We're Only Human...
The Power of Backward Thinking
Monday, May 18, 2009
By Wray Herbert
Excerpts:
Our bodies shape our emotions and thoughts and language. Just consider a few common phrases: He was a forward thinker. She is way ahead of her time. We are an advanced civilization. Like locomotion, our minds seem naturally to value what lies in front of us.
Psychologists think this powerful bias may have deep evolutionary roots. Forward motion is what our ancient ancestors did when they felt safe, unthreatened. When they confronted something aversive or perilous, they would retreat. Over eons our evolving brain added layer upon layer of emotion to these deep-wired impulses to approach and avoid.
A team of Dutch psychologists took this basic idea and ran with it. If avoidance and retreat have to do with danger, they wondered, is it possible that backward motion might actually recruit more brain power than forward motion? If threats are problems to be solved, shouldn’t actual and emotional retreat require greater concentration and attention? They decided to explore this possibility in the lab.
The results, reported in the May issue of the journal Psychological Science, were intriguing. Those who had walked just a few steps backward were far more focused and attentive than were any of the others. That is, their physical retreat triggered increased mental control—presumably because of the ancient link between threat and vigilance. Confronted with a problem or difficulty, it made be advisable to take a step back and think about the situation—literally.
Read full article: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/onlyhuman/
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Should Everyone Play By Your Rules? | Psychology Today Blogs
Should Everyone Play By Your Rules? Psychology Today Blogs
By Jane Bolton, Psy.D., M.F.T., C.C. on May 29, 2009 - 11:33am in Your Zesty Self
Excerpts:
With people, it is often more difficult to tell the difference between what we have the power to influence and what we don't. And, if we are not clear about the limitations of our power, we expect the impossible from ourselves. The result is exasperation, helplessness and resentment. All of which drain our zest.
A common source of personal power leakage is in trying to enforce our standards, and our rules, on other people. We may, consciously or unconsciously, expect others to live by our own rules and standards.
We have several choices when we are constantly distressed by another's actions or inactions. One of the choices is, of course, to have no further interaction with the other. Another, is to communicate calmly and clearly your distress and to ask for a behavior change. When all else has failed, and you don't want to leave the relationship or keep harping on your request, adjusting your expectations is necessary.
Common unenforceable rules include the following: People have to tell me the truth. They have to be fair to me. My parents have to stop criticizing me. Other people shouldn't judge me. Life has to be easy. My partner has to give me an anniversary card. She has to care for me the way I want to be cared for.
How to Challenge Your Unenforceable Rules for Others
Here are 7 steps to follow to improve your power leakage.
1. Acknowledge that you are upset and name what you are feeling.
2. Recognize that your upset is partly because you are trying to enforce an unenforceable rule.
3. Realize that you, more than the other person, are the one with the distress about the problem.
4. Articulate the unenforceable rule that is at the core of your upset.
5. Commit to consciously change your demands demanding and shift to thinking about what it is that you want or need.
6. Focus on finding your positive intention behind the demand or grievance.
7. Now work towards accomplishing your goal.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-zesty-self/200905/should-everyone-play-your-rules
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By Jane Bolton, Psy.D., M.F.T., C.C. on May 29, 2009 - 11:33am in Your Zesty Self
Excerpts:
With people, it is often more difficult to tell the difference between what we have the power to influence and what we don't. And, if we are not clear about the limitations of our power, we expect the impossible from ourselves. The result is exasperation, helplessness and resentment. All of which drain our zest.
A common source of personal power leakage is in trying to enforce our standards, and our rules, on other people. We may, consciously or unconsciously, expect others to live by our own rules and standards.
We have several choices when we are constantly distressed by another's actions or inactions. One of the choices is, of course, to have no further interaction with the other. Another, is to communicate calmly and clearly your distress and to ask for a behavior change. When all else has failed, and you don't want to leave the relationship or keep harping on your request, adjusting your expectations is necessary.
Common unenforceable rules include the following: People have to tell me the truth. They have to be fair to me. My parents have to stop criticizing me. Other people shouldn't judge me. Life has to be easy. My partner has to give me an anniversary card. She has to care for me the way I want to be cared for.
How to Challenge Your Unenforceable Rules for Others
Here are 7 steps to follow to improve your power leakage.
1. Acknowledge that you are upset and name what you are feeling.
2. Recognize that your upset is partly because you are trying to enforce an unenforceable rule.
3. Realize that you, more than the other person, are the one with the distress about the problem.
4. Articulate the unenforceable rule that is at the core of your upset.
5. Commit to consciously change your demands demanding and shift to thinking about what it is that you want or need.
6. Focus on finding your positive intention behind the demand or grievance.
7. Now work towards accomplishing your goal.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-zesty-self/200905/should-everyone-play-your-rules
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
CEO Succession 2008: Stability in the Storm (Booz & Company)
Record display: "CEO Succession 2008: Stability in the Storm"
Booze & Company, Strategy+Business
Publish Date:
March 11, 2009
Author(s):
Karlsson, Per-Ola; Neilson, Gary
Note From Jim: This report offers great insight into (1) Current trends and turnover rates in CEO succession (2) Demographics, functional career paths, and educational backgrounds of incoming and outgoing CEO's (3) The progression of separating CEO and Chairman roles (4) Seven action steps for incoming CEO's and (5) Important considerations for developing new leaders. I strongly encourage a read of this report.
