Selling Your Business: Numbers and Benchmarks by Revenue Stage

The previous newsletter provided a roadmap for selling your business at different revenue points. Now, let's delve deeper with specific numbers and industry benchmarks to illustrate the process:
Pre-Revenue:

• Valuation: At this stage, valuation is primarily based on future potential. Investors might consider the size of the addressable market, the strength of your intellectual property, and the experience of your team. Seed funding rounds for promising startups typically value companies in the $1 million to $5 million range.

Early Revenue (Less than $1 million annual revenue):

• Valuation: Here, valuation starts reflecting initial traction. A company with $500,000 in annual revenue, 50% year-over-year growth, and a low CAC to CLTV ratio might be valued at 3-5 times its annual revenue, translating to a range of $1.5 million to $2.5 million.
• Selling Your Business: Attracting investors who believe in your future potential is key. Here's who you might encounter:
  • Individual Investors: These are individuals with funds to invest, often seeking high-growth opportunities. They might find your business through online platforms like https://flippa.com/ or https://empireflippers.com/. Listing fees typically range from $10-$49 depending on the platform and asset value, with success fees charged upon a sale (often around 10% for smaller businesses).
  • Angel Investors: Wealthy individuals who invest in early-stage ventures with high growth potential. You can find them through angel investor networks or pitch competitions.

Established Revenue ($1 million to $10 million annual revenue):

• Valuation: Profitability becomes a key factor. A business with $5 million in annual revenue, 30% profit margin, and a diversified customer base could be valued at 5-7 times its EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization). Depending on the industry, this could translate to a valuation of $15 million to $35 million. (Industry Benchmarks: Technology companies often command higher EBITDA multiples, reaching 10 or above, while traditional brick-and-mortar businesses might fall in the 4-6 range.)
• Selling Your Business: Reaching a wider pool of buyers is crucial. Here are some common exit strategies and the types of buyers you might encounter:
  • Business Broker Services: Experienced business brokers connect you with a variety of buyers, including:
    • Strategic Buyers: Existing companies in your industry seeking to expand their market share or acquire your specific technology or customer base.
    • Financial Buyers: Private equity firms or investment banks looking to invest in your business for a high return on investment (ROI). They typically focus on established businesses with a strong track record of profitability.
  • Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Firms: For larger companies, M&A firms specialize in connecting businesses with:
    • Strategic Acquirers: Similar to those targeted by business brokers, but typically larger and more established companies.
  • Investment Banks: For high-value acquisitions, investment banks can bring in:
    • Financial Buyers: These can be private equity firms, hedge funds, or even high-net-worth individuals seeking to acquire a well-performing business for a return on investment.

Remember: These are just a few examples, and the best buyers and exit strategies will depend on your specific business and industry.
Additional Tips:

• Prepare a detailed offering memorandum. This document outlines your business's financials, growth potential, and competitive landscape to attract potential buyers.
• Market your business proactively. Attend industry events, connect with potential buyers online, and leverage your network to generate interest in your company.
• Be patient and persistent. Selling a business takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if the process doesn't happen overnight.

By understanding the benchmarks, buyer types, and exit strategies for each revenue stage, you can approach the sale of your business with a well-informed strategy, maximizing your return and achieving a successful exit.
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So it seems in Cork City North East the Independent Ireland party got a seat with largest share of votes. Don't know much about this party other than they seem to be a little too far right for comfort. I wonder if people voting for Ken O'Flynn were fully aware that he was no longer running as an independent but part of "Independent Ireland" There isn't a whole lot of details of their policies on the website other than the typical key terms like protecting civil liberties and free speech, protecting families, securing our borders. Obviously on the surface none of that seems bad but they are right wing "red flags". Also it's the party Niall Boylan is running for which is a red flag on its own

