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[Interview] Kevin Kelly: The Social Media Marketer Obsessed with ...
At LinchPinSEO we value supporting fellow professionals in our industry and spreading the love. With that in mind, we have decided to start doing interviews with digital media professionals who are reshaping the lives of their clients in a positive and impactful way.This week we are interviewing Kevin Kelly, the social media marketer obsessed with marathons and coffee.
I am very excited to introduce a man whose energy and passion for the social media community is only matched by his obsession for running and coffee. Kevin is outspoken, humorous and extremely engaging. He works hard for his clients, is not afraid to say hello and has been on the social media scene since its inception. Let?s get to know Kevin and his company, K2 Marketing.
1. Who is Kevin Kelly?
I am a coffee guzzling, marathon running, networking-aholic, and social media loving giant hailing from the great state of Ohio. I am a consultant who helps businesses grow their brand and increase revenue through social media marketing. And I lead seminars and conduct training on topics such as Social Media, Networking, Sales and Marketing.
2. When did you become a part of the social media community, and why?
I have been part of the social media community since its inception in the days of dial-up internet. As the business owner of a small recruiting firm, initially I was looking for inexpensive ways to market my business and social media provided that opportunity. As the years went by, I found the market had more of a demand for social media marketing than it did for recruiting and I transitioned into the wild world of social media marketing.
3. Please tell us about your company K2 Marketing.
K2 Marketing is a company I formed specifically to provide social media marketing to small and medium sized businesses. All of our services are tailored to customer?s specific needs. The majority of the clients utilize us to create and manage all of their social media content, including but not limited to Twitter and Facebook.
4. Anyone who follows you online knows running and coffee are a big part of your life. Why are they so important to you?
Running is a metaphor for how I live my life. It is an outlet for me and a challenge. It helps me maintain a healthy mindset, and I love the challenge of marathon running. There are no excuses and no shortcuts. It is just you and the road and you have to put the miles in and train and push through the rough days and the occasional pain. Coffee, is perhaps the greatest creation of all-time. It?s as if there is something in it that keeps me wanting to drink more.
5. What do you love about marketing and social media?
Marketing, Social Media, Sales ? it all comes down to people and developing relationships. I like helping businesses develop relationships with prospects and turning those prospects into clients. I also enjoying seeing a business owner grow their business. It?s exciting to be around people who are experiencing success and living their dream.
6. Why did you choose your current profession, and what other professions have you had?
I pursued basketball as a young lad while I managing my recruiting business. In life after basketball, I transitioned my business into a social media marketing firm and began leading seminars on networking, social media marketing and other topics.
7. You have a large community of friends and followers online in several different social networks ? why do you think that is?
I would like to say that it?s because I am awesome and people want to be surrounded by me, but that is not the case. It takes effort. I share a variety of content that attracts a wide audience and actively work on building relationships with people who follow me. And I think it?s because I share a good balance between humor, news and tips, and a bit about myself. They see I am a real person.
8. Which social network is your personal favorite?
I would have to say it?s my personal Facebook page. I am active on Twitter, though it is difficult to form relationships with a large number of people. On Facebook, I feel like there?s more of an exchange with friends that resembles in-person interaction. And I find that people share a more accurate picture of who they really are on Facebook.
9. What is your favorite social network for businesses?
As of right now, I would say Twitter. You can reach the most amount of people in the quickest period of time. Facebook would be second. Linkedin is a great network for business professionals, but for a business (besides networking and recruiting) it does not offer much.
10. What is your approach to social media marketing?
The key is to have a plan, be organized and disciplined enough to stay on track, yet flexible enough to adapt and change when needed. There is not one turn-key marketing plan that will work for every company. You have to know your business, your target audience, and create a plan on how to reach that target audience. Then, be organized. Plan all marketing activities. Never conduct an action or post something on a social network that does not have a purpose. Stay grounded, but make sure you?re on your toes and ready to adapt.
11. What types of clients do you target?
I typically target small business to consumer businesses with 5-25 employees. These businesses typically do not have a full-time employee dedicated to social media marketing or a marketing department. They typically spend a lot of money on older traditional marketing strategies and see declining returns on their marketing dollars. They often know they should be marketing through social media, but don?t know where to begin.
12. What is your favorite and least favorite aspect of social media marketing?
Least Favorite is fighting preconceived notions and social media stereotypes. Many people do not understand social media and fear what they don?t know. They hear stories of privacy being breached and have preconceived notions that can?t be changed even when confronted with conclusive facts and logic.
My Favorite is relationship building. When social media marketing is done right, a customer/follower believes that they actually have a relationship with the business they follow online.
13. How long did it take to build a successful business?
That is a loaded question. What is success? I turned a profit in the second month, but mostly because there was such a big demand for social media marketing and few people offered services. The industry has changed a great deal in a few years. There are not a lot of options for businesses looking for help with their social media marketing. Success for me goes well beyond hitting certain revenue marks or maintain a certain percentage of growth.
13. What advice do you have for others wanting to begin or grow their own social media marketing business?
Plan, Plan, Plan. It is relatively easy to quickly develop a revenue stream of a few thousand with a social media marketing business, but it is very difficult to grow a business beyond that.
Find one service to offer that can develop a consistent stream of income that you can use as a foundation to grow your business. Think of a landscaper ? they don?t want to cut grass for a living, they want to create backyard masterpieces. But cutting grass pays the bills each month and is their lead into offering more service. If you are a good graphic designer, think about offering a service where you design and format Facebook and Twitter logos and backgrounds, etc. Find a service that will generate a consistent stream of income and it will get your business off to a great start and help limit the stress of wondering how you will be paying the bills.
14. What tools could you not live without and why?
My cell phone. I have been known to text, tweet and Facebook while running. Second might be duct tape. I am not handy whatsoever, so if anything breaks duct tape is my only chance of fixing it.
15. Do you have any mentors?
My first mentor was my grandpa. He demonstrated and taught me what it is to be a man. I have had a few business mentors over the years, and I feel it is important to have a business mentor who will shoot straight with you and hold you accountable.
