Below are 7 of My Best Writing Samples.
Why Do We Fight Wars? (Sample 1)
by Nibir Biswas
Mitty Mirrer lost her father when she was just 16 hours old. Mitty’s father Captain Bill Griffis was killed when a bomb exploded in his helicopter while on a mission as an advisor in Vietnam. Her mom was still recovering from childbirth at that time. This isn’t just the case with Mitty Mirrer. Nearly 22 thousand American kids lost their fathers during the Vietnam War. Bloodshed, grief, severe injuries, or in the worst scenario, loss of lives. That’s what has been going on for years for the cost of people's lives! from the World Wars to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, and perhaps future wars that are yet to come. But why do we fight wars? Is there any way that can help prevent a war or the thousands of fresh lives?.
Usually, wars are initiated by governments rather than the common people. Like everything on earth, they happen for a purpose. This could be an argument over resources, land, religion, nationalism, or a government's wish to gain more power and control. When leaders of a nation fail to achieve something from an offer made, they are then left with no other option than to start a war. This can be a war within the country itself or any other country. Starting a war requires power, authority, and a supply of sufficient weapons. For instance, in the United States, only Congress has the legal power to declare war. But there's an exception to this – the President can still conduct a war once it's declared. There have been times when the president used military force without an official war declaration from Congress, such as the Korean War, the Mexican-American War, and so on.
Throughout history, wars have been a subject of controversy. However, the problem is that even those who don’t support wars can still become victims. Many times, aggressors are weaker than their adversaries but overly optimistic about their chances of success. To help you understand better, let’s take a closer look at what Chris Blattman has to say in his book ‘Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.’
Chris finds that there are primarily five reasons for a war to be initiated - these are
1. Unchecked interest
Usually, wars are initiated by governments rather than the common people. Like everything on earth, they happen for a purpose. This could be an argument over resources, land, religion, nationalism, or a government's wish to gain more power and control. When leaders of a nation fail to achieve something from an offer made, they are then left with no other option than to start a war. This can be a war within the country itself or any other country. Starting a war requires power, authority, and a supply of sufficient weapons. For instance, in the United States, only Congress has the legal power to declare war. But there's an exception to this – the President can still conduct a war once it's declared. There have been times when the president used military force without an official war declaration from Congress, such as the Korean War, the Mexican-American War, and so on.
Throughout history, wars have been a subject of controversy. However, the problem is that even those who don’t support wars can still become victims. Many times, aggressors are weaker than their adversaries but overly optimistic about their chances of success. To help you understand better, let’s take a closer look at what Chris Blattman has to say in his book ‘Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.’
Chris finds that there are primarily five reasons for a war to be initiated - these are
1. Unchecked interest
2. Intangible values
3. Uncertainty
4. Commitment problems and
5. Misperceptions.
The first one is pretty simple yet obstinate, leaders who decide to start a war may not consider all the problems of a country's residents seriously and the cost they bear. In other words, the leaders do whatever they think is right for them. Another reason is achieving intangible values like prestige, honor, and glory, which can only be achieved through war. On the other hand, the third reason that he says is uncertainty! When people are unsure about how successful they'll be in a situation, they have different ideas about what they should get. Chris also talked about commitment problems, which means, that if one side can’t trust that the other will keep to a negotiated outcome, they may prefer to go to war. And the last yet one of the common causes is Misperceptions. Being overconfident about chances of success may misconstrue the other side’s actions and intentions.
A good example of the last cause could be the American Revolutionary War. Sometimes a team’s overconfidence about their chances of success brings devastating consequences for both participating sides. Let’s take the American Revolutionary War as an example, where the British Empire despite being one of the world's most powerful at the time, faced a determined American resistance. The British believed they could swiftly crush the rebellion, but in the end, the American forces eventually secured their independence through strategic alliances and guerrilla tactics.
Fighting a war is expensive. The bitter part is, that a portion of the money used in wars comes from the public. An article published by the Military Times, says the Iraq war ended with an estimated cost of nearly 2 trillion dollars! Yes, 2 trillion lost just because of fighting! It is the cold truth. Also, a study suggests that the United States of America has spent nearly $6.4 trillion on wars in the Middle East and Asia alone since the 9-11 attack in 2001, and that cost was paid by taxpayers. Meanwhile, another article published by Defense One, says "The Average American taxpayer will have paid nearly $7,500 to fund the wars.’’ Unbelievable!
There are also psychological aspects of wars to consider. American psychologist William James suggested that war is so prevalent because of its positive psychological effects. It creates a sense of unity, inspires individual citizens to behave honorably, and binds people together. According to his perspective, human beings must seek activities that deliver the same positive impact as warfare, yet without the accompanying devastation. He refers to this concept as "the moral equivalent of war." In simpler words, he says people must find alternative activities to keep that sense of feeling alive. This can be anything from buying a luxury car to entertainment. But his statement may never work out for some parts of the world like Afghanistan and Gaza, where it will be hard to satisfy those impulses.