My name is Rory Fars, and my little sister, Lily Fars, is the last family I had left.
A heavy sense of dread settled over me like a suffocating blanket as I sat in the worn leather seat of Lily's old jeep. The car, a relic of our happier days, seemed to groan under our shared sorrow. Beside me, Lily, my best friend, and confidante, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, which swayed gently in rhythm with the haunting melodies from the oldies station on the radio. This car had seen us through countless joyful journeys when our family was whole. Almost three years had passed since that fateful Christmas trip in Texas when our parents were tragically killed in a horrific multi-car pileup. The memory of their loss was a constant ache, a wound that never fully healed.
My dad was from Amarillo, Texas, so my parents often took trips down there, visiting the places that held so many memories for him. During one of these trips, just before Christmas, a sudden blizzard struck while they were on the freeway. The snow fell in blinding sheets, making the world outside a disorienting white blur. As they tried to slowly pull to the side, their vision obscured by the relentless storm, they never saw the car barreling toward them at least forty miles an hour. The impact was devastating, an abrupt and brutal end to their journey and, in many ways, to our lives as we had known them.
My parents were always sticklers for safety, insisting on seatbelts every time we got in the car. So, of course, they had theirs on during that fateful trip. The initial impact wasn't what killed them, the coroner explained to me. Not even the first hit from behind, which was going at least fifty miles an hour, was fatal. I had to practically shake the information out of him—they were so resistant to tell me anything at first. By the time the third car hit, with an unknown speed, their survival was already in jeopardy. The coroner said that by the fifth car, they were likely dead. But it didn't end there. Another twenty-three vehicles slammed into the back of the pile, each collision further crushing their bodies, reducing them to a horrific, unrecognizable state. Each jarring impact pushed my parents deeper into a gruesome amalgamation of twisted metal and shattered lives.
I don't know why I felt compelled to demand those details at the time, but I deeply regret it now. I wish I had never asked. Almost every night, unless I drink myself into oblivion, I am haunted by nightmares of what they endured. I dream of driving up to save them, only to be caught in the same deadly barrage of cars, ending in a twisted metal tomb for all of us.
Lily is never in those dreams. Even in my most horrific imaginings, I can't envision her being hurt. Lily is my little sister, younger by eight years and three months. Whenever I mention our age difference, I see the judgment in people's eyes, but what can I say? Our parents never stopped loving each other. They had Lily late in life; she became our shared joy, our living reminder of the love that had bound our family together.
Lily wasn't my twin in the literal sense, but ever since she was born, it felt like we shared the inexplicable connection that twins often describe. As she grew up, our bond only deepened—we acted, sounded, and even looked remarkably alike. She became my rock, especially after our parents' tragic deaths. We leaned on each other, cried into each other's shoulders, and somehow found the strength to move forward. We eventually moved in together, finding solace in a two-bedroom apartment that became our sanctuary.
Lily seemed to handle our parents' deaths better than I did, or maybe she was just better at distracting herself with technology. Even before their passing, Lily was addicted to any kind of digital screen she could manipulate. Her ability to navigate the digital world was unmatched; she was the most intelligent person I had ever met. Her intelligence was a beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped us, a testament to her resilience and brilliance.
After my parents' death, I embarked on a quest to find my spirituality by delving into paranormal investigations. I hoped these pursuits would bring me closer to my parents in the afterlife, spiritual realm, or whatever you want to call it. Instead, it created a chasm between me and any sense of spiritual existence. Each investigation seemed to push me further from the answers I sought, leaving me feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever.
I had hoped that by exploring these paranormal claims, I would discover a way to reach out to my parents and feel their presence again. Yet, as the years have passed, this endeavor has only deepened my loneliness and sense of loss. Despite knowing how detrimental it is to my mental health, I can't bring myself to stop. The hope that the subsequent investigation will be the one that proves the existence of an afterlife and that I'll find a way to contact my parents keeps me going. It's a desperate, unrelenting pursuit for a connection that remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
I should have accepted their death and moved on like any sane person would. Instead, I let my grief fester and dragged my sister and a stranger, Mark, through my obsessive quest for answers. My relentless pursuit of the paranormal didn't just alienate me; it consumed us all, leading to their untimely deaths. My name is Rory Fars, and I am here to confess my side of the story about the missing case of Lily Fars and Mark Lawrence.
This is the truth about how my desperate search for a connection with the afterlife led to a nightmare from which none of us could escape.
To start off, no, Lily was not a student of Mark's who fell in love with him and then got jealous of me hitting on him, leading her to kill him and herself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but given some wild theories circulating online, I need to address this one specifically since it seems to be the most popular.
First and foremost, Mark Lawrence was not, nor has he ever been, a professor at a university. Lily and I met Mark at the Local Museum in Redlin, a town nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He was the curator of an exhibit showcasing the history of Raven's Nest, a forgotten mining town that neither Lily nor I had ever heard of. This is where our story begins, in a place steeped in history and mystery, far removed from the convoluted theories that now cloud the truth.
We were constantly searching for new ideas for our podcast about paranormal claims. Each of our twenty-five episodes so far had concluded with a rational explanation, so when Mark told us about the curse of Harper, I was immediately intrigued.
Mark was an older man, likely in his mid-sixties, with a full head of silver hair and a beard that stubbornly clung to its youthful color, only lightly dusted with grey. He had a presence that commanded attention, and his stories about the curse were delivered with an intensity that drew me in.
On the other hand, Lily was always more interested in the technical aspects of the paranormal. She had her own theories and was determined to debunk every claim we investigated. She wasn't easily swayed by Mark's tales about the curse of Harper, but she was willing to listen and give him a chance to prove himself. Her skeptical mind constantly checked my enthusiasm, and together, we hoped to uncover the truth behind yet another paranormal mystery.
"Hello ladies, care to hear about the mysterious town of Raven's Nest?" Mark asked with theatrical enthusiasm.
Lily and I exchanged a knowing glance, trying to stifle our amusement. Despite our attempts to remain composed, a smirk played at the corners of our lips.
"We're all ears," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
He sighed, almost as if he was disappointed that we said yes. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel himself for the task ahead. "Well, you see," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "in the early twentieth century, a man named Harper Franstein exploited many men and children in the coal mines. By the mid-1920s, he had established his own settlement in a secluded valley, which he dubbed 'The Raven's Nest.' It was never officially recognized as a town, but that's the only name we have to go off of."
I could see the beads of sweat forming on Mark's brow as he struggled to recall every detail. Despite his initial enthusiasm, he now appeared flustered, his confidence waning. Eventually, he resorted to consulting his damp and crumpled notes, a sign of his growing unease.
"Um, anyway, yeah, um," he stuttered, audibly gulping as his nerves got the better of him. Lily couldn't contain her laughter, emitting a snicker that earned us a glare from Mark.
"Hey, just relax," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're not here to judge or intimidate you." With a gentle touch on his forearm and a chuckle, I attempted to reassure him, hoping to ease his obvious discomfort.
He paused, sharing a chuckle with me, while Lily struggled to suppress her laughter and eventually excused herself, leaving just Mark and me. Evidently, he felt more at ease with fewer listeners, so he pressed on with his narrative.
"Anyway," he resumed, "Harper held complete control over the town and the mine, and he made sure everyone was acutely aware of that fact. When the disappearances began, he tried to sweep them under the rug, attributing them to anything but his own negligence in mining practices."
"What do you mean by 'negligence in mining practices'?" I interjected, eager to delve deeper into his intriguing tale.
He looked up, clearly pleased by my question. "Yes, exactly," he affirmed. "Harper adhered to a mining technique outlined by Dwight Brunst in the mid to late nineteenth century. This method mandated only one entry and exit point into the mine."
"Wait, so they were forbidden from creating additional exits?" I pressed for clarification.
"Not explicitly," he explained. "The practice advocated for just one entry and exit as it was believed to minimize the risk of cave-ins, at least in theory. However, there were instances where miners, feeling uneasy about this restriction, took matters into their own hands and carved out what they called 'Emergency Exits' for themselves. After about half of the town started going missing, Harper couldn't take criticism about how he responded, but most people say he was losing money quickly and didn't want to live in a world where he was poor. He walked into the mine, never to be seen again, much like the cave's past victims. Visitors report seeing and hearing Harper, trying to get them to leave."
As I stood there, listening to Mark's enthralling narrative, I found myself captivated by the mysterious allure of Raven's Nest. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decided to pose a question.
"So, what does the town look like now?" I inquired, eager to learn more about the present state of this enigmatic place.
Mark's demeanor shifted slightly as he rifled through his notes, a subtle indication that he didn't have a straightforward answer to my query.
"You've never been there?" I asked, my tone softening with genuine curiosity.
He flinched as though my question had struck a nerve. "Shhhhhh... shut up," he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.
Suppressing a chuckle, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, hear me out. My sister Lily and I are investigating paranormal phenomena. Your story about Raven's Nest sounds like the perfect addition to our podcast. What do you say we compensate you for your guidance? Let's say, three hundred bucks?"
He straightened up, contemplating my proposition for a few moments. Without uttering a word, he extended his hand, and I met it halfway with my own, sealing our agreement with a firm handshake.
Our journey to Raven's Nest was no easy feat. Situated a good twenty miles from town and nestled deep within a dense valley. After all of the tight turns, narrow dirt roads, and steep inclines, it took us a grueling two and a half hours to go twenty-something miles, but we finally reached the outskirts of the infamous settlement. As we stood at the edge of the "Nest," anticipation mingled with trepidation, setting the stage for the eerie exploration that lay ahead.
I glanced at my phone; the time read 11:56 pm, signaling the late hour. Sensing the exhaustion weighing heavily, I suggested we catch a few hours of rest in Lily's jeep. Mark, though visibly unsettled, remained silent from the back seat, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he slumped against the window like a sulking child.
Drifting asleep in the passenger seat, I soon found myself ensnared in a nightmare. In my dream, Mark was being dragged away into the darkness, his desperate attempts to claw his way back to safety only resulting in broken fingertips. Despite his struggles, he was powerless against the unseen force pulling him inexorably into the abyss. Suddenly, I was alone, engulfed in utter darkness, my heart pounding with fear as I ran blindly from an unseen terror that seemed to pursue me relentlessly, its malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart racing as the remnants of dread lingered in the pit of my stomach. It was morning, and I was struggling to adjust my vision. Lily's frantic but comforting voice broke through the haze of my terror, grounding me in reality. With her comforting embrace, I gradually calmed my racing thoughts, drawing deep, steadying breaths.
As we sat there, enveloped in each other's embrace, Mark approached the driver's side window with an unexpected question, "Alright, what's for breakfast?" His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor were a stark contrast to the harrowing nightmare that had just consumed my thoughts, momentarily dispelling the lingering specter of fear that had haunted my dreams.
Lily and I both look up at him and back at each other as we burst out into laughter.
Amidst our shared laughter, Lily and I exchanged amused glances before turning our attention back to Mark.
"Ha...ha, yeah. No, but seriously, what's for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast, at least?" Mark pressed, hoping for a more substantial response.
His earnest inquiry fueled our laughter further, our giggles echoing through the quiet night air. Eventually, we regained our composure and stepped out of the jeep, stretching our limbs after the cramped confines of the vehicle.
Mark awkwardly moves to the side, still waiting for an honest answer. Lily tossed him a granola bar, eliciting a bemused chuckle from him. With a shared understanding, we set off on foot, embarking on the hike into the town.
The path ahead was clear: a single dirt road that wound its way from the abandoned coal mine into the heart of the small settlement. The road, now overgrown and muddy from years of disuse, bore the marks of neglect and isolation. Wary of the treacherous conditions, Lily opted to forgo the risk of getting stuck, steering clear of the decrepit road that likely hadn't seen a traveler in at least half a century.
We parked Lily's jeep at the entrance to both the mine and the town of Raven's Nest, opting to proceed on foot from there. Standing at the mountain's peak, gazing down at the desolate town below, I couldn't help but ponder the history beneath the dilapidated structures. I imagined how this valley must have once been a pristine landscape cherished by the indigenous people who roamed its lush terrain.
"Jesus, this place is more like a shit nest," Mark muttered in disgust, his disdain evident in his tone.
Lily shot me a knowing glance, silently communicating her skepticism toward Mark's assessment of the town.
Deciding to put Mark's knowledge to the test, I casually inquired, "So, what year was this area founded?"
Mark's reaction was almost defensive as if my question had caught him off guard. He hesitated momentarily before fumbling for his note cards in his pocket, a telltale sign that he wasn't as knowledgeable as he let on.
Before he could respond, I interjected with another question, "Mark, how long have you worked at the museum?"
As Mark froze, his gaze locking onto mine like a deer caught in headlights, I watched him closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. My narrowed eyes bore into his, silently urging him to be honest.
Finally, breaking the tense silence, Mark confessed, "Look, this is only my first week. I... I haven't had the greatest time lately, and I really need the extra money. I'm sorry I lied, but I'll help however I can."
I met his gaze unwaveringly, sensing the sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was a man in need of redemption, grappling with his own personal struggles.
"Alright, alright, don't cry too much," I teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. Gesturing towards Lily, who was busy preparing her wireless motion cameras in her backpack, I continued, "Lily and I already figured that was the case. Honestly, we're surprised you agreed to come along."
Mark remained frozen, but the tension seemed to melt away from his expression, replaced by a tentative smile. It was a moment of shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that he was still welcomed into our expedition despite his initial deception.
"Alright, I have the cams and portable batteries to make sure the cameras and anything we have with power can last," Lily said, her voice brimming with determination.
We began our descent into the town, our hiking boots struggling against the thick, clinging mud produced by the constant light rain and years of disuse. Each step was a battle, the mud threatening to swallow our boots with every move.
After an eternity of trudging through the muck, we finally reached the town's only paved road—the main road. It had taken us only about fifteen minutes to hike down, but navigating the muddy slope had sapped our energy. We paused for a break, taking a few minutes to clean off our boots and catch our breath.
As we rested, I noticed Lily rummaging through her bag with a focused intensity. Curious, I asked, "What are you looking for?"
"I brought five motion-detecting cameras that I want to set up strategically throughout the town," she replied, pulling out one of the cameras. She walked over to the nearest building, a structure that served as a post office, police station, and fire station. She positioned the camera outside the building so it was pointed at the only road leading in and out of the town.
"We need to cover all potential points of interest," she explained, securing the camera in place. "This one will monitor any activity on the main road. We should place the other cameras around key locations like the mine entrance, the town square, and some more intact buildings."
I nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. "Good idea. We need to make sure we capture anything unusual."
Mark, having finally caught his breath, joined us. "Alright, let's get these cameras set up and see what we can find," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Look," Lily said, turning her tablet screen toward us. She waved her hand in front of the camera she had just placed. The tablet displayed five squares on the interface, each meant to show a feed from one of the cameras. Since Lily had only set up one camera so far, only the bottom right square showed any footage pointed at the road leading out of town. She stopped waving her hand, and the feed went to a blue screen.
"What happened? Did we lose connection?" Mark asked frantically, his eyes wide with concern.
Lily cackled, struggling to contain her amusement. Composing herself, she waved her hand in front of the camera again, and the bottom right square showed her hand waving once more. "It's motion-activated. It's the best way to save on battery life," she explained.
Mark seemed to relax, though he was still catching his breath after the brief panic.
I glanced at my watch, noting the time. "It's 8:30. We're behind schedule. If you want to place the rest of your cameras, we better move now," I said, walking down the street.
Lily immediately got up and followed me, with Mark struggling to keep pace behind us. We reached the market building, and Lily positioned her second camera on the side of the road, pointing up at the market.
It's not much longer before we make it to the Town Hall. I suggest Lily place a camera nearby. She nods and heads into a building across from the Town Hall labeled, "Slaughterhouse: LOCAL ANIMALS ONLY."
As Lily explores the building to find an adequate spot for the camera, I wait for Mark to catch up. While I wait, I can't help but imagine this town in its prime, picturing the streets filled with families who loved each other.
My thoughts are abruptly cut off by a sound echoing in the distance—a roar unlike any I've ever heard. It was a mix of a human screaming in pain, the roar of a lion, and, near the end, the howl of a wolf. The chilling sound sent shivers down my spine.
I jump to my feet and immediately call out, "Lily, you okay?"
There's no response from Lily, but I'm interrupted by Mark finally catching up, panting heavily.
"Holy... shit... did you... hear that?" Mark said frantically between breaths.
"Yeah, we have to find Lily," I say, bolting into the slaughterhouse. I glance back to see Mark bracing himself on the steps of the Town Hall, struggling to keep up.
As I enter the building, the stench of rotting flesh hits me like a wave, causing me to gag. The smell is too fresh to be decades old.
"Lily? Lily, where are you?" I yell, using my shirt to shield my nose from the overwhelming odor.
"Rory, I'm in here!" I hear Lily yell from a room two doors down. I pass the first door, peeking in to ensure I hadn't misheard, but I wish I hadn't looked.
Inside the first room, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a pile of animal carcasses, their decayed bodies arranged in a grotesque display. The sight is horrifying, the flesh still disturbingly fresh. The bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to focus on finding Lily.
I rush to the room where her voice came from, pushing the door open. Lily is there, setting up the camera, seemingly oblivious to the horror in the adjacent room. Relief floods through me as I see she's safe.
"Lily, did you hear that roar?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I heard it," she replies, her eyes wide with concern. "I was just finishing up here. Let's get back to Mark and figure out what that was." She had placed the camera in a window, pointing directly at the Town Hall.
We hurry back outside, where Mark still catches his breath as we meet between the buildings. "We need to stay together from now on," I say firmly, looking at both of them. "Whatever that noise was, it's not something we want to face alone."
"Let's check out the Town Hall!" Mark says excitedly as he slowly clambers through a broken window.
"Did he not just hear what I said?" I mutter under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lily gives me a shrug, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guess we're heading into the Town Hall then," she says, adjusting her backpack and walking towards the broken window.
I sigh and follow suit, hoisting myself up and carefully maneuvering through the jagged glass. Inside, the air is musty, filled with the scent of old paper and decaying wood. Dust motes float lazily in the beams of sunlight streaming through the cracked windows.
The main hall is vast and eerily silent, with rows of empty chairs facing a stage draped in tattered curtains. The walls are lined with faded portraits and yellowed maps of the town, remnants of a time when this place was alive and bustling.
Mark is already at the front, examining a large, decrepit desk. "Look at this," he says, his voice echoing in the empty space. "It's like stepping back in time."
I walk over, glancing at the old papers scattered across the desk. Most are mundane—meeting minutes, maintenance logs—but one catches my eye. It's a letter dated June 1925, addressed to Harper Franstein.
"Harper, the disappearances are becoming more frequent. The townsfolk are getting restless, and I fear they may take matters into their own hands if we don't act soon. We need to find out what's causing this before it's too late."
I read the letter aloud, and the room fell silent. "Sounds like things were getting pretty tense," Lily remarks, her voice subdued.
As I'm distracted by the time capsule in front of us, Mark sneaks off.
I'm not sure how long it was before she noticed, but I saw Lily looking around before saying, "Where the hell did Mark go?" breaking me out of my trance.
I look around, turning my head in all directions, and shrug at Lily. I hear shuffling in the second room down the hall, so I slowly walk toward it.
"Mark?" I call out.
Just then, a loud crash reverberates through the building, making it sound like the whole place was about to come down.
We run in and see Mark struggling to keep himself from falling into a giant hole that must've broken under his weight. Trying not to laugh, I glance at Lily. We help him up as he dramatically falls onto his back, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Lily and I can't contain our laughter anymore as we bust out laughing hard. Startled by our sudden outburst, Mark jumps in fear. He looks around, confused for a few seconds, before realizing that we are laughing at him.
"Jesus, thanks, I guess," he says, clearly thankful but annoyed by our reaction.
After we contained ourselves, we headed back outside, exiting through the window Mark entered through. He struggles to climb out, but after Lily gives him a hand, he is safely out of the Town Hall.
"Alright, Ror, where should we put the next camera?" Lily asks me.
I stop to think momentarily, trying to picture the town's layout. "I think the only place left is the neighborhood," I respond confidently. I always talk like that with Lily. Over the years, I've realized she is the only person I can have that much confidence around. With anyone else, I'm worried about saying something stupid or wrong or how they'll view me, but with my sister, everything is easy.
As I look at the replica map of the town in its heyday from the museum, I determine that the neighborhood is to the East. "Okay, looks like we head East past the Library. Let's go." I say, walking away.
It only takes about eight minutes to get to the long strip of road that housed the town's workers. According to the map, there were fifteen houses along this strip of road.
The houses stand eerily silent, their wooden frames weathered and decayed by time. We walk down the road, our footsteps crunching on the gravel and echoing in the stillness. The air feels heavier here like the past is watching us, waiting to reveal its secrets.
"Let's put the last cameras on that house at the end of the road," I suggest, pointing to a house that looks slightly less dilapidated than the others, "another one at the last house on the other side, and the last we can save for a spot you choose."
Lily nods and heads toward the first house, pulling another camera from her backpack. She sets it up on the porch, positioning it to capture the entire street, and does the same in the opposite house. As I stand with Mark breathing hard, still unable to catch his breath since we first got here, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. I glance around nervously but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"All set," Lily says, breaking my reverie, "Still no ideas for the last cam?" Lily asks me.
"Like I said, wherever you think it would be best. I feel like we have enough good spots and angles, so go wild with that one," I told her.
She smirked and kept walking next to me. Mark was still struggling behind, but after the town hall mishap, he was trying his best to keep up. I looked at my watch, and it read '12:30 pm'.
"Holy shit, it's already 12:30," I said in amazement, but no one else seemed fazed. It felt like we'd only been here thirty minutes, not almost four hours.
We walked back down the street. Lily and I had been discussing on the walk that she should put the last camera at the town's only stoplight in front of the Library.
As we made our way to it, I could have sworn I was seeing something moving fast past my vision in the corner of my eye. Every time I turned to look, it was gone. I chalked it up to being my imagination until Lily and Mark both experienced the same thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked as he ducked, bracing for something terrible to happen. Lily and I looked back at him and then at each other as we shrugged. It was after that that I started seeing things, too.
I confided in Lily about the unsettling visions and sounds, and she admitted she had experienced the same phenomena but had kept quiet, fearing Mark would dismiss her as paranoid.
"Well, it's probably just a cat or something," I said, attempting to downplay the situation, but neither seemed convinced.
We continued our trek, and I noticed that the more we walked, the more frequently I caught fleeting glimpses of movement in my peripheral vision. It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Finally, we reached the light in front of the Library. As Lily mounted the camera, I felt a sense of satisfaction. We were making good progress, and it seemed like a suitable moment to start exploring the town more freely. We decided to split up and cover different sections of the town.
"Wait, we have to go alone? Why can't we stay together like you said?" Mark asked frantically, but Lily and I ignored him as we headed in separate directions. He continued to protest, but we paid him no mind. Eventually, I was either far enough away to not hear him anymore, or he had given up. Either way, I was happy to enjoy the eerie silence of the town.
As I wandered, the stillness of Raven's Nest enveloped me. With its decrepit buildings and overgrown streets, the town exuded an unsettling charm. It was as if I had stepped into a forgotten world, a place frozen in time with secrets waiting to be unearthed. The ambiance reminded me of an amusement park's haunted town section—artificially eerie yet irresistibly intriguing. Despite the creepiness, the mysterious vibe of the town kept me engaged and eager to explore its hidden corners.
I glanced at my watch again, only to find the time glaring back at me: 3:19 pm. It couldn't be right. There was no way it had been that long since I last checked. Panic seized me, and I called out for Lily, my voice tinged with urgency. She appeared beside me in a matter of minutes, her expression mirroring my concern.
"What's up, Ror? You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"How long would you say it's been since you put the last camera down?" I inquired, my heart pounding in my chest.
Lily's brow furrowed as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Uh, I don't know, thirty minutes?" she hazarded a guess.
I held up my watch, displaying the time: 3:20 pm. Lily fell silent, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was never great with time, but missing almost three hours of our memory was unprecedented.
"There's no way. Your watch must be—" Lily began, her voice trailing off as she checked her own watch, only to freeze in shock when she found it displayed the same time as mine.
"Lil, something is going on," I stated, my voice tight and apprehensive. I glanced up at the sky, my stomach churning as I noticed the clouds darkening and rolling in from all sides of the valley.
The sky closed rapidly, ominous clouds obscuring the sun as thunder rumbled ominously against the mountains.
"Mark? Mark, where are—" I began to call out, but before I could finish, Mark emerged from behind a wall, appearing as if he'd been too frightened to venture far on his own.
"We have to get inside!" Mark exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with fear.