16. What trait or asset is most valuable to social media marketers?
The ability to prioritize, and the discipline to stick to your priorities. In my life, people, family and friends are always my top priority over work or my own self-interests. In social media marketing, setting priorities is not that easy. Social media marketing involves numereous tasks, not just daily but often hourly. One must be able to prioritize and stick to those priorities or they will become overwhelmed and unsuccessful.
To learn more about Kevin Kelly, find him on Twitter @KP_Kelly, contact K2 Marketing on Facebook or email him at kevin@k2marketing.org.
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Decision making and negotiation part 2: M&As & fund-raising ...
Posted 27th September 2012 in Articles | Register to comment
Jean?Louis Roux Dit Buisson
Foro Ventures
In part two, Jean-Louis Roux Dit Buisson explores the decision-making and negotiations involved in M&As and fund-raising.
(Continued from ?Decision making and negotiation part one: technology licensing?)
Today we are faced with the price to be paid for an acquisition. Literature reports that about 70% of all M&As projects do not perform as expected1 and a recent study performed on IPOs in the Swiss biotech industry reports that 90% of them lose the money after a year2. Additionally, Facebook?s recent fate could be a cruel example of what managers can be induced to when they do not understand the mechanics of valuations, or do not exert their governance duty properly.
Figure 1: An example of a company?s profit and loss statement (P&L)
As an example, say you own the company, whose P&L is reported in figure 1, and your Planning and Acquisition VP comes to you with an acquisition project that shows the same profile as yours. Revenues are planned to grow at 3%, and costs to be maintained at their current level over the planning period of 10 years, as approved during the last budgeting round, and subsequent strategic review.
Negotiation dynamics
?Never invest in a business you do not understand.?
Warren Buffet
Bidding time comes around and your Planning and Acquisition VP presents her recommendations to the board. She argues that your company should pay a premium of 30% over the ongoing P/E in order to convince the shareholders to sell, and to buy the approval of the existing management team who fears for its future.
?
?Literature reports that about 70% of all M&As projects do not perform as expected??
?
The board asks how this premium over market estimates can be justified, and the VP answers with the traditional arguments: post acquisition we are going to increase the sales by 5% instead of 3% p.a, then we shall reduce costs by 15%, and we estimate that the terminal value ought to be included in the valuation. All these measures will help raise the company value from ?125 to ? 315, and thus we recommend paying the 30% premium over current P/E.
The board nods positively, except one non-operating director who says:
?Well, why don?t we first try these measures on our own business, as it seems so easy to grow sales 5% instead of 3% (a 66% increase by the way), to reduce costs across the board by 15% [how can sales grow faster with a marketing and sales budget reduced by 15%] and sell the company at 3 times sales down the road, when our current P/E is 7.1, equivalent to 1.1 times sales??
?
Figure 2: An example of a company?s negotiation table
And then he pulls out a table (such as figure 2) showing the impact of any of these measures on the NPV and EBITDA, asking each time, why can?t we do it on our own business first?
Deciding upon a proper thinking process
When asked by the president of the board what he would suggest, the non-operating director proposes a value creating plan based on sound analysis of Pareto effects on contribution and gross margins, threshold effects on marketing and promotion expenses, and redundant positions in the G&A sector.
Figure 3: Computed with Excel add-ons, the blue surface is proportional to the probability of being in the money, 0.2 in this case
When these measures are diligently implemented using the proper evaluation tools, the computed value of the targeted company can be increased.
?
?Companies acquired for their development pipelines raise the additional issue of sharing value and risk.?
?
However, in our case the probability of adding value over the premium price paid is less than 0.2. This is highlighted in figure 3, above.
The case of development companies: fund raising
Companies acquired for their development pipelines raise the additional issue of sharing value and risk. It might be in the interest of the targeted company to get a higher share of the expected value of the pipeline, while earning this share as milestones are achieved.
Figure 4: An example showing development outcomes
The tools and methodologies available to finance directors allow for developing negotiation tables with investors, whereby the dilution linked to additional rounds of financing can be modeled based on hypothesis for development outcomes, as highlighted in the example above in figure 4.
Conclusion
When dealing with value driving issues such as M&As or fund raising, modern evaluation tools, methodologies and approaches bring valuable insights to the boards keen on exerting their governance responsibilities.
Overreliance on common sense hypothesis fed in formulas whose rationale has been forgotten even by the key players, might partly explain the important number of failures in M&A as well as in investment activities.
Finally, always ask yourself if it is so easy to plan for that acquisition target, why is it so difficult for us to implement in our own activities?
References
1. Why Most M&A Deals End Up Badly, Shaun Rein, Forbes.com
2. Source: HBM Bioventures / Hans Peter Hasler
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About the author:
Jean-Louis Roux Dit Buisson is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Grenoble Management School in France. He is founder of Foro Ventures, a company dedicated to provide assistance and interim management for top-line growth projects and turn-arounds.
Jean-Louis is specialized in high technology sectors (such as Bio Pharma, Medtech). He has an MSc from MIT and an MBA from INSEAD and can be reached at jl@forotech.ch.
How can managers better negotiate M&As?
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until approved by a member of the pharmaphorum team.
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Source: http://www.pharmaphorum.com/2012/09/27/decision-making-negotiation-part-two-mas-fund-raising/
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No mystery guests at this Ryder Cup
Europe's Martin Kaymer, left, talks to Sergio Garcia during a practice round at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Europe's Martin Kaymer, left, talks to Sergio Garcia during a practice round at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Europe's Rory McIlroy signs autographs at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
USA's Steve Stricker hits a drive on the sixth hole during a practice round at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USA's Bubba Watson, left, looks for his ball after Brandt Snedeker hit it on the seventh hole during a practice round at the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
USA's Tiger Woods waits for his teammates to hit on the fourth hole during the Ryder Cup PGA golf tournament Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) ? The question used to come up every other year when the Americans began looking ahead to the Ryder Cup.
"Who's their Peter Baker?"
Europe always had at least one player the Americans didn't know anything about until losing to him. Baker played in only one Ryder Cup, going 3-1 in 1993 and winning a singles match against Corey Pavin, one of the toughest guys to beat in match play.
Those days are gone. As golf has expanded its borders, the Ryder Cup no longer has any mystery guests.
