drummer au headcanons

barbie as a drummer in a grunge/garage rock band has been IN my mind so hard lately & well i had to do something…….

credits to @hellsfireclub & @el-fandom-phantom for some of these too btw <33 feeding my delusions 😋

it starts when barbie is like in 8th or 9th grade, she and her friends (probably ken & basketball ken [kingsley ben-adir’s ken, to clarify]) find some instruments at a garage sale or thrift store

they’re not in the greatest shape, but they get the job done and they sound decent. the three of them spend their afternoons after school playing random beats and just messing around, simply having fun while trying to get a hang of the instruments

barbie tries her luck with the guitar but she doesn’t quite like it. she can play it just fine, but she doesn’t feel it flow out of her the way it seems to for ken

(basketball ken plays the bass)

barbie has a little bit of a crisis…. her friends are really great at guitar & bass, and what about her!! what is she good at?? does she have any musical ability??

she doesn’t realize that whenever she listens to music, she is always tapping her foot/bouncing her leg, or drumming her fingers, or tapping out somehow, the rhythm of the song. always following the beat, without even thinking

basketball ken’s dad has an old drum set in the garage that barbie sees one day when they decide to practice at his house one afternoon

and as soon as barbie sees it…. it finally clicks

she is an absolute natural with the drums. the beat simply flows through her and it’s like she doesn’t even have to try

(obviously she does, though. she is only around 14/15, and far from the greatest in the world.)

she feels damn proud of herself though, for finally finding her calling. and she has so much fun playing. it’s addicting, and they’ll all spend hours, until barbie has nailed a new routine or solo and feels extremely satisfied

it continues like this through high school. as they get older, they get a little more ‘serious.’ aka they branch out and try new styles. ken takes up vocals alongside guitar, and basketball ken + barbie do back-up.

by senior year, they’ve amassed a pretty impressive base of people who know them. they mostly stick to covers, though they do dabble in attempting original music from time to time

(it’s also worth noting that all 3 of them can play the instruments interchangeably, but they strongly prefer to stick to their one, mainly)

they play local gigs at taverns & such in their town, and they’re always a blast

barbie finds herself loving & craving more of that. she’s obsessed with the feeling of the spotlight sort of on her, the adrenaline from when she’s cranking out this music, feeling the beat in her and causing people such a fun time. it’s the idea of creating that fills her with this joy

barbie saves up and for her graduation gift, her parents help her pay half and half for a new drum set. and this is quite possibly the happiest day of barbie’s life

the 3 of them take a gap year: basketball ken undertakes an internship at a law firm his mom is a partner at, ken is a leader at an equestrian camp, and barbie does some volunteer work at an animal shelter

in between their work, they still meet up and practice. the summer after their gap year is the greatest; they play with a renewed freedom, and let months of repressed musical talent finally bleed again.

they book gig after gig, at some local places for the summer but also branching out to new and nearby towns, just to get a taste

(barbie only seems to get prettier and prettier, and she most definitely has people lining up trying to get her attention. she is so oblivious though, and frankly, just not interested. no one has caught her eye. music is her priority and she’s busy with figuring school out and reworking her job schedule, so she doesn’t have time.)

that is, until, one night at a gig, barbie spots literally the most beautiful girl she has ever seen in the crowd, just before their set

she has these gorgeous big brown eyes that look at her for a second, and it’s enough to have barbie’s heart running wild. she finds herself playing with extra vigor that night, trying extra hard to be at her very best and shine just a little brighter

the kens definitely notice and are hyping her up like crazy after the show

“barbie, holy shit, you KILLED IT!” “where did THAT come from!!!”

turns out the girl is there with allan, ken’s friend. and she’s invited backstage with them

barbie turns to look at her, and the kens immediately know why barbie was so extra sublime that night

her name is gloria, and barbie is like marry me

the kens most definitely tease her immensely following that night. whenever they have an upcoming gig, barbie tries to very subtly and sneakily ask if any of ken’s friends will be there. (if allan will be there again.)

(her sneakiness is to no avail, though, because the kens know she’s asking if gloria will be there again, and they make so much fun of her.)

all barbie can do is blush and hide her face.

(though she does grumble that at least she has girls who have been interested, unlike the two of them.)

yep. that does the job. the kens are pouty messes for the rest of the day.

the next time barbie sees gloria at a show, gloria is wearing this pink flowery band-aid on her finger, from a little cut she received

barbie traces the pad of her finger along the band-aid, while the two of them sit on a couch backstage and talk

(it’s so subtle, her touch, but gloria’s heart is hammering in her chest.)

summer ends, and barbie goes off to school. it’s not too far away, but not close either. and gloria goes to school elsewhere. they definitely keep in touch though, and actually talk and text constantly

they meet up halfway during every possible chance they have. 3 day weekends, spring or winter breaks. you name it.

actually, for spring break, they have a gig. barbie has just turned 21, and they’re going to some bar in the dusty middle of nowhere

it’s an amazing show. gloria is there, so of course it is, for barbie

they buy her a round of shots afterwards, and they stay to dance and play pool

barbie sobers up and is quite hungry, so she and gloria sneak off to get some burgers and a milkshake

it’s nearly 2 in the morning by the time they leave, and the kens are probably wasted, so they decide to buy some cheap clothes to sleep in and find a motel to spend the night in

while gloria gets settled into their room, barbie goes out to get them some waters from the vending machine

when she comes back, she sits on the bed while gloria changes into the pajama shirt

but there’s a mirror … and gloria’s back is right there, with no bra, and barbie can see—

gloria looks up, and the two lock eyes through the mirror, and she knows barbie is looking

barbie flushes a fierce red, looking away quickly and feeling horribly invasive and gross. she gets up briskly and walks over to the bathroom, muttering a ‘sorry’ the whole way there

she shuts herself in, but the door is just barely closed when gloria knocks on it

barbie is shaking, but she opens it. she hasnt even turned the light on, and she is a tall shadow in the doorway

she and gloria stare at each other, for a few moments, the tension palpable

and then gloria pulls barbie down and kisses her

and fucking finally

(is what the kens say. and allan. everyone who knows them, pretty much.)

they start dating and are long distance while they go to school

barbie does this thing where she wears the pink flowery bandaids on her finger, the kind that gloria had on the night they first met

it kinda helps her feel like she is showing off her loyalty. it’s like her version of a promise ring, essentially

she also takes exceptional care of her hands, after gloria tells her how soft they are despite the expected callouses from years of drumming

granted, her right (and dominant) hand is a little more roughened up than her left, but they’re still very soft

(plus that little callousness, that touch of roughness, is delicious on gloria’s belly, trembling and pulled taut, as the softness of barbie’s other hand travels up the inside of gloria’s thigh and in between her legs)

(i mean come on. just because barbie isn’t a guitarist doesn’t mean her fingers aren’t deft and very skilled.)

gloria is a rockstar gf

no seriously like she’s at every one of barbie’s gigs, front row, and barbie dedicates every show to her.

(she kisses the bandaids on her fingers to give herself luck as well.)

barbie turns 22, and ken helps her paint her drum set pink. she also gets pink drumsticks

as a birthday gift, gloria gets barbie this heart shaped locket where she can put any picture in it

(barbie, of course, puts a picture of them kissing in it)

(gloria melts)

as a surprise, for their anniversary, barbie secretly writes a song for gloria. and at their gig, she performs it at the end of their set

gloria starts crying as she watches barbie sing and listens to her beautiful voice, knowing the song is just for her and how hard barbie must have worked on it

barbie pulls her onstage at the end of the song

and her hair is all messy and tousled, face glistening with light sweat, body warm and wired with energy, hands on gloria’s waist, blue eyes twinkling and smile so pretty and brilliant and in love

and so is gloria, so she throws herself around barbie and kisses her passionately, right under the pink concert lights in front of everyone

because her gf is a rockstar!!!!!

SORRY THIS IS MESSY but i needed to get it out <33 THEY ARE SO CUTE! my bbys

Miscellaneous thoughts on the whole PHF & PWHPA situation

This is a hockey post. Also, much of this is based on what I've seen on twitter and tumblr since there's currently very little veritably true information about this situation. Scroll past this if you don't care, read more if you do.

Ok, moving on.

It sounds like the news leaked on twitter. I wonder if the press around this would've been handled better had it not leaked.

This is a shitty situation for the PHF players.

I'm wary of the supposed "early 2024" start date for a new league, which I think is what the PWHPA previously announced as their league start date. If my memory serves correct, the PWHPA has pushed back their league start date several times already.