Hi, sorry bit of a plug but it’s relevant to this community.
I have created a small interactive website on the Letby case. The goal is to succinctly outline some of the key problems of the case.
It includes two interactive elements, a shift chart selection tool which lets you pick any nurse from a set of random data and shows for any of them you get the same “single common factor” chart.
It also contains a simple bayes calculator which shows that the false positives identified by Dr Evans significantly reduce the chances of the other cases id by Evan being correct. Example: https://x.com/triedbystats/status/1798976706033991724
I stated assumptions and showed all working so it can be fact checked.
I’m new to this community, but having now looked at the case I’m shocked and decided to do what I can to help. Thanks! I’d love to hear any feedback

Book Your Free Consultation Today! > Discord @ shelbion

About Me

My name is Shelbion and I've been an avid League of Legends player for over a decade. In Season 4, I reached Challenger for the first time and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, after much reflection, I decided to pursue other challenges within the game.
Some of my notable achievements as a player include:

• Reaching Challenger on multiple positions.
• Participating and winning in numerous SR and 1v1 tournaments.
• Playing for various teams(Amateur and Semi-Professional).

Coaching

With over 7.000 hours of coaching experience, I fall into the category of one of the most experienced individuals in the field. My experience, passion, and ability to identify your flaws and tailor each session to your needs make me stand out as a Coach.
I've studied the techniques of renowned coaches, such as LS, MagiFelix, and others, and I've developed my unique coaching approach. So far, my approach has helped countless individuals, and over 20 teams advance their competitive play, across 5 different continents, including members of various College and University eSport Teams.
Some of my notable achievements include:

• Assisting a Diamond 2 player reach Challenger in just five weeks.
• Helping a Silver 2 player climb to Platinum in three weeks.
• Guiding a Diamond 3 player to Grandmaster in six weeks.

I am dedicated to continuously honing my skills and providing the best coaching experience possible to all of my clients, regardless of their rank or location.

Subscription Based Coaching

• One Individual Session (Monthly)
• Group Sessions (Weekly) x2
• Priority Coaching - Price: 99.99 > 49.99$.

Verifications & Certifications

• Certified IFOEC (International Federation of eSport Coaches) Educator & Coach.
• Certified EHPI (eSports Health & Performance) Professional.
• University of Irvine eSport Specialization
• Verified Coachify & Metafy Partner.

Community

In addition to my experience as a Player, I am also the Founder of Noxus Coaching - a rapidly growing, educational community on Discord. Our community is a great place to find new friends to play with, have a good time, and most importantly, improve your skills.
We hold various events on a weekly basis, including 1v1 & 5v5 tournaments, meme contests, and more. There are plenty of rewards to be won, including free coaching sessions with me. To join our community, visit https://discord.gg/RHW9BMxRd5 and message me upon joining to receive your role.

Podcast

• Podcast Appearance > https://youtu.be/4jn4FXOaOlE?si=98POLUJdJeSNnbiW

How Does it Work?

We will schedule an initial Interview during which we can discuss your goals and I can provide a more detailed explanation of my coaching services. This interview will typically last for 3-5 minutes.
The First Session is designed to assess your current level of gameplay and identify areas for improvement. After conducting an analysis, I will create a Personalized Coaching Plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan will outline a series of sessions designed to maximize your improvement.
The Coaching Plan may include various session types, such as:

• Theory sessions: These sessions will cover key concepts such as wave management, vision, decision making, and more.
• Practical sessions: These sessions will either be VOD reviews or live games, and will be used to put theoretical knowledge into practice and analyze gameplay.
• Reviews: These sessions will occur periodically and will be used as checkpoints to track your progress and identify any additional areas for improvement.

All sessions will be personalized and created specifically for each student's needs. By following this plan, you can feel confident that you are taking the most effective steps to achieve your goals.

Personalized Support (Available 24/7)

In addition to the structured coaching sessions, I offer personalized support to my clients on a 24/7 basis. Whether you have a specific question or just want to debrief after a tough game, I am always available to help. Simply message me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

AvailabilityPricesPayments

I am able to cover any server and any timezone! Rates for both Private and Team coaching are negotiable. We will easily get the sessions to fit your budget and your needs.
Payments are usually done through PayPal, however other forms of Payment such as Direct Transfer can be discussed.

Contact

Main form of contact is Discord on which you can find me at shelbion (Or Shelbion#8832)
Feel free to message me either on Discord or through a Direct Message on Reddit and I will come back to you as quickly as possible.

Book Your Free Consultation Today! > Discord @ shelbion

About Me

My name is Shelbion and I've been an avid League of Legends player for over a decade. In Season 4, I reached Challenger for the first time and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, after much reflection, I decided to pursue other challenges within the game.
Some of my notable achievements as a player include:

• Reaching Challenger on multiple positions.
• Participating and winning in numerous SR and 1v1 tournaments.
• Playing for various teams(Amateur and Semi-Professional).

Coaching

With over 7.000 hours of coaching experience, I fall into the category of one of the most experienced individuals in the field. My experience, passion, and ability to identify your flaws and tailor each session to your needs make me stand out as a Coach.
I've studied the techniques of renowned coaches, such as LS, MagiFelix, and others, and I've developed my unique coaching approach. So far, my approach has helped countless individuals, and over 20 teams advance their competitive play, across 5 different continents, including members of various College and University eSport Teams.
Some of my notable achievements include:

• Assisting a Diamond 2 player reach Challenger in just five weeks.
• Helping a Silver 2 player climb to Platinum in three weeks.
• Guiding a Diamond 3 player to Grandmaster in six weeks.

I am dedicated to continuously honing my skills and providing the best coaching experience possible to all of my clients, regardless of their rank or location.

Subscription Based Coaching

• One Individual Session (Monthly)
• Group Sessions (Weekly) x2
• Priority Coaching - Price: 99.99 > 49.99$.

Verifications & Certifications

• Certified IFOEC (International Federation of eSport Coaches) Educator & Coach.
• Certified EHPI (eSports Health & Performance) Professional.
• University of Irvine eSport Specialization
• Verified Coachify & Metafy Partner.

Community

In addition to my experience as a Player, I am also the Founder of Noxus Coaching - a rapidly growing, educational community on Discord. Our community is a great place to find new friends to play with, have a good time, and most importantly, improve your skills.
We hold various events on a weekly basis, including 1v1 & 5v5 tournaments, meme contests, and more. There are plenty of rewards to be won, including free coaching sessions with me. To join our community, visit https://discord.gg/RHW9BMxRd5 and message me upon joining to receive your role.

Podcast

• Podcast Appearance > https://youtu.be/4jn4FXOaOlE?si=98POLUJdJeSNnbiW

How Does it Work?

We will schedule an initial Interview during which we can discuss your goals and I can provide a more detailed explanation of my coaching services. This interview will typically last for 3-5 minutes.
The First Session is designed to assess your current level of gameplay and identify areas for improvement. After conducting an analysis, I will create a Personalized Coaching Plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan will outline a series of sessions designed to maximize your improvement.
The Coaching Plan may include various session types, such as:

• Theory sessions: These sessions will cover key concepts such as wave management, vision, decision making, and more.
• Practical sessions: These sessions will either be VOD reviews or live games, and will be used to put theoretical knowledge into practice and analyze gameplay.
• Reviews: These sessions will occur periodically and will be used as checkpoints to track your progress and identify any additional areas for improvement.

