How To Increase Your Reading Speed Without Losing Comprehension

Have you ever been in a group watching a PowerPoint presentation and felt like the presenter was switching slides too quickly- or that maybe everyone around you was reading at a much faster speed than you? While you may have felt left out, be rest assured that you probably had more company than you thought.

While your reading speed will vary with the content of the material presented, according to Staples, the average person reads 300 words a minute. Many factors will influence your reading speed outcome such as mood, lighting, and overall environment. If you are curious to know your reading speed, take the eReader test from Staples here.

As you may recall, growing up we were subject to many myths about reading. Some of the more popular myths included:

Reading every letter makes you a better reader

The human brain is wired to process words, first and foremost, for understanding rather than for grammatical accuracy. This means that when reading, our brain’s first goal is to understand the meaning of the word and the context of a sentence. For further proof, try reading the following text:

Slow reading brings more enjoyment

While this myth may easily be defied by most school-aged children, it is important to note that slowing your pace will not alter the content of your reading material. However, speed reading material that is of high interest to you will enable your brain to vividly picture the scenes from the text and thus create a much more rewarding experience for the reader.

Here are some easy ways to help you save time when reading, while maintaining your comprehension:

1. Selectively skim the text

This PsycNet study by H.Y. McClusky shows that contrary to the belief that every word must be read to understand a text, preliminary skimming can help save time when reading. However, you must do so appropriately in order to understand the message conveyed in the text. For example, it is highly recommended to always read the introduction and the conclusion of a text to ensure that the context of the material is not lost. Moreover, when reading a memorandum, you will need to ensure you read the subject line and first lines of the memo to understand the subject. Furthermore, reading the final paragraph of the memo will reiterate the points you skimmed over.

The 5 Mistakes Standing Between You and Your First Million

Creating a seven-figure business online was improbable 10 or even just five years ago, but as technology improves globally, there are more seven-figure earners than ever before. The total number of millionaire households reached 9.6 million in 2013, but has topped 10.2 million already in 2015. With the technology, resources, mentorship, research, and information available it’s becoming easier than it has in the past. Sadly, most still won’t reach the seven figure annual mark.

Why? Learning is not the problem for most people, and lack of information surely isn’t the problem, as there is more than ever before. It’s the lack of real awareness and consistent study of the right information, mixed with inconsistent execution and implementation, that holds back most back. You don’t just listen to something then remember it. You must put those ideas and strategies into consistent practice and repeat those actions until they are habitual and automatic. You must summarize the key ideas, sharpen your perspective, then take more intelligent action. There are a lot of reasons why most won’t reach seven figures, but here are the top five.  

1. Most focus on perfection, not experiments.

Seeking perfection has lost me more than $100,000 the last couple years. By the time a millionaire has tried and tested eight different experiments without focusing on perfection, most people haven’t even gone to market yet. Maybe only two of their experiments worked and were deemed profitable. The point is they weren’t paralyzed by perfection, but were driven by testing.

Test all your crazy ideas. No matter how crazy they sound, try them out. Find out which ones work, then optimize how effective they are. Test all variations of that idea. Find out which variation works best. Ideas are nothing until executed and proven.

2. Few thoroughly think things through.

“The more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war”

One of the biggest missed opportunities for entrepreneurs is not preparing for, or pre-determining what, they want. Truly productive people know the result they are after and maintain acute clarity on it. Armed with this awareness, they reverse engineer this big goal into a series of small and actionable steps that they then put into a one or two  page plan of execution. Strategically thinking through your future will prevent mistakes, while increasing your ability to predict. When you’re intentional in all you do, you mitigate against risk and can make more educated decisions. 

Plan your long-term strategies before you plan your tactics. Strategy shows where you plan on going, who you want to be and what types of clients you want to attract. Tactics show how to get all of your strategy accomplished. You don't have a real strategy if it doesn't pass these two tests: that what you're planning to do really matters to your existing and potential customers; and second, it differentiates you from your competition.