Eight of the Europeans have joint membership on the PGA Tour, and all eight have homes in Florida. Luke Donald of England, who has the best winning percentage of anyone at Medinah, lives about 45 minutes away on the north side of Chicago. The only Ryder Cup rookie for Europe is Nicolas Colsaerts, the big hitter from Belgium. With the majors and World Golf Championships, he already has played eight times in America this year, and has been invited to play in a PGA Tour event in two weeks in California.
There are no surprises in this Ryder Cup, only stars.
"Both teams are pretty much even and it's going to be a close match," European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said. "I don't see any favorites."
When the matches get under way Friday at Medinah, they will feature the two strongest teams in the 85-year history of the Ryder Cup. The entire 12-man team for the United States was part of the 30-man field at the Tour Championship last week in Atlanta, joined by five of the seven Europeans who were eligible.
For the first time, the 24 players from both sides are among the top 35 in the world ranking.
Europe has four major champions and four players who have been No. 1 in the world. Three of the four rookies for the U.S. team have won majors in the last 13 months ? Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson. The Americans have experience at the top ? Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk collectively have played in 21 Ryder Cups and 90 matches. The Europeans have experience where it matters ? winning.
It all starts to unfold Friday morning before a raucous crowd in the Chicago suburbs with a Ryder Cup that has all the trappings of a heavyweight prize fight.
About the only thing missing has been fodder for the tabloids. Familiarity in this event is breeding civility, not contempt.
"This is not a war. It's a golf watch," U.S. captain Davis Love III said. "It's a friendly golf match."
It wasn't always that way, especially when Europe began to win and then the Americans started to care. Seve Ballesteros was the spiritual leader of those European teams, using the Ryder Cup as a chance for them to prove they were not second-class citizens to the PGA Tour. And it didn't help when the marketing slogans promoted a contentious week, whether it was the "War on the Shore" or the "Battle at Brookline."
By the sound of so many players, they might as well be cuddling in Chicago.
"Love Ian Poulter to death," Watson said Wednesday.
Most evident about this shift in the Ryder Cup was Monday afternoon at an airport some 45 minutes away. Olazabal flew over from London with the gold Ryder Cup trophy. Only three players from his team traveled with him, because the rest already were in America.
Paul Lawrie, back after a 13-year absence in the Ryder Cup, remembers 11 players on the plane when they traveled to Boston in 1999. The exception was Jesper Parnevik, who had moved to Florida years earlier.
"I think there's definitely less of a 'them-and-us' type of thing now from everybody's point of view," Lee Westwood said. "The players play with each other a lot more regularly since the start of the World Golf Championships, and the fact that the top world-ranked players get pulled together a lot more regularly. There's a feeling that the crowd knows the European players a lot better."
Has it become too friendly?
Not long after the Presidents Cup began in 1994, the International team complained that they should have a home game instead of always playing in America. Fred Couples suggested moving the matches to Lake Nona in Florida, where most of the international players lived. Now, there are five Europeans at Lake Nona ? Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Peter Hanson are permanent residents, and Sergio Garcia also has a home there.
The mere suggestion that the Ryder Cup turns soft was enough to make Poulter shudder.
"It means too much," Poulter said. "It means too much to Europe. It means too much to us for it to ever lose that edge."
Not even Medinah figures to produce much of an advantage to the Americans. About half the members on each team played in the PGA Championship on this tree-lined course in 2006, and so many of them play an American brand of golf these days, anyway. They are used to fast greens. Love has ordered the rough to be cut down to help his power hitters, but Europe has its share of power.
The difference figures to be the home crowd. Thousands of fans dressed in red, white or blue have crammed into Medinah over the last few days, yelling chants of "U.S.A! U.S.A!" when they see the Americans walk to the first tee or onto the driving range.
As the matches drew closer to starting, there was chirpiness to the chatter. The Americans felt as though Europe had some of its official party in the grandstand behind every hole, watching to see how the Americans practice and even counting off the steps by a caddie to figure out potential hole locations.
Poulter caused a brief stir when he said that he had many friends in America, "but, boy, do you want to kill them in Ryder Cup."
Mickelson has been involved in the Ryder Cup longer than any player on either team. He made his debut in 1995, playing alongside five players who would go on to become U.S. captains. The next seven captains for Europe played in that Ryder Cup.
The way Mickelson sees it, only the competition remains intense.
"I think over the last 20 or 30 years, a lot of the animosity that might be there because they don't know each other is gone, because we do spend so much time with each now, especially the best players on the team," Mickelson said. "I think a lot of strong relationships are formed. And I don't see one week affecting that."
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Kenya attacks last stronghold of Somali militants
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, Kenyan army soldier Nicholas Munyanya, wearing a helmet on which is written in Kiswahili "Tea in Kismayo", referring to a key strategic Somali town then under the control of al-Shabab, checks his ammunition belt near the town of Dhobley, in Somalia. Kenya's military said Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 that its troops attacked Kismayo, the last remaining port city held by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia, during an overnight attack involving a beach landing. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012 file photo, Kenyan army soldier Nicholas Munyanya, wearing a helmet on which is written in Kiswahili "Tea in Kismayo", referring to a key strategic Somali town then under the control of al-Shabab, checks his ammunition belt near the town of Dhobley, in Somalia. Kenya's military said Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 that its troops attacked Kismayo, the last remaining port city held by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia, during an overnight attack involving a beach landing. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
This undated photo provided by Kenya's Ministry for Defence on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, is said by them to show Kenya Defence Forces troops at an undisclosed location in Kenya, engaged in recent preparations for an assault on the Somali port city of Kismayo. Kenyan troops invaded al-Shabab's last stronghold in Somalia on Friday, coming ashore in a predawn beach landing at Kismayo that appeared likely to deprive the Islamist insurgents of their last big money-making enterprise. (AP Photo/Kenya Ministry for Defense)
FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 file photo, two Kenyan army soldiers shield themselves from the downdraft of a Kenyan air force helicopter as it flies away from their base near the seaside town of Bur Garbo, Somalia. Kenya's military said Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 that its troops attacked Kismayo, the last remaining port city held by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia, during an overnight attack involving a beach landing. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
FILE - In this Monday, Feb. 20, 2012 file photo, Kenyan army soldiers stand in a dugout position at their base in Tabda, inside Somalia. Kenya's military said Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 that its troops attacked Kismayo, the last remaining port city held by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab insurgents in Somalia, during an overnight attack involving a beach landing. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
This undated photo provided by Kenya's Ministry for Defence on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, is said by them to show Kenya Defence Forces troops at an undisclosed location in Kenya, engaged in recent preparations for an assault on the Somali port city of Kismayo. Kenyan troops invaded al-Shabab's last stronghold in Somalia on Friday, coming ashore in a predawn beach landing at Kismayo that appeared likely to deprive the Islamist insurgents of their last big money-making enterprise. (AP Photo/Kenya Ministry for Defense)
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Kenyan troops invaded al-Shabab's last stronghold in Somalia on Friday, coming ashore in a predawn beach landing at Kismayo that appeared likely to deprive the Islamist insurgents of their last big money-making enterprise.