All sessions will be personalized and created specifically for each student's needs. By following this plan, you can feel confident that you are taking the most effective steps to achieve your goals.

Personalized Support (Available 24/7)

In addition to the structured coaching sessions, I offer personalized support to my clients on a 24/7 basis. Whether you have a specific question or just want to debrief after a tough game, I am always available to help. Simply message me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

AvailabilityPricesPayments

I am able to cover any server and any timezone! Rates for both Private and Team coaching are negotiable. We will easily get the sessions to fit your budget and your needs.
Payments are usually done through PayPal, however other forms of Payment such as Direct Transfer can be discussed.

Contact

Main form of contact is Discord on which you can find me at shelbion (Or Shelbion#8832)
Feel free to message me either on Discord or through a Direct Message on Reddit and I will come back to you as quickly as possible.
Book Your Free Consultation Today! > Discord @ shelbion

About Me

My name is Shelbion and I've been an avid League of Legends player for over a decade. In Season 4, I reached Challenger for the first time and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, after much reflection, I decided to pursue other challenges within the game.
Some of my notable achievements as a player include:

• Reaching Challenger on multiple positions.
• Participating and winning in numerous SR and 1v1 tournaments.
• Playing for various teams(Amateur and Semi-Professional).

Coaching

With over 7.000 hours of coaching experience, I fall into the category of one of the most experienced individuals in the field. My experience, passion, and ability to identify your flaws and tailor each session to your needs make me stand out as a Coach.
I've studied the techniques of renowned coaches, such as LS, MagiFelix, and others, and I've developed my unique coaching approach. So far, my approach has helped countless individuals, and over 20 teams advance their competitive play, across 5 different continents, including members of various College and University eSport Teams.
Some of my notable achievements include:

• Assisting a Diamond 2 player reach Challenger in just five weeks.
• Helping a Silver 2 player climb to Platinum in three weeks.
• Guiding a Diamond 3 player to Grandmaster in six weeks.

I am dedicated to continuously honing my skills and providing the best coaching experience possible to all of my clients, regardless of their rank or location.

Subscription Based Coaching

• One Individual Session (Monthly)
• Group Sessions (Weekly) x2
• Priority Coaching - Price: 99.99 > 49.99$.

Verifications & Certifications

• Certified IFOEC (International Federation of eSport Coaches) Educator & Coach.
• Certified EHPI (eSports Health & Performance) Professional.
• University of Irvine eSport Specialization
• Verified Coachify & Metafy Partner.

Community

In addition to my experience as a Player, I am also the Founder of Noxus Coaching - a rapidly growing, educational community on Discord. Our community is a great place to find new friends to play with, have a good time, and most importantly, improve your skills.
We hold various events on a weekly basis, including 1v1 & 5v5 tournaments, meme contests, and more. There are plenty of rewards to be won, including free coaching sessions with me. To join our community, visit https://discord.gg/RHW9BMxRd5 and message me upon joining to receive your role.

Podcast

• Podcast Appearance > https://youtu.be/4jn4FXOaOlE?si=98POLUJdJeSNnbiW

How Does it Work?

We will schedule an initial Interview during which we can discuss your goals and I can provide a more detailed explanation of my coaching services. This interview will typically last for 3-5 minutes.
The First Session is designed to assess your current level of gameplay and identify areas for improvement. After conducting an analysis, I will create a Personalized Coaching Plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan will outline a series of sessions designed to maximize your improvement.
The Coaching Plan may include various session types, such as:

• Theory sessions: These sessions will cover key concepts such as wave management, vision, decision making, and more.
• Practical sessions: These sessions will either be VOD reviews or live games, and will be used to put theoretical knowledge into practice and analyze gameplay.
• Reviews: These sessions will occur periodically and will be used as checkpoints to track your progress and identify any additional areas for improvement.

All sessions will be personalized and created specifically for each student's needs. By following this plan, you can feel confident that you are taking the most effective steps to achieve your goals.

Personalized Support (Available 24/7)

In addition to the structured coaching sessions, I offer personalized support to my clients on a 24/7 basis. Whether you have a specific question or just want to debrief after a tough game, I am always available to help. Simply message me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

AvailabilityPricesPayments

I am able to cover any server and any timezone! Rates for both Private and Team coaching are negotiable. We will easily get the sessions to fit your budget and your needs.
Payments are usually done through PayPal, however other forms of Payment such as Direct Transfer can be discussed.

Contact

Main form of contact is Discord on which you can find me at shelbion (Or Shelbion#8832)
Feel free to message me either on Discord or through a Direct Message on Reddit and I will come back to you as quickly as possible.

Book Your Free Consultation Today! > Discord @ shelbion

About Me

My name is Shelbion and I've been an avid League of Legends player for over a decade. In Season 4, I reached Challenger for the first time and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, after much reflection, I decided to pursue other challenges within the game.
Some of my notable achievements as a player include:

• Reaching Challenger on multiple positions.
• Participating and winning in numerous SR and 1v1 tournaments.
• Playing for various teams(Amateur and Semi-Professional).

Coaching

With over 7.000 hours of coaching experience, I fall into the category of one of the most experienced individuals in the field. My experience, passion, and ability to identify your flaws and tailor each session to your needs make me stand out as a Coach.
I've studied the techniques of renowned coaches, such as LS, MagiFelix, and others, and I've developed my unique coaching approach. So far, my approach has helped countless individuals, and over 20 teams advance their competitive play, across 5 different continents, including members of various College and University eSport Teams.
Some of my notable achievements include:

• Assisting a Diamond 2 player reach Challenger in just five weeks.
• Helping a Silver 2 player climb to Platinum in three weeks.
• Guiding a Diamond 3 player to Grandmaster in six weeks.

I am dedicated to continuously honing my skills and providing the best coaching experience possible to all of my clients, regardless of their rank or location.

Subscription Based Coaching

• One Individual Session (Monthly)
• Group Sessions (Weekly) x2
• Priority Coaching - Price: 99.99 > 49.99$.

Verifications & Certifications

• Certified IFOEC (International Federation of eSport Coaches) Educator & Coach.
• Certified EHPI (eSports Health & Performance) Professional.
• University of Irvine eSport Specialization
• Verified Coachify & Metafy Partner.

Community

In addition to my experience as a Player, I am also the Founder of Noxus Coaching - a rapidly growing, educational community on Discord. Our community is a great place to find new friends to play with, have a good time, and most importantly, improve your skills.
We hold various events on a weekly basis, including 1v1 & 5v5 tournaments, meme contests, and more. There are plenty of rewards to be won, including free coaching sessions with me. To join our community, visit https://discord.gg/RHW9BMxRd5 and message me upon joining to receive your role.

Podcast

• Podcast Appearance > https://youtu.be/4jn4FXOaOlE?si=98POLUJdJeSNnbiW

How Does it Work?

We will schedule an initial Interview during which we can discuss your goals and I can provide a more detailed explanation of my coaching services. This interview will typically last for 3-5 minutes.
The First Session is designed to assess your current level of gameplay and identify areas for improvement. After conducting an analysis, I will create a Personalized Coaching Plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan will outline a series of sessions designed to maximize your improvement.
The Coaching Plan may include various session types, such as:

• Theory sessions: These sessions will cover key concepts such as wave management, vision, decision making, and more.
• Practical sessions: These sessions will either be VOD reviews or live games, and will be used to put theoretical knowledge into practice and analyze gameplay.
• Reviews: These sessions will occur periodically and will be used as checkpoints to track your progress and identify any additional areas for improvement.

All sessions will be personalized and created specifically for each student's needs. By following this plan, you can feel confident that you are taking the most effective steps to achieve your goals.

Personalized Support (Available 24/7)

In addition to the structured coaching sessions, I offer personalized support to my clients on a 24/7 basis. Whether you have a specific question or just want to debrief after a tough game, I am always available to help. Simply message me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

AvailabilityPricesPayments

I am able to cover any server and any timezone! Rates for both Private and Team coaching are negotiable. We will easily get the sessions to fit your budget and your needs.
Payments are usually done through PayPal, however other forms of Payment such as Direct Transfer can be discussed.

Contact

Main form of contact is Discord on which you can find me at shelbion (Or Shelbion#8832)
Feel free to message me either on Discord or through a Direct Message on Reddit and I will come back to you as quickly as possible.
Book Your Free Consultation Today! > Discord @ shelbion

About Me

My name is Shelbion and I've been an avid League of Legends player for over a decade. In Season 4, I reached Challenger for the first time and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, after much reflection, I decided to pursue other challenges within the game.
Some of my notable achievements as a player include:

• Reaching Challenger on multiple positions.
• Participating and winning in numerous SR and 1v1 tournaments.
• Playing for various teams(Amateur and Semi-Professional).

Coaching

With over 7.000 hours of coaching experience, I fall into the category of one of the most experienced individuals in the field. My experience, passion, and ability to identify your flaws and tailor each session to your needs make me stand out as a Coach.
I've studied the techniques of renowned coaches, such as LS, MagiFelix, and others, and I've developed my unique coaching approach. So far, my approach has helped countless individuals, and over 20 teams advance their competitive play, across 5 different continents, including members of various College and University eSport Teams.
Some of my notable achievements include:

• Assisting a Diamond 2 player reach Challenger in just five weeks.
• Helping a Silver 2 player climb to Platinum in three weeks.
• Guiding a Diamond 3 player to Grandmaster in six weeks.

I am dedicated to continuously honing my skills and providing the best coaching experience possible to all of my clients, regardless of their rank or location.

Subscription Based Coaching

• One Individual Session (Monthly)
• Group Sessions (Weekly) x2
• Priority Coaching - Price: 99.99 > 49.99$.

Verifications & Certifications

• Certified IFOEC (International Federation of eSport Coaches) Educator & Coach.
• Certified EHPI (eSports Health & Performance) Professional.
• University of Irvine eSport Specialization
• Verified Coachify & Metafy Partner.

Community

In addition to my experience as a Player, I am also the Founder of Noxus Coaching - a rapidly growing, educational community on Discord. Our community is a great place to find new friends to play with, have a good time, and most importantly, improve your skills.
We hold various events on a weekly basis, including 1v1 & 5v5 tournaments, meme contests, and more. There are plenty of rewards to be won, including free coaching sessions with me. To join our community, visit https://discord.gg/RHW9BMxRd5 and message me upon joining to receive your role.

Podcast

• Podcast Appearance > https://youtu.be/4jn4FXOaOlE?si=98POLUJdJeSNnbiW

How Does it Work?

We will schedule an initial Interview during which we can discuss your goals and I can provide a more detailed explanation of my coaching services. This interview will typically last for 3-5 minutes.
The First Session is designed to assess your current level of gameplay and identify areas for improvement. After conducting an analysis, I will create a Personalized Coaching Plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan will outline a series of sessions designed to maximize your improvement.
The Coaching Plan may include various session types, such as:

• Theory sessions: These sessions will cover key concepts such as wave management, vision, decision making, and more.
• Practical sessions: These sessions will either be VOD reviews or live games, and will be used to put theoretical knowledge into practice and analyze gameplay.
• Reviews: These sessions will occur periodically and will be used as checkpoints to track your progress and identify any additional areas for improvement.

All sessions will be personalized and created specifically for each student's needs. By following this plan, you can feel confident that you are taking the most effective steps to achieve your goals.

Personalized Support (Available 24/7)

In addition to the structured coaching sessions, I offer personalized support to my clients on a 24/7 basis. Whether you have a specific question or just want to debrief after a tough game, I am always available to help. Simply message me and I will respond as quickly as possible.