5 Steps to Take Before Quitting Your Job to Become an Entrepreneur

While some professionals have managed to start work on a side business while maintaining their integrity in a nine-to-five job, such a setup has little potential for long-term success. Whether you’ve come up with a new idea or you’re interested in scaling up one that’s already there, eventually you’ll need to quit your job to nurture your dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
However, too many people have become obsessed with an idea and quit their jobs impulsively only to find their potential business isn’t as strong as they thought it would be. Before you do anything reckless, be sure to take these five steps:

1. Make sure your idea is viable.

This should go without saying, but unfortunately, it needs to be said. Billions of ideas are born every day, but not every idea is a good idea, and unfortunately, not every good idea is a viable idea. That “viability” factor is what usually fools people.
In theory, your business idea might be brilliant -- solving a very real need in an innovative and interesting way -- but if it can’t be produced effectively or if the market isn’t ready for such a solution, even a great idea can fall flat.
Your job, long before you put in your two weeks’ notice, is to thoroughly examine the viability of your idea. Do some market research. Look at your potential competition and see if they’re doing anything similar. See if anyone has tried this in the past, and if they failed, why they failed. Sketch out a financial model if you have to. The more in-depth you go, the better.

2. Prepare for the realities of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship has been played up as a glamorous role, and in some ways it is. You get to be your own boss, make your own rules and build something unique from the ground up. Unfortunately, because of major tech-startup successes such as Facebook and Uber, there’s a misconception that entrepreneurs simply show up one day in a T-shirt, pitching a great idea and the next day they wind up billionaires.
This simply isn’t true. Most businesses fail, and most entrepreneurs end up going back to work. Most of those glamorously successful entrepreneurs spent years developing their ideas, coming to the brink of failure or flat-out failing many times before eventually finding success. Entrepreneurship is rewarding, but it’s also very, very hard. Read up on the realities of entrepreneurship to be prepared for that.

3. Establish a personal financial plan.

Quitting your job means your main line of sustainable income will disappear. Your personal finances need to be in immaculate order before you allow that to happen. Even if your business idea is great and viable, it may still be months or years before you can draw any meaningful revenue or income from it. Even then, your revenue will probably be minimal and inconsistent.
To prepare for this, take a look at exactly how much money you need to continue your current lifestyle and how much money you have. Can your savings totally sustain you for a year or more? What backup options do you have if you do run out of money?

4. Talk to people.

Ultimately, quitting your job has to be your decision. But before you pull the trigger, it’s worth your time to talk to others about your options. Talk to your spouse about whether he or she is ready to take the risk with you. Talk to your friends about whether they believe your idea is promising. Talk to your peers and mentors to see if they have any advice.
You may find these alternative perspectives illuminate problems you didn’t know were there or help to put your mind to ease.

5. Maintain the bridge.

Once you’ve decided to move forward and quit your job, the last step is to quit your job in the right way. Never, ever burn a bridge in the professional world. There’s a chance your idea won’t pan out and you’ll need to come back, and there’s also a chance your idea will become a success and you’ll want to work together with your former employer in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Talk to your employer candidly about leaving, give them as much time as they need to find a replacement and exit as smoothly as possible to preserve your relationship.
Once you’ve completed these five steps and you still feel good about leaving to become a full-time entrepreneur, there’s nothing that should stop you from quitting your job. It’s an exciting time, and making quick, impulsive and risky decisions is part of being an entrepreneur anyway, but that extra degree of preparedness can help prevent or mitigate an unfortunate end to an otherwise promising story.

Project Fame: All contestants on probation

Decked out in monochrome outfits, the remaining 14 contestants at the MTN Project Fame West Africa contestants opened the show with a medley of New Edition’s ‘Can you stand the rain’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Human nature’ last Saturday. This group performance was a tribute to the victims of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and a special dedication to late Dr. Stella Adadevoh, and all Nigerians who lost their lives in trying to curtail the spread of the virus, praying for the repose of their souls.

Contestants at the MTN Project Fame

The battle to remain in the Academy then began as the contestants (Chike, Oluchi, Deinde, Tejiri, Richie, and Ruby) who had been placed on probation the previous week stepped on the stage one after the other to perform again.