A January 2024 league start means a gap of several months between the start of the hockey season overall and the start of the league. Professional women's hockey is still new and small in North America. I can't see this gap, combined with all the teams changing, doing anything other than hurting the sport. How many fans will move on to other teams? There's no shortage of college teams or men's teams. Ideally this will just be a dip in viewership, which will recover within a few years as the new league gets more established, but it's not a good start.

Season tickets at still on sale for the 23-24 PHF season. That should maybe be turned off.

I don't understand why the plan is for none of the PHF teams are going to persist through this whole thing. Some of them were regularly selling out games (Boston Pride maybe sold out all of their games this past year). Is there a legal issue with the trademarks or something?

At will employment is stupid and mostly shouldn't exist. This is only tangentially related, but I feel strongly about it.

Professional women's ice hockey leagues in Europe and Asia are maybe going to get a bunch of good talent out of this.

This has been mentioned by others, but the PWHPA players are not to blame for this. The group that owns the PWHPA bought the PHF. Getting mad the PWHPA is like getting mad at Pixar because Disney bought Marvel.

The PWHPA members are voting on their CBA this weekend. This will not include PHF players. People are mad about this on twitter. I think it's inane that people are arguing about it on twitter.

I'm maybe going to buy some Boston Pride gear before it's all gone forever. Probably a swearshirt.

The new league had better have a good inclusive name. For anyone who is unaware, the PHF (Premier Hockey Federation) used to be the NWHL (National Women's Hockey League). They changed it because they wanted a name that was inclusive for players of different gender identities [source]. I do think that "Premier Hockey Federation" is a stupid name, so maybe the new league can go with something else such as the North American Hockey League (NAHL) or American Ice Hockey League (AIHL) or USA & Canada Hockey Association (UCHA, best acronym imo).

Also good inclusive policies of course, but hopefully the players won't stand for anything less.

This will hopefully lead to an NHL partnership, which would bring advertising, viewership, and financial stability. The NHL has been unwilling to consider such a partnership while there were two different leagues at odds with each other.

Good places to find more information:

Melissa Burgess on twitter

@letabbyfight

PHF official news

PWHPA on twitter

The Hockey News (website)

15 Questions Tag Game

Thank you @alpine-lapine​​ for the tag! I’ll put the questions and answers below a cut so as not to clog the timeline. Random story screenshot above, just because.

Are you named after anyone? Yeah, a person my mum met while backpacking during her gap year.

When was the last time you cried? I stabbed myself in the eye a few weeks ago on some rush grass, I cried then. It left an ulceration across my cornea (which apparently has the most nerves in the eye?) and was UNBELIEVABLY painful. I spent a couple days unable to see because moving the damaged eye (which I couldn’t open anyway) meant it rubbed against my eyelid and hurt like hell, and I had to keep my good eye closed to avoid the temptation to move my eyes to look at things. I don’t recommend, tbh.

Do you have kids? Absolutely not.  😅

Do you use sarcasm a lot? Not really. I s’pose I might be peak British and say “Oh yeah it was fucking amazing” if someone asks how a bad situation went.  🤔 I enjoy sarcasm when I understand it/know the person using it, but otherwise it stresses me out when people say things they don’t mean.

What sports do you play/have you played? None competitively, I don’t really enjoy them.

What’s the first thing you notice about other people? Their energy, which is the most hippyish response I could’ve said.  🤣

Eye colour? Blue-grey, somewhere in between.

Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings! I enjoy a lot of angst on the way there, though. The angst makes the happy ending sweeter, I think, but I like to know that it will end well. Nothing worse than investing myself in a story only to be left feeling sad and empty at the end of it.

Any special talents? Hmm... no. I’m quite good at finding things - noticing small insects or interesting things amongst the stones at the beach, stuff like that.

Where were you born? In the UK.

What are your hobbies? The vast majority of my hobbies are Sims related - storytelling, posemaking, playing. I also enjoy looking for old bottles in Victorian dumps (a lot of farms have them round here), looking for cool things on the beach, bug-hunting, growing vegetables, archery, writing fantasy, hiking.

Do you have any pets? Yes! I have a cat (an ex feral kitten) called Belleraphon or Bel for short, two ponies called Cash and Joey (though they’re really my partners. One was bought because he was going through sales, and with his issues my partner knew he’d have a bad outcome - he’s not ridden and lives in retirement with us. The other was given to us for free by a roofer we had in, and we took him because he’d been living on his own for four years - equines absolutely need company), and two mules called Marty and Xato who are mine (my own! My precious! I bought one for £1 and the other was given to me. I don’t talk about them much in my Sims community circles but I’m obsessed with them... mules are absolutely my number one special interest).

How tall are you? 5′3″

Fave subject in school? English and Media Studies

Dream job? I'd still say author, though whether I’ll ever get over my perfectionist trait and publish anything is another issue. I enjoy writing drabbles for myself, and I enjoy my Sims story which is god-awful but I embrace that - it’s been really freeing just to put down whatever I want to read, and share without overthinking anything. It would be nice to earn money from things I enjoy, but that then puts pressure on them.

I’m not tagging anyone because I tarried and I think everyone who I would’ve tagged has done this already, so if you see this then it’s an open invitation. 

And because I think people might ask, and I can’t resist talking about them a teeny tiny bit... here are my mules. Marty, on the left, was photographed here on his way to the shops; Xato, on the right, was helping me carry sacks of pulled hemlock up to the bonfire. Marty is my going out and about mule (he also does litter-picking, takes bottles to the recycling centre, carries food and luggage on long hikes), and Xato is the work-on-the-farm mule. Though neither have done much at all for a while because sometimes I’m not very good at walking.  😅 

FLP CHAPBOOK OF THE DAY: Lotus Earth on Fire by Lynn Axelrod

On SALE now! Pre-order Price Guarantee: https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/lotus-earth-on-fire-by-lynn-axelrod/

Lotus Earth On Fire includes #poems that travel through seasons and around our #Country, through choices and second chances, the joy of friendship, depths of loving attachment. Some poems show us the obstacles many have to be safe, the blessings others live with, and how memory enriches ordinary days. Other poems rely on science or news events to depict Nature’s strength, inventiveness, and how humans, as part of #Nature, can restore some environmental losses. Throughout, we’re shown our essential similarity to other beings such as redwoods, birds, salmon, horses, even wind after wildfire.

Lynn Axelrod has an undergraduate degree in Literature and taught freshman Lit. while in a graduate English program. She has been a lawyer, environmental NGO staffer, weekly newspaper reporter, studio jewelry maker, fundraiser for an undergraduate diversity program, and disaster readiness/community organizer for her local fire department. She’s in a long-running, supportive poetry group. She likes to study history–modern, ancient, and in the arts–volunteers politically and lives in an arts-&-activist community along the Northern California coast.

PRAISE FOR Lotus Earth on Fire by Lynn Axelrod

Lynn Axelrod‘s deeply intelligent and generous collection, Lotus Earth on Fire, serves as an unflinching witness to the hungry and the homeless, to floods, fires, and the untold injustices of man to man. But we are guided through these seasons and tides–of the Earth and individual lives–by a naturalist’s eye and heart. In the end this wide-ranging, multi-layered gathering of “weather-beaten prayers” ushers us into the “greening-joy” of being alive together. As the poet proclaims in the book’s final poem: “This will be our practice,/ to celebrate reconnecting/ & impermanence…”

–Prartho Sereno, author of Indian Rope Trick & Founder of The Poetic Pilgrimage: Poem-Making as Spiritual Practice

Lynn Axelrod’s talent for rendering the feeling of experience in Lotus Earth on Fire intersects with her ability to create lines with a metaphorical reality all their own. With images such as “Pop keeps hands busy across the page / as synapses…swing messages / across gaps like trapeze artists,” (“After the Diagnosis”); “Broken voices reach us on ether / … / still ninety-eight point six but choked / like a ghost with fever (“They Say Fire is a Metaphor”); and “High-stepping New Mexico Northern Jacana / totes his chick underwing to good insect sites” (“Bird Watching”), readers will be captivated and moved by this collection for many years to come.

–Terry Lucas, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Marin County, California

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry #chapbook #read #poems

UNDRGRND: IN THE BEGINNING

by NFTjoe

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON UNDRGRND.IO: NOVEMBER 12TH, 2021

Every day someone tweets that they quit their job to focus on NFTs full time. Someone within our social circle makes a previously inconceivable amount of money and can now turn their hobby into a career. While the rest of us sit back, watch and wait our turn.

