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You Must Be This Tall To Continue ____https://www.patreon.com/isyanderandkoda You already know how to please the Machine Gods at this point so thank you so much. And make your voices heard for which faction you would like to see next! -Isyander In this episode, we delve deep into the lore of the Leagues of Votann, a formidable civilization in the Warhammer 40k universe, examining their origins, evolution, and current status. We begin by exploring their former incarnation as the Squats, addressing their annihilation by the Tyranids and the subsequent removal of the Squats from the 40k setting. This removal echoes a broader trend in the 1990s, particularly in comic books, where a shift toward darker, more serious content led to the elimination of lighter elements. This period, known as the Dark Age of Comic Books, was marked by an increased focus on mature themes, often at the expense of narrative depth and complexity.Transitioning back to the Leagues of Votann, we discuss their canonization and the fate of the Mad Core, a Votann that once served the Emberg-Aegnir Bloc League before its destruction by Hive Fleet Leviathan. The Mad Core's descent into insanity, fueled by the absorbed pain and desolation of the deceased, serves as a poignant tale among the surviving Leagues, warning of the perils that lurk in the 40k universe. While also showing the power that lies within each core. A power that is waning. The Leagues of Votann have experienced a gradual decline in the effectiveness of their Ancestor Cores. Traditionally, when a Kin dies, they are integrated into their Ancestor Core, contributing their experiences to assist future generations. However, over millennia, this practice has ironically led to the decline of these Cores. The Cores have been inundated with excessive and often duplicate data, unable to efficiently process the vast amount of information from the growing civilization of the Votann.The episode further delves into the complex societal structure of the Leagues, including their Iron Kin, guilds, and intricate relationships with other races. We also shed light on the Galactic Core, their original home, emphasizing its extreme inhospitability and the challenges faced by the Leagues in this harsh environment.Originally part of the Imperium, the Kin of the Leagues of Votann have a complicated relationship with their human roots. They are careful not to disclose their connection to ancient Humanity on Terra, wary of potential claims by the Imperium. The Kin often find themselves at odds with the Imperium, sometimes allies, more often enemies. Particularly, they hold a disdain for the Adeptus Mechanicus, viewing their acquisitive ignorance as dangerous. Finally, we discuss the impact of the Cicatrix Maledictum, also known as the Great Rift, a cataclysmic event that divided the galaxy and compelled the Leagues to leave the Galactic Core. TIMESTAMPS —————————— TAGSLeagues of Votann, Warhammer 40k, Squats, Tyranids, Ancestor Cores, Galactic Core, Cicatrix Maledictum, Votann Civilization, Imperium of Man, Adeptus Mechanicus, Eldar, Tau Empire, Orks, Necrons, Chaos Forces, Great Rift, Warhammer Lore, Kin of Votann, Warhammer 40k History, Sci-Fi War Gaming, Kinhosts, Fleet, Military Forces, Notable Kin of the Leagues of Votann, Cloneskein, Ironkin, The Leagues at War, Magna-Coil Bike, Sagitaur ATV, Hekaton Land Fortress, Colossus, CORV, E-COG, Ûthar————————————Opinions expressed in this video are solely those of Isyander & Koda and in no way reflect the views or opinions of Games Workshop Ltd.Artwork throughout this video is used for educational purposes. if you see your artwork and would like an art credit, message me.Support the show
Traditionally in the U.S., the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, which moves holiday shopping into high gear. While doorbusters have dwindled, brands and retailers work to lure shoppers with deals and experiences that set the tone for holiday sales. Circana's Joe Derochowski, vice president and industry advisor, home and home improvement, and Ben Arnold, executive director, industry analyst, consumer technology, weigh in on Black Friday week results and discuss how their industries can claw back holiday sales. Highlights: While not as bad as 2022, sales of home goods and consumer electronics were still down. The upside, gains were made compared to earlier periods of 2023. Different ways to shop and research is changing Black Friday traffic and extending Black Friday sales beyond a single day. Consumer electronics, once was a key category that brought shoppers out on Black Friday, now has to work for a share of household spend. Innovation is needed to reenergize the market and give consumers the new products and experiences they're looking for.
All eighth graders in Illinois public schools need to take this test to graduate. Traditionally, it's been a 15 true-false question quiz covering the U.S. and Illinois constitutions. Now, more school districts are moving away from that version and opting for short answer questions that require more critical thinking. Reset discusses how civic education these days is focusing less on dates and facts and stressing the important role students play in shaping democracy. Plus, we'll see if a couple of our WBEZ colleagues can pass the test!
Traditionally, November is the month when the Church emphasizes the importances of praying for the souls of the dead, sometimes referred to as the "Poor Souls" in Purgatory. In recent decades, one hears much less about the Catholic doctrine of Purgatory: Perhaps this is because our modern religious tendency is to immediately canonize anyone who has died and presume an easy judgment for them and a swift and sure entrance into the eternal reward. Or perhaps Catholics are reticent to speak of purgatory because it is one of the most misunderstood teachings of the Church and one that is not supported by most Protestants. Today, on one of the last days of this month of November, I'd like to give my full-hearted support for this teaching of the Church and talk about why we must pray for the souls in purgatory and be so grateful that God has created it in the first place!
EP315 - 2023 Turkey5 Recap with Salesforces Rob Garf Episode 315 is a recap of Turkey5 (The five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday) 2023 with Rob Garf, Vice President and General Manager, Retail at Salesforce. This is Robs' Six time on the show, having previously been on episodes 110, 248, 282, 299, and 313. Jason and Scot discuss the "Turkey 5" with their guest Rob Garf, VP and GM for retail at Salesforce. They analyze data from various sources to provide insights into the holiday shopping season. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce grew 7.75% in Q3, while total retail only grew 2%. Jason emphasizes the need for e-commerce to grow at least 7.7% in Q4 to stay on track. Adobe's data shows that Black Friday sales were up 7.5% and Cyber Monday sales were up 12.4% from the previous year. The speakers also discuss data from BigCommerce, MasterCard, and Salesforce, highlighting growth in online sales on Cyber Monday and Black Friday. Rob Garf adds his observations on retail industry trends, noting an increase in demand and robust pricing. He mentions a rebound in demand in Europe, excluding the UK, and highlights retailers' focus on profitability and inventory levels. The discussion then turns to Amazon's innovative advertising approach during a Friday NFL game, where shoppable ads were displayed via QR codes. Jason believes this strategy will benefit Amazon, as it monetizes viewership and reinforces the brand. Discounting played a significant role in driving demand during Cyber Week, with retailers offering an average of 30% off. Consumers were patient, waiting for attractive deals, while retailers managed their inventory and discounting strategies well. The luxury category, however, did not perform as strongly, with only a slight increase or even a decrease in sales. The hosts touch on the resale market and the growing popularity of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options and mobile wallets. They discuss the potential impact of mobile wallets on shopping behavior and note that BNPL resonates with new consumers and has replaced layaway. Finally, the hosts mention the passing of Charlie Munger and the filing of an IPO by Xi'an, encouraging listeners to support the show and announcing more holiday shopping data and reports on Salesforce.com. 0:00:46 Introduction to the Jason and Scot Show 0:05:04 Black Friday: First Sales for Vendors 0:14:06 Softness in Consumer Electronics and Toys Market 0:14:55 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Impact on Holiday Season Shape 0:16:32 Retailers' Inventory Management and Positive Growth Forecast 0:17:47 Retailers analyzing profitability and customer profitability. 0:18:29 Increase in Demand and Robust Pricing 0:22:34 Amazon's Innovative Advertising and Potential Profitability for Holiday 0:26:27 Discount rates over Cyber Week in comparison to previous years 0:29:04 Retailers' management of inventory and transparency in discounting strategy 0:31:52 Consumer behavior and the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) 0:33:32 Mobile wallets and the impact on checkout process and shopping experiences 0:35:26 Buy Now, Pay Later Growing and Replacing Layaway 0:37:22 Charlie Munger's Passing and Xi'an's IPO Announcement Throughout this episode make liberal use of real-time data from Salesforce Shopping Insights HQ, which tracks how 1.5+ billion consumers are shaping shopping trends. You can see a real-time holiday dashboard, powered by Tableau so you can interact with the data yourself on the Salesforce Holiday Insights page. Episode 313 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Tuesday November 28th, 2023. http://jasonandscot.com Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of GetSpiffy and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing. Transcript Jason: [0:23] Welcome to the Jason and Scot Show. This is episode 315 being recorded on Tuesday, November 28th. I'm your host, Jason Retail Geek Goldberg, and as usual, I'm here with your co-host, Scot Wingo. Scot: [0:39] Hey, Jason, and welcome back, Jason and Scot Show listeners. Vigilant listeners will remember that we promised you a delicious turkey five Introduction to the Jason and Scot Show [0:47] sandwich starring none other than Rob Garf, VP and GM for retail at Salesforce. And that's what we're delivering today. Rob was here way back on episode 313 on November 8th. And he is back here today to tell us what happened during the Turkey 5. Welcome back, Rob. Rob: [1:05] Thanks for having me, Jason, Scot. Always a pleasure and look forward to getting into some of this really fun data. Scot: [1:12] Yeah, this is your record sixth time. So your old hat here. Before we jump in, we do want to just kind of set the table, keeping with the post-Thanksgiving, theme with some leftovers. I saw what you did there. Yeah. And we, meaning Jason and his army of interns, have gathered a bunch of data from other sources. So we just want to give listeners that, and we know you have your own data, and we want to paint a complete picture. So, Jason, give us the quick and dirty rundown of other data that we've seen out there covering the holiday period so far. Jason: [1:46] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's do it. And side note, Rob, we're going to keep making you come back till you get it right. Rob: [1:50] I appreciate it. I'm here. Jason: [1:52] I'll do what you need. Awesome. So, super quick reminder, Q3 data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce for the quarter grew 7.75%, over, the previous year. year, total retail only grew 2% from the previous year. And so if you take e-commerce out of total retail, brick and mortar in Q3 2023 only grew 1.08%, so lower than traditional. So when you come into the beginning of Q4 and holiday in particular, in my mind, e-commerce has to grow at 7.7% just to stay at par. And brick-and-mortar has to grow more than that one percent. [2:37] So, and I like to start with the lesser data and work our way up to the gold standard, very best data we have, which is, of course, the Rob Garth. So our friends at adobe which have a different data set but similar methodology and slightly different definition so you can't perfectly compare apples to apples, they said black friday sales were nine point eight billion in the us which is up seven point five percent from the year before so that would basically be right at that par i was just talking about, they said cyber monday was up to twelve point four percent and that was hot off the press so i wasn't able to do the math on what growth rate that was. They said for the whole month of November year to date, that they see November up 4.6% from last year. So kind of below that par. These are all numbers Adobe is giving for e-commerce. [3:26] And of particular note, and I know we'll talk about this more, they've seen a significant uptick in use of Buy Now, Pay Later services, and they've seen deeper discounting than we saw last year. Now, Shopify is really out there with a big news cycle. And I don't want to say they won up Salesforce, but they bought the sphere in Las Vegas and broadcast their data on the outside of the sphere, which visually is, is super cool. But their data isn't so useful because they don't report same store sales. They had a, you know, some unknown basket of merchants that sold a bunch of stuff last year, and they had some unknown basket of merchants that sold more stuff this year, and we don't know if the same merchants were here this year and last year or if they added a bunch of merchants or, or if this is true growth. So, so while the Shopify numbers are interesting, if you're investing in Shopify, they don't tell us a lot about what's happening in the e-commerce world. I did see a super interesting quote from Harley Finkelstein, who's the president of Shopify, and it's possibly, possibly that he just misworded this, but he was excited after Black Friday and he said 17.5, thousand. So $17,500. [4:41] Vendors made their first sale this Black Friday weekend. So I took that to mean, not that they launched on Friday just in time for Black Friday, but that this was their first Black Friday where they sold anything. So that's 17.5 thousand new merchants. [4:58] And then he said, in total, 55 thousand merchants set their all-time daily record on Black Friday. Black Friday: First Sales for Vendors [5:05] And while those two numbers sound impressive, if you kind of think about it for a second, you go, wait, the vast majority of merchants on Shopify that are B2C are going to sell their record. Cyber Monday hasn't happened yet, so take that out of the equation, are going to set their all-time record on Black Friday. So not surprised, you would expect the vast majority of all merchants to set their Black Friday record. And 17.5 thousand of them are new. So what that says is there's only 37 thousand merchants that are a year old on Shopify that sold more this Friday than last year on Black Friday. And that's, I guess, less than I would expect based on the usual reports we get from Shopify. So that, I'll just record that as a moment and our stock analysts that cover Shopify listening on the call can weigh in on that one. [5:58] BigCommerce, a slightly weirder data set. They saw an outlier, they saw 14% growth, but again, random, they're not trying to report at the industry, they're just reporting their clients. And then a particularly interesting one to me is MasterCard. I have a love-hate relationship with MasterCard. Unlike all the rest of you, MasterCard gets a set of data for stores and retailers, so they try to forecast what happened in retail, which is super valuable. Historically, I've seen some weird deviations from MasterCard that make me cautious about their numbers. But this year, they reported Black Friday, they did not report Cyber Monday. Their Black Friday number was up 8.5% year over year for eCommerce. [6:39] Which is at the high side of the mean for all these other datasets. And they reported that on Friday, total retail sales were up 2.5%. But if you back eCommerce out of that number, brick and mortar was only up 1.1%. So basically, I would call all those numbers par with our Q3 numbers. So, that kind of sets the table. Scot, take us through what we learned from Salesforce. Scot: [7:11] Yeah. So, a million questions, Rob. Let's start with, it seems like one of the biggest interesting battle royales is, A, why was Rob's face not on the sphere? And then B, it seems like one of the data sets is saying Cyber Monday is much bigger than Black Friday. And then in your pre-show, you had said you guys are seeing Black Friday exceed Cyber Monday. So let's start there. Which was bigger? Rob: [7:37] Yeah. Well, first of all, I lost the coin flip and Astro or Cody, which are critters in Salesforce world, won. So they got their faces along with Einstein on the sphere a couple of weeks ago during F1. So I'm still going for it next year, but we'll see what happens. But I digress. Let's get into the numbers. So yeah, we are seeing, you called it a battle royal. I appreciate any reference to 1980s wrestling, by the way. So thank you very much, but let's not go down that path. That could be a whole other podcast. But what we are seeing is, as you mentioned, a battle between Cyber Monday and Black Friday for supremacy. [8:19] And they are going back and forth. What we found in our data in 2019, Black Friday eclipsed Cyber Monday and has remained there, especially outside of the United States. And so we're seeing big growth and, you know, partly what's contributing to that is not only Alibaba, which has been in place for some time, but Timu and Xi'an, which I know you gentlemen like to talk about. So regardless what I think, two things based on all the data that you provide, and I appreciate the broad perspective that you share here, is people are actually buying. They might not be buying as much as they were in the past and throughout the pandemic, but But there is demand. And you know, I think that's important because when we look at our numbers and just to put it out there for Cyber Monday, and we can bounce around here wherever you'd like to go, is we chalked our number at 12.6. [9:13] Billion in the United States, and that's a growth of 3%. And I'll call it a healthy growth of 3%. And the reason being is, for the first time in five quarters, we saw growth being generated by increased consumer demand and not just merely higher prices, which is our indicator for inflation. And just to put it in perspective, let me talk about Black Friday here, because you mentioned the battle that's happening here. We saw 16.4 billion in online sales for Black Friday in the US, and that was up 9%. And so, as I mentioned, what this shows us is people are buying. What it's also showing is that there's a high concentration of online sales for those two days. And sure, you two gentlemen are laughing because that's been that way since Cyber Monday was coined in 2005, but there has been a smoothing out of demand, particularly around Cyber Week or cyber five for the last several years, but there's been a stark shift back to those two prominent days. Jason: [10:27] So interesting on the top line numbers, one of the, you mentioned that you're, you're seeing items increase, not just prices, right? Which kind of opens the whole specter of, of it's, we're not just seeing growth for from inflation, right? Are there any categories that you're like going into the holiday? It was like, hey, the growth was in essentials and food and things like that. And discretionary items like apparel and electronics and toys were not doing well. Did you guys see, like, are people opening their wallets on discretionary items or are sales continuing to be these kind of essentials and affordable luxuries? Rob: [11:06] Yeah, it's a mixed bag. And I do want to underscore your point, Jason, around. Growth being generated by more volume and not just higher prices. So that's exactly what we saw. 3% growth when you're seeing 9% increase in inflation is a tough equation to, be profitable and to work out in the consumer's favor. But in this case, we