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THE WORLD’S OLDEST ANNUAL MARATHON
And the Thrill of Qualifying for It
Every year, on the third Monday of April, running enthusiasts across the globe either head to Boston or tune in on TV to watch the Boston Marathon. It’s an event I look forward to every year, and the history behind the event is fascinating. The first Boston Marathon took place in 1897, a year after the very first modern-day Olympic games, which served as an inspiration for the marathon. Since then, it has been held annually with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19. It’s the world’s oldest marathon and attracts thousands of fans each year. Unfortunately, for many people, it’s known mainly for the bombing in 2013. New England is no stranger to sports and sports fans. The New England Patriots dominated the NFL throughout the 2000s and 2010s and saw an average fan attendance of nearly 69,000. The Boston Bruins and Boston Red Sox have also won their fair share of championships throughout the last 20 years. In comparison, the Boston Marathon averages 500,000 fans and spectators every year. That’s equal to a little more than seven Patriots games’ worth of spectators during the peak of Tom Brady’s career. It’s not surprising that the Boston Marathon is New England’s most widely viewed sporting event. On top of drawing in spectators, the marathon also attracts some of the most dedicated runners from around the globe. To qualify, a runner must run at a Boston Marathon qualifying event and post a finishing time within a certain time limit depending on their gender and age. As you might imagine, it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to qualify for the race, but sometimes, that’s not even enough. I have been into running since my days in the military, but I’m not your typical endurance runner. I’m a slightly bigger runner, so I really had to train hard when I was trying to qualify. As I mentioned, qualifying is based on age, but there is no allowance for size. I’d run the Houston Marathon plenty of times
in the past, but I finally finished fast enough in 2011 to “qualify” for Boston. I finished that race with a time of 3 hours, 29 minutes, and 48 seconds, which for the 2012 race was under my qualifying time by 12 seconds. Unfortunately, because of the record demand for entries, all of the slots got filled that year for the first time ever, and so it turned out that I actually needed a faster time to get selected to run the race. I was going to try again the following year but pulled my hamstring a few weeks before the Houston Marathon and was unable to race. I’ve tried to qualify a few times since, but I have been unable to finish fast enough. Due to the popularity of the race, qualifying times have been reduced since 2012, so I’m afraid running the Boston Marathon might just be one bucket list item I never accomplish. Though I may never run in the Boston Marathon, I’m still intrigued by its history and circumstances. The reason why the race is run on the third Monday of April is because that day coincides with Patriots’ Day. It’s a holiday that acknowledges some of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. It’s actually a pretty big deal in New England, as the Red Sox also play every year on that day, and I understand that there are plenty of Revolutionary War re- enactments to see as well. The Boston Marathon is a historic race that excites spectators every year. Runners get to experience the thrill of running over 26 miles from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the heart of Boston with literally hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering them on. I’m sure it’s an amazing event to experience as a participant, but I guess I will always be just a spectator, unfortunately. But then again, you never know …
–Brad Johnson President, Risk Services of AR
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SHOULD YOUR COMPANY BE ON PATREON?
3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POPULAR FUNDING PLATFORM
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC) annual report, 1,862 data compromise events were recorded in 2021, up 68% from 2020 and 23% over the previous high of 1,506. Though the number of events involving loss of sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers slightly increased, the number of individuals affected dropped 5%. When looking at the type of events that caused the rise in data compromise events, ransomware-related data breaches doubled year over year in both 2020 and 2021. The ITRC predicts that ransomware will overtake phishing as the top cause of data compromise in 2022. Attacks on suppliers and vendors also rose in 2021, with 24 more events taking place than the previous year. The Blackbaud ransomware attack was the worst instance of this type, as it affected 480 entities in 2020 and impacted another 122 entities in 2021. ITRC president and CEO Eva Velasques says, “The number of breaches in 2021 was alarming. Many of the cyberattacks committed were highly sophisticated and complex, requiring aggressive defenses to prevent them. If those defenses failed, too often we saw an inadequate level of transparency for consumers to protect themselves from identity fraud. There is no reason to believe the level of data compromises will suddenly decline in 2022.” Malicious cyberattacks were found to be the root cause of many data compromises and were responsible for 1,613 breaches or exposures. These attacks can involve malware, ransomware, phishing, smishing, credential stuffing, and many other attack methods. Interestingly enough, the ITRC found that fewer than 5%of affected individuals fully secured their personal data after receiving a data breach notice; this may be because they are often unaware of how to reduce the impact of compromised personal data. As we progress through 2022, take some extra precautions to ensure your personal information and data are safe and secure. Never share personal information with anyone online, and avoid clicking on untrustworthy emails or websites. It could save you from years of problems down the road.