The messages we receive from Twitter make it feel like it will never happen to us:

If you’re reading this tweet you’re early to NFTs. _

Perseverance is all it takes to succeed in this space. _

GM, NFT World! Let’s see those unsold NFTs and find you a collector!

I’ve got (insert amount of crypto) to spend! Show me your dope art! I’ll buy something.

This last one in particular frustrates me the most. Artists flock to these tweets with hopes that this thread will be the break they need.

Rarely does this method work.

The Problem

The NFT market can crush an artist’s spirit. The expectations of becoming an instant success do not match the work required. The emotionally draining act of constantly selling yourself along with the energy needed to create can lead to depletion and exhaustion; it’s why we also see so many tweets about mental health in the NFT space.

With so much effort and resilience required to survive in this space the easy thing to do is hop on a Twitter thread. This typically leads to some followers but no sales. So what is the next step for an artist?

Some artists are accepted to gated platforms (SuperRare, Makersplace, Nifty Gateway) giving them an advantage. There the artist must display the talent that the platform deems worthy of their brand or standard. But what about the ones that don’t meet an arbitrary requirement or style? And what about the artists that are never considered due to the sheer volume of applicants?

OpenSea has become a perfect metaphor for the experience of the NFT artist: an ocean filled with NFTs for anyone to purchase, if only you can find it and can discern between value and speculation. At least on SuperRare or other curated sites, a collector can trust that the gatekeepers have put in the time to discern whether this artist is “worthy” of being collected.

The popularity of Hic Et Nunc (HEN) helped bridge the gap between value and speculation by allowing a lower entry point for amateur collectors to simply buy what they love. While HEN has provided a cleaner NFT alternative to ETH marketplaces and created a launch pad for unknown artists - with no curation, artists still go undiscovered by collectors who may love their work.

This is why many of us in this space turn to Twitter to discover new artists.

This is why influencers have taken to profiting off of their following to help artists gain exposure.

This is why shill threads have become a daily practice on Twitter.

On the surface, these threads appear innocent and supportive. Perhaps many of them are sincere, but this is an inefficient way to connect artists with collectors and an even worse way to highlight talent that may go unrecognized.

The Solution

“In 4 months, you’re going to look around and wonder how you got here.”

That was my boss back in February. It took a little longer than that, but he was right.

How did I end up here?

How did I become one of those people tweeting about how NFTs changed my life?

Nine months ago I answered a random post on Reddit:

“Looking for NFT content creators to join our community-driven NFT publication.”

Thus, I met my boss, Sean, the co-founder of Cryptowriter, and began talking about NFTs and the insanity that was beginning to take hold of people and push NFTs into the mainstream.

Since then, we’ve talked every day: late at night spitballing crackpot ideas to each other; tinkering and rewriting articles; arguing (Sean calls them “discussions”) about the best path forward.

Every crazy idea I have, he encourages me to go further, explore it and make it a reality.

I began gaining his trust and vicariously gaining the acceptance of the other founder, Kenny, as well. Freelance writing turned into recruiting artists for interviews. That led to me hosting the podcast, Behind the Pixel, with an open-ended conversation revealing the artist’s inner thoughts, ideas and influences surrounding their art.

Behind the Pixel was also created as an airdrop feature for our Cryptowriter Membership cardholders. Partnering with artists, we feature them on our website, host them on the podcast and then drop a piece of their artwork to our members.

We quickly connected the dots realizing all these pieces worked together and were part of something bigger.

UNDRGRND was born from those “discussions”. UNDRGRND would become an art platform, dedicated to newly discovered artists, elevating their exposure through articles, podcasts and airdrops to our community.

No longer would artists rely solely on the Twitter algorithms and shill threads. We would partner with artists, collectors and curators to filter through the noise and discover talented artists that deserve recognition for their work.

Our Passion

In the early 2000s, there were underground hip-hop, garage-rock and pop-punk bands floating around on the internet in blogs to gain exposure. Those unknown bands eventually became music video stars and grammy award nominees. But it all started on a website just like UNDRGRND.

There was competition and pride among people who knew musicians before they were mainstream. The band, Bon Iver, won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2012, despite their first album being released in 2008. Bands like Saves the Day, Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional were indie label monsters before radio stations began playing their singles. Before Mos Def and Talib Kweli were superstar rap lyricists they were heading the underground hip-hop movement. And before Arcade Fire was on the cover of Rolling Stone, they were receiving accolades on the blog Pitchfork. This was my foundation and a formative experience for who I am today.

Sean started telling stories about his blog, TheFreshBeat, that highlighted underground and unknown electronic music artists. It gained enough of a following that clubs in the Miami area began looking to TheFreshBeat for new undiscovered electronic music.

We talked about how great it was discovering music that no one else knew. We enjoyed sifting through everything to find the gems; it was work but it was fun.

Now, we bring that same energy and mentality to UNDRGRND.

Our Mission

Like Indie music to mainstream pop music, UNDRGRND will focus on unfamiliar names before they become famous.

As a member of our community we hope to fuel your excitement of discovering something new.

We will think in terms of years and not hours. You will not find hype on UNDRGRND. You will not find a quick flip on UNDRGRND. You will find the genuine-honest substance of style and creativity.

We will provide you with diverse viewpoints, our knowledge, and our passion. We will write thought-provoking pieces and explore deeper discussions about art. We will share the wisdom of experienced collectors and curators to help guide and teach a new generation of investors, art enthusiasts and hopefully future millionaires (but remember us when you’re rich and famous, ok?).

There are cliches in the art and writing industries:

Buy what you love.

Write what you know.

The writers at UNDRGRND were recruited to write about the art they bought because they loved it. They are individuals with experience and opinions, who have helped shape my own taste in art. Before I became the Managing Editor of UNDRGRND they took the time to educate me. And now, I’ve recruited them to teach everyone else.

We will purchase art we love and we will write about it.

Through this, we hope to elevate some of the best unknown artists through our writing, podcast episodes and share some of those artists through weekly airdrops to our UNDRGRND Membership Cardholders.

The artists we share will become the storytellers and cultural influencers of the future.

If we elevate everyone together, we all succeed.

My personal goal is to give back to the community that has given me a chance to fulfill my dream. To all the underground artists, writers and collectors that haven’t yet reached their full potential, I will help you reach it. I will help you reach the goal of changing NFTs and art from a passion to a career.

UNDRGRND is more than just an art platform, it is a philosophy; a philosophy shaped by the community; a community we build together.

Curators. Collectors. Artists. Writers. Enthusiasts. Colleagues. Friends.

UNDRGRND.

Make Money Online: Empowering Humanity Through Innovative Opportunities

In the digital age, the quest for financial independence has led to a surge in interest towards making money online. The internet has unlocked a plethora of opportunities that empower individuals to generate income from the comfort of their homes. This article delves into the world of online money-making endeavors, highlighting their impact on humanity and providing insights into various avenues for achieving financial success.

1. The Digital Landscape of Income Generation

The digital landscape has revolutionized how people can earn money. From freelancing to e-commerce, online platforms have democratized income generation, making it accessible to a broader spectrum of individuals. This shift has not only redefined traditional employment but also brought about flexibility and autonomy in how people choose to work.

1.1 The Rise of Freelancing Platforms

Freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr have provided a marketplace where individuals can offer their skills and services to a global clientele. This has not only allowed professionals to diversify their income streams but has also enabled businesses to tap into a pool of diverse talents without geographical limitations.

1.2 E-commerce and Dropshipping Ventures

The world of e-commerce has opened doors for aspiring entrepreneurs to create their online stores, selling products ranging from handcrafted goods to digital products. The concept of dropshipping, where sellers partner with suppliers to fulfill orders, has eliminated the need for maintaining inventory and upfront investments, making it an attractive option for newcomers.

2. Impact on Humanity

The paradigm shift towards making money online has had a profound impact on humanity as a whole. It has transcended geographical boundaries and empowered people from various backgrounds.

2.1 Financial Inclusivity

Online income streams have extended financial inclusivity to regions and communities that previously had limited economic opportunities. With just an internet connection, individuals can now participate in the global economy, reducing the wealth gap and promoting economic growth in underserved areas.

2.2 Work-Life Balance

The flexibility offered by online income avenues has redefined work-life balance. People can now juggle their professional pursuits with personal commitments, resulting in improved mental well-being and overall quality of life.

3. Exploring Online Money-Making Avenues

Diving deeper, let's explore some popular online money-making avenues that have gained traction in recent years.