Excerpts:
Seven Actions for the New CEO
1. Declare a new day.
2. Establish priorities.
3. Affirm or change the team
4. Establish boundaries
5. Keep an ear to the market.
6. Get to know the unknown.
7. Engage the board
Abstract:
Facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, corporate boards in North America and Europe are holding fast to their current CEOs, finds management consulting firm Booz & Company in its 2008 annual survey of CEO turnover. The decline in succession rates in these two regions contrasts with the slight rise in chief executive departures globally. The financial services and energy sectors, most affected by the turmoil of 2008, saw outsized increases in CEO exits spurred not only by performance, but also by government interventions and volatility in commodity markets, respectively.
Related Industries:
Aerospace, Automotive, Chemicals, Consumer Products, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government Departments & Ministries, Health, Industrials, Media & Entertainment, Natural Resources, NGOs, Nonprofits & Associations, Oil & Gas, Private Equity, Retail, Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation
Related Capabilities:
Strategy & Leadership"
Download PDF: http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/CEO_Succession_2008.pdf
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Booze & Company, Strategy+Business
Publish Date:
March 11, 2009
Author(s):
Karlsson, Per-Ola; Neilson, Gary
Note From Jim: This report offers great insight into (1) Current trends and turnover rates in CEO succession (2) Demographics, functional career paths, and educational backgrounds of incoming and outgoing CEO's (3) The progression of separating CEO and Chairman roles (4) Seven action steps for incoming CEO's and (5) Important considerations for developing new leaders. I strongly encourage a read of this report.
Excerpts:
Seven Actions for the New CEO
1. Declare a new day.
2. Establish priorities.
3. Affirm or change the team
4. Establish boundaries
5. Keep an ear to the market.
6. Get to know the unknown.
7. Engage the board
Abstract:
Facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, corporate boards in North America and Europe are holding fast to their current CEOs, finds management consulting firm Booz & Company in its 2008 annual survey of CEO turnover. The decline in succession rates in these two regions contrasts with the slight rise in chief executive departures globally. The financial services and energy sectors, most affected by the turmoil of 2008, saw outsized increases in CEO exits spurred not only by performance, but also by government interventions and volatility in commodity markets, respectively.
Related Industries:
Aerospace, Automotive, Chemicals, Consumer Products, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government Departments & Ministries, Health, Industrials, Media & Entertainment, Natural Resources, NGOs, Nonprofits & Associations, Oil & Gas, Private Equity, Retail, Technology, Telecommunications, Transportation
Related Capabilities:
Strategy & Leadership"
Download PDF: http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/CEO_Succession_2008.pdf
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
What next? Ten questions for CFOs - The McKinsey Quarterly - Ten questions for CFOs - Corporate Finance - Capital Management
What next? Ten questions for CFOs - The McKinsey Quarterly - Ten questions for CFOs - Corporate Finance - Capital Management
What next? Ten questions for CFOs >
As companies shift their attention from fighting the crisis to getting the most from the recovery, CFOs must keep them focused.>MAY 2009 • David Cogman, Richard Dobbs, and Massimo Giordano >
Source: Corporate Finance Practice >
Excerpts:>
So the CFO’s judgment will be critical to push the management team’s thinking on the opportunities and to cast a dispassionate eye over the costs, benefits, and risks of pursuing them. Here are ten questions we think all CFOs should be asking themselves and their executive colleagues as the recovery approaches. Read the questions and tell us what you think a CFO’s priorities should be coming out of the crisis.>
1. What shape will a recovery take?
2. Have you restructured enough?
3. Is your supply chain sufficiently flexible?
4. Do you have a short list of acquisition targets ready?
5. Should you restart conversations with potential alliance partners?
6. Are you ready to divest newly underperforming businesses?
7. Do you have the financial resources needed for an upturn?
8. Have you taken advantage of the buyers’ market for talent and other resources?
9. Do you know what risks a recovery might bring?
10. Can you sell your recovery plan to investors? >
A few big ideas that become realities will be worth much more than a dozen that don’t quite get off the launching pad. Thoughtful CFOs will ask themselves which handful of bets could have the biggest payoffs and then mobilize the bulk of their time, capital, and resources to make those bets succeed. >
Read Full article: http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/What_next_ten_questions_for_CFOs_2360
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
What next? Ten questions for CFOs >
As companies shift their attention from fighting the crisis to getting the most from the recovery, CFOs must keep them focused.>MAY 2009 • David Cogman, Richard Dobbs, and Massimo Giordano >
Source: Corporate Finance Practice >
Excerpts:>
So the CFO’s judgment will be critical to push the management team’s thinking on the opportunities and to cast a dispassionate eye over the costs, benefits, and risks of pursuing them. Here are ten questions we think all CFOs should be asking themselves and their executive colleagues as the recovery approaches. Read the questions and tell us what you think a CFO’s priorities should be coming out of the crisis.>
1. What shape will a recovery take?
2. Have you restructured enough?
3. Is your supply chain sufficiently flexible?
4. Do you have a short list of acquisition targets ready?
5. Should you restart conversations with potential alliance partners?
6. Are you ready to divest newly underperforming businesses?
7. Do you have the financial resources needed for an upturn?
8. Have you taken advantage of the buyers’ market for talent and other resources?
9. Do you know what risks a recovery might bring?
10. Can you sell your recovery plan to investors? >
A few big ideas that become realities will be worth much more than a dozen that don’t quite get off the launching pad. Thoughtful CFOs will ask themselves which handful of bets could have the biggest payoffs and then mobilize the bulk of their time, capital, and resources to make those bets succeed. >
Read Full article: http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/What_next_ten_questions_for_CFOs_2360
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Gilbert Lab Homepage - Our capricious reaction to different threats—from tooth decay to anthrax to climate change.