Tension began to mount after the performances, when the hosts welcomed a representative of Alexander Forbes consulting, who presented the envelope containing the name of the contestant with the highest viewers’ votes. Chike was revealed to have been saved by West Africa.

The Faculty on the other hand saved Oluchi. It was then time for the contestants that were not on probation to save another contestant via their votes. Interestingly, their votes ended in a tie, which was later broken by Chike when he was asked to save a contestant. He decided to choose Deinde.

At this point, Tejiri, Richie, and Ruby had to say their goodbyes. Their parting words were full of appreciation to the Faculty, Judges, and the platform as a whole. They each performed for the last time with Tejiri performing ‘Kissing’ by Yemi Alade, Richie- ‘Daniella whine’ by Patoranking, and lastly Ruby- ‘Woju’ by Kiss Daniel.

Following the evictions, the remaining eleven contestants were all set to dish out ‘Naija hits’ for everyone’s listening pleasure. Having delivered interesting and energetic performances in a bid to escape probation, it was time for the Judges to release their verdict for the night. And in doing this, they started by commending the efforts the contestants put into their performances, acknowledging the good works the Faculty have been doing. But because it is a competition to induct extraordinary artistes, they decided to put all of the eleven contestants on probation to bring out the best out of them.

Derrick Rose accused of rape by ex-girlfriend

A former girlfriend of Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has filed a lawsuit against the NBA player and two of his friends, claiming that they drugged and gang-raped her two years ago.

A representative for Rose said onThursday that the allegations are "completely false and without any factual basis," and called the lawsuit "a desperate attempt to shake down a highly respected and successful athlete."

The Chicago Bulls released a statement saying the team just learned about the lawsuit and does not have all the facts.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," the team statement added.

The woman, called "Jane Doe" in the suit, charges that in August of 2013, Rose and his two friends put some kind of drug in her drink while she was at a home in Beverly Hills where the basketball star was living at the time. A female friend of the plaintiff was concerned about her as she became incapacitated, the lawsuit says, and put her in a cab so she could get home.

However, according to the lawsuit, Rose and his two friends went to the woman's apartment early the next morning, entered through an unlocked door and took turns raping her. When she came to later, she didn't call police, the suit explained, because she was "ashamed and embarrassed by what had happened to her" and she didn't want her conservative family to find out.

Read the complaint

In the suit, "Jane Doe" says she has few memories of the incident.

"Jane has very little recollection of the events that followed given her incapacitated state of consciousness, with a recollection of only few second flashes at a time," the lawsuit states. "However, Jane does recall brutal details of the rape."

When contacted by CNN, the Beverly Hills Police Department said Thursday it first heard of the case through TMZ, and it had no information on the allegations.

The woman is seeking unspecified damages for lost wages, mental pain and anguish and severe emotional distress. CNN calls to her lawyers were not immediately returned.

Rose representative Lisa Cohen said the basketball player was in a "non-exclusive, consensual sexual relationship with the plaintiff for over two years" but ended the relationship in 2013. The woman had "no complaints about Mr. Rose until various lawyers began to surface and demand that the plaintiff be paid millions of dollars," the representative added.

Rose, who comes in at No. 20 on Forbes' list of the world's highest paid athletes, signed a $95 million contract with the Bulls in 2011 and was named the NBA's most valuable player the same year. Injuries forced him to miss about half of the 2011-2012 season and most of the 2013-2014 season, but he came back to average almost 18 points per game in the 2014-2015 season.

Forbes reports he's also got a $185 million shoe deal with Adidas, which said Thursday it wouldn't comment on any pending litigation.

