Reading List: The Best Books of 2014
Out of all our Reading List reviews over the past 12 months, we think these nine deserve another look. Pick one (or all) up if you haven’t yet—and if you’ve bought them already, remember that books you love make thoughtful gifts. Inspirational and Motivational 1. In his endearing memoir, The Promise of a Pencil (Scribner), […]
Don’t Overspend… Follow These 3 Gifting Guidelines
This is the time to roast chestnuts over an open fire… to kiss under the mistletoe… and, if you’re like many Americans, to shell out way more money than you can afford on family and friends. We seem to have decided that this is a perfectly natural thing to do, despite the fact that seasonal overspending strains […]
Reading List: Feeling Smart
It’s time to rethink our understanding of emotions, contends Eyal Winter, director of the Center for the Study of Rationality at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Over the past two decades, research in brain sciences, behavioral economics and game theory has yielded novel insights into how our brains process emotions. In Feeling Smart, Winter points out […]
Confidence Comes in Small Packages, Just Ask Quvenzhané Wallis
Most actresses fib about their ages, but few add years. Louisiana native Quvenzhané Wallis was only 5 when she auditioned for her first major film role, bucking the requirement that children should be 6 or older. But the confident kid was sure she could handle the job—and she wowed producers, critics and audiences. Quvenzhané became […]
John C. Maxwell: How to Be an Empathetic Leader
Have you ever watched the reality show Undercover Boss on CBS? It’s based on a fascinating premise. In each episode, a high-ranking executive or CEO goes undercover as an entry-level employee in his own company. The executives alter their appearances, develop fictional back stories and spend one week experiencing different jobs within their companies. By the end of […]
Tech Tools: A Gift Guide of Jingle Bells and Whistles
Not sure what to give family or friends this holiday season? Check out these 11 tech goodies that anyone would be excited to unwrap: Apple iPhone 6 Plus (Apple.com) Apple has answered the demands of the people, creating a phone with a truly massive display. The supersharp screen is larger (compare the 6 Plus, pictured […]
Reading List: Well-Designed
Product design isn’t only about aesthetics, writes Jon Kolko, director of the Austin Center for Design and vice president of consumer design at Blackboard. Instead, design is a more “comprehensive way of thinking about people and human behavior,” focused on establishing deep engagement with customers by creating products that will enhance their lives. Consider hospitality […]
Blake Shelton Is Firing on All Cylinders
Blake Shelton’s on his way to the airport, cramming an interview into a Sunday afternoon while heading from Los Angeles to perform a concert in Oregon. He’s had a busy few days: taping The Voice, chatting with TV writers during a media day on the set and doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser. “It […]
Reading List: Blind Ambition
At the age of 5, after surgery for a pediatric brain tumor, Patricia Walsh lost most of her sight. By 14 she was almost completely blind. An excellent student, she fell from the top of her class to “struggling to read ‘See Jane run’ in Braille.” Hopelessness and despair set in. But Walsh rallied. At […]
The Winning Sales Formula
If you want to reach your 2015 sales goals, you need to consistently produce the right outcomes. But too many entrepreneurs and salespeople don’t do the simple work of reverse-engineering necessary to create and win an opportunity. This work is fundamental to a sound sales plan. Appointments to OpportunitiesHow many appointments does it take to […]
Reading List: It’s Not About the Shark
Research shows that when confronted with a problem, “What we do most of the time is crawl deep inside [it],” writes author David Niven. Allowing the problem to swallow us whole is a highly inefficient way to find a solution, says Niven, who has made his career translating serious research into simple, practical advice for […]
How to Choose from 3 Smart Pricing Strategies
To effectively price your products and services, you have to choose one of three overall strategies: lowest price, best product or best total solution. Without committing to one of those, you will lose business or reduce profits. Here’s an analysis that will help you properly position your company. 1. Lowest Price (like JetBlue) When you decide to […]