Daily Archives: March 12, 2020

The desire to create a profitable business is implied when you start your career in real estate. After all, isnt the end goal of entrepreneurship to achieve financial freedom?

Over the last decade, the number of people attracted to the real estate industry has dramatically increased. The open arms of the real estate industry have welcomed professionals of different ages, stages and professions, all seeking more than financial freedom. Whether newcomers are leaving a corporate sales job in pursuit of more control or starting a business to allow for a more flexible schedule to raise children, we have seen a movement toward business structures that are less about using time in exchange for money, but rather, money in exchange for time.

The goal of financial success in business lends itself to the ability to create more time for the things we love. Wanting to spend more time with our families, taking care of aging parents or the pursuit of wanderlust are among some of the reasons why people are placing greater emphasis on the profit of time. And what better industry to pursue this in than real estate?

We have the freedom to decide how our business looks and the flexibility to create our own schedules. And yet, the pursuit for that work-life balance remains elusive. Many people continue to struggle with the ability to carve out time for the things they love while also creating the necessary profit to support their lifestyle dreams. Why the disconnect?

Charles Darwin had it right when he said, It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change. We may have freedom and flexibility, but not in the way we think. Our businesses are built to respond to the needs of the people we serve. This means its not as easy as just deciding where, when and how to work. There are a number of influencing factors to consider, including the availability of our clients, brokerages and other agents. The secret is not in our ability to schedule our time, its in our ability to adapt to it.

Adaptability is our greatest competitive advantage. Its the skill that we must continue to focus on if we are going to achieve both financial and time freedom in real estate. According to Dr. Michael OConnor, co-author with Dr. Tony Alessandra of the book The Platinum Rule, adaptability can be looked at in two parts: flexibility, which is our willingness to adapt, and versatility, which is our ability to adapt.

If you are ready to improve your flexibility and versatility, consider working on these traits. Not only will they help you strengthen your entrepreneurial skills, but they will also provide you the necessary tools to access the time and financial freedom that you crave.

1. Self-discipline: Every business needs a vision and a plan, and our ability to remain focused and true to our plan is directly correlated to our success. In an industry as dynamic and fast-changing as real estate, it is important to master self-discipline by identifying the obstacles that will take us off course. Time management strategies, a positive mindset and our ability to limit distractions will help to ensure we are staying focused on what matters most.

2. Resourcefulness: There is no one way to design and operate a real estate business. Our ability and willingness to remain adaptable is influenced by how resourceful we are. Thinking outside of the box, daring to be different and being flexible in how we think are all ways we can continue to work on our adaptability to change.

3. Resilience: Our business (and industry) is in constant flux. No two days are ever the same. Our willingness to remain flexible and adaptable to the needs and demands of our clients is important for us to stay the course long enough to see the results we want. Its easy to get thrown off track, but by improving our resilience, we not only learn to navigate the changing landscape better, but we are also able to bounce back from any setbacks that we experience along the way.

4. Vision: As an entrepreneur, the ability to see the big picture is valuable when creating a vision for your business. Thinking without limitations, not being afraid to dream big and being clear on the goals you have and how you want to get there are key factors when striving for time freedom. As the adage goes, if you can dream it, you can achieve it.

Working on your adaptability will not only help you strengthen the skills you need to be a successful entrepreneur, but it will also help you work toward achieving the time and financial freedom you desire.

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Why Adaptability Is The Key To Financial And Time Freedom - Forbes

Nashville Tennessean Published 10:39 a.m. CT March 11, 2020

First Amendment and Independence Hall(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The USA TODAY Network in Tennesseejoins news publications across the U.S. in supporting a National Student Essay Competition designed to deepen a recognition of the First Amendment that strengthens freedom of the press and rebuilds trust.

The Tennessean, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Knoxville News Sentinel, The Jackson Sun, The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle and the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro are inviting young readers to compete in the contest.

There is no more important time than now to focus conversation and critical reflection on understanding the crucial relationships among the First Amendment, a free press, and the foundations of democracy.

Students in grades six through eight, grades nine through twelve, and those at universities and colleges are invited to submit essays up to 500 words examining the state of freedom of the press in the United States today in light of the First Amendment to our Constitution. The specific topic is:Why a free press matters in a democracy." Send essays to USA TODAY Network Tennessee Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas at dplazas@gannett.com.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

National Student Essay Competition Director Mary Kay Lazarus said, The competition is designed to engage the important voices of our students, voices that are vital to the future of a robust democracy, and to expand national dialogue about press freedom by encouraging discussion at home and in school.

Students may submit essays from now through Friday April 17. Winners in each category selected by one of the network publicationswill then be submitted to a national jury who will select the semi-finalists and then the finalists by early September 2020. The publications will announcewinners the first week in June.