AvailabilityPricesPayments

I am able to cover any server and any timezone! Rates for both Private and Team coaching are negotiable. We will easily get the sessions to fit your budget and your needs.
Payments are usually done through PayPal, however other forms of Payment such as Direct Transfer can be discussed.

Contact

Main form of contact is Discord on which you can find me at shelbion (Or Shelbion#8832)
Feel free to message me either on Discord or through a Direct Message on Reddit and I will come back to you as quickly as possible.

Position Overview
We are seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff (Virtual Assistant) to support the founder in building and scaling two companies: a Digital Marketing agency and a Podcast Production company. This role requires a highly skilled, strategic, and proactive individual capable of managing multiple virtual assistants and ensuring smooth business operations. The Chief of Staff will act as the founder’s right-hand, facilitating efficient workflows, and allowing the founder to focus on strategic initiatives. One of the main aims is to generate more clients and revenue for both businesses. This is a full-time position, and we are not looking for anyone who is currently studying or cannot commit to full-time work from Monday to Friday.
Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Assist the founder in developing and executing business strategies.
• Monitor progress and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Focus on generating more clients and increasing revenue for both the Digital Marketing agency and the Podcast Production company.

1. Team Management:

• Oversee and manage a team of at least three virtual assistants.
• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure timely completion.
• Conduct regular check-ins and performance reviews.

1. Operational Management:

• Manage daily operations and administrative tasks.
• Implement systems and processes to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Handle project management and ensure all projects are on track.

1. Communication:

• Act as the primary point of contact between the founder and the team.
• Conduct a 15-minute daily briefing with the founder to update on key activities and priorities.
• Maintain clear and effective communication channels.
• Write emails in the founder’s voice and manage outreach to guests for podcast interviews.
• Schedule podcast recording sessions and manage the founder’s diary.
• Use WhatsApp, Slack, and Telegram for communication with team members.

1. Problem-Solving:

• Identify and address operational challenges.
• Provide solutions and implement corrective actions as needed.

1. Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive records of all activities and decisions.
• Prepare regular reports for the founder on business performance and team productivity.
Required Attributes and Skills
• Leadership: Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and manage a remote team.
• Organisational Skills: Exceptional organisational and time management skills.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and manage complex tasks.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive problem solver with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Tech-Savvy: Proficient with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello), communication tools (e.g., Slack, WhatsApp, Telegram), and other relevant software. Must be able to learn new tools quickly and instruct others on their use. Ideally capable of creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and recording Loom videos as tutorials.
• Flexibility: Adaptable and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Trustworthiness: High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
Non-Negotiable Skills and Experience
• WordPress Expertise: Highly skilled in designing, building, and managing WordPress websites.
• Marketing Proficiency: Extensive experience in all aspects of digital marketing, including:
• SEO: Strong knowledge of search engine optimisation techniques and best practices, with familiarity in keyword clustering and content strategies such as hub and spoke.
• Google Ads and Social Media Marketing: Proficient in managing campaigns on Google, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Cold Email Campaigns: Ability to run effective cold email outreach campaigns and nurture leads through the sales funnel.
• Lead Generation and Nurturing: Skilled in scraping and enriching leads via platforms like LinkedIn, and nurturing them through targeted email sequences.
• Content Creation: Ability to create and edit videos and content for platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
• SEO Writing: Proficient in using a variety of tools for conducting keyword research and AI tools to generate content. Able to edit content from others, implement internal linking strategies, and reach out for backlinks to enhance the site’s SEO performance.
• AI Proficiency: Skilled in working with ChatGPT and other AI tools.
• GoHighLevel Proficiency: Competent in implementing and optimising GoHighLevel internally and for other clients going forward.
• VPN Usage: Able to use a VPN to log into sites from the UK.
• Tool Proficiency: Proficient in Slack, Airtable, and Google Suite, including Google Analytics (GA4) and Search Console.
• Automation Skills: Experienced in automating tasks using Make.com, Airtable, Apify, and ChatGPT.
Personal Interests
• Pop Culture Enthusiast: Must be a fan of HBO’s “The Wire” and have a strong interest in pop culture, film, TV, and music.
Compensation
• Starting Salary: $500 per month, paid weekly via Wise or PayPal.
• Performance-Based Increases: Monthly salary increases by $100 with satisfactory performance, up to $800 per month.
• Salary Review: Opportunity for a formal salary review and potential increase at $800 per month.
Working Hours and Location
• Availability: Must be online between 9 AM to 5 PM UK time, Monday to Friday.
• Remote Work: Can work from anywhere in the world.
• Team Coordination: Experience working with teams based in different countries, including the Philippines, India, and Ukraine.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their CV along with a cover letter outlining their experience and why they are suitable for this role. Highlight relevant skills, experience, and personal interests that align with this position. Interviews will be conducted virtually, and the successful candidate should be available to start on Monday, 17th June.

Position Overview
We are seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff (Virtual Assistant) to support the founder in building and scaling two companies: a Digital Marketing agency and a Podcast Production company. This role requires a highly skilled, strategic, and proactive individual capable of managing multiple virtual assistants and ensuring smooth business operations. The Chief of Staff will act as the founder’s right-hand, facilitating efficient workflows, and allowing the founder to focus on strategic initiatives. One of the main aims is to generate more clients and revenue for both businesses. This is a full-time position, and we are not looking for anyone who is currently studying or cannot commit to full-time work from Monday to Friday.
Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Assist the founder in developing and executing business strategies.
• Monitor progress and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Focus on generating more clients and increasing revenue for both the Digital Marketing agency and the Podcast Production company.

1. Team Management:

• Oversee and manage a team of at least three virtual assistants.
• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure timely completion.
• Conduct regular check-ins and performance reviews.

1. Operational Management:

• Manage daily operations and administrative tasks.
• Implement systems and processes to enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Handle project management and ensure all projects are on track.

1. Communication:

• Act as the primary point of contact between the founder and the team.
• Conduct a 15-minute daily briefing with the founder to update on key activities and priorities.
• Maintain clear and effective communication channels.
• Write emails in the founder’s voice and manage outreach to guests for podcast interviews.
• Schedule podcast recording sessions and manage the founder’s diary.
• Use WhatsApp, Slack, and Telegram for communication with team members.

1. Problem-Solving:

• Identify and address operational challenges.
• Provide solutions and implement corrective actions as needed.

1. Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive records of all activities and decisions.
• Prepare regular reports for the founder on business performance and team productivity.
Required Attributes and Skills
• Leadership: Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and manage a remote team.
• Organisational Skills: Exceptional organisational and time management skills.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think strategically and manage complex tasks.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive problem solver with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Tech-Savvy: Proficient with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello), communication tools (e.g., Slack, WhatsApp, Telegram), and other relevant software. Must be able to learn new tools quickly and instruct others on their use. Ideally capable of creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and recording Loom videos as tutorials.
• Flexibility: Adaptable and able to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Trustworthiness: High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
Non-Negotiable Skills and Experience
• WordPress Expertise: Highly skilled in designing, building, and managing WordPress websites.
• Marketing Proficiency: Extensive experience in all aspects of digital marketing, including:
• SEO: Strong knowledge of search engine optimisation techniques and best practices, with familiarity in keyword clustering and content strategies such as hub and spoke.
• Google Ads and Social Media Marketing: Proficient in managing campaigns on Google, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Cold Email Campaigns: Ability to run effective cold email outreach campaigns and nurture leads through the sales funnel.
• Lead Generation and Nurturing: Skilled in scraping and enriching leads via platforms like LinkedIn, and nurturing them through targeted email sequences.
• Content Creation: Ability to create and edit videos and content for platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
• SEO Writing: Proficient in using a variety of tools for conducting keyword research and AI tools to generate content. Able to edit content from others, implement internal linking strategies, and reach out for backlinks to enhance the site’s SEO performance.
• AI Proficiency: Skilled in working with ChatGPT and other AI tools.
• GoHighLevel Proficiency: Competent in implementing and optimising GoHighLevel internally and for other clients going forward.
• VPN Usage: Able to use a VPN to log into sites from the UK.
• Tool Proficiency: Proficient in Slack, Airtable, and Google Suite, including Google Analytics (GA4) and Search Console.
• Automation Skills: Experienced in automating tasks using Make.com, Airtable, Apify, and ChatGPT.
Personal Interests
• Pop Culture Enthusiast: Must be a fan of HBO’s “The Wire” and have a strong interest in pop culture, film, TV, and music.
Compensation
• Starting Salary: $500 per month, paid weekly via Wise or PayPal.
• Performance-Based Increases: Monthly salary increases by $100 with satisfactory performance, up to $800 per month.
• Salary Review: Opportunity for a formal salary review and potential increase at $800 per month.
Working Hours and Location
• Availability: Must be online between 9 AM to 5 PM UK time, Monday to Friday.
• Remote Work: Can work from anywhere in the world.
• Team Coordination: Experience working with teams based in different countries, including the Philippines, India, and Ukraine.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their CV along with a cover letter outlining their experience and why they are suitable for this role. Highlight relevant skills, experience, and personal interests that align with this position. Interviews will be conducted virtually, and the successful candidate should be available to start on Monday, 17th June.

By Eric London
On Monday, June 3, the Ukrainian government banned the World Socialist Web Site across the country, issuing an order commanding all internet service providers to block access to the WSWS indefinitely.
The order was issued by the Ukrainian State Special Communications Service (SSSCIP), a wing of the country’s military-intelligence apparatus. It instructs “providers of electronic communication networks and/or services to implement access restriction (block access) on own recursive DNS servers to domain name (as well as its subdomains) wsws.org.”
The order has no end date and will last “until the termination or abolition of martial law in Ukraine.” The SSSCIP claims the ban is justified under President Volodymyr Zelensky’s February 24, 2022 declaration of martial law, which suspended democratic rights across the country.
The order banning access to the World Socialist Web Site exposes as lies all claims that the US-led war in Ukraine is being waged in the name of “democracy.” Yesterday, US President Joe Biden spoke at a commemoration of D-Day in Normandy and presented the war as “a struggle between dictatorship and freedom.” The reality is Ukraine is a dictatorship where the government is politically dependent on fascists who idolize the Holocaust. The government brutally persecutes opponents of its war and blatantly suppresses free speech.
The decision to ban the WSWS is a response to the outpouring of support within Ukraine and internationally for Bogdan Syrotiuk, a 25-year-old socialist internationalist who was arrested by the Zelensky regime on April 25 on trumped up charges of “high treason” for writing articles for the WSWS, which SBU prosecutors (Ukraine’s domestic intelligence agency) deceitfully claim is “Russian propaganda.” Syrotiuk and the organization to which he belongs, the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), are Trotskyists and irreconcilable opponents of the US-NATO war against Russia as well as the capitalist government of Vladimir Putin.
There is compelling evidence that the Ukrainian government’s decision to ban the WSWS was made in consultation with the Biden administration.
The Ukrainian State Special Communications Service—the institution from which the order to ban the WSWS derived—is a long-term partner of the United States government. In July 2022, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA, a component of the Department of Homeland Security) signed an agreement with SSSCIP “to strengthen collaboration on shared cybersecurity priorities,” which “expands upon CISA’s existing relationship with the government of Ukraine.”
CISA Director Jen Easterly said the agreement “allowed us to really focus on how do we effectively share information, best practices, exercise together, train together, figure out how to hunt for adversary activity.”
In documents outlining the bogus charges against Syrotiuk, the Ukrainian government references an “investigation” of the WSWS conducted by the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), a wing of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. According to the prosecuting documents, the CCD conducted an “analysis of publications posted on the wsws.org resource … according to which the essence of the damage caused by [Syrotiuk] to the information security of Ukraine was established.”
There is not a shred of evidence to support the claim that Syrotiuk or the WSWS are supporters of the Russian government. On the contrary, the prosecuting documents rely entirely on articles by Syrotiuk and the WSWS denouncing the US-NATO war, exposing the role of fascists in the Ukrainian government, warning of the danger of nuclear escalation and calling for the unity of the Russian and Ukrainian working class against both governments. Included among the “evidence” cited by the Ukrainian authorities as proof of Syrotiuk’s guilt is literature found in his apartment authored by Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky and WSWS International Editorial Board Chairperson David North.
The Center for Countering Disinformation also has the closest ties to American and British imperialism. According to an October 2022 article by Global Risk Insights:

Notably, the Pentagon’s Central Command issued a report earlier this year referring to upcoming efforts by the US Agency for Global Media to conduct “market research and national surveys” and determine the power of “disinformation” in Ukraine and internationally. According to the Pentagon, “the projects’ research methods include focus groups, media monitoring panels, and national surveys” to “examine the impact” of anti-war sentiments in Ukraine, which they label as the product of “disinformation.”
This research was conducted from “March to May 2024,” the period including Syrotiuk’s arrest and immediately leading up to the decision to ban the WSWS. This period has seen a substantial growth of opposition to the war against Russia within Ukraine, which authorities fear is coinciding with a growth in the readership of the WSWS and growing awareness of and opposition to the prosecution of Syrotiuk.
In an April 30 statement issued following Syrotiuk’s arrest, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North explained:

Efforts by the Ukrainian government to portray Syrotiuk and the WSWS as pro-Putin “are politically preposterous,” North wrote.

