while you were probably out and about fucking another man. 

mon bébé: Hey, y/n. Where are you love?

lovie: hi im at my apartment right now.. why?

mon bébé: Do you think I could come over? I need someone to talk to. 

lovie: what??

mon bébé: I’m here in Versailles. Please. 

lovie: okay sure…i’ll wait for you. 

mon bébé: Okay. I love you. 

his heart ached when you didn’t reply to his message. he immediately dressed himself in your favourite shirt of his—a shirt that you got him while you were studying abroad for an exchange student program. he was hoping that maybe, by seeing a shirt that you got him, you’d break up with your beau and have him back instead. he was hurt, angry, and perhaps, it was pride that was making him get out of the hotel and go to you. he wanted to hurt you the way you hurt him and as he arrived at your door in less than an hour later, hurting you was his only goal. 

he knocked on your door three times and lo and behold, there was you. you smiled at him and opened the door wider. he went inside, removing his shoes before entering your apartment. he observed that there were no changes around the place but he did feel out of place.

“heard you moved on, huh?” he asked. you were shocked. “wha—“

“i saw the pictures, y/n,” “harry, if you’re here to shit on my decisions…stop it, please,” you whispered. you didn’t want to let him know this way.

“no, no…it’s only been three months! who is he? how did you two meet?” he asked you. he was fuming. how could you move on so quickly?

“harry, stop—“

“i. want. to. know.” he breathed. there was finality in his voice and you couldn’t help but mutter his name. “vincent? shit name, yeah?” he asked. 

“harry, please. stop it,” you begged. he wasn’t listening and perhaps you deserved this. perhaps he was right but you needed someone and vincent just managed to be there for you. 

“remember when…remember when you told me you loved me, y/n? was that even true? how can you move on so quickly? please…please tell me. tell me how you did it because i’d love to do it, too,” he was crumbling in front of you and you reached out to him. he scoffed and your attempt and backed away. 

“it was true, harry. i still love you—always have, always will but…” “but what? can’t we fix what we had? i miss it, lovie. i miss you. do you call him bébé too? please, don’t do this to me, please.” he cried. “there’s no stopping us now. i’m not on tour anymore and i’m willing to be better for you…” “i’m with him, harry. he…asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday and i said yes,” you whispered. he looked at you so fast you were afraid he was about to get a whiplash. tears were coming out from both of your eyes and you were so close to opening that stupid fucking phone and breaking things off with vincent but it was unfair for him. 

“break up with him.” he said. you looked at him with a gaping mouth. how could he just ask that of you? the break was a mutual decision but he was the one who insisted it. 

“harry—“

“break up with him, y/n or i’ll—“

“what, harry? what will you do?”

“i’ll hate you,” he looked down at his hands, ashamed of what he even said. he was hurt and he could tell that you were torn and that you were hurting. a sadistic part of him loved it. he wanted to hug you and say that he was sorry and that he didn’t mean it but peeking through his long hair, seeing that you were closing and opening your mouth like that, he loved it. he liked it. 

“you—you don’t mean that, harry. please tell me you don’t hate me, please.” you begged. harry heard it and you heard it too. it was obvious that you were choosing vincent over him. 

“i’ll see myself out, then,” he smiled sadly. he got up from where he was sitting and you immediately stood up.

“harry, please. don’t leave like this. please, don’t hate me…i still love you,” you begged. you loved him but you couldn’t be with him right now. 

“that’s the fucking thing, y/n!” he fumed. “you tell me you love me and that you’ll be there for me whenever i needed you but where were you? i was drunk in london last night trying to figure out the brand of your candles just so i could feel closer to you. i booked a flight here in versailles just to see you and beg for you to come back but you left me with that fucking letter. that’s all there is. you didn’t leave anything for me to remember you by. i wanted to have your shirt last night so i can put it over your pillow so i could pretend that you were still there, with me, under the sheets. you—let go of us so easily,” he sobbed. he was tugging on his hair and you reached for it. touching his hands ever so slightly but he pushed you away. “don’t.” he warned. “i hate you so much…so, so much,” he cried. he loved you but he had to convince himself otherwise. it would make all of this easier. 

“we can still be friends, harry.” you offered. tears were running down on your face and you wiped them. 

“i can’t…hurt myself like that, y/n. i’m leaving the hotel tomorrow at 9 a.m. you can come by our place before that if you still want to be with me. until then, i will be waiting.” he mumbled. he walked until he was right in front of you. he cradled your face with his right hand, rings cold against your hot skin. “i love you,” he reminded as he pecked your lips softly for one last time before leaving your room. 

———

harry said that he would be leaving his hotel at 9:00 am to be at your place—a little nook in the busy streets of versailles that served his favourite macarons. he was lying, though. he got up at 6 am and left the hotel at around 7:30 am. it was currently 8 and he was anxiously waiting for you. until what time should he stay? he wouldn’t be leaving france in another two days. he was hoping you’d come back and spend more time with hime but that plan’s down the drain now. he got you your favourite box of macarons and looking at it, he remembered the first time you took him here so vividly. 

———

“ah! i can’t believe you’re here, harry!” you gushed. he had a short break before touring again and he decided to surprise you with some of the souvenirs he got you from his touring. it’s only been two months since you both started dating but you both knew that whatever the feeling was was real. 

“where are you taking me?” he chuckled. you were currently dragging him onto the streets of versailles. he was wearing a mickey mouse sweater and some jeans paired with some old skool sneakers. you loved seeing him off-duty and he knew that. 

“i’m taking you to my favourite place in all of france!” you exclaimed. he smiled at you and he knew in that moment that he loved you. you walked around for a few minutes until you arrived at a lesser-populated area in versailles. you went inside one of the buildings and was immediately greeted by the smell of the concoction made from almond flour, fruits, cream, and chocolate. 

“sit over there, baby. i’ll go get us some food,” you told harry. he nodded and let go of your hand. you watched as he sat somewhere secluded. you went over to the counter and immediately and smiled at the old lady. “bonjour! i would love to get…ah, two cafe au lait and then one tea macaron, cherry macaron, lemon meringue macaron, chocolate macaron, and rose macaron,” the lady nodded and you smiled, taking out some loose cash from your messy purse. a few minutes after and the lady gives you your order. you smiled at her and mumbled a “merci” after paying for the bill. you immediately made a beeline towards harry and set down the food and coffee you got him. 

“what’s all this?” he asked, looking at the assortment of deliciousness in front of him. “macarons! when my mother and my father first moved here in versailles from their hometown, she said that my father took her here on their first date. when she found out she was pregnant with my older brother, oliver, my dad got her some macarons here, same when she was pregnant with me. buying macarons here became a family tradition and it’s really special to me and i want to show it to you,” you smiled softly. you watched him smile even wider. “i bought my favourite flavours for you to try! i like dipping it in coffee but it’s just a personal preference,” you told him. 

harry was really happy that time. he remembered how you spent the afternoon just talking about your plans for the future as he ate macarons. 

“harry?” you called. “hm?” he mumbled through his second lemon meringue macaron. “i took you here because i wanted to tell you something,” you blushed. harry was confused. were you about to break up with him? it’s been wonderful between the both of you so he doesn’t get it. why would you break up with him? “w-what is it?” he asked, clearly anxious to hear what you were about to say. “well, you see, the thing is my mother always told me to bring those who are special to me in this place, bébé. and well, uh—i guess what i want to say is that…i love you.” 

“look, y/n, please don’t break up with—what? what did you say?” he started to ramble, realising what you just told him so late. “i said, i love you,” you shyly admitted. you looked at his face to find a big smile creeping up on his face. “really? i was thinking about it on my way here and i—i love you too, y/n.” he declared. it was a nice day after that—a day you won’t forget. 

———

“harry!” you panted. you ran from your apartment to the macaron shop. you hair was sticking on your face. when you arrived, you observed harry—it was a natural thing to do and he looked like he was about to cry. you knew why. this was the place where you first declared your love for each other. harry already ordered your favourite lemon meringue macarons and your usual cafe au lait. you smiled sadly. harry looked up to you and offered you a little wave. you walked slowly to him, scared that he would tell you that he hated you again. 

“y/n,” he breathed as you approached him. you sat in front of him and he hated how much he loved you in that moment. he will love you always. “harry—please, please don’t hate me,” you cried. it was obvious that you were crying since he left you last night. you looked like a mess, dark circles were under your eyes, and your eyes were swollen from crying yourself to sleep. before you got to harry, you cried a little bit more. 

“baby, i could never hate you. i’m sorry if i told you those things last night. but…i just wanted another chance. i want another chance, please.” he told you. the sweetness of the macarons wafting in the air was a stark contrast to how the both of you were feeling. he was torn—he didn’t want to be a selfish prick but he wanted you all to himself. “harry, you know i can’t. not right now,” you told him. it was unfair to vincent and it was unfair to you.

“why not? i know you have vincent right now…but do you really love him more than you love me? i’ve been with you for more than a year….you just met him,” he reasoned. “it was you who wanted things to be over between us, remember?” you reminded him. he was sat in his chair, mouth agape. “i said i was okay with it because it seemed to be the right thing for you, harry. you were so set on it because we were just hurting each other and i get that—i really do but i just started to pick myself up…” you cried. “well, i take it all back! you can move in with me in london so you wouldn’t have to worry about me cheating on you and…and i forgive you, please just—i don’t know how to fix this, y/n. just tell me what to do, please…” he begged. he was crying, too. how could he do this to you? how could he put you in such an unfair situation? you only told him about adrien because he cheated on you. after that night, the both of you were just trying to mince your words, walking on eggshells. 

“we weren’t being honest after that night, harry. when you cheated on me and i said things, i was hurt and so were you. you were guilty and so was i but we tried to make it work because we loved each other,” you told him. you reached out for his hand on the table and he allowed you to caress it, just like how you did. “you still love me right?” he asked. you nodded. “i still love you…that’s enough, isn’t it? i love you and you love me…right? love, please…” “harry, you can’t do this to me. not right now, not like this,” you backed. “love isn’t enough sometimes, harry…”

“fuck, y/n! then what the fuck am i supposed to do? tell me? i miss you everyday and love you always. i’m always missing you and there’s nothing i could do about it. every time i go somewhere to forget you, i see someone who looks just like you and then, i miss you again,” he sobbed, clinging on to your hand—clinging on to you in hopes for you to come back. “i hate you, i hate you so much…” he repeated over and over again. “y—you don’t mean that, harry. take it back,” you begged. you were crumbling in front of him. you knew it wasn’t true but it still hurt. the possibility of harry hating you was too much pain. “i don’t want to be your friend, y/n. i don’t want to hear you talk about how great that fucking prick is. if you can’t be with me then don’t be with me at all,” he scoffed. 

“please, don’t tell me you hate me,” you begged. “you know what, y/n? actually, i do. i hate you so much…” he said, the four letter-word leaving a bad taste in his mouth. he was trying to convince himself that he did, even though he thought of you as the only thing binding his world together. he was so hurt because you were getting better and he was selfish. he wanted you to be as miserable as him. he wanted you to cry over him the way he cried over you. he watched as you fall apart, rubbing your eyes furiously, as you tried your best to stop the tears from falling. he wanted nothing more than to kiss your pain away but he couldn’t. you had vincent and he had no one. he used to have you but how could he have you if you have somebody else now? you stood up from the chair trying your best to run away from harry. how could he be so cruel to you? 

you were making your way through the door hastily without acknowledging the prying eyes around you. you were so set on leaving, not caring if harry ran after you or not. perhaps he wouldn’t, perhaps he would. 

harry was at your usual table, wiping his tears away, covering his eyes with the sunglasses you bought him. did you even notice that he was wearing what you gave him? did you notice that he was wearing your sunglasses? or were you too preoccupied with how he hurt you? he decided to stay in his seat until you were out of sight. 

only then, did he decide not you. he immediately followed after you until he saw you, cradling your phone in your hands. you were sitting at a bus stop, waiting for whatever, probably to get as far away as possible from your ex-boyfriend. he wanted to approach you but he didn’t when he heard you say his name. 

“vincent, please pick me up…i’m at the bus stop near le fatalité macaron, please. nothing big, i’m just upset, something came up and no, no, i want to get away here as soon as possible, mon cherie. please.”

perhaps you were better off without him. 

———

the album finally dropped. did you listen to it? what do you think of it? as he lay down in the hotel where he stayed in versailles, he wanted nothing more than to call you and ask for your opinion. yours was the only opinion that mattered. he reached over the table until he took a hold of his phone. he looked at your name longingly before he decided to press ‘call’. he was staring into space when he heard your voice. 

“cou cou! harry?” 

-------------

sorry for the french, i asked my friend to translate it,,,, don’t forget, a christmas-themed fluff fic will come out next week! 

taglist:

@giitterysuits @bree082 @dezzym17 @bouncebackbyers @lolapuffs @belleamoree @demolition-lovers-blog

[orbemnews]

The Mogul in Search of a Kinder, Gentler Capitalism A self-made multimillionaire who married into a revered European banking dynasty, Lynn Forester de Rothschild now spends her time calling for higher taxes on the wealthy, stricter regulation of big business and a wholesale reordering of the capitalist system that has delivered her such privilege. It is an unlikely reformation for a woman who came from modest origins, made a fortune in the 1980s and could have spent her later years enjoying a sumptuous life of aristocracy. Born to a middle-class family in the New Jersey suburbs, Ms. Rothschild began her career at the white shoe law firm Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett, then started working with John Kluge, a telecommunications mogul, in the 1980s. Ms. Rothschild eventually struck out on her own, working for, running and founding a series of successful media companies. In 2000, she married Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, a British financier. (Henry Kissinger introduced them at the Bilderberg conference; the Clintons invited them to honeymoon at the White House.) Despite her pedigree, Ms. Rothschild has in recent years come to understand that while she and her associates have enjoyed the fruits of capitalism, not all have fared so well. Many workers are struggling to get by. The environment is in serious trouble. Government often cleans up the private sector’s messes. Sociable and well-connected, Ms. Rothschild has tapped her expansive network to launch a multipronged assault on the status quo. In 2014, she founded the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism, an effort to get business leaders more engaged in environmental and social issues. And she has parlayed that into a related group, the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, that is working with Pope Francis, and a new fund focused on socially responsible investing she founded with Jeff Ubben, a successful hedge fund manager. This interview was condensed and edited for clarity. Back when you were starting out in your career, were you concerned about some of the negative impacts of capitalism in the same way you are today? It was really different. I don’t think we realized how bad it was. Graduating from law school in 1980, I believed I was living the American dream. I was a skinny girl from nowhere who knew no one, who had aspirations for an interesting life that would make a difference. And I believed that was available to me if I worked hard and played by the rules. The mantra at that time, that was not said disparagingly, was “Greed is good.” There was an Ayn Rand view that if you pursue your interests, all of society is lifted. So I really did believe that all I needed to do was to pursue my career in a legal, ethical, exciting way, and I didn’t have to worry about society. When did it click for you that something wasn’t working? We didn’t anticipate the kind of disparity that developed over those 20 years when we started in 1980. And I don’t think people practicing shareholder primacy were evil. There was just too much greed. But by 2008 it was impossible to ignore. The concentration of wealth in America at that time already was back to levels we had during the Gilded Age. In the 1960s the ratio of C.E.O. pay to average worker pay was 25 to one. Today it is 320 to one. That has very conveniently created enormous personal wealth, which became the objective, as opposed to: What wealth have you left behind in society? How have you made the world better for your children, for your community? “Greed is good” was never a concept for Adam Smith. What do you see as the most problematic symptoms of our economic system today? Inequality of opportunity. We have to be honest that in each of our two recent crises — the great financial crisis and the Covid crisis — the government came to the aid of the wealthiest. Some have called it “socialism for the rich and capitalism for everyone else.” There’s something to that. The elites turn to government when the financial system is blown up or we have a health crisis. Government got us out of both of those problems, and it got us out with too much of the benefit going to the richest. So how do we equalize that? I personally am fine with higher taxes, if higher taxes lead to better distribution of opportunity, particularly for people of color and people in the lower part of the socioeconomic environment. I also believe that it is time that we listen more to our employees. It’s time that we create a more level playing field with respect to worker voice and worker involvement. This is hard stuff, because it can impact profit. A year ago you said Covid was going to change capitalism forever. In what way did you think it was going to change capitalism, and how do you think that all has actually played out? I’m probably always guilty of being overly optimistic. I believed that our moral compass would tell us that we need to take better care of the people who take care of us. But we saw starkly how we treated the people we called essential, how we were exposing them to this deadly disease. I personally find it difficult to understand why that is so hard for us as a society, and that’s why I founded the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. I had the disease. I was really sick. I thought I was going to die. I had a really bad case and I’m scared to death of it. What were the origins of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism? In June of 2015, Laudato Si was written by Pope Francis. By September, the Sustainable Development Goals were agreed to by the United Nations. By December, the Paris climate accord had been signed. You had every reason to believe that there was a sense of the common good. And if you go back and read Laudato Si, Pope Francis writes: “The lessons of the global financial crisis have not been assimilated, and we are learning all too slowly the lessons of environmental deterioration.” He goes on to say that “by itself the market cannot guarantee integral human development and social inclusion.” What are some of the reforms you’d like to see? The Business Roundtable can put out as many press releases as it wants about stakeholder capitalism, but we still have companies losing billions of dollars, laying off tens of thousands of workers and still rewarding their C.E.O.s with tens of millions of dollars. Something is really broken. I do believe that C.E.O.s and boards are willing to share the wealth and do more. But the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable are going to go for tax policy and trade policy as their primary objective. I remember a person who was very senior in a previous administration told me that in his four years in office, only one C.E.O. asked to go and see him about an issue of the common good. Everyone was coming in to push what they needed for their own book. We need to profitably solve the problems of people and planet. That’s why business exists. Who’s to say that there shouldn’t be a government policy that prices the negative externalities that companies cost the taxpayer when full-time workers have to be on public assistance to lead a decent life? Why can’t there be a tax and a penalty on that? Why is Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world? He’s a nice guy, and at the same time he has tens of thousands of employees on public assistance. Why is that OK? Why do we have a government that lets that happen? Which do you think is more broken, American politics or capitalism? I think their problems feed upon each other. They’re creating a death spiral together and it’s got to be stopped. Politics and capitalism needs to return to a basic sense of decency. And that is actually why I reached out to the Holy Father, because I think that a lot of what it will take to change behavior is a moral and ethical reawakening. It’s not just one policy, it’s not just taxes, it’s not just reforming labor laws — all of which are important, and we need competent ethical people to do it. But at the core of it, it has to come from common decency. God did not invent the corporation. Society allows a corporation to exist, gives shareholders limited liability, and expects something in return. But we don’t just expect cheap widgets. How do you reconcile your critique of shareholder capitalism with the fact that you’re now working with a hedge fund manager? If there is going to be a system change, the capital markets need to reward shareholders. That is only going to happen if there are really talented investors who find the new levers of value creation, and are engaging actively with companies that are transforming at scale to become cleaner and more inclusive, and those companies become the ones that are the most valuable. Then we’ve created a race to the top. That’s why I’m in partnership with Jeff, who’s such a legend in shareholder value creation and transforming companies. I have 1,000 percent confidence in the integrity of Jeff, even though he’s been on the opposite side for many years. I trust many billionaires. Source link Orbem News #Capitalism #Gentler #Kinder #Mogul #Search

[giancarlonicoli]

Newsonomics: Inside the new L.A. Times, a 100-year vision that bets on tech and top-notch journalism

It’s a few years behind its East Coast brethren in New York and Washington. But tens of millions in new investment and ambitious digital plans are showing a path back to its former prominence — and beyond.By

KEN DOCTOR

@kdoctor

March 27, 2019, 2:05 p.m.

