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Showing posts from May, 2023

Vishen Lakhiani Wants You to Live Better by Feeling Better

Vishen Lakhiani is a man on a mission. The 47-year-old Malaysian entrepreneur and bestselling author is certain he has found the way for every one of us to live our best life. He’s written multiple popular self-help books , with his latest being The 6 Phase Meditation Method , but he insists that understanding how to meditate is just one small element of a larger education system that he’s designed (along with other wellness experts) to “reimagine the human experience.” As the founder and CEO of Mindvalley.com , a website described as a powerful and effective “life transformation platform,” Lakhiani’s goal is to help others make their way to a mental and physical place that allows them to be happier, healthier and more productive. The site is chockablock with a community of people with the same vision—like-minded and successful individuals who all believe in the world Lakhiani began visualizing when he was in his 20s and has since manifested into personal and professional growth and

What Is My Net Worth?

Knowing if you’re getting ahead or falling behind with your money can be challenging, but understanding your net worth can be a great way to help you see where you stand. While it might sound intimidating, calculating your net worth is an easy way to see a broad view of your financial situation. Many people focus on one or two areas of their finances but don’t stop to look at the big picture and confirm that they’re moving in the right direction overall. Periodically calculating your net worth can help you see trends and allow you to make corrections when things start going off track. What is net worth? Your net worth is what’s left over after you combine all of your assets and subtract your combined liabilities. Your net worth can be positive or negative, or your assets and debt might equal each other, making your net worth zero. You generally want it to be as high as possible, meaning that your assets exceed any debt or liabilities you carry.  If your net worth is: Positive :

Business Showers: An Entrepreneurial Spin on a Time-Honored Tradition

On June 26, 2021, Jenny Weigle and several of her closest friends gathered at The Penthouse at Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California. Her friend Caroline Ma had organized a shower in Weigle’s honor. The women enjoyed a three-course meal overlooking a gorgeous view of the Santa Monica oceanfront. There was a registry, gifts and even favors. It was a “magical and special gathering,” Weigle will never forget. But Weigle didn’t receive a toaster, china or even diapers that day. The women weren’t gathered to celebrate a wedding. They weren’t there to celebrate a baby. They were there for a business shower. Business showers have reimagined a longstanding tradition. They take the shape of a baby or bridal shower, but steer away from the domestic and into the professional. They are a celebration to honor an entrepreneur and their business venture.  “A business shower is a way for someone to invite their friends, family and supporters to come out for an event where they can share more

Brian Kelly, aka The Points Guy, on Living in the Moment and What Motivates Him

The Points Guy (TPG) tells you everything you need to know about getting the most out of loyalty programs , credit card points or airline rewards. And The Points Guy’s name is actually Brian Kelly. He founded his company in 2010, motivated by his experiences traveling the globe and trying to maximize the vast array of reward points available from airlines , hotels and credit card companies. Now a travel and lifestyle media platform, The Points Guy covers everything from how to reach elite airline status to the best hotels for every type of traveler to the best cash-back offers for credit card holders. One thing I try to do every day is… spend one-on-one time with my son and take in each moment , since they grow so fast! I describe my vibe as… relaxed. I try not to get too stressed by things and always plan for the worst . (Like bringing snacks on airplanes for when you’re delayed!) I feel most alive when… I’m at home on my farm in New Hope, Pennsylvania, riding my incredible hor

Made, Not Born? How to Raise a New Generation of Leaders

You practice soccer drills in the driveway, stay up all night helping perfect a science fair project and pay for a pitching coach for your future All Star. Are you also interested in building and encouraging the leadership skills of the young people in your life? Here are some simple steps to take now to raise leaders, and the benefits of doing so early on.  The need for raising good leaders Innovating to solve a societal issue, creating a product that elicits joy or introducing a process that eases life for millions: the world needs leaders to shepherd ideas , motivate other employees and inspire greatness. And teaching those skills to the youngest members of society affords them years to grow into strong leaders. Chicago-based Brett Geeser is a father of two (Grace, 5, and Charlie, 20 months) and the head of paid search for Crossmedia. This school year, Geeser and his wife received positive feedback from Grace’s teachers about how she was exhibiting good leadership traits , even a