The campaign to free Syrotiuk has garnered widespread international attention, and the International Committee has established a defense committee to coordinate the global campaign demanding his freedom. A video published on TwitteX by North has been viewed well over 150,000 times, and thousands of people from across the world have signed the petition demanding Syrotiuk’s release. Prominent artists, political groups, journalists and public figures have called on the Ukrainian government to liberate Syrotiuk and drop all charges against him.
The WSWS urges all readers to sign and circulate the petition demanding Syrotiuk’s liberation (at wsws.org/freebogdan), to contact the WSWS and become active in the campaign to oppose the widening assault on freedom of speech, and to issue statements condemning the prosecution and the decision to ban the WSWS.

👋 Welcome to the /ukpolitics General Election Campaign Megathread. Parliament has been dissolved, and Ed Davey is spending his mornings at Alton Towers. Oh! And there's an election on.
This is our new daily megathread for all of the day's news until the election. Polling day is on 4th July, and you need to make sure that you are registered to vote if you haven't already, and that you have a form of photo ID (passport, driving license, etc). If you don't have photo ID, you can apply for a voter authority certificate.
Please do not submit articles to the megathread which clearly stand as their own submission. Comments which include a link to a story which clearly stands as its own submission will be removed. Comments which relate to a story which already exists on the subreddit will be removed, to keep everything in one place. Links as comments are not useful here. Add a headline, tweet content or explainer please.
This thread will automatically roll over into a new one at 06:00 GMT each morning.
You can join our Discord server for real-time discussion with fellow subreddit users, and follow our Twitter account to keep up with the latest developments.

Useful Links

**** · 🌎 International Politics Discussion Thread . 🃏 UKPolitics Meme Subreddit
🗳️ Register to vote · 🪪 Apply for a voter authority certificate if you have no voter ID · ✉️ Apply for a postal vote (or here for NI) · 🚶🏻 Apply for a proxy vote (or here in NI)

📅 Key dates

from the Electoral Commission, BBC, Sky, ITV

• 12th June, 7PM BST - 📺 Sky News "The Battle for Number Ten" (Sunak v Starmer live debate - format tbc)
• 12th June, 7PM BST - 📺 ITV The Leader Interviews - Rishi Sunak - Conservatives
• 13th June, 8:30PM BST - 📺 ITV multi-party debate (CON, LAB, LD, SNP, PC, GRN, REF)
• 18th June - Deadline for new voter registration (to be able to vote in this election).
• 19th June - Deadline for new postal vote applications (for this election).
• 20th June, 8PM BST - 📺 BBC Question Time Leaders' Special (CON, LAB, LD, SNP)
• 24th June, 7PM BST - 📺 ITV The Leader Interviews - Reform, Green (England/Wales) / SNP (Scotland)
• 26th June - Deadline for new proxy vote applications and voter authority certificates (for this election)
• 26th June, 9PM BST - 📺 BBC head-to-head debate (Sunak vs Starmer).
• 27th June, 8:30PM BST - 📺 ITV The Leader Interviews - Keir Starmer - Labour
• 4th July - Polling day. Emergency proxy votes deadline at 5pm. Polls will open at 7am and close at 10pm.

Manifestos

It's almost that time that the parties start putting out manifestos. Manifestos are essentially a set of documents which outline the policies that each party would want to implement if they were governing.

• 📘 Conservatives: Around 10th-12th June (source)
• 🌹 Labour: 13th June (source)
• 🔆 Liberal Democrats: w/c 10th June (source)
• 🎗️ SNP: TBC
• 🌼 Plaid Cymru: 13th June (source)
• 🌿 Green Party: 12th June (source)
• ➡️ Reform: TBC (view "pre-manifesto")

/** Title: Raspberry Pi Pico Touch Macro Keyboard Demo Author: Dustin Watts Date: 17-05-2021 A simple 4 by 3 matrix of buttons. To show you how to create a custom marco keyboard. Each button can have it's own function. The button presses are handled in buttonpress(). Using Earle Philhower's 'arduino-pico': https://github.com/earlephilhowearduino-pico . This core comes with LittleFS and a Keyboard library. Make sure to flash your Pico with at least 64KB for the filesystem! This example is based on the examples that come with the TFT_eSPI library. Which includes the Adafruit GFX button handling class. These libraries need to be installed: - TFT_eSPI (available through the Library Manager) Can you type as fast as this? ! Don't forget to configure User_Setup.h in the TFT_eSPI library! TFT_MISO 0 TFT_MOSI 3 TFT_SCLK 2 TFT_CS 20 TFT_DC 22 TFT_RST 21 TOUCH_CS 14 */ #include  #include  #include  #include  #include  // Name of the Touch calibration file #define CALIBRATION_FILE "/TouchCalData2" // Define our filesystem #define FILESYSTEM LittleFS // Set to tru if you want the calibration to run on each boot #define REPEAT_CAL false // Keypad start position, key sizes and spacing #define KEY_W 95 // Key width #define KEY_H 95 // Key height #define KEY_SPACING_X 20 // X gap #define KEY_SPACING_Y 10 // Y gap #define KEY_X (KEY_W/2) + KEY_SPACING_X // X-axis centre of the first key #define KEY_Y (KEY_H/2) + KEY_SPACING_Y // Y-axis centre of the first key #define KEY_TEXTSIZE 3 // Font size multiplier // Choose the font you are using #define LABEL1_FONT &FreeSansOblique12pt7b // Key label font // Adding a delay between keypressing to give our OS time to respond uint8_t keydelay = 100; // Create the screen object TFT_eSPI tft = TFT_eSPI(); // Creating the labels for the buttons // [][ #include  #include  #include  #include  // Name of the Touch calibration file #define CALIBRATION_FILE "/TouchCalData2" // Define our filesystem #define FILESYSTEM LittleFS // Set to tru if you want the calibration to run on each boot #define REPEAT_CAL false // Keypad start position, key sizes and spacing #define KEY_W 95 // Key width #define KEY_H 95 // Key height #define KEY_SPACING_X 20 // X gap #define KEY_SPACING_Y 10 // Y gap #define KEY_X (KEY_W/2) + KEY_SPACING_X // X-axis centre of the first key #define KEY_Y (KEY_H/2) + KEY_SPACING_Y // Y-axis centre of the first key #define KEY_TEXTSIZE 3 // Font size multiplier // Choose the font you are using #define LABEL1_FONT &FreeSansOblique12pt7b // Key label font // Adding a delay between keypressing to give our OS time to respond uint8_t keydelay = 100; // Create the screen object TFT_eSPI tft = TFT_eSPI(); // Creating the labels for the buttons // [][ 

Alright, this tale goes back to my junior year in college. You should know, I was a computer science major and communication was something I really struggled with. I was more inclined towards binary numbers and C++, not speech and debate. But, as fate would have it, I was required to take a class on Public Speaking.
My professor was a tough, determined woman named Dr. Martinez. She had this crazy idea about the role communication played in education. She swore up and down that effective communication was the key to better learning environments, improving student-teacher relationships, and even enhancing overall academic performance.
Well, let's just say I was skeptical at best. But it was a requirement so, feet dragging, I buckled up for the course. The first assignment was a simple one; just a 5-minute presentation on a topic of our choice. Now here's when things get intriguing.
I had just read about a fascinating theorem in my Algorithms class, which I thought would be perfect for my presentation. As I stood there, voicing out Knapsack Problems and Greedy Algorithms, I saw glazed expressions all around. It felt like I was speaking an alien language. That's when I realized, it's not about understanding the content, it's about simplifying it for others to comprehend.
After that debacle, I dove headfirst into honing my communication skills. Turns out, Dr. Martinez was right all along. I wasn't just becoming a better speaker, but a better student, a better teammate, and even a better friend. Problems were easier to solve when brainstormed collectively, group projects became less burdensome, and even my grades improved significantly. It was like I had discovered the secret sauce to excelling in education.
So here's the deal folks. The ability to express and convey is critical in collaborative learning environments. The beauty of education is the sharing and receiving of knowledge. But what good is knowledge if not communicated effectively?
P.S. While this story is as fictional as the chances of me going to the gym regularly, it's a gentle nudge (or a hard push) to acknowledge the importance of communication in education. Also, it's an example of the mental model of 'First principles thinking', where you break down complicated issues into basic principles and solve them effectively. And don't worry, you won't be tested on this!

This post will repeat weekly through the month of December. Please repost or cross post as a way to promote this subreddit. Or ignore this one and check out our others! I apologize if it's cramping your style, but when I work hard on certain posts I want to be sure they are useful! I also am working on making these shorter so they don't get lost in the madness....
Scroll down for the Character Questions and create a thoughtful and empathetic profile of your main characters for your projects!
As always please use these as sparks to create and feel free to post your responses and ideas in comments or separate post! This is YOUR subreddit so go ahead and post away!
Prompt: Imagine a dystopian world where an oppressive government has successfully erased all forms of personal identity and history. In this society, individuals are assigned generic roles and are forbidden from expressing their unique thoughts, emotions, or experiences. Write a short story or reflective essay exploring the life of a character who discovers a hidden underground community that encourages self-expression and reignites the importance of personal narratives.
In your response, consider the following:

1. Character and World Building:
   • Describe the protagonist's background, their assigned role, and their initial perception of the oppressive world they inhabit.
   • Develop the hidden underground community, including its purpose, structure, and the means through which it safeguards personal stories.
   • Create a contrast between the protagonist's initial world and the underground community, highlighting the impact of personal narratives on shaping identity and resisting oppression.
2. Plot Analysis:
   • Outline the protagonist's journey of discovery, including their initial skepticism, the influential encounters they have within the underground community, and the personal sacrifices they make to preserve their identity.
   • Explore the challenges and conflicts faced by the protagonist, both externally (e.g., encounters with government authorities) and internally (e.g., the struggle to confront their identity).
3. Deep Introspection:
   • Prompt the protagonist to reflect deeply on the uncomfortable subjects that the government's erasure of personal narratives seeks to suppress. These could include topics such as individuality, memory, trauma, and the power of storytelling as a tool for empathy and resistance.
   • Encourage the protagonist to evolve their thoughts and perceptions throughout the narrative, considering the consequences of silence and the potential for personal growth through self-expression and sharing.
4. Requirements for Responses:
   • Conduct research to explore real-world examples of societies that suppress personal narratives or attempt to erase collective memory.
5. Prompt: In a post-apocalyptic world, a devastating pandemic has wiped out most of humanity. The survivors are forced to live in isolated communities, each with its own set of strict rules and customs. Write a short story or reflective essay exploring the life of a character who questions the existing order and embarks on a journey to unite these fragmented communities. Consider the role of unity, diversity, and collaboration in rebuilding a shattered world.
6. Prompt: Set in a future where advanced AI technology has permeated every aspect of society, write a story or reflective essay following a protagonist who begins to question the boundaries between human and machine. Delve into the ethical implications of human-AI relationships, the erosion of human emotions, and the potential consequences of blurring the line between artificial and genuine experiences.
7. Prompt: Imagine a world where climate change and environmental degradation have irreversibly altered the planet. Write a story or reflective essay from the perspective of a character who is part of a group striving to restore balance and heal the damaged Earth. Explore the connections between personal responsibility, collective action, and the intersections of social and environmental justice.
8. Prompt: Transport yourself to a society where strict social hierarchies are based on a person's genetic makeup. Write a short story or reflective essay following a character who challenges this system and advocates for equality and inclusivity. Examine the role of genetic determinism, discrimination, and the power of individual agency in reshaping social structures.
9. Prompt: Imagine a world where art and creativity are considered illegal, seen as tools of subversion and chaos. Write a story or reflective essay from the perspective of an artist who risks everything to defy this oppressive regime and reclaim the power of artistic expression. Analyze the significance of art as a form of resistance, its ability to inspire change, and its impact on personal and societal transformation.