"Our support and partnership with Derrick Rose is unwavering," the company said.source cnn

Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin again to win 200m world championship gold

Usain Bolt has done it again, winning his fourth consecutive world 200m title with a display of supreme confidence in his fastest time since the Olympic final at London 2012.
Four days after overcoming the odds and a flying Justin Gatlin to retain his 100m title, Bolt ran 19.55sec to best his American rival in the fastest time this year and win his 10th world championship gold. Gatlin, who like Bolt started strongly but was unable to cope when the Jamaican eased away down the home straight, finished second in 19.74.
Looking at their form this season, you might ordinarily have expected Gatlin to be favourite. But there is nothing ordinary about Usain Bolt. After the semi-finals, a reporter asked Gatlin what it would take to come out on top. Turning back and laughing over his shoulder, the 33-year-old said: “It takes to stay in front, that’s what it’s going to take!”
Ultimately, he was never able to do that, despite being neck and neck as they came round the bend as he tried to challenge down the home straight. The South African Anaso Jobodwana was third in 19.87, a new national record.
Bolt and Gatlin will meet again in the 4x100m relay on Saturday night for the third instalment of a head to head that has gripped the Bird’s Nest but also posed a host of complex questions for the sport and those in it. But Bolt has proved that despite an indifferent season, he is unmatched when it comes to the big occasion.
It seems extraordinary the pair had faced each other only once before over 200m and that was a decade ago, Gatlin winning in Helsinki in 2005. Ten years later, four of which the American sat out after serving a four-year ban for testing positive for testosterone, an awful lot of water had passed under the bridge.
Bolt came into the race off the back of that confidence-boosting victory in the 100m. After that contest Gatlin refused to take any questions on his doping past and subsequently said he would not speak to the BBC over its styling of the race as a “battle of good versus evil”.
Before the 200m, a relaxed-looking Bolt kissed the Jamaica badge on his vest and held his fingers in a V for victory sign. It was to prove prophetic.
Bolt had not gone under 20 seconds over the distance in 2015 before he arrived in Beijing but dipped beneath that mark in the semi-final. But nor had he lost in the 200m at a major championships since 2007, before his jaw-dropping arrival on the world stage at this stadium at the 2008 Olympics.
Two months ago, Bolt – struggling with joint issues - laboured to victory in his only 200m of the season in New York. Just behind him on that occasion was Zharnel Hughes, the Anguilla-born British athlete who became the youngest sprinter to win a Diamond League 200m when he triumphed in Lausanne this year.
Hughes, who trains with Bolt’s group in Jamaica, formally gaining British citizenship in June this year, finished fifth in a personal best of 20.02.

10 Seconds to Take Your Leadership From Good to Great

These are times that call for great leaders--people who are confident and courageous, certain in their leadership--to show us the way. It's not easy, but if we can learn to follow their example, we too can separate ourselves from the pack. Here are some of their lessons:

1. Create a compelling vision.

Great leaders focus on the future. They have a clear picture of what they want, and they make it happen. They are excited about the future and don't waste time being stuck in the past.

2. Articulate your vision to others.

Great leaders are able to describe the future and vision using words, images, and emotions that captivate and galvanize those around them. They freely share their leadership with those who look to them for guidance and support.

3. Be consistent in your character.

Great leaders do not change with the tides; they are flexible and open to new ideas but consistent in their beliefs and values. People know they can count on that consistency in thought and action.

4. Show genuine humility.

Great leaders know that without humility you are unable to learn. They admit mistakes, welcome feedback, and are open to suggestions. The best leaders are always interested in learning and improving.

5. Stay focused and forge forward.

Great leaders focus on results. They are immune to distraction, detours, and roadblocks, and they keep others focused and moving as well.

6. Demonstrate tenacity and courage.

Great leaders initiate action and work diligently. They don't change or get flustered when an issue arises, but take control with confidence. They move forward with conviction.

7. Connect the dots.

Great leaders are able to see the big picture and understand the connections between elements--a skill that takes great habits of mind to build.

8. Think strategically.

Great leaders have an eye for the future. They have a clear sense of what to do, and they anticipate and meet the future with strategic planning instead of short-term reaction.

9. Be agile and flexible.

Great leaders learn quickly. They know how to view things around them and make sense of them; they ask lots of questions. They know how to modify their behavior in response to changing situations without sacrificing consistency.

10. Be fair.

Great leaders are fair-minded and avoid taking sides in disputes. Others will always know where they stand, what's expected of them, and what they can expect in return.

Leaders have perfected the art of getting others to do something because they resonate with the message, the idea, or the vision. Great leaders do this with ease--and we can too if we make these traits a priority in our own development and growth.