Look past the view of the 105. Beyond it is the unfolding of the 21st century, delayed but now in full force at the Los Angeles Times.

That’s my big takeaway from a visit to Patrick Soon-Shiong’s new temple to next-stage journalism. Last summer, he moved his just-purchased L.A. Times (whose lease was expiring) to one of the sprawling L.A.’s least glamorous addresses: 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, CA 90245. (Google’s satellite view is revealing.) That move stirred some newsroom complaints early on, though the new address seems to have receded as an issue as Soon-Shiong and editor-in-chief Norm Pearlstine have laid out their fast-paced, if still incremental, visions of a new Times.

The visions are big enough, but they stand out even more dramatically in a newspaper business still cutting its way to the future, looking to mergers and acquisitions as a short-term lifeline in the cash-poor trade. Like The New York Times and The Washington Post, the new L.A. Times wants to tell a contrarian story: Investment in the daily press underlines a deep belief in the power of journalism, optimism that it can make both readers’ lives and their democracy run better amid the gobsmacking rate of political and technological change.

“So my concern was editorial, the newsroom. That was my very, very, very first concern,” Soon-Shiong told me in a two-hour interview. “I knew that that’s where I needed to go as my first and highest priority. My second priority now is the business model, but the business model, sadly — and I don’t mean this to sound in any way arrogant — has to be consistent with this next generation, not with the past generation,” says the 66-year-old Soon-Shiong. He’s put his money behind his ideas, taking a loss of about $50 million this year as he marches the Times forward.

Soon-Shiong has been a man of some mystery in the news trade, his entry having been midwifed clumsily by one-time Tronc chairman Michael Ferro. In our wide-ranging interview — to be published in full here tomorrow — the med-tech billionaire connects many of the missing dots that have characterized coverage of him over the last several years.

The Times’ turnaround from those bad old days (actually quite recent!) of the Tronc/Tribune/Ferro reign is nothing less than remarkable.

The Times’ newsroom had unionized as Tronc’s tragicomic handling of its properties reached a denouement, and Ferro made Soon-Shiong an offer he figured he shouldn’t refuse. Soon-Shiong believes that had Tronc/Tribune kept title to the Times, it would have cut as many as another 100 jobs in the newsroom in short order.

His June 2018 purchase stopped any new cuts in their tracks.

Norm Pearlstine, one of America’s top editors whose career had been built at The Wall Street Journal, Time Inc. and Bloomberg, inherited a newsroom of about 440, including part-timers and contractors. That still ranked among the largest in the country; The New York Times counts 1,550, The Washington Post about half that number.

Want a number that symbolizes the Soon-Shiong era? That 440 less than a year ago stands today at 535 newsroom employees.

Many in the business thought that Pearlstine, 76, would play something of a caretaker role — a short opening stint to help orient Soon-Shiong in this business and then stepping aside to pick a younger successor. But Soon-Shiong told me Monday that he’s signed Pearlstine to a new multi-year contract extending his term as executive editor.

“When Norm agreed to come out of retirement and become the executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, we were thrilled,” he said. “He has a long, impeccable track record as a journalist and as a media executive. He is truly enjoying the challenge of guiding the L.A. Times through the transition and positioning the company to succeed. As part of that, he is developing a diverse team of managers and possible successors. We are moving forward in a very positive direction and Norm and I have agreed to a multi-year extension of his term as executive editor. I could not be more pleased.”

How does Pearlstine now look at this almost unique turnaround opportunity? “I’m a little bit torn because I don’t think I’ve ever met an executive who did a turnaround who looked back and said, ‘I went too fast,'” he said. “So the pressure intention is to want to move quickly. But that said, I think we need a pause to just catch our breath and integrate…If you think about [Soon-Shiong’s] ambitions and what the brand lets you do, we need to do additional hiring as we roll out some of these products that we think will induce people to pay for content. What we’ve done over the last eight months has been to fill critical vacancies that had resulted from either layoff, buyouts, or attrition.”

Pearlstine described his Times journey so far in depth in two additional hours of conversations. (We’ll run a transcript of that interviews, like my one with Soon-Shiong, later this week here at Nieman Lab.)

It’s not just the number that matters — it’s also the kind of hires Pearlstine is making, near the top of the newsroom and throughout it. In leadership, he lured away from the East Coast both The New York Times’ Sewell Chan, who heads the news desk and is also responsible for audience engagement, and Slate’s top editor Julia Turner, who is creating the Times’ playbook for upping its arts and entertainment game. In this hiring binge, Pearlstine aims to do both the basic blocking and tackling required to heal an ailing news enterprise and to draw from the new world of digital journalism. His key hires of food critic Bill Addison from Eater and Peter Meehan from Lucky Peach signal an appreciation of journalism that comes from beyond old “newspaper” formulas.

But even that almost 25 percent headcount increase in less than a year marks just the beginning of the Times’ expansion ambitions.

Behold the fifth floor

Among the projects soon to get more attention is on the fifth floor. There, Soon-Shiong says, about 100 new staffers — about 80 of them still to be hired — will operate what he calls a new transmedia operation. The idea — in video, TV, audio, VR, games, and plain old-fashioned social management — is multiplication.

The strategy: Even as fundamental newsroom resources are being rebuilt, magnify their impact across all the means of distribution and audience engagement that technology now enables. Which will work and which will prove to be experiments to retire? Soon-Shiong is the first to say he’s not sure. (A previous transmedia company he backed, Fourth Wall Studios, closed in 2012.) But while his optimism about applying his Nant medical tech to journalism was sometimes lampooned when he first bought into Tronc three years ago, he’s undaunted in explaining tomorrow’s potential.

Take another number: 157,000. That’s the number of digital subscriptions the L.A. Times has today. It’s roughly doubled over the past two tumultuous Times years. The growth rate is significant, as is the fact that it’s more than any other “local” daily in the U.S. But Soon-Shiong sees it as just the first handhold on a towering mountain. He wants to get to 1 million quickly and has a stretch target of 4 million over the next four years.

That quest for fast scale helps explain the Times’ decision to become a major partner of Apple in this week’s launch of the Apple News Plus subscription package. It’s another step in increasing reader revenue. Both The New York Times and The Washington Post declined to join Apple’s service, it makes more sense for Soon-Shiong’s paper. The L.A. Times wants to do everything it can to get “discovered” by new readers, and it has much less to fear from the cannibalization of existing direct digital subscribers. Says Soon-Shiong of the deal: “Apple News editors will be able to curate current and recent coverage from all of our sections…We are delighted to be one of just two U.S. newspapers selected to participate at launch and to share in the revenue from the premium subscription service, which will help fund our journalism.” (Some content, such as the paper’s archives, won’t be accessible through Apple News Plus.)

As for Soon-Shiong’s stretch goal, New York Times CEO Mark Thompson’s recently setting of a 10 million subscriber total by 2025 is instructive. Thompson had laid out that seemingly impossible number two years ago, but back then, he didn’t put a date on it. Now, having reached 4.3 million total subscribers, no one laughs at the 10 million aspiration anymore. That tells us a lot about the digital news business and all the ground Soon-Shiong’s paper will have to make up quickly.

How far is his paper behind The Washington Post or that other Times? (“You mean The New York Times,” he notes several times in our conversation, as if to emphasize there is another Times back in the national media conversation.) Jeff Bezos faced a similar challenge when he bought the Post six years ago, and the paper’s ascent since then has surprised even the most skeptical about the chances of journalistic rebirth. (Amazingly, when Bezos bought the Post, its newsroom staff was smaller than the L.A. Times’.)

Figure the L.A. Times is 6 to 10 years behind its East Coast models, the “papers” it once called its brethren and would like to again.

As it retools, the L.A. Times faces new competition — including from that other Times. The New York Times is intently focused on California, home to 40 million people. It has more digital subscribers in California than in the state of New York. Its California Today newsletter is its Trojan Horse into the Golden State, competing with the L.A. Times’ “Essential California” newsletter. Even as the L.A. Times works to maintain its claim on food coverage, The New York Times went and hired its first-ever California restaurant critic.

Maybe the meaning of the geographic identifiers in these two “newspaper” brands will be something quite different in the years ahead.

Why the long turnaround?

Why might it take the L.A. Times a half decade or more — and continued reinvestment — to enjoy success similar that of The New York Times or The Washington Post?

While any keen Angeleno will tell you that the Times’ troubles began when the Chandler family sold it (and the rest of Times Mirror) to Tribune Company in 2000, it’s been the past decade that inflicted the most pain to what was once one of the most powerful and influential of American press institutions. Certainly, the Chicagoans who ran Tribune — and often tried to run the Times from Chicago — never quite got it right, but it was the seizure of Tribune by bottom-feeder financier Sam Zell in 2007 that sent it into a deepening tailspin.

Throughout it all — Zell’s reign, his five-year “bankruptcy from hell,”Tribune’s split into newspaper and broadcast companies, new management, and then the company’s second legal seizure by the arrivisteFerro in 2016 — the Times resisted. That resistance was both staunch and at times comical. The L.A. Times newsroom would come to be known, rightly or wrongly, as the toughest room in the country.

Amid the turmoil, the L.A. Times was more a punchline than a setter of the news agenda, even though its newsroom through the years (and still today) has produced among the highest-quality newspaper reporting and writing in the country.

There was the midnight firing of publisher Austin Beutner by then-CEO Jack Griffin — who himself was dispatched just five months later by Ferro. Who can forget the three-month tenure of Lewis D’Vorkin as editor-in-chief, after longtime Timesman Davan Maharaj was axed? Or Maharaj’s secret taping of Ferro, chronicled in David Folkenflik’s watchdog reporting on Tronc excess for NPR and giving us the wonderful headline: “Tribune, Tronc And Beyond: A Slur, A Secret Payout And A Looming Sale“? Or the cameo appearances of serial CEO Ross Levinsohn and his sidekick Mickie Rosen in the farce? It all makes the Times’ breakout true-crime podcast Dirty John seem fairly tame. (Anyone written the Times’ screenplay yet?) Keen industry observer Tom Rosenstiel calls the Times, at the time Soon-Shiong bought it, “the most degraded major metro in the country.”

That environment is just part of what Soon-Shiong inherited when he decided to buy. (Ferro had given him a weekend to decide whether he wanted his hometown paper so much that he’d pay a half a billion dollars for it — not allowing him to do much due diligence. In our interview, Soon-Shiong also tells the story of how he entered into a “partnership” after a first whirlwind weekend courtship.)

Soon-Shiong, Pearlstine, COO Chris Argentieri, and the emerging new order of management also inherited a broken technology stack. As Tribune/Tronc reeled for a decade, it had both centralized its operational systems and technologies — and failed to sufficiently invest in them to keep them up to date.

Argentieri describes what taking back the Times from Tronc/Tribune meant operationally: “Tribune operated with a number of functions shared across the company over the last couple of years — well beyond your typical shared services of finance, IT, HR. More than just the back office — so consumer marketing, circulation, national sales. Really, in Los Angeles at the end of Tribune’s ownership, we were essentially left with the newsroom and local advertising — and virtually everything else, including manufacturing, distribution, was all centralized.”

As Soon-Shiong told me, “With regard to the technology, I found it was non-existent. Not even…to fix. Just non-existent. I worried about the systems to the extent that I was worried: Could I run this paper with these systems that are so archaic?”

So even as the L.A. Times became “independent,” it remained — and still remains, roughly through the end of this year — stuck in part on aging, fatigued systems. Observers who wondered why Soon-Shiong signed a “standstill” agreement in January — allowing Tribune to commit to a merger or sale without his assent — have their answer. It was all that old tech that the Times still needs to publish (until its fast-paced plan to replace it all is complete) that was responsible. Soon-Shiong agreed to the standstill — which should make it possible for Tribune to merge with a McClatchy or otherwise sell itself — and in return got his “transition services agreement” extended until June 2020.

There are still many decisions to be made as the clock runs toward that date. Among them: Will the Times keep or replace Arc, The Washington Post’s fast-emerging new newspaper platform standard? Does it believe that Arc can rise to the occasion and help power Soon-Shiong’s expansive vision for the Times?

Overall, says Argentieri, the Times is “probably 40% there, I would say, through transitioning of services.” The big remaining piece, he says, “is to stand up our own traditional IT infrastructure — so our own HRISsystem, our own ERP system, our own infrastructure from a hosting standpoint. All are underway and will happen in 2019.”

Argentieri notes the unique perspective Soon-Shiong brings to the beleaguered newspaper industry. If Jeff Bezos brought the best consumer marketing chops, Soon-Shiong brings his own highly profitable experience.

“Nant [Soon-Shiong’s collection of tech enterprises] brings a pretty deep understanding from a technology standpoint. It’s a little different than how certainly we had looked at things…They look at things from fiber in the ground all the way up through the technology stats. Most, particularly legacy media companies have looked at IT as a major cost center, and put every bit of investment they could make into ‘digital business.’ We’re trying to look at it more holistically, because storage is cheaper, the infrastructure, there’s more things you can do today to have a site and app load faster, and all that leads to better user experience — where we just wouldn’t have focused on moving an infrastructure off servers in a data center in Chicago to somewhere else.”

After the buy and the building, $50 million

All of this transition — in hiring and in technology — comes at a hefty price. Which brings us to the third noteworthy number about the Times: $50 million. That’s the amount Soon-Shiong will have spent on the new Times in his first year of ownership.

How much more investment may be possible? Says Soon-Shiong: “I’m willing to continue to make an investment and collectively, as a collective, to work together” — mindful of the first contract with the News Guild, which unionized the place the week before he took title.

Like most other people of great wealth — Soon-Shiong’s fortune has been reported at over $7 billion — he’s not one to throw money around. Like Bezos, he’ll invest, but “he’s focused on where every dollar goes,” one insider says. As at The Washington Post, good ideas can get funded, but they’re approved by Soon-Shiong on an initiative-by-initiative basis.

How has that tough (and “abused,” as Soon-Shiong puts it) newsroom responded? Conversations with several staffers suggest a wary optimism — about as good as it gets in any newsroom. When the first union contract is concluded, staffers will see raises that mark a clear departure from the experience of their brethren at other dailies, including those still residing within Tribune. Those raises should add up to at least a 10 percent increase over the next three years.

“For staff who are over scale, they would see a 5 percent raise in year 1, 2.5 percent in year 2, 2.5 percent in year 3 under the company’s offer,” says Matt Pearce, a News Guild leader at the Times. “So in other words, pretty much the worst you can do is a guaranteed 10 percent raise across three years. It’s not quite enough to get us to match the pay standards at our East Coast competitors, and doesn’t repair the 10 years the newsroom went without regular raises, but it’s a decent bite out of the apple.”