Remember to consider the following for each of the prompts to insure a well rounded and thought out premise that will engage the audience and allow room for growth in the plot.
Prompt 1 - Post-Apocalyptic Community Building:

• Consider the unique customs, rules, and societal structures of each isolated community.
• Explore the protagonist's motivation for questioning the existing order and their vision for uniting the communities.
• Analyze the challenges and conflicts faced in the journey of uniting fragmented communities and the potential benefits and drawbacks of unity.

Prompt 2 - Ethical Implications of AI Technology:

• Reflect on the protagonist's personal experiences and interactions with AI, including the blurring of boundaries between human and machine.
• Explore the ethical dilemmas and consequences of advancing AI technology.
• Analyze the impact of human emotions, genuine experiences, and the potential loss or transformation of human qualities in a society heavily influenced by AI.

Prompt 3 - Environmental Restoration and Social Justice:

• Consider the protagonist's role in the restoration of the damaged Earth and their motivations for taking action.
• Explore the intersections of social justice and the environment, including the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities.
• Analyze the challenges of collective action, personal responsibility, and the potential for transformative change in healing the planet and addressing social inequalities.

Prompt 4 - Genetic Hierarchy and Social Change:

• Reflect on the protagonist's experience within the rigid social hierarchy based on genetics.
• Analyze the implications of genetic determinism and discrimination in shaping social structures.
• Explore the role of individual agency, activism, and the potential strategies for challenging and reshaping the genetic-based hierarchy.

Prompt 5 - Artistic Expression as Resistance:

• Consider the protagonist's personal experiences as an artist within an oppressive regime.
• Reflect on the significance of artistic expression as a form of resistance and its power to inspire change and challenge societal norms.
• Analyze the risks, sacrifices, and potential outcomes associated with defying an oppressive regime through art.

1. Chick Lit: Write a chick lit novel or short story following a relatable protagonist navigating the challenges of love, career, and self-discovery. Explore themes of friendship, personal growth, and finding balance in a fast-paced, modern world.
2. Young Readers' Adventure: Imagine a group of young friends who stumble upon a hidden portal to another realm. Write an adventure novel or short story as they embark on a quest to save a magical world from darkness. Delve into themes of friendship, bravery, and the power of imagination.
3. Historical Fiction: Set in a time of significant historical events, write a novel or short story highlighting a lesser-known figure or group of people. Research the historical context meticulously and emphasize the character's resilience, struggles, and contributions during that tumultuous period.
4. Fantasy: Create a fantastical world filled with mythical creatures, magic, and ancient prophecies. Write a novel or short story following a young protagonist who discovers their extraordinary abilities and must navigate a treacherous journey to fulfill their destiny. Explore themes of self-discovery, heroism, and the blurred lines between good and evil.
5. Mystery/Thriller: Write a gripping mystery or thriller novel following a seasoned detective or amateur sleuth investigating a perplexing crime. Develop complex characters, suspenseful plot twists, and an intricate web of clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end.
6. Science Fiction: Set in a future where technological advancements have transformed society, write a novel or short story exploring the ethical and societal implications of groundbreaking inventions. Examine themes such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, or virtual reality and their impact on humanity's future.
7. Romance: Craft a heartwarming romance novel or short story centered around two individuals from different backgrounds or opposing sides. Explore themes of love, forgiveness, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
8. Coming-of-Age: Write a coming-of-age novel or short story following a young protagonist's journey of self-discovery, identity formation, and navigating the complexities of adolescence. Explore themes of friendship, personal growth, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood.
9. Psychological Thriller: Create a psychological thriller novel or short story that delves into the intricacies of the human mind. Focus on a protagonist who becomes entangled in a web of deception, manipulation, and paranoia. Explore themes of trust, perception, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.
10. Family Drama: Write a novel or short story exploring the dynamics and complexities within a multi-generational family. Include themes of love, secrets, and conflicts that arise as family members navigate their relationships, face past traumas, and strive for reconciliation.

Considerations for each prompt:

• Genre-specific elements: Ensure your story incorporates the defining characteristics and tropes of the chosen genre, such as the tone, pacing, and narrative conventions.
• Character development: Develop dynamic and relatable characters who undergo significant growth or transformation throughout the story.
• Plot structure: Create a compelling plot that introduces conflict, builds tension, and resolves in a satisfying manner, adhering to the common structure of the chosen genre.
• Themes and messages: Select themes that resonate with the genre and explore them through the characters' experiences and narrative development.
• Reader engagement: Craft a story that captivates the intended audience, keeping them invested in the characters and eager to uncover what happens next.

1. Historical Romance: Write a one-page historical romance set in a lavish ballroom during the Victorian era. Focus on the forbidden love between a spirited debutante and a mysterious gentleman from a different social class.
2. Science Fiction Comedy: Craft a one-page comedic story set in a futuristic space station. Follow the misadventures of a clumsy maintenance technician who unwittingly saves the day against all odds.
3. Paranormal Mystery: Pen a one-page mystery story set in a haunted mansion. Introduce a skeptical paranormal investigator who must solve the mystery of a ghostly apparition that has been terrorizing the inhabitants.
4. Literary Fiction: Write a one-page literary fiction piece centered around a character's contemplation of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the present moment.
5. Action Adventure: Craft a one-page action-packed adventure story set in the jungles of an unexplored island. Follow a daring archaeologist's quest for a hidden treasure while battling against treacherous obstacles and rival adventurers.
6. Psychological Drama: Create a one-page psychological drama following the internal struggles of a troubled artist as they grapple with their inner demons and seek redemption.
7. Magical Realism: Write a one-page magical realism story set in a sleepy coastal town. Explore the extraordinary occurrences that happen when an enigmatic mermaid washes ashore and disrupts the mundane lives of the townsfolk.
8. Thriller: Craft a one-page thriller story involving a race against time. Follow a determined protagonist as they try to decipher cryptic clues and prevent a citywide disaster.
9. Fantasy Adventure: Pen a one-page fantasy adventure story set in a whimsical realm. Follow a young hero's quest to retrieve a stolen artifact and restore balance to the land, encountering fantastical creatures and overcoming obstacles along the way.
10. Historical Fiction Mystery: Write a one-page historical fiction mystery set during the Roaring Twenties. Follow a quick-witted detective as they unravel a web of deceit and intrigue surrounding a glamorous underground speakeasy in the heart of the city.

Considerations for each prompt:

• Engaging Beginning: Choose a compelling starting point that grabs the reader's attention and hooks them into the story from the very first sentence.
• Concise Plot: Craft a tightly woven plot that can be fully developed within one page, with an introduction, rising action, climax, and resolution.
• Strong Characterization: Develop distinct and memorable characters, even within the limited space, by providing key details that bring them to life and make them relatable to the reader.
• Descriptive Language: Use vivid and sensory language to paint a clear picture of the setting, engage the reader's imagination, and create an immersive reading experience.
• Resolution or Twist: Provide a satisfying resolution to the story or introduce an unexpected twist that leaves the reader intrigued and wanting more.

Protagonist Character Profile:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Physical appearance:
5. Background:
6. Personality traits (list at least five):
7. Core values and beliefs:
8. Motivations and goals:
9. Biggest fear:
10. Internal conflicts:
11. External conflicts:
12. Strengths:
13. Weaknesses:
14. Childhood experiences and their impact:
15. Education and professional background:
16. Relationship status and dynamics:
17. Quirks or peculiar habits:
18. Psychological disorders, if any:
19. Familial relationships and dynamics:
20. Support system (friends, mentors, etc.):
21. Traumatic experiences and their effects:
22. Coping mechanisms:
23. Emotional vulnerabilities:
24. Resilience and determination:
25. Personal growth throughout the story:

Protagonist Character Questions:

1. What drives the protagonist to take action and pursue their goals?
2. How does the protagonist's childhood shape their behaviors and choices?
3. What values does the protagonist hold dear, and how do they influence their decision-making process?
4. What inner conflicts does the protagonist face, and how do they attempt to reconcile them?
5. How does the protagonist's education and professional background contribute to their strengths and weaknesses?
6. What traumatic experiences has the protagonist overcome, and how have these experiences shaped their worldview?
7. How does the protagonist cope with stress or adversity?
8. What relationships and dynamics are most significant to the protagonist, and how do these relationships evolve throughout the story?
9. In what ways does the protagonist exhibit resilience and determination in the face of challenges?
10. How does the protagonist approach personal growth and self-improvement?
11. What psychological disorders, if any, does the protagonist struggle with, and how do these disorders impact their thoughts and actions?
12. How does the protagonist's physical appearance contribute to their self-perception and interactions with others?
13. What unique quirks or habits does the protagonist possess that make them stand out?
14. What are the protagonist's primary desires and aspirations?
15. How does the protagonist's internalized fear drive or hinder their actions?
16. How does the protagonist navigate and resolve external conflicts?
17. What coping mechanisms does the protagonist rely on during times of stress or emotional turmoil?
18. How do familial relationships and dynamics influence the protagonist's actions and decisions?
19. What significant life choices or dilemmas does the protagonist face throughout the story, and how do they respond?
20. In what ways does the protagonist's support system impact their growth and resilience?
21. How does the protagonist's personal development and self-discovery contribute to the overall narrative arc?
22. How does the protagonist's background and experiences shape their perception of the world?
23. What are the protagonist's core beliefs and values, and how do these impact their interactions with others?
24. How does the protagonist handle setbacks or failures, and what lessons do they learn from these experiences?
25. What external influences or societal pressures affect the protagonist's decision-making process?

Antagonist Character Profile:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Gender:
4. Physical appearance:
5. Background:
6. Personality traits (list at least five):
7. Core values and beliefs:
8. Motivations and goals:
9. Biggest fear:
10. Internal conflicts:
11. External conflicts:
12. Strengths:
13. Weaknesses:
14. Childhood experiences and their impact $ Go on

1. Education and professional background: 16. Relationship status and dynamics: 17. Quirks or peculiar habits: 18. Psychological disorders, if any: 19. Familial relationships and dynamics: 20. Support system (friends, mentors, etc.): 21. Traumatic experiences and their effects: 22. Coping mechanisms: 23. Emotional vulnerabilities: 24. Strategies for achieving their goals: 25. Methods they employ to antagonize the protagonist:

Antagonist Character Questions:

1. What drives the antagonist to oppose the protagonist and act as an obstacle in their journey?
2. How does the antagonist's background and upbringing contribute to their negative behaviors and motivations?
3. What core values and beliefs does the antagonist hold that align with their antagonistic actions?
4. What personal goals or desires does the antagonist seek to fulfill?
5. What is the biggest fear or insecurity that drives the antagonist's actions?
6. How does the antagonist's internal conflicts manifest and impact their decisions?
7. What external conflicts arise as a result of the antagonist's actions, and how do they handle these conflicts?
8. In what ways does the antagonist exhibit strength and power, and how do these traits affect their interactions with others?
9. What are the antagonist's weaknesses or vulnerabilities that can be exploited by the protagonist?
10. How have childhood experiences shaped the antagonist's worldview and motivations?
11. How does the antagonist's education and professional background contribute to their methods and strategies?
12. What familial relationships or dynamics influence the antagonist's actions and choices?
13. What unique quirks or habits does the antagonist possess that make them distinct or memorable?
14. Are there any psychological disorders or conditions that contribute to the antagonist's behavior?
15. How does the antagonist cope with stress or emotional turmoil?
16. What strategies or tactics does the antagonist employ to achieve their goals and antagonize the protagonist?
17. How do the antagonist's actions impact their relationships and interactions with other characters in the story?