are seeing more demand. And the demand, as I mentioned, is a mixed bag. On one hand, we are seeing really nice growth in areas like makeup and health and beauty, skin care. We're also seeing nice growth in active apparel and active footwear as well. I categorize that actually as comfort. In uncertain times when consumers certainly are looking to really take control of their household balance sheets, oftentimes you migrate to comfort. You know, you can talk about comfort food, but this is just comfort gifting and comfort what you put on your body, both clothes and literally on your skin. And so we are seeing nice growth there where actually, if you think about it over the last 12 months, those categories have been hit a bit in terms of the growth curve. [12:20] And what you're seeing on the other side actually is luxury is softening a little bit, which which I think is important to note because for the last, I mean, gosh, through the pandemic and after, luxury was one of the most, no, not one of the most, was the most resilient categories. And we're starting to see a bit of breaking down, especially around the aspirational luxury side. So we're going to keep an eye on that. I will mention one other thing, actually, as it relates to categories that are doing well in the holiday and that is food and beverage and gifting, you know, in terms of. What people look to for comfort and experiences, they are gifting chocolate, they're gifting wine, they're gifting various gift baskets. We saw really strong growth, even starting, you know, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and working its way through the entire holiday. Jason: [13:22] Interesting. One category or two categories that come up a lot, like coming into holiday, electronics had been in a pretty big swamp, like for the whole pandemic. And I'm curious, I've seen conflicting data about whether electronics are back or whether they're still soft. Traditionally, electronics would be one of the fastest movers for holiday. Rob: [13:43] Of course, of course. Yeah, I mean, consumer electronics, toys, right? Those two are still pretty soft. I think you really though need to put it in perspective in terms of the astronomical growth we saw on those categories over the last four years. I haven't done the math. You're really good at this, Jason. So I'm gonna put you to task maybe on your next LinkedIn post, but I am willing to wager, and I'm not a betting person, so I'm not really willing Softness in Consumer Electronics and Toys Market [14:07] to wager, but I'd love to see the CAGR of those categories over the last four years. I'm guessing they're in really strong, like high team growth, which any retailer would be happy with that on a given holiday time period. So there is a bit of softening, but I think it's really important to understand it in context with the growth that they've seen over the last several years. Scot: [14:32] Cool. Um, so, you know, with these good showings and Cyber Monday and Black Friday, what's that mean for the rest of the season? Are you guys like doubling your forecast, tripling or, and what's that mean for the shape? We talk a lot about the shape of the holiday. Any, any, any changes to your thoughts on those? Rob: [14:49] Yeah. The shape or the anatomy. I've been asked this by a lot of retail executives because they're being asked by their board, like, are you sandbagging us? Black Friday and Cyber Monday Impact on Holiday Season Shape [14:59] We need to really relook at this forecast. We crawled through the data over the last couple of days just to look through our model and see if we could see the data in different ways through different lenses. The reality is what we're seeing is that Black Friday and Cyber Monday were taking market share from the bookends of the holiday, from earlier on and later on, right before the shipping cutoff date. And so for the last five years or so, we have been seeing a smoothing out of demand for the seven days that we define as Cyber Week, Tuesday before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. And Thanksgiving became a really strong and important day, especially on the mobile device, especially as consumers. [15:47] Either being distracted or inspired, whichever you want to think about it, on the couch after Thanksgiving meal, looking at social. [15:54] But we've seen a snapback of the higher concentration of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So it's not like there's incremental sales, and that's what I think you were getting at, right? I don't think there's incremental sales that we can now account for. We're still staying to our forecast of 1% growth in the US for November and December. That's how we define holiday and in the US and we're looking at 4% growth globally, really led by Europe. And I want to just put a caveat on this. Not only again, are we seeing that growth come from increased demand, but retailers have gotten smarter. Retailers' Inventory Management and Positive Growth Forecast [16:33] I don't know if it's smarter, but they were very deliberate going into this holiday starting six months ago about managing inventory levels and margins. So there's been a lot of talk about how are we going to handle shipping? How are we going to handle our return policies? And also, how are we going to think about our open to buys? And so I think most retail executives, especially on the merchandising side, are feeling pretty good because they're working their way through the inventory, which by the way, as you know, has been a big glut over the last couple of years, especially in 2021, when so many products were stuck in the port of LA. I mean, that just created this bullwhip effect that we're still just getting our arms around now and getting over the hump. And so that's my long way of saying is we're not reforecasting. We still feel positive with that 1% and 4% growth in U.S. and global, respectively, because. [17:24] Retailers are taking a very close look at overall profitability and this concept of customer profitability as well. Scot: [17:32] Yeah. You'd said, so it seems like the curve was kind of flattening out and now it's like steepening again it's like kind of coming in at the edges and in kind of like shaping up in the middle part of the bell curve which is like the that, Retailers analyzing profitability and customer profitability. [17:48] cyber week. Is that that's right. Okay. Rob: [17:51] That's really good. Yeah. It's kind of snapped back. Right. Yeah. Definitely. Yeah. Scot: [17:56] It's going to make that sound. Rob: [17:58] Where's the sound effects in turn? Are they there? Are they on call? Can we get that bullying? Jason: [18:02] I'll be adding that in post. Scot: [18:06] You had said something that kind of piqued my interest. You said people are kind of, you know, I may be rephrasing this wrong, but you said kind of demand is back. Like I knew it almost felt like you were saying before there was, you know, people were shopping, but it didn't seem like, you know, a new increase in demand. And now it is because you're seeing robustness in pricing and stuff. Is that say a little bit more about that? I'll make sure I understand what you were saying. Increase in Demand and Robust Pricing Rob: [18:32] Yeah, you got it. So yes. And I, again, and don't think retail executives are doing backflips and thinking that we're getting back to roaring double-digit, growth coming out of the holiday. But what this is an indication, and by the way, we're seeing this as a leading indicator in Europe, let's exclude the UK, which is probably in the same rebound curve as the United States and Canada, but you take continental Europe and who are about two, maybe three quarters ahead of us in terms of the rebound, we're seeing inflation settle, the average selling prices settle down and people are buying more. So we're seeing average orders volume higher. We're seeing slight uptick in units per transaction, only slight. But the order piece is super interesting. We're seeing traffic. We're seeing continued really strong traffic. People are just really being diligent and patient and shopping a lot and looking for the best deals. And we'll have to talk about that in terms of what discounting patterns we saw as well. So that's my long way of saying Scot is people are buying more, they're doing it. By still making trade-offs. So there is a sense of let's load up on some essentials while we're getting good deals. [19:57] Let's look for travel, entertainment, like experiences. And you have to also think of the adjacent categories like luggage, as an example, if you're going on a trip, do you need something new to put your clothes in? And though they are, again, increasing, as I mentioned. So as I think about the sentiment, even with a 1% in the US growth, 4% global is what we're forecasting for the full holiday, retailers are feeling good about that. They want to exit this holiday on a really good foundation of profitability, a really good foundation on inventory levels. And most every retailer I'm talking to has a growth mindset. They're thinking about customer acquisition, finding new ways to do that because customer acquisition costs are still off the charts, but also loyalty, finding new ways to create stickiness, looking for adjacent categories, adjacent services, looking for partnerships to supplement what they're doing organically. And I mean, this would take us down a whole other path, but they're leaning into data. They're leaning into AI to better understand who those consumers are and what they're likely to buy and making sure they're able to create profitable customers. How was that soapbox? I just rattled off too much, too fast. Jason: [21:13] So hopefully you were able to digest it. But you kind of, you glossed over what they're really looking at is just selling ads to brands. Rob: [21:18] That's fair. Thank you. I could have just said that. You're right. That's a very good point. And yeah, we could, I love your take actually, seriously, given that on Amazon's move for the football game on Friday. Jason: [21:31] Yeah. So that's a great point. And maybe just to catch up listeners that might not have followed it. Something very different and unique for this year is that the NFL, you know, normally they have a Thursday game and they have Sunday games and a Monday night game. On Thanksgiving, they have Thursday day games during Thanksgiving. This year, they added a Friday game for the first time. And the sponsor of that Friday game was Amazon. It was broadcast on Amazon Prime, and Amazon actually had shoppable ads via QR codes in the broadcast, all sort of innovative, cool, new stuff. [22:11] The early read is that the viewership was pretty good for the Friday game. There's no history, so we have nothing to compare it to. I would argue fewer people are going and standing in line at brick and mortar stores for door busters. You know, the little bit of data we do have on brick and mortar shows that, like, there wasn't a huge, huge spike in in-store shopping. I feel like Friday has become more of an online shopping day, Amazon's Innovative Advertising and Potential Profitability for Holiday [22:36] which means people are home more, which means there's an opportunity to watch a football game. I kind of don't imagine that the interactive ad formats, like, you know, we're high volume and really move the needle, but they're innovative. And I do think that that Friday game is likely to be a new tradition as the holiday shopping season goes from an omni-channel thing to an online thing. At least that's my POV. Rob: [23:03] Yeah, I am super interested in your point of view given how close you are to this. So I guess I'm gonna put you on the spot. Wow, look at me, I'm totally turning the table here, but this has been on my mind. And actually, interestingly enough, over the weekend at a party, somebody who's not in like retail, you know, he shops. That's the extent of it. He pointed out what Amazon did and thought it was really clever. So what did I hear? Like, did they spend a hundred million dollars for that? Regardless, do you think they made the money back going to your point, Jason, on selling ad space in there and kind of even if it's a break even and or they're gaining more prime members, it was a good day for Amazon? Jason: [23:42] Yeah, I am pretty confident it was a good day for Amazon. Like, one thing to remember is Amazon has a better model for monetizing eyeballs than anyone else, right? So, like, if you're Coca-Cola and you sponsor a football game, you're trying to get eyeballs and the only way you have to monetize those eyeballs is to get them to drink more Coke. Rob: [24:03] Right. Jason: [24:04] If you're Amazon, here's what you do. You get a bunch of eyeballs. You try to sell them something that you make money on. And after you do that, you sell ads to other people for more than you paid. And they try to sell something to that person, right? And so, you know, the combination of the ad revenue that Amazon generates and the top of funnel, and bottom of funnel benefit that Amazon gets, again, they're building their brand. Your friend that was just talking to you, he wasn't talking about a particular product he was shopping for. The brand he remembers is Amazon, right? And so you got that Amazon top of the funnel benefit, which is valuable and important. Amazon probably sold some stuff to people. So you got that Amazon bottom of funnel benefit. And then we know Amazon sold a bunch of ads, which is, you know, a huge, huge driver of incremental profit. So yeah, I definitely think we can call Amazon a winner there. I think when it all settles, we're also going to see that it was just a pretty good sales day for Amazon as well. Rob: [25:09] Yeah, I bet you're right. Yeah. The last point and then we can move on and by the way, welcome to episode one of the Rob Garf podcast, is the fact that I mean, knowing Amazon, those ads that you're getting are personalized in terms of them understanding who you are and even if it's a different size or a different brand or a different you know, whatever, even what they know about what's in your shopping cart, what you bought in the past. So anyways, it sounds like, as I would have suspected, you're pretty bullish about it and I am too. Jason: [25:37] So yeah, I do want to cover something just kind of fundamental. So, so we rebounded a little bit and we got bigger sales on, on Friday and Monday. Potentially we might've just pulled some sales in that were going to happen later in the month per your, your comments about not wanting to re-forecast. Did we partly pull those in by giving deeper discounts than we usually give? Like what, what did you see from a discounting standpoint and what does that say about potential profitability for Holiday? Rob: [26:03] Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So we actually looked at this going into the Holiday and we went back to 2019 and I have the team look at discount rates starting in November 1st for 2019, 2021, and 2023, what we had anticipated for this year. And what we saw and actually came true is we saw discount rates over Cyber Week hover just north of where they were in 2019. Discount rates over Cyber Week in comparison to previous years [26:31] Don't forget, 2021, there were the lowest discount rates that we've seen because the product just wasn't there. So retailers, it was the first time they won the game of Discount Chicken. The short answer is yes. Retailers did discount the heaviest they have all year, right around 30% on average. And I think that's important. It's on average. I mean, we've all seen discounts of 40%, 50%, really creative discounting strategies. And so that definitely drove demand. I mean, going back to the consumer, while they're buying more, they're making trade-offs and they were really diligent. [27:09] They were really patient and they waited and they waited and they ultimately saw the attractive deals starting in earnest on Black Friday. They weren't even that great on the Monday, Tuesday, I'm sorry, the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thanksgiving, Thursday until Black Friday, and then they started to buy. So they held out and they ultimately purchased those attractive deals. In terms of margin, I think we're doing okay. And the secret here is when we looked at the data, given all the inflation that happened, And actually, consumers are still, even with these deep discounts, paying more than they were in 2019. The optics are there. They're feeling like they're getting a good deal, but the reality is they're still spending more. So I think they'll be okay. And there wasn't this protracted discounting that did happen. And because they manage their inventory well, the retailers, and their discounting strategy as well, I don't think they're going to be forced with the hail Mary discounts that you often see right before the shipping cutoff date. So I think that retailers actually managed it pretty well. I give them credit too, by the way, what we saw in our data as well is retailers were a lot more transparent around their discounting strategy. [28:23] Many were offering price match guarantees. If they saw, you know, the consumer saw the price for less, and they were also much more transparent around their return policies as well. So people felt a little more comfortable buying earlier, even if the prices weren't exactly where they wanted it. So the long of it is, or the short of it, whichever way I look at it, is there were healthy discounts. Consumers took advantage of them. I'm still feeling more positive, especially than I have from last year, about margins. Scot: [28:57] Cool. You said something I want to dig into, and then I want to pivot to be in PL. You said luxury was a little soft. What do we make of that? Retailers' management of inventory and transparency in discounting strategy Rob: [29:06] Yeah, and like I said, it's had a run, like I haven't seen before in any one category. I mean, don't get me wrong. Consumer electronics really strong and some other categories in the pandemic home looked really strong as well. But it continued after the pandemic, both in store and online. What we saw compared again, just to put in perspective, three percent increase on Cyber Monday in the U.S., nine percent increase in Black Friday in the U.S. [29:34] There was a tick low beyond flat for luxury. What it also showed is they started to. [29:41] Discount more than they typically do. You think of luxury, they're going to hold their really price and be sensitive around preserving their brand and their margins. And we were seeing that tick up as well. I think the ultra luxury is still alive and kicking, no problem. It's more of that aspirational luxury. One area that I think is really important to point out is the resale market. More and more luxury brands are playing in the luxury market game. I'm sorry, the resale market game, because they realize people are doing it anyways, and they might as well offer that in many cases on their own website. So like Coach as an example, Canada Goose as an example, have the capability to exchange product, which then allows existing customers to likely buy something at a higher price point. And then if the product is in good enough shape, they're able to resell it and allow for aspirational shoppers to actually access that brand and buy it where they might not have been able to in the past. So yeah, I'm not overly concerned about luxury. I mean, the brands are so strong and there's so much loyalty there, but it just does show that in the aspirational space, people are trading down to a degree. [30:55] You know, they're trading down for value in the resale market. In many cases, they're trading down for vintage. It's amazing to see how many, you know, sneaker brands and specific models are hot that we all remember from our high school days. And you know, even the younger generations like to save the world a little bit as well. Scot: [31:14] Yeah. So I guess what I'm getting at is, do we think the consumer's rolling over and that's kind of the BNPL question too, because one way to read BNPL increasing is people are under financial stress. So they're stretching out payments. Another way is, you know, seeing all this data and it's always sponsored by one of the BNPL providers. So I'm never sure