For those who had been “underpaid,” the impact will be greater. “The company’s last/best/final offer on pay creates a series of pay minimums that would lift up some underpaid staffers fairly dramatically — in some cases, we’re talking raises of 30 percent or more on ratification,” says Pearce.

In addition to wanting a piece of the intellectual property action involved in Soon-Shiong’s multimedia adventures (which Soon-Shiong discusses in our interview), the contract addresses the usual issues: severance, jurisdiction, and seniority. It could be a month or two away from completion.

The guild, representing a workforce still recovering from shellshock, wants to add another clause to the new contract, one on “successorship.” Pearce: “So the contract survives, in the hopefully remote scenario that Patrick decides to sell the paper sometime in the next three years.” Just. In. Case.

Not yet defining the new L.A. Times

If you are reading this hoping to hear the new Times’ leadership clearly outline its strategy for the years ahead — sorry to disappoint you. Ever since Soon-Shiong bought the Times and pledged to rebuild it, people have been wondering about the big strategic questions.

Will the new L.A. Times be more national, expanding still further a fairly robust and re-energized D.C. bureau? More global, seizing the opportunity of the “Asian century” and its spot on the Pacific Rim? More California-centric, seeing a “nation” of 40 million to serve? Or will it be happy to focus on dominating the large and wealthy southern California market?

In other words, what category does the Times fit in now — or will it fit in in a few years? Is it America’s largest local newspaper in the country or its smallest national one?

(In Monday’s keynote, Apple split the difference, calling it “the country’s largest metropolitan newspaper and a rising star.”)

It’s both and neither at the same time, and that makes classifying it tough. “It’s probably safe to say if we’re trying to get to a million digital subscribers over a number of years, we will start with local. But we’ll have to evolve into California stories that have a global relevance,” Argentieri told me. (Former publisher Austin Beutner hired Argentieri, a magazine veteran, back in 2014, and through all the Tronc turmoil, he somehow managed to keep his head down. He widely receives plaudits for his steady hand.) “I think we’ll reach a point of penetration with people that are, you know, ferociously into local content, and we’ll have to go beyond that in some areas that travel better.”

The reality is that the Times is creating the building blocks that could easily be used across multiple strategies and target audiences. For now at least, instead of worrying about classification, let’s watch what’s in at the new L.A. Times. Its ownership is only nine months old, but Soon-Shiong talks about a 100-year vision — there’ll be plenty of time to classify later.

POSTED    

March 27, 2019, 2:05 p.m.

[torentialtribute]

LIGUE 1 REVIEW: The lowdown on every team ahead of the action

From the manager of Nantes who just a few days before the season begins to stop physically removing Kylian Mbappe Neymar from Celebrations of the Coupe des Champions of Paris Saint-Germain French football has announced its return in a certain style.

Strasbourg is already back in the groove after a fleeting 40-day break between their last day victory over Nantes and their first friendly match against Zurich, while – according to their manager at least – Nimes can't even take a team. Oh, and Patrick Vieira saw his Nice side banging both 8-1 and 6-1 in the kickabouts for the season.

It has been far from silent, and it will only become more chaotic, with the transfer window only closing on 2 September and many teams still closing gaps created by the temptation of the Premier League.

Prior to the Ligue 1 season that starts Friday night, when Monaco takes on Lyon, here is an in-depth look at how each of the 20 sides of the top flight is set up and all you need to know for the new campaign.

Ligue 1 returns on Friday – Will Paris Saint-Germain be able to maintain its dominance?

AMIENS

Head coach: Luka Elsner

Transfers in: Serhou Guirassy (FC Koln, £ 5,4 m), Eddy Gnahore (Palermo, £ 2.25 m), Emil Krafth (Bologna £ 1.8) m), Alexis Blin (Toulouse, £ 1.5 million), Chadrac Akolo (Stuttgart, loan), Ulrick Eneme Ella (FC Liefering, £ 250k), Christophe Jallet (Nice, free), Jayson Papeau (Genevieve, free), Haitam Aleesami (Palermo, free)

Transfers from: Brighton Labeau (Rapid Bucharest, free), Khaled Adenon (Al-Whada, free), Reda Rabei (Fremad Amager, free), Gauthier Banaziak (AC Amiens, free)

Last season: 15th

Amiens is part of their third season in the top flight and thanks to the transfer market is one of a number of teams that is still in limbo. ]

Such s from Emil Krafth, a left back who only completed his final move this summer after making an impression on the loan but has just signed with Newcastle, striker Moussa Konate and Colombian Steven Mendoza are still expected to leave.

That gives Slovak coach Luka Elsner – the youngest in the competition – a real challenge when it comes to preparing his team for the opening weeks of the season, with probably four or five new faces needed before the French window closes on 2 September.

Keyman: Bongani Zungu

Missed most of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the midfielder showed what he had missed during the Africa Cup of Nations while he played for South Africa and Amiens are desperate to hold him, warding off interest from Besiktas.

Bongani Zungu showed Amiens what they missed when he played in Africa Cup of Nations

ANGERS

Head coach: Stephane Moulin

Transfers In: Sada Thioub (Nimes, 3,1 m), Mathias Pereira Lage (Clermont Foot, £ 1.3 million), Rachid Alioui (Nimes, free), Danijel Petkovic (Lorient, not disclosed)

Transfers from: Flavien Tait (Rennes, 8.1 m), Alexandre Letellier (Sarpsborg, loan), Harisson Manzala (loan from Le Mans), Thomas Toure (loan from Sochaux), Pape Djibril Diaw (loan from Caen) , Baptiste Guillaume (loan from Valenciennes), Dorian Bertrand (Nancy und undclosed) Loic Puyo (released)

Last season: 13th

Angers head coach Stephane Moulin enters his ninth season for leadership

As happened when last year Karl Toko Ekambi lost to Villarreal, Angers got a job again to rebuild after losing one of their best players this summer.

Flavien Tait was their founder because they finished a respectable 13th, but he joined colleague Call 1 outfit Rennes at Stephane Moulin with another repair shop.

You would have thought he would be used to it now and start his ninth season as head coach, but things could get worse. Top scorer Stephane Bahoken and former Arsenal star Jeff Reine-Adelaide were still able to follow Tait.

The three were involved in 33 goals while Angers set a club record 44 in the top flight last season. Replacing those resources will be a huge task if they lose any of them.

Key man: Baptiste Santamaria

A change in approach from head coach Stephane Moulin means that the ball-midfielder can be asked

MONACO

Head coach: Leonardo Jardim

Transfers in: Gelson Martins (Atletico Madrid, £ 27 m), Benjamin Lecomte (Montpellier, £ 12.1 m), Ruben Aguilar (Montpellier, £ 7.2 m)

Transfers from: Youri Tielemans (Leicester £ 40.5m), Ronael Pierre-Gabriel (Mainz, £ 5m), Ibrahima Diallo (Brest, £ 1.8m), Paul Nardi (Lorient, £ 1.4 m), Kephren Thuram (Nice, free), Loic Badiashile, Jordi Mboula, Julien Serrano, Giulian Biancone (all Cercle Bruges, loan), Jean-Eudes Aholou (Saint-Etienne, loan) , Kevin N & Doram (Metz, loan), Samuel Grandsir (Brest, loan), Pele (reading, loan), Antonio Barreca (Genoa, loan), Andrea Raggi (released)

n: 17th

In theory it should be impossible for Monaco not to improve their last campaign, in which the club took place, only to secure their top status at the end of the day.

After seeing their owner fleeing the principality for corruption, club legend Thierry Henry did not see them free from danger in his very first leadership role and then the season with the same manager they started with, the 2017 champions hope for a somewhat quieter season.

To repair the damage, they have changed their tact on the transfer market, with the return of Leonardo Jardim as boss coinciding with a move away from signing unproven, young players for the purpose of nurturing them.

Gelson Martins & # 39; (L) goals may be crucial with the expected departure of Radamel Falcao (R)

Instead, the focus was on people with competence, with Montpellier duo Benjamin Lecomte and Ruben Aguilar had already settled in the top flight of France.

Gelson Martins completed a permanent transfer from Atletico Madrid after a successful loan period, but Radamel Falcao Ron Lopes – the highly regarded Portuguese international – could follow.

Both must be replaced before the window closes, they must leave, but you would expect that September 2 will not end the drama on the south coast.

Keyman: Gelson Martins

His goals helped to keep going the last season, and with the departure of Falcao still possible, this time could be even more important.

SAINT-ETIENNE

Head coach: Ghislain Printant

Transfers in: Denis Bouanga (Nimes, £ 4,1 m), Ryad Boudebouz (Real Betis £ 3.2 m), Zaydou Youssouf (Bordeaux £ 1.8 m), Sergi Palencia (Barcelona £ 1.8 m), Miguel Trauco (Flemish £ 900 k), Harold Moukoudi (Le Havre, free), Jean-Eudes Aholou (Monaco, loan), Alpha Sissoko (Caen, free), William Saliba (Arsenal, loan)

Transfers from: William Saliba (Arsenal, £ 27), Remy Cabella (Krasnodar, £ 10.8 m), Habib Maiga (Metz, £ 900k), Jorginho (Ludogorets, £ 750k), Pierre-Yves Polomat (Genclerbirligi, free), Oussama Tannane (Vitesse, loan), Makhtar Gueye (Nancy , loan), Mickael Panos (Paphos, free), Neven Subotic (Union Berlin, free)

Last season: 4th

A club in the right direction, The income of Saint-Etienne has this year for the first time in his sc has reached the € 100 million limit.

With this they have started renewing their training center and building a squadron that can compete on four fronts seasonally.

Assisted by the £ 28m received from Arsenal for teenager William Saliba and £ 11m from the sale of former Newcastle winger Remy Cabella to Krasnodar, head coach Ghislain Printant has seen his team strengthened by eight newcomers.

It is just as good, as Vice President Roland Romeyer admits. "I expect a complicated season of the Europa League – it's tiring," he told L&E Equipe.

Keyman: William Saliba

Back on loan for a previous season after his Arsenal shift, all involved hope for a new strong season from the middle of the field.

After completing of his £ 28 million move to Arsenal, William Saliba returned to Saint-Etienne on loan

DIJON

Head coach: Stephane Jobard

Transfers in : Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff, £ 1.8m), Bryan Soumare (Saint-Quentin, free), Mama Bucket (Sporting Lisbon, free) Didier Ndong (Guingamp, not disclosed)

Transfers Out: Valentin Rosier (Sporting, £ 7.2 m), Wesley Said (Toulouse, £ 7.2 m), Chang-hu n Kwon (Freiburg, £ 2.7 m), Sory Kaba (Midtjylland, £ 2.7 m), Mehdi Abeid (Nantes, free), Eden Massouema (Troyes, free), Bobby Allain (Olympiacos free), Oussama Haddadi ( Al-Ettifaq, free), Cedric Yambere (Al-Ettifaq, not disclosed), Arnold Bouka Moutou (released)

Last season: 18th

Still in the top flight through the skin of their teeth, Dijon pinched Lens over two legs in last May's relegation playoffs to secure their status.

One reason for their fight was at the back, with the club allowing 191 goals in their previous three seasons. In the top five in Europe, only Bournemouth and Chievo have let Verona in during the same period.

Storing at the back is the most important task for new boss Stephane Jobard. The 48-year-old – who started teaching PE briefly after playing his career – is back in the club he had spent 20 years as a player and youth coach.

Keyman: Bruno Ecuele Manga

Arriving from Cardiff, the defender will be one of the tasks to help solve the leaking defense that nearly dropped their Ligue 1 status last season.

Ex-Cardiff center back Bruno Ecuele Manga will be charged with helping to repair the leaking defense

METZ

Head coach: Vincent Hognon

Transfers In: Victorien Angban (Chelsea, £ 5,4) m), Fabien Fifteen (Lens, £ 2.7 m), Habib Maiga (Saint-Etienne, £ 900 k), Pope Ndiaga Yade (Generation Foot, free), Manuel Cabit (Ajaccio, free), Kevin N & # 39; Doram (Monaco, loan), Thierry Ambrose (Manchester City, loan)

Transfers from: Cafu (Legia Warsaw, £ 700k), Gauthier Hein (Valenciennes, loan), Vincent Thill (Orleans, loan), Jonathan Rivierez (Caen, free), Oumar Gonzalez (Chambly, free), Laurent Jans (Paderborn, loan) , Ivan Balliu, Emmanuel Riviere (both released)

Last season: 2nd (Ligue 2)

] Marvin Gakpa was one of the biggest revelations in Ligue 2 last season

Promoted as champion of Ligue 2, Metz have chosen continuity in their team as they prepare for their return to the top flight.

So far, only five new faces have emerged at the Stade Sym Symphorien, including 22-year-old striker Thierry Ambrose who is joining an initial loan from Manchester City.

Most of the intrigues this season, however, will surround the cu rrent leadership structure in the club, where there are effectively two in charge. Head coach Vincent Hognon was brought in last December after Frederic Antonetti stepped back after his wife became ill.

Given the title & # 39; general manager & # 39; the latter is still very involved in team affairs, & # 39; ship from far & # 39; as the owner suggested. The power of understanding between the couple could be the key to a successful campaign.

Key Man: Marvin Gakpa

One of the biggest revelations in Ligue 2 last season, the attacking midfielder hopes to quickly adapt to the quality increase.

NANTES

Head coach: Patrick Collot (caretaker)

Transfers in: Marcus Coco (Guingamp, £ 2.7 m), Molla Wague ( Udinese, £ 1.4 m, Abou Ba (Nancy, £ 900 k), Dennis Appiah (Anderlecht, £ 650 k), Bridge Ndilu (Stade Laval (free), Mehdi Abied (Dijon, free)), Alban Lafont ( Fiorentina, loan)

Transfers from: Diego Carlos (Sevilla, £ 13.5 m), Koffi Djidji (Torino, £ 4.1 m), Anthony Limbombe (Standard Liège, loan ), Ciprian Tatarusanu (Lyon, free), Maxime Dupe (Clermont Foot, loan), Quentin Braat (Niort, free)

Last season: 12th

A catastrophic summer will see the club st art the season without a head coach after the resignation of Vahid Halilhodzic a few days before the start of the season

Irreconcilable differences in recruitment means that they travel to Lille with assistant Patrick Col fate and fitness coach Cyril Moine, and without the & # 39; eight or nine players & # 39; Halilhodzic insisted that they needed it.

Jan Patrick Collot takes temporary charge "class =" blkBorder img-share "/>

Patrick Collot (R) replaces Vahid Halilhodzic who retired earlier this week as boss

Instead, there have been six signing sessions so far, for less than £ 6 million. It is the kind of austerity that Hlilhodzic feels over the edge, yet can predict a tough season for Les Canaris.

Key man: Kalifa Coulibaly

Last season on a hot streak, scored six in his last nine appearances and hopes to continue where he left off.

BORDEAUX

Head coach: Paulo Sousa

Transfers in: Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal, £ 4.6 m), Ui-jo Hwang (Gamba Osaka, £ 1.8 m, Rudders (Rennes, free), Enock Kwateng (Nantes, free), Loris Benito (Young Boys, free)

Transfers from: Jules Kounde ( Seville, £ 22.5 m, Lukas Lerager (Genoa, 5.4 m), Zaydou Youssouf (Saint-Etienne £ 1.8 m), Jerome Prior (Valenciennes), free), Igor Lewczuk (Legia Warsaw, free) , Aaron Boupendza (Feirense, loan), Jaroslav Plasil (retired)

Last season: 14th

Apart from disturbing every Arsenal fan on the planet, Bordeaux & # 39; s transfer window wasn't much to laugh about.

Forced to find an additional £ 30 million to pay the club's debts, Paulo Sousa was asked & # 39; creative & # 39; to be to build his team for the coming campaign.

Doing what comes as second nature to all Football Manager enthusiasts, the Portuguese boss has searched the market for non-contracted players and landed three of his goals for free.

That will help balance the books, alongside the sale of defender Jules Kounde to Seville and the impending arrival of Youssouf Sabaly in the Premier League. Whether it helps their Ligue 1 performance this upcoming campaign is another matter.

Key man: Laurent Koscielny

A selection frame arrives in a test window for Bordeaux, the former Arsenal man will add an invaluable experience at the back and in the dressing room.

Laurent Koscielny (right) got his wish after he was moved to Bordeaux

LILLE

Head coach: Christophe Galtier

Transfers in: Yusuf Yazici (Trabzonspor, 14.9m), Victor Osimhen, £ 10.8 million ), Timothy Weah (PSG, £ 9 million), Benjamin Andre (Rennes, £ 6.3 million), Domagoj Bradaric (Hadjuk Split, £ 5.9 million), Leo Jardim (River Ave, £ 5.4 million), Tiago Djalo (Milan, £ 4.5 million), Reinildo Mandava (Belenenses, £ 2.7 million), Concert (August 1, £ 1.8 million), Saad Agouzoul (Kawkab Marrakech, £ 500,000), Virgiliu Postolachi (PSG, free)

Transfers from: Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal, £ 72 m), Rafael Leao (Milan, £ 27 m), Thiago Mendes (Lyon, £ 19.8) m) Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa, £ 8.1 m), Edger le (Tranzonspor, free), Herve Koffi (Belenenses, loan), Kouadio-Yves Dabila, Rominique Kouame (both Cercle Bruges, loan)

Last season: 2nd

What should be an excitement after a 2018-19 season because the upcoming campaign is tinged with doubts after a tough summer.