3.1 Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services through unique affiliate links. When a sale is made through the provided link, the affiliate earns a commission. This avenue requires strategic marketing and audience targeting.

3.2 Content Creation: Blogging and Vlogging

Creating valuable content through blogs and videos can attract a dedicated audience. Monetization options include ad revenue, sponsored content, and merchandise sales, offering creators sustainable income over time.

3.3 Online Courses and Ebooks

If you possess expertise in a particular field, creating and selling online courses or ebooks can be lucrative. Platforms like Udemy and Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing provide avenues for reaching a global audience.

4. The Human Connection in the Virtual World

Despite the virtual nature of online income generation, it's important to recognize the role of human connection. Behind every screen is a person seeking value, whether through products, services, or information.

5. Seizing the Opportunities: A Call to Action

The digital age has presented humanity with a unique chance to rewrite its financial narrative. By harnessing the power of the internet and exploring various online money-making avenues, individuals can take control of their financial destinies.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is it really possible to make a substantial income online?

Absolutely! Many individuals have achieved significant financial success through online ventures. It requires dedication, strategic planning, and consistent effort.

Q2. Are online money-making opportunities sustainable in the long run?

Yes, sustainability is possible. However, like any endeavor, it requires adaptability and staying updated with market trends.

Q3. How can I choose the right online money-making avenue for me?

Consider your skills, interests, and resources. Choose an avenue that aligns with your strengths for the best chances of success.

Q4. Are there risks associated with online entrepreneurship?

Yes, there are risks such as market volatility and online scams. Thorough research and cautious decision-making can mitigate these risks.

Q5. How can I ensure a healthy work-life balance in the online income pursuit?

Set clear boundaries, allocate specific work hours, and prioritize self-care. Balancing work and personal life is essential for long-term success.

Web Designing and Development in Qatar: Unleashing Digital Potential

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, Qatar has emerged as a progressive hub for web designing and development. With its dynamic economy, technological advancements, and a growing emphasis on digital transformation, Qatar offers tremendous opportunities for businesses and individuals seeking professional web solutions. This article will delve into the world of web designing and development in Qatar, exploring its significance, key trends, and the vibrant ecosystem that supports this industry.

The Growing Importance of Web Designing and Development: In today's digital era, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses to thrive. Web design and development play a crucial role in creating visually appealing, user-friendly, and functional websites that effectively engage and convert visitors. Recognizing this significance, businesses in Qatar are investing in cutting-edge web solutions to enhance their brand image, improve customer experience, and drive business growth.

Technological Advancements and Infrastructure: Qatar's commitment to technology and innovation has paved the way for a robust infrastructure that supports web designing and development. The country boasts state-of-the-art data centers, high-speed internet connectivity, and advanced IT facilities, enabling web professionals to create and deploy sophisticated websites and web applications. This infrastructure, coupled with Qatar's strategic geographic location, positions it as an ideal destination for web-related projects.

Talent Pool and Education: Qatar is home to a diverse talent pool comprising skilled web designers, developers, and digital experts. The country has invested significantly in educational institutions and vocational training centers to nurture local talent and bridge the skills gap. Qatar's universities offer programs in computer science, information technology, and design, producing a pool of graduates well-equipped to contribute to the web industry.

Government Support and Initiatives: The Qatari government has been actively promoting digital innovation and entrepreneurship. Initiatives like Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar Digital Government Strategy focus on leveraging technology to enhance citizen services and drive economic diversification. This commitment translates into a supportive environment for web professionals, providing access to funding, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities.

User-Centric Design and Mobile Optimization: With a significant portion of Qatar's population accessing the internet via mobile devices, web design has shifted towards mobile-first approaches. Web designers in Qatar prioritize responsive design, ensuring websites are optimized for seamless viewing and interaction across various devices and screen sizes. Additionally, user-centric design principles, such as intuitive navigation, clear calls to action, and personalized experiences, are integrated into the design process.

E-commerce and Digital Marketing: The surge in e-commerce and online transactions has further fueled the demand for web design and development services in Qatar. Businesses are leveraging web technologies to create secure, user-friendly e-commerce platforms that facilitate online sales, payment gateways, and inventory management. Furthermore, digital marketing strategies, including search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing, are tightly integrated into web development projects to enhance visibility and drive traffic.

Future Trends and Innovations: As technology continues to evolve, web designing and development in Qatar are poised for further advancements. Emerging trends like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and voice user interfaces (VUI) present exciting possibilities for web professionals to create immersive and interactive online experiences. Qatar's commitment to innovation and its vibrant startup ecosystem ensure that the web industry remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Morning Musume ‘23 【Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Haga Akane】What are your thoughts as the middle members who will lead the group in the future?

For the fourth VOCE x Morning Musume ‘23 25th Anniversary Collab, 12th generation Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria and Haga Akane are here. While livening up the group as the middle-members, what things are important for these girls with outstanding presence? Don’t miss this interview where you can feel the bonds and relationships as they greet their 10th year since joining as the 12th generation.

–What kind of person is Nonaka Miki?

Makino Maria: Nona-chan has a doggy, she loves Tofu-chan. She shows me lots of videos and photos like “Maria, look~♪ Its Tofu-chan♡,”. Tofu-chan is really cute, but Nona-chan showing me Tofu-chan is cute (laughs). On my birthday she made a video of Tofu-chan saying “happy birthday” and sent it to me, which made me really happy. She is super duper dependable but her fluffy parts that peak out are also cute.

Haga Akane: She’s a returnee that speaks English well, she can make songs, in any case she is talented! In the past she was a clumsy girl who fell down a lot, she hasn’t been like that lately but, around the time we joined I heard she “had the habit of forgetting to close the lid on her bottles” and that is the only thing she hasn’t fixed since joining! It's so cute and I super love it (laughs). 

–What kind of person is Makino Maria?

Nonaka Miki: She’s a girl who has a really strong love for lives. It's not just our live videos, she watches past Morning Musume videos a ton, and she will often watch videos of other artists' lives, she is very studious. I think that's something you would only do if you love lives. Sometimes we’ll watch them together; the other day she was copying movements from a Beyonce live video perfectly (laughs). Also, she is great at balancing. 

Haga Akane: She is the perfect idol everyone recognizes! Although, she is always troubled when there are many different kinds of bento to choose from, and she is someone that is a little easy going about preparations before a performance. Sometimes she will pamper me and I think that kindness is a cute gap; I like that about her.

–What kind of person is Haga Akane?

Nonaka Miki: She sticks to various members so her personal space is small! Sometimes she’ll sit on others laps, she gets close with other people (laughs). For better or for worse I’m too serious, I’m not really the type who can do that so I’m really envious. Also, she has this in common with Maria but she has high ability in balancing, flexibility, and her ability to read the room. She is really good at having fun conversations with jokes and quips. 

Makino Maria: Akanechin has a doggy, she loves Crouton. I used to think that Akanechin didn’t talk about her doggy but recently she has been showing them often. Unlike Nona-chan, she’ll show them off like, “aren’t they cute?” in a cool, slightly smug way (laughs). She is the youngest in the 12th generation but she has it the most together with a “Nona-chan, Maria, lets go!” feeling. In terms of her role, she is the older sister.

–Please tell us what you keep in mind as the middle members of the group.

Nonaka Miki: I think it's the same even if you aren’t in the middle but it's the importance of timing. Looking at the entire situation, I will offer help or speak out at the right time. With juniors and seniors, I think it's important to read both the emotions and atmosphere to keep a balance.

Makino Maria: The fulfillment of my private and work life! As all of the fans know, my private life is mostly baseball but, for example in February, I went to a baseball camp and there were various articles like from Sports Newspaper-san “Morning Musume ‘23’s Makino Maria Comes To The Camp,”. They’ll also write “This week she has a concert at ○○ and her photobook is currently on sale,”! It's not because I’m a middle member but it makes me happy that I can advertise for Morning in my private life, it's important to me to go to the Fighter’s matches.

Haga Akane: Definitely watching the member from a bird's eye view. Of course, we’re obviously making the group together but, for the “whole group” the seniors lead us with their opinions so, while I’m not a counselor, it makes me happy to be able to support “each member” in such detail.  That's the role of the 12th generation since we’re in a middle management position close to both the seniors and juniors. Trying to be a good listener to everyone, I want to be someone who is easy to talk with.

–Is there anything you’re training towards in anticipation when you will one day bring the group together?

