“One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch, girl” is a puzzling aphorism, but perhaps the Osmonds were just being hopeful. Eighteenth-century inventor Benjamin Franklin saw it the other way — “the rotten apple spoils his companion”. Apples give off ethylene, so as one rots, the others begin to as well, and before you know it, […]
Did you know October 16 was Boss Appreciation Day? Neither did I. Is it a date to add to your calendar? Maybe not. Even in the US where it’s a recognised day, a qualitative survey by Olivet Nazarene University found while the majority of respondents have their boss’ number on speed dial, they don’t follow them on […]
If you have a good friend for a colleague you are more likely to be engaged and satisfied at work. Part of being happy at work is having at least a few colleagues with whom you get along well with. For some, these constitute true friendships that transcend location, circumstance and peer level. But for many […]
Glass half full or glass half empty? Why, glass half full, according to some. Norman Vincent Peale and before him Dale Carnegie made their fortunes extolling the power of positive thinking many years ago, and their influence has pervaded workplaces all across the world. Carnegie’s philosophy went beyond simplistic “don’t worry, be happy” mantras — his Depression-era book How […]
You’ve worked hard to get where you are, therefore you’re entitled … to what? Does it depend on what and how you deliver? An interesting survey of the top 50 chief executives looks at people who have delivered the best results for their respective companies over the long term. We are talking in terms of […]
Graphic with permission from Digital Third Coast and Kempler Industries A fascinating study has analysed the world’s top 200 startups to better understand what types of businesses are trending and which countries produce them. Conducted by Digital Third Coast, the study categorised businesses based on the product or service they provide end users. Of the 200, the top […]
Peer education is powerful. Sometimes you learn so much more from a colleague who’s been on the job longer than you, than from a designated trainer, a guru giving a TED Talk or that well-remunerated speaker who was brought in to rev up your business breakfast. Peer-based learning Decades ago the phrase “sitting by Nellie” […]
It’s the new financial year (yay!) but let’s face it, making EOFY (end of financial year) resolutions is not much different to those you promise you’ll do over a champagne on New Year’s Eve. Yes, you will be better, yes, you’ll lose weight, yes, you’ll make more time for things that matter…. Well, assuming that […]
Nearly every day we read about a new startup. Someone clever “spotted a gap in the market”, and presto, they’re running a multimillion-dollar business selling the latest gadget to kids or maybe another pre-packaged healthy meals option for time-pressured parents. Then, some months later, you hear about the bust, and (sometimes) the lawsuits that follow. […]