The main cause of concern was the loss of two important stars that helped them to take second place and the Champions League place: Nicolas Pepe and Thiago Mendes

Lille lost talisman Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal this summer but managed to get £ 72m for him

Losing their top striker to Arsenal was made easier to swallow by the £ 72m fee, but losing their pivot in midfield to a Ligue 1 rival will have stung.

The money has been deposited, with no fewer than 10 new faces through the door to strengthen the first team, but Christophe Galtier has done his job to maintain the stunning domestic form of last season while he juggles the small matter of a European campaign.

Key man: Yusuf Yazici

Given the unenviable task of filling the void left behind by Pepe, the 22-year-old Turkey International has the potential to get fans out of their seats at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

MONTPELLIER

Head coach: Michel Der Zakarian

Transfers in: Teji Savanier (Nimes, £ 8.6m), Andy Delort (Toulouse, £ 4.1 m, Arnaud Souquet (Ghent, £ 2.5 m), Jordan Ferri (Lyon, £ 1.8 m), Matis Carvalho (Toulouse, free)

Transfers from: Benjamin Lecomte (Monaco, £ 12.1 m), Isaac Mbenza (Huddersfield, £ 11.25 m), Ruben Aguilar (Monaco, £ 7.2 m)), Ellyes Skhiri (Koln, £ 5.4 million) ), Bryan Passi (Niort, free), Morgan Poaty (Guingamp, not public), Giovanni Sio (Genclerbirligi, not public), Jonathan Ligali, Jeremei Porsan-Clemente (both released)

Last season: 6th

Jordan Ferri hopes to guide Montpellier back to Europe this season

After their best performance in Ligue 1 since lifting the title in 2012, Michel Der Zakarian will be looking for a little more consistency.

Since that success, the club has never managed to finish back – back seasons in the upper half, something that the club wants to change.

They have a solid foundation. Despite the loss of both Benjamin Lecmonte and Ruben Aguilar to Monaco, Montpellier has taken a magazine from their rival's book and raided a club among them.

Teji Savanier and Jordan Ferri, who recently formed a strong partnership in Nimes season, have joined together and the rest of the team remains intact.

The next goal is a return to Europe, and the continuity of this summer may just provide them with the platform to achieve this.

] Key man: Jordan Ferri

Former France among the 21 international sparkled last season in Nimes, and reconnecting with Savanier should help him put his stamp that little bit faster.

NIMES

Head coach: Bernard Blaquart

Transfers in: Sidy Sarr (Chateauroux, £ 1.8 m), Haris Duljevic (Dynamo Dresden, £ 900k), Romain Philippoteaux (Auxerre, £ 270k), Pablo Martinez (Strasbourg, free), Zinedine Ferhat (Le Havre, free)

Transfers from: Teji Savanier (Montpellier, £ 8.6 m), Denis Bouanga (Saint-Etienne, £ 4.1 m), Sada Thioub (Angers, £ 3.1 m), Umut Bozok (Lorient, £ 1.4) m), Baptiste Valette (Nancy, free), Abdel Malik Hsissane (Le Puy Foot, free), Rachid Alioui (Angers, free), Herve Lybohy (Nancy, free), Martin Sourzac (Nancy, free) Fethi Harek (retired), Panagiotis Vlachodimos (released)

Last season: 9th

Another party that is involved in a disastrous summer has abandoned Nimes by the departure of their sports director Laurent Boissier. ] While recruitment came to a halt, head coach Bernard Blaquart told owner Rani Assaf that he & # 39; has no team & # 39; for the coming campaign.

He has a point. The heart of his team was torn out and lost his entire midfield in the form of Sada Thioub, Teji Savanier, borrower Jordan Ferri and Denis Bounaga, as well as attackers Rachid Aliouli and Umut Bozok.

Blaquart has to replace a group that made 181 games in the league last season. Avoiding the relegation dogfight can be seen as an achievement, let alone finishing ninth.

Keyman: Antonin Bobichon

One of the few that still stands, Blaquart will likely build his team around the 23-year-old central midfielder. In full forward, he scored eight and put two more on last season.

Antonin Bobichon scored eight goals for Nimes and set two more seasons

NICE

Head coach: Patrick Vieira

Transfers in: Khephren Thuram (Monaco, free)

Transfers from: Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle, £ 20 m), Olivier Boscaglie (PSV, £ 1.8 m), Romain Perraud (Brest, £ 1.8 m), Christophe Jallet Amiens, free), Jean-Victor Makengo ( Toulouse, loan), Mouez Hassen (released)

Last season: 7th

A summer that made a declaration of intent with me t had to come along, instead he crawled at the same pace as he & # 39; s long-term sale.

Jim Ratcliffe, president of Ineos, will hand over the keys to the Allianz Riviera in the coming week or so, at which time Patrick Vieira will finally be able to build his side for next season.

In all likelihood, it will be too little, too late.

There has just been an arrival in the form of Khephren Thuram – an 18-year-old who joined a free from Monaco – and that has to change after some notable divisions.

Nice manager Patrick Vieira has had a nightmare during his preparations for the season

Allan Saint-Maximin, the club's most powerful attacking threat, has joined Newcastle, meaning work needs to be done to get Le Gym back to the same level.

Whatever changes they make, they cannot eat fast enough. The slump has invaded the team that has defeated tools in some pre-season games – including 8-1 and 6-1 defeats of Wolfsburg and Burnley respectively.

Key man: Dante

is elke kans dat het belangrijkste lid van dit team nog steeds door de deur komt, maar het is van vitaal belang dat de Braziliaanse kapitein het goede voorbeeld geeft om de ploeg bij elkaar te houden na een ruw voorseizoen.

MARSEILLE

Hoofdcoach: Andre Villas-Boas

Transfers in: Dario Benedetto (Boca Juniors, £ 12,6 m) Alvaro Gonzalez (Villarreal, lening)

] Transfers Out: Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla, £ 13,5 m), Clinton N'Jie (Dinamo Moskou, £ 5,4 m), Yusuf Sari (Trabzonspor, £ 250k), Romain Cagnon, Mario Balotelli, Rloando, Tomas Hubocan ( uitgebracht)

Vorig seizoen: 5e

De weigering van Mario Balotelli om zijn verblijf in Marseille te verlengen was teleurstellend voor alle Franse f ootballfans als de verloren competitie, een van zijn ware excentriekelingen na drie seizoenen in Ligue 1.

Echter, wanneer een deur sluit, opent een andere, en Marseille verwelkomt Andre Villas-Boas hun nieuwe baas voegt een ander karakter toe aan de topvlucht.

Andres Villas-Boas keert terug naar Europees voetbal na management in China

Om de Italiaan te vervangen, is Dario Benedetto ingebracht – een 29-jarige international in Argentinië die 45 doelpunten maakte in 68 wedstrijden voor Boca Juniors.

Als zijn komst kan overeenkomen met het behouden van Florian Thauvin, dan het doel is een terugkeer naar Champions League-voetbal voor het eerst sinds 2013, en een eerste poging in Europa's grootste competitie onder Amerikaanse eigenaar Frank McCourt.

Key man: Florient Thauvin

Consequent verbonden met een verhuizing in de afgelopen paar seizoenen, de World Cup-wi ninger vleugelspeler toont nog steeds weinig interesse in het verlaten van de club waar hij van houdt. The 16 goals in 33 league appearances last term demonstrates why he's so important.

LYON

Head Coach: Sylvinho 

Transfers In: Joachim Andersen (Sampdoria, £21.6m), Thiago Mendes (Lille, £19.8m), Youssouf Jones (Lille, £8.1m), Jean Lucas (Flamengo, £7.2m), Ciprian Tatarusanu (Nantes, free), Boubacar Fofana (G.Ajaccio, free)

Transfers Out: Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham, £65m), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid, £49m), Nabil Fekir (Real Betis, £18m), Jordan Ferri (£1.8m), Christopher Martins Pereira (Young Boys £1.9m), Elisha Owusu (Gent, £900k), Timothe Cognat (Servette, nominal fee), Mathieu Gorgelin (Le Havre, free), Jeremy Morel (Rennes, free), Olivier Kemen (Niort, free)

Last Season: 3rd 

There have been some big changes at the Groupama Stadium this summer, but Lyon still look well placed to challenge on all fronts this season.

The losses of captain Nabil Fekir to Real Betis, midfield engine Tanguy Ndombele to Tottenham and left back Ferland Mendy to Real Madrid have left some sizable holes in the squad, but recruitment has been strong.

Thiago Mendes, key to Lille's heroics last season, has filled the gap in midfield, while Youssouf Kone has arrived from the same source to replace Mendy.

Newly installed head coach Sylvinho, the former Arsenal full back, is entering his first full-time managerial role and has brought with him some new practices.

For starters, as Unai Emery has implemented at his former club, there will be a leadership group selected, with no player singled out for captaincy.

However, it may take some time for him to make his mark, if pre-season results are anything to go by. Despite impressing in a 2-1 against Arsenal to lift the Emirates Cup last month, Lyon have lost all of their other four friendlies, including defeats by both Liverpool and Bournemouth.

Key man: Moussa Dembele

Finally hitting his stride following his move from Celtic last summer, the forward looks ready to step up and gave Arsenal a taste of his capabilities in their pre-season clash.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel 

Transfers In: Abdou Diallo (Borussia Dortmund, £29m), Idrissa Gueye (Everton, £27m), Pablo Sarabia (Sevilla, £16.3m), Marcin Bulka (Chelsea, free), Ander Herrera (Manchester United, free), Mitchel Bakker (Ajax, free)

Transfers Out: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Beti, £19.8m), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen (!3.5m), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, £11.7m), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Lokomotiv Moscow, £10.8m), Timoth y Weah (Lille, £9m), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt, £6.3m), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo, free), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, free), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus, free)

Last Season: Champions 

A summer overshadowed by one man and one man alone, Thomas Tuchel and the rest of his side will be grateful when matters on the pitch finally take centre stage.

The Neymar saga still doesn't seem to be close to a conclusion, with the situation even taking centre stage following their Trophee des Champions victory over Rennes, when Kylian Mbappe forcibly removed the Brazilian from the celebration pictures.

Neymar's (centre) future hangs in the balance while Kylian Mbappe will continue to shine

PSG manager Thomas Tuchel will be hoping to maintain his side's dominance in Ligue 1 again

It has distracted from what on the face of it has been a relatively promising summer for Tuchel, who appears to have solved his biggest problem by recruiting Ander Herrera, Idrissa Gueye and Pablo Sarabia to strengthen his creaking midfield.

Their success, though, is likely to depend on the atmosphere inside the club. If Neymar does stick around, he may find himself in a squad finally capable of troubling the latter stages of the Champions League. If he doesn't, well that may improve their chances further.

Key man: Kylian Mbappe

Arguably the most gifted footballer on the planet right now, his presence ensures that the loss of Neymar will barely be felt should the Brazilian get his way.

STRASBOURG

Head Coach: Thierry Laurey 

Transfers In: Alexander Dijku (Caen, £4.1m), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Lens, £1.8m), Lamine Kone (Sunderland, £1.35m), Diogo Branco (Montijo, free)

Transfers Out: Yoann Salmier (Troyes, £450k), Anthony Goncalves (Caen, free), Duplexe Tchamba (Stromsgodset, Loan), Pablo Martinez (Nimes, free), Idriss Saadi (Cercle Brugge, loan), Diogo Branco (Montijo, loan)

Last Season: 11th 

The Coupe de la Ligue winners are already into the swing of things with their European campaign getting underway last month.

Courtesy of their penalty shoot-out win over Guingamp, Thierry Laurey's men began their pre-season schedule on July 3 with a friendly against FC Zurich – just the 40 days after leaving the pitch on the final day of last term.

Since then, they've reached the third qualifying round of the Europa League thanks to a 4-3 aggregate win over Maccabi Haifa and face Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the next round.

Strasbourg finished last season on a high as the Coupe de la Ligue champions

The early start has helped to settle the side, with the only main departure being that of centre back Pablo Martinez, who has moved to Nimes.

Alexander Dijku has been brought in from Caen to replace him, while central midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is the only other new face, joining from Ligue 2 side Lens.

Key man: Lebo Mothiba

Yet to return to the squad after his exploits in the Africa Cup of Nations with South Africa, the striker, along with Ludovic Ajourque, could create a potent partnership.

BREST

Head Coach: Olivier Dall'Oglio 

Transfers In: Romain Perraud (Nice, £1.8m), Ibrahima Diallo (Monaco, £1.8m), Denys Bain (Le Havre, free), Samuel Grandsir (Monaco, loan), Ludovic Baal (Rennes, free)

Transfers Out: Anthony Weber (Caen, £450k), Corentin Jacob, Valentin Henry (both Rodez, free), Quentin Bernard (Auxerre, free), Guillaume Buon (Avranches, loan), Pierre Magnon (Avranches, free), Thomas Ayasse, Edouard Butin (released)

Last Season: Champions (Ligue 2) 

Ending a six-year absence from the top flight, Brest are putting their faith in youngsters to keep them there.

Already boasting France Under 21 international goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur as their No 1, the newly-promoted side have added 21-year-old Romain Perraud from Nice as their first-choice left back, as well as securing 20-year-old Ibrahima Diallo, a midf ield er from Monaco.

One area they haven't bolstered is up top, where head coach Olivier Dall'Oglio can call upon last season's Ligue 2 top scorer Gaetan Charbonnier to lead the line.

His fortunes in front of goal are likely to correlate with Brest's chances of beating the drop.

Key man: Gaetan Charbonnier

Ligue 2's top goalscorer last season with 27 strikes, the 30-year-old will be aiming to produce the goods once more to give his side a chance of staying up.

Brest ended their six-year absence from the top-flight by winning Ligue 2 last season

STADE REIMS

Head Coach: David Guion 

Transfers In: Predrag Rajkovic (Maccabi Tel Aviv, £4.5m), Yehvann Diouf (Troyes, free), Marshall Munetsi (Orlando Pirates, undisclosed), Dialy Kobaly Ndiaye (Cayor Foot, undisclosed)

Transfers Out: Bjorn Engels (Aston Villa, £7.2m), Edouard Mendy (Rennes, £3.6m), Yohan Roche (Rodez, free), Pablo Chavarria (Real Mallorca, free), Thomas Fontaine (Lorient, undisclosed), Virgile Piechocki (G.Ajaccio, undisclosed), A ly Ndom (Auxerre, undisclosed), Marvin Martin, Johann Carrasco (released)

Last Season: 8th 

The sale of centre back Bjorn Engels to Aston Villa has weakened Stade Reims

Fresh from an incredible return to the top flight last season, Reims know they will do extremely well to get near their eighth-place finish this time around.

That's largely in part thanks to a pre-season that has seen them lose a number of key figures from last season's success, including goalkeeper Edouard Mendy who played every minute of the campaign.

The sale of centre back Bjorn Engels to Aston Villa ha s also weakened the side, and if 22-year-old winger Remi Oudin cannot be kept then the responsibility for goals will fall on an attack that currently contains just two options – Hyun-jun Suk and Boulaye Dia.

Those gaps haven't been apparent in pre-season though, with David Guion's men unbeaten in all friendlies – including a convincing 3-1 win over Sheffield United last Saturday.

Key man: Mathieu Cafaro

Out for six weeks and missing the start of the season, the return of the 22-year-old attacking midfielder to the line-up cannot come soon enough, especially if Oudin should leave for Spain.

RENNES

Head Coach: Julien Stephan 

Transfers In: M'Baye Niang (Torino, £13.5m), Flavien Tait (Angers, £8.1m), Edouard Mendy (Reims £3.6m), Romain Salin (Sporting, free), Jeremy Morel (Lyon, free)

Transfers Out:[1 9459020] Tomas Koubek (Augsburg, £6.75m), Benjamin Andre (Lille £6.3m), Brandon (Osasuna, £1.8m), Abdoulaye Diallo (Genclerbirlgi, free), Mexer (Bordeaux, free), Ludovic Baal (Brest, free), Romain Danze (retired), Nicolas Janvier, Edvinas Gertomonas, Hatem Ben Arfa, Mehdi Zeffane (released)

Last Season: 10th 

After a season beyond all expectations, Rennes are dealing with something of a comedown following a memorable European run, topped with lifting the Coupe de France.

Already, a number of those that contributed to one of the best campaigns in the club's history have left the scene, with the irreplaceable Hatem Ben Arfa not renewing his contract and midfielder Benjamin Andre quitting for Lille.

Hatem Ben Arfa decided not to renew his contract with Rennes after a fine season

However, with another European adventure ahead of Julien Stephan's men, they have the advantage of already experiencing a season battling it out on four fronts.

That, along with some creative new additions such as Flavien Tait and the permanent signing of M'Baye Niang, means the cup holders are in a decent position to produce some more unforgettable moments.

Key man: M'Baye Niang

Losing his way after a couple of high-profile moves, the former Milan striker should benefit from the continuity of remaining in a team he thrived in last season.