Nonaka Miki: To be able to be more flexible with everything. Since I’m quite the theorist, if I say this now, I’ll wonder about what will happen after; I have a habit of overthinking and overanalyzing too much. As a result of overthinking, sometimes I can’t say anything. I want to mellow my mind a bit and be more flexible in everything. I’m learning from Maria and Akanechin’s balancing ability and responsiveness in that sense.

Makino Maria: It's completely having a “batting eye”! Of course, it's not about finding the strike zone in baseball; Fukumura-san says ‘I’m always looking out for you whether you’re close or far away’ when a new member joins; even during dance lessons, she is always watching like looking through the mirror to see if the new member is troubled. I think it's important to look around the group and properly get a grasp of the situation like a “batting eye” so, I want to train towards it more.

Haga Akane: To express my opinion. How far I can say something, until what point would it be bad, I wonder if it's something I should say or not,  I don’t know the boundaries, so there are often times where I don’t say anything but, as I get more juniors and I’m getting older, there are things that I must say for the group and to not keep it inside myself; I think I need to voice my opinions.

–What is your best memory with the 12th generation?

Nonaka Miki: Up until now we’ve discussed our problems as we’re in the same generation so, scenes where we discussed our problems come to mind. Most recently, it was when I was troubled over how to respond as a mentor. I’m 16th generation’s Sakurai Rio-chan’s mentor; I tried sharing information with all the members while mentoring to involve the group as a whole to keep going in the same direction; at that time, the other members' differing opinions came up. When I didn’t know what to do, I consulted the 2 of them. These 2 have a balancing power and are kind, they have a flexible way of thinking so it helps me a lot.

Makino Maria: There are a lot of things but, there is a photo I really like. Its a photo from when we were decided as the new members and were picking out a dress to wear for the unveiling; it's the backs of the 4 of us lined up (laughs) Akanechin was the shortest, everyone is nervous and we aren’t smiling, its cute that we’re just standing there super awkwardly. About 5(?) years after joining the manager told me “this is the first photo of the 12th generation” and gave it to me, even looking at it now my feelings and atmosphere from that time are revived, it's just one of those memories.

Haga Akane: In 2018 when the 4 of us went out to yakiniku. We haven’t been able to get together since then, which is still very 12th generation-like, I think. We often have fun times in the dressing room as the 3 of us talk about silly things. People tend to think that the 12th generation doesn’t really get along but, it's not like that! But, I think the next time the 4 of us all get together will be next year (the timing will be 10 years since joining) (laughs).

–What are your generation mates to you?

Nonaka Miki: It's natural for us to always be together, I can discuss my honest self with them. Even now in the dressing room we naturally sit near each other. It's the easiest to talk with them if I’m having any troubles, I can always rely on them when something happens. Also, I show these 2 pictures and videos of my dog Tofu-chan every day (laughs) when I just got them I showed them to all of the members but, in middle I thought “I wonder if they’re getting tired of the dog photos every day,” so then I had feelings of holding them back; I’m a bit reserved about it with the other members but, I’ll show my generation mates every time I see them (laughs).

Makino Maria: Without needing to say anything, we can tell what the other is thinking as generation mates. Even when the members are discussing things, I’ve come to roughly understand like, ‘they’re probably thinking about it this way’. All 3 of us can read the atmosphere, it's perfect for our position as the middle members in the 12th generation. No one is super duper in charge or super duper spoiled, I think the 3 of us are well balanced.

Haga Akane: They have a cozy feeling, like family, I’d be in trouble if they disappeared. I can tell what they’re thinking just from making eye contact, I can be natural with them. We don’t go out for meals much, and we don’t really take photos and upload them but, we’re always next to each other in the dressing room, before I knew it the 3 of us would be talking about personal things; we talk about our dogs, and we also talk about the group a bit seriously. We will talk to each other first about anything.

–Please tell us what you’d like to do as an individual from now on.

Nonaka Miki: This is really personal but I like anime and 2D characters so, I want to make an “ita-bag” once in my life.

Makino Maria: Advancing in MLB!! I want to meet the New York Yankee’s Aaron Judge.

Haga Akane: Talking with people outside (of H!P) about various things. When doing group activities I don’t have a lot of opportunities to talk with other talent-san’s, but when I get to appear on variety shows on TV, I want to be able to actively speak with them.

–What is one piece of advice you would give to the 17th generation members who will be joining soon?

Nonaka Miki: One thing is to follow your heart, to cherish what you “like”. Currently it's like I have a “muscle training character” but, because I liked muscle training I shot videos and put them on Instagram. From that point I would be told things like “you’re doing your best towards self-improvement” and that I’m “stoic”, and so my muscle training character was established. Other than that, if you like Sanrio characters, we have a character collab where “Gaokki” were born, I like music and have made songs, and I got the opportunity to show them off; there are many things that I’m happy I liked! Therefore, I hope that you’ll cherish what you “like” decisively. 

Another piece of advice! There will be things you don’t understand at first, it's ok if you don’t remember entertainment world manners all at once. I want to convey that I couldn’t remember anything at all, and came to be filled to the brim with it.

Makino Maria: I won’t give you any advice as soon as you join! When Shinjo became the manager of Nippon Hams he said that he “wouldn’t say anything to the rookies for 1 or 2 years,” but, so many people have said that; you won’t know what the right answer is and because I think it could crush your sense of self, be free at first; I want you to make the most of your personality. I hope to be able to give you some advice after a little while.

Haga Akane: I want to convey that “love” is great. I have a passionate love for Morning Musume, I love the members. Sometimes I am worried about Morning and hit a wall, but in the end Morning is what gets me through it. Therefore, even when things are rough, I think you can push through with your feelings of loving Morning Musume; I want you to continue holding those feelings. I joined Morning Musume as an otaku, I was able to do my best at school because Morning was my purpose. Even now when I look back on the music videos I watched at that time, I remember how I felt then. From now on I’d like you to dye yourself in Morning Musume.

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As big cities across the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, they are staring down some formidable challenges in their downtown commercial and office districts, as well as in their labor markets. Today, most U.S. downtowns have lower levels of activity compared to before the pandemic, especially in larger cities—and the federal relief that has compensated for lost sales taxes, transit fares, and other revenue is running out. 

At the same time, what many initially called a “great resignation” in the labor market turned out to be more of a “great reshuffle”—a rapid shift of workers from one job, industry, or career into another as people re-evaluated their living and work arrangements during the pandemic. Both job openings and job quits reached record highs in 2021.   

With last week being National Apprenticeship Week, this piece asks: What role can apprenticeships play in solving these challenges and bringing about more inclusive downtown economic development?  

The pandemic’s workforce impacts are still challenging downtowns 

Downtowns are confronting two challenges that will take collective effort to address. 

First, even as the share of workers (and their share of days) working remotely has gradually declined since the onset of the pandemic, office vacancy rates in large downtowns have continued to rise, and at a faster rate than across the overall region. Even if this divergence eventually reaches a new equilibrium, it is opening up a gap in the relationship between downtowns and work.  

The second challenge relates to dysfunctional labor markets. The pandemic’s initial economic shock was concentrated in Black and Latino or Hispanic neighborhoods, which saw severe job losses. These jobs have been slow to return and workers have been slow to return to them, as the protracted pandemic led to accelerated retirements and low immigration, while surging consumer demand, lack of child care, and other factors contributed to tight labor markets and high employee turnover. Employers are now finding that the old ways of hiring and retaining workers aren’t working anymore. Even in sectors of the economy that did not experience sharp job losses, these old ways of recruitment and selection are reproducing an opportunity gap, with degree-centric candidate screening leaving many workers and neighborhoods on the sidelines. 

By embracing apprenticeships, downtowns are uniquely positioned to create a new competitive advantage and value proposition for themselves as talent engines for the future. And the wave of federal funding earmarked for workforce development, infrastructure, innovation, and climate adaptation will create additional opportunities to strategically engage local talent in the reinvention of downtown neighborhoods. 

Apprenticeships are not only for the trades 

It is time to rethink how we connect local talent to careers and provide more options for people to access high-quality jobs. In the U.S., apprenticeships have a long history of being limited to skilled trade occupations such as electricians, plumbers, and construction workers. These are relatively high-paying jobs, and they remain important for the success of downtowns, particularly as federal infrastructure funding hits the streets.  

What is an apprenticeship? Apprenticeships combine long-term, paid, work-based learning opportunities with structured educational curricula to ensure that the learner gains both education and hands-on experience in a profession or occupation. Apprenticeships are most suitable for jobs that require a mix of hands-on experience and conceptual foundations learned in the classroom. They can be an attractive option for learners who prefer learning by doing, who are seeking paid routes into a profession and/or college degree.