Gilbert Lab Homepage - Our capricious reaction to different threats—from tooth decay to anthrax to climate change.
Video (14 minutes, 18 seconds) : Dan Gilbert, PHd, Harvard - He explores our capricious reaction to different threats—from tooth decay to anthrax to climate change.
Threats That Get Immediate Reaction - Pain: Personal, Abrupt, Immoral & Now
http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~dtg/gilbert.htm
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Video (14 minutes, 18 seconds) : Dan Gilbert, PHd, Harvard - He explores our capricious reaction to different threats—from tooth decay to anthrax to climate change.
Threats That Get Immediate Reaction - Pain: Personal, Abrupt, Immoral & Now
http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~dtg/gilbert.htm
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Monday, May 25, 2009
For Jim Collins, No Question Is Too Big - NYTimes.com
For Jim Collins, No Question Is Too Big - NYTimes.com
For This Guru [Jim Collins of "Built To Last" and "Good To Great" Fame], No Question Is Too Big
By ADAM BRYANT
Published: May 23, 2009
Excerpts:
Rather than presenting silver-bullet formulas that are easily forgotten, Mr. Collins’s books offer tangible frameworks for understanding why organizations succeed. His winning streak is about to be tested with his just-released book, which takes a turn, as he says, to the “dark side,” focusing on why companies fail. At any other time, it would seem a long shot, in that it lacks the upbeat message of his previous books. But his timing, given the number of once-great companies now in ruin, couldn’t have been better.
He started researching his new book, titled “How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In,” in 2005. Back then, the Dow Jones index had passed 10,000 and was still climbing, eventually to more than 14,000, and Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, General Motors and Fannie Mae still had bright futures.
Now the stages of decline that he maps out in the book — hubris born of success; undisciplined pursuit of more; denial of risk and peril; grasping for salvation with a quick, big solution; and capitulation to irrelevance or death — offer a kind of instant autopsy for an economy on the stretcher.
He writes that he’s come to see institutional decline as a “staged disease” — harder to detect but easier to cure in the early stages — which is likely to foster a sense of corporate hypochondria in many readers.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/business/24collins.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=For%20this%20guru,%20no%20question%20is%20too%20big&st=cse
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
For This Guru [Jim Collins of "Built To Last" and "Good To Great" Fame], No Question Is Too Big
By ADAM BRYANT
Published: May 23, 2009
Excerpts:
Rather than presenting silver-bullet formulas that are easily forgotten, Mr. Collins’s books offer tangible frameworks for understanding why organizations succeed. His winning streak is about to be tested with his just-released book, which takes a turn, as he says, to the “dark side,” focusing on why companies fail. At any other time, it would seem a long shot, in that it lacks the upbeat message of his previous books. But his timing, given the number of once-great companies now in ruin, couldn’t have been better.
He started researching his new book, titled “How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In,” in 2005. Back then, the Dow Jones index had passed 10,000 and was still climbing, eventually to more than 14,000, and Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, General Motors and Fannie Mae still had bright futures.
Now the stages of decline that he maps out in the book — hubris born of success; undisciplined pursuit of more; denial of risk and peril; grasping for salvation with a quick, big solution; and capitulation to irrelevance or death — offer a kind of instant autopsy for an economy on the stretcher.
He writes that he’s come to see institutional decline as a “staged disease” — harder to detect but easier to cure in the early stages — which is likely to foster a sense of corporate hypochondria in many readers.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/business/24collins.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=For%20this%20guru,%20no%20question%20is%20too%20big&st=cse
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
A But-Free Day | Psychology Today Blogs
A But-Free Day Psychology Today Blogs
[active-constructive responding]
By Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. on May 13, 2009 - 12:45pm in The Good Life
Excerpts:
According to research by psychologists Shelly Gable, Harry Reis, and colleagues (2004), the way couples respond to each other's good news influences the happiness and stability of their relationships, perhaps more so than how they respond to bad news. This finding is important because so much of couples counseling focuses on resolving conflicts, fighting fairly, and being assertive.
In particular, active-constructive responding is beneficial. When someone comes home with what he or she regards as good news, how does the other person respond upon hearing it? Active-constructive responding is enthusiastic and engaged.
The recommendation follows that people in relationships should use more active-constructive responding. Sounds simple, but proves difficult. I know this because over the years, I have asked students in my classes to try active-constructive responding for a week, not just with their romantic partners but with people in general.
Given the difficulty in active-constructive responding, at least for those of us who lack the style in our repertoire, I devised a simpler intervention that can be described as active-constructive light. When someone relates good news, respond without using the word but. The generalized version of this intervention is to go through an entire day without using the word but or any of its close cousins like however, whereas, yet, then again, and on the other hand. I call this a but-free day, which sounds like an exercise video. Rather than toning up your rear end, this exercise should tone up your relationships.
Read full post including examples: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200905/free-day
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
[active-constructive responding]
By Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. on May 13, 2009 - 12:45pm in The Good Life
Excerpts:
According to research by psychologists Shelly Gable, Harry Reis, and colleagues (2004), the way couples respond to each other's good news influences the happiness and stability of their relationships, perhaps more so than how they respond to bad news. This finding is important because so much of couples counseling focuses on resolving conflicts, fighting fairly, and being assertive.
In particular, active-constructive responding is beneficial. When someone comes home with what he or she regards as good news, how does the other person respond upon hearing it? Active-constructive responding is enthusiastic and engaged.
The recommendation follows that people in relationships should use more active-constructive responding. Sounds simple, but proves difficult. I know this because over the years, I have asked students in my classes to try active-constructive responding for a week, not just with their romantic partners but with people in general.