Sadly, the economic impact of war remains several years after it has ended. For example, you might be familiar with the term inflation, which refers rate at which prices for goods and services rise. Inflation increased significantly after the beginning of Russia Russia-Ukraine war. However, this isn't the first time our world has faced inflation as a consequence of war. In 1914, when World War I started, Sweden experienced its most substantial inflation ever recorded. The sudden influx of money without a proportional increase in production led to high costs. Imported food and goods became uncontrollably expensive, while domestic production faced limitations. Such historical examples should serve as valuable lessons, yet disappointingly, history chose to repeat itself once more. As we reflect on our past, we must strive to break this cycle and forge a brighter future.
War is complex. It starts, ends, and starts again somewhere else. It is crucial for global nations and citizens to understand the underlying causes of wars and work towards creating a more peaceful world. The devastating impact of wars on families, communities, and entire nations reminds us of the importance of finding alternatives to violence and conflict resolution through diplomacy. We don't want the death of a father like Captain Bill Griffis again. Nor do we want any bomb blast or missile attack on a country. The stories of loss and sacrifice from wars are not just found in history books; they are part of the lives of many families and communities worldwide. Understanding the reasons behind war initiation and the controversies surrounding conflicts can guide us toward a more peaceful future.
A good example of the last cause could be the American Revolutionary War. Sometimes a team’s overconfidence about their chances of success brings devastating consequences for both participating sides. Let’s take the American Revolutionary War as an example, where the British Empire despite being one of the world's most powerful at the time, faced a determined American resistance. The British believed they could swiftly crush the rebellion, but in the end, the American forces eventually secured their independence through strategic alliances and guerrilla tactics.
Fighting a war is expensive. The bitter part is, that a portion of the money used in wars comes from the public. An article published by the Military Times, says the Iraq war ended with an estimated cost of nearly 2 trillion dollars! Yes, 2 trillion lost just because of fighting! It is the cold truth. Also, a study suggests that the United States of America has spent nearly $6.4 trillion on wars in the Middle East and Asia alone since the 9-11 attack in 2001, and that cost was paid by taxpayers. Meanwhile, another article published by Defense One, says "The Average American taxpayer will have paid nearly $7,500 to fund the wars.’’ Unbelievable!
There are also psychological aspects of wars to consider. American psychologist William James suggested that war is so prevalent because of its positive psychological effects. It creates a sense of unity, inspires individual citizens to behave honorably, and binds people together. According to his perspective, human beings must seek activities that deliver the same positive impact as warfare, yet without the accompanying devastation. He refers to this concept as "the moral equivalent of war." In simpler words, he says people must find alternative activities to keep that sense of feeling alive. This can be anything from buying a luxury car to entertainment. But his statement may never work out for some parts of the world like Afghanistan and Gaza, where it will be hard to satisfy those impulses.
Sadly, the economic impact of war remains several years after it has ended. For example, you might be familiar with the term inflation, which refers rate at which prices for goods and services rise. Inflation increased significantly after the beginning of Russia Russia-Ukraine war. However, this isn't the first time our world has faced inflation as a consequence of war. In 1914, when World War I started, Sweden experienced its most substantial inflation ever recorded. The sudden influx of money without a proportional increase in production led to high costs. Imported food and goods became uncontrollably expensive, while domestic production faced limitations. Such historical examples should serve as valuable lessons, yet disappointingly, history chose to repeat itself once more. As we reflect on our past, we must strive to break this cycle and forge a brighter future.
War is complex. It starts, ends, and starts again somewhere else. It is crucial for global nations and citizens to understand the underlying causes of wars and work towards creating a more peaceful world. The devastating impact of wars on families, communities, and entire nations reminds us of the importance of finding alternatives to violence and conflict resolution through diplomacy. We don't want the death of a father like Captain Bill Griffis again. Nor do we want any bomb blast or missile attack on a country. The stories of loss and sacrifice from wars are not just found in history books; they are part of the lives of many families and communities worldwide. Understanding the reasons behind war initiation and the controversies surrounding conflicts can guide us toward a more peaceful future.
The Million-Dollar Agar Industry in Bangladesh (Sample 2)
Hook and Intro:
The big tall trees while walking through the streets of Sujanagar Union of Moulavibazar will immediately grab your attention. Resembling the size of eucalyptus, these trees are known as Agar and found throughout the area. Now thousands of people are involved in farming and the business of agar. When fully grown, each kilogram of agar is then sold at up to 10 Thousand dollars or more depending on the quality. But there is a catch! Only a handful of people in our country use agar, and the majority of them are exported abroad.
Welcome to ‘Scroll.’ In today’s video, we will explore the farming process, business, and obstacles of the Agar Industry in Bangladesh. Let’s get started.
Main Part:
The Farming Process:
Nobody can specifically tell who started agar farming in Moulavibazar, but it is now an iconic business in the region. Farmers mainly collect agar from the mature black-infected areas of the trees. Naturally, this process can take 30 years or more. Hence to find an alternative, farmers discovered a new method to speed up the process by hammering nails on the body of agar trees when they are around 10 years old. Then they collect the black parts within the next 5 to 6 years. For making atar (the perfumed oil), the agar wood is heated in a container.
Types, Usage, and Price: Agarwood chips and Atar have a huge demand abroad, specifically in the Middle East like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. The notable types of Agarwood are Jannatul Naeem, Jannatul Ferdous, Shaikha, Hazrat Aswad, Sultan, and King White. The price of these woods starts from $5 and can reach up to $10 Thousand depending on the quality. Apart from natural use, the oil from Agar is used to make shampoo, soaps, and perfumes.