Yet there are many other industries and occupations concentrated in downtowns that are struggling to fill openings and retain workers (see Figure 1). Finance and insurance, professional and business services, and many government administration jobs could benefit greatly from offering apprenticeship pathways from high schools and community colleges into roles that are currently hard to fill, such as project managers, account managers, cybersecurity technicians, and graphic designers.  

In Switzerland, apprenticeships are offered across a wider range of industries and professions, and 70% of high school youth participate in them. The most popular choice among apprentices there is the commercial sector, which includes banking, retail, public administration, and some information technology occupations. 

Businesses typically benefit from training apprentices as well, although the costs and benefits can vary. Apprenticeships show promise in helping companies become more innovative, build a more diverse workforce, save on hiring and turnover costs, reduce overtime, and recruit and retain workers in jobs that are hard to fill. Researchers Samuel Muehlemann and Stefan C. Wolter found that businesses in Switzerland and Germany were more willing to train apprentices when they could recoup their costs, which was more likely to occur with longer apprenticeship durations, competitive labor markets (apprentices helped reduce hiring and recruitment costs), and/or conversion of apprentices into full-time employees for at least a year.  

Barriers to scaling apprenticeships in the US 

Overcoming the long-standing pattern of restricting apprenticeships to a handful of skilled trades will require some transformative shifts in our K-12 institutions, postsecondary education, and hiring/career pathways. Although there is bipartisan support for expanding apprenticeships and other earn-and-learn opportunities, most of the efforts to date have come in the form of grant-funded initiatives and pilot programs rather than systems-level changes such as formula funding for apprenticeship intermediaries, redesigning registration processes to suit 21st-century jobs and professions, and creating incentives for states and educational institutions to develop degree apprenticeships or give academic credit for work-based learning.  

The top barriers to scaling apprenticeships outside the trades include: 

Low awareness of apprenticeship options among businesses, students, parents, and society has led to a poor understanding of what it is or what its value proposition is outside of a narrow set of industries and occupations where it is normalized. 

State and federal apprenticeship registration processes can be onerous for businesses and may include rules and terms that seem irrelevant for roles outside of the trades (e.g., “journeyman” is gendered and is not commonly used in an office environment). 

Siloed governance structures and funding streams between educational institutions, employer organizations, and learners has made coordination onerous and reduced alignment between available curricula, skills that employers need, and career awareness. 

Misperceptions rooted in the history of apprenticeships and vocational education in the U.S. have contributed to the stigmatization of apprenticeships as a lower-status alternative to a college degree (rather than a paid pathway to a degree). Another common misperception is that apprenticeships require the presence of a labor union.  

Despite these barriers, there is growing momentum to expand apprenticeships beyond traditional industries and integrate them into educational systems and degree pathways. These “new collar” apprenticeships (a phrase coined by IBM) focus on professional occupations in industries such as insurance, finance, business, and technology. In Chicago, an employer-led network started by Accenture, Aon, and Zurich North America—the Chicago Apprenticeship Network—brings together employers, education partners, and apprentices to shift hiring practices away from an overreliance on college degrees and supports apprenticeship expansion to cultivate talent from a more diverse range of backgrounds. And in September, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a historic investment in a new public-private partnership to connect 500 youth to paid apprenticeship roles in finance, technology, and business operations. Technology apprenticeships are also expanding in response to unfilled openings and a need for more racial and gender diversity in technology; San Francisco’s TechSF program was one of the first to expand registered apprenticeships into several information technology occupations. 

Watch the recent event | Racial equity and inclusion in tech: Can apprenticeships help change hiring practices? 

Such apprenticeship pilots can provide a proof of concept, but real change requires investment in new institutions, pathways, and systems over time. Place-based governance organizations in our downtowns are well positioned to engage local talent that has been kept on the sidelines of economic prosperity, strengthen linkages between education and employment, and expand youth apprenticeships as an opportunity multiplier. What is required for the downtowns of the future is not a new program or pilot, but a realignment of existing institutions that makes it easy for both individual employers and workers to participate.  

The pandemic accelerated trends in America’s downtowns, workplaces, and labor markets, so in many respects the future is already here. Expanding apprenticeships to strengthen pathways for local talent into hard-to-fill professional jobs will help cities leverage the workforce they already have to foster inclusive innovation and regional growth. 

Top 4 Online Course Certifications To Pursue in 2023

With 2022 coming to an end, you must wonder what's next. This question is all the more difficult to answer for entry-level individuals, especially if they are trying to get hired. But the most crucial question we often miss out on is what recruiters want.

Comprehending the hiring trends can help smooth job search, and the good news is, we have a way to make it easy for you.

While Unschool, an online learning platform, helps youth to take one step towards employability by offering the best online certificate programs in various domains. It is the platform where you can finally stop trying to fit in a system crafted for the masses and learn in a unique way that brings out the best version of you.

This article will discuss the best online course certifications to pursue in 2023.

Let's get started!

4 career options for 2023

1. Software engineering

One of the most prevalent career options in India is Software engineering. The domain is lucrative and offers high-paying opportunities, and the improved reliance on technology has led to a boom in the IT sector, making it one of the most in-demand fields today. If you are planning to step in the IT field then Unschool is here to guide you with its online courses with a certificate in Cybersecurity-Website Hacking, 

Artificial Intelligence - Machine Learning Algorithms and more.

2. Sales and Business Development

The sales team is the backbone of every business, considering that there is a huge demand for salespeople today. Companies hire people to join the sales and business development teams to provide high revenue generation.

Often used together and interchangeably, sales and business development are different but complementary job roles. Both concentrate on efforts on client management and revenue generation. However, the scope of both these roles is vast, as companies will always require professionals who can help the company grow and generate revenue. 

Likewise, Unschool is offering Job's Program in Digital Marketing. Students seeking a career in digital marketing can opt for this. You can also get jobs with a digital marketing certificate from Unschool. Apply now 

3. Customer success

Customer success is a vital aspect of business with huge demand for talented and skilled people, making it one of the most demanding career options to pursue in 2023. They are the customer-facing aspect of a company, and their performance and customer dealing play a tremendous role in defining a company's reputation.

The duties of a customer success executive possess:

Bridge the gap between the customer and the company

Keep records of customer interactions

Fix customer complaints

Receive feedback from customers and share it with concerned stakeholders

Effective communication with customers

4. Marketing and Communication

The advent of marketing and communications is no secret. The domain has taken the world by storm and impacted how businesses work globally.

No wonder it is one of the most promising career options for 2023! Yes, recruiters are looking for marketing and communication experts to help them thrive. Some of the responsibilities of people working in this area are:

Organize marketing calendars

Create content decks

Conceptualize strategies to boost the brand and drive conversions

Comprehend user psyche and mold the brand strategy accordingly

Press releases

Identify target audience and create content that caters to them

Execute online and offline campaigns and bridge the gap between user and brand

Establish a brand identity

Enable communication through advertisements, newsletters, email marketing, campaigns, press releases, etc.

Unschool's Skill courses offer various online course certifications like Content Writing - Introduction, Copywriting: Introduction to AD world, and marketing-related domains. 

Conclusion

The trends of today set a precedent for the future! According to the report, these are the 4 promising career options for anyone pursuing new avenues. You can check out Unschool to explore online certificate programs and find your dream job.

Kanye West's Net Worth In 2022: Ye Is No Longer A Billionaire

April 3, 2022

Until recently, almost everything Kanye West touched turned to gold. Ye hit the top of the charts like clockwork, sold out arenas in minutes, and made shoes like nothing anyone has seen before with huge price tags. All of his accomplishments once made him not only a pioneer in several industries but along with a very wealthy entertainer.

But all that came crashing down when West began making controversial public statements, many of which were filled with hate speech towards Black and Jewish communities. He was dropped by the talent agency CAA and lost lucrative partnerships with fashion houses like Balenciaga. On Oct. 25, after many weeks of public outcry, German sportswear company Adidas officially terminated their contract with his Yeezy brand, putting a large dent in his previous ten-figure net worth. Later the same day, Gap announced that they are taking “immediate steps” to remove Yeezy products from their stores. 

Let’s take a look at how the artist amassed a net worth into the billions before losing a significant portion of it.

5 Ways Kanye West Makes His Money

1. Music

West’s forays into the apparel industry were the primary reason for his previous multi-billion dollar net worth, but it all started with the music. The rapper and designer rank among the bestselling and most successful artists ever when looking at critical acclaim and sales.