how to take it, but it shows that, you know, millennials and Gen Zers like, they don't like open credit. And it's weird because my kids have this perspective too. I thought it was like, I thought it was totally made up and then they're like, oh no, I, you know, I hate having like these credit cards with big limits. And I'm like, well, if you don't use it, it doesn't matter. It just makes them Consumer behavior and the rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) [31:52] nervous for some reason. And do you think it's a generational thing or is it a little sign of softness on the consumer? And maybe the luxury is another indication that it feels like the consumer is rolling over a little bit or you don't see that. Rob: [32:06] Yeah, I mean, I think it is a bit generational to your point. I don't have those data's points to substantiate what you're describing. But a lot of what I learned is from my 17-year-old and 14-year-old because they're right in the smack dab of purchasing and trends and so forth. Don't worry, we have a lot more data at Salesforce to back this up, billions and billions of shoppers. But in any case, the anecdotes definitely help provide a full commentary. But we saw an outpay later over Cyber Week increase 7%. So that's healthy. It's a little slower than we've seen in past. What we're also seeing, and it started last year, is it's on lower and lower price point merchandise. So that also speaks to the adoption as well. It's not just on the big ticket items. I think if I zoom out for a moment as well, mobile wallets were really strong. Mobile wallets were really strong. We saw about a 50% increase year over year in that. Now, of course, it's a smaller base than traditional credit cards and debit cards. But still, it's showing the adoption because it's really breaking down the friction in the checkout process. But we keep a close eye on buy now, pay later, because you're right. It could be an indication, especially as consumers look to buy lower price merchandise, that it might be a softening in the market. But we're not quite there in proclaiming that. Scot: [33:25] You said a mobile wallet. That is catnip for retail geek, so I'll get out of his way. I bet he has a million questions. Jason: [33:32] Yeah, no, Scot knows I love a good mobile wallet and I'm sure everyone's already heard this, Mobile wallets and the impact on checkout process and shopping experiences [33:37] but I have a hypothesis that some of the popular shopping behaviors we see in Asia aren't as popular here because we don't have as good a penetration of mobile wallets and that if you have mobile wallets, it makes certain experiences like shopping on social media and things like that easier because it only requires one hand instead of three hands. So I'd be curious, do you guys think you're seeing more mobile wallet users, or do you think you're seeing more transaction from the existing users, or do you have the ability to? To see between those two? I suspect I just asked you a question you're going to now have to go do research on. Rob: [34:17] Nick Neumann We may have that based on some of the primary research we do. We don't have access to personally identifiable information, so we can't see by user. But my thesis there is it's both. There are more people adopting mobile wallets because they see the convenience and the friction that's removed. And then once that happens, they're buying more. I think you go back to the Amazon example, part of why that's probably a home run for them is because it's a lot easier for somebody to buy in that form factor than let's say Roku or other Verizon user interfaces that you don't have a wallet associated with it. I didn't go through the shopping process on the Friday NFL game, but I can only imagine it was much easier than having to do it through other types of media. So I think that, yeah, I agree by the way, with your hypothesis that, you know, embedded commerce or shopping at the edge has been a bit stunted because, the wallet piece is not there or as accessible as it is in other countries. Buy Now, Pay Later Growing and Replacing Layaway Jason: [35:30] Yeah. Two things I'll just throw out there on buy now, pay later. I mean, I do, I think it, it legitimately resonates with the new crop of consumers. And so I think it's growing for all the reasons that the Buy Now Pay Later people claim it's growing. But I would, there's two accelerators that are just kind of convenient in there. Holiday used to be a big time for this payment method that the youngsters on the call wouldn't have heard of called the layaway. And almost no retailer that I'm aware of has brought back layaway, like they all retired it in the last several years, largely because Buy Now Pay Later has replaced it. And so, you know, layaway is most popular around holiday. So, you know, to the extent that buy now pay later is the digital version of layaway. It kind of makes sense that you would see a spike over a holiday. Also, digital is growing much faster than brick and mortar. Buy Now, Pay Later is disproportionately online. So that, you know, is another reason you would expect Buy Now, Pay Later to spike. One thing that's a little alarming slash interesting to me is that Buy Now, Pay Later gets used for a wider range of purchases and merchandise than LayAway did. Like, LayAway tended to be big ticket items, your kid's aspirational toys, but Buy Now Pay Later gets used for food and consumables and things that economically you would argue probably don't want to be financing something that you need to rebuy every month. Rob: [36:52] Yes. Jason: [36:53] So I'll just throw that out there on Buy Now Pay Later. We are coming up on our allotted time. I do have two other pieces of news that just kind of interrupted the Turkey Five news cycle. And one of them I'm super sad about, and it's actual breaking news that happened while we were recording this show, Charlie Munger just passed away at 99. Rob: [37:13] Oh, wow. Scot: [37:14] That's terrible. Jason: [37:15] Warren Buffett's partner, and I just, I feel like, very admirable person. I've learned a lot. He and Warren Buffett, like, are super generous with sharing Charlie Munger's Passing and Xi'an's IPO Announcement [37:23] all this thought leadership, and I just want to say best wishes to all his family and loved ones. Seems like you had an amazing life. Rob: [37:31] Yeah, I echo your sentiment. Jason: [37:33] Yep. And then in the middle of Cyber 5, you guys teased this a couple of times talking about Xi'an. and Xi'an disclosed that they filed an IPO. So that came out yesterday. It's a confidential IPO, so we won't actually see the prospectus until probably 2024 sometime. Okay. And the theory is that it's going to be, because of their not super transparent ownership structure and their Chinese ownership, it's gonna have extra regulatory scrutiny. And so the reason you'd file a confidential IPO is so you could start talking to regulators and negotiating what you're gonna do and what you're gonna disclose. And so they're probably working through all that stuff to then do the public IPO later. But it's, I'm excited for when that gets disclosed because there's a lot of speculation about how big Shein is and how profitable or unprofitable their model has been. And we're gonna be able to do away with all that speculation and get some real certified data. Rob: [38:38] I can't wait to listen to that show when you dissect that. It will be super interesting to see where they're allocating the investment and the capital. Beyond, obviously, hiring people, but what parts of the business. Jason: [38:51] I totally agree and that's going to be a great place to leave it because we have used up our allotted time. Rob, so grateful and congratulations on being our first six-time guest. And as per usual, if you enjoyed this episode or it was useful to us in any way, the two ways you can reward us are to do a giant enterprise contract for all your marketing services with Salesforce.com or, you can leave a five-star review on iTunes for Scot and I. So, you know, those are the two paths, choose whichever one makes most financial sense to you, but appreciate it if you do one or the other. Rob: [39:29] Yeah. And if I could say too, I know we're running up against time, but I want to give a big, sincere thank you. Obviously we just came out of Thanksgiving, so I want to show my gratitude. You know, it's amazing. Anytime I'm on the show, the people that reach out to me, not only talking about the show, but how much they've learned from you. And so for you to trust me and providing my perspective and Salesforce perspective means a lot and just thanks for being such good friends. Scot: [39:56] Robert Leonard Jason said, no, but I overrode him just so you know the history. I thought, you know, Jason's like, I'm the retail geek. We don't need any Garfies in here. Rob, remind us where could people go? You guys will be updating your data. I assume, you know, this is the last time you'll be on for this year, but I'm sure you'll be publishing more data as we get deeper in the holiday. Where do people go to see that? Rob: [40:19] Jason Cosper Yeah, we have our Shopping Insights HQ on salesforce.com. We will be updating the information. We'll do a mid-season report right around the shipping cutoff window, and then we'll do an all-wrapped-up just around the beginning of NRF. So keep an eye out. Scot: [40:34] Awesome. Well, thanks, everyone, and until next time... Jason: [40:38] Happy commercing!
Today, we're going to talk about the best natural things to do for difficulty breathing, air hunger, or dyspnea. Traditionally, people may have heard of this symptom being caused by asthma, pneumonia, COPD, lung infection, anemia, or a heart condition. But what if you rule these conditions out and still have problems breathing? This is called pseudo-dyspnea. With pseudo-dyspnea, you may feel better with exercise and worse with rest. Top causes of pseudo-dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and natural remedies: 1. Silent reflux Natural solutions: • Chlorophyll • Wheatgrass juice powder • Betaine hydrochloride (if there isn't irritation to the gut or esophagus) • Apple cider vinegar diluted in water and consumed through a straw (if there isn't irritation to the gut or esophagus) 2. Alkalosis Natural solutions: • Betaine hydrochloride (if there isn't irritation to the gut or esophagus) • Apple cider vinegar diluted in water and consumed through a straw (if there isn't irritation to the gut or esophagus) • Healthy Keto® and intermittent fasting • TUDCA 3. Costochondritis Natural support: • Massaging and stretching the spine • Using a mobility stick 4. COVID Natural support: • Thiamine (vitamin B1) DATA: ▶️ • Shortness of Breath / Air Hunger / Si... https://www.hormonesmatter.com/recove...
"మన సంప్రదాయంలో ఒకే గోత్రం వాళ్ళు పెళ్లి చేసుకోకూడదని చెబుతారు, ఇంకా అటువంటివి మన సంప్రదాయంలో కొనసాగుతున్నాయా?" అన్న ప్రశ్నకు సద్గురు సమాదానమిస్తున్నారు. జ్ఞానాన్ని కలిగించే ఈ సద్గురు పాడ్కాస్ట్ల ద్వారా ఎరుకతో పిల్లల్ని పెంచే కళను నేర్చుకోండి. పిల్లలు వికసించడానికి సానుకూల వాతావరణాన్ని సృష్టించేందుకు, వీటిల్లో హృదయాల్ని హత్తుకునే జ్ఞానంతో పాటు ఆచరింపదగిన సూచనలు ఉంటాయి. సద్గురు అధికారిక యూట్యూబ్ ఛానెల్ https://youtube.com/@SadhguruTelugu అధికారిక ఇన్స్టాగ్రాం పేజ్ https://www.instagram.com/sadhgurutelugu/ మరిన్ని తెలుగు వ్యాసాలు ఇంకా వీడియోలని చూడండి http://telugu.sadhguru.org సద్గురు అధికారిక ఫేస్బుక్ పేజ్ https://www.facebook.com/SadhguruTelugu అధికారిక తెలుగు ట్విట్టర్ ప్రొఫైల్ https://twitter.com/sadhguru_telugu సద్గురు యాప్ డౌన్లోడ్ చేసుకోండి http://onelink.to/sadhguru__app యోగి, దార్శనీకుడు ఇంకా మానవతావాది అయిన సద్గురు ఒక విభిన్నత కలిగిన ఆధునిక ఆధ్యాత్మిక గురువు. కార్యశీలతతో కూడిన విశిష్టమైన ఆయన జీవితం మరియు ఆయన చేస్తున్న కృషి, యోగా అన్నది ఒక సమకాలీన విజ్ఞాన శాస్త్రమనీ, మన కాలానికి ఎంతో ముఖ్యమైనది అని గుర్తుచేసే మేలుకొలుపు.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today is, TRADITIONALLY, the heaviest travel day of the year. So, if you have room for one more passenger, may I suggest this episode of BOTMOS? It has impressions, family members, nostalgia, food... and the greatest Thanksgiving tape of them all. It's all hand-selected and lovingly hosted by your old buddy Robb. It's so nice, you may wanna listen twice!
A North Clare Councillor is calling for toilet facilities at two of this county's most prominent beaches to be kept open throughout the Winter months. Traditionally restrooms and washrooms at both Fanore and Spanish Point had been closed from November to January, however the sites have been experiencing a surge in activity since the Covid Pandemic. In response, the West Clare Municipal District has now announced that the toilets will be maintained and kept open for weekends throughout the season. Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen says the move will ensure visitors are not inconvenienced.
Thanksgiving is this week. Traditionally, we remember immigrants who came to this land and we celebrate their joining with the native population to give thanks. Is that a true depiction of what happened? Does that happen now? We're talking about immigration and immigrants in our area. https://law.uark.edu/service-outreach/clinics/index/uid/am242/name/Amelia+McGowan/Past podcasts:Immigration Law : May 23, 2017 Attorney Lee Russell discussed Immigration Law, the role of ICE, and visa overstays. http://inlegalterms.mpbonline.org/episodes/5cd2d695f9e59c9966257674 Immigration: October 1, 2019 Guest: Patricia Ice, Legal Project Director at Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance spoke about the work of MIRA and the ramifications to families from the August 2019 immigration raids in Mississippi https://yourmira.org/ http://inlegalterms.mpbonline.org/episodes/in-legal-terms-immigrationIf you want to read what the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has to say about the 2019 searches: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-executes-federal-search-warrants-multiple-mississippi-locationsEven though ACLU is the “American” Civil Liberties Union, their website says: Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them if stopped by law enforcement. Their website has information in English and a pdf you can download for Spanish speakers. https://www.aclu-ms.org/en/know-your-rights/immigrant-rights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Points of discussion:1. What is a Legacy Brewery? [BBT Newsletter]2. Traditionally defined as ~25+ years old3. CODO defines a Legacy Brewery as any group that came to market around the start of the craft beer boom in 20104. The amount of breweries that opened in your market after you is more important than your overall age5. Advice for Legacy Breweries 6. Lean into your historicity -Learn more at: www.craftbeerrebranded.com / http://www.beyondbeerbook.com-Have a topic or question you'd like us to field on the show? Shoot it our way: hello@cododesign.com-Join 5,500+ food and bev industry pros who are subscribed to the Beer Branding Trends Newsletter (and access all past issues) at: www.beerbrandingtrends.com
Traditionally, private equity companies have created value at the companies they own by taking on debt, restructuring, and exploiting underserved opportunities. But surging interest rates and increased competition have made it much harder to deliver strong returns. Ted Bililies, a partner and managing director of AlixPartners, says private equity leaders can no longer count on financial engineering to drive performance. Instead, they need to invest in the human capital at their portfolio companies. Bililies wrote the HBR article “Private Equity Needs a New Talent Strategy.”
We're into the 19th day of coalition negotiations as National, ACT and New Zealand First seek to form the next government, and talks are now down to ministerial allocations between the three parties. While the top job is Christopher Luxon's, others are circling for the deputy Prime Minister role, and the idea of multiple deputies has been touted. Traditionally, New Zealand's prime minister has had just one deputy. But that's not always the case overseas, with Fiji having three deputy prime ministers, and here, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori have split the leadership between two co-leaders. Otago University Faculty of Law professor Andrew Geddis spoke to Corin Dann.
Finland, SpinDrive, a Finnish company providing affordable active magnetic bearings for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), has secured a 3.8M Series A funding round. The round was led by U.S.-based, hardware companies-focused investor Rhapsody Venture Partners, with existing investors Innovestor from Finland and Born2Grow from Germany also participating. The funding will enable SpinDrive to ramp up its commercial growth and improve industrial efficiency in factories worldwide. Magnetic levitation bearings could help in new clean tech innovation SpinDrive's frictionless bearings are smaller, more energy efficient, and more affordable than its competitors. The bearings work through magnetic levitation, where there is no contact between rotating and stationary parts. No friction means no bearing maintenance for up to 20 years, even in high-speed applications, meaning high rotational speeds and energy efficiency without the risk of equipment downtime or maintenance breaks. In striking contrast, traditional ball bearings in industrial high-speed applications have a 12-18 month maintenance cycle, requiring bearing replacement. SpinDrive's bearings also provide condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of the whole machine, removing the need to install external sensors to monitor system health and reducing overall equipment maintenance costs by over 80%. "We have seen increasing international demand for more energy efficiency and cleaner solutions in industrial production, and we are excited to build SpinDrive to meet those customer needs with our active magnetic bearing systems and controllers. With its specialization in industrial technologies and global reach into industrial companies, Rhapsody Venture Partners is an ideal partner for us, and we're thrilled to be working with them," says Nikita Uzhegov, COO and Co-founder of SpinDrive. Furthermore, the bearings require no oil to work, eliminating the need for polluting lubricants from industrial production. EU factories consume 5 million tons of oil-based lubricants each year, and traditional bearing-based machinery suffers from high leakage and contamination risk. This lubricant-free operation makes production significantly more ecological. It also allows manufacturers to enter new markets, such as food, beverage, pharma, semiconductors, and hydrogen-based production, where hygienic, contamination-free processing is essential. Another significant advantage is the energy-saving capability of frictionless bearings. For example, large machinery operating at 100kW to several MW requires considerable energy, and ball bearings limit machinery efficiency due to friction. Traditionally, OEMs' use of AMB technology has been restricted by its size, cost, and complexity. By offering an affordable solution to overcome these limitations, SpinDrive's AMBs and controllers enable manufacturers to reduce energy needs by as much as 15% by allowing increased rotational speeds in a vast array of systems beyond previously possible. This is a significant saving, as industrial electric motors currently stand for 46% of the world's electricity consumption. Improved energy efficiency is a key element in reducing industrial emissions. SpinDrive sees CO2 emission mitigation as one of its most significant contributions, and the company aims to help cut 500Mt of CO2 by 2050 annually by improving the energy efficiency of industrial machinery. New innovative technologies for fundamental machinery components, such as SpinDrive digital bearings, are essential in striving towards a carbon-negative future. "Climate change is the biggest challenge of our time, but we often get stuck thinking about technologies like carbon capture when it comes to CO2 emissions. Industrial production is a massive part of the world's energy consumption and climate emissions, so we must create energy-efficient and clean components to turn this tide. By improving the energy efficiency in existing and new machinery, we ta...