Rethinking Work Perks: 5 Things Employees Want More Than ‘Fun’ At Work

The days of ping-pong tables and free snacks as the primary perks for attracting top talent are fading. As the modern workplace continues to evolve, it’s becoming increasingly clear that employees’ priorities are shifting from traditional perks at work to more meaningful benefits that foster professional growth, work-life balance and employee well-being. “Benefits shouldn’t be just a tool for recruitment; they are a way to retain employees and increase the stability/health of an organization,” says Kate Lamb, an account executive for a public relations firm.  5 perks employees would rather have at work This sentiment hits the core of why traditional perks at work are no longer appealing: Employees value companies that recognize their employees’ priorities. Here are five ways companies can better serve their employees. 1. Instead of company happy hours, consider flexible work schedules. It’s no surprise that flexibility is growing in importance. Envoy’s “ Return to the Workplace R

How to Recognize and Prevent Toxic Work Environments

Company culture matters. In fact, it’s one of the most significant factors  that younger generations consider when deciding to stay at or apply for a job. Unfortunately, it’s also something managers may neglect until it starts to cause problems. If their approach centers around pain points, issues are likely addressed as they arise, while their causes are ignored. Doing so may create a cycle of recurring crises that scare away applicants and wear down existing employees, ultimately harming retention and productivity. These conditions favor the development of a toxic work environment, which can seriously undermine your company’s success. Many employees won’t tolerate these environments for long: Data from MIT Sloan Management Review indicates that “a toxic culture is 10.4 times more likely to contribute to attrition than compensation.” Why toxic work environments are bad It’s no surprise that toxicity often leads to worse financial performance, lower engagement and employee attriti

The Savannah Bananas Created Their Own Version of Baseball by Putting Fans First

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The home team is in vivid yellow—except for the pitcher, whose pants are around his ankles. The batter is trying to ignore the Fruit of the Loom underpants on the mound, but the infielder krumping at second base is no less intimidating. The packed house at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia, has no idea what will happen next. The players aren’t the only ones off-kilter here (though some of them are wearing kilts). The team’s cheerleading squad, the Man-Nanas, is composed of men with dad bods. The dance troupe, the Banana Nanas, is designed for grooving grandmas over the age of 65. The umpire’s third strike call is to spontaneously start flossing, dougie-ing or powering down like a robot. The whole ballpark smells like a banana cream soda. I’d say this is a normal evening of Banana Ball , but “normal” is a risky word to use around the Savannah Bananas. The head of the bunch is Jesse Cole. He’s the club’s owner and founder, but you won’t find him sitting in the owner’s suite. As a

What 3 CEOs Learned After Spending a Day in Their Employees’ Shoes

You might remember watching episodes of Undercover Boss , the television show that had leaders and CEOs doing everything from trudging around in sewers and serving food alongside their employees. Recently, some CEOs and other C-suite leaders have been reviving the philosophy from that reality show, jumping on this trend of getting in the so-called trenches with employees to better understand their own companies. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi spent not just a day but several months working as an Uber driver in San Francisco. The Wall Street Journal reported in early April how he jumped behind the wheel of a modest secondhand gray Tesla using the name “Dave K.,” only to report back that he agreed with drivers’ complaints—“The whole experience was pretty clunky,” he said in the article. Since that experience, he’s using his new knowledge of how things really work on the literal street level to create a company-wide “transformation,” including a better tipping policy and improved communicat

25 Personal and Professional Development Influencers to Follow

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Becoming the best version of yourself can be a lifelong journey—one that requires time, patience and a willingness to grow and change. And it can start on Instagram. No, really: Many of the top minds in personal and professional development can be found on multiple social media platforms, where they share their hard-earned wisdom and experiences with their millions of followers. It’s like having a professional conference in your pocket every day, complete with keynote speakers, roundtable discussions and seminars from leading experts. Want to know who to follow? We’ve rounded up 25 of the best personal and professional development influencers—some household names and some rising stars—so you can start scrolling and liking with a purpose. 1. Brené Brown Instagram: @brenebrown (4.6M followers) Twitter: @brenebrown (974K followers) TikTok: @brenebrown (661K followers) You might know Brené Brown from her viral 2010 TED Talk, “The power of vulnerability,” which is one of the m