Given the difficulty in active-constructive responding, at least for those of us who lack the style in our repertoire, I devised a simpler intervention that can be described as active-constructive light. When someone relates good news, respond without using the word but. The generalized version of this intervention is to go through an entire day without using the word but or any of its close cousins like however, whereas, yet, then again, and on the other hand. I call this a but-free day, which sounds like an exercise video. Rather than toning up your rear end, this exercise should tone up your relationships.
Read full post including examples: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200905/free-day
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Scientists discover area of brain that makes a 'people person' | Eureka! Science News
Scientists discover area of brain that makes a 'people person' Eureka! Science News
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 19:00 in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: brain structure emotional warmth magnetic resonance imaging mri scientists using magnetic resonance imaging ventral striatum
Cambridge University researchers have discovered that whether someone is a 'people-person' may depend on the structure of their brain: the greater the concentration of brain tissue in certain parts of the brain, the more likely they are to be a warm, sentimental person. Why is it that some of us really enjoy the company of others while some people are detached and independent? In an effort to explore these questions, Maël Lebreton and colleagues from the Cambridge Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with Oulu University, Finland, examined the relationship between personality and brain structure in 41 male volunteers.
The researchers then analysed the relationship between social reward dependence and the concentration of grey matter (brain-cell containing tissue) in different brain regions. They found that the greater the concentration of tissue in the orbitofrontal cortex (the outer strip of the brain just above the eyes), and in the ventral striatum (a deep structure in the centre of the brain), the higher they tended to score on the social reward dependence measure. The research is published in the European Journal of Neuroscience.
Dr Graham Murray, who is funded by the Medical Research Council and who led the research, said: "Sociability and emotional warmth are very complex features of our personality. This research helps us understand at a biological level why people differ in the degrees to which we express those traits." But he cautioned, "As this research is only correlational and cross-sectional, it cannot prove that brain structure determines personality. It could even be that your personality, through experience, helps in part to determine your brain structure."
Interestingly, the orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum have previously been shown to be important for the brain's processing of much simpler rewards like sweet tastes or sexual stimuli.
Dr Murray explained: "It's interesting that the degree to which we find social interaction rewarding relates to the structure of our brains in regions that are important for very simple biological drives such as food, sweet liquids and sex. Perhaps this gives us a clue to how complex features like sentimentality and affection evolved from structures that in lower animals originally were only important for basic biological survival processes."
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/scientists.discover.area.brain.makes.a.people.person
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 19:00 in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: brain structure emotional warmth magnetic resonance imaging mri scientists using magnetic resonance imaging ventral striatum
Cambridge University researchers have discovered that whether someone is a 'people-person' may depend on the structure of their brain: the greater the concentration of brain tissue in certain parts of the brain, the more likely they are to be a warm, sentimental person. Why is it that some of us really enjoy the company of others while some people are detached and independent? In an effort to explore these questions, Maël Lebreton and colleagues from the Cambridge Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with Oulu University, Finland, examined the relationship between personality and brain structure in 41 male volunteers.
The researchers then analysed the relationship between social reward dependence and the concentration of grey matter (brain-cell containing tissue) in different brain regions. They found that the greater the concentration of tissue in the orbitofrontal cortex (the outer strip of the brain just above the eyes), and in the ventral striatum (a deep structure in the centre of the brain), the higher they tended to score on the social reward dependence measure. The research is published in the European Journal of Neuroscience.
Dr Graham Murray, who is funded by the Medical Research Council and who led the research, said: "Sociability and emotional warmth are very complex features of our personality. This research helps us understand at a biological level why people differ in the degrees to which we express those traits." But he cautioned, "As this research is only correlational and cross-sectional, it cannot prove that brain structure determines personality. It could even be that your personality, through experience, helps in part to determine your brain structure."
Interestingly, the orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum have previously been shown to be important for the brain's processing of much simpler rewards like sweet tastes or sexual stimuli.
Dr Murray explained: "It's interesting that the degree to which we find social interaction rewarding relates to the structure of our brains in regions that are important for very simple biological drives such as food, sweet liquids and sex. Perhaps this gives us a clue to how complex features like sentimentality and affection evolved from structures that in lower animals originally were only important for basic biological survival processes."
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/scientists.discover.area.brain.makes.a.people.person
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
'Super-recognizers,' with extraordinary face recognition ability, never forget a face | Eureka! Science News
'Super-recognizers,' with extraordinary face recognition ability, never forget a face Eureka! Science News
'Super-recognizers,' with extraordinary face recognition ability, never forget a face
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 15:28
in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: face blindness face recognition postdoctoral researcher prosopagnosics university college london
Some people say they never forget a face, a claim now bolstered by psychologists at Harvard University who've discovered a group they call "super-recognizers": those who can easily recognize someone they met in passing, even many years later. The new study suggests that skill in facial recognition might vary widely among humans. Previous research has identified as much as 2 percent of the population as having "face-blindness," or prosopagnosia, a condition characterized by great difficulty in recognizing faces. For the first time, this new research shows that others excel in face recognition, indicating that the trait could be on a spectrum, with prosopagnosics on the low end and super-recognizers at the high end.
"There has been a default assumption that there is either normal face recognition, or there is disordered face recognition," says Russell. "This suggests that's not the case, that there is actually a very wide range of ability. It suggests a different model—a different way of thinking about face recognition ability, and possibly even other aspects of perception, in terms of a spectrum of abilities, rather than there being normal and disordered ability."