Employment and Factory:
According to the Agriculture Information Service of Bangladesh, every year, the global agarwood products market has an approximate export value of 160 million US dollars. Since the declaration in 2015 as an industry, agarwood cultivation has increased commercially in this region. Moulavibazar has around 300 agar factories, and 40 to 50 thousand people are directly and indirectly involved with the industry.
The Bangladesh Agar and Attar Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association says, approximately five thousand liters of raw agarwood and 10 to 15 thousand kilograms of agarwood logs are exported from Moulvibazar district annually. (Banik Barta)
The Obstacles:
Research indicates that investing in agar plantations can lead to high profits. According to a study, investing 1 dollar in a savings bond yields 4.21 dollars after 12 years, while investing 1 dollar in agar trees can give an expected return ranging from 117 to 736 dollars. That’s a crazy return on investment! (AIS)
However, despite having a high business potential, nowadays, the industry is encountering challenges that are putting the business at risk. Those involved in the industry report that due to the recent increase in gas prices, they are not making the same profit in agar and attar as before. Transportation costs have also increased significantly!
With reduced profits, many are considering shutting down their businesses and exploring alternative ventures.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that the Agar industry can be a game changer in Bangladesh’s economy in the future. With the right process, it can increase the employment rate in rural areas. There is an extensive demand for this powerful resource not only in the Middle East but also in various countries worldwide, including Japan, and Europe, where it is utilized for perfumery. Apart from individual steps, government interventions are crucial to secure exports. Moreover, the government can earn good taxes, contributing to the overall economic development of the country.
Outro:
So what are your thoughts today about this video? Let us know in the comments down below and stay tuned for the next video. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel if you enjoyed this video.
Impact of AI on the Content Writing Industry (Sample 3)
The world saw a boom in Artificial Intelligence back in November 2022 after OpenAI shocked the people with the release of ChatGPT. Since then, other assistants like Google Bard and Microsoft Bing Copilot have quickly entered the AI industry in a rush to compete with OpenAI. This technological advancement is incredible and has impacted many professions, including content writers. Within a short time, AI has evolved a lot today, showing remarkable outputs on web search results for thousands of websites. Today, we will explore the potential of AI and see how it has contributed to content writing, including SEO, research, etc.
How content writers can utilize AI to improve writing
There are times when writers have to write content on a topic they were previously unaware of; in this case, there is no better buddy than AI assistants. Let's say you, as a writer, came across an unknown topic called 'Machine Learning' at some point in your writing, and all you need to do is type 'Explain me machine learning in short.' See! How fast and quick it is. Instead of browsing multiple sites, it instantly replies with a straightforward meaning while saving your precious time.
Moreover, these advanced tools can respond to your preferences by analyzing your previous inputs, which is a plus. It gets familiar with your behavior over time in order to help you with better responses.
AI can also overcome writer's block. When your head goes blank, and you can't come up with new ideas, it can improve your existing text, but only with the right prompts. Think of this: You need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your next writing assignment. Just provide your chatbot with information like your industry, the audience, content format, and keywords, and let the magic happen. It will generate a list of topics by analyzing thousands of data. Some tools, like MindMeister, can also help content writers organize their thoughts and see how different ideas connect. By making digital mind maps, writers can develop ideas and get past mental blocks that might slow down their creativity.
Uses and Further Benefits of AI Content Writing
Many industries have already been using AI to speed up content creation. One such example is the news industry. Creating a Facebook or Instagram story title has never been this easy, thanks to AI chatbots. This is very effective when the news needs to be published quickly, as companies often tend to post as soon as they receive it to stay ahead of the competition. Other examples include the e-commerce sector, where AI is quite good at generating product descriptions and copies that resonate with their target audience. And in search engine optimization, the tools can create meta-descriptions from your content.
There is also a solution to grammatical errors and writing structures with tools specifically tailored to solve these problems, such as Grammarly and Quilbot. When finished writing, you can use AI to come across a title or ad copy for social media posts or a small product description. Although there are copywriters who do these kinds of work more professionally, AI can still pull it off with a decent output.
Drawbacks of AI in Content Writing
Like anything on the internet, AI, too, has its drawbacks. The most important one is that it may need more human touch and creativity than we get in writing by professional content writers. Getting inaccurate data is also a common issue here, as these tools may mix up a topic with another available in the data. It mostly happens when you give prompts about a product that resembles the name of another product or model number. This may be vulnerable to website SEO if not checked.
Regarding complex topics, it still lacks the expertise as you would expect from an expert writer. AI assistants may even give us content that is perhaps already available on the internet, raising concerns about plagiarism and copyright infringement. After all, no writers would like their content to be copied or paraphrased.
What's the Future of Content Writing with Artificial Intelligence
As Artificial Intelligence is growing fast, with significant updates, we expect to see a better future in the content writing industry. From content creation to distribution, it's already reshaping the scenario with efficiency and creativity. Furthermore, AI algorithms continuously learn and adapt, refining their language proficiency and staying alongside evolving trends. As these technologies mature, content writers can expect a period where AI excels in creativity, offering suggestions and insights and adding different perspectives. AI-driven writing tools will further improve content for various platforms like social media, SEO, and email marketing.