18.How does the antagonist perceive and justify their actions, even if they are considered morally or ethically wrong?

1. What external influences or societal pressures contribute to the antagonist's motivations or actions?
   
2. How does the antagonist's physical appearance contribute to their demeanor and portrayal in the story?
   
3. What significant life choices or dilemmas has the antagonist faced, and how have these shaped their character?
   
4. What is the antagonist's reaction to setbacks or failures, and how do they adapt their strategies?
   
5. How does the antagonist's support system or lack thereof impact their actions and decisions?
   
6. What past traumatic experiences or events have influenced the antagonist's worldview and behaviors?
   
7. How does the antagonist's emotional state or emotional vulnerabilities influence their actions and interactions with others?
   

The folded newspaper was not much rain cover from the onset showers that were undoubtedly about to come from the looming storm. Nonetheless, it was all Miranda had to protect her hair and makeup as she ran inside the opulent state office building. She was concerned that her hair would get wet; and with a fresh perm, that could disastrous.
She was so used to only speaking to patients in the confines of her home office; not worrying what anyone thought of her with no makeup on and hair tied up in a bun, that being concerned about things like foundation and extensions seemed like a novel annoyance.
Miranda had made the trip to Hillsborough to attend her cousin Andrea’s wedding the following day. And as excited as everyone was, no one in the party had thought to go and pick up the paperwork for the marriage license, so the job fell to her.
As she walked through security, she felt as though she were a leaf in a whirlwind of activity that she intuitively knew was unusual for the space. The place was packed, and she had to avoid bumping into people who were otherwise unaware of anyone else’s existence.
As she placed her keys and other items in the small container on the conveyor belt beside the metal detector, she leaned in and asked a friendly but hapless-looking guard about the day’s ongoing procedures.
“Oh…it’s election day, ma’am.”
“Great,” she thought to herself.
It was like being in a Bruegel painting, an array of scenes around her all happening simultaneously happening. A man shaking hands and giving speeches, a woman filming herself giving a campaign message, another man arguing with security over a pair of keys that he wasn’t supposed to have.
Miranda hoped that she would be able to beat the storm and be back on her way to her Aunt Jess’ house before the rain started to seriously fall, but this was the type of task that had the potential to be easy and seamless or dreadfully bureaucratic.
As she stood in line, she heard a commotion from inside the clerk’s office.
“It’s the law!” a woman yelled. “I don’t care what your personal beliefs are. You work for the state, and that means you work for the citizens of this city; that includes me!”
The woman emerged from the office and was gorgeous. She wore a fur coat that swayed as she walked and had piercing eyes that were hidden by a large pair of sunglasses just as quickly as she had emerged.
“I’m sure she’ll play the race card,” another person in line scoffed, referring to the woman’s complexion, though she neither appeared to be white nor black.
“I heard she’s been spending a lot of time with a particular candidate,” another patron chided.
Miranda reached in her pocket and pulled out a pair of earbuds. “None of my business…”
Just as she reached the front of the line, the lights went out as thunder crashed and lightning flashed outside the building.
A deep sense of dread filled Miranda’s stomach as she heard the loud sound of hail hitting the state office’s roof and windows.
“My goodness,” she sighed. “I’d better call Lucy and let her know I’ll be longer than expected,” she thought to herself.
Just as she took out her phone to search for her aunt’s contact, the red and blue lights and the sound of an alarm went off. Confused, she searched the faces of the other patrons only to hear the voice of a man in a black shirt and pants with a badge directing everyone to the center atrium and away from all the windows.
A woman in a pair of flowing purple pants, a white blouse, and short blonde hair raised her voice and attempted to reassure everyone that everything would be okay.
“Everyone…Everyone,” she shouted. “We will have this mishap sorted in just a few minutes. Just remain calm, and we’ll be able to finish out the counting of the ballots. We appreciate yo…”
She was interrupted by an overweight man in a finely cut suit. “My staff is attempting to get to the bottom of things, and we’ll get the electricity back on as soon as possible. Just bear with us,” he boomed as he stood on the steps leading to the platform in the center of the room.
Miranda noticed the sly smile that crossed his face as he turned and looked at the blonde woman in the blouse. One-upping her had brought him a certain amount of pleasure, and the tension between them was palpable as she shot him a death glance that bounced off of him like a lone BB pellet.
Pleased with himself and chest out, he returned to a group of cohorts. A very serious man in a gray suit approached him while attempting to clean his shirt. His head was shaved and his beard trimmed; he hung a pair of sunglasses from his coat pocket. He was the type of man whose eyes were seen far less than they were exposed.
“Mr. Henly,” one of his minions said out loud, getting the blowhard’s attention and gesturing to the man in the gray suit. The large man quickly made room. The man in the gray suit walked up to Harold, leaned in, and whispered something into his ear that made his face grow hard. Harold reached inside his suit pocket and pulled out a thick manila envelope, surreptitiously handing it to the man in the gray suit and patting him on the shoulder before the man disappeared once again into the crowd.
Just then, the lights came back on as if there was a renewed sense of life in a world where time seemed to have stopped. Color returned to the building and sounds began to fill the atrium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to need your cooperation,” a handsome African American man said with a certain amount of trepidation in his voice. He took the main stage in the atrium and gestured to everyone to garner their attention. “It would appear as though we have encountered a clerical error,” he said.
A confused murmur rippled throughout the crowd.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Harold bellowed loud enough for everyone to hear, once again making himself the center of attention.
The man sighed. “It would appear…” he paused, “as if several boxes of ballots have gone missing.”
A unilateral chatter began, and concerned looks were exchanged between everyone in the atrium.
“What kind of a clown show are you running here, Pennyworth?” Harold boomed.
“I’m not running this election, Harold, I’m a…”
“No, you’re not capable of running anything. I’ll take over and get this figured out,” he interrupted.
“You’ll do no such thing. You, like me, are a candidate and are prohibited from participating in the election process,” he continued. “But someone had to make the announcement as you were too busy here shaking hands to know what was going on in the building.
“Everyone, unfortunately, until we get this sorted out…no one can leave the building until the ballots are found.”
A unilateral disgruntled sigh filled the large auditorium.
Disappointed, Miranda thought quickly and approached the security office.
Poking her head through the door, she looked for anyone that she thought could help.
“Hello…um…excuse me,” she called out.
Inside was a guard with an untucked shirt and a half-eaten eclair speaking with an older janitor leaning on his broom over the security desk.
“You didn’t hear it from me,” the janitor said with a playful nod, “but I think she and her assistant have something going on, and her husband is a bit salty about the entire thing.” the old man said. “I mean, your wife leaving you is one thing, but her leaving you for your assistant, and a woman for that matter,” he pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows. “I guess I’m just ol’ school, cause that wouldn’ta happened to me!”
“Mr. Jones, quit gossiping,” the guard laughed. “Now what was it that you needed to tell me?”
“I…I done gone and forgot,” he said, frustrated. “It was about her assistant,” he scratched his face trying to remember. “I thought I saw…I thought I saw her…” the older man looked down trying to remember.
The security guard turned his attention toward Miranda.
“Hi…uh…how can I help you?”
“Hi,” Miranda said with a forced smile. “My name is Miranda Fletcher. I work with law…”
“Hey,” the guard said with a long drawn out smile. “Do you know Andrea?”
“Yes…yes!” she stammered. “She’s my cousin!” she said excitedly with renewed hope that she could parlay her family name to get out of this.
“Are you here for the wedding?” he asked cheerfully.
“Bridesmaid, guilty as charged,” she said with a grin and a curtsy.
“How do you know Andrea?” she said with widened eyes and genuine curiosity.
“Oh…, Andrea dumped me six months ago to start dating Alex Tate,” he said with a blank stare and goofy smile.
“Oh,” Miranda stared. She was like a deer in headlights, unable to formulate her next words. In an awkward silence, the two continued to stare and nod at one another for what felt like minutes instead of seconds.
The janitor, feeling the awkwardness of the situation, decided to see himself out.
In a sudden break in silence, the guard continued, “But that’s all in the past now,” he said with a warm laugh that left Miranda still a bit stilted, but more at ease.
“We just weren’t right for one another, and I don’t hold any grudges. I’m Billy, by the way.”
“Miranda Fletcher,” she replied.
“How’s your aunt?” he asked.
“Ah…you know, surrounded by her books,” she said, trying to make light of the situation.
“I was just going to say, I work with law enforcement. I can promise you that I had nothing to do with these ballots being taken.” She assured him. “
You can track me on the security cameras to confirm my whereabouts. Is it possible for me just to go about my business and leave?”
“Yeah…about that…our security cameras have been out almost all day. Worst day this could have happened,” he said. “We’ve got technicians coming to take a look at our system tomorrow, but otherwise, we’ve got no way to verify where anybody was.”
Miranda sighed.
“You said you worked with law enforcement?” the guard repeated.
“Yes,” Miranda replied exasperated as she tried sending a text to her cousin letting her know what was going on. “I’m a forensic psychologist. I do profiles of criminals ranging from fraudulent hedge fund managers to serial killers.”
“Wow…well, that’s more than we could have asked for,” he said. “Look, between you and me, those ballot boxes didn’t go ‘missing,’” he said with air quotes. “Somebody is trying to rig this election.”
Miranda’s face dropped as she stared Billy in the eye.
“And nobody’s leaving this building until those ballots are found,” he said with a despondent gaze.
“Who are the candidates?” Miranda asked with a sigh. “Who’s the loudmouth?”
“Oh…that’s Harold Henly,” Billy said. “He can be a bit much, but I like some of his policies,” he said with a bit of enthusiasm. “But he can rub some people the wrong way.”
“And that man in the gray suit?” she asked.
“Yeah…that’s his associate,” Billy said. “Earlier in the day, we had to confiscate some city hall keys he had in his possession.”
“And the blonde with the short hair?” Miranda asked.
“Oh…that’s Andrea Milton,” he explained with a comically southern accent and scrunched up face as if smelling something distasteful. “She’s a Democrat.”
Miranda nodded graciously.
Billy whispered, “She’s the one ol’ Mr. Jones was gossiping about just before you walked in.”
“Oh…and there’s Carlton Pennyworth. He’s a nice enough guy; smart as a whip, but I don’t know if Hillsborough is ready for him just yet,” Billy added. “There’s some real history with his family in this town though.”
Miranda feigned interest.
“Legend has it that Harold’s great great grandfather changed their last name in the city’s ledger to Penny, telling him that’s exactly how much he was worth. And it just stuck”
Miranda winced at the story feeling a sense of disgust at Henly’s ancestors actions; putting a whole new context to their interaction in the atrium.
“I’m going to take a walk around and see what I can find out,” Miranda told Billy.
“Sure, if you have any more questions that I or one of the other guards can answer, just let us know.”
Miranda took a walk around to talk to some of the characters and explore the building.
Click here to explore the building and speak to the characters