Super-recognizers report that they recognize other people far more often than they are recognized. For this reason, says Russell, they often compensate by pretending not to recognize someone they met in passing, so as to avoid appearing to attribute undue importance to a fleeting encounter.
If face recognition abilities do vary, testing for this may be important for assessing eyewitness testimony, or for interviewing for some jobs, such as security or those checking identification.
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/super.recognizers.with.extraordinary.face.recognition.ability.never.forget.a.face
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
'Super-recognizers,' with extraordinary face recognition ability, never forget a face
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 15:28
in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: face blindness face recognition postdoctoral researcher prosopagnosics university college london
Some people say they never forget a face, a claim now bolstered by psychologists at Harvard University who've discovered a group they call "super-recognizers": those who can easily recognize someone they met in passing, even many years later. The new study suggests that skill in facial recognition might vary widely among humans. Previous research has identified as much as 2 percent of the population as having "face-blindness," or prosopagnosia, a condition characterized by great difficulty in recognizing faces. For the first time, this new research shows that others excel in face recognition, indicating that the trait could be on a spectrum, with prosopagnosics on the low end and super-recognizers at the high end.
"There has been a default assumption that there is either normal face recognition, or there is disordered face recognition," says Russell. "This suggests that's not the case, that there is actually a very wide range of ability. It suggests a different model—a different way of thinking about face recognition ability, and possibly even other aspects of perception, in terms of a spectrum of abilities, rather than there being normal and disordered ability."
Super-recognizers report that they recognize other people far more often than they are recognized. For this reason, says Russell, they often compensate by pretending not to recognize someone they met in passing, so as to avoid appearing to attribute undue importance to a fleeting encounter.
If face recognition abilities do vary, testing for this may be important for assessing eyewitness testimony, or for interviewing for some jobs, such as security or those checking identification.
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/super.recognizers.with.extraordinary.face.recognition.ability.never.forget.a.face
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Sick of the same old thing? U of Minnesota researcher finds satiation solution | Eureka! Science News
Sick of the same old thing? U of Minnesota researcher finds satiation solution Eureka! Science News
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 10:44 in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: carlson school journal of consumer research researcher u of minnesota
Satiation is a friction. It prevents people from enjoying favorite activities and it prevents retailers from gaining repeat business. "The solution to satiation is to take the time to appreciate all the variety you have," said Redden. "The recommendation is straightforward: if consumers wish to keep enjoying their favorite experiences, then they should simply think of all the other related experiences they have recently had. So next time you get sick of healthy smoothies and think about grabbing a burger instead, try to recall all of the other drinks you have had since your last smoothie. Our findings suggest this will make your smoothie taste just a little bit better."
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/sick.same.old.thing.u.minnesota.researcher.finds.satiation.solution
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Published: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 10:44 in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: carlson school journal of consumer research researcher u of minnesota
Satiation is a friction. It prevents people from enjoying favorite activities and it prevents retailers from gaining repeat business. "The solution to satiation is to take the time to appreciate all the variety you have," said Redden. "The recommendation is straightforward: if consumers wish to keep enjoying their favorite experiences, then they should simply think of all the other related experiences they have recently had. So next time you get sick of healthy smoothies and think about grabbing a burger instead, try to recall all of the other drinks you have had since your last smoothie. Our findings suggest this will make your smoothie taste just a little bit better."
Read full article: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/05/19/sick.same.old.thing.u.minnesota.researcher.finds.satiation.solution
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Behavioral Economist Examines Interplay of Money, Morality and Rationality | Online NewsHour | May 20, 2009 | PBS
Behavioral Economist Examines Interplay of Money, Morality and Rationality Online NewsHour May 20, 2009 PBS
Video: Dan Airely on PBS (6 min 19 seconds)
Insightful!
Access streaming Video at PBS: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june09/rationalecon_05-20.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Video: Dan Airely on PBS (6 min 19 seconds)
Insightful!
Access streaming Video at PBS: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june09/rationalecon_05-20.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Stress May Impair Decision-Making | Psych Central News
Stress May Impair Decision-Making Psych Central News
Stress May Impair Decision-Making
By Rick Nauert, Ph.D. Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 21, 2008
Excerpts:
Although the premise seems intuitive, new research proves that a little bit of stress goes a long way and can have far-reaching effects. Neuroscientists from the University of Washington (UW) have found that a single exposure to uncontrollable stress impairs decision-making in rats for several days, making them unable to reliably seek out the larger of two rewards.
Lauren Jones, a psychology doctoral student working with Jeansok Kim, a UW associate professor of psychology, found that stressed rats took significantly longer to respond to a change in rewards given to them in a maze and their performances never matched those of other rats not exposed to stress.
Stress is known to contribute to a number of psychopathologies in humans including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and drug-use relapse.
Neuroscientists also know that stress affects cognition, and believe research exploring how it relates to learning, memory and decision making will help them understand potential problems stressed people experience in their daily lives.
“The stressed animals took longer to learn and weren’t adjusting their behavior in the maze,” said Jones. “From this research we can see the effects of stress on rats and how one episode of stress impairs their decision making for several days.
“We know humans have to make numerous higher-level decisions, some of which are complex and require deliberations. Rats are guided by survival, and seeking out the larger of two rewards for the same effort should be fundamentally easy. The fact that stress can have such an effect on a simple but critical task is amazing.”
Kim added: “Decision making, both large and small, is part of our lives. People are prone to make mistakes under stress.