Final Thoughts
The impact of AI has been transformative, offering assistance to writers in various aspects. From generating creative ideas to overcoming writer's block and aiding in research, AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Bing Copilot have become invaluable companions for content writers worldwide. Although there are concerns over AI replacing humans for writing, it is not happening anytime soon. However, writers relying heavily on AI to write content may be at risk of losing their jobs. As discussed, we should have the ability to understand how to leverage AI to make our content top-notch while keeping the ethical aspects in consideration. We are living in an era where technology is changing rapidly. Hence, adaptation is the key to success here.
How Akaso is striving against GoPro (Sample 4)
by Nibir Biswas
Intro and Hook: You probably have heard about prominent brands like GoPro, Insta360, and DJI which are dominating the action cam industry. These brands came with a couple of models in the market that made this industry grow bigger in a few years. According to the market intelligence provider Acumen Research, the Global Action Camera Market Size accounted for 2951 Million US dollars in 2021 and is estimated to achieve a market size of 7631 Million US Dollars by 2030. These numbers clearly tell us how rapidly the demands for action cams are rising globally. However, regardless of that, there are many other brands that are trying to reach greater heights alongside the top brands. And Akaso is definitely a true competitor among them. Since the beginning of their journey in 2013, they have been continuously releasing new cameras in the global market. It is appreciable how they are developing gradually whereas some companies like JVC, Polaroid, and HTC exited the market by releasing one or two products. So in this video, we are going to investigate whether or not Akaso can reach the level of the market leader GoPro. Let’s find out!
Main Part:
The concept of action cameras started in the 1960s when an American brand called Eastman Kodak developed a prototype of a portable 16-millimeter film camera. It was portable and designed to capture footage during outdoor activities. But who knew that after several years a guy called Nick Woodman was going to change the world of action cameras? Two years later, he was successful in bringing the first camera with a waterproof case and wrist strap. This guy was none other than the founder of GoPro. Their Hero series is trademarked in the series of camera models such as GoPro Hero 8, 9, 10, and 11. This was the story of GoPro.
On the other hand, in 2013 Akaso came into the market to compete with this giant brand. Although both brands focus on manufacturing action camera models, Akaso’s target audience was not like GoPro exactly. There was a difference. Akaso primarily focuses on making affordable alternatives to GoPro. In just under a decade, Akaso has become a competitive global brand in the world of action cameras, boasting an impressive annual sales record of over half a million units. The numbers are pretty impressive for a new company like this. Akaso saw an opportunity in the gap between big brands like Sony, and Panasonic who had not brought any alternatives to the GoPro Hero Models. Not to mention, they took the right advantage of it by making good cameras on a budget.
Akaso started by making their camera EK7000 which was primarily designed for entry-level users. Besides, they also have two other lineups of cameras which are known as Brave and V50. The Brave series is designed for high-end-level users, while the V50 is for mid-level users. These cameras integrate features like 4K video recording, dual screen, voice controls, good image stabilization, and so on.
Here is an example between Akaso’s flagship camera Brave 7 and GoPro’s Hero 10 to help you understand better. In terms of video shooting capability, the Brave 7 comes with 4K 30FPS video support while the Hero 10 can record up to 5.3K at 60 Fps. Image stability is also good in the Brave 7, but not to the mark of GoPro. Besides, the Hero 10 also offers better waterproofing as it can withstand depths of up to 33 feet. This is also possible with the Brave 7, but you would need to use a case separately. However, there is a good side to the battery in Brave 7. It can last for up to 90 minutes. With higher camera settings, the battery in GoPro will drain faster. Other than that, GoPro Hero 10 offers other additional features that the AKASO Brave 7 does not, including advanced hyper-lapse modes, better low-light performance, and improved wind noise reduction. But if you consider it as a whole, it is quite good considering the 170-dollar price tag.
In addition, the Brave 7 comes with an external microphone, an additional battery, and a remote control which you won’t get in the GoPro 7. Oh, and by the way, Akaso’s mounting system is compatible with that of GoPro as well. All Akaso cameras are fairly priced according to the features that attract more users who seek an affordable cam on a budget.
Owned by the company Shenzhen Kingcenton Technology Co., Ltd, with a headquarters in Maryland USA. Akaso openly says that they dare to offer alternatives regardless of how dominant the GoPro market may be. Their support team is also responsive to customers where a team of professionals deals with all queries with regard to after-sales, returns, and repair problems.
According to Akaso's official website, the company has sold its products in over 50 countries and regions and has a growing customer base. Akaso has also received positive reviews and ratings on various e-commerce platforms, which suggests that the company is doing well in terms of sales and customer satisfaction. As a private company, Akaso did not disclose its financial information regarding revenue to the public, so it's difficult to estimate its revenue and growth.
Akaso has been releasing new camera models on a regular basis, with the latest being the Akaso Brave 8. And it is an upgraded version of the popular Brave 7 camera.
While GoPro is a well-established brand with a proven track record of producing high-quality cameras, Akaso has been making steady progress in the market with its impressive features and affordable pricing. Both brands have their own unique strengths and advantages that make them popular among action camera enthusiasts.
