New Year’s Resolutions

We do it every year. Most make resolutions to improve our physical condition or our way of being in the new year and most are unsuccessful at making those changes. (For a process to improve your success rate, see my blog post “For Success, Go to the “SPA” twice a day.”)

Dear Abby recognizes we give up easily when it appears a task is never ending, so every year on January 1st she prints a set of resolutions that she asks that we make just for today. Many of these are worth taking to the “SPA!”  (Warning, for greatest success, work on no more than two resolutions at a time).

If retirement is one of your Resolution, beware! Recent research indicates that if you take Social Security before full retirement age your chances of premature death increase by a shocking percentage. Find out more at “Retiring Early Just Might Kill You.”

Career Success – After Determination, Grit, and Talent

We make New Year’s resolutions to create better versions of ourselves personally and professionally. Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers” concluded that even for the most successful among us, “no one does it alone.” Talent is not enough; hard work is not enough; what you know is not enough.  What else is needed? It turns out who you know and interact with is a vital ingredient: Networks matter.

To wit: one writer took a hard look at the career of one of the most successful people of our age: the late Steve Jobs. Much has been written about Jobs but this commentator, after in-depth study of Job’s career, concludes that his networks, and how they were structured, were an indispensable key to his impressive contributions. Equally important is that it’s the right kind of people. If I know a lot of people but they’re all like me, I’m not likely to learn much that’s new.

In 2018, you may wish to think about new relationships and how you structure and manage them. Learn more about what network science say is a huge predictor of career success. Share this with the young people in your life just starting their careers.

How to Read a Book Every Day  (In 20 Minutes or Fewer)

Every year, many of us vow to read more in the coming year. But there is so much to read and so little time. Moreover, we can’t always be sure that a particular book, even if well written, will meet our particular needs until we’re well into it.

You may be able to read more books and do so more effectively with Blinkist. This site summarizes the best non-fiction books in both written and audio formats so that you can review any one of them in 20 minutes or less. You can get the major ideas quickly and if one resonates with you, you can confidently invest the time for a deeper read/study of the full book. You’ll also get a recommendation of a new book every day. Take advantage of the free trial!

9 Trends and 10X Disruption

The problem with technology is that most of us rely on it, but few of us fully understand how it works or what is coming next. If you’re a C-Level executive, here’s a list of 9 unstoppable technology trends that you’re likely to be already caught up in and/or will impact your business in the near term. How many are you are aware of? Are they threats, opportunities or both?

For those who like technology stories about real disruption, check out the predictions of one Stanford Scientist who argues that “the Electric Vehicle, battery storage, and solar power, along with autonomous vehicles, are a perfect example of a 10x exponential process which will wipe fossil fuels off the market in about a decade.”  This video is not just about cars and energy, but is a great primer for all on what disruption really looks like.

Econ Recon

Check out the ITR Economics blog for three quick and insightful entries:  Amazon Fact and Fiction; The Consumer Saves Christmas;  and Taxes and Home Ownership.