Tips for Becoming a Brilliant Conversationalistc

No matter how meticulously you plan your words, you can never control how your message is received. However, several things are within your control, like timeliness, intensity and volume. Knowing what’s within your power and preparing in advance will help you to maximize each opportunity to communicate. Here are five keys to making your message count:

1. Never wing it.

Every conversation I’ve left with regrets shares a common denominator --- I didn’t think before I spoke. Most of us are at our best when we have ample time to process our thoughts before sharing them. If a conversation or meeting is worth your time to schedule, it’s worth taking a few minutes to develop an outline beforehand. For a particularly important dialogue, consider role-playing the conversation with a trusted colleague to remove the rough edges.

2. Think about it from the receiver’s perspective.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes when shaping your strategy. This ensures a balanced approach and will prepare you to not only support your position, but also to challenge any potential rebuttals.

3. Be prepared for different responses.

No one can predict with 100 percent certainty how everyone will respond. Increase your chances that a conversation goes well by anticipating negative or questioning replies. This lessens the likelihood that you’ll be caught off guard.

4. Approach with reason and logic.

A point that is introduced with logic and confidence is less likely to be met with hostility. The key is to approach each conversation with objective-minded reasoning supported by data or fact, if possible.

5. Don’t forget the emotional side.

While point number four stresses the need for objective conversation, it’s important to remember that emotions often trump logic. Don’t underestimate the influence emotions can play in the perception of a message --- and understand which ones your words may evoke.

Finally, strive to be not simply an effective communicator, but a brilliant one. Your point comes across clearer in a well-articulated conversation. While it may not be perfect -- at least right away -- aiming for brilliance is the best way to get there.

Shocker! Okagbare chickens out of 200m wetin de happen?

Shocker! Okagbare chickens out of 200m

Athletics Federation of Nigerian officials are reeling with shock, following Blessing Okagbare’s decision not to start the women 200m at the IAAF World Championships on-going in Beijing, China. This is against the background of her poor showing in the women 100m where she placed last. Before that race on Monday, Okagbare, had shown signs of distress.

Okagbare

Her coach was seen whispering words of encouragement into her ears. Yesterday, she was warming up for the heats of the 200m, but when the athletes were asked to report to the call room, she was nowhere to be found. “We don’t know for sure what happened to her. Personally, I have tried the lines of the technical officials and there wasn’t any response,” said Olukoyde Thomas the AFN spokesman in Beijing.

Prior to the championships, Okagbare had excluded herself from the national trials in Warri, with an  alibi that she was unfit and needed medical attention. She was given a wild card by the AFN. Her name is also missing from the start-list of the long jump event, which starts today.

She won a bronze in the 200m and a silver in the long jump at the 2013 championships in Moscow. “It is sad for the country that we are relying on one athlete. I don’t know what happened to Okagbare in Beijing, we can only hope that it is nothing that will tarnish the image of the country,” said an athletics coach yesterday.

Triple jumper, Tosin Oke is the other Nigerian that saw action yesterday. He jumped 16.74m, which was good enough to see him to the final, and it is a strong field of 17. 00m jumpers.

Facebook unveils M, an AI-powered personal digital assistant inside Messenger

It appears that Facebook is getting into the personal assistant space. In a post on the social network, vice president of messaging products David Marcus revealed that the company is testing M, a personal digital assistant inside of Messenger. There’s no specific timetable on when (or even if) the service will be released to the public.

Facebook joins a growing chorus of companies entering the personal assistant space. However, Marcus disputes that what his company is doing will be similar to anyone else: “Unlike other AI-based services in the market,” he wrote, “M can actually complete tasks on your behalf. It can purchase items, get gifts delivered to your loved ones, book restaurants, travel arrangements, appointments and way more.”

Marcus offers few details about the technology, but you’ll be able to ask for things like ordering flowers for your mother’s birthday, what are the best places to go hiking, and more.

It’s likely that the technology will pull information from your interests, Likes, location, check-ins, and more to provide you with relevant insights and information. It could also leverage the power of Facebook Search, which company chief executive Mark Zuckerberg disclosed completed 1.5 billion searches daily.