Outro:
It will be tough for the company to compete with its rival GoPro. They have been working on improving the quality and performance of their cameras, with features like improved image stabilization, upgraded sensors, and enhanced connectivity options. Currently, the brand is also making outdoor products for swimming, fitness, yoga, and swimming. They even plan to expand their product line to include other types of electronics, such as drones and smartwatches. And by the way, other strong brands DJI and Insta360 are also in the action camera race. We cannot deny that anyway! So after seeing the facts, do you think Akaso can reach the heights like GoPro anytime soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The Last Memory (Sample 5)
by Nibir Biswas
Ratri crouched still beside her mother, petrified and anxious. The gale-force wind buffeted the walls of the house several times and finally blew away one of the tins on the roof. Breastfeeding the toddler child on her lap, Ratri’s mother quaked with fear. Unsure what to do, she started to chant Krishna’s name hoping the damage would lessen.
The downpour caused the water level to rise from the floor to the bed in a few minutes.
The downpour caused the water level to rise from the floor to the bed in a few minutes.
“Mother! Mother!” Ratri screamed, putting both her hands on her ears, after hearing the peal of thunder. At nine, she was too little to face this difficult situation.
“Mother, what is this sound and why is it happening?”, she uttered in fear.
“It’s a storm, my dear”
“Will it harm us mother?”
“Surely it will. Maybe it’s God’s wish that He wants us to suffer because of our sins.”, her mother whispered.
“Sin! Is it a bad thing? Have I done it?”
“No, my dear. You are an innocent child. God sometimes punishes all of us, including our children for our wrong deeds or maybe He wants to teach us a lesson”
“Promise me you will keep faith and move on if I am not with you.”
The last line from her mother completely bewildered Ratri. Without understanding a single word, she fretted and said “Yes, I will.”
“Mother, what is this sound and why is it happening?”, she uttered in fear.
“It’s a storm, my dear”
“Will it harm us mother?”
“Surely it will. Maybe it’s God’s wish that He wants us to suffer because of our sins.”, her mother whispered.
“Sin! Is it a bad thing? Have I done it?”
“No, my dear. You are an innocent child. God sometimes punishes all of us, including our children for our wrong deeds or maybe He wants to teach us a lesson”
“Promise me you will keep faith and move on if I am not with you.”
The last line from her mother completely bewildered Ratri. Without understanding a single word, she fretted and said “Yes, I will.”
It was too late until her mother realised; it was not the time to sit on the fence. She stepped outside with her both children. Ratri grabbed her mother’s saree very tight and followed the way she waded through the two feet high water level, carrying her son, while Ratri took a bag on her shoulders that had two apples and a family photo.
People started to surge towards the city away from the shore, to save their lives. All panicked. Continuous thunder strikes and the deafening roar of the sea filled their ears, frightening them to death.
A long high tide was arriving towards the coast. Ratri’s mother looped her saree over her daughter’s hand and tightened the knot, holding her son tight. Both mother and daughter closed their eyes and stood there in despair, until the tide stroke them. ‘Ayushhhh….’ her mother yelled and fainted, after she stumbled on a rock and dropped her son. “Mother!... Brother!”, Ratri shrieked and the water carried the three bodies away, along its path.
The following morning Ratri opened her eyes and found herself lying on a paddy field. She quickly unknotted the loop of her mother’s saree from her hand. All around the field she saw was some dead fishes and some dead bodies. Died of a heart attack, due to the grief of losing her son, Ratri’s mother was lying there.
“Mother and brother must have reached Father by yesterday.”, she said looking at the sky.
Ratri took an apple from her bag and started to eat it ravenously. The photo in the bag was her last and only memory left with her family.
Comparison in love, relationship, and marriage between Asians and Westerners. (Sample 6)
by Nibir Biswas
Love is an emotional attachment that all human beings possess. Everyone can fall in love. Love can be both pleasant and destructive for many people. All people can experience love, but the way it is expressed can vary between Westerners and Asians.
Falling in love and getting married in Asian countries was not common at that time when families were stricter and much more conservative. Arranged marriages are more common in Africa and Asia and are very rare in Western countries. In Western countries, boys and girls do not want their families to worry about finding the correct partner for them. They take responsibility on their own. On the other hand, recently, the influence of Hollywood and Bollywood movies and mass media has led the current generation in Asia to follow Western practices.
In places like India, Bangladesh, and the Middle East, the culture encourages the concept of family as being the main priority. Hence, many boys and girls don’t get into any relationships that go against their family and society.
Unlike Asians, Westerners are more independent and usually separate from their families in many cases. Young boys and girls fall in love, go on dates, get involved in physical relationships before marriage, and end up with break-ups, destroying their lives. Even many families on the West side, like in the United States, don’t worry a lot about their children, as they think it is a common practice there. So, they let their children do whatever they decide, and this, in turn, gives them more freedom.
According to statistics in 2012, the divorce rate in England and Wales was 42%, and 50% in the US, but only 1.1% in India. Though these statistics may not suggest that arranged marriage is the main reason for a successful marriage, it can be considered a factor, as it is more common in the Indian subcontinent.
However, in recent times, many Asians are following the Western lifestyle. For example, many Indians fall in love, get involved in physical relationships before marriage, get cheated on, or marry a guy/girl from a different religion/ethnicity.