TOULOUSE

Head Coach: Alain Casanova 

Transfers In: Wesley Said (Dijon, £7.2m), Efthimis Koulouris (PAOK, £3.2m), Agustin Rogel (KS Samara, £2.25m), Jean-Victor Makengo (Nice, loan), William Vainqueuer (Antalyaspor, loan)

Transfers Out: Christopher Jullien (Celtic, £7.2m), Andy Delort (Montpellier, £4.1m), Alexis Blin (Amiens, £1.5m), Steven Fortes (Lens, £900k), Yannick Cahuzac (Lens, free), Yann Bodiger (Cadiz, free) Clement Michelin (Lens, free), Francois Moubandje (Dinamo Zagreb, free), Hakim El Mokeddem (Stade Laval, free), Jimmy Durmaz (Galatasaray, free), Jessy Pi (Caen, undisclosed), Firmin Mubele (Astana, loan) Marc Vidal (released)

Last Season: 16th 

After a season to forget, Toulouse are hoping that their dedication to blooding some of their academy stars may begin to b ear fruit.[1 9459007]

Only cementing their top-flight status on the penultimate day last campaign has called for a major overhaul, with 12 players leaving the club either permanently or on loan.

Left behind, is a youthful squad, including the likes of 21-year-old Ibrahim Sangare and 20-year-old Kalidou Sidibe.

One of the areas they must improve on is up top, however. They mustered just 35 goals last season, less than one a game, with their most prolific striker – Aaron Leya Iseka – grabbing just four.

Relying on Max Gradel, the former Leeds and Bournemouth winger, is no longer something boss Alain Casanova wants to put up with, and the signing of Efthimis Koulouris from PAOK is a bid to ease the burden on the Ivorian.

Key man: Efthimis Koulouris

Enjoyed a productive season on loan at Atromitos from PAOK, scoring 25 goals in all competitions. Even half that total would be a marked improvement for Toulouse's frontline.

Manager Alain Casanova will be hoping to improve on his side's 16th-place finish last season

Source link

[aracecvliwest]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[jeanshesallenberger]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[mariaaklnthony]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[dustinwootenne]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[waltercostellone]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[joannlyfgnch]

How to Find a Keynote Speaker Who Will Make Your Event Great

Tech companies have increased the number of events they put on over the past few years. It’s almost a requirement now for brands to hold their own user- or industry-focused conferences and summits. These events are a great opportunity for firms to exhibit their thought leadership and engage the people who matter most to their success.

If you’re an organizer of one of these gatherings, you know how difficult it can be to find the right speaker. You need someone who knows and understands your industry and can give a speech that will be exciting and engaging to your audience. There are literally hundreds of speakers to choose from, so how do you narrow your search?

1. Search for recommended speakers others can vouch for.

At the risk of stating the obvious, Google is your friend, and it should be your first stop in seeking a speaker for your event. For example, if you start searching for “Top Marketing Speakers” or “Top Sales Speakers” keywords, you’ll find a number of lists providing recommendations for speakers with those areas of expertise. There might even be one specific to your industry.

Of course, these results should be taken with a grain of salt. Speakers included in these articles may have paid to be featured, and it’s very unlikely that the author of the article has seen every listed individual speak. However, such lists are usually a great starting point because they signal who’s interesting enough to be talked about. Even if you don’t choose a speaker from one of these lists, you can often find other candidates by reviewing tweets or comments about the article.

2. Use your network to crowdsource.

You’ve used Google; now, it’s time to consult Human Google — otherwise known as your network. It’s very possible that the people you’re connected with in your industry have had to plan similar events and might have some recommendations (or perhaps warnings) for you. Even if you don’t realize it, you may have connections with high-level influencers you wouldn’t have the ability to contact otherwise.

Reaching out for recommendations is easy: Send out messages via Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and see what comes back. When an influencer is told by a friend that he or she should be at your event, it means a lot more than cold outreach from you alone.

3. Help your prospective speakers before asking for something.

Too often, organizers just want to take. They need a speaker at their event, so they’ll reach out and invite the person to speak in their very first contact. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) Speakers are less likely to accept when they have no existing relationship with you, and 2) if you’ve never spoken with them before, you don’t actually know whether they’ll be a good fit for your event.

Here’s what I suggest instead: Offer to help your prospective speaker. If you’ve seen on social media that he’s working on a big project, offer to lend him your expertise. Even just sending an email that says, “I really enjoy your work and would love to get involved” can go a long way with a speaker or influencer. When you form a relationship by helping someone, you’ll get to know him better, and he’ll be more inclined to accept your invitation later. An added bonus of this approach is that speakers will often give discounts to people they consider friends. Be a friend first.

4. Find out what’s a big win for your candidate.

Again, don’t just be a taker. If you want a speaker to accept an invite to your event, you’ve got to be clear about what’s in it for her (and I’m not talking just about money). The best way to do this is to ask what’s important to her. Does she want to meet certain people, or are there certain opportunities that would bring value to her? Tell the person how your event can help her achieve that.

Influencers typically have large, valuable audiences, so it’s easy for event organizers to see them strictly as resources for themselves. But keep in mind that your organization might be a valuable resource for your prospective speakers as well. Think about their goals, and organize your event so there’s a positive outcome for you and your speakers. Would a book-signing opportunity help them? Could you set up a VIP dinner with executives they might want to meet? Whatever you do, ensure the event is a win-win.

5. It’s not always the biggest names who will bring the most value.

We would all love to hear from the greatest minds in business: Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk — the list goes on and on. But oftentimes, big names don’t get fully behind an event. They’ll fly in the morning of, give their speech, and be on the first flight out. Speeches from these people can still be valuable, but to make your event the best it can be, you need speakers who are just as passionate about the event as you are and who will be continued advocates for your organization.

Smaller names may not attract crowds like a Tim Ferriss or Gary Vaynerchuk would, but they offer something incredibly valuable: the time to build a lasting relationship. That relationship will not only make your event better, but it can have a profound effect on future events as well. If your speakers have a positive experience, they’ll encourage not only their audience, but also other great speakers to participate in your next event.

Finding a keynote speaker can be tough, but it’s certainly not impossible. In the end, the greatest advice I can offer is to remember that influencers are people, too. Just like anyone else, they have things they love and things they need help with. Offer to help them, and they’ll be more inclined to help you.

https://ift.tt/2tFVeNQ

[junker-town]

The ERAs that have never existed in baseball history

Nobody has ever had a 1.05 ERA in baseball history, and that qualifies as news in this offseason.

There were 26 pitchers who finished the 2017 season with a 0.00 ERA. Among them were Jon Jay and Mitch Moreland, three different Tylers, and at least four different players with George Lucas-ass names (David Goforth, Jason Gurka, Damien Magnifico, and Thyago Vieira). It’s not that hard to finish the season with a 0.00 ERA. Don’t allow any runs, stupid, and you’re on your way.

But a 0.01 ERA? Ah, there’s a tricky one. It would take a pitcher 900 innings to have a chance at a 0.01 ERA, and he would only be able to allow one earned run. This has never happened and never will, of course. This also goes for the 0.02 ERA, which would cut the required innings in half, but still be impossible to reach. When you get to the 0.03 ERA, you’re at least in the realm of a reasonable innings target (300!), but it’s still mostly impossible.

The lowest ERA in baseball history that isn’t a flat 0.00? That belongs to Joba Chamberlain, who posted a 0.38 ERA in 2007. It was effectively tied by Buck O’Brien in 1911, except Chamberlain’s ERA was rounded up from 0.375, and O’Brien’s was 0.378, which is just a midge higher. We’ve moved into the area of possible ERAs, now. These are the ERAs that could exist, in theory, but don’t.

My goal today is to find the ERAs that have never existed, the uncharted statistical territories that are without a flag. After the 0.38 ERAs of Chamberlain and O’Brien, we have the 0.39 ERA of Cliff Markle in 1915, and after that, we have the 0.40 ERA of Joel Johnston in 1991. After that, though, there’s a gap, and we have to go all the way to Craig Kimbrel’s 0.44 ERA in 2010 to find an ERA that’s existed in the wild.

Where are the 0.41, 0.42, and 0.43 ERAs? They’re statistically possible, certainly. A pitcher who throws 22 innings and allows an earned run would have the 0.41 ERA. It just hasn’t happened yet.

This brings us to my point: I’m a huge nerd, and I feel like it is my mission to discover the ERAs that haven’t happened yet.

Once you’re deep into the 1.00s, there are several of each. When you’re in the 2.00s, there are dozens of every ERA, give or take. There have been several 2.01 ERAs. There have been several 2.99 ERAs. As you get closer to the median, there are more and more examples. Grover Lowdermilk posted a pi-friendly 3.14 in 1916, and Craig Stammen did it last year. Once you’re into the 3.00s, you’ll notice that almost all of them were claimed before the First World War began.

All of the ERAs from 1.06 to 6.73 are taken. There will be no flags planted on these ERAs. With that written, with the help of Baseball-Reference’s indispensable Play Index, I would like to present the ERAs between 0.00 and 10.00 that have never existed.

0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.25 0.26 0.27 0.28 0.29 0.30 0.31 0.32 0.33 0.34 0.35 0.36 0.37 0.41 0.42 0.43 0.46 0.47 0.48 0.55 0.58 0.62 0.65 0.78 0.80 0.85 0.88 0.91 0.97 0.99

1.05

6.74 6.76

7.72 7.73 7.95

8.01 8.09 8.23 8.30 8.32 8.37 8.43 8.72 8.73 8.93 8.94 8.96 8.97 8.98 8.99

9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.07 9.11 9.21 9.34 9.40 9.44 9.46 9.47 9.51 9.52 9.54 9.59 9.61 9.62 9.63 9.65 9.70 9.73 9.77 9.78 9.79 9.80 9.81 9.83 9.84 9.86 9.89 9.91 9.93 9.94 9.96 9.97

Some of these are achievable. Give up just four runs in 34⅓ innings? You’ve landed on the moon, so to speak, and that 1.05 ERA bodes well for your future. Give up 125 earned runs in 167 innings? Well ... the important thing is that you tried, and at least your 6.74 ERA is one of a kind.

Once you get past 10.00, forget about it. Nobody has posted a 14.39 ERA, and no one ever will. The specific combination of earned runs and innings pitched is too outlandish, especially when you consider that the worse someone pitches, the less likely they are to continue pitching.

My hope when I started this research was that there would be one regular ol’ ERA in the middle that was a holy grail. After all this time, we would realize that nobody had ever had a 4.53 ERA — not even Jeff Suppan — and we would all have a good laugh about it. Except several people have had a 4.53 ERA, including Jeff Suppan. I did not know this before using him as an example for a typical 4.53 ERA, and now I’m scared. I absolutely swear on a stack of Willie Mays cards that this is true.

Instead, it looks like the realistic holy grail is 1.05. It’s tough and demanding, and it would take a heckuva effort. But we’ve seen relief seasons like eight runs in 68⅔ innings. It’s nothing that unheard of for a closer. We just need it to happen again so that we can move on to 0.99.

The larger point is there needs to be a damned trade or a free agent signing because I’m losing my mind. We’re about a news-free week away from me texting, “THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN 8.37 ERA” to my wife, which would be followed by a “THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN 8.43 ERA” text minutes later. She knew what she was getting into, yes, but nobody deserves that. Make some moves, baseball teams.

In conclusion, Grover Lowdermilk. Thank you.

[davidcdelreal]

How to Make Your First $1,000 Blogging (22 step action plan)

Ready for a challenge?  Sign up for my Make 1k Blogging email challenge.  It's a free 10 email series that's main goal is to help you get your blog setup and make your first $1,000 blogging.  Sign up only if you want to make some extra money.  😉

“Can you really make money blogging?”

If I received a dollar each time someone asked this simple question, I would be rich!

For some reason, people struggle to believe you can make money on the internet.

And even once you get them on board, most can barely envision you making more than $20 per month.

The funny part is, I actually did start out making around $20 per month.

While blogging is one of the most lucrative side hustles out there, it can takes months – and even years – to start earning real money.

From the day I launched this website, it took another ten months to start making at least $1,000 per month. Earning $1,000 per month was one of my earliest goals, and I was stoked when I reached that milestone!

Since those early days, my blog income has increased dramatically – first to $2,000 per month, then to $5,000 per month, and to $10,000 per month and beyond.

As of the fall of 2015, my blog had helped me earn over $1,097,575!!!

While that number might sound out of reach, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Remember, I earned almost nothing at the beginning…then graduated to earning at least $1,000 per month after nearly a year!

Out of all the challenges I’ve faced with this endeavor, I still think getting to that $1,000 per month range was the hardest.

For some reason, going from zero to $1,000 in monthly income seems like a miracle, mostly because you're starting from scratch. Growing your income to $5,000 or $10,000 per month, on the other hand, is more about scaling up.

How to Earn Your First $1,000 Blogging

If your goal is earning money on the web, blogging can help you get there. And while it might take you a while to earn a solid income, it’s important to keep your eye on the prize.

The first $1,000 is the hardest, but I’m here to show you the exact steps it took me to reach this lucrative milestone.

If you want to earn $1,000 per month on your blog, here are the 22 steps you should start taking now:

#1: Make a commitment to go all-in.

It’s easy to spend your sleepy weekend mornings dreaming of starting a blog. Unfortunately, dreaming isn’t even close to enough. No matter what side hustle you plan to launch, you must do more than dream – you have to act.

When it comes to blogging, I always suggest people commit to a full year before they even start. Keep in mind that you might earn close to zero that first year, and that your mom will probably be your biggest (and only) fan for a while.

Starting off slow is not only okay; it’s normal. No matter how anxious you are, it takes time to build a successful blog and the kind of readership you need to cash in.

When I started this website, I committed myself to the project with my whole heart. I went all in, folks. Because I felt that blogging was the future of business, I was determined to succeed.

If you want to succeed, you must commit to one year at a bare minimum. Without that kind of commitment, you’re destined to fail without really giving yourself a chance.

#2: Pick a name for your blog.

Once you’ve committed yourself to success, it’s time to move on to the next step of your journey – picking a name for your blog. I can’t remember all the different options I came up with initially, but I do know I settled on FinancialCents.com for a while. But for some reason, something didn’t feel right.

Eventually, I started adding words to come up with a name that would stand out and landed on GoodFinancialCents.com. Even though I’m not thrilled with the name of my blog, I recognize that it’s not the most important factor of my business, either.

As you search for a name for your blog, don’t get so caught up in the process that you refuse to settle.

Make sure to pick something you like, but don’t overthink it too much. Once you have a few hours set aside to come up with a name, I suggest searching for possibilities on a website like GoDaddy.com. Most of the time, you can buy a domain for less than $13 per year.

#3: Sign up for a host.

Once you buy a domain name, your next step is setting up hosting for your blog. There are tons of options out there for hosting, but Bluehost is definitely the least expensive when you’re first starting out.

I started with a company called Lunarpages, which is comparable to Bluehost but slightly more expensive. You can also consider HostGator, Siteground, and others. Regardless of the hosting company you settle on, you’ll be able to install WordPress for free and get started right away.

#4: Pick a theme for your blog.

If you want your initial blog set-up to look professional, it helps to pick a premium theme. When I started blogging, one of the most popular themes was called Thesis. While it still exists today, there are a lot more options in 2017. Genesis, for example, is a popular theme option owned by Studiopress and the one I use for all of my sites.

Before you settle on a theme, make sure to brainstorm how you want your blog to look. Chances are, you’ll find a premium theme that makes sense with your blog style and goals.

#5: Research, research, research.

Regardless of the blogging niche you choose, you’ll want to do a ton of research at first. I can’t tell you how much time I spent trying to understand the mysteries of blogging over that first year. I devoured every piece of information I found, mostly because I wanted to master the craft.

Fortunately, there are a ton of free resources for bloggers all over the web. Make sure to read everything you can about choosing an angle for your blog, building a readership, and monetizing your site. Over time, you’ll figure out how to implement everything you’ve learned.

The more research you can do early, the broader your base of knowledge to pull from will be later on.

If you want to know how to do something, Google it! While this may sound like the worst learning strategy of all time, you'll be amazed at what you find!

#6: Network with other bloggers.

Most people picture “networking” as something you do with strangers at a cocktail party. You stand in the corner, awkwardly chugging beer after beer. Eventually, you work up the courage to meet someone new!

Online networking is similar, except that you don’t have to dress up. And since it's online, you don't have to feel like a big weirdo for reaching out.

When I started blogging, I learned to participate in a popular forum where other money bloggers hung out. By connecting with other bloggers, I was able to build my network, learn some valuable lessons, and create new opportunities for success.

When you are starting out in the blogging world, networking with other bloggers is crucial.

If you’re unsure how to get started, try commenting on your favorite blogs and starting up conversations on social media. Over time, you’ll build relationships with other bloggers that can pay off down the line.

#7: Publish your first post.

Publishing your very first blog post is a necessary, albeit scary, part of the process. Not only is it hard to start a blog out of thin air, but writing isn’t a cake walk, either. A lot of new bloggers think they’ll be able to crank out 3,000-word blog posts from day one, yet can barely squeak out a few words until they get the hang out of it!

The good news is, you don’t have to focus on perfection. Getting your first blog post published is a lot more important than making sure it’s the best post you’ve ever written.

Don’t forget that you can always go back and change things later on if you need to. Most long-term bloggers have upgraded all their content, including their very first blog posts, over time.