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The national winner in each category (grades six-eight; grades nine-twelve; and grades university/college) will each receive a $5,000 check from the Boston Globe Foundation. The winning essayist with the highest ranking among the three categories will also receive a full four-year scholarship, currently valued at $38,000 a year, to Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Prizes will be awarded late fall at the 15th Annual McCarthey Family Foundation Lecture Series: In Praise of Independent Journalism.

For more information and entry guidelines, visit https://mklpr.com/national-student-essay-competition.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2020/03/11/tennessee-students-submit-essay-press-freedom-compete-money/5015271002/

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Tennessee students: Submit essay on freedom of the press and compete for prize money - Tennessean

Some facts and figures demonstrate the impact of the Freedom Classic on our local economy.Average attendance for the three-game series is around 2,500 per game. Between 30 and 50 parents follow teams into Kinston each year. Players, coaches, staff and parents occupy between 80 and 100 hotel rooms that weekend.

In addition to the economic impact of players, coaches and parents, between 200 and 400 people come from out-of-town to eat at Kinston restaurants.

Each year, the Freedom Classic holds a banquet and Saturday night social at Kings Restaurant on the US 70 Bypass. This year, Chris Hatcher was scheduled as the guest speaker.Hatcher is a Kinston native who played professional baseball as a pitcher with the Miami Marlins, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Oakland Athletics.

Hatcher played for Kinston High School as both a pitcher and a catcher. After graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He batted above .300 in his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.

In my view, the most important aspect of the Freedom Classic is our communitys opportunity to honor and give a Thank You to our military. All active military personnel are admitted free. Retired military, military dependents, and veterans receive a reduced admission cost.

The Freedom Classic always offers stirring pre-game events designed to recognize and show appreciation for the military. This year, helicopters from New River Air Station, the F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and the Bandit Flight Team out of Raleigh were all scheduled for pre-game flyovers.

We are all disappointed this years Freedom Classic had to be canceled and the games moved. But we must never forget the purpose of sponsorships is not just to see baseball games. The true purpose is to honor and appreciate those who protect us and ensure our liberties.

Mike Parker is a columnist for Neuse News. You can reach him atmparker16@gmail.com.

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Mike Parker: What lies ahead for the Freedom Classic? - Neuse News

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President Trump presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to General Jack Keane - USA TODAY

President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Hill's Morning Report - Trump takes unexpected step to stem coronavirus Democrats start hinting Sanders should drop out Coronavirus disrupts presidential campaigns MORE will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, the White House announced Friday.

The medal, the nations highest civilian honor, will be awarded on March 23. Sorenstam and Player will join Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Charlie Sifford and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to receive the commendation.

The Medal of Freedom is awarded by the president to citizens who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Sorenstam helped raise the profile of womens golf during her illustrious 15-year career, achieving 89 worldwide victories, including 10 Major championships, and garnering awards including the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and the Golf Writers Association of America Female Athlete of the Year.

Player has won 165 professional tournaments, and is one of just five male players to achieve a career grandslam. His Player Foundation and the Gary Player Invitational raise money for underprivileged children around the world.

Trump has given the Medal of Freedom to several athletes, including Woods, NFL Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Alan Page and the late New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth.

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Trump to award Medal of Freedom to golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player | TheHill - The Hill

Love and Freedom. Two things everyone wants, but some peoplearent fortunate enough to have.

Dallas-based clothing designer Abi Ferrin and co-founders Elle Lewis and Rania Batrice want to make Love and Freedom a reality for everyone. Especially women in need.

Love and Freedom is a non-profit organization working withsurvivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and resettled refugees in theDFW area. LAF provides a unique blend of trauma-informed vocational training,business classes and art and wellness classes. During the course of theprogram, the women will also be involved in running the non-profit business theLove and Freedom Collaborative, honing their skills, interacting with thecommunity and building their confidence and their resumes to transition intothe professional workforce, Ferring said.

The latest news from around North Texas.

The collaborative effort from a group of local designers and artists who have come together to with their talents and creativity as a force for good. Ferrin recently switched directions to make this collaborative and the non-profit her full-time focus. That said, she is even closing her West Village store in Dallas March 22, so she can focus all of her attention on LAF.

The Collaborative is located at SouthSide on Lamar and is amakers space where the community can come for a variety of fun and creativeworkshops, create your own design from the Abi Ferrin archive, learn how to pourcandles, create art and a whole variety of fun activities for bachelorettes,girls night out and corporate team building, Ferrin said. Through aninnovative nine-month program, each member will learn and polish both the softskills and business basics necessary to succeed in the career path of theirchoosing.

You should name this program Restoring The Woman, becausethats what has happened to me. I was so broke and now I dont even recognizethe woman who started this program. I found myself again, one participantsaid.