African Union troops from Kenya, Uganda and Burundi have combined over the last 18 months to kick al-Shabab out of the capital Mogadishu and take a series of smaller towns that the insurgents fled to. By Friday afternoon, Kenyan Defense Forces said that its ground troops were also steadily approaching Kismayo from the west. Al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida, had earned money by collecting taxes on goods arriving at the Indian Ocean port, so the loss of the stronghold would be a double blow to the armed fundamentalist group that began attacks in 2007 and ultimately controlled all but a few blocks of the capital.
The assault is likely to send al-Shabab fighters underground. Hardcore fighters may unleash suicide bombs and ambushes but less dedicated fighters could melt back into their communities, further reducing al-Shabab's strength. The African Union force said that some al-Shabab fighters have already contacted military officials in recent days, saying they wanted to defect from al-Shabab.
The assault rocks al-Shabab onto its heels and comes as the government is finally getting organized, having moved in recent weeks from a U.N.-backed transitional government to one in which parliament, which itself was recently elected by elders, chose a new president. Last month, Somali leaders endorsed a new provisional constitution that expands rights for Somalis.
Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Kenya's Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the entry of Kenyan forces into the Somali port "a significant victory."
"This is a major blow to them and we think it's positive for the region and for Somalia," he said.
Residents in Kismayo contacted by The Associated Press said Kenyan troops had taken control of the port but not the whole city. Mohamed Haji said helicopters were hitting targets during the early morning fighting. He said al-Shabab fighters moved to the front line to repel the assault.
Col. Cyrus Oguna, the Kenyan military's top spokesman, said the surprise attack met minimal resistance and that al-Shabab incurred "heavy losses." Al-Shabab denied that the city had fallen and said fighting was taking place. No casualties were reported for Kenyan troops.
Oguna said guns had been placed beforehand at a jetty and warehouse in Kismayo and that Somali national army troops participated in the assault.
An al-Shabab spokesman said on Twitter that the militants still control Kismayo.
"The enemy forces have launched a desperate attack on Kismayo this morning and the mujahedeen forces are resisting their attacks," Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu-Musab said over the militants' radio station in Kismayo.
Oguna said the assault is part of a four-prong attack involving Kenyan forces currently in villages outside Kismayo. The amphibious assault landed between 10:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday, he said, with some of the troops equipped with night-vision goggles.
African Union troops pushed al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in August 2011, ending more than four years of control of the capital by the fighters. The Ugandan and Burundian troops that make up the bulk of the African Union force in Mogadishu have slowly been taking control of towns outside of Mogadishu.
Still, there are vestiges of the havoc that has reigned over Somalia since longtime dictator Siad Barre was ousted in 1991 by warlords who then turned on each other. One Somali journalist was killed by gunmen Friday and another was beheaded, officials and residents said, bringing the number of Somali journalists killed this year to 15. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest killings.
The expanding control by AU troops sent al-Shabab fighters fleeing south toward Kismayo, north to other regions of Somalia and across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen. Al-Shabab still holds sway across many small, poor villages of southern Somalia. Al-Shabab lost another major source of financing last year when it was pushed out of Bakara market in Mogadishu, where ? like at the Kismayo port ? it also charged taxes.
A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Cdr. Dave Hecht, said the U.S. Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, is closely monitoring the situation but that "we are not participating in Kenya's military activities in the region." The U.S. has helped train and equip Ugandan and Burundian troops and helps pay and train members of Somalia's military.
The march toward Kismayo by the Kenyan forces has been nearly a year in the making, with the soldiers bogged down by rain and poor roads for months. Kenyan troops entered Somalia last October after a string of kidnappings inside neighboring Kenya.
With an attack imminent, more than 10,000 residents fled Kismayo in the last several weeks. Resident Faduma Abdulle said Friday that she is now leaving too. She said al-Shabab announced false propaganda on its radio station Friday to trick residents into moving toward the invading troops.
"They told residents through their radio to loot a Kenyan ship that washed up on the coast, but instead the residents who rushed there were attacked by helicopters," she said. "Some of them have died but I don't know how many. The situation is tense and many are fleeing. It's a dangerous situation."
The commander of the U.N-backed African Union troops, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, said that more of the soldiers were headed to Kismayo to reinforce those that stormed ashore. He said the aim is to "liberate the people of Kismayo to enable them to lead their lives in peace, stability and security. Operations are ongoing to neutralize targets in Kismayo."
___
Odula reported from Nairobi, Kenya. Jason Straziuso contributed from Nairobi, Kenya.
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বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৭ সেপ্টেম্বর, ২০১২
BlackBerry User Base Grows by 2 Million and Three Other Stories You Need to Know
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Which One Should You Use, SEO or PPC? | TLP India
The online community is definitely a large market place that you cannot ignore, especially if you have an internet business. There are thousands if not millions of consumers that you can tap in the internet by having a website. Are you one of them?
At the same time, the internet also poses a quite different challenge. The easy access that internet provides also gives you as much competition as you can imagine. It is too crowded and congested.
Having a website is not enough to make your business running and able to compete. You must take other alternatives to give way for the online community to access your website at any rate or chance possible. This is important if you want to be successful.
You have to expose your website. Make it known. It has to be visible. It has to be frequently targeted by consumers and surfers.