You might suck at first, but you'll get better with every word you write.

#8: Write guest posts for other blogs.

Guest posting is a great way to build relationships with bloggers and bring new eyeballs to your website. Not only can it help you get your name out there, but you can build valuable back-links to your website, too.

Once your blog is up and running, offering to guest post for other websites is a smart move.

If you’re unsure who to approach about guest posting, reach out to some of your favorite bloggers via email or social media and just ask. While it’s tough to put yourself out there, remember the worst they can say is “no.”

If you want to see how far I've come, check out this guest post I wrote for Smart Passive Income in 2011!

#9: Learn about keyword research.

As I started guest posting for other blogs, I began learning about keyword research. Instead of writing about random money topics, I learned I could optimize my efforts by targeting keywords with search potential.

The key here is trying to shoot for article ideas where I could rank in the search engines. You see, it’s not enough to write awesome content. If nobody reads it, what's the point? You have to make sure your articles are searchable for the long run. If not, you're just spinning your wheels.

My biggest breakthrough early on was coming up with a strategy to rank for “financial planner Illinois.” As a financial planner in Illinois, I wanted anyone who googled that term to find me.

But here’s something funny. After posting a query about how to rank for that term in a forum I belonged to, I received this message:

 “Jeff, I noticed your thread in the forum and I just wanted to let you know that ranking for those terms is nearly impossible.  With you being a one man shop and one website, you will never be able to compete with all the bigger investment firms located in the Chicago area. Sorry for the disappointing news.”

When you hear from naysayers like this one, don't listen. I have to say, this person was dead wrong. Because my desire to rank for this key word was so strong, I researched different strategies nonstop until I found an answer.

Eventually, my research led me to a friend who suggested I create a separate landing page for my business. For the title of the page, I chose Jeff Rose, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Illinois and added “Certified” and “IL” to help out with Google searches.

The cool thing is, it worked.

The bottom line: Learning some keyword research basics is crucial when you’re first starting out. Initially, I just used Google Keyword Planner. I would also just type phrases into Google and see what the suggested search would come up and focus on the long-tail version of the keyword.

For example, I would type in “Roth IRA” to see what else came up. As you employ this strategy, make sure to do your searches in an incognito window so your cookies don’t influence your search results!

No matter what, your #1 goal should be making sure you’re using your keyword in the URL, title, and body of each blog post. Make sure to check out this on-page SEO guide from BACKLINKO for more tips.

#10: Set up your core website pages.

Even if you just want a place to write, you need more than a “blog” page for your website to become a success. Your core pages should include not only a page for your blog, but an about page, a contact page, and a page for disclosures.

Without these pages, it’s almost impossible for anyone to find out who you are. If you want people to find your website and learn more about you, it’s crucial to populate your site with the information people want.

Here's my “about me” page if you want to take a look. If anyone is curious to learn more about me, I have the information front and center where they can find it.

Keep in mind that your “about” and “contact” pages give you the opportunity to share your side of the story. Telling people who you are in your own words can be very powerful, mostly because it helps people get to know the real you.

And, isn't that the point?

#11: Find your community.

Once you establish your blogging niche, you have to find out where your community hangs out. Is that a forum, a Facebook group, or somewhere else?

As I mentioned already, I did a lot of networking in a personal finance blog forum I found early on. This particular forum no longer exists, but I made a ton of connections there that still benefit me to this day. These days, I do a ton of networking in private Facebook groups and mastermind groups.

The bottom line is this: Look for places where bloggers in your niche hang out. Then, join those groups with a “help first” mentality. If you go in asking favors, you’ll come off as tacky and annoying. But if you join with the goal of serving others, you’ll build real relationships that last.

#12: Snoop out your competition.

The internet is so vast in its offerings that it’s nearly impossible to write a blog on a topic not covered elsewhere. In addition, every niche has a range of top blogs that bring in the most readers and the highest incomes.

If you want your blog to succeed, you should figure out why the top blogs consistently pull ahead in your niche. What are they doing right? What steps are they taking to build traffic that no one else is? What kinds of topics are they covering?

Look at the most popular blog posts on top sites and figure out how you could take that topic and make it your own. Keep in mind, you don’t want to copy people – you want to become better than they are.

In addition to conducting your own research, you can use tools like SEMRush to find out which keywords the top sites are angling for.

#13: Set up your social media accounts.

If you think you can succeed at blogging without worrying about social media, think again. By and large, social media is one of the best tools you can use to build your readership and bring traffic to your blog.

One of the first steps you should take as you start blogging is setting up social media accounts for your website. And remember, you don’t want to use your regular social media accounts for your site! You need to set up new accounts devoted solely to your business venture.

Once your social media accounts are up and running, you’ll want to install social media buttons on your blog. This way, readers who want to follow you on social media can do so with a simple click. Read this post for help setting up social media buttons on your sidebar or footer on WordPress.

Here's an example that shows that I mean:

#14: Write your first epic post!

While getting any type of content up on your site is a huge accomplishment at the beginning, you’ll eventually want something better. Over time, you should make it a priority to write at least one or two epic posts per month.

An epic blog post is one that’s longer and more comprehensive than almost anything else you write.

Not only are longer posts more educational for your readers, but they tend to have good SEO value, too.

My first “monster” blog post was a Roth IRA conversion guide I wrote in 2009. While this post has been updated a few times since then, the original version was more than 3,600 words long!

I wrote this post because I knew it was going to be a hot topic. You see, the IRS lifted the income restrictions on Roth IRA conversations that year, meaning anyone could do it.

If you feel like something could become a “hot topic” in the future, it’s smart to get ahead of that topic with the biggest, most comprehensive blog post you can muster. Trust me – you won’t regret it!

#15: Start gathering emails.

As a blogger, one of the most valuable resources you have is your email list. People who sign up to receive email updates about your blog are your hardcore followers, so you want to do this right.

Adding a pop-up or email capture button on your website early on is crucial. If you wait too long to start capturing emails, you’re only hurting yourself!

While you’ll initially send your email list updates about your website, you'll hopefully graduate to promoting your affiliates. You can also use your email list to build sales funnels that guide your readers toward products you believe in.

When it comes to blogging, your email list is practically money in the bank. That’s why you should start capturing emails right away.

My favorite email service provider is ConvertKit hands down.

#16: Learn about monetization.

As a blogger, I’ve made money in a million different ways. My website not only brings in ad revenue, but additional funds through sponsored content, affiliate marketing and more. While it’s hard to nail each monetization effort from the start, you’ll want to start with these bare bones strategies from the very beginning:

Ad revenue – You can earn ad revenue on your site through Google Adsense, Media.net, AdThrive, and others. This ad revenue can ebb and flow based on the amount of traffic your website brings in along with user engagement. Once your blog is up and running, you can experiment with ad agencies to find the right fit.

Sponsored posts – After your blog becomes established, you’ll start receiving inquiries about sponsored posts or direct advertising. While pay is low at first, you can eventually charge $5,000 or more per sponsored post.

Affiliate Marketing – Affiliate marketing lets you earn blog revenue by promoting products you believe in. In my epic post on The Best Places to Open a Roth IRA, for example, I get paid any time someone clicks through my page and opens a brokerage account.

While monetization is important, you shouldn’t worry too much about it during your first few months.

The most important steps to take at the beginning are getting your blog up and running, then adding content as you’re able.

Once you have at least twenty awesome blog posts on your website, you can move to the next step.

#17: Write your first money-making post.

Once you’re ready, you should come up with a strategy for your very first money-making blog post. This could be an affiliate review of a product you use and love, a personal case study comparing several products or services, or something else. As long as you’re promoting or describing a product or service you can actually sell, you have the potential to earn some cash.

Your money-making post could even be one of those monster blog posts I was talking about. One of my most popular money-making posts is called 100 Ways to Make $100 Fast. While this post started with just a few affiliates, I’ve updated it to include additional money-making opportunities over time.

As you try to nail down your first money-making post, make sure to use some basic keyword research to optimize your efforts. With the right product and keyword strategy, it’s not that hard to write a blog post that can bring in $1,000 or more each month on its own!

#18: Expand your reach even further.

At this point, you should have a basic blog with at least 20-30 blog posts. You should be focusing your time on gathering emails, writing new content, and learning SEO. You should also have a growing social media presence that continues to expand every day.

From here, it’s all about scaling up. To get your name out there – and to get new readers to your blog – you want to make sure people see your name all over the place. You can accomplish this goal by:

Commenting on other popular blogs. People will see your comments and (hopefully) click on your website to learn more.

Join Facebook groups. While it might seem like other bloggers are your competition, blog friends are one of the biggest assets you can have. Make sure to cultivate relationships with other bloggers early and often.

Stay active on social media. If a reader bothers to tweet you, you should respond. Remember, your readers have the power to share your content and bring even more people to your website!

#19: Create a lead magnet.

A lead magnet is a freebie you offer readers in exchange for their email address. This was something I failed to implement early on. I waited way too long to create a lead magnet for my website, mostly because I was overthinking it and focusing too much on perfection.

But when I finally launched my 1st lead magnet The Money Dominating Toolkit, the number of emails I was gathering more than doubled overnight.

Your lead magnet doesn’t have to be fancy; it can be a one-page PDF filled with tips, a checklist that focuses on your area of expertise, a printable resource, or a simple email course.

Need more examples? Here are some lead magnets that work miracles for other money bloggers:

#20: Nurture your email sequence.

Once you start gathering tons of emails and gaining momentum on your blog, a service like ConvertKit becomes a necessity. With ConvertKit, you can segment your email list so you’re not sending the same email to each of your readers every time.

Since your website probably focuses on more than one main topic, having this option can be a game-changer!

Eventually, you’ll want to start employing sales funnels into your strategy. With a sales funnel, you’ll send certain readers a series of emails aimed at tempting them into a purchase or an affiliate sale.

While you can set up a sales funnel manually, the best way to nurture your email list is with a service like MailChimp or ConvertKit!

#21: Review your top content.

Once you have a few monster blog posts and affiliate reviews up on your site, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your progress. By reviewing and updating your best content, you can make sure it’s accurate and give it the best chance at climbing up the ranks in terms of search engine optimization.

Some of my best – and most lucrative – blog posts have been completely overhauled at least five times. To make real money blogging, you have to keep your best content fresh and accurate all the time. The best way to do this is to keep a list of your top producing posts so you can update them at least 1-2 times per year.

#22: Survey your list.

You know what's better than being awesome? Becoming better every year.

As you grow into your role as a blogger, the best way to improve yourself is to ask your readers how you're doing – and what you could be doing better.

Creating a short survey for your list of subscribers can help you receive valuable feedback you can use to improve your website and, eventually, your profits.

A tactic I borrowed from Derek Halpern of Social Triggers is asking “What's the #1 thing you're struggling with?”

Since I have a financial blog, I ask what they are struggling with financially. For our Marriage More blog, we ask what kind of issues our readers are dealing with when it comes to their marriage.

If you have a fashion blog, you could ask for your reader's biggest wardrobe frustrations. If you're into fitness, you would ask about your reader's biggest problems with diet and exercise.

If you want to get more detailed information, you could even tie those questions into a short survey you can create for free with Google Forms. It doesn't matter how you get the information, as long as you get it.

Remember, your readers are the reason you're able to make money. The best way to grow your income while helping others is to figure out their pain points and create products, resources, and content that can help.

Start Making Money Blogging Today

If you follow every step on this list and commit to blogging for a full year, you will start earning $1,000 per month or more. It may take longer than you want it to, and Lord knows it won’t be easy.

But, I believe in you. And, you know what? As long as I have been blogging, I have never seen someone pour their soul into it for a full year and fail.

If you're feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to get started, I totally get that, too. That's why I created a free email series that can show you the step-by-step process for creating a profitable blog. By signing up today, you'll receive regular emails with action items to follow.

You can earn money blogging. Heck, you can even get rich. But remember, it all starts with that very first step.

Ready for a challenge?  Sign up for my Make 1k Blogging email challenge.  It's a free 10 email series that's main goal is to help you get your blog setup and make your first $1,000 blogging.  Sign up only if you want to make some extra money.  😉

The post How to Make Your First $1,000 Blogging (22 step action plan) appeared first on Good Financial Cents.

from All About Insurance https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/how-to-make-1000-blogging/

[maxsolzyourwebconsultant-blog]

Social Media Marketing: Tips for You

As a Website owner, it is imperative to have a conversation with your prospective customer which ultimately drives him to take action, not just once but continuously. After all, a conversation is new marketing thing these days or one might call it ‘marketing is conversation’.

If you read and implement the practical principles in this post, you will start seeing amazing results that will transform your business.

1. Be focused

Before you start out at all, it is important that you understand your goals. When I talk about goals, I’m not talking about social media goals like increasing likes and getting more followers, I’m talking about business goals like generating leads or establishing yourself as an expert in your industry.

Your goal is not to become a social media superstar.  Your goal is to become a business genius because of how well you harness social media to achieve your business objectives.

Your focus should be on how to translate your social media assets to practical business growth

Are you looking to create awareness, humanize your brand, introduce a new product, offer customer service, increase your sales or garner support for a cause?

Your destination will determine the route that will get you there.

2. Choose your platforms for social media marketing

You don’t need to be active on all platforms; you only need to be on the ones that matter to you and your prospects. That’s the basis of social media marketing.

So, using the insights you got from the first step, determine the bare minimum social networks where you need to establish your presence.

Your choice will generally be based on how much time and resources you can devote to each platform and how well the platform suits your business goals especially in terms of ‘hosting’ your ideal clients.

You don’t need to be active on all platforms; you only need to be on the ones that matter to you and your prospects.

For a start, you should plan to invest at least one hour per day per social media platform. Apart from time, you should also consider your available resources.

For instance, before choosing to go with Pinterest, check if you have the capacity to generate infographics and other visual content.

If you’re considering YouTube, do you have the skills and resources for creating video content?

The point is to make sure you have what you need before diving in.

3. Optimize your profiles

Before you start posting content, take some time to thoughtfully, deliberately and completely fill out your profiles.

Ensure that your profile photos, cover images, bio and profile information are up-to-date, professional and consistent across your chosen platforms.

For your profile picture, use a high-quality image, preferably your business logo or a professional headshot.

The most important thing about your bio is that it should reflect who you are, what you do, who you do it for, what those people want or need and how connecting with you will change or improve their lives.

It’s not a sales pitch. See it like a brief introduction that helps you get your feet in the door and make your target audience interested in connecting with you.

Make it personal and use keywords that suit your target audience.

4. Cultivate a distinctive voice and tone

No matter how good your social media plan is, without an effective content strategy, it’s like a car without fuel – it won’t get you anywhere.

The first thing you need to ask yourself when it’s about social media marketing is simple. What kind of content do you want to share on your social media platforms?

Now, as important as it is to have valuable text and visuals, content is a whole lot more than that.

The ‘spirit’ of your content is more important than the ‘letter’

In other words, it’s not just about what you say; it’s much more about how you say it. How do you want your customers to think about you and your business?

What kind of perception do you want to create? What feelings do you want to evoke when they relate to you?

Think about this and let it shape the voice and tone of your messages. The principle is to let your brand personality bleed through your content.

5. Deliver amazingly useful content

You must consistently share helpful content that provides your audience with lots of value. You can deliver content in a variety of formats including simple text posts, images, videos, links, quotes and reshares.

Rather than focusing on just one medium, use different types for variety. There’s overwhelming evidence that visual content gets a lot more views and engagement than plain text updates.

You can easily create graphic posts using tools like Canva or Pablo. Now, it’s easy to know all the right things to do. The real work – and the difficult part – is actually doing it consistently.

That’s why you need a content calendar to plan and schedule your posts. If content is the fuel that drives your social media marketing engine, your content calendar is the fuel dispenser – or maybe fuel storage tank.

You can use a simple spreadsheet or any of the tools available online. The important thing is to include a few essential components.

The social media account, the publish date and time, the type of content (article, video, photo, etc.), the actual post you plan to share, and any necessary media you’d like to go with it.

6. Automate routine tasks

Once you have done the hard work of planning and collecting your content, you should make things easier for yourself by automating routine tasks like posting content.

Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Crowdfire, Social Jukebox (formerly Tweet Jukebox) and other such tools make it easy to ‘drip’ content into your social media feeds.

That is, you can load up your social media accounts with content in advance and schedule the content to deliver at specified times or over a period of time.

This helps you to keep your social media timelines fresh and active without having to always fret about posting content.

If you have a self-hosted WordPress website, you can achieve this by using a plugin like Revive Old Post (formerly Tweet Old Post) or SNAP (Social Networks Auto-Poster).

I’ll sound a note of caution here. You must be smart in your automation and not let it look like a robot is managing your account.

7. Leverage the power of community

Jeff Goins makes many profound statements in his book, The Art of Work. Here’s one that particularly stands out to me:

Every story of success is, in fact, a story of the community

It is practically impossible to survive alone much less thrive in isolation. So, it is important that you forge real relationships with people.

And don’t do it for what you’ll get; do it for what you’ll give. It probably sounds counterintuitive but what you give will ultimately come back to you in multiple folds.

You cannot downplay the place of building high-quality relationships with influencers and other people in your field. You should also consider participating in groups and forums where your ideal clients hang out.