In many cases, it has been found that many boys and girls are betrayed for the sake of love. Many of them lose money and property, which was taken from them by any means of trick or blackmail. Unfortunately, it becomes too late before the person realizes that it is just fake love that he/she has been a victim of. In India, many cases are there where girls are seen to leave their family and religion, and after a few years of marriage, they are divorced, and the accused girls have nowhere to go with their children. Many of them also commit suicide in loneliness and depression.
Marriage in Asian countries is different from that in Western cultures. Here, a lot of things are considered for marriage. The groom’s wealth, family status, job, educational qualifications, etc., are considered for a bride’s marriage. The same goes for the bride. Many times, a wedding is canceled just for not fulfilling any of their demands. This is something Asians have been following for ages, and still, many love stories end just because of the above-mentioned issues. The bride’s family also needs to give a dowry to the groom’s family for a wedding. However, many people are changing their mindsets and are coming out of this practice. They are not demanding dowry anymore, which is a huge relief for the bride’s family.
Falling in love and getting married in Asian countries was not common at that time when families were stricter and much more conservative. Arranged marriages are more common in Africa and Asia and are very rare in Western countries. In Western countries, boys and girls do not want their families to worry about finding the correct partner for them. They take responsibility on their own. On the other hand, recently, the influence of Hollywood and Bollywood movies and mass media has led the current generation in Asia to follow Western practices.
In places like India, Bangladesh, and the Middle East, the culture encourages the concept of family as being the main priority. Hence, many boys and girls don’t get into any relationships that go against their family and society.
Unlike Asians, Westerners are more independent and usually separate from their families in many cases. Young boys and girls fall in love, go on dates, get involved in physical relationships before marriage, and end up with break-ups, destroying their lives. Even many families on the West side, like in the United States, don’t worry a lot about their children, as they think it is a common practice there. So, they let their children do whatever they decide, and this, in turn, gives them more freedom.
According to statistics in 2012, the divorce rate in England and Wales was 42%, and 50% in the US, but only 1.1% in India. Though these statistics may not suggest that arranged marriage is the main reason for a successful marriage, it can be considered a factor, as it is more common in the Indian subcontinent.
However, in recent times, many Asians are following the Western lifestyle. For example, many Indians fall in love, get involved in physical relationships before marriage, get cheated on, or marry a guy/girl from a different religion/ethnicity.
In many cases, it has been found that many boys and girls are betrayed for the sake of love. Many of them lose money and property, which was taken from them by any means of trick or blackmail. Unfortunately, it becomes too late before the person realizes that it is just fake love that he/she has been a victim of. In India, many cases are there where girls are seen to leave their family and religion, and after a few years of marriage, they are divorced, and the accused girls have nowhere to go with their children. Many of them also commit suicide in loneliness and depression.
Marriage in Asian countries is different from that in Western cultures. Here, a lot of things are considered for marriage. The groom’s wealth, family status, job, educational qualifications, etc., are considered for a bride’s marriage. The same goes for the bride. Many times, a wedding is canceled just for not fulfilling any of their demands. This is something Asians have been following for ages, and still, many love stories end just because of the above-mentioned issues. The bride’s family also needs to give a dowry to the groom’s family for a wedding. However, many people are changing their mindsets and are coming out of this practice. They are not demanding dowry anymore, which is a huge relief for the bride’s family.
David Beckham converted his salary $6.5M to $500M (Sample 7)
by Nibir Biswas
Intro: 20 million dollars annual salary sounds pretty lucrative, right? You can live elegantly by buying luxury cars and villas or traveling to the world's most exotic destinations. But this wasn't the case for David Beckham. Despite his annual salary of 20 million dollars in Real Madrid, this retired football legend did something that literally shocked the world! (pause) Young and energetic, David decided to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy by quitting Real Madrid. But you know what? LA Galaxy offered him only 6.5 million dollars in annual salary in 2007. That's around a 70 percent pay cut from his annual salary in Real Madrid if we calculate. Many people thought Beckham was a fool, but who knew that his move would make him richer than ever? (pause) That too on a significantly large scale! From his early decision to move to the Major League Soccer and many hidden secrets in his journey in football, there are so many interesting facts that we are going to unveil today. So without further ado, let's dive right into this.
Main Part: Okay, as we have briefly mentioned about it, David’s move to the LA Galaxy was not only one of the finest decisions in his life but also in the history of football. In fact, he was the first major European football star to join MLS. His move was seen as a major coup for the league, as it helped raise its profile and attract other big-name players. Only 31 years old at that time, David saw MLS as an ideal place to expand his brand identity and business. Simply put, he predicted the bigger picture here. The contract between him and the LA Galaxy was for a period of five years. Following this back in 2007, the Guardian reported that the 250 million dollars worth of the contract was going to make him one of the highest-earning sportsmen in the US. And the prediction wasn’t wrong if we see the current profile of David Beckham.
MLS wanted David so badly that they even made a new rule called the ‘Designated Player Rule,’ which basically allowed teams to pay one player outside the 2 million dollar salary cap. This rule is also called the Beckham Rule sometimes as he was the sole reason for the rule to be introduced. However, it still wasn't enough to cover the gap between his 20 million dollar income at Real Madrid and his new 6.5 million dollar compensation in Los Angeles. To bridge the gap, Beckham and his agent came up with a creative solution, which the MLS had never done before. Pay closer attention now!