Invest in marketing your internet site. There are basically two options available to you, the SEO and PPC. These two are probably the most desirable alternatives you can get for your internet business as strategy for search engine marketing in order to make your website famous.
1. SEO
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Some researches indicate that 60% ? 70% of internet surfers and users actually resort to using the Google search engine to find and locate web sites and pages, for any topic they desire. This way you can make sure that you will be visible and can clearly stand out from the rest.
You will have to build on your own internet site frequently hit internet links to web site pages. The process will involve IBLN or Independent Back-Linking Network, wherein hundreds or even thousands of pages will be utilized to promote a particular website of a client.
In SEO, there is no need for you to pay for the clicks although it will require you to spend time doing research to get a favourable combination of ads and target audience. The SEO process is a long term one. It requires months, 6 months at the least, before the proper outcome is fully achieved, but once the goal is accomplished, you will definitely get a steady source of profit. Many online webmasters will tell you that.
2. PPC
PPC means Pay Per Click. It gives way advertising on a search engine. These are sponsored listings that you see whenever you make a search. There will be a charge whenever a visitor or web surfer clicks on any of your ads. There will first be a bidding process. The highest bidder for the price per click will definitely get the chance to be first listed in the search engine.
With this kind of advertising, you can still basically control your campaign as you get to create your own ad. You will also manage the target audience and still stay within the bounds of your budget. Most of the providers of PPC advertising will allow you to specify the target market, either by topic, industry or geographical location. You can also very well check if your ad gets to be shown at all and if it is competitive with the rest.
There are some guaranteed benefits when you get to maximize the PPC strategy.
- PPC lets you advertise to the whole of the online community. It is also relatively easy to set up.
- PPC advertising may seem very expensive. Could it possibly happen that someone out there will go on clicking on your ad? This will definitely give you a large bill without the expected profit on your part. Networks are able to recognize fraudulent clicks.
- You can also set a budget for a certain period. The moment your budget has been used up by the target number of clicks, your ads will no longer be displayed until the next period you want it again displayed.
- You will also be able to adjust well to changes in market demands and trends.
In deciding which of the two strategies will work right for you, think of your goals and of your resources. They definitely offer benefits and advantages that will work for your good. The better way to approach this two is to evaluate according to your short term and long term plans.
There world is out there for you now. Just make sure you do what will work best for your purpose online. The secret to success lies in your hands. Just study your options well and you?ll get exactly what you want with your online business.
Want to find out more about marketing, then visit Youtube on how to choose the best online income for your needs.
Source: http://tlpindia.com/which-one-should-you-use-seo-or-ppc/
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Giants won't bring back Cabrera for postseason
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? The San Francisco Giants have informed Melky Cabrera's agent they won't bring the suspended outfielder back at any point this postseason.
Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement before Thursday's series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco's final regular-season home game.
"We have decided not to send Melky on a rehab assignment because we do not intend to add him to any playoff roster," Bochy said. "We had to make this decision early because Melky would have to start rehabbing in Arizona. We have decided to develop our roster from our current group of players. They've done a terrific job during the critical part of the season. We have informed Melky's agent and they understand. I just like the way this club has played down the stretch and moved on. So we're going to move forward without Melky."
Bochy said the NL West champion Giants will go into the best-of-five divisional series with the current roster. Cabrera's suspension takes him through the first five games of the playoffs, so he would have been eligible in the NL championship series if San Francisco advanced.
"While I am disappointed that I won't have the chance to join my team in the playoffs, I wish my teammates the best in the postseason and I'll be rooting hard for them to bring another world championship to San Francisco!" Cabrera said in a statement through his representatives.
The All-Star game MVP, batting an NL-leading .346, was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone text. Last Friday, Cabrera asked to be removed from contention for the NL batting crown, saying he had no wish to win a tainted title.
Hall of Famer Wade Boggs feels Cabrera made the right decision.
"I'm glad that he stood up and said that he didn't deserve it, number one, because he cheated to get to that point," Boggs said in a phone interview. "I would have thought Major League Baseball would have stepped in before that and sort of disqualified him on that fact. But he's a stand-up guy, and as far as (public relations) concerns, it's was pretty good for his corner, for him to do something like that."
Bochy was asked whether anything happening that could change in the team's thinking regarding Cabrera if there was a significant injury or other unforeseen circumstance.
"I can't say I can right now," Bochy said. "We've made this decision and that's where we're at right now. I'm not going to get into anything that's hypothetical," Bochy said. "We have a number of outfielders. ... We have a big roster here. They've all done a good job and stepped up when we needed them. We're going to have a 25-man roster from the guys you can see here right now."
Cabrera was batting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs in his first season with San Francisco and is five hits shy of 1,000 in his big league career. He is set to become a free agent after the season.
Bochy said he would talk to his players about the decision either later Thursday or Friday. Players weren't consulted beforehand, Bochy said of what was an organizational decision.
"Melky understands," Bochy said. "I think it's in the best interest of this club if you look how we've played and all we've been through. These guys have really done a great job. They're the reason why we're in this situation. They've earned this and we're going to go with the 25 guys we have here."
___
AP Sports Writer Luke Meredith contributed to this story.
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Five Realizations that Helped Me Write Regularly [Habits]
As with most things, the best way to get better at writing is through practice. Whether it is part of your job or just something to do in your free time, Buffer's Joel Gascoigne offers tips to make writing part of your routine.
I've written over 50 articles on [my] blog over the last two years, and I've recently successfully written an article every week for the last five months. Luckily people have noticed and seem to enjoy the articles, and as a result I get a few people asking me how I've kept up blogging as a habit. This triggered me to think about the key things that helped me.
Don't get hung up on research
I used to believe that I needed some very solid research to back up any thought I penned down in an article. I also frequently found myself thinking that my ideas or experience were not interesting or valuable enough for others.
I've since realized that by simply writing from a personal experience perspective, sharing lots of details about my startup, personal projects, or thoughts about life, I was usually creating content that was interesting for people to read.
Delaying an article to "spend longer with it" usually just means it won't get written
I used to create a draft in Tumblr every time I had an idea for a blog post. Then I'd let it sit there for a while, because I believed the idea wasn't fully formed yet, or I didn't have enough points to share about the topic. I believed that by delaying, the perfect post would eventually come to mind.