When his oft-delayed full-length Donda arrived, West scored his milestone tenth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, becoming just the seventh musician in U.S. history to reach that mark. In doing so, he joined a club that includes Eminem, The Beatles, Barbra Streisand, and frequent collaborator Jay-Z, with whom he shares one of his chart-toppers. On the Hot 100 in America, West has landed four No. 1s, 20 top 10s, and 135 appearances on the list, the fifth-most of all time.

Throughout his career, West has shifted certified 25.5 millionalbums in the U.S. and 124 million singles, the fifth-most among all artists in history. That figure expands to an estimated 140 million songs moved throughout the world. A 22-time Grammy winner (out of 75 nominations), West is tied for the tenth-most trophies among all artists, as well as the second-most among rappers, coming in behind only Jay-Z by one award.

In 2020, the Valentiam Group valued West’s music catalog at $110.5 million.

2. Music Businesses

West launched his record label GOOD Music, which stands for Getting Out Our Dreams, in 2005. In the nearly 20 years the company has been in business, albums from label signees John Legend, Common, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, and Big Sean have all performed well sales-wise.

In March 2015, West was one of 16 famous figures who appeared during a press conference for the launch of the new streaming service Tidal. He stood alongside Nicki Minaj, Daft Punk, Calvin Harris, Jason Aldean, Madonna, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Jay-Z, who was the business mastermind behind the event. West was named as a co-owner, and despite the inclusion of many of the most popular musicians in the business, Tidal never became as popular as competitors like Apple Music or Spotify. In 2017, West left the firm, claiming he was owed at least $3 million.

3. Touring

West has headlined half a dozen tours throughout his career, racking up combined grosses of more than $190 million. He has also opened for Usher, U2, and The Rolling Stones, with the last two treks wrapping as some of the highest-earning of all time. The rapper warmed up the crowd for U2, whose Vertigo Tour brought in $389 million. After he finished that run of shows, he joined The Rolling Stones, whose A Bigger Bang venture earned $558 million at the box office.

The “Hurricane” rapper has also played the occasional private concert, earning millions for doing so. It was reported that in 2011 West and Jay-Z flew to Dubai to perform for a sheikh’s family, for which they were reportedly paid $6 million. On his own, the hip-hop musician also took home $3 million for signing on to be the entertainment at the 2013 wedding of the grandson of then-Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

While he hasn’t embarked on a proper tour of his own since 2016’s The Saint Pablo Tour, West has still managed to sell tens of thousands of tickets to a handful of live events. Throughout the summer of 2021, West played his new album Donda for crowds in Atlanta and Chicago, with fans paying to listen to something that wasn’t even done yet. In past years, he’s also brought his religious group Sunday Service to a handful of shows, which fans could buy tickets for.

4. Shoes

The vast majority of West’s net worth comes from his success as a shoe designer. He got his start creating footwear for Nike, and with the sportswear brand, he crafted three bestselling products before their partnership ended. West saw how well his creations were selling and he wanted to earn royalties, but the clothing giant wasn’t willing to relent, and thus he broke off the deal. West has also designed shoes for companies like Louis Vuitton, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Bape.

West continued making money when he jumped ship from Nike and went over to Adidas, where he remained until Oct. 25 when the company officially cut ties after his anti-Jewish remarks. His Yeezy brand was a financial success for the two with Forbesreporting that Adidas attributed 4-8% of their overall sales to the partnership. Every time the company announced a new item, it was known to sell out instantly. In fact, the first pair to be released by West and Adidas, known as the Yeezy Boost 750, was limited to just 9,000 pairs, and they sold out in 10 minutes.

The rapper has released at least a dozen different shoe designs with Adidas, which offered him royalties, unlike Nike. In 2019, the Yeezy line reportedly raked in $1.3 billion in revenue for Adidas, with West personally pocketing about $147 million of that. In 2020, that number jumped to $1.7 billion for the brand, while he earned another $191 million in royalties. 

When Adidas walked away in 2022, it was estimated that this partnership made up $1.5 billionof West’s net worth.

5. Clothing

Around the time he jumped into designing shoes, West also created a clothing line he called DW Kanye West. His debut line was criticized by journalists in the space, though he pushed forward to create more. While reviews did get better, the project didn’t last very long.

In 2020, West signed a decade-long deal with Gap to bring his unique style and the Yeezy name(which he still owns despite his working with Adidas for so many years) to the American chain of stores in association with Spanish luxury fashion brand Balenciaga. The first item to emerge from the partnership was a puffy jacket that sold for $200 in pre-orders, while later merchandising drops appeared in large trash bags in stores to much controversy. 

An early estimate stated that West’s line with Gap brought in as much as $1 billion in incremental sales in its first year, but Gap and Balenciaga both also terminated their partnerships with West in September and October, respectively. It is believed that $970 million of West’s fortune could be attributed to the Gap deal.

What Is Kanye West’s Net Worth?

$400 MILLION

Forbes previously estimated West’s net worth at $1.8 billion as of April 3, 2022, while West claimed during a 2022 interview with Hollywood Unlocked that he was worth $10 billion. In 2021, Billboard pegged his net worth at $6.6 billion, so the range of what experts believed the hip-hop staple was worth previously varied widely. But with his recent controversies, West’s net worth has plummeted to $400 million.

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Reducing Pre-sales and Aftersales Operations Costs with Automation

CMOs should  consider implementing Business Process Automation (BPA) and Robotic Process  Automation (RPA) into the workflow to streamline the customer journey right  from customer acquisition to retention.

Presales  and Aftersales departments have to operate on stringent budgets and yet have  to deliver a top-notch customer experience. Talent shortage and increasing  volume in both sectors have widened the gap, resulting in poor customer  service experience. Many large enterprises already have embraced automation  in their tech stack to minimize operational costs.

Also Read: Four Mistakes Enterprises Need to Avert When Implementing CRM

Automation  is a perfect tool that will help businesses to increase marketing and  customer support productivity and save a substantial amount of money.  Enterprises need to design and implement efficient workflows that would help  to reduce operational costs without sacrificing customer satisfaction. CMOs  should consider mapping the entire customer journey through multiple  self-serve touch points to minimize the workload on the teams. Making  information available will make data accessible to the customers at their  convenience. Employees spend most of their time searching and gathering data  to reach and help customers. Implementing automation will streamline the  workflow to enhance the employee and customer experience. Enterprises need to  design customized, efficient self-serve kiosks to ensure customers get a  resolution to most of their queries without even speaking to an agent.  Self-serve kiosks will assist businesses in delivering a frictionless  customer experience right from pre-sales to after-sales.

Here are a  few ways that businesses can implement to increase the ROI and enhance  customer experience.

Full Article: https://talkcmo.com/featured/reducing-pre-sales-and-aftersales-operations-costs-with-automation/