Read full article: http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/11/21/stress-may-impair-decision-making/3390.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Stress May Impair Decision-Making
By Rick Nauert, Ph.D. Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 21, 2008
Excerpts:
Although the premise seems intuitive, new research proves that a little bit of stress goes a long way and can have far-reaching effects. Neuroscientists from the University of Washington (UW) have found that a single exposure to uncontrollable stress impairs decision-making in rats for several days, making them unable to reliably seek out the larger of two rewards.
Lauren Jones, a psychology doctoral student working with Jeansok Kim, a UW associate professor of psychology, found that stressed rats took significantly longer to respond to a change in rewards given to them in a maze and their performances never matched those of other rats not exposed to stress.
Stress is known to contribute to a number of psychopathologies in humans including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and drug-use relapse.
Neuroscientists also know that stress affects cognition, and believe research exploring how it relates to learning, memory and decision making will help them understand potential problems stressed people experience in their daily lives.
“The stressed animals took longer to learn and weren’t adjusting their behavior in the maze,” said Jones. “From this research we can see the effects of stress on rats and how one episode of stress impairs their decision making for several days.
“We know humans have to make numerous higher-level decisions, some of which are complex and require deliberations. Rats are guided by survival, and seeking out the larger of two rewards for the same effort should be fundamentally easy. The fact that stress can have such an effect on a simple but critical task is amazing.”
Kim added: “Decision making, both large and small, is part of our lives. People are prone to make mistakes under stress.
Read full article: http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/11/21/stress-may-impair-decision-making/3390.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us? | World of Psychology
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us? World of Psychology
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us?
By Summer Beretsky
May 18, 2009
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us?By Summer Beretsky May 18, 2009>
“How are you?” asked one of my co-workers as I walked into the office this morning.>
“Oh,” I said, “I’m exhausted. How are you?” >
And I can’t remember how she answered that question because I was too busy thinking about what I’d just told her about being exhausted. Was I really exhausted? Not so much, I determined, after a little more thought. I was a bit sleepy, maybe, but I’d gotten eight hours of sleep. Why did I tell her I was exhausted? >
Okay, grab a paper & pen. Give this little challenge a try: below, you’ll find several pairs of opposites. Some of them are grade-school simple; some are a little more complex. However, these are words that you probably use on a daily basis. Here’s the challenge: write down each of the below pair of opposites on a piece of paper. Then, write down a word — a SINGLE word — that accurately describes the middle ground between the pair of opposites. >
Example: hot and cold. A good answer here would be “warm”, “lukewarm”, or “temperate”. >
Ready? Promise not to scroll down until you complete this entire activity? Good. Okay, here we go:>
1. black and white2. large and small3. up and down4. left and right5. fast and slow6. easy and hard7. young and old8. loud and quiet9. good and bad10. near and far11. pass and fail12. happy and sad13. clean and dirty14. shy and outgoing15. calm and anxious>
Got your list? Alright, take a good look at all of the words you’ve written down. Do they have anything in common? If your list is anything like mine, all of the “middle ground” words are similar in a way: they’re all a bit muddy and bland. Let’s go over some possible answers: obviously, the color “gray” falls between black and white, and I’ll bet you wrote that one down. Where are you if you’re not left nor right? Well, you’re “moderate” or in the “center”. If you’re not young or old, perhaps you’re “middle-aged”. What if you’re buying a shirt and it’s not small or large? It’s probably a medium. >
Medium, middle-aged, moderate, average, gray. Maybe you even wrote the words “normal”, “so-so”, or “average” on your paper. Most writers try to avoid using these words & other gray-colored language altogether. (Unless they’re, um, writing a blog entry about those very words.)>
Did you have trouble nearing the end of the activity? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I couldn’t find any way to describe the middle ground between “shy and outgoing” or “calm and anxious” with a single word. Or even with a bunch of words. There’s no convenient word or phrase in the English language, it seems, to describe the middle ground between several sets of the polar opposites listed above. How does this deficiency of the English language harm us? >
Take a look at the word list again. How often do you use words like “happy and sad”? You’ve probably uttered most of them today without even realizing it. After all, simplifying our stories for others with polar words like “sad”, “bad”, and “far” is convenient. It’s easier for a student to lament that his or her research paper is “far” from being completed (especially if they’re seeking empathy) than to get into the details of exactly how much is done and how much is left to write. And we’re all guilty of watching a movie or reading the news and calling someone “the bad guy” — it sounds a lot more poignant than qualifying your statement & balancing it with a list of their positive attributes. Resorting to polar words (in cases where a middle-ground word would more accurately describe the situation) can change the truth of the situation that we are describing. >
Each of the above pairs of opposites (and many, many more) can induce dichotomous thinking. It’s commonly referred to as “black and white” thinking and it can have negative effects on the way we see ourselves or the situations that we are using language to describe. >
Back to my morning conversation with my co-worker: I told her I was exhausted, but it wasn’t a truthful statement. It’s not like I meant to lie to her. I mean, why would I lie about my level of tiredness? There’s no good reason for that. What I did do was unconsciously utilize dichotomous language. I exaggerated my own feelings of sleepiness. >
I’ll face it; I like being descriptive. And “exhausted” packs more of a verbal punch than words like “sleepy” and “drowsy.” But again, using dichotomous language boosts dichotomous thinking, and the latter is a type of cognitive distortion that can negatively influence the way you feel about yourself. If you’re dealing with anxiety, casual usage of extremely polar words can lead you to magnify thoughts and events through a distorted lens that can ultimately make you more anxious. >