What I've realized is that there is no better time to write than when the thought first enters your mind. I should only write it at another time if I simply can't open my laptop and write it all the way through right at that moment. The content is freshest when it first appears in my mind, and in that state I write the best posts.
I've gotten much better at this over time, but I have 10s of drafts lying in Tumblr from the early days when this caught me time and time again. If you delay, the likely outcome is that it just won't get written.
We should fear not publishing articles, rather than fearing bad outcomes
Over time, the concept of "shipping" started to really fascinate me. I forced myself to, despite it being uncomfortable, "ship" everything I did earlier and earlier. Whether a product, a blog post, a speaking opportunity, I'd quit delaying and just put it out there or say "yes" to speaking.
One of my biggest learnings in the last year is that there is immense power in doing a huge volume of work. If I write a blog post every week, I learn a massive amount about what works, and it gives me much more inspiration for more articles. Also, if I write each week, I'm gradually reaching more people, growing my connections on Twitter and Facebook, and putting myself in a better position overall. I know now that if I don't publish one week, I'm missing out on these benefits. Therefore, I actually fear not shipping.
When there is a strong connection between writing and my higher level goals and purpose, it's easy to write
One of my aspirations is to eventually be a fantastic advisor and angel investor for other startups. I want to be the kind of advisor who has been through many different experiences, and has a lot of thoughts about startup challenges and solutions.
This higher level purpose is what often helps me go through the tougher times, since I need that experience first-hand in order to help others. It's also what helps me continually write, because I know that if I write a blog post about a topic, it is always very clear in my mind from then onwards. If someone asks advice on something I've written about, it's easy to help them and add a lot of value.
Choosing a schedule for writing is a great way to ensure regularity
Finding a pattern and rhythm for writing is really helpful. If I fear that I'll fail to put something out there, but I attach my writing to a higher level purpose, then it is much easier to establish a regular writing habit. In this way, I've been able to write consistently once a week for the last five months.
In the early days of my blog, I set a rule that I would always write on Sundays, and always publish by noon. This worked very well, and it also meant that people began to notice my pattern and look forward to the content. I follow a similar pattern now?I always write on the second day of my weekend (here in Tel Aviv that's been Saturday, normally it is Sunday).
Are there any realizations you've had while working towards a regular blogging or writing schedule? I'd really love to hear what worked for you.
5 realisations that helped me write regularly | Joel.is
Joel Gascoigne is the founder of Buffer, a smarter way to share great articles with friends and followers. He Tweets at @joelgascoigne, and writes regularly on his blog about startups, life, learning, and happiness.
Title image illustrated by Dominick Rabrun. You can find his illustrations on his personal web site, or works in progress on his blog.
Want to see your work on Lifehacker? Email Tessa.
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Great Leadership Requires Inspiration, X | Healthy Lifestyle Plus
Webmaster | September 26, 2012 | no comments
Great Leadership Requires Inspiration, X
Article by Michael D. Hume, M.S.
Inspiring Relationships Start With Empathy
by Michael D. Hume, M.S.
Leadership expert James F. Hind, decades ago, said ?People want to know how much you care before they care how much you know.? I?ve found this to be extremely well-put and thoroughly true, and it?s led me to be an intense student of the way people express empathy. Leaders who seek to be more inspirational (many of my clients among them) would be well-served to heed Hind?s admonition. If you want to inspire someone, start by caring about them, and showing it.
You might own your own business, or your leadership mission might lie in the service of another organization; either way, you?ll be at your best as a leader when you can be inspiring. Before you can do that, you have to be personally inspired? and one of the best places to look for inspiration is in the best, strongest relationships you can develop. Those relationships are often founded upon, and generally held together by, mutual expressions of empathy.
Empathy is defined as the ability to recognize yourself in the other person. That means you have to have appreciation for two people: yourself, and the other. Someone who?s low in appreciation for both himself and others has no chance to occupy a strong enough ?trust position? with others to develop empathy, relationship, or inspirational leadership. Others will see him as a resource, maybe, based on what he knows? but his low appreciation is likely to lead them to see him in far more negative ways (as a competitor, or even an enemy). I call this type the ?Apathetic Victim,? and you don?t want to be in that category. You?d be self-concealing, generally critical, and competitive to the point of being seen as political in your behavior.
Some people have high appreciation for themselves, but low appreciation for others? I call that type the ?Arrogant Boss,? and her sense of entitlement is neither empathetic nor inspiring. Equally uninspiring is the ?Humble Servant,? which is what I call the type of person who?s highly appreciative of others but not so much of himself. He?s burdened by too much of a sense of obligation to be truly inspiring and empathetic.
The most empathetic and inspirational leaders are those who can combine strong self-appreciation with strong appreciation of others. They?re courageous, especially in seeking feedback and improving themselves. They?re curious about others, and are much more appreciative than critical. And they?re collaborative. These ?Empathetic Peer? types are well-positioned to be empathetic? and inspirational.
You can tell the Empathetic Peer by the way she expresses empathy easily and naturally in the course of nearly every conversation. You?ll hear her say things like ?I can see how frustrated you are about this? or ?I hear the excitement in your voice, it?s contagious!? The Empathetic Peer is always listening to the content of what you say, but she?s also always listening to the emotion you attach to the content and to how you?re feeling about what you?re saying. You want to tell her more. You tend to like her! She?s a person who gets to know you, and who always behaves as though you are more important than the information you know or the problems the two of you can solve together. And, as you get to know each other, a great relationship can develop which can (and often does) lead to mutual inspiration.
Empathy ? and the ability to express it ? is a great tool employed often and well by the inspirational leader. You can build the degree to which you come across with empathy, and your efforts to do so may pay the greatest dividends of any possible self-improvement initiative. Get a good coach (drop me a line), and start exercising your empathy. You?ll be glad you did, and so will the people in your life who might look to you for inspiration.
About the Author
Michael Hume is a speaker, writer, and consultant specializing in helping people enjoy health, wealth, and inspiring lives. Those who want to make money ?one less thing to worry about? can learn more at http://tinyurl.com/myownbiznow ? anyone wanting more vitality can browse http://shop.enivausa.com/239824 ? visit Michael?s web site at http://michaelhume.net
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.