Recruit & Retain with Employee Benefits - Kyle Minick The evolving employer market is placing a greater emphasis on HR policies, benefits, and healthcare transparency. In this episode of the podcast "Self Funded" hosted by Spencer Smith and featuring Kyle Minick, the importance of these factors in talent management strategies was discussed. Traditionally, financial compensation has been the primary focus for employers when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. However, surveys have consistently shown that compensation is not the top priority for employees. Instead, factors such as flexibility and paid time off are often cited as more important. This highlights the need for employers to look beyond monetary rewards and invest in HR policies and benefits that foster a supportive work culture. Creating a sense of value among employees is crucial for retaining them. This can be achieved through leadership that demonstrates emotional attachment and loyalty. Employees want to feel that their employer cares about their success and well-being. HR policies and fringe benefits play a significant role in creating this sense of value. Offering assistance with buying a home or expanding financial futures are examples of how employers can show their commitment to their employees' long-term well-being. The insurance industry is also evolving to offer creative and tangible business solutions. Benefits are a major expense for businesses, and insurance companies are recognizing the need to go beyond traditional coverage. They are now focusing on HR policies, fringe benefits, and talent attraction and retention. Summit, a company specializing in benefits, insurance, and investments, is leading the way in serving businesses of all sizes, with a particular interest in blue-collar companies. They are also taking steps to address the high costs of specialty drugs through new pharmacy initiatives. Chapters: (00:00:08) Podcasts and Education in Employer Market (00:01:24) Creating a Culture of Employee Satisfaction (00:06:05) Creating a Supportive Environment for Employee Retention (00:10:09) Kyle's Journey in the Insurance Industry (00:16:00) Innovative Solutions in the Insurance Industry (00:24:52) Specialized Benefit Solutions for Businesses of All Sizes (00:30:43) Challenges and Solutions for Blue-Collar Companies (00:46:26) Pharmacy Initiatives: Addressing Specialty Drug Costs (00:51:49) Unveiling the Elusive Healthcare Expenses (00:58:08) Disruptive Innovation for Positive Change --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support
Recruit & Retain with Employee Benefits - Kyle Minick The evolving employer market is placing a greater emphasis on HR policies, benefits, and healthcare transparency. In this episode of the podcast "Self Funded" hosted by Spencer Smith and featuring Kyle Minick, the importance of these factors in talent management strategies was discussed. Traditionally, financial compensation has been the primary focus for employers when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. However, surveys have consistently shown that compensation is not the top priority for employees. Instead, factors such as flexibility and paid time off are often cited as more important. This highlights the need for employers to look beyond monetary rewards and invest in HR policies and benefits that foster a supportive work culture. Creating a sense of value among employees is crucial for retaining them. This can be achieved through leadership that demonstrates emotional attachment and loyalty. Employees want to feel that their employer cares about their success and well-being. HR policies and fringe benefits play a significant role in creating this sense of value. Offering assistance with buying a home or expanding financial futures are examples of how employers can show their commitment to their employees' long-term well-being. The insurance industry is also evolving to offer creative and tangible business solutions. Benefits are a major expense for businesses, and insurance companies are recognizing the need to go beyond traditional coverage. They are now focusing on HR policies, fringe benefits, and talent attraction and retention. Summit, a company specializing in benefits, insurance, and investments, is leading the way in serving businesses of all sizes, with a particular interest in blue-collar companies. They are also taking steps to address the high costs of specialty drugs through new pharmacy initiatives. Chapters: (00:00:08) Podcasts and Education in Employer Market (00:01:24) Creating a Culture of Employee Satisfaction (00:06:05) Creating a Supportive Environment for Employee Retention (00:10:09) Kyle's Journey in the Insurance Industry (00:16:00) Innovative Solutions in the Insurance Industry (00:24:52) Specialized Benefit Solutions for Businesses of All Sizes (00:30:43) Challenges and Solutions for Blue-Collar Companies (00:46:26) Pharmacy Initiatives: Addressing Specialty Drug Costs (00:51:49) Unveiling the Elusive Healthcare Expenses (00:58:08) Disruptive Innovation for Positive Change --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support
In this first episode of this Ubuntu Mental series with Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba speaks with Thomas Pearson about the need for mental health literacy and understanding vicarious trauma. Traditionally, the legal profession has normalised stress as part of its “tough it out” culture, because talking about mental health matters is considered a sign of weakness. However, overwhelming research has shown that there are higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression than before among lawyers, and there isn't a safe space to talk about it. The first step is understanding the terminology and vocabulary used to describe how people are feeling, which is why mental health literacy is important, says Dr Mathero Michelle Nkhalamba, a renowned clinical psychologist from Malawi. “If you can't name what's happening inside you, you cannot focus on remedying the things that are causing you that distress.” Nkhalamba says a good place to start talking about mental health literacy is at undergraduate law school level, as this will prepare young lawyers for the work and time-intensive environment that lies ahead of them. She points out that the culture of always having to grind with no time for rest, to prove your mettle as a lawyer, needs to be replaced with one that includes self care practices and normalising being tired. She comments that racking up billable hours will count for little when productivity is eventually compromised. Nkhalamba warns that stress has long term chronic effects such as hypertension, certain cancers, skin irritations and insomnia. She also explains in detail how the body reacts to stress and why it is deemed an occupational hazard. Delving into another key topic, Nkhalamba unpacks what vicarious trauma is, the neurobiology of trauma and the signs and symptoms of the condition. Interestingly, Thomas highlights a study that shows that playing Tetris can interrupt the response to trauma. The episode wraps up with Nkhalamba offering advice on what can be done to address stress and trauma regardless of the lack of infrastructure around mental health well-being available.
This Week's Show: Habs Vibe Check: Who's Thriving, Who's Surviving?Segment 1 | Week in Review, Habs News, League News⦁ Canadiens recalled Gustav Lindstrom from Laval, assigned Joel Armia to Laval.⦁ Injury update: Jordan Harris, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Arber Xhekaj⦁ This week we shine a spotlight on Yevgeni Volokhin.⦁ Quotes of the week from Brendan Gallagher, Marty St. Louis, Cayden Primeau and Jakub Dobes.⦁ LA Kings announced that they will play two preseason games in Quebec City in 2024.Segment 2 | Habs Vibe Check: Who's a Stud? Who's a Dud?The Montreal Canadiens are entering their seventh week of the 2023-24 season. Traditionally, American Thanksgiving is considered a landmark for projecting playoff status for NHL teams. It's also a good milestone to make a first set of evaluations of the players.Segment 3 | Have Your SayCanadiens upcoming events.Canadiens Connection question of the week.Listener's texts and emails.Get the Canadiens Connection!Use our single link here to subscribe to the Canadiens Connection your favorite podcast app.Be sure to follow @habsconnection on Twitter, Facebook, InstagramA new episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast is available weekly on Saturday afternoon. Missed an episode? You can download every episode of the Canadiens Connection HERE.Canadiens Connection on Rocket Sports RadioThank you for listening to the Canadiens Connection. This engaging podcast connects Habs fans with their beloved team from a plugged-in source they know and trust.Canadiens Connection is hosted by Rick Stephens (@RocketSports) with Michael Spinella (@TheSpinella), Amy Johnson (@FlyersRule) and Chris G (@ChrisHabs360). This talented team of credentialed journalists come together to share their valued insight.
The United States government, under the leadership of President Biden, has re-purposed the Defense Production Act to allocate additional funding towards the enhancement of green technologies. This move, in alliance with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is projected to release $169 million through the Department of Energy (DOE) to fund nine distinct projects focused on manufacturing heat pumps, as declared by the DOE. Traditionally, the Defense Production Act has been relied upon during times of national challenges such as war or major crises. Emphasizing the looming threat that climate change poses, the Biden administration has called upon this statute, reflecting their dedication to tackling this global crisis. As such, a considerable investment is being funneled into the manufacture of clean technologies to fortify our energy security, using the power awarded by the Defense Production Act. This initiative represents the latest step of President Biden's Investments in America agenda and seeks to shape a true 'American model' of innovation. It is envisaged this will reduce energy costs for everyday American families, whilst combatting the urgent climate crisis. An important marker of progress, it manifests as a triple win for everyone involved – the economy, the American workforce, and most crucially, our planet's health.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We regularly cover significant breaches on this podcast, but it is rare that we have enough information about a major breach to cover in enough detail to devote an entire segment to. Today, we dive into lessons learned from the breach of Okta's customer support system that targeted some other major security vendors. This is part of a troubling trend, where the target of an attack only serves as a jumping off point to other organizations. China's 2023 attack of Microsoft is an example of this. It was easier to attack Microsoft 365, one of the world's largest business SaaS platforms, than to go after each of the 25 individual targets these Chinese actors needed access to. Traditionally, we've thought of lateral movement as something that happens within a network segment, or even within a single organization. Now, we're seeing lateral movement between SaaS platforms, between clouds, from third party vendors to customer, and even from open source project to open source adopters. In this segment, we'll cover five key lessons learned from Okta's breach, from information shared by Okta and three of its customers: 1Password, Cloudflare, and BeyondTrust. Protect Your Session Tokens Monitor for Unusual Behavior SaaS Vendors Are Common Targets Zero Trust Principles Work MFA Isn't a Binary (on or off) Control Segment Resources https://www.valencesecurity.com/resources/blogs/five-lessons-learned-from-oktas-support-site-breach Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/esw-340
We regularly cover significant breaches on this podcast, but it is rare that we have enough information about a major breach to cover in enough detail to devote an entire segment to. Today, we dive into lessons learned from the breach of Okta's customer support system that targeted some other major security vendors. This is part of a troubling trend, where the target of an attack only serves as a jumping off point to other organizations. China's 2023 attack of Microsoft is an example of this. It was easier to attack Microsoft 365, one of the world's largest business SaaS platforms, than to go after each of the 25 individual targets these Chinese actors needed access to. Traditionally, we've thought of lateral movement as something that happens within a network segment, or even within a single organization. Now, we're seeing lateral movement between SaaS platforms, between clouds, from third party vendors to customer, and even from open source project to open source adopters. In this segment, we'll cover five key lessons learned from Okta's breach, from information shared by Okta and three of its customers: 1Password, Cloudflare, and BeyondTrust. Protect Your Session Tokens Monitor for Unusual Behavior SaaS Vendors Are Common Targets Zero Trust Principles Work MFA Isn't a Binary (on or off) Control Segment Resources https://www.valencesecurity.com/resources/blogs/five-lessons-learned-from-oktas-support-site-breach Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/esw-340
Hey everyone, it's a brand new episode drop of the WR? Podcast! This week's "Shootin' The Sh!t" open covers some pro wrestling news talk. Then, the WR? coverage of the NFL regular season continues. It's our usual lineup of Steelers talk (Good/Bad/Ugly), WR? NFL Power Rankings, and results/predictions. Next up is a "deep dive" review of the new Netflix documentary, "Sly", all about the life and career of the one and only Sylvester Stallone. Some pro wrestling talk continues the show with a full preview of AEW's "Full Gear 2023". Traditionally, the stroll down to the lagoon closes things out!Enjoy responsibly! PRESENTED by CHURCHILL PICTURES Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Variety Hour: Pro Wrestling / MMA News 0:19:45 - NFL Segment: Steelers, Power Rankings, League Updates 1:01:42 - Netflix Review: Sly (2023) 1:25:16 - Preview: AEW: Full Gear (2023) 1:45:20 - Goofs R Goofs Thanks For Listening!
In episode seven of our Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with Ross Krewenka, Product Manager for IDEMIA, and Mike Ransom, Automated Print Manager for the Michigan State Police, to discuss the development and use cases of contactless fingerprint capture technology. Traditionally, ink and paper are used to capture fingerprints from subjects; however, advances in technology have made it possible to document fingerprints electronically. Furthermore, technological advancements have even made it possible to capture fingerprints without subjects physically encountering fingerprint sensors or being touched by law enforcement. Listen along as Ross and Mike describe the process of adapting industry fingerprint technology to the public safety field, how contactless fingerprint capture technology can benefit individuals with special needs and preferences, and the impact of this technology on the future of identification. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice's Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (Award No. 15PNIJ-21-GK-02192-MUMU). Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Once again, Theresa Lanowitz joins us to discuss Edge Computing, but with a twist this time, as Mani Keerthi Nagotu from SentinelOne joins us as well! As a field CISO, Mani knows all too well the struggles security leaders are going through, given the current market and threat landscape: Maybe not less budget, but more pressure to produce results and justify spending Security leaders being held personally accountable for performance Potential layoffs, and the need to achieve the same goals with less labor and tool overhead Segment Resources https://cybersecurity.att.com/insights-report This segment is sponsored by AT&T Cybersecurity. Visit https://securityweekly.com/attcybersecurity to learn more about them! We regularly cover significant breaches on this podcast, but it is rare that we have enough information about a major breach to cover in enough detail to devote an entire segment to. Today, we dive into lessons learned from the breach of Okta's customer support system that targeted some other major security vendors. This is part of a troubling trend, where the target of an attack only serves as a jumping off point to other organizations. China's 2023 attack of Microsoft is an example of this. It was easier to attack Microsoft 365, one of the world's largest business SaaS platforms, than to go after each of the 25 individual targets these Chinese actors needed access to. Traditionally, we've thought of lateral movement as something that happens within a network segment, or even within a single organization. Now, we're seeing lateral movement between SaaS platforms, between clouds, from third party vendors to customer, and even from open source project to open source adopters. In this segment, we'll cover five key lessons learned from Okta's breach, from information shared by Okta and three of its customers: 1Password, Cloudflare, and BeyondTrust. Protect Your Session Tokens Monitor for Unusual Behavior SaaS Vendors Are Common Targets Zero Trust Principles Work MFA Isn't a Binary (on or off) Control Segment Resources https://www.valencesecurity.com/resources/blogs/five-lessons-learned-from-oktas-support-site-breach Finally, in the enterprise security news, Lots of new security startups with early stage funding SentinelOne picks up Chris Krebs and Alex Stamos's consulting firm PE firm picks up ActiveState - a company I haven't thought about since I last downloaded ActiveState Perl 1000 years ago Microsoft announces the limited release of Security Copilot Semgrep releases a secrets scanner AGI predicted to come much sooner than you might expect NY State doubles down on cybersecurity regulations to protect its hospitals the young hackers behind Mirai, one of the biggest botnets ever Ransomware groups snitch on businesses to the SEC Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/esw for all the latest episodes! Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/securityweekly Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secweekly Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/esw for all the latest episodes! Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/securityweekly Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secweekly Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/esw-340
Once again, Theresa Lanowitz joins us to discuss Edge Computing, but with a twist this time, as Mani Keerthi Nagotu from SentinelOne joins us as well! As a field CISO, Mani knows all too well the struggles security leaders are going through, given the current market and threat landscape: Maybe not less budget, but more pressure to produce results and justify spending Security leaders being held personally accountable for performance Potential layoffs, and the need to achieve the same goals with less labor and tool overhead Segment Resources https://cybersecurity.att.com/insights-report This segment is sponsored by AT&T Cybersecurity. Visit https://securityweekly.com/attcybersecurity to learn more about them! We regularly cover significant breaches on this podcast, but it is rare that we have enough information about a major breach to cover in enough detail to devote an entire segment to. Today, we dive into lessons learned from the breach of Okta's customer support system that targeted some other major security vendors. This is part of a troubling trend, where the target of an attack only serves as a jumping off point to other organizations. China's 2023 attack of Microsoft is an example of this. It was easier to attack Microsoft 365, one of the world's largest business SaaS platforms, than to go after each of the 25 individual targets these Chinese actors needed access to. Traditionally, we've thought of lateral movement as something that happens within a network segment, or even within a single organization. Now, we're seeing lateral movement between SaaS platforms, between clouds, from third party vendors to customer, and even from open source project to open source adopters. In this segment, we'll cover five key lessons learned from Okta's breach, from information shared by Okta and three of its customers: 1Password, Cloudflare, and BeyondTrust. Protect Your Session Tokens Monitor for Unusual Behavior SaaS Vendors Are Common Targets Zero Trust Principles Work MFA Isn't a Binary (on or off) Control Segment Resources https://www.valencesecurity.com/resources/blogs/five-lessons-learned-from-oktas-support-site-breach Finally, in the enterprise security news, Lots of new security startups with early stage funding SentinelOne picks up Chris Krebs and Alex Stamos's consulting firm PE firm picks up ActiveState - a company I haven't thought about since I last downloaded ActiveState Perl 1000 years ago Microsoft announces the limited release of Security Copilot Semgrep releases a secrets scanner AGI predicted to come much sooner than you might expect NY State doubles down on cybersecurity regulations to protect its hospitals the young hackers behind Mirai, one of the biggest botnets ever Ransomware groups snitch on businesses to the SEC Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/esw for all the latest episodes! Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/securityweekly Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secweekly Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/esw for all the latest episodes! Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/securityweekly Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secweekly Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/esw-340