Join relevant groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Participate in Google communities. Join Twitter chats in your areas of business interest. Eventually, you should also consider launching your own group.

A close-knit community gives you the opportunity to regularly engage with your ideal customers and bond with them. There you listen to them, solve their problems and provide them with valuable resources for free, long before ever asking for a sale.

8. Analyze and measure

Usually, you won’t get it right the first time. And even if you do, there will always be room for improvement. But you can only improve what you measure.

So you need to find out what’s working and what’s not so that you can do more of what’s working and redesign or discard what’s not.

What percentage of your referrals and website visitors are coming from social media? What posts are attracting the most engagement in terms of shares, retweets, clicks, likes, comments and replies?

Although these ‘vanity metrics’ (likes, followers etc.) have their value, they are not the most important statistics to look out for.

You should pay more attention to reaching, sign-ups and conversions, leads generated, website traffic and revenue generated.

The major social media platforms have their native analytics reporting systems that provide you with relevant data which you can then analyze and interpret in light of your overall objectives.

Another good idea is creating a custom reporting system using RSS feeds and tools like Google Analytics if you have a bit of tech savvy. Better still, you can opt for an easy-to-use social media dashboard like the ones offered by Hootsuite and Buffer.

9. Convert fans into friends and connections into customers

You don’t need any convincing that effective use of social media is a great way to grow your business – you already know that – otherwise, you wouldn’t come this far.

However, you must also realize that building your entire marketing and promotion strategy on social media is like building your house on shifting sand.

The social media marketing world is transient – things change every time. Many platforms that were the rave a couple decades ago are much less successful today.

Social media has come to stay, but the platforms and tools will continue to change. As a serious businessperson, you want to squeeze as much juice as you can from your social media investment.

The way to do this effectively over the long term is to consider social media marketing as a means to an end, not an end in itself

Use it to initiate relationships with your prospective customers and get them to give you their email addresses or some other means to connect with them more closely.

That way, you can be sure of being able to reach them when necessary. Social media platforms are an excellent way to create initial awareness, interest, and desire.

But, eventually, you should get the prospect to take action either by buying your product/service or by joining your email list.

The most desirable goal would be to make the potential customer do business with you right away but you may not always be able to achieve that.

The next best thing is trying to get more information and securing permission for future interactions. This is one major boost that your email list provides for your marketing efforts.

10. Put your money where your mouth is

You’ve probably heard it said that “The best things are free”. It’s a popular statement but that does not make it true. Essential things may be free but the best things are not.

Every time you get a good thing for free, you should know that someone paid for it. The same principle applies to your social media efforts.

You can get started for free but if you want the best results, you’ll need to invest your resources. Especially time, effort and money.

You’ll need to subscribe to paid versions of social media management tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Crowdfire or whichever one works for you. You’ll need to run adverts too.

Social media is not cheap as most people believe; it is actually expensive – in a different way.

You need money to run social media campaigns but you don’t need to have the marketing budget of Coca-Cola before you can make a significant impact on social media.

So, there you have it – a simple action plan to help you amplify your influence and generate a consistent stream of clients.

Social media strategy will vary from person to person and business to business, but the fundamentals are the same.

[jcmacri]

The 50 Most Valuable Assets in the NBA

by Jonathan Macri

Now, perhaps more than ever, the task of coming up with a list of the most valuable assets in the NBA is nearly impossible. There are several reasons for this. For one, contracts are generally shorter, which makes a player’s value go down because he can leave sooner…except that the new CBA makes it really tempting for players to resign with their own team, so it’s not that big of a deal…only the player is resigning at a super-duper high salary, which makes him less valuable…but not really because the cap is so big and there is such a premium on star players that teams will pay whatever they have to to get them. 

Making all of this more complicated is the fact that right now, there are, barring major injury, two teams with a realistic chance at winning a championship, not only this year, but next year as well. In the NBA, as with any professional sports league, the primary goal should always be winning a championship. Much ink has been spilt over the last several years about the team building ethos of the Charlottes, Utahs, and Grizzlies of the world, teams and markets who value being consistently competitive over going for the all or nothing approach perfected by the 76ers. Admit it: outside of Oakland, Cleveland, and maybe Minnesota, what current team has a better shot at winning the whole damn thing at some point over the next decade than Philly? 

Therein lies the difficulty of these rankings. If you believe there is inherent value in simply being a good team that may, if everything breaks right, sniff a conference finals or two in the near future, than someone like, say, Marc Gasol should be incredibly high on this list; he is probably still the best all-around center in the NBA, and as long as he is on the Grizzlies, they will probably figure out a way to be competent enough to win a solid number of games and even a playoff series here or there. 

If, on the other hand, you believe that playoff mediocrity is the worst fate for a team because it gets them no closer to the ultimate prize, than Marc Gasol would hold much less value, as one could argue Memphis would be better off trading him for young assets and draft picks and bottoming out. 

For these rankings at least, I have attempted to split the baby. A player’s ability matters first and foremost, but team and contract situation are not ignored, and if a young player gives a team a chance at building something that could eventually lead to that organization climbing the mountaintop, that player gets preference over a better player who will in all likelihood never be able to lead his team to such heights. That being said, nothing is more valuable than a truly great player on a team built to win right now.

A few other notes: I tried to consider a player’s value to his own team as much as, if not a bit more than, his value to other teams (for example, the fact that Golden State isn’t giving up their core pieces for basically anything this year because they’re overwhelmingly favored to win it all matters significantly). On that note, it’s almost impossible to consider a player as an asset in a vacuum - merely looking at his current performance, potential, and contract situation, and taking team out of it - but in situations where team context is rather muddled, this was done to break ties. Salary matters, but less so than in years past, mostly due to the cap boom, but also because, again, top level talent is truly priceless today in this league above all others. Platoons work in baseball, but Anthony Morrow and Andre Roberson do not equate to Kawhi Leonard. Lastly, re: the new CBA, the assumption has been made that a player is far more likely to take the giant sum of money waiting for him if he stays put. This isn’t true across the board, but it is the rule, not the exception. 

With all that said, a look at the honorable mentions before moving on to the top 50…

HONORABLE MENTION

Carmelo Anthony

It was hard to even squeeze him into the honorable mention category, not because of the negatives he brings (ball hogging, defensive indifference, and general inconsistent effort, mainly) or because of the bloated salary, but because it’s unclear that there’s a single team in basketball that he would make even 5% more likely to win a championship if you dropped him in the middle of their lineup tomorrow in exchange for precisely nothing.

Khris Middleton

Derrick Favors

Two players who have gotten lost in this NBA season due to injury; Middleton just came back, while Favors hasn’t been himself all year. They both seem like they have been around forever, but each is still 25 years old and possesses a skill set that any team could use. Middleton is signed for two more years at $27 million, followed by a player option, while Favors makes $12 million next season and then becomes a free agent. There would be a long list of takers if either became available. 

Jahlil Okafor

Nerlens Noel

It’s good for them both that it looks like the Sixers are finally going to trade Okafor, because each has a chance to make positive impact in the league for a long time. Okafor is looking more and more to be a reasonable facsimile of Brook Lopez, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Noel, meanwhile, could wind up being a defensive player of the year someday in the right system. The problem with both players is that, due to their limitations, neither fits seamlessly into just any system.

Gary Harris

Rodney Hood

Two shooting guards in the third year of their rookie contracts who have been somewhat marginalized on their own teams, but nonetheless will become $15-$20 million players before too long given the lack of reasonable options at the position across the league. 

Mike Conley

Bradley Beal

CJ McCollum

Harrison Barnes

Each of these four vets signed new deals in the offseason at over $20 million per year (and in Conley’s case, over $30 million), which doesn’t make any of them a bargain, but it’s telling that at least so far, none of their teams are having buyer’s remorse, which is far more than a lot of teams can say about their offseason moves. Conley is the best of the bunch, but his age and mammoth contract relegate him below the other three in this group. 

Justise Winslow

A year ago, he was number 43 on this list. Since that time, his passing improved and he became comfortable shooting more, but his shot still seems like it needs an overhaul, and then finally he went down to season ending shoulder surgery at the end of 2016. At this point, he seems like he’ll end up closer to Tony Allen than Kawhi Leonard, but if there is any organization who can figure out how to work out the kinks in the next few years, it is the Heat.

George Hill

About to get very expensive, but he is the league’s most underrated point guard and Utah is not going to let him get away.

Paul Milsap

Here’s what I wrote about Al Horford a year ago, last season’s final omission before the top 50:

$145 million over the next 5 years. That’s what Al Horford’s next contract with the Atlanta Hawks (or whoever might trade for him this deadline) could be worth, and he’ll be on the wrong side of 30 when he signs that deal…while he’s still one of the 20 to 30 best players in the league, the fact that the Hawks are not legitimate championship contenders this year, when added to the above, makes him the final cut from the top 50.

Replace Al’s name with Paul’s and $145 million with $150 million +, and we’re all set.

THE TOP 50

IT’S STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL

50. (tie) D’Angelo Russell & Emmanuel Mudiay

More than a season and a half into each of their careers, it isn’t yet clear what either of these guys is. League average point guards? That’s probably the most likely outcome for each player (which wouldn’t be that bad, considering the current definition of league average – guys like Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague – will be highly sought after come summertime). There’s still a chance one or both elevates their game to something higher than that; just think about Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas, each of whom has been or is currently an All-NBA level player. All three also needed to change teams to reach their full potential, and there already exists the notion that Denver should consider including Mudiay in a package for a more established player. They are too smart for that though, and will give him a chance to hone a still raw skill set. Russell, on the other hand, seems closer to being what he’s going to be: a steady but unspectacular pro who will benefit greatly from better talent around him. The reason they squeeze onto the list ahead of players that at first glance one would think should be below is because of just how tough it is to land a star, and the face that either of these guards could potentially reach that level would have teams jumping to take the risk of finding out. 

49. Jaylen Brown

He’s still kind of lump of clay, figuring out the pro game as a 20-year-old who looked raw even against college players. He was starting for three weeks before suffering a hip injury and the results were mixed. While Boston won nine of the ten games that Brown started, their scoring margin with him on the court in those games was negative (granted, most were close games). His elite athleticism and ability to get to the rim, along with having the prototypical body for an NBA wing, are qualities that more than justify his placement here, although it’s too early to say what his eventual ceiling is going to be.

48. Brandon Ingram

Like Brown, Ingram is still so raw, but won’t turn 21 for a year and a half and has done nothing to suggest he wasn’t deserving of the second overall selection in the Draft this June. One would think that he is the most untouchable young asset that the Lakers have, although if a star came on the market, it would be difficult to see LA passing up the opportunity, even if it meant parting ways with the 6’9” swingman.

47. Jamaal Murray

Is he a straight two guard, or can he handle the ball well enough to run Denver’s offense from time to time? The answer to that question will go a long way in determining his future value, but regardless of the answer, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he is the steal of the 2016 Draft. He’s a pure shooter at the NBA’s scarcest position, and is already showing tantalizing ability as a rookie. He is absolutely part of the Denver core.

46. Aaron Gordon

45. Zach LaVine

They were grouped together on last year’s version of this list, not because of their legendary dunk contest performance, but because of how they each seemed like they were just starting to figure out how to use their freakish athleticism in the context of NBA games. Since that time, LaVine has mostly soared, averaging 19 a game this season while hitting 39% of his threes (to be fair, his defense was still a train wreck). Just when it looked like the Wolves might make a late playoff push (and they still might), LaVine went down with a left ACL tear at the beginning of this month. Alternatively, Gordon’s season has been a disaster from the start. He has been playing out of position at small forward, and even now that Orlando has traded away Serge Ibaka, there is still no guarantee they play Gordon full-time at the 4. Somewhere in there, an intriguing player does still exist, though it seems like it’s going to take a semi-competent franchise to unlock his potential.

(as an aside, The Magic should send regular gifts on all holidays to both the Kings and Knicks, who each make Orlando’s regular-old “we don’t know anything about team building” dysfunction look pale in comparison to the “complete and total tire fire” dysfunction that New York and Sacramento specialize in.)

DIRT-CHEAP 3 AND D CELTIC WINGS

44. Avery Bradley

43. Jae Crowder

Yup, they get their own category.

First, Bradley…quick: name every guard/wing player in the league averaging at least 17 points, 7 rebounds, and shooting 40% from three? If you count Kevin Durant as a wing, the answer is two, with AB being the other. Yes, it’s an arbitrary stat, but it underscores how valuable he is, and that’s not even mentioning his elite level defense.

As for Crowder, he was originally in the honorable mention section of this list, but then I started to write about how guys who do what he does are getting paid two and three times as much money as him even though they’re 75% as effective, and I quickly recalibrated. Like Bradley, Crowder is making over two 3’s a game this year and shooting them over 40% while also locking up opposing wings. The reason he edges Bradley is the money; AB is only making $8 million per, but will become a free agent in 2018. Crowder on the other hand will make as much money over the next three seasons as Chandler Parsons makes this year. He takes home the award once again for the best contract in basketball.

NOT QUITE ALL-STAR POINT GUARDS

42. Goran Dragic

41. Eric Bledsoe

Both were thought to be on the block earlier this season, and then they really stepped up their level of play since the new year. Each player is signed at reasonable money for at least two more seasons after this one (Dragic has a player option for 2019-20), and are likely to remain nearly as effective through the life of their contract. There’s little doubt that there would be several takers offering real assets if either team decided to make them available.

VETERAN BIGS

40. Hassan Whiteside

39. DeAndre Jordan 

38. LaMarcus Aldridge

37. Al Horford

36. Marc Gasol

At the league’s most loaded position, each of these centers (to hell with what Al and LMA claim they are) bring their own positives and negatives to the table:

Gasol is the best of the lot right now and is earning under $25 million in each of the next two seasons before his player option comes up, but he’s 32 and his team is locked into mid-tier playoff mediocrity for the foreseeable future. Of all of the big men here though, he is the only one who could probably elevate half a dozen teams in the league from fringe contenders to legitimate threats to win it all. 

Boston is already thinking they will have a championship run in them at some point during the length of Horford’s deal, but like Gasol, his play is likely to decline and he only gets pricier as he ages.

The Spurs can never be counted out, and LaMarcus Aldridge has had a ho-hum, near-All-Star season in helping lead San Antonio to the league’s second best record, but like Gasol and Horford, he is over 30 and can opt out of his current deal after next season.

DeAndre Jordan is the only key Clipper locked up after this year, and he finally made an All-Star team, but his value is severely dampened without Chris Paul throwing him lobs, He can also opt out after next season.

Finally, Whiteside has thus far justified Miami’s bet on him and he’s the youngest of this bunch, but he doesn’t bring the complete package the other players do and there’s no telling how well he’d function outside of Miami, who has figured out how to use Hassan to the best of his abilities. 

35. DeMarcus Cousins

This seems about right for Boogie, just below a group of young assets that have a chance to be franchise cornerstones and established stars who don’t come with the baggage of the NBA’s most mercurial All-Star. 

We all know what he is. One of the two or three best all-around bigs in the league when engaged, and he’s still just 26 years old. There’s nothing he can’t do on a basketball court, but there’s no locker room he can’t destroy off of it, according to the sum total of the evidence collected, the most damning of which might be that former teammates feel like it’s just too damn tiring to have to constantly walk on eggshells in his presence. 

He’s as good a candidate as any to round out the top 35. 

YOUNG BUILDING BLOCKS

35. Jabari Parker

Jabari was in the top 20 before the second tear of his left ACL, which feels criminal considering he had finally come alive as the offensive force he was predicted to be coming out of college. There’s no telling how his game will adjust once he comes back, but he was never exactly a high flier to begin with, and his offensive game is fairly crafty. Even before the injury, he was never going to be the best player on a contending team, but as long as he plays alongside his front court mate in Milwaukee, he doesn’t need to be. He lands here, as there’s still a good chance he averages an efficient 25 a night for the next six to eight years after he returns. 

33. Miles Turner

He’s been a slightly worse version of Kristaps Porzingis, so he probably shouldn’t be all the way down here, but he doesn’t appear to have quite the same level of superstar potential (you have to guard his long ball, but it’s nowhere near the threat of KP’s), although that could be more perception than reality because of where he plays and the fact that his team doesn’t feature him quite as much.

32. Devin Booker

He’s averaging over 20 a game and he’s not yet old enough to drink. He plays a premium position, can move with the ball enough to keep defenses honest, and after a disastrous early season shooting slump, has his three-point shooting up to 36%. His defense is always going to be an issue, but he looks to be the most indispensable part of the Phoenix rebuild.

GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED ALL-STARS

31. Gordon Hayward

Even though Utah can offer him far more than any other team, there is some thinking that he is the likeliest free agent to change teams this summer. He’s still only 26 years old, but there already seems to be league-wide acknowledgement that he is not going to be worth his next contract. Despite all of the above, Utah will roll the dice that he stays, and will pay him whatever it can to make sure that happens. 

30. Kyle Lowry 

It seems rude to put the best guard in the Eastern Conference this season so low. Unfortunately, he is 30 years old – not a great age for point guards, especially ones who have had conditioning issues in the past. His next contract will start at a number right around his age, and won’t be pretty on the back end. Toronto’s offseason will be fascinating to watch, especially now that the Ibaka trade has been made and he is also due for a new contract come July.

