Where were you on 9/11? What do you remember about the exact moment you heard the news or saw the events unfolding on television? Now think again, are you sure? Were you really at the office or on the street, in a restaurant having coffee? In a study begun shortly following 9/11/2001, researchers asked people these very questions. One year, five years and ten years later, they repeated the same and found that in the years that followed, 40% changed their stories. It is fascinating how the human mind works and takes in details from various locations such as news media and others around us. So, where were you actually on this day fourteen years ago?
When I Say, “End-of-Year Review” How Does That Make You Feel?
Earlier this year I posted an article citing all the issues with employee end-of-year reviews, What if you could replace performance evaluations with four simple questions? In this Forbes spot, The Real Problem Isn’t Annual Employee Reviews – It’s Simply Management, Victor Lipman suggests that end-of-year reviews are actually a good tool as long as there is adequate communication with employees throughout the year. What do you think? Read both articles and see if either change your opinion.
To the Ends of the Earth: High Plains to Patagonia
Today I have a book recommendation for you from an author whom I’ve known for many years. Check it out by following the link below!
To the Ends of the Earth: High Plains to Patagonia
—-On the road to seek work in the cotton fields of Texas, an old Ford Model T truck breaks down and forces a change of destination that ultimately leads the protagonists to the Argentine Patagonia. Follow the anecdote-driven story of a devoted couple who spent their childhood in the U.S. Southwest during the Great Depression, met and married during World War II, and together undertook a lifelong journey of adventure and service.
Fire Up The Grill?
Did you know that America throws out literally tons of coffee grounds per day? Rich Bruins, a once college minister who took a group of students on mission to Guatemala, a huge coffee producer, discovered a way to re-make parts of the coffee waste. With some slight changes, he has brought his idea to the US in the form of Coffee Coals, which outperform charcoal in ignition and BTUs. Want to know more, check out the whole article, This Morning’s Coffee Grounds Could Be the Fuel to Cook Tonight’s Dinner. Ever imagine that coffee would fuel more than your caffeine addiction?
Industry Standard Paid Leave
If you are/were a working mother, how long was your maternity leave? Did your spouse also receive any time off after your child’s birth? Although some companies have been offering parental leave for many years, it’s nothing like what is happening at Netflix who is now becoming an industry leader for offering any new parents paid leave during the entire first year of their child’s life. Sound amazing and a little crazy? Well, it’s based on research showing that employees who are not worried about home life are more efficient and productive. Imagine being able to have your cake and eat it too.
Summer Job 101
This article is good because it addresses a range of ages in the “newly employed” category. 5 Financial Tips for Newly-Employed Young People offers these ideas to best utilize money earned:
Save! Save! Save!
Learn to Budget
Get Creative
Avoid Debt
Ask For Help
Advice we should all heed, no matter where we are in our careers.
Bureaucracy, Autocracy, Holacracy?
Holacracy is a new business model that strives to offer every employee a voice. But can a large business function in this way? Is the transition to such a new and different model too much for workers to handle? Could it be that even as independent adults we still desire to have a boss?
At Zappos, Pushing Shoes and a Vision
Money Matters
Ready for your European vacation? There are so many amazing places to visit and sights to see, but did you know that with these seven simple tips you can make your trip run more smoothly and even save money? Emma Miller on DailyFinance.com offers some great ideas in her article, Travel Checklist: 7 Money To-Dos to Tackle Before Your Trip. A must read before your vacation of a lifetime this summer!
Bonus! Now What?
Bonus! What is the first thought that comes to mind?
Make this additional money work hard for you by following Allison Martin’s eight simple steps. Don’t worry, one is all about spending a little on yourself!
1. Tackle Credit Card Debt
2. Get Caught Up on Past Due Bills
3. Boost Your Emergency Fund
4. Beef Up Your Nest Egg Or Other Investments
5. Establish A College Fund
6. Home Improvements
7. Be Charitable
8. Live A Little
8 Wise Money Moves to Make With Your Bonus
Spending Plans to Achieve Your Dreams
In this 2013 article by Stacy Johnson, founder of Money Talks News, he shares ways to develop a spending plan for your life that will help drive you toward your goals. Stacy suggests thinking backward to specific, fulfilling experiences and creating your plan of action based on the happy moments in your life. Once you have a clear idea of what you want, the spending plan is no longer about deprivation but about achieving your dreams.