Alex Lawrence, Field CISO at Sysdig, joins Corey on Screaming in the Cloud to discuss how he went from studying bioluminescence and mycology to working in tech, and his stance on why open source is the future of cloud security. Alex draws an interesting parallel between the creative culture at companies like Pixar and the iterative and collaborative culture of open-source software development, and explains why iteration speed is crucial in cloud security. Corey and Alex also discuss the pros and cons of having so many specialized tools that tackle specific functions in cloud security, and the different postures companies take towards their cloud security practices. About AlexAlex Lawrence is a Field CISO at Sysdig. Alex has an extensive history working in the datacenter as well as with the world of DevOps. Prior to moving into a solutions role, Alex spent a majority of his time working in the world of OSS on identity, authentication, user management and security. Alex's educational background has nothing to do with his day-to-day career; however, if you'd like to have a spirited conversation on bioluminescence or fungus, he'd be happy to oblige.Links Referenced: Sysdig: https://sysdig.com/ sysdig.com/opensource: https://sysdig.com/opensource falco.org: https://falco.org TranscriptAnnouncer: Hello, and welcome to Screaming in the Cloud with your host, Chief Cloud Economist at The Duckbill Group, Corey Quinn. This weekly show features conversations with people doing interesting work in the world of cloud, thoughtful commentary on the state of the technical world, and ridiculous titles for which Corey refuses to apologize. This is Screaming in the Cloud.Corey: Welcome to Screaming in the Cloud. I'm Corey Quinn. This promoted guest episode is brought to us by our friends over at Sysdig, and they have brought to me Alexander Lawrence, who's a principal security architect over at Sysdig. Alexander, thank you for joining me.Alex: Hey, thanks for having me, Corey.Corey: So, we all have fascinating origin stories. Invariably you talk to someone, no one in tech emerged fully-formed from the forehead of some God. Most of us wound up starting off doing this as a hobby, late at night, sitting in the dark, rarely emerging. You, on the other hand, studied mycology, so watching the rest of us sit in the dark and growing mushrooms was basically how you started, is my understanding of your origin story. Accurate, not accurate at all, or something in between?Alex: Yeah, decently accurate. So, I was in school during the wonderful tech bubble burst, right, high school era, and I always told everybody, there's no way I'm going to go into technology. There's tons of people out there looking for a job. Why would I do that? And let's face it, everybody expected me to, so being an angsty teenager, I couldn't have that. So, I went into college looking into whatever I thought was interesting, and it turned out I had a predilection to go towards fungus and plants.Corey: Then you realized some of them glow and that wound up being too bright for you, so all right, we're done with this; time to move into tech?Alex: [laugh]. Strangely enough, my thesis, my capstone, was on the coevolution of bioluminescence across aquatic and terrestrial organisms. And so, did a lot of focused work on specifically bioluminescent fungus and bioluminescing fish, like Photoblepharon palpebratus and things like that.Corey: When I talk to people who are trying to figure out, okay, I don't like what's going on in my career, I want to do something different, and their assumption is, oh, I have to start over at square one. It's no, find the job that's halfway between what you're doing now and what you want to be doing, and make lateral moves rather than starting over five years in or whatnot. But I have to wonder, how on earth did you go from A to B in this context?Alex: Yeah, so I had always done tech. My first job really was in tech at the school districts that I went to in high school. And so, I went into college doing tech. I volunteered at the ELCA and other organizations doing tech, and so it basically funded my college career. And by the time I finished up through grad school, I realized my life was going to be writing papers so that other people could do the research that I was coming up with, and I thought that sounded like a pretty miserable life.And so, it became a hobby, and the thing I had done throughout my entire college career was technology, and so that became my new career and vocation. So, I was kind of doing both, and then ended up landing in tech for the job market.Corey: And you've effectively moved through the industry to the point where you're now in security architecture over at Sysdig, which, when I first saw Sysdig launch many years ago, it was, this is an interesting tool. I can see observability stories, I can see understanding what's going on at a deep level. I liked it as a learning tool, frankly. And it makes sense, with the benefit of hindsight, that oh, yeah, I suppose it does make some sense that there are security implications thereof. But one of the things that you've said that I really want to dig into that I'm honestly in full support of because it'll irritate just the absolute worst kinds of people is—one of the core beliefs that you espouse is that security when it comes to cloud is inherently open-source-based or at least derived. I don't want to misstate your position on this. How do you view it?Alex: Yeah. Yeah, so basically, the stance I have here is that the future of security in cloud is open-source. And the reason I say that is that it's a bunch of open standards that have basically produced a lot of the technologies that we're using in that stack, right, your web servers, your automation tooling, all of your different components are built on open stacks, and people are looking to other open tools to augment those things. And the reality is, is that the security environment that we're in is changing drastically in the cloud as opposed to what it was like in the on-premises world. On-prem was great—it still is great; a lot of folks still use it and thrive on it—but as we look at the way software is built and the way we interface with infrastructure, the cloud has changed that dramatically.Basically, things are a lot faster than they used to be. The model we have to use in order to make sure our security is good has dramatically changed, right, and all that comes down to speed and how quickly things evolve. I tend to take a position that one single brain—one entity, so to speak—can't keep up with that rapid evolution of things. Like, a good example is Log4j, right? When Log4j hit this last year, that was a pretty broad attack that affected a lot of people. You saw open tooling out there, like Falco and others, they had a policy to detect and help triage that within a couple of hours of it hitting the internet. Other proprietary tooling, it took much longer than two hours.Corey: Part of me wonders what the root cause behind that delay is because it's not that the engineers working at these companies are somehow worse than folks in the open communities. In some cases, they're the same people. It feels like it's almost corporate process ossification of, “Okay, we built a thing. Now, we need to make sure it goes through branding and legal and marketing and we need to bring in 16 other teams to make this work.” Whereas in the open-source world, it feels like there's much more of a, “I push the deploy button and it's up. The end.” There is no step two.Alex: [laugh]. Yeah, so there is certainly a certain element of that. And I think it's just the way different paradigms work. There's a fantastic book out there called Creativity, Inc., and it's basically a book about how Pixar manages itself, right? How do they deal with creating movies? How do they deal with doing what they do, well?And really, what it comes down to is fostering a culture of creativity. And that typically revolves around being able to fail fast, take risks, see if it sticks, see if it works. And it's not that corporate entities don't do that. They certainly do, but again, if you think about the way the open-source world works, people are submitting, you know, PRs, pull requests, they're putting out different solutions, different fixes to problems, and the ones that end up solving it the best are often the ones that end up coming to the top, right? And so, it's just—the way you iterate is much more akin to that kind of creativity-based mindset that I think you get out of traditional organizations and corporations.Corey: There's also, I think—I don't know if this is necessarily the exact point, but it feels like it's at least aligned with it—where there was for a long time—by which I mean, pretty much 40 years at this point—a debate between open disclosure and telling people of things that you have found in vendors products versus closed disclosure; you only wind—or whatever the term is where you tell the vendor, give them time to fix it, and it gets out the door. But we've seen again and again and again, where researchers find something, report it, and then it sits there, in some cases for years, but then when it goes public and the company looks bad as a result, they scramble to fix it. I wish it were not this way, but it seems that in some cases, public shaming is the only thing that works to get companies to secure their stuff.Alex: Yeah, and I don't know if it's public shaming, per se, that does it, or it's just priorities, or it's just, you know, however it might go, there's always been this notion of, “Okay, we found a breach. Let's disclose appropriately, you know, between two entities, give time to remediate.” Because there is a potential risk that if you disclose publicly that it can be abused and used in very malicious ways—and we certainly don't want that—but there also is a certain level of onus once the disclosure happens privately that we got to go and take care of those things. And so, it's a balancing act.I don't know what the right solution is. I mean, if I did, I think everybody would benefit from things like that, but we just don't know the proper answer. The workflow is complex, it is difficult, and I think doing our due diligence to make sure that we disclose appropriately is the right path to go down. When we get those disclosures we need to take them seriously is when it comes down to.Corey: What I find interesting is your premise that the future of cloud security is open-source. Like, I could make a strong argument that today, we definitely have an open-source culture around cloud security and need to, but you're talking about that shifting along the fourth dimension. What's the change? What do you see evolving?Alex: Yeah, I think for me, it's about the collaboration. I think there are segments of industries that communicate with each other very, very well, and I think there's others who do a decent job, you know, behind closed doors, and I think there's others, again, that don't communicate at all. So, all of my background predominantly has been in higher-ed, K-12, academia, and I find that a lot of those organizations do an extremely good job of partnering together, working together to move towards, kind of, a greater good, a greater goal. An example of that would be a group out in the Pacific Northwest called NWACC—the NorthWest Academic Computing Consortium. And so, it's every university in the Northwest all come together to have CIO Summits, to have Security Summits, to trade knowledge, to work together, basically, to have a better overall security posture.And they do it pretty much out in the open and collaborating with each other, even though they are also direct competitors, right? They all want the same students. It's a little bit of a different way of thinking, and they've been doing it for years. And I'm finding that to be a trend that's happening more and more outside of just academia. And so, when I say the future is open, if you think about the tooling academia typically uses, it is very open-source-oriented, it is very collaborative.There's no specifications on things like eduPerson to be able to go and define what a user looks like. There's things like, you know, CAS and Shibboleth to do account authorization and things like that. They all collaborate on tooling in that regard. We're seeing more of that in the commercial space as well. And so, when I say the future of security in cloud is open-source, it's models like this that I think are becoming more and more effective, right?It's not just the larger entities talking to each other. It's everybody talking with each other, everybody collaborating with each other, and having an overall better security posture. The reality is, is that the folks we're defending ourselves against, they already are communicating, they already are using that model to work together to take down who they view as their targets: us, right? We need to do the same to be able to keep up. We need to be able to have those conversations openly, work together openly, and be able to set that security posture across that kind of overall space.Corey: There's definitely a concern that if okay, you have all these companies and community collaborating around security aspects in public, that well won't the bad actors be able to see what they're looking at and how they're approaching it and, in some cases, move faster than they can or, in other cases, effectively wind up polluting the conversation by claiming to be good actors when they're not. And there's so many different ways that this can manifest. It feels like fear is always the thing that stops people from going down this path, but there is some instance of validity to that I would imagine.Alex: Yeah, no. And I think that certainly is true, right? People are afraid to let go of, quote-unquote, “The keys to their kingdom,” their security posture, their things like that. And it makes sense, right? There's certain things that you would want to not necessarily talk about openly, like, specifically, you know, what Diffie–Hellman key exchange you're using or something like that, but there are ways to have these conversations about risks and posture and tooling and, you know, ways you approach it that help everybody else out, right?If someone finds a particularly novel way to do a detection with some sort of piece of tooling, they probably should be sharing that, right? Let's not keep it to ourselves. Traditionally, just because you know the tool doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to have a way in. Certainly, you know, it can give you a path or a vector to go after, but if we can at least have open standards about how we implement and how we can go about some of these different concepts, we can all gain from that, so to speak.Corey: Part of me wonders if the existing things that the large companies are collaborating on lead to a culture that specifically pushes back against this. A classic example from my misspent youth is that an awful lot of the anti-abuse departments at these large companies are in constant communication. Because if you work at Microsoft, or Google or Amazon, your adversary, as you see it, in the Trust and Safety Group is not those other companies. It's bad actors attempting to commit fraud. So, when you start seeing particular bad actors emerging from certain parts of the network, sharing that makes everything better because there's an understanding there that it's not, “Oh, Microsoft has bad security this week,” or, “Google will wind up approving fraudulent accounts that start spamming everyone.”Because the takeaway by theby the customers is not that this one company is bad; it's oh, the cloud isn't safe. We shouldn't use cloud. And that leads to worse outcomes for basically everyone. But they're als—one of the most carefully guarded secrets at all these companies is how they do fraud prevention and spam detection because if adversaries find that out, working around them becomes a heck of a lot easier. I don't know, for example, how AWS determines whether a massive account overage in a free-tier account is considered to be a bad actor or someone who made a legitimate mistake. I can guess, but the actual signal that they use is something that they would never in a million years tell me. They probably won't even tell each other specifics of that.Alex: Certainly, and I'm not advocating that they let all of the details out, per se, but I think it would be good to be able to have more of an open posture in terms of, like, you know what tooling do they use? How do they accomplish that feat? Like, are they looking at a particular metric? How do they basically handle that posture going forward? Like, what can I do to replicate a similar concept?I don't need to know all the details, but would be nice if they embrace, you know, open tooling, like say a Trivy or a Falco or whatever the thing is, right, they're using to do this process and then contribute back to that project to make it better for everybody. When you kind of keep that stuff closed-source, that's when you start running into that issue where, you know, they have that, quote-unquote, “Advantage,” that other folks aren't getting. Maybe there's something we can do better in the community, and if we can all be better, it's better for everybody.Corey: There's a constant customer pain in the fact that every cloud provider, for example, has its own security perspective—the way that identity is managed, the way that security boundaries exist, the way that telemetry from these things winds up getting represented—where a number of companies that are looking at doing things that have to work across cloud for a variety of reasons—some good, some not so good—have decided that, okay, we're just going to basically treat all these providers as, more or less, dumb pipes and dumb infrastructure. Great, we're just going to run Kubernetes on all these things, and then once it's inside of our cluster, then we'll build our own security overlay around all of these things. They shouldn't have to do that. There should be a unified set of approaches to these things. At least, I wish there were.Alex: Yeah, and I think that's where you see a lot of the open standards evolving. A lot of the different CNCF projects out there are basically built on that concept. Like, okay, we've got Kubernetes. We've got a particular pipeline, we've got a particular type of implementation of a security measure or whatever it might be. And so, there's a lot of projects built around how do we standardize those things and make them work cross-functionally, regardless of where they're running.It's actually one of the things I quite like about Kubernetes: it makes it be a little more abstract for the developers or the infrastructure folks. At one point in time, you had your on-premises stuff and you built your stuff towards how your on-prem looked. Then you went to the cloud and started building yourself to look like what that cloud look like. And then another cloud showed up and you had to go use that one. Got to go refactor your application to now work in that cloud.Kubernetes has basically become, like, this gigantic API ball to interface with the clouds, and you don't have to build an application four different ways anymore. You can build it one way and it can work on-prem, it can work in Google, Azure, IBM, Oracle, you know, whoever, Amazon, whatever it needs to be. And then that also enables us to have a standard set of tools. So, we can use things like, you know, Rego or we can use things like Falco or we can use things that allow us to build tooling to secure those things the same way everywhere we go. And the benefit of most of those tools is that they're also configured, you know, via some level of codification, and so we can have a repository that contains our posture: apply that posture to that cluster, apply it to the other cluster in the other environment. It allows us to automate these things, go quicker, build the posture at the very beginning, along with that application.Corey: One of the problems I feel as a customer is that so many of these companies have a model for interacting with security issues that's frankly obnoxious. I am exhausted by the amount of chest-thumping, you'll see on keynote stages, all of the theme, “We're the best at security.” And whenever a vulnerability researcher reports something of a wide variety of different levels of severity, it always feels like the first concern from the company is not fix the issue, but rather, control the messaging around it.Whenever there's an issue, it's very clear that they will lean on people to rephrase things, not use certain words. It's, I don't know if the words used to describe this cross-tenant vulnerability are the biggest problem you should be focusing on right now. Yes, I understand that you can walk and chew gum at the same time as a big company, but it almost feels like the researchers are first screaming into a void, and then they're finally getting attention, but from all the people they don't want to get the attention from. It feels like this is not a welcoming environment for folks to report these things in good faith.Alex: [sigh]. Yeah, it's not. And I don't know what the solution is to that particular problem. I have opinions about why that exists. I won't go into those here, but it's cumbersome. It's difficult. I don't envy a lot of those research organizations.They're fantastic people coming up with great findings, they find really interesting stuff that comes out, but when you have to report and do that due diligence, that portion is not that fun. And then doing, you know, the fallout component, right: okay, now we have this thing we have to report, we have to go do something to fix it, you're right. I mean, people do often get really spun up on the verbiage or the implications and not just go fix the problem. And so again, if you have ways to mitigate that are more standards-based, that aren't specific to a particular cloud, like, you can use an open-source tool to mitigate, that can be quite the advantage.Corey: One of the challenges that I see across a wide swath of tooling and approaches to it have been that when I was trying to get some stuff to analyze CloudTrail logs in my own environment, I was really facing a bimodal distribution of options. On one end of the spectrum, it's a bunch of crappy stuff—or good stuff; hard to say—but it's all coming off of GitHub, open-source, build it yourself, et cetera. Good luck. And that's okay, awesome, but there's business value here and I'm thrilled to pay experts to make this problem go away.The other end of the spectrum is commercial security tooling, and it is almost impossible in my experience to find anything