If you have a favorite artist, are dedicated to a YouTube channel, or listen to a lot of podcasts, you’ve probably heard of Patreon. But what exactly is the platform — and how can you leverage it for your business? What Is Patreon? Patreon is an online funding tool that allows businesses and individuals to offer their supporters tiered monthly memberships in exchange for exclusive perks like behind-the-scenes clips, extra content, and one-on-one time with creators. 3 Things to Know 1. Patreon isn’t just for artists anymore. Patreon started as a platform where artists and other creatives could get financial support from their fans, but in the last few years, it has expanded dramatically. Now, all kinds of small businesses including newspapers, event venues, and nonprofits are funded in part by Patreon members. 2. You can monetize your side projects and passions. Does your company have a podcast or YouTube channel? If so, you could put that passion project on Patreon rather than asking people to support your whole business. Your Patreon supporters will chip in on a monthly basis, making your creative process easier financially. This is a great way to explore your favorite parts of your business, strengthen relationships with clients, and grow your marketing toolkit. 3. Patreon makes giving back easier. If you run a nonprofit on the side or want to launch a giveback program within your company, Patreon might be the platform you need. It’s more interactive than Kickstarter or other crowdfunding options, and the bonus content you provide will get supporters really invested in your vision. If you go this route, launch your Patreon early so you have the support you need to fund the nonprofit approval process and startup phase. To Patreon, or Not to Patreon Ultimately, only you can decide if Patreon is a good fit for your company and your goals. To learn more about the platform, how it works, and the business it supports, visit Patreon.com. In particular, we recommend clicking on the article “Is Patreon Right for Your Business?” on the home page. It will show you the ropes!
2 • www.INSURICA.com • Specialized Insurance Programs for Specialized Industries.
Create Music With Your Eyes WITH THE NEW DIGITAL INSTRUMENT, EYEHARP
The instrument comes with accuracy scores and other gaming metrics to help users perfect their EyeHarp playing skills.
There are a wide variety of instruments available to us, but most require the use of our hands or mouths, so it may seem impossible for someone who is paralyzed to play an instrument. That’s where Zacharias Vamvakousis comes in. Vamvakousis has a Ph.D. in music and expert computer skills. He wanted everyone to have the ability to play music, so he created a new digital instrument called EyeHarp. On EyeHarp, notes appear on screen in a color-coded wheel set to pentatonic or heptatonic scales. These notes are then selected for sonification by the user’s gaze, which allows hundreds of quadriplegics to create music with nothing more than their eyes. To help with those new to EyeHarp, it comes with a visual aid that helps the user direct their gaze to the next correct note. You can also turn this feature off to have a real trial and error session with the instrument.
EyeHarp is currently being used by over 650 people worldwide. Joel Bueno, a 14-year-old Spanish boy with cerebral palsy, is one of the current users. He says, “EyeHarp is a very important instrument for my life because I always wanted to play music. It is an innovative instrument … great and very fresh.” Vamvakousis’ new instrument is allowing people to play music where they would otherwise be unable to, and for many of its users, it has been a life-changing experience. You can sign up for a free trial of EyeHarp on EyeHarp.org, but you will need a Tobii eye tracker in order to use the digital instrument.
Solution on Pg. 4 Have a Laugh!
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INSIDE This Issue Qualifying for the Boston Marathon page 1
The Business Perks of Patreon 2021 Set Records for Data Compromise Events page 2 How EyeHarp Is Introducing More People to Musical Instruments page 3
‘Chatter’: Your Guide to Thriving Under Pressure page 4
Take Your Internal Pep Talks Up a Notch
With Tips From ‘Chatter’
Mental distance is exactly what it sounds like — stepping back mentally from your worries and problems so you can gain a new perspective. Kross goes over several ways to do this, including trying to “look back” at your current situation from one, five, or 10 years later;
You probably know about the benefits of positive self-talk, but have you mastered it? If not — or if you’ve never heard that phrase — “Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It” by Ethan Kross may be the most important book you read in 2022. Positive self-talk is something most of us engage in daily. It’s the “you can do this” nudge you give yourself to combat dark thoughts like “I don’t know what I’m doing” and “no one will take me seriously” before a big presentation. But few resources give you precise strategies for how to engage in positive self-talk effectively so you can make those negative impulses go away. “Chatter” is an exception to the rule, perhaps because it was written by an actual psychologist! Leaning heavily on scientific research and engaging case studies, Kross offers concrete tips for reducing negative thoughts (what he calls “chatter”) and giving your self-confidence a boost. One of his biggest tips, which drives a big chunk of the book, is the importance of creating “mental distance” during your internal pep talks.
comparing this hurdle to tougher ones in your life; and shifting your internal monologue to third person so you can try talking to yourself as if you were your own friend. With these strategies, we can transform our thoughts, rather than avoid them. Of course, those suggestions just scratch the surface of what’s offered in the book. Kross also goes over how to help your friends, colleagues, and employees eliminate chatter, and how mastering your inner voice will help you thrive under pressure. The magazine Inc. named “Chatter” one of the “4 Business Books That Will Accelerate Your Success In 2022” — don’t miss it.
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