Here’s a classic example: “I think I totally failed my math test.” The word “fail” falls at the polar end of the pass/fail continuum. If you find yourself saying or thinking something similar, stop. Step out of your brain for a second and engage in some meta-cognition, or thinking about thinking. How’d you come to the conclusion that you failed? Maybe you didn’t pass, but are you sure that you failed? Might your performance have fallen somewhere in the middle of pass and fail? >
Luckily, in academia, there are letter grades from A through F that can break down the continuum a bit & help you to avoid dichotomous thinking. But in other contexts, it’s not so easy: Let’s say you tell a friend that you’re feeling anxious. Perhaps you’re certain that you’re not calm, but how far from calm are you? Are you truly anxious — with a racing heart, rapid breathing, and sweaty palms — or are you somewhere in the middle of calm and anxious? >
How can you decrease your black and white thinking? The answer is pretty simple: remember to add shades of gray. >
There’s no good word to describe the middle ground in the above scenario with anxiety — not one that I can think of, at least — but if you can coin one, use it. Or, try using a number scale to describe where you fall on the calm/anxious continuum. If the worst anxiety you’ve ever felt is a 10, perhaps public speaking is only a 7 and thinking about a deadline at work is a 5. >
Try to catch yourself using this type of black-and-white thinking for the next few days. Jot down the situation in which you used an exaggerated word; then, take a step back, assess your word choice, and improve your story with a gray-colored word. You’re turning 40 today and you just called yourself old. How true is this? Do you know anyone who is older? Might you simply be middle-aged? You told yourself today that you’re shy; but, are you only shy in a particular situation? Where do you fall on the shyness scale of 1 to 10? >
Catching yourself using dichotomous thinking (and correcting yourself) can transform an unrealistic thought into a more truthful (and probably less stress-inducing) one. Unglamorous adjectives like “middle-aged” or “in-between” and low-impact phrases like “moderately shy” probably won’t win you any grand literary awards, but they do stand a good chance at helping you view the world through a more accurate lens.>
Summer Beretsky is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her Master of Arts degree in Communication. She enjoys writing about her experiences with anxiety, panic, and Paxil. She contributes to the World of Psychology blog here on PsychCentral has written for the Los Angeles Times. You can follow her on Twitter @summerberetsky.
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us?
By Summer Beretsky
May 18, 2009
Cognitive Distortion: How Does Black-and-White Thinking Hurt Us?By Summer Beretsky May 18, 2009>
“How are you?” asked one of my co-workers as I walked into the office this morning.>
“Oh,” I said, “I’m exhausted. How are you?” >
And I can’t remember how she answered that question because I was too busy thinking about what I’d just told her about being exhausted. Was I really exhausted? Not so much, I determined, after a little more thought. I was a bit sleepy, maybe, but I’d gotten eight hours of sleep. Why did I tell her I was exhausted? >
Okay, grab a paper & pen. Give this little challenge a try: below, you’ll find several pairs of opposites. Some of them are grade-school simple; some are a little more complex. However, these are words that you probably use on a daily basis. Here’s the challenge: write down each of the below pair of opposites on a piece of paper. Then, write down a word — a SINGLE word — that accurately describes the middle ground between the pair of opposites. >
Example: hot and cold. A good answer here would be “warm”, “lukewarm”, or “temperate”. >
Ready? Promise not to scroll down until you complete this entire activity? Good. Okay, here we go:>
1. black and white2. large and small3. up and down4. left and right5. fast and slow6. easy and hard7. young and old8. loud and quiet9. good and bad10. near and far11. pass and fail12. happy and sad13. clean and dirty14. shy and outgoing15. calm and anxious>
Got your list? Alright, take a good look at all of the words you’ve written down. Do they have anything in common? If your list is anything like mine, all of the “middle ground” words are similar in a way: they’re all a bit muddy and bland. Let’s go over some possible answers: obviously, the color “gray” falls between black and white, and I’ll bet you wrote that one down. Where are you if you’re not left nor right? Well, you’re “moderate” or in the “center”. If you’re not young or old, perhaps you’re “middle-aged”. What if you’re buying a shirt and it’s not small or large? It’s probably a medium. >
Medium, middle-aged, moderate, average, gray. Maybe you even wrote the words “normal”, “so-so”, or “average” on your paper. Most writers try to avoid using these words & other gray-colored language altogether. (Unless they’re, um, writing a blog entry about those very words.)>
Did you have trouble nearing the end of the activity? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I couldn’t find any way to describe the middle ground between “shy and outgoing” or “calm and anxious” with a single word. Or even with a bunch of words. There’s no convenient word or phrase in the English language, it seems, to describe the middle ground between several sets of the polar opposites listed above. How does this deficiency of the English language harm us? >
Take a look at the word list again. How often do you use words like “happy and sad”? You’ve probably uttered most of them today without even realizing it. After all, simplifying our stories for others with polar words like “sad”, “bad”, and “far” is convenient. It’s easier for a student to lament that his or her research paper is “far” from being completed (especially if they’re seeking empathy) than to get into the details of exactly how much is done and how much is left to write. And we’re all guilty of watching a movie or reading the news and calling someone “the bad guy” — it sounds a lot more poignant than qualifying your statement & balancing it with a list of their positive attributes. Resorting to polar words (in cases where a middle-ground word would more accurately describe the situation) can change the truth of the situation that we are describing. >
Each of the above pairs of opposites (and many, many more) can induce dichotomous thinking. It’s commonly referred to as “black and white” thinking and it can have negative effects on the way we see ourselves or the situations that we are using language to describe. >