The addition of a personal digital assistant seems to mesh well with Messenger, especially as Marcus wants to show that the new Messenger Platform can work. Certainly the idea of being able to integrate with M could be enticing for developers, who may want to tap into Messenger and its 700 million monthly active users.

Additionally, we could see payments within Messenger be expanded beyond peers to helping users pay for goods and services through the app. If you’re looking for shoes and M gives you an option, you can simply tap “get” and the personal assistant will put in the order and process your payments for you.

Personal assistant technology seems to be the thing now, but there is a wide market spread. For example, the virtual assistants from Google and Apple have incredible dominance in the space — you can’t avoid having Siri or Google Now. Then there are those like Assist, Operator, and Magic, which contain a human component. Marcus believes that M will be different because it’s a combination of human and computer technology.

We’ve reached out to Facebook for additional comment and will update if we hear more.

15 die in Lagos-Ore road accident

By Dayo Johnson

Akure—No fewer than 15 persons were allegedly killed in an auto crash along Lagos-Ore Expressway in Ondo State yesterday, while two others sustained serious injuries.

File photo: FRSC operatives

Vanguard gathered that 14 of those who died in the accident that occurred about 35 kilometres from Ore town were males, with one female.

A white Toyota Hiace commercial bus, belonging to a transportation company (names withheld), had a head-on collision with a truck.

A source told Vanguard that the two vehicles were on high speed. 16 passengers, it was learned, boarded the bus in Lagos, en route Akure.

Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Head of Operations, Akin Adedipe, confirmed the crash, adding that the truck belongs to a cement company (names withheld)and the driver identified.

He said the corpses were taken to the General Hospital, Ore, while the injured were rushed to a private hospital in the town.

He added that four SIM cards, eight ATM cards, N39,699 and other personal effects were recovered: source vanguard

TV journalists' murderer kills himself

Here's what we know so far about the shooting.Police in the US state of Virginia say a man who shot dead two journalists who were broadcasting live on air at the time of the attack has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

How the attack unfolded

The attack unfolded live before viewers' eyes at about 06:45 local time (10:45 GMT) on Wednesday, as a local news crew filmed from a large shopping centre, Bridgewater Plaza, in the town of Moneta.

WDBJ reporter Alison Parker was just beginning an interview with local businesswoman Vicki Gardner about the 50th anniversary of a nearby tourism project - the Smith Mountain Lake - when gunfire suddenly erupted.

Image captionThe WDBJ7 news crew was attacked as they filmed a segment for a morning news show in Moneta, Virginia

The sounds of eight gunshots could be heard, as the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and the two women ran for cover screaming.

A fleeting image of the gunman, who was wearing black trousers and a blue top and holding a handgun, was captured in the footage.

Ms Parker, 24, and WDBJ7 TV cameraman, Adam Ward, 27, were both shot and died at the scene.

Ms Gardner was injured in the shooting, but police said she was in stable condition in hospital following surgery.

What happened next?

It didn't take long for Virginia state police to identify the suspect gunman as 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan, a former employee of the station.

They said Flanagan fled the scene of the fatal shooting, dumping his own car at a local airport and exchanging it for a vehicle he had rented a month ago.

Image captionFlanagan's hire car was spotted by police on the I-66 highway several hours after the shooting

Some five hours later, he was spotted by Virginia state police on the Interstate 66 highway but refused to stop and drove away from an approaching police car.

Minutes later, he ran the vehicle off the road and crashed. When police approached, they found the suspect suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital, where police said he died at around 13:30.

Who is the gunman?

Several hours after the shooting came to light, Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe told Washington radio station WTOP the suspected gunman had been identified as a disgruntled current or former station employee.

Flanagan, who was known professionally as Bryce Williams, worked with the local WDBJ news station for a year until 2013.

Image captionA man claiming to be Bryce Williams (pictured) posted messages on Twitter after the murders

He had a background working with local TV stations in North Carolina, Florida and Georgia and studied broadcast media at San Francisco State University.