29. Andre Drummond

28. DeMar DeRozan

27. Damian Lillard

Each of the next half-dozen NBA seasons will likely feature an All-Star appearance from at least one of these players (this year, it’s DeRozan). They are locked up at dollar amounts that are high but fair in the current economic landscape. None of them play for a team that is likely to end up in a Finals any time soon (although Toronto will certainly try), but none of their franchises would even consider a rebuild at the present moment. Most significantly, there are legitimate questions about each player’s game even as they enter or become entrenched in their prime: defense for Lillard, shooting for Derozan, free throw shooting (and general offensive prowess) for Drummond. But in a league where Evan Founier can sign an $80+ million contract and have it be considered a bargain, even with their faults, these three are looked at as assets that almost every other team in the league would kill to have. 

26. Kemba Walker

25. Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas and Kemba Walker are both All-Star point guards in the prime of their careers. If the season ended today, Isaiah would probably slot next to Steph Curry on the All-NBA 2nd team, while Kemba would have a compelling case for 3rd. Thomas is as good a crunch time scorer as there is in the league, while Walker might be its hardest worker and greatest overachiever, willing his way to becoming a 40% three point shooter after he entered the league barely over 30%. They are both ridiculously underpaid. 

Despite the similarities, they are in drastically different situations. Kemba Walker is not going anywhere, but it’s because the Hornets are so hard pressed to find free agents willing to go there (they just traded for four years’ worth of a Plumlee brother). That they have Walker’s services for the next two seasons after this one at the price of an above-average backup is the best thing the organization has going for it. 

Thomas’ is a different story. He is getting paid less than some guys who are not good enough to be in the rotations of bad teams, but that contract is up after next season and his team is about to get a guaranteed top 4 pick in the most point-guard rich draft maybe ever. It will be fascinating to see whether Danny Ainge “backs up the Brinks truck,” as Thomas has politely requested, to keep a brilliant offensive player whose defense may never be good enough to allow his team to win it all. The other scenario would have him trading a soon-to-be 28-year-old MVP candidate on a pseudo-contender, which is something not even Danny would likely be able to stomach.

24. Blake Griffin

23. Chris Paul

How does one even begin to assess the trade value of the Clippers duo? Let’s start with Paul. He’s still the best point guard in the league, at least in the classical sense of the position. His value to a team, at both ends of the floor, has only been reinforced by his absence this season. When the team was healthy and rolling early on, there were at least discussions about whether they could pose a threat to the Warriors in a seven game series. Since he went out, they are a tire fire that can’t stop anyone.

And yet…he is over thirty with a lot of tread on the tires and a not-insignificant injury history. As a pending free agent, he would be impossible to move this season, not that the Clippers would ever entertain a trade. If, though, an alternate universe existed in which they did, it would be hard to find a team willing to give up the assets it would take to get him. Damn near every established playoff team is already set at point guard, and Paul obviously has no interest in resigning anywhere that isn’t a contender. And then there’s the small matter of his next contract, which could be the worst in the league by the time it ends.

As for Blake, much has been written about how well his game will age once his athleticism goes (and the thinking seems to be that he will still be very, very good) but this will be the third year in a row he plays under 70 regular season games due to injury. The Clippers will happily pay him the max, but like Paul, the better question is where his value lies if he ever did hit the trade market. He’s not a get-to-the-rim, three-point bombing guard, he’s not a rangy, switchy 3 and D wing, and he’s not center who drains bombs and protects the rim (he does neither). In other words, he doesn’t give you one of those gotta-have-it skills that teams crave…he’s just really, really good. Plenty of teams would move pieces and use up cap space to take the risk of finding out just how he is going to age, but for all the above reasons, he’s no longer considered the top-10 asset that he was for years, even as he enters what should be his basketball prime. 

22. Rudy Gobert

He might be the best defender in basketball outside of Leonard and Green, and for Utah, that skill set is the foundation of everything they do on that end of the floor. On offense, he is functional enough to be an asset. Most importantly, any team in the league would be able to seamlessly fit him into their framework (assuming you don’t own one of the freak-of-nature centers lower on this list). He is locked up for the next four years after this one at a rate only slightly higher than some backup centers, and he won’t turn 30 until after that deal is up. He may never make an All-Star team, but his value is undeniable.

21. Kevin Love

Would the Cavs do the Wiggins deal over again? Certainly, given last year’s outcome. But what if they had the opportunity to rescind the trade today and get Wiggins back? Even with Love out for 6 weeks, it’s still unclear if they would, being in a position to once again win it all and Love giving them the better chance to make that happen. So why is Wiggins higher on the list that Love (spoiler alert: he’s not that much higher)? The Cavs would at least have to give the deal some thought, and there’s a chance that even with the championship, they end up regretting the original deal. The Wolves, on the other hand, would hang up the phone, and you’d be hard pressed to find another team in the league that would give up a shot at Wiggins’ potential for the surer thing in Love.

WE’RE GOING TO LET THIS ONE PLAY OUT

20. Andrew Wiggins

19. Ben Simmons

In all likelihood, within a few years, one of these two will probably end up as a top five asset. There’s also a non-zero chance that one of them doesn’t make this list at all. Even though Wiggins has all the tools to be the next Kawhi Leonard, enough questions have been raised about his game for some to wonder whether he is the best long-term compliment for Towns. Simmons, on the other hand, has yet to play an NBA game, but even if he never develops a jump shot, his playmaking and physical tools alone are enough to justify his place here.

WE NEED BOTH BROOKLYN PICKS…AND THEN SOME

18. John Wall

17. Jimmy Butler

16. Paul George

Three ultra-talented players. Each has an argument for filling out the bottom of anyone’s top-10 list of the best players in the league. All three might even make the cut. Each plays for a team which is firmly planted somewhere in the delicious, creamy middle of the Eastern Conference. All three of those teams have had their organizational directions questioned at some point since the summer, and none of them appears to have a clear path towards contention any time soon (although the Wiz are sure making it interesting). Before the new CBA, each would have had as good a shot as the other two to come in second (after Boogie) on the list of superstars most likely to be traded in the next calendar year, but now things are more complicated. Even though neither the Wizards, Pacers or Bulls seem able to rise to contender-level status in the near future, these three would be nuts to leave the money on the table that is sure to await them from their current team when their present deals run out. They are also all either 26 or 27 years old, meaning there is more than enough left in each of their primes for their teams to think they are one fortuitous event away from a magical Finals run.

EFFECTIVELY UNTOUCHABLE

***With their teams poised to meet once again in the Finals (and easily the favorites to make it a four-peat the year after), these three aren’t going anywhere.

15. Draymond Green

14. Klay Thompson

13. Kyrie Irving

Let’s start with Green…so what if he's just the best complimentary player in the league? He’s the best complimentary player on the best team in the league that is poised to be great for several more seasons after this one. They are not moving him, but as a theoretical trade candidate, he is as interesting as any player in the league. His on-court antics must be balanced with his unselfishness, not to mention his undeniable presence in the locker room. His contract is the second-best long term deal in the entire league for a player making over $10 million annually (Kawhi takes the cake there). No, he probably wouldn’t be very successful as a team’s alpha dog, but the league actually has a surprisingly large amount of alpha dogs and not nearly enough guys who do everything else really, really well. There is arguably no team in the league that he wouldn’t make considerably better, and no team where he wouldn’t be able to fit in seamlessly. He deserves to be here. 

As for Klay and Kyrie, two guards with identical contracts, the question is which player would have more value to other teams in the league. On one hand, Klay Thompson doesn’t seem to be the type of player that one could build a team around, primarily because he’s a guard who doesn’t move particularly well with the ball. Outside of a historically great offense featuring one - and now two – all-time greats, it is unclear how good he would make a team by himself, although last year’s on/off numbers for his backcourt partner would seem to indicate that Klay’s value without an elite ball-handler is limited. There are also varying opinions on his defense.

Kyrie’s time with the Cavs before LeBron arrived and more recently when he hasn’t shared the court with the king has shown exactly what an Irving-led team would be: pretty average. He is an isolation player, and even though he is a great one, maybe the best at his position, he doesn’t seem like the guy another team would mortgage everything for if LBJ retired tomorrow and the Cavs decided to rebuild. Still, he edges out Klay here because there’s still a chance that at 24, he hasn’t yet reached his potential.

THE DIRTY DOZEN

***The following twelve players can be put in any order, because unlike every other player on this list, there is zero possibility of any of them going anywhere.

12. Russell Westbrook

Really? There are 11 better assets players in the NBA than a 28-year-old averaging a triple double who is all but guaranteed to finish top-3 in the MVP voting this year? Hold that thought.

11. Nikola Jokic

10. Kristaps Porzingis

9. Joel Embiid

8. Anthony Davis

7. Karl Anthony Towns

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo

This is where it gets tricky.

Russell Westbrook is very likely to sign a mammoth contract extension this summer that will keep him in OKC into his early 30’s (the new CBA made an exception so that he will be able to sign a 5 year, $219 million deal). Given that he’s unlikely to go anywhere, isn’t he more valuable than at least a few of the young, unproven players listed here?

Not necessarily. Let’s start with age: Russell is 28 years old, while the oldest player out of these six is Anthony Davis at 23, meaning none have hit their primes yet. Of greater importance is how Westbrook plays. He relies so much on his athleticism that it’s a bit scary to think of how his game will adjust when his unholy natural abilities start to wane.

The better question is whether any of these teams would give up their young stud for Russ. Even if they knew they would have him for the long haul, the answer is simple: not a chance. On the other hand, OKC would make any of those deals in a heartbeat. They’re not competing for a championship this year, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Trading away an MVP candidate having a historically great season would be impossible to swallow, but hitting the reset button with someone between five and seven years younger would be in the best long-term interests of the franchise.

The next question is how to order these six monsters. There’s a chance that any of them could wind up having the best NBA career, but if every NBA team outside of Golden State, Cleveland, San Antonio and Houston was given the chance to trade their best player for any one of the six, one of two would likely be at the top of everyone’s list: Towns and the Greek Freak.

Before a comparison between the two, a look at the other candidates…

This spot for Jokic may seem high, especially since he was coming off the bench not long ago, but it won’t be long before the entire basketball universe knows what Denver finally figured out and what NBA nerds have known since last year: this guy is unreal. A team can not only run an offense through him, but he’s already showing the potential to become a Marc Gasol-level playmaker and the most unstoppable low post scoring machine in the league. 11 is probably too low for him.

As a Knicks fan, it’s painful to put the unicorn all the way down here at number 10, but there’s no telling the sustained damage that playing for the league’s most dysfunctional franchise will have on his long-term potential. He has Curry’s range, moves well with the ball, and routinely makes highlight reel defensive plays in the post, but it doesn’t appear he’ll ever have the body to dominate down low and it’s unclear how he’ll fair defending the perimeter in the long run.

Embiid is a tempting choice to not only put at the top of this group but to put at the very top of this list, but the foot issues did not go away just because he has taken the NBA by storm. That alone keeps him down here.

Anthony Davis has reasserted himself this year as the best big man in basketball. There is nothing he can’t do on a court, but at this level, it’s about splitting hairs, and while Davis has reached his peak, Towns and Giannis are just approaching that level. He can also opt out of his max contract in three years, and if New Orleans continues to be mired in sub-mediocrity, there’s at least a chance he will leave money on the table to go elsewhere.

That leaves Towns and Giannis. Both will be with their teams for the long-term. They are 21 and 22 years old, respectively. Giannis is an All-NBA level player this year, and Towns will be there next season. Each has a supporting cast that will give them a real chance to compete for big things in the coming years. Ultimately, Giannis edges out Towns for the simple reason that NBA wings are as premium a position as there is in sports outside of NFL quarterbacks and MLB aces. Otto Porter and Kentavious Caldwell-Freaking-Pope are about to make twenty million American dollars per season, a year after the Nets were lauded for attempting to sign Allen Crabbe to a four year, seventy two-million-dollar deal. Meanwhile, teams can’t give away centers. Obviously, a game-changer like Towns is a different story, but the fact remains: wings are the thing, and Antetokounmpo is the ultimate NBA Swiss-Army knife. If we knew for sure that his jump shot was going to develop as it seems like it’s going to, he’d be an easy number one here.

5. James Harden

This seems high. A year ago at this time, Harden was the captain of a sinking ship, and his work ethic, off-court choices, and on-court disdain for defense were all being highlighted by people who reveled in the downfall of Darryl Morey’s grand experiment. Even now, Morey himself would agree that the team is a long shot at best to contend this year, and without one more semi-major move, they will likely remain just outside the circle of teams who have enough to go all the way. 

But that move is more likely to be made with Morey at the helm (who still possesses as deft a touch when it comes roster construction as anyone outside of his own state, despite the failed Dwight experiment) and that is exactly why Harden finds himself so high on this list. Well, that and his also being allowed to sign a mega max deal as an exception in the new CBA.

There are less than ten players in the league at any given time who can be the driving force behind a championship team, and Harden is one of those guys right now - and will be for a few years. Unlike Westbrook, he doesn’t rely on his athleticism to be successful, and his jump shot is far superior. He also has the best supporting cast of anyone other than the four players above him on this list, and because his team is only a piece away (and even that might be underestimating their chances), he’s as valuable as ever.

Now, if we’re picking nits: Would the Rockets consider dealing him for one of the younger guys just below him on this list? Even though they are all younger (and some of them come considerably cheaper), it’s highly unlikely for the simple reason that the Rockets have figured out how to build the perfect roster around their superstar, and have the perfect coach to run the show. A theoretical Harden for KAT or Greek Freak trade would leave the Rockets starting over, and while the long-term potential could be even greater, the uncertainty would be too great to take a chance. 

4. Steph Curry

One look at the current perception of Steph Curry by the larger basketball community will tell you everything you need to know about what is wrong with the NBA. After being named a starter in the All-Star Game over Russell Westbrook, reactions ranged from tacit acceptance to outright scorn.

Think about that for a second. Steph Curry gave his unconscionable-for-a-star-in-2016 approval to the Warriors to go after Kevin Durant, knowing full well what would happen: lower stats, no chance at a third MVP, and a lower profile around the league among media, players and coaches (Erik Spolestra: “How is Westbrook not starting the All-Star Game?”). Yet he didn’t think twice because he knew it was best for the team. He knew they could get Durant because KD had had enough of attempting to share the ball with the guy who has now reached the levels of adulation seen only by Curry in the previous two seasons, but Westbrook is putting up his stats on a team paced to win 46 games; Curry’s team is making another run at 70. 

Is there any question as to whether Curry could sign with a mediocre team this summer and average 35, 10, and 6 while once again setting the league record for threes made in a season? That would be derided as a ridiculous, me-first type of move, of course. Russell Westbrook, on the other hand, never gets criticized for failing to adjust his game to make sure Durant never thought twice about leaving. Instead, he gets heaped with praise, and will finish somewhere between five and ten spots ahead of Curry in the final MVP balloting. People will look back years from now and assume Curry dropped off, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. 

3. Kevin Durant

2. LeBron James

1. Kawhi Leonard

These are the only three players in basketball that, if you put them on just about any other roster, they would lead their team to 50 wins. (the Nets are the only possible exception, although if you gave them Pop as a coach I’m not so sure)

The task of distinguishing between the 3 is quite a bit more difficult, so let’s throw out some scenarios. 

First up: the Spurs, Cavs, and Warriors each get the chance to swap their player for one of the other two. Who blinks? The Cavs seem to enjoy the city of Cleveland and would rather not see it burnt to the ground by an angry mob, so they would pass…although if they could magically alter the brains of everyone in the city to embrace whatever move the franchise made (wouldn’t it be nice if the Browns had that ability?) would they make a switch? The thinking goes that LeBron is still capable of reaching heights that the other two simply can’t match, and since he can save his energy for the Finals, the Cavs probably wouldn’t want to diminish their chance of winning another ring, so they’d pass. The Spurs aren’t nearly as a good a bet to bring home a ring, but Leonard is as inextricably intertwined with the fabric and mindset of the organization at this point as Duncan ever was. Even from a purely basketball standpoint, Kawhi’s age alone would preclude any discussion, as would his salary, which is the best bargain in basketball. 

That leaves the Warriors and Durant. There is no indication that he plans to go anywhere at this point, but the possibility can’t be completely dismissed. The team is rolling and looks to be in the midst of a dynastic run, but they will have to make some difficult decisions in the offseason that may leave them dangerously top-heavy heading into next year. The fact that Durant’s salary next season will almost double Leonard’s therefor cannot be ignored. The better question is whether the Warriors would be better off with Kawhi right now. The defense he would provide against James Harden, LeBron James, and any other potential threats that might emerge is enough by itself to at least ask the question. In addition, Durant’s greatest strength is still his one on one scoring brilliance - something that some people would argue will be a detriment to the Warriors in tight spots down the line. This is all to say that Golden State’s title chances probably would at least stay the same this year and beyond, if not increase, if a swap was made.

So does Kawhi end up at the top? It seems ridiculous to think so, but when you add everything up, it actually makes sense. He is young. He has not significant injury history. He shows no desire to go anywhere. He would fit in more seamlessly into any team than any player in basketball. And maybe, just maybe, he is every bit as good as the other two guys right now and we’re all kidding ourselves not to realize it. #1 it is.