that costs less than $1,000 a month to start providing insight from a security perspective. Now, I understand the market forces that drive this. Truly I do, and I'm sympathetic to them. It is just as easy to sell $50,000 worth of software as it is five to an awful lot of companies, so yeah, go where the money is. But it also means that the small end of the market as hobbyists, as startups are just getting started, there is a price barrier to engaging in the quote-unquote, “Proper way,” to do security.So, the posture suffers. We'll bolt security on later when it becomes important is the philosophy, and we've all seen how well that plays out in the fullness of time. How do you square that circle? I think the answer has to be open-source improving to the point where it's not just random scripts, but renowned projects.Alex: Correct, yeah, and I'd agree with that. And so, we're kind of in this interesting phase. So, if you think about, like, raw Linux applications, right, Linux, always is the tenant that you build an application to do one thing, does that one thing really, really, really well. And then you ended up with this thing called, like, you know, the Cacti monitoring stack. And so, you ended up having, like, 600 tools you strung together to get this one monitoring function done.We're kind of in a similar spot in a lot of ways right now, in the open-source security world where, like, if you want to do scanning, you can do, like, Clair or you can do Trivy or you have a couple different choices, right? If you want to do posture, you've got things like Qbench that are out there. If you want to go do runtime security stuff, you've got something like Falco. So, you've got all these tools to string together, right, to give you all of these different components. And if you want, you can build it yourself, and you can run it yourself and it can be very fun and effective.But at some point in your life, you probably don't want to be care-and-feeding your child that you built, right? It's 18 years later now, and you want to go back to having your life, and so you end up buying a tool, right? That's why Gartner made this whole CNAP category, right? It's this humongous category of products that are putting all of these different components together into one gigantic package. And the whole goal there is just to make lives a little bit easier because running all the tools yourself, it's fun, I love it, I did it myself for a long time, but eventually, you know, you want to try to work on some other stuff, too.Corey: At one point, I wound up running the numbers of all of the first-party security offerings that AWS offered, and for most use cases of significant scale, the cost for those security services was more than the cost of the theoretical breach that they'd be guarding against. And I think that there's a very dangerous incentive that arises when you start turning security observability into your own platform as a profit center. Because it's, well, we could make a lot of money if we don't actually fix the root issue and just sell tools to address and mitigate some of it—not that I think that's the intentional direction that these companies are taking these things and I don't want to ascribe malice to them, but you can feel that start to be the trend that some decisions get pushed in.Alex: Yeah, I mean, everything comes down to data, right? It has to be stored somewhere, processed somewhere, analyzed somewhere. That always has a cost with it. And so, that's always this notion of the shared security model, right? We have to have someone have ownership over that data, and most of the time, that's the end-user, right? It's their data, it's their responsibility.And so, these offerings become things that they have that you can tie into to work within the ecosystem, work within their infrastructure to get that value out of your data, right? You know, where is the security model going? Where do I have issues? Where do I have misconfigurations? But again, someone has to pay for that processing time. And so, that ends up having a pretty extreme cost to it.And so, it ends up being a hard problem to solve. And it gets even harder if you're multi-cloud, right? You can't necessarily use the tooling of AWS inside of Azure or inside of Google. And other products are trying to do that, right? They're trying to be able to let you integrate their security center with other clouds as well.And it's kind of created this really interesting dichotomy where you almost have frenemies, right, where you've got, you know, a big Azure customer who's also a big AWS customer. Well, they want to go use Defender on all of their infrastructure, and Microsoft is trying to do their best to allow you to do that. Conversely, not all clouds operate in that same capacity. And you're correct, they all come at extremely different costs, they have different price models, they have different ways of going about it. And it becomes really difficult to figure out what is the best path forward.Generally, my stance is anything is better than nothing, right? So, if your only choice is using Defender to do all your stuff and it cost you an arm or leg, unfortunate, but great; at least you got something. If the path is, you know, go use this random open-source thing, great. Go do that. Early on, when I'd been at—was at Sysdig about five years ago, my big message was, you know, I don't care what you do. At least scan your containers. If you're doing nothing else in life, use Clair; scan the darn things. Don't do nothing.That's not really a problem these days, thankfully, but now we're more to a world where it's like, well, okay, you've got your containers, you've got your applications running in production. You've scanned them, that's great, but you're doing nothing at runtime. You're doing nothing in your posture world, right? Do something about it. So, maybe that is buy the enterprise tool from the cloud you're working in, buy it from some other vendor, use the open-source tool, do something.Thankfully, we live in a world where there are plenty of open tools out there we can adopt and leverage. You used the example of CloudTrail earlier. I don't know if you saw it, but there was a really, really cool talk at SharkFest last year from Gerald Combs where they leveraged Wireshark to be able to read CloudTrail logs. Which I thought was awesome.Corey: That feels more than a little bit ridiculous, just because it's—I mean I guess you could extract the JSON object across the wire then reassemble it. But, yeah, I need to think on that one.Alex: Yeah. So, it's actually really cool. They took the plugins from Falco that exist and they rewired Wireshark to leverage those plugins to read the JSON data from the CloudTrail and then wired it into the Wireshark interface to be able to do a visual inspect of CloudTrail logs. So, just like you could do, like, a follow this IP with a PCAP, you could do the same concept inside of your cloud log. So, if you look up Logray, you'll find it on the internet out there. You'll see demos of Gerald showing it off. It was a pretty darn cool way to use a visualization, let's be honest, most security professionals already know how to use in a more modern infrastructure.Corey: One last topic that I want to go into with you before we call this an episode is something that's been bugging me more and more over the years—and it annoyed me a lot when I had to deal with this stuff as a SOC 2 control owner and it's gotten exponentially worse every time I've had to deal with it ever since—and that is the seeming view of compliance and security as being one and the same, to the point where in one of my accounts that I secured rather well, I thought, I installed security hub and finally jumped through all those hoops and paid the taxes and the rest and then waited 24 hours to gather some data, then 24 hours to gather more. Awesome. Applied the AWS-approved a foundational security benchmark to it and it started shrieking its bloody head off about all of the things that were insecure and not configured properly. One of them, okay, great, it complained that the ‘Block all S3 Public Access' setting was not turned on for the account. So, I turned that on. Great.Now, it's still complaining that I have not gone through and also enabled the ‘Block Public Access Setting' on each and every S3 bucket within it. That is not improving your security posture in any meaningful way. That is box-checking so that someone in a compliance role can check that off and move on to the next thing on the clipboard. Now, originally, they started off being good-intentioned, but the result is I'm besieged by these things that don't actually matter and that means I'm not going to have time to focus on the things that actually do. Please tell me I'm wrong on some of this.Alex: [laugh].Corey: I really need to hear that.Alex: I can't. Unfortunately, I agree with you that a lot of that seems erroneous. But let's be honest, auditors have a job for a reason.Corey: Oh, I'm not besmirching the role of the auditor. Far from it. The problem I run into is that it's the Human Nessus report that dumps out, “Here's the 700 things to go fix in your environment,” as opposed to, “Here's the five things you can do right now that will meaningfully improve your security posture.”Alex: Yeah. And so, I think that's a place we see a lot of vendors moving, and I think that is the right path forward. Because we are in a world where we generate reports that are miles and miles long, we throw them over a wall to somebody, and that person says, “Are you crazy?” Like, “You want me to go do what with my time?” Like, “No. I can't. No. This is way too much.”And so, if we can narrow these things down to what matters the most today, and then what can we get rid of tomorrow, that makes life better for everybody. There are certainly ways to accomplish that across a lot of different dimensions, be that vulnerability management, or configuration management stuff, runtime stuff, and that is certainly the way we should approach it. Unfortunately, not all frameworks allow us to look at it that way.Corey: I mean, even AWS's thing here is yelling at me for a number of services not having encryption-at-rest turned on, like CloudTrail logs, or SNS topics. It's okay, let's be very clear what that is defending against: someone stealing drives out of a data center and taking them off to view the data. Is that something that I need to worry about in a public cloud provider context? Not unless I'm the CIA or something pretty close to that. I mean, if you can get my data out of an AWS data center and survive, congratulations, I kind of feel like you've earned it at this point. But that obscures things I need to be doing that I'm not.Alex: Back in the day, I had a customer who used to have—they had storage arrays and their storage arrays' logins were the default login that they came with the array. They never changed it. You just logged in with admin and no password. And I was like, “You know, you should probably fix that.” And he sent a message back saying, “Yeah, you know, maybe I should, but my feeling is that if it got that far into my infrastructure where they can get to that interface, I'm already screwed, so it doesn't really matter to me if I set that admin password or not.”Corey: Yeah, there is a defense-in-depth argument to be made. I am not disputing that, but the Cisco world is melting down right now because of a bunch of very severe vulnerabilities that have been disclosed. But everything to exploit these things always requires, well you need access to the management interface. Back when I was a network administrator at Chapman University in 2006, even then, I knew, “Well, we certainly don't want to put the management interfaces on the same VLAN that's passing traffic.”So, is it good that there's an unpatched vulnerability there? No, but Shodan, the security vulnerability search engine shows over 80,000 instances that are affected on the public internet. It would never have occurred to me to put the management interface of important network gear on the public internet. That just is… I don't understand that.Alex: Yeah.Corey: So, on some level, I think the lesson here is that there's always someone who has something else to focus on at a given moment, and… where it's a spectrum: no one is fully secure, but ideally, you don't want to be the lowest of low-hanging fruit.Alex: Right, right. I mean, if you were fully secure, you'd just turn it off, but unfortunately, we can't do that. We have to have it be accessible because that's our jobs. And so, if we're having it be accessible, we got to do the best we can. And I think that is a good point, right? Not being the worst should be your goal, at the very, very least.Doing bare minimums, looking at those checks, deciding if they're relevant for you or not, just because it says the configuration is required, you know, is it required in your use case? Is it required for your requirements? Like, you know, are you a FedRAMP customer? Okay, yeah, it's probably a requirement because, you know, it's FedRAMP. They're going to tell you got to do it. But is it your dev environment? Is it your demo stuff? You know, where does it exist, right? There's certain areas where it makes sense to deal with it and certain areas where it makes sense to take care of it.Corey: I really want to thank you for taking the time to talk me through your thoughts on all this. If people want to learn more, where's the best place for them to find you?Alex: Yeah, so they can either go to sysdig.com/opensource. A bunch of open-source resources there. They can go to falco.org, read about the stuff on that site, as well. Lots of different ways to kind of go and get yourself educated on stuff in this space.Corey: And we will, of course, put links to that into the show notes. Thank you so much for being so generous with your time. I appreciate it.Alex: Yeah, thanks for having me. I appreciate it.Corey: Alexander Lawrence, principal security architect at Sysdig. I'm Cloud Economist Corey Quinn, and this episode has been brought to us by our friends, also at Sysdig. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave a five-star review on your podcast platform of choice, whereas if you've hated this podcast, please leave a five-star review on your podcast platform of choice, along with an insulting comment that I will then read later when I pick it off the wire using Wireshark.Corey: If your AWS bill keeps rising and your blood pressure is doing the same, then you need The Duckbill Group. We help companies fix their AWS bill by making it smaller and less horrifying. The Duckbill Group works for you, not AWS. We tailor recommendations to your business and we get to the point. Visit duckbillgroup.com to get started.
Cinnaire's Advancing Communities Podcast 2023 Episode 2 brings together Monty Childs, Senior Vice President, Cinnaire, with thought leaders, policy makers, and developers who are making an impact on the community development and affordable housing industries. In this episode, Monty moderates a panel discussion on how Housing Authorities can reposition and restructure their portfolios to make them more affordable and successful. Panel experts include Peter Levavi, Executive Vice President, Brinshore Development; Karly Brinla, VP of Development, Brinshore; Ron Clewer, Illinois Market President, Gorman USA; and Amber Skoby, HPS Consulting Leader, D3G. The panelists discuss how Housing Authorities can leverage Section 8 funds, RAD Section 18 Demo/Dispo and RAD Section 18 Blend to increase predictability in financing and rent adjustments. Traditionally, the federal government has underfunded Section 9. By converting to Section 8, housing projects can generate a more reliable funding stream, be used to raise debt and equity and in some cases result in higher funding. Representatives from Brinshore, Gorman and D3G described projects they have successfully converted to RAD, detailing how they were able to extend capital funds and even transfer assistance to a new construction site. To listen to Advancing Communities Podcast on Repositioning Public Housing, click below for: Google Podcasts (2023 Podcast: Episode 2) Apple Podcasts (2023 Podcast: Episode 2)
In this episode, you're going to learn: How to deal with the volatility of the stock market, once you are financially independent and are living off your investments: There are many schools of thought and structures when it comes to dealing with this challenge here in Canada. Retirement expert, Kyle Prevost takes us through his research on the top recommended and respected structures that he has uncovered for us Canadians. We also go through Kyle's research on the optimum location for the fixed income portion of your portfolio. Traditionally the advice has been to keep fixed income like bonds in our RRSP. But does that still apply considering these higher interest rates that we are now experiencing here in Canada? And what about GICs? How do they fit into all of this? Should we be using those instead? Last but not least, after taking into account all the research that he's done on investing and financial planning for over a decade, Kyle shares what types of investments he buys for his own investment portfolio, and what accounts he puts his own investments in for the greatest tax savings and efficiency. Questions in this Episode: Once someone has hit their financial independence number here in Canada and wants to start living off their portfolio, what have you found to be the top recommended structures to deal with the volatility of the market? For example, having a rule for how big the cash cushion should be, using GIC ladders, etc. What investments do you buy for your own portfolio, and what accounts do you put your own investments in? From your research, what have you found to be the optimum location for the fixed income portion of our portfolio? Traditionally the advice is to keep fixed income like bond ETFs in our RRSP. Does that still apply considering these higher rates? What about GICs? If you liked the episode sign up for free to receive all new episodes as they get released, news on giveaways, and the free guide on the Top 5 Personal Finance and Productivity Tools.
Are you ready to challenge everything you know about loss, grief, and bereavement?Traditionally we are told that the only way to heal from grief and loss is to learn to accept it. But what if instead we learned to accept that unreality of loss?This is not a play in words, but a truth that A Course in Miracles teaches us we can embody to truly heal ourselves from the emotional pain loss can cause. In this episode of the Sovereign Woman Movement Podcast, we cover: Breaking the Cycle: Discover why we often get trapped in ancestral emotional pain due to our perception of loss. Redefining Loss: Take a deep dive into the teachings of A Course in Miracles. Understand how loss, influenced by the Ego and our perceived reality, alters our experience of grief and healing. Ego & Reality: I delve into why it's crucial to understand what the ego is, the false reality it creates of fear and reality, and how changing our perception of the world and healing the mind leads to true healing and the understanding that loss is an illusion. 5 Step Process from ACIM: Explore the grief recovery journey to truly heal and disrupt the patterns of pain in our lineage.
Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz recorded on Clubhouse. In the only parsha named after a woman we continue our exploration of issues raised by Israel at war. In the Jewish State, Jewish law (Halacha) has exclusive jurisdiction over marriage and divorce for Jews. One area where Orthodox women have radically broken with Rabbinic authority is with regard to divorce. Traditionally women have been at the mercy of the patriarchy, whether their husbands or the rabbinic courts. These women, the NGOs and Rabbis who support them have used Biblical and Rabbinic texts to claim rights long denied. The primary source relates to King David and a single verse in the Book of Samuel protecting military wives. Join us as we explore these initiatives and texts. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/523840 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2023/11/08/women-wage-war/
In this episode of The Restaurant Report podcast, I speak with Erle Dardick, of Lunchbox, a leading restaurant e-commerce platform. We discuss the top tech and consumer trends to watch in the restaurant industry in 2024, including:AI and its impact: AI is already having a major impact on the restaurant industry, from automating tasks in the kitchen to personalizing customer experiences. In 2024, can we expect to see even more widespread adoption of AI, as restaurants look for ways to improve efficiency and profitability?POS and Third-Party Enterprise vs Internal tech stacks: Traditionally, restaurants have relied on third-party point-of-sale (POS) systems. However, more and more restaurants are looking to develop their internal tech stacks. This gives restaurants more control over their data and allows them to integrate their online and offline operations better. Could this backfire on brands like Wingstop?Customer service future: The future of customer service in the restaurant industry is all about convenience and personalization. Customers want to be able to order and pay for their food quickly and easily, and they want restaurants to remember their preferences. In 2024, can we expect to see more restaurants using technology to improve their customer service experience or will the industry continue to suffer under dismal customer service numbers?We dive into the success of Cava, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, and what has separated them from the pack of fast casual superstars.Finally, we discuss Sweetgreen, a salad chain that is also using automation to improve its operations. Sweetgreen has developed a fully automated kitchen called Infinite Kitchen, which can produce 100 bowls per hour. This allows Sweetgreen to reduce labor costs and expand its reach to new markets.Overall, the trends discussed in this episode suggest that the restaurant industry is headed for a significant transformation in 2024. AI, automation, and other technologies will play a significant role in how restaurants operate and serve their customers.