Category: Healthy Spirit
Source: http://www.healthylifestyleplus.com/spirit/great-leadership-requires-inspiration-x/
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Weirdwarp - 5 Innovations of the Space Program We Take for Granted
By Philip J Reed on behalf of Exede, a nationwide satellite Internet provider
NASA is known for landing people on the moon and helping an entire generation dream of new horizons. However, many people don?t realize how the space program has impacted nearly every facet of our society. Over the years, NASA?s technological advances have been quietly integrated into everyday life, fundamentally changing how people communicate, eat, sleep and travel.
Sneaker Insoles
Sneakers are so comfortable to wear because NASA required a durable and shock-absorbing material to protect astronauts during lift-off and reentry, when they could experience forces up to 7.19 g.
While the human body always deals with 1 g on the ground, sneaker insoles help support feet by cushioning against blows and providing arch support. Insoles also return to their original shape after the sneakers are taken off, so they can be used over and over without becoming permanently compressed.
Sneaker Insoles
Smoke Detectors
Fires are bad enough here on Earth, but they pose an even deadlier threat in space since astronauts have no avenue of escape. In the event of a fire, every second counts.
First using a radioactive isotope, smoke detectors today determine if smoke is present by shining a tiny beam of light inside the detector?s case. Smoke will block that beam of light, and the detector sounds a loud alarm. The original detectors aboard space vessels included the ability to detect other toxic gases.
Water Filters
Every single water filter found in pitchers and refrigerators uses technology developed by NASA to deliver clean drinking water to astronauts during lengthy space missions. The average human being requires about four pounds of water each day, and every single pound matters when it costs thousands of dollars per pound to transport materials into space.
Instead of shipping dozens or hundreds of gallons of water, NASA developed the modern water filter, combining charcoal with silver ions to cleanse water of bacteria and other contaminants. The technology was so astounding at the time that it?s still used in its original form today.
Satellite Radio, TV and Internet
It should come as no surprise that modern satellite technology owes its entire existence to NASA. The agency developed the first American satellite designs and the rockets that would transport them into orbit.
Satellite Internet
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NASA also needed a way to communicate with astronauts who were hundreds of thousands of miles away, and that same technology is used today to communicate with the rovers on Mars and even Voyager-1, an unmanned vessel on the verge of leaving the solar system.
Satellite communications are used today for television and radio services such as DirecTV and Sirius XM. Satellite Internet is not as widely used, but it still offers broadband speeds to millions of customers who cannot connect to cable, DSL or fiber-optic networks.
Road Grooving
Anyone who has driven while tired has probably felt the rumble of grooving on the side of the road. NASA originally developed road grooving for use on runways to help pilots steer aircraft on wet surfaces.
Road Grooving
After pilots applauded the effort, pavement grooving was adapted for automobile roads. In many ways, road grooving is as important a safety development as speed limits and guardrails. Current NASA estimates reveal that road grooving prevents nearly 85 percent of all road accidents.
As evidenced by the last example, NASA is responsible for more than just high-tech advances in society. The agency also comes up with simple, low-tech ideas to improve safety and convenience, and it is because of these advances that continued funding of the space program is in our collective best interest.
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Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) PostsSource: http://www.weirdwarp.com/2012/09/5-innovations-of-the-space-program-we-take-for-granted/
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Libya's congress gives new PM ultimatum to name government
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's ruling congress on Wednesday said it threatened to dismiss the new prime minister if he fails to name his new Cabinet by October 8.
A spokesman for the congress told reporters the ultimatum was given after Prime Minister-elect Mustafa Abushagur asked to extend the period in which he can form a government by 10 days.
Abushagur, elected by the congress on September 12, was due to present his government list to the national assembly for approval by September 28.
"If he fails to submit his proposed Cabinet by the deadline, we would consider his position as resigned, and there will be a vote for a new prime minister," spokesman Omar Homaidan told reporters.
In an emailed statement to Reuters, Abushagur's office said he would meet the deadline, adding he was working on forming a "coalition government."
"He will present his government before the end of the period identified on Oct 8," the statement said.
"He would like to form a national coalition government in what is still a critical stage of Libyan history ... There is a committee studying all the candidate applications for the government since a week ago."
Abushagur told Reuters this month his government would have a "geographical balance" in a country where regional rivalries are still rife.
He said improving security would be a priority after a deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, in which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans died.
The interim administration, in which Abushagur was deputy prime minister, has struggled to impose its authority on a myriad of armed groups who have refused to lay down their weapons.
(Reporting by Ali Shuaib; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Stacey Joyce)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/libyas-congress-gives-pm-ultimatum-name-government-232316968.html
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Video: Romney: money isn?t key to students' success
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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/49171500/
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Lupe Fiasco Planned Food & Liquor II As Double CD
Atlantic Records shot down double album release, Lu says ahead of a special edition of 'RapFix Live,' Wednesday at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on RapFix.MTV.com
By Rob Markman
Lupe Fiasco
Photo: MTV News
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694360/lupe-fiasco-food-and-liquor-ii-double-cd.jhtml
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Flag Football Flourishing for Burbank Park and Recreation
Burbank Dolphins Orange (Photo courtesy of Mike Graceffo)
By Dick Dornan
BurbankNBeyond Sports Editor
Hark the days of our childhood when many of us played flag football. Those were the good times. Sure we would find some time to play tackle football without pads and other times a simple game of ?two-hand touch.? But there was always something special about playing flag football.At any position on the field, we could be who we wanted to be. Maybe I could be Joe Montana at quarterback or even ?Mean? Joe Greene at defensive end? It was a game of simplicity and grace and it brought out a smile in each of us.
Burbank Dolphins Black on offense (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
High School football might take center stage on a Thursday or Friday evening at Memorial Field and Pop Warner on a Saturday at Burbank High, but it doesn?t get any better than wrapping that flag belt around your waist, inserting your mouthpiece and wearing your jersey with pride.
