Morning Advantage: Where You'll Want to Live By 2032
HBR.org 2012-07-13
According to a recent Gallup study, those of us who live east of the Mississippi River should take inspiration from our wagon-hitching ancestors and head to the West North Central. If Gallup’s predictions hold up, these states — Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, or Kansas -— will have the highest livability ratings by 2032. These states have the brightest future, says Dave Witters, because residents “have the highest economic confidence in the nation.” Other factors that contribute to the region’s high ranking are full-time employment and job creation. More nebulous rubrics — but no less important — include residents’ opportunities for daily learning, their optimism in their cities, and their relationship with their supervisors. Witters suggests that states looking to increase their future livability should focus on one thing: recruit and foster entrepreneurs. Why? "They exhibit a thirst for new ideas and innovation while demonstrating a willingness to act on their ideas and modify their business models over time.” They create jobs too.
It's My Office and I'll Cry If I Want To (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Is crying in the office acceptable? It’s a question that just won't go away. But one thing is for certain, notes Claire Suddath, tears aren’t a sign of weakness. In fact, the consensus among researchers is that emotional tears serve a positive function — they’re stress reducers. So why the stigma? Most of us — men and women — don’t really know how to deal with someone who’s crying. It makes us uncomfortable. So some good news for those who suffer bouts of uncontrollable tears: It’s not you — it’s us.
What Type of Worker Are You? Your Next Boss May Want to Know (Time Moneyland)
Plain and simple: Employee boredom is bad for business. But can you really gauge a person’s likely engagement during the hiring process? Their résumés don’t help much and you certainly can't take their word for it. Still, employers who are successful at gauging motivation end up with fully-engaged employees who outperform their peers. One metric for finding a good fit is the Holland Codes, which rank prospective hires in six vocational categories (such as team-oriented Helpers and hands-on Doers). The categories are based on the type of work that intrigues applicants the most — not the job titles. — By Carla Yengo-Kahn
Stand Up
Sitting Hours a Day Can Shorten Your Life (American Public Media) Interview: Andrew Zolli on Resilient Thinking (Wired) The Rise of the One Year MBA (Poets & Quants)