There were two major clauses in the contract that worked as a treasure for Beckham. The first one worked like this:
Beckham was able to negotiate a percentage of all team revenue as part of his contract with LA Galaxy. In addition, the LA Galaxy guaranteed him an undisclosed percentage of all club revenue. This meant that Beckham would receive a portion of every dollar the team earned, from sponsorships and merchandise to tickets and concessions. This was an excellent opportunity in the history of football and one that Beckham was fortunate to secure.
In addition to his 32.5 million dollar salary in LA Galaxy, this particular clause ended up adding an additional 18 million dollars over five seasons through revenue share. What a lucky guy Beckham is! Furthermore, with the inclusion of new endorsement deals from leading brands such as Giorgio Armani, Electronic Arts, Burger King, and others, Beckham's MLS contract resulted in a staggering total of 255 million dollars, which is a 155 percent increase compared to the money he made in Real Madrid. Unbelievable!!
The other clause of the contract was equally lucrative as the first one. Beckham was officially given the right to purchase an MLS expansion team at a fixed rate of 25 million dollars upon retirement. It was an absolute steal, and he leveraged this opportunity as well. On February 5, 2014, less than a year after retiring from professional football, Beckham officially exercised his option to become the owner of a new expansion team called Inter Miami CF. It’s also worth noting that the franchise valuations skyrocketed due to the popularity David brought to the league. In just over a decade, an average MLS franchise's value increased from 37 million dollars in 2008 to a staggering 582 million dollars. That’s a 1472 percent gain! And now, Inter Miami CF is already one of the top ten most valuable MLS clubs. To give you an idea of how smart this move was, St Louis and Charlotte paid 200 and 325 million dollars respectively to join the MLS in recent years. Although there are other costs involved with setting up a franchise than just the expansion fee of 25 million dollars. But compared to others, David Beckham got a massive discount of 75 to 300 million dollars for Inter Miami CF.
But starting the club was challenging despite the discount he got. As part of his expansion agreement with MLS, Beckham and his ownership group had to secure a new stadium, which proved to be very difficult. From 2014 to 2018, five stadium deals collapsed for Beckham due to political and local business opposition. But he decided to keep trying till he succeeded.
Of course, Beckham wasn’t the only guy making a profit due to the deal. Since he was onboarded in the team, MLS saw tremendous popularity like other European Leagues. His presence helped MLS secure their first TV rights deal for 8 million USD in 2006. And later, in 2014, the league signed a 90 million dollar per year deal with ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision Deportes, followed by a 250 million USD per year deal with Apple TV in 2022. Those are some crazy numbers!
Remember the Beckham Rule we mentioned earlier? It helped MLS bring European stars like Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to play in the league. If we see Beckham's current scenario, his early decisions have paid off!
There were also ups and downs in his journey. The star received a lot of criticism from football experts because he chose to play in a league that was only ten years old and not as popular as the European leagues. Real Madrid’s former president Ramón Calderón also slammed Beckham, saying, "He's going to Hollywood to be half a film star. Our technical staffs were right not to extend his contract, and that has been proven by the fact that no other technical staff in the world wanted him except Los Angeles.“ However, David did not care about what other people said.
David Beckham's move to LA Galaxy shows us that sometimes taking risks and thinking out of the box is necessary to climb up the ladder. He saw an opportunity to expand his brand value and took it seriously. This also highlights the importance of seeing the bigger picture and not just focusing on short-term goals. By negotiating a percentage of all team revenue, he created an unprecedented opportunity for himself, showing the importance of strategic negotiation skills. Perhaps the most crucial lesson is sacrificing small things to achieve something big. Just think about his 70 percent salary paycut! These are indeed true inspiration for all of us to make money, including sportspersons. We have a lot to learn from this gem.
And by the way, there are some rumors that soccer legend Lionel Messi might leave PSG and join Inter Miami CF, which could lead to another historic period of growth for Major League Soccer. But we'll have to wait and see if it happens!
Outro: When David Beckham joined the MLS, many people didn't think it was a good move. But after 15 years, he has shown he is a smart businessman. Beckham's move to LA Galaxy was a game-changer for himself and the entire Major League Soccer. His presence in the league helped raise its profile and attract other big-name players. Beckham's journey shows us the importance of taking risks, prioritizing passive income, and being strategic in negotiations to achieve greater success. So what are your thoughts on today's video? Are you going to take risks? Let us know in the comments below. Also, we'd greatly appreciate it if you'd subscribe to our channel. It's free and this way you won't miss any videos of us breaking down the business behind the world of sports. (Pause) See you in the next video!
Main Part: Okay, as we have briefly mentioned about it, David’s move to the LA Galaxy was not only one of the finest decisions in his life but also in the history of football. In fact, he was the first major European football star to join MLS. His move was seen as a major coup for the league, as it helped raise its profile and attract other big-name players. Only 31 years old at that time, David saw MLS as an ideal place to expand his brand identity and business. Simply put, he predicted the bigger picture here. The contract between him and the LA Galaxy was for a period of five years. Following this back in 2007, the Guardian reported that the 250 million dollars worth of the contract was going to make him one of the highest-earning sportsmen in the US. And the prediction wasn’t wrong if we see the current profile of David Beckham.