Possibly You Need A Fractional Marketing Director Not A Fractional Cmo

This adaptability is essential to staying aggressive and maximising returns in your marketing investment. But how does a Fractional CMO combine into an current marketing team, and what benefits can they bring? So, should you're prepared to take your marketing efforts to the following level, why not guide a call with me? Let's chat about where you're presently at in your small business, and in just half an hour, I'll provide you with a fresh perspective on fixing your small business issues that you may not have thought-about earlier than. Management Consultant at goTRG and has helped C-level executives implement marketing strategies since 1999. Working with freelance contractors and marketing agencies is nice for fledgling businesses, however when you’re ready to actually take flight, you should have an skilled hand on the helm. In essence, the affordability and cost-effectiveness of participating a Fractional CMO empower SMBs to access high-caliber strategic marketing steering with out compromising their financial stability. Their responsibilities embrace growing and overseeing the strategy, managing group members and outcomes, and the hiring and firing of selling employees. They begin by understanding the company’s goals, audience, and industry. From there, they craft a tailored marketing strategy, which can include branding, content material marketing, search engine optimization, digital promoting, social media, and more. Fractional CMOs also can present guidance on finances allocation, handle marketing groups or businesses, and continually analyze knowledge to make data-driven adjustments and enhancements. They present strategic leadership and expertise to help companies achieve their marketing objectives. Fractional CMOs typically collaborate carefully with the existing marketing team or oversee outsourced marketing features. They will work closely with purchasers to evaluate their marketing wants, develop personalized plans of action, and execute key initiatives to drive development. This is a hybrid position, primarily based in New York, NY, with flexibility for remote work. It's also important to consider the potential return on funding (ROI) of hiring a fractional CMO. If the fractional CMO may help you obtain your marketing targets and grow your corporation, the value of their services may be nicely worth it. For small to medium-sized monetary advisors and investment firms, the path to attaining this often includes navigating useful resource constraints and experience gaps. Enter the fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), a strategic answer that merges high-level marketing experience with cost-effectiveness and flexibility. Instead, they're leveraging a process-driven fractional Chief Marketing Officer whose only objective is to produce results at a fraction of the price of hiring a full-time, C-suite govt. Part-time funding with full-time outcomes, rising sooner without the overhead. Additionally, he or she actively engages with every side of exterior communications. A fractional CMO will guarantee you’re not wasting your budget on random campaigns. They’ll analyse your viewers, business, and the market to enable them to focus your marketing on the proper initiatives. A fractional CMO will prepare a marketing technique and, if needed, pivot based mostly on new insights. fractional cmo While your fractional CMO might not attend all your company conferences or events, they can’t operate completely independently. Good-fit fractional CMOs could have everybody on your group, together with gross sales and operations members, concerned in creating content that engages and attracts your ideal customers. A fractional CMO will probably lead marketing conferences to get buy-in from other leaders, and drive ahead transformation in your organization. Fractional CMOs deliver marketing knowledge and strategic and problem-solving talents. A PPC consultant could be happy to schedule a name along with your staff, however a fractional CMO is ready to dive deep into the everyday operations of your marketing division. All your marketing initiatives really feel like they’ve been chosen randomly from one campaign to another. The greatest fractional Chief Marketing Officers have expertise in your specific area of interest and perceive your unique challenges. If you’re CEO of a small firm or have been doing every little thing your self, a CMO will raise the weight and guarantee your plans are constant with your targets. If someone has the expertise you’re looking for, they’ll have the power to converse the language of your industry and answer particular questions you would possibly have about marketing inside it. In full-time positions, CMOs’ efforts typically dissipate between workplace politics and meetings. They’re virtually exclusively centered on outcomes, making the arrangement more cost-effective. Fortunately, a fractional CMO has the privilege of specializing in one space and understanding how the shift of one metric impacts your business health. In the 80s and into the 90s, we started to see CFOs take on a extra influential function on govt groups, basically taking up the number two spot from COOs. With the introduction of CMOs in the late 80s and 90s, and the colossal expansion of promoting avenues due to the digital revolution, CMOs have taken on an important function in most organizations. Your beloved content material marketing manager has moved onto an exciting new position, and behind them they go away a high-ranking blog that drives tens of 1000's of new users to your website each month. Learn extra about scaling your SaaS start-up with a fractional CMO right here. Along with more remote work, businesses are learning that there are advantages to attempting new things. Your Fractional CMO from CMO Exponential works intently with each your organization’s c-suite executives and the marketing expertise executing the marketing tactics on a day-to-day basis. A CMOx® lightens your workload by managing all elements of your company’s marketing department. This strategic alliance goes beyond interim administration, aiming to position your corporation for sustained market management with strategic foresight and flexibility.

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Our scalable platform helps dozens of integrations, makes course-building easy, lets you create personalized learning pathways, supports interactive courses, and more. Training management software program permits organizations to administer various training-related content and programs. For instance, a company might use training software for employee reskilling to shut a talent gap or reply to modifications in the trade. Training management software lets you implement, organize, keep, and scale training programs, which can be designed in your customers, companions, staff, or other parties. Lori Richardson and Score More Sales offer strategic sales development providers, targeted on using knowledge to enhance sales effectiveness. They focus on leadership growth, enhancing sales processes, and bettering team efficiency, notably for midmarket and enterprise corporations in the SaaS and know-how sectors. management training Some of these online programs, often supplied by business leaders similar to ISO and government regulators like OSHA, could be taken by people who want to get licensed for a specific job. Aside from finishing the course, individuals should also take an examination and exceed the passing rate. The program goals to build leadership expertise by imparting methods for dealing with evolving challenges. This course is for executives with more than 10 years of experience, and senior HR leaders. Upon completion of the course, candidates are given a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School. training in management Organizations typically invest in sales training programs to spice up sales success and grow the business.Sales training spans a quantity of key areas. It begins with broad strategies that guide the whole gross sales process and supplies a framework for engaging with prospects. Then, tailored centered, actionable guidance is delivered to drive particular outcomes or address talent gaps. This program is designated by Manitoba Student Aid, available to Manitoba residents.Keep learning. Training program names play an important function in attracting participants, producing curiosity, and guaranteeing energetic engagement throughout the training process. It is essential to strike a stability between simplicity and creativity when naming a training program. Industry-specific names can attract individuals who are seeking specialised information and skills. Creative names can entice individuals who're in search of distinctive and interesting studying experiences. From understanding shopper must deciding on appropriate venues and managing logistics, members gain a complete talent set. The course also delves into the artwork of crafting compelling occasion narratives and leveraging technology for seamless execution. This course on Management Training for New Managers is designed to help delegates perceive the nitty-gritty of Management and the means it propels success in the organisation. Effective Management ensures easy running of an organisation, increases productivity to its full potential, and ensures that a conducive working environment is maintained. Upon efficiently finishing this program, you will receive a microcredential recognizing your learning achievement. During the last two days of each program, spouses, companions, or different visitors are welcome to take part in the Partners' Program, which features chosen AMP classes and social activities. management training centre If you attend an accredited establishment, you may be eligible for federal student aid choices, corresponding to Pell Grants or federal student loans. Independent, nonprofit accrediting bodies oversee institutional accreditation. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). We chose the 10 greatest faculties to display primarily based on those receiving a curved ultimate score of 79% or greater. At the end of this system, you will obtain a PDF summary highlighting the key concepts launched in the course. An skilled gross sales specialist is here to assist discover the most effective resolution for you.

SAP HR IDB

SAP HR LDBT: Transforming Your Workforce for the Future

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, staying ahead of the curve requires a workforce with the latest skills and knowledge. This is where SAP HR’s Learning Development and Business Transformation (LDBT) solutions come into play. Let’s delve deeper into this powerful suite of tools and how it empowers organizations to streamline their workforce development strategies.

What is SAP HR LDBT?

SAP HR LDBT is integral to the SAP SuccessFactors Human Experience Management (HXM) Suite. It’s a comprehensive set of solutions to manage all aspects of employee learning, development, and organizational change. The key components within LDBT are:

Learning Management System (LMS): A core platform for curating, delivering, and tracking various learning and development activities. This includes traditional e-learning, instructor-led sessions, and blended learning approaches.

Performance Management: Provides tools for setting goals, providing feedback, conducting performance appraisals, and linking performance with learning needs.

Succession Planning: Helps organizations identify future leaders, create development plans, and manage the succession pipeline.

Talent Management: Encompasses tools and processes to identify, develop, and retain top talent.

Critical Advantages of SAP HR LDBT

Personalized Learning Experiences: SAP HR LDBT enables tailored learning journeys to address individual skills gaps and career aspirations. Its robust LMS provides access to diverse content formats, including online courses, videos, simulations, and more.

Upskilling and Reskilling: With changing business needs, SAP HR LDBT streamlines upskilling and reskilling employees. The solution helps identify employees who need to be equipped with new skills and provides targeted learning programs to facilitate this transition.

Data-Driven Insights: LDBT solutions leverage data and analytics to provide valuable insights into learning effectiveness, skill gaps, and employee development trends. This data helps organizations make informed decisions about their L&D strategies.

Culture of Continuous Learning: SAP HR LDBT fosters continuous learning by empowering employees to take ownership of their professional development. The intuitive interface and personalized approach promote self-directed learning.

Enhanced Business Transformation: SAP HR LDBT supports seamless organizational change and transformation processes by aligning learning initiatives with strategic business objectives.

Use Cases

Onboarding New Hires: Streamline the onboarding process by providing new employees with a structured learning path covering essential company policies, procedures, and culture.

Compliance Training: Ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal policies by delivering mandatory training and tracking completion.

Leadership Development: Nurture potential leaders through targeted programs, mentoring, and competency-based assessments.

Product and Sales Training: Enable sales and service teams to stay updated on product knowledge, market trends, and sales techniques.

Conclusion

SAP HR LDBT is a powerful tool for organizations looking to empower their workforce and drive business success. It prepares organizations to stay competitive in a dynamic business environment by fostering continuous learning, facilitating skills development, and enabling seamless transformation.

You can find more information about  SAP HR in this  SAP HR Link

 

Conclusion:

Unogeeks is the No.1 IT Training Institute for SAP HR Training. Anyone Disagree? Please drop in a comment

You can check out our other latest blogs on  SAP  HR here – SAP HR Blogs

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