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Dallas Nonprofit Provides Love and Freedom for Women in Crisis - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

12/03/2020 - Cineuropa adheres to the call issued by several film bodies including the EFA, Deutsche Filmakademie, Accademia del cinema italiano, Cannes Film Festival and IFFR, among others

Director Mohammad Rasoulof

The European Film Academy (EFA), the Deutsche Filmakademie, the Accademia del cinema italiano-Premi David di Donatello, the Cannes Film Festival, the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), the IDFA - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the Filmfest Hamburg, the Filmfrderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and the Netherlands Film Fund have issued a statement expressing their deepest concern about the imminent incarceration of Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof.

Rasoulof, having already won awards at Cannes, just won the Golden Bear at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival for his latest work There Is No Evil[+see also: filmreviewtrailerfilmprofile] (read news), like his previous films, casts a critical eye on the consequences of life under authoritarian rule. Rasoulof has been summoned by the Special Prosecutor's Office for Offenses Relating to Media and Culture to serve one year in prison. On July 23, 2019 the Iranian Revolutionary Court had sentenced the director to one year in prison and a two-year prohibition against working as a director for alleged propaganda against the government, in addition to imposing a two-year ban on leaving the country and getting involved in any social or political activity.

Mohammad Rasoulof says, "Summoning me to serve my prison sentence only reveals a small fraction of the intolerance and anger that is characteristic of the Iranian regime's response to criticism. Many cultural activists are in prison for criticizing the government. The widespread and uncontrollable spread of the Covid-19 virus in Iranian prisons seriously endangers their lives. These conditions call for an immediate response from the international community."

The signatory institutions urgently call on the Iranian authorities to ensure his safety and health, as well for the charges against him to be retracted and the travel ban against him to be lifted immediately and unconditionally and call on festivals around the world, cinemas and all artists to do the same.

EFA president Wim Wenders declares, "Our colleague Mohammad Rasoulof is an artist who keeps telling us about a reality we would otherwise know little about. His Golden Bear winning film There Is No Evil is a deeply humane portrait of people in extreme situations, situations no human should be forced to experience. We need voices like that of Mohammad Rasoulof, voices defending human rights, freedom and dignity."

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European institutions call for the freedom of Mohammad Rasoulof, facing incerceration in Iran - Cineuropa

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas completed her $116 million amplification, and is back in service offering cruises to the Southern Caribbean.

The ship underwent a bow to stern makeover, with new features being added including water slides, a new Caribbean pool deck look,the cruise lines first Giovannis Italian Kitchen and new, dedicated spaces for kids and teens.

Here is a look at the new changes:

Perfect Storm Waterslides:Cyclone & Typhoon slides.

A resort-style Caribbean poolscape Featuring a whole new look, signature poolside bar The Lime & Coconut, live music and a wider variety of seating and shade with the addition of casitas, in-pool loungers and daybeds, the reimagined pool deck is where pool days become an all-day affair.

Splashaway Bay kids aqua park.

Renewed adults-only Solarium.

Photo byLinken DSouza

Giovannis Italian Kitchen: Freedom of the Seas is the first to receive this refresh of Royal Caribbean's Italian specialty restaurant, it serves up a reimagined menu offresh pastas, custom pizzas, and more. It also features a wide selection of wines and limoncello.

Photo byLinken DSouza

El Loco Fresh: Complimentary Mexican serviced poolsideincluding tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The venue is the first El Loco Fresh that includes a full-service bar with a wide selection of tequilas.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi: From sushi to sashimi and hibachi, Izumia variety of hot and cold appetizers, entrees and desserts.

Photo byTravis Kamiyama

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade: Catch live games on more than 100 TVs, play arcade classic and enjoy classic bar fare and ice-cold brews.

Clash for the Crystal City Laser Tag: Two clans, the Yetis and Snowshifters, collide in this glow-in-the-dark laser tag adventure for control of a mystical frozen city.

Adventure Ocean: Royal Caribbean has revamped its youth program on Freedom witha new layout that encourages kids to choose their own immersive adventures across several rooms:

Three- and 5-year-olds and toddlers (6-36 months old) each have dedicated spaces with AO Juniors and AO Babies, respectively.

Social033: Teens will rejoice in their exclusive hangout, entirely redesigned to feature the latest in movies, gaming and music, plus a new, private outdoor deck.

Royal Caribbean has also added Freedom of the Seas to its new app. Guests can check-in for their cruise and take advantage of Expedited Arrival.

Onboard the ship, the app can plan activities for each day, view onboard expenses, and makereservations for dining, shore excursions as well as shows, and the in-app TV remote available for each stateroom.

Freedom offers 7-night Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Itineraries fromBarbados and Antigua, to the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) are available to enjoy.

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Freedom of the Seas completes $116 million Royal Amplification - Royal Caribbean Blog

(5:30 a.m. EST) Royal Caribbeans recently-revitalized Freedom of the Seas has returned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it operates cruises to the Southern Caribbean.