MLS wanted David so badly that they even made a new rule called the ‘Designated Player Rule,’ which basically allowed teams to pay one player outside the 2 million dollar salary cap. This rule is also called the Beckham Rule sometimes as he was the sole reason for the rule to be introduced. However, it still wasn't enough to cover the gap between his 20 million dollar income at Real Madrid and his new 6.5 million dollar compensation in Los Angeles. To bridge the gap, Beckham and his agent came up with a creative solution, which the MLS had never done before. Pay closer attention now!
There were two major clauses in the contract that worked as a treasure for Beckham. The first one worked like this:
Beckham was able to negotiate a percentage of all team revenue as part of his contract with LA Galaxy. In addition, the LA Galaxy guaranteed him an undisclosed percentage of all club revenue. This meant that Beckham would receive a portion of every dollar the team earned, from sponsorships and merchandise to tickets and concessions. This was an excellent opportunity in the history of football and one that Beckham was fortunate to secure.
In addition to his 32.5 million dollar salary in LA Galaxy, this particular clause ended up adding an additional 18 million dollars over five seasons through revenue share. What a lucky guy Beckham is! Furthermore, with the inclusion of new endorsement deals from leading brands such as Giorgio Armani, Electronic Arts, Burger King, and others, Beckham's MLS contract resulted in a staggering total of 255 million dollars, which is a 155 percent increase compared to the money he made in Real Madrid. Unbelievable!!
The other clause of the contract was equally lucrative as the first one. Beckham was officially given the right to purchase an MLS expansion team at a fixed rate of 25 million dollars upon retirement. It was an absolute steal, and he leveraged this opportunity as well. On February 5, 2014, less than a year after retiring from professional football, Beckham officially exercised his option to become the owner of a new expansion team called Inter Miami CF. It’s also worth noting that the franchise valuations skyrocketed due to the popularity David brought to the league. In just over a decade, an average MLS franchise's value increased from 37 million dollars in 2008 to a staggering 582 million dollars. That’s a 1472 percent gain! And now, Inter Miami CF is already one of the top ten most valuable MLS clubs. To give you an idea of how smart this move was, St Louis and Charlotte paid 200 and 325 million dollars respectively to join the MLS in recent years. Although there are other costs involved with setting up a franchise than just the expansion fee of 25 million dollars. But compared to others, David Beckham got a massive discount of 75 to 300 million dollars for Inter Miami CF.
But starting the club was challenging despite the discount he got. As part of his expansion agreement with MLS, Beckham and his ownership group had to secure a new stadium, which proved to be very difficult. From 2014 to 2018, five stadium deals collapsed for Beckham due to political and local business opposition. But he decided to keep trying till he succeeded.
Of course, Beckham wasn’t the only guy making a profit due to the deal. Since he was onboarded in the team, MLS saw tremendous popularity like other European Leagues. His presence helped MLS secure their first TV rights deal for 8 million USD in 2006. And later, in 2014, the league signed a 90 million dollar per year deal with ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision Deportes, followed by a 250 million USD per year deal with Apple TV in 2022. Those are some crazy numbers!
Remember the Beckham Rule we mentioned earlier? It helped MLS bring European stars like Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to play in the league. If we see Beckham's current scenario, his early decisions have paid off!
There were also ups and downs in his journey. The star received a lot of criticism from football experts because he chose to play in a league that was only ten years old and not as popular as the European leagues. Real Madrid’s former president Ramón Calderón also slammed Beckham, saying, "He's going to Hollywood to be half a film star. Our technical staffs were right not to extend his contract, and that has been proven by the fact that no other technical staff in the world wanted him except Los Angeles.“ However, David did not care about what other people said.
David Beckham's move to LA Galaxy shows us that sometimes taking risks and thinking out of the box is necessary to climb up the ladder. He saw an opportunity to expand his brand value and took it seriously. This also highlights the importance of seeing the bigger picture and not just focusing on short-term goals. By negotiating a percentage of all team revenue, he created an unprecedented opportunity for himself, showing the importance of strategic negotiation skills. Perhaps the most crucial lesson is sacrificing small things to achieve something big. Just think about his 70 percent salary paycut! These are indeed true inspiration for all of us to make money, including sportspersons. We have a lot to learn from this gem.
And by the way, there are some rumors that soccer legend Lionel Messi might leave PSG and join Inter Miami CF, which could lead to another historic period of growth for Major League Soccer. But we'll have to wait and see if it happens!
Outro: When David Beckham joined the MLS, many people didn't think it was a good move. But after 15 years, he has shown he is a smart businessman. Beckham's move to LA Galaxy was a game-changer for himself and the entire Major League Soccer. His presence in the league helped raise its profile and attract other big-name players. Beckham's journey shows us the importance of taking risks, prioritizing passive income, and being strategic in negotiations to achieve greater success. So what are your thoughts on today's video? Are you going to take risks? Let us know in the comments below. Also, we'd greatly appreciate it if you'd subscribe to our channel. It's free and this way you won't miss any videos of us breaking down the business behind the world of sports. (Pause) See you in the next video!