Title: Finding Refuge Under the Wings of the Highest: An Exploration of Psalm 57Introduction: In times of distress and uncertainty, humanity has long sought comfort in the solace of the divine. Psalm 57 is a poignant piece of biblical poetry that encapsulates the search for divine protection amidst the storms of life. Traditionally attributed to King David, who was said to have composed it while fleeing from King Saul in a cave, this Psalm is a testament to faith, trust, and deliverance. This article delves into the verses of Psalm 57, exploring its message and relevance in our contemporary world. Historical Context: The superscription of Psalm 57 suggests that it was written during a period of David's life when he was confronted with imminent danger. The cave, likely Adullam or En-gedi, becomes more than just a physical refuge; it transforms into a metaphor for the spiritual sanctuary that God provides. This context helps us understand the depth of David's desperation and the earnestness of his prayer.The Psalm's Structure and Literary Elegance: Psalm 57 is beautifully structured, with its eleven verses divided into two distinct parts. The first part (verses 1-6) is a passionate plea for mercy, while the second part (verses 7-11) transitions into a triumphant song of praise. The repetition of certain phrases, a common feature in Hebrew poetry known as parallelism, emphasizes key themes and reflects the cyclical nature of David's predicament and deliverance. Themes and Imagery: At the heart of Psalm 57 lie several powerful themes, including the search for refuge, the experience of mercy, and the assurance of God's sovereignty.The Quest for Refuge: David begins the Psalm with a plea, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge." The imagery of taking refuge under the shadow of God's wings offers a vivid portrayal of divine protection and care. It is a reminder that, just as a bird shelters its young, God covers His people with His presence.The Cry for Mercy: David's repeated cry for mercy is a recognition of his own vulnerability and God's capacity for compassion. By acknowledging his need for God's mercy, David not only submits to divine will but also affirms his belief in God's boundless grace.The Assurance of God's Sovereignty: Despite his circumstances, David proclaims God's sovereignty, declaring that God's glory is over all the earth. Even from the depths of the cave, he can envision the reach of God's dominion, affirming that no place is beyond God's power and presence.Relevance Today: The timeless appeal of Psalm 57 lies in its ability to speak to the human condition. In moments of fear, when the world feels like a cave enclosing around us, the Psalm offers a template for our prayers. It encourages believers to seek refuge not in the impermanent shelters of the world but in the everlasting arms of God. Moreover, the transition from lament to praise within the Psalm models a journey of faith. It teaches us that worship is not the language of the unafflicted but the song of those who choose to praise in spite of their afflictions.Conclusion: Psalm 57 stands as a beacon of hope for all who find themselves in the shadowed valleys of life. Its message is clear: even the deepest caves can become places of refuge when one's heart is set on God. David's intimate dialogue with the divine serves as an invitation for us to reflect on our own sources of refuge and the nature of our trust. Whether through prayer, song, or silent contemplation, Psalm 57 offers a way to connect with the divine, assuring us that mercy is always within reach and that praise is the path to true deliverance.
Over the past 4 weeks we have been working with Environ Skincare TCA peels and the results and experience have us jumping for joy. Never have we seen such a beautiful outcome form such a gentle whisper to the skin. Traditionally know as an aggressive peel , Dr Des Fernandes and the team at Environ have taken their wealth of experience working with peeling systems and stayed true to their ethos of a slow delivery and protecting the integrity of the skin at all cost. I acn not wait for you to hear more about the soft signally TCA peel that has sols out across the UK and Ireland within weeks of its launch . Thank you to our sponsor Lusso Tan for bringing us todays episode. Shop all lusso products at 20% off using code SKINDEEP20 at lussotan.com
The genre of worker placement games is quite large and has evolved a lot over the years. Traditionally, worker placement was all about certain actions being unavailable to other players as soon as someone placed their worker there. At some point, games introduced shared worker place spots. Some games allowed players to kick workers out, returning them to another player who would effectively get another go. In this article, I want to look at the genre and pick out different implementations and variations on the theme. Read the full article here: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/11/07/working-hard-a-look-at-worker-placement-mechanisms-topic-discussion/ Useful Links Lords of Waterdeep: https://dnd.wizards.com/products/lords-waterdeep-board-game Agricola: https://www.asmodee.co.uk/collections/agricola Raiders of the North Sea review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/05/27/raiders-of-the-north-sea-digital-eyes/ Viticulture review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2020/08/15/viticulture-essential-edition-saturday-review/ Genotype review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2021/06/26/genotype-a-mendelian-genetics-game-saturday-review/ I C E: https://thiswayeditions.com/ice/ Hegemony: https://hegemonygame.com/ Pingyao: First Chinese Banks review: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/2023/01/21/pingyao-first-banks-of-china-saturday-review/ Intro Music: Bomber (Sting) by Riot (https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/) Music: BensoundLicense code: 4Z99RQPZCN8LR59B Music by Bensound.comLicense code: EUUQE9AJCKFYWYYA Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tabletopgamesblog Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/TabletopGamesBlog Website: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tabletopgamesblog/message
I greet you in Jesus' precious Name. It is Monday morning, the 6 of November 2023, and this is your friend Angus Buchan with a thought for today. We start with Isaiah 2:5:"O house of Jacob, come and let us walkIn the light of the Lord."Then we go to Ephesians 5:8"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light."There are no secrets in the kingdom of God. You and I need to walk in the light with each other. We need to be transparent, no hidden agendas, no dark areas. You know if you look at Numbers 32:23 the word of God says:"...be sure your sin will find you out."When we become Christians, there are no more secrets. We walk in the light, and that gives us freedom. I remember many years ago having the privilege to preach in New Zealand to the Maori people - what beautiful, gentle folk. That is until they get on the rugby field - Beautiful people. They invited me to one of their traditional meeting places called a Marae. It's made out of wood in an A-frame shape, a beautiful place. The floors are wooden, and you sit on the floors. The Maori folk invited me to come and bring the message of God. It was a great honour for me. As I walked in, I took off my jacket because I cannot preach when I'm wearing a jacket. I always feel constricted. I got my jacket off and put it down, and they looked at me with a big smile on their face - I didn't realise what I had done. Then they said to me what you've done is a very good thing. Traditionally, when you come into a Marae, you show the people that you are not carrying a firearm or any weapon to use against them. You take your jacket off to show them you've got nothing to hide.Today, let's walk in the light and have no secrets. Let people see that we are children of the light, servants of the Lord Jesus Christ! Have a wonderful day. Jesus bless you, and goodbye.
Over the past decade, our conversations on mental health and how we process trauma, grief, and isolation have evolved. Now, these are conversations that we have more regularly at home, workplaces, and among friends. Traditionally when we think about this we re probably applying it to adults, but trauma of any kind can happen to any one. The mental health struggles that can occur are not just limited to those that are 20-something years old and up. For more on the mental health crisis amongst children, KCBS Radio's Mary Hughes spoke with Lynne Hughes, Founder and CEO of Comfort Zone Camp.
In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks to Co-Founder & COO of Proseer, Jeff Rudner.Jeff Rudner is the co-founder and CEO of Procedure, a modern accounting firm that is redefining how small and medium-sized businesses operate. Proseer's unique approach combines people, processes, and technology to help companies to scale and work more efficiently.One of the standout aspects of Proseer is its productized pricing. This upfront approach eliminates the element of surprise, allowing clients to access support and advice without the fear of hourly billing. Jeff emphasized that this approach alleviates friction between clients and the accounting firm, fostering a more open and interactive relationship.Traditionally, businesses often view accounting as a cost center, with the accounting team seen as a last resort for information and advice. Jeff discussed the importance of taking action and having open conversations about the reality of a business.Proseer's approach creates a safe space for clients to discuss their uncertainties and doubts, which can lead to significant improvements and success. Jeff shared that Proseer has helped many businesses turn around and scale by combining the right team, efficient processes, and best-in-class technology.Key Points from the Episode:Proseer's focus on helping businesses operate efficiently and scale through people, process, and technologyThe unique aspects of Proseer, such as productized pricing and upfront approachThe value of having a proactive and knowledgeable accounting teamThe importance of asking the right questions to gain insights into business performance and make informed decisionsTrends in raising capital and the need for businesses to have a strong understanding of their financials and opportunitiesProseer's aim to rewrite the script on how small and medium-sized businesses can operateThe benefits of Proseer's upfront pricing and how it eliminates surprises and allows for easy access to support and adviceThe importance of taking action and having conversations about the reality of a businessProseer's approach of creating a safe space for clients to talk about uncertainties and doubtsAbout Jeff Rudner:Jeff Rudner is a seasoned accounting and finance expert renowned for his strategic insights and financial acumen. After graduating from the University of Florida, Jeff embarked on a successful career in Audit at a Big 4 Accounting Firm, honing skills crucial for identifying operational enhancements, constructing forecast models, and facilitating M&A transactions. Transitioning into the role of CFO at a rapidly expanding startup, he applied his expertise to establish internal financial processes and support a nationwide expansion. Jeff's passion for empowering businesses led him to co-found Proseer, a consultancy specializing in tailored accounting, finance, and tax solutions for businesses of all scales. With Proseer, Jeff shares his extensive knowledge, aiding clients in making informed decisions that enhance their financial strategies and boost their bottom line. His engaging consulting style has made him a sought-after advisor, inspiring companies to optimize their financial structures and achieve sustainable growth.About Proseer:Proseer is a dynamic consultancy that empowers entrepreneurs and businesses with cutting-edge financial solutions.Specializing in more innovative accounting, tax, and finance services, Proseer provides real-time, actionable insights...
If you haven't heard about the massive news that is the NAR lawsuit, then you need to check it out. Today we are talking about the massive opportunity this is bringing.ResourceReal Estate Marketing DudeThe Listing Advocate (Earn more listings!)REMD on YouTubeREMD on InstagramTranscript:00:00:12:24 - 00:00:44:08UnknownSo how do you attract new business? You constantly don't have to chase it. Hi, I'm Mike Webster of Real Estate Marketing. Doing this podcast is all about building a strong personal brand. People have come to know like trust and most importantly, refer. But remember, it is not their job to remember what you do for a living. It's your job to remind them, Let's get started.00:00:44:10 - 00:01:13:06UnknownWhat is up? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome another episode of the Real Estate Marketing Dude podcast and holy crap, folks, have you been following this show for any period of time? I've been talking about what just happened this week. I've been talking about that for the last two years, well before the lawsuits, well before any of this stuff. The importance of building a personal brand and or a unique selling proposition to stand out.00:01:13:08 - 00:01:33:02UnknownWell, the numbers, if you even tuned back to several years of episodes, the numbers with consumer dissatisfaction were evident. They were out there planning it. And this is going to be the fuel to the fire that they've been waiting for. So what we're going to be doing, though, in this show is that this is not all doom and gloom.00:01:33:04 - 00:01:55:00UnknownTwo nights ago, I couldn't sleep, literally could not sleep, could not sleep because I was like, oh, my God, should I start a brokerage because of this? The opportunity here is also very, very large. So this is not going to be a doom and gloom show. It might be for some of you guys, at least if you're not willing to change, because one thing for sure is that this market will change.00:01:55:02 - 00:02:12:11UnknownThere's no doubt about it. The way you're going to be compensated is changing. I mean, it's going to happen. And if you go on social media right now, you're seeing two different sort of trains of thoughts. The other a lot of people are like, well, you're going to have to list to win list live to list or last list or whatever they're calling it.00:02:12:16 - 00:02:37:02UnknownGreat. Still doesn't the fact that you're going to lose 50% of your commission in the buyer side of the commission. Right. Whether you list or not, you still have income that is generated from buyer commission revenue. And it's not just about that. What is more concerning more than anything is that honestly, you have to look into the remarks like, go, go ahead and hit the NBC News article and go scroll through the comments.00:02:37:08 - 00:02:58:17UnknownAnd that's where the true answer is, folks, because I spent at least, gosh, maybe 30, 45 minutes just reading through the comments of the news articles that are coming out, bashing the industry, saying how real estate agents held them hostage, essentially, which is bullshit. But, you know, the news and the media's going to spin in whatever way they do, like they always do.00:02:58:17 - 00:03:18:04UnknownIt's always say they're fake news. But the comments are evident. Guys. People don't like real estate agents. And, you know, I didn't we didn't need this lawsuit to come out and tell us that we saw this in the in the Atkins customer or client satisfaction surveys that have been done over the last four or five years. So the writing's been on the wall.00:03:18:06 - 00:03:54:17UnknownNow, why is that not all doom and gloom? And let's start with actually both. Let's do the pros and cons. Maybe that's what we call the show pros and cons of the doom and gloom of the in our settlement, because there's a lot more pros I see so far in cons. And I'm not just saying that to hype you up paradigm shift like this is when people make money, This is when people take market share, this is when people gain ground and this is when people stand out, stick out, and nobody makes it big in when everything just go in the same way.00:03:54:17 - 00:04:16:07UnknownIt go in the same way, go in the same way, go to somebody, go to the same way. And this has already happened a few times before where there are sudden shifts and different people just blew up overnight. It seems like the last time we did this was 2020. In the COVID era. How many people became tik-tok celebrities in such huge social media followings just because of was stuck to their phones for three years.00:04:16:09 - 00:04:38:05UnknownSo there isn't a lot of doom and gloom, but the doom is is at commission compressions real. Like the days of getting 5 to 6%, they're gone. Telling you right now they're absolutely gone. Some people are going to hate that. I say that. And I understand you're comfortable doing business the way you were, but this is not going away.00:04:38:07 - 00:04:55:22UnknownThere's many lawsuits I can't even imagine the amount of injury attorneys are just sell the testing, because what this lawsuit does is it could open up why can it open up lawsuits for all the other people? You know, you just need a client or consumer to say, hey, I thought I didn't get I wasn't given an option. Right.00:04:55:24 - 00:05:24:19UnknownOption. That's going be key to later on in today's show. So pay attention to that option, That word, that's the name of the game here. But let's go back into some of the doom. So like you're going to have to assume that your commissions getting cut. If you look through the comments on the NBC articles, the biggest one they're saying is like, why should an agent get paid for the same amount of work that they would do on a $100,000 house to sell that house, the same amount of work they're going to do on a $2 million house to sell that house?00:05:24:21 - 00:05:46:02UnknownAnd why should they get paid 40 grand versus four grand? And that's the complaint. This has never been adjusted. And if you put yourself in the consumer's shoes, not in your own get out of your own skin, put yourself in the consumer shoes. You can see the positioning of this and you can see their point. If not, you're being ignorant.00:05:46:02 - 00:06:00:05UnknownYou could see they have a point and right off the bat, like what's going to happen in the next 3 to 6 months, even before like, I don't even know how this thing settles. But what's going to happen is that you're going start having the conversation and be like, Hey, I don't want to pay that commission. I just saw somebody's article.00:06:00:06 - 00:06:16:19UnknownYou're going to know how you're going to have to be careful in how you answer that. Make sure you're protected in the paperwork. But I'm not going to give you a legal argument today. I'm sure your broker is doing a good job of that. Make sure they are, though, or find somebody who is because the commission compression thing is going to be real guys.00:06:16:21 - 00:06:37:16UnknownIt's just going to happen. How low is it going to go? I don't know. But I don't think you're going to ever double end the deal ever again in the rest of your life. That's one safe bet. And if you do, it's it's like it's a unicorn, but don't count on it. But if there's no buyer agency fee, the question really becomes is how our buyer agent's going to be paid or are they going to be paid at all, or are they just going to be totally cut out?00:06:37:18 - 00:06:57:14UnknownWell, we know that consumers are probably not going to pay this out of pocket. That's my hunch. We can't prove that. So we haven't seen it yet. But I just it's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen. So the one thing I do know and I could promise you, just going to happen to rewind the show and if you don't believe me, go back to the last four years episodes, go look, go look at multiple listing options.00:06:57:14 - 00:07:20:22UnknownGo look at unique selling proposition episodes. Go look at personal branding episodes. These are the things we're talking about. The reason are we talking about that stuff then was because of what happens right now, because your broker can't save you here. You're still an independent contractor, which means it's up to you to decide how you're going to do business and what's diligent.00:07:20:24 - 00:07:43:02UnknownYou can't buy buyer leads anymore, like there's no value to them Once this goes down, there's no value to that. What does that mean? Quite a lot means you're going to be in charge of your own damn business, just like any other business owner if things are going to change for a while. But the number one thing that's not going to change is the relationship you have with your clients, the relationships you have in life.00:07:43:04 - 00:08:07:19UnknownBecause all of those people, regardless of how you chop up the last ten years, nothing matters anymore based on this ruling. This is big deal, guys. But the last the buyer, you your commission is going to get cut. I lost my train of thought. I'm getting all pumped up and excited here. So let's get out of the doom, though, Johnny.00:08:07:19 - 00:08:23:13UnknownLike, I don't want to be I don't want to be a Karen here and talking about this and just boring people to death. I'm like, Oh my God, I don't want you guys to go, go, quit. Or, Well, a lot of you are going to quit. That's part of the opportunity. So actually I'll start that point. Here's a reality scenario, guys.00:08:23:16 - 00:08:41:04UnknownWe're out in a shitty market like you that sales are bad. Now you have this issue going to loom over. You're going to have a lot of real estate agents leaving the market, probably