The $116-million upgrade added new thrills and amenities to the 3,934-passenger ship, including a completely redesigned pool deck featuring The Lime & Coconut Bar; an expanded selection of seating options with the addition of casitas, in-pool loungers and day beds. Kids can now enjoy the new Splashaway Bay water park and adults can enjoy the rejuvenated Solarium.

On the food and beverage front, Giovannis Italian Kitchen, El Loco Fresh, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi and Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade were all added to Freedom of the Seas.

The ship also offers a new nightclub for Teens called Social033 that features a new private outdoor deck space in addition to movies, games and music; a complete transformation of the Adventure Ocean facilities for kids and tweens; and a new onboard laser tag adventure called Clash for the Crystal City.

The 2006 built ship has also been added to Royal Caribbeans digital app.

The refit of Freedom of the Seas is part of a $1-billion-dollar investment in Royal Caribbeans fleet, which will see 10 ships extensively refitted in four years, with enhancements that touch nearly every facet of the guest experience.

The revitalized Freedom of the Seas offers a full program of weeklong itineraries to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan, calling on exotic ports like Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; Bridgetown, Barbados; Saint Johns, Antigua; and Kralendijk, Bonaire.

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Royal Caribbean Debuts Refurbished Freedom of the Seas Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic

WASHINGTON, D.C. A priest who serves as director of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission in his diocese in northern Nigeria cited an ongoing series of religious freedom violations in his region of the country, which is majority Muslim.

The violations include land grabs, the denial of permits to build churches, economic exclusion, the denial of access to certain fields of study in the areas colleges, political deprivations and even the extortion of government retirees pension benefits, according to Father Joseph Bature Fidelis of the Diocese of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

The political deprivations, primarily access to government jobs, results in Christians in the region becoming second-class citizens, Fidelis told Catholic News Service during a March 9 interview in Washington, where he was traveling on a trip sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need.

For Christians who are retiring from government service, other government employees whose job it is to process pension benefits have refused to process them unless the retiree pays a tax payable to the employee, Fidelis said. No tax, no pension, he added.

The denial of certain college courses to Christians not only hampers them from obtaining the education needed to obtain well-paying careers, it keeps them from being equal partners in Nigerian society, Fidelis said.

This has caused Christians to head to the southern regions of Nigeria, which has a heavier concentration of Christians. This makes the denial of church construction permits less of an issue.

If you have no people, you dont need more churches, Fidelis said.

But the land-grab issue is a sore point. Fulani Muslims, he said, have put in bids with the federal government for an estimated 3,000 tracts of land in the country. The Fulani are just one Muslim tribe. There are 300, 350 Muslim tribes in Nigeria, the priest said.

The Nigerian president (Muhammadu Bahuri) is a Fulani.

Seeking lasting cures to these ills is not easy but necessary in Fideliss eyes.

The question is: Can the rule of law work? he asked.

Although Nigeria obtained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, we have not grown so well since then, Fidelis told CNS.

Merchants from southern Nigeria have already been scared away due to the unpredictable interpretations of civil law, Fidelis said.

We need to come up with a specific plan to build up the country, the priest added. While the government may reject church building permits, it has allowed construction of schools and other types of buildings by Christian groups.

We need aid for basic education, Fidelis said. Farmers, many of them Christians, who live in northern Nigeria need to prosper, he added.

In an Ash Wednesday letter, the two top leaders of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria took note of some of the difficulties facing the nation.

Many communities are constantly threatened, harassed and sometimes even sacked by herdsmen, as they seek to take over more territories to graze their cattle forcefully, said Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, conference president, and Bishop Camillus Umoh, secretary.

The level of insecurity in Nigeria today is such that whether at home or on the road, most Nigerians, in all the parts of the country, live in fear. The repeated barbaric executions of Christians by the Boko Haram insurgents and the incessant cases of kidnapping for ransom linked to the same group and other terrorists have traumatized many citizens, they said in the letter, titled Prayer and Penance for Peace and Security in Our Country.

That the perpetrators of these heinous crimes make public shows of them on social media and Nigerians do not hear of any arrests or prosecution of the criminals raises grave questions about the ability and willingness of the government to protect the lives of the ordinary Nigerians.

Bishop Daniel J. Malloy of Rockford, Illinois, chairman of the U.S. bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace, wrote Akubeze Feb. 26: I am aware of the immense suffering and loss of life caused by Boko Haram and ISIS in northeastern Nigeria that has also spilled over into neighboring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

We join you in deploring their wanton violence and in calling on the international community to assist the security forces of Nigeria to protect all life and re-establish the rule of law, Malloy wrote. He added he would write to the U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security and advise them to heed the Nigerian bishops ideas on how to bring about peace and stability in the country.

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Priest cites religious freedom violations in northern Nigeria - Crux: Covering all things Catholic