Flag football is alive and well here in Burbank. It?s thriving and it?s here to stay. One visit to Foy Park on any weekday evening and the memories come rushing back. The noise of whistles in the air, enthusiastic yelling by the players, positive encouragement by the coaches and cheering amongst the fans are just a fraction of the sights and sounds at Foy Park.
?There is a lot of excitement this year,? said Jason Dyer, the City of Burbank?s Recreation Coordinator. ?For one, we have doubled the numbers. We went from 12 to 24 teams. We?ve also had some free camps and clinics and will continue to have them throughout the season.?
Burbank Dolphins Orange in action (Photo by Craig Sherwood)
Burbank Park and Recreation has done a tremendous job in continuing the success, tradition and enjoyment of flag football. Dyer said there are 30 to 40 percent new kids participating this year.
Twenty-four teams are separated into three age brackets (Grades 2 ? 4, Grades 5/6, and Grades 7 ? 9) and two divisions per bracket (NFL and AFL). Each game features 8 on 8 with every player being eligible on offense. Each player plays the same amount of time. Most importantly for many parents, there isn?t any?hard hitting or tackling. The emphasis is on learning the fundamentals of the sport and the rules of the game.
?You get to learn the game without getting hit. You learn how to move your feet and learn how to play each position,? Dyer said. ?You want to be able to come out here and play and not worry about an injury that might eliminate your career this young. There is a need for both (tackle and flag football) and I think both can co-exist which is great.?
Coach Mike Graceffo (on the left) is assisted by longtime friend, Ken Bailey (in the middle) Photo by Ross A. Benson
While teams come and go at the youth level, there is one constant in Burbank. The Burbank Dolphins and Coach Mike Graceffo are synonymous with flag football in this city. They have been a fixture of Burbank Park and Recreation for more than 30 years. Graceffo is a pillar of strength in the sports community.
?I love sports and I played all the sports when I was a kid. This is my way of giving back to the community a little bit,? said Graceffo, who has coached in this league since the late 1970?s. ?I love flag football because you can open it up. Everyone is eligible to catch a pass. It?s an offensive dream and a defensive nightmare. It?s just a fun game.?
Graceffo?s love and passion for flag football and youth sports does not go unnoticed. He has gained the admiration of many former players who keep in touch with him to this day as well as coach by his side as an assistant.
?Mike Graceffo is awesome. I?ve been able to play for him and coach with him,? said Kenny Knoop, defensive coordinator for the Burroughs Indians. ?I still work with him to this day with our schools and PE. He?s still right there in my life.
Burroughs defensive coordinator Kenny Knoop played for the Burbank Dolphins in 7th and 8th grade (Photo by Dick Dornan)
?I absolutely love the Burbank Dolphins,? Knoop continued. ?I still go to games and see Mike (Graceffo) and Ken (Bailey) on the field. I started football with the Burbank Dolphins. That was my introduction to football. They are definitely still in my heart.?
?Mike taught me how to be a competitor, how to love sports and to be a team player,? Burbank Dolphins Orange assistant Mike Mersola said. ?He is kind of like the fabric of the city and the Dolphins program is a fabric of the youth. My memories of it were the best times of my youth. Coaching now is really rewarding. It?s an honor and a privilege.?
The Burbank Dolphins Orange is currently 5-0 while the Burbank Dolphins Black is 3-1. It?s nice to win but victories are the last thing on the mind of Graceffo and his staff. It?s about teaching his players how to play the game of football properly while making it exciting at the same time.
So what makes flag football so much fun?
Quarterback Nathan Mehta of the Burbank Dolphins Orange looks downfield for a receiver (Photo by Craig Sherwood)
?It?s all about speed and not just hitting people like tackle,? said Nathan Mehta, 12, quarterback for the Burbank Dolphins Orange. ?I?ve learned that when you keep winning don?t get over your head because there is always someone working to beat you. Always keep working hard even if you are winning. Always be ready for the next game.?
?I like the sport,? said Jesse Rodriguez, 11, who plays guard, center and kicker for the Burbank Dolphins Orange. ?I like to run a lot. It lets all my energy out.?
?It?s fun to play with your friends and it?s a sport that I like and I?m good at it,? said Jonathan Topete, 12, running back for the Burbank Dolphins Orange.
Knoop played tackle football for the first time in ninth grade at Burroughs High. He credits his flag football experience as a major reason for successfully preparing him for the high school level.
?Flag football helps you with the concepts of moving in space and travelling and attacking a person. Two kids running into each other isn?t what football is all about,? Knoop explained. ?As a kid I learned how to attack a target, move lateral, cross the field to get where I was going and learn the angles of the game.
?The basic fundamentals of hand-eye coordination, catching, throwing and blocking were all there without smashing into somebody. I am a true believer that tackling in football is an attitude. You don?t have to have pads on to do that correctly. I am a big advocate of kids in flag football. They are learning all the basics of the game.?
Many kids who played flag football first before tackle during the middle school years later became successful at the high school level and beyond.
These Burbank Dolphins alumni include Kenny Knoop, Carlos Baker, Todd Dellutri, Ryan Bowne, Dylan Mersola, Joe Cesta, Mike Cesta, Matt Pentecost, Jabbar Craigwell, Brian Kaloustian, Kyle Creamarosa, Keith Jarbo, Richie Ramos, Bobby Machuca, David Machuca, John Jay, John Wagner, Mike Wagner, Ryan Buchanon, Finnbarr Geary, Freddy Keeler, David Escobar, Migual Armendariz, Joe Ungos, Shane Clark, Seth Oseransky, Dillon Disiere, Jake Micioni, Jon McGinley and Josef Topete to name a few. ?
Burbank Dolphins Black (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Approximately 95 percent of these players went on to star in high school football without having played tackle until their freshman year. Thus, flag football is a great way to begin one?s journey on the gridiron.
The future of flag football is bright in Burbank. Dyer hopes for all middle and private schools in the Burbank area to participate next year for grades seven through nine.
Burbank Park and Recreation will be hosting a high school night at a Burroughs, Burbank and Bell-Jeff football game soon and there will be an end of the season finale that includes punt, pass and kick, and a ceremony honoring the champions, runner-ups and sportsmanship winners for this season.
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Source: http://burbanknbeyond.com/09/special/flag-football-flourishing-for-burbank-park-and-recreation/
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