a larger amount than we've ever seen before. And now what we don't know is how long that's going to take. Now, why is this going to be a pro or an opportunity?00:08:41:04 - 00:09:02:04UnknownWell, obvious people still move, right? There's probably going be less. People who would use a real estate agent is my guess. That's why this is happening on the purchase side. However, on the sales side, I think that that's always going to be something they are. So I'm going to talk about a pro of that as well. However, this is a pro because people still buy and sell.00:09:02:04 - 00:09:25:19UnknownSo even if even if a lot of the market's up using real estate agents, there's only so many real estate agents leaving the industry that they're still going to be a lot of opportunity for those who can withstand this storm. Okay. So there's going to be a tremendous number of opportunities in this market. The negative part of that is those opportunities are each going to come at lesser than what you probably have been accustomed to your entire career.00:09:25:19 - 00:09:44:00UnknownI don't think there's too many people who are still I've been in I've been doing this for 21 years. But no, I think there's people that have been doing this for 30 years. I haven't ever seen a shift like this or something like this big of a deal. So that's the pro. Now let's talk about marketing opportunities based upon this.00:09:44:00 - 00:10:08:15UnknownLike if you're a listing agent, you're not a listing agent, you're marketing company for houses. Like your job isn't to sell real estate, your job is to market real estate, you know, differently than how an advertising company would come on into a product or pitch like, let's just say I got hired by Coca-Cola, and Coca-Cola is like, Hey, I want you to do our fall marketing campaign.00:10:08:19 - 00:10:42:24UnknownWell, I would have to develop a marketing campaign specifically for the product that Coca-Cola is trying to pitch. Well, in your case, every single house is a new marketing campaign. And you know what's going to be in demand are going to be people who can create high end videos, literally have marketing steps, not just, hey, let's listed in the MLS, let's put a sign in the yard, hosted a cup, an open house is where I could pick up some buyer leads to make you feel better while I'm totally hung over from the night before and see what happens now.00:10:42:24 - 00:11:03:09UnknownThose days are gone. You're have to earn your shit. That's the opportunity I You are going to have to sharpen your marketing skills. Traditionally, real estate agents, many of them are some of the worst marketers in the world. But there's a good a handful that are always the best marketers, and it's the best marketers who sell the most amount of houses.00:11:03:09 - 00:11:25:03UnknownThey're not necessarily the sharpest tools in the shed, but they're damn good at marketing and making sure everybody knows who they are. So the way that you position yourself, your personal brand has never mattered more. What is your personal brand? It's how people know you. This means that you have to start creating content if you have it yet.00:11:25:05 - 00:11:42:00UnknownIf you're not going to be on social media, your business is dead. You know, a lot of you, a lot of your old whippersnappers are going to get pissed that I say that. But, you know, in all honesty, if you're talking me on social media in the future, you're fucking out of business. These are is this is the reality.00:11:42:00 - 00:12:16:06UnknownThis isn't a let me make you feel good show. This is like, dude, get off your ass If you don't change, your shit is fucked show. Okay, so what we're really getting at here is look at all these different opportunities like changes. That's the opportunity, guys. Now with the marketing, same thing you're going to have a lot of people are going to be very scared to spend money right now, those who are willing to spend money on brand marketing, video content creation, you're going to come out of this on the other end and you're going to be fucking killing it because the same thing is going to happen.00:12:16:06 - 00:12:37:00UnknownPeople are scared. Oh my God, I could tell you this, you guys. I own a video marketing company. I no longer have that video marketing company because about 13 to 14 months ago I noticed the shift in the marketplace. And I was right. Real estate agents in the industry pulled back their marketing budgets when they should instead be doubling down.00:12:37:02 - 00:12:58:12UnknownIt happens all the time. That's why we merge and get out of real estate video marketing. So this stuff is is right there, but you're the one who creates the content. This is going back and nothing changed from before, but the most popular agent is going to be the most in-demand agent because the more content you create, the bigger your brand grows.00:12:58:14 - 00:13:18:09UnknownAnd the reason why your brand is so important is the same reason why Josh Altman has a reality show. He doesn't have to ask somebody for a his his when he goes on a listening presentation. He doesn't have people ask him for his pitch or ask him for his listing presentation. His brand has grown so large. Your media and content creation that people just assume he's the right job.00:13:18:14 - 00:13:44:15UnknownThe same way that if I was going to go out and tell you I'm a chef, I could shoot five fucking videos, put them in front of you, make you watch them, and you would think I am, but I'm not. That's the power positioning and branding. When you're doing things with things like video and content creation, social media and multipurpose scene and distribute your content much like a media company, because that's what you're going to have to do and a lot of people aren't going to do it, and that's going to lead a lot of people out.00:13:44:17 - 00:14:16:16UnknownThe attention that is on your brand is going to be the most important thing in the world. Opportunity. I think I'm a number four niche down immediately, niche down, immediately. Dial in that brand. If you're a give back it, let the world know about it. We had so many agents we branded with such cool wise in their life from rescuing dogs per closing to giving 10% of their commissions back to charity of their choice.00:14:16:18 - 00:14:37:13UnknownBut those are brands. And don't hold back. You're not a salesperson anymore. You're a human being That helps people transition and everything. Home services and whatever it is you stand for, it's time to niche down and let the world know about it. Don't be politically correct, be politic, be personally right in your own way. You know, I mean that that's there's none of that.00:14:37:13 - 00:15:02:07UnknownYou have to be yourself unapologetically. And the way you do that is you scream it from the rooftops and not give a fuck what anybody says because that's what's going to take their own attention. Okay, niche down. Number five, Interest rates are still high. One should focus directly on distressed sales over the next 12 to 18 months. It's going to be where the transactions are.00:15:02:09 - 00:15:37:02UnknownOkay, The transactions are going to be people who need to move. Already seen this. This should be evident for you guys. Your focus on people in their elderly years who are either incapacitated, death, enter a probate, divorce, relocation, marriage, life events, guys, is where you're going to want to focus your time and energy. Some of you if you're if form the strategic relationships with all of these different service providers in your market, you have to own all of these different services.00:15:37:02 - 00:15:59:06UnknownYou need to position yourself as the Amazon of real estate, everything, not just the fact that you help people sell houses. You have to be the guy in gal that has the probate attorney, that has the divorce attorney that has Johnny. No, no, you are the Rolodex for the community. You need to position yourself as a master connector and a master communicator.00:15:59:08 - 00:16:23:10UnknownAnd what you'll find is that you'll make a bunch of these different relationships. Some of them are going to be very fruitful, like the probate attorney, one relationship with a divorce or a probate attorney, an estate planning attorney, one relationship ship can change the next 12 months. Imagine if you have two or three. Why? Because they have clients that will always move in regardless of the interest rate or regardless of the recession.00:16:23:15 - 00:16:58:13UnknownAnd if you can find a way to form a relationship with them that refers you business, well, that's a great position to be in. Very, very good position to be in. Number six, probably should be number one. You got to market your database and you have to build one. If you don't build a database of referring and repeat clients into the future, you will always I mean, it's going to you're going to be just a rat race the rest of your life.00:16:58:13 - 00:17:23:16UnknownIt's going to always be peaks and valleys. You have to build a database. A database is nothing more than a list of people, a contact of relationships. It is a real estate agent. It's the people that you're friends with on Facebook. It's the email list that you've collected from made up of people from anywhere, from the people who say hello to your kids, soccer games, to your friends, your aunt, your uncle's, to your past clients.00:17:23:18 - 00:17:57:10UnknownIt's nurturing that email list. It's farming people via direct mail. You know, I'm talking about creating media on an offline social media and in print and doing that consistent because it's that network, that database that is always going to be responsible for your business. Before the lawsuit. After the lawsuit and the better relationship you have with it and the more trust you have with them, the less all the rest of this shit matters.00:17:57:12 - 00:18:15:23UnknownSo don't overthink that piece, but don't not do it. Because if you don't have a database and if you don't have a system that you're marketing your database with, I want you to go a referral suite, a dot com, that's a referral suite as w e t like sweet candy dot com. I got to get myself a little shameless plug.00:18:15:23 - 00:18:33:16UnknownWhy not? You know, I've been on this show for nine years. Ten years? Ten years. Been doing this for ten years. But let me talk about the final one and some I'm really excited to talk about. And this is something that you're going to have to have to do. You're going to have to earn income through ancillary services or other ways.00:18:33:18 - 00:18:59:02UnknownAnd I want to give you several different ways, and you need to start thinking outside the box. Do not rely on commissions as the only source of income. It's part of your income going forward. And it might be the most dominant part for a while, but you're going to have to diversify where you make money. The first and most obvious, I believe, is if you're going to stay in real estate is that you've got to be an investor yourself.00:18:59:04 - 00:19:22:12UnknownYou know, get in learning that stuff, take courses, take training. If you're if you're in any of our if you're in referrals, readers, witnesses, there's plenty, of course, recommendations in there that we share with you guys about what training to take. It's super, super important because you're going to come across good deals and why give them to an investor if you can take them down?00:19:22:14 - 00:19:44:20UnknownRight. Some of the most profitable models I'm seeing right now are like the rehab or that accidentally started a brokerage. You didn't start a brokerage and then became a rehab or he became a rehab and then realized all the ways he can monetize the brokerage around it through the additional leads and everything else around the transaction. So think outside the box number to ancillary services.00:19:44:22 - 00:20:04:12UnknownSo, for example, I think everyone is going to be a solar vendor. Solar is are very lucrative business. It's something that a real estate agent should have in their arsenal to sell anyways. So make sure you're at the right trusted vendor and you can make good money doing it. It's just the way the industry is headed. Like every agent should be able to sell solar.00:20:04:14 - 00:20:35:02UnknownIn addition to selling real estate right now, every agent should also start thinking about getting their mortgage loan. I'm a lawyer in mortgage loan origination license, and the reason for that is that there are several programs by several different banks out there that exist right now that you can now legally get paid for referring a lender. The client that you're working with on the buy side, I think it's like a half a point, 50 basis point, something like that, which is great.00:20:35:04 - 00:21:03:03UnknownYou know, if your commission is going to get cut a point and a half over here, well then you might as well at a point over there. Right. There's a tremendous other amount of services and vendor services that you can also refer and or recommend during the transaction like movers, handymen, estate sales, things of that nature staging that you're going to start approaching differently.00:21:03:03 - 00:21:27:14UnknownIt's not it's going to be the mindset is got to be more like, okay well if I send this person business, how much are they going to pay me? And you got to present yourself as a broker because that's just what the everyday affiliate world is. So that's what I mean by building a master connector and a network of all these different services, because you're going to see a lot more opportunities to monetize around the transaction in ongoing than just in it.00:21:27:16 - 00:21:49:03UnknownLike if you can find a way to profit off of home services, not just when the client needing to buy or sell a house, but to service them after they bought or sold the house and to stay in touch with them and use that as one of your ways to stay in touch with them and become the Home Depot essentially of your database.00:21:49:05 - 00:22:09:22UnknownThat's the future of this business, folks. So I promise you that's where this is going. So I want you someone's to go out here and create a 1% brokerage and they're going to crush it. And it was already a bunch of you out there. But prepare to have many more. And that's going to be very high in demand.00:22:09:24 - 00:22:33:06UnknownThere's a big that's $1,000,000 piece of advice right there, guys. Create the 1% business model already have it mapped out. It's pretty damn good. I just don't have the time to do it, nor do I want to. But if you do, you're going to make you're going to be rich. All right, folks. So let's recap on this. Where there is doom and gloom.00:22:33:06 - 00:22:54:03UnknownThere is lots of opportunity. And right now there is lots of opportunity. But what your it's going to require is is going to require you to change, start changing the the reluctance. See in those comments are like, oh, we could just do this. Oh, you know, it's going to change and you got to change with it. Start taking proactive steps right now, leadership wise, surround yourself with the people who are changing with this.00:22:54:05 - 00:23:14:18UnknownGet involved and see what's going on in see what? RC And see what all the webinars your broker saying and make some adjustments. I'll be releasing a lot of content specifically to this. I'm going to actually dedicate the next six months probably to this cause because I believe the product that we just launched is exactly what is needed for this time.00:23:14:18 - 00:23:39:12UnknownAnd hey, sometimes you're in the right place at the right time in their product suite, assist and referral suite Ecom. You can check both of those out folks, if you will. And I really appreciate you. Listen to another episode of the Estate Marketing podcast. I appreciate you guys hanging in there. Changes opportunity and don't be scared. Double down Faith in yourself and left it over.00:23:39:12 - 00:24:05:17UnknownRight. See you guys next week. Thank you for watching Another episode of the Real Estate Marketing Do podcast. If you need help with video or finding out what your brand is, visit our web site at WW W dot Real estate marketing do dot com. We make branding and video content creation simple and do everything for you. So if you have any additional questions, visit the site, download the training, and then schedule time to speak with the dude and get you rolling in your local marketplace.00:24:05:22 - 00:24:08:16UnknownThanks for watching another episode of the podcast. We'll see you next time.
Recorded October 31 2023 Description In this Frankly, Nate expands on our conventional definition of “taxes” to highlight nine other categories that will ‘tax' our modern lifestyles. Traditionally, when we think of net and gross income, we only think of direct government taxes that subtract from what we take home. What are other taxes - resulting from our system's ecology - which will factor into the way society can pay for the goods and services we've become used to? As converging global crises intensify and each add their own ‘tax', can we learn to manage with a smaller “net “ resource balance sheet - and maintain our time, sanity, and humanity through the coming decades? Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/27WBbdMcfmM For Show Notes and More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/frankly-original/48-the-biophysical-taxman-cometh
So, let's discuss why your doctor is not the boss anymore... Traditionally, we are accustomed to doctors telling us “Do this, take that, and see me again in three months”. While that kind of relationship is generally thought to be effective, it doesn't actually work for everyone. Different doctors act differently, just as different patients have different needs. This is why it is so crucial for patients to recognize the type of doctor-patient relationship that fits them, and for doctors to adjust to what their patients need. So join me today as I talk about the different types of doctor-patient relationships, and shed light as to why your doctor is not your boss anymore. Why you need to check this episode: Discover the four pillars of a great doctor-patient relationship; Learn and understand the three doctor-patient relationship models; and Find out why it is important for you to know which type of patient you are, and which relationship model fits you “Trust, knowledge, loyalty, and regard; those are the four components that make a great doctor-patient relationship.”– Dr. Berry Pierre Notable Quotes: “Patients are becoming much more proactive in their care, much more proactive in trying to get some information.” – Dr. Berry Pierre “Patients want to know that they are learning as well. Patients want to know that they are growing as well. Patients want to know that they have some satisfaction as well.” – Dr. Berry Pierre “I believe that if you are doing all those four components (trust, knowledge, loyalty, and regard) correctly, then patients' satisfaction will be through the roof regardless of what a Google review says.” – Dr. Berry Pierre “The reason why your doctor is not your boss anymore is because you haven't found your relationship with the doctor who you actually like going to.” – Dr. Berry Pierre Sign up at www.listentodrberry.com to join the mailing list. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and share the episode with a friend or family member. Listen on Apple Podcast, Google Play, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and Spotify
Traditionally, Sant Mat and the yoga philosophy have advocated the lacto-vegetarian diet: abstinence from meat, fish, fowl, and eggs, but allowed dairy. Vegan means complete abstinence from all animal products and strictly adhering to a plant-based diet: no dairy, eggs, or meat of any kind, or products made from animals. Based on the current cruel practices of the dairy industry in India and around the world that violate the principle of ahimsa or non-violence, plus all the scores of medical studies showing that dairy consumption adversely affects our health and well-being, I believe if they were here today, the classic Saints such as Mahavira, Guru Kabir, Guru Nanak, Tukarama, Ravidas, Tulsi Das, Namdev, Dariya Sahib, etc... would not only be advocating a vegetarian diet, but a vegan diet. These days, many are making this transition to vegan, including a growing percentage of those following Sant Mat. This is the compassionate direction that the vegetarian movement is headed in. (Vegetarianism is going vegan!) In the East as well as in the West, the Gnostics and other advanced mystics: those serious practitioners of soul travel, inner Light and Sound meditation, have universally adhered to a plant-based diet. It's hard to reach more subtle states of tranquility in meditation on an animal flesh diet based on the suffering of other beings. "A man of spiritual intensity does not eat corpses." (George Bernard Shaw) Today a satsang edition of Spiritual Awakening Radio about the spiritual and ethical reasons for going veg, or better still: vegan. There are readings from Pythagoras, Kabir, Swami Sant Sevi Ji Maharaj, Darshan Singh, Kirpal Singh, Sawan Singh, Diet and Spirituality, by Dona Kelley (from Lotus Leaves), and... a document called, "My Visit to a Dairy Farm -- The Reality of Dairy Cruelty -- the Final Destination of Dairy Cows is the Slaughterhouse", published by Pravin K. Shah of the Jaina Education Committee of Jainism (the Vegan Jain movement.) In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhasoami James Bean Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Sant Mat Radhasoami A Satsang Without Walls https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com