Back to my morning conversation with my co-worker: I told her I was exhausted, but it wasn’t a truthful statement. It’s not like I meant to lie to her. I mean, why would I lie about my level of tiredness? There’s no good reason for that. What I did do was unconsciously utilize dichotomous language. I exaggerated my own feelings of sleepiness. >
I’ll face it; I like being descriptive. And “exhausted” packs more of a verbal punch than words like “sleepy” and “drowsy.” But again, using dichotomous language boosts dichotomous thinking, and the latter is a type of cognitive distortion that can negatively influence the way you feel about yourself. If you’re dealing with anxiety, casual usage of extremely polar words can lead you to magnify thoughts and events through a distorted lens that can ultimately make you more anxious. >
Here’s a classic example: “I think I totally failed my math test.” The word “fail” falls at the polar end of the pass/fail continuum. If you find yourself saying or thinking something similar, stop. Step out of your brain for a second and engage in some meta-cognition, or thinking about thinking. How’d you come to the conclusion that you failed? Maybe you didn’t pass, but are you sure that you failed? Might your performance have fallen somewhere in the middle of pass and fail? >
Luckily, in academia, there are letter grades from A through F that can break down the continuum a bit & help you to avoid dichotomous thinking. But in other contexts, it’s not so easy: Let’s say you tell a friend that you’re feeling anxious. Perhaps you’re certain that you’re not calm, but how far from calm are you? Are you truly anxious — with a racing heart, rapid breathing, and sweaty palms — or are you somewhere in the middle of calm and anxious? >
How can you decrease your black and white thinking? The answer is pretty simple: remember to add shades of gray. >
There’s no good word to describe the middle ground in the above scenario with anxiety — not one that I can think of, at least — but if you can coin one, use it. Or, try using a number scale to describe where you fall on the calm/anxious continuum. If the worst anxiety you’ve ever felt is a 10, perhaps public speaking is only a 7 and thinking about a deadline at work is a 5. >
Try to catch yourself using this type of black-and-white thinking for the next few days. Jot down the situation in which you used an exaggerated word; then, take a step back, assess your word choice, and improve your story with a gray-colored word. You’re turning 40 today and you just called yourself old. How true is this? Do you know anyone who is older? Might you simply be middle-aged? You told yourself today that you’re shy; but, are you only shy in a particular situation? Where do you fall on the shyness scale of 1 to 10? >
Catching yourself using dichotomous thinking (and correcting yourself) can transform an unrealistic thought into a more truthful (and probably less stress-inducing) one. Unglamorous adjectives like “middle-aged” or “in-between” and low-impact phrases like “moderately shy” probably won’t win you any grand literary awards, but they do stand a good chance at helping you view the world through a more accurate lens.>
Summer Beretsky is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her Master of Arts degree in Communication. She enjoys writing about her experiences with anxiety, panic, and Paxil. She contributes to the World of Psychology blog here on PsychCentral has written for the Los Angeles Times. You can follow her on Twitter @summerberetsky.
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Building Talent in a Time of Layoffs
Building Talent in a Time of Layoffs
Booz Strategy & Business
Building Talent in a Time of Layoffs
by DeAnne Aguirre, Laird Post, and Louisa Finn
5/12/09
Companies need to assess their workforces today, but they should also look at their likely needs as conditions change.
Read full article: http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00124?pg=0
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Booz Strategy & Business
Building Talent in a Time of Layoffs
by DeAnne Aguirre, Laird Post, and Louisa Finn
5/12/09
Companies need to assess their workforces today, but they should also look at their likely needs as conditions change.
Read full article: http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00124?pg=0
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
How to Sell More Than a Product - BusinessWeek
How to Sell More Than a Product - BusinessWeek
How to Sell More Than a Product
In a coffee showdown with McDonald's, Starbucks' tried—and—true strategy has a lesson for entrepreneurs: Don't sell products. Sell an "experience"
By Carmine Gallo
Excerpts:
Sell an Experience
Don't sell products. Sell an "experience." One entrepreneur even added the word "experience" to his company's vision. When former Cold Stone Creamery CEO Doug Ducey set a goal to grow the then-fledgling brand from 74 stores to 1,000, he told franchise owners that the world would know the brand as "the ultimate ice cream experience." If you've been to a Cold Stone (KAHL), you may have seen the experience it provides—clerks who sing for tips. If the brand had simply stood for "great ice cream," its founders may have never been open to the shtick that sets Cold Stone apart from thousands of other ice cream shops across the U.S.
The greatest entrepreneurs don't sell products; they sell an experience like fun, happiness, or a comfortable, inviting place to enjoy a cappuccino. What experience does your product offer? If you're an insurance agent, do you sell annuities or "peace of mind"? If you're a financial planner, do you sell mutual funds or "financial freedom"? Think hard about what your brand really stands for—it's not always the product itself.
Odds are there are hundreds, if not thousands, of competitors offering the same type of "product" that your business provides. Stand out by standing for something.
Read full article: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2009/sb20090519_058809.htm
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
How to Sell More Than a Product
In a coffee showdown with McDonald's, Starbucks' tried—and—true strategy has a lesson for entrepreneurs: Don't sell products. Sell an "experience"
By Carmine Gallo
Excerpts:
Sell an Experience
Don't sell products. Sell an "experience." One entrepreneur even added the word "experience" to his company's vision. When former Cold Stone Creamery CEO Doug Ducey set a goal to grow the then-fledgling brand from 74 stores to 1,000, he told franchise owners that the world would know the brand as "the ultimate ice cream experience." If you've been to a Cold Stone (KAHL), you may have seen the experience it provides—clerks who sing for tips. If the brand had simply stood for "great ice cream," its founders may have never been open to the shtick that sets Cold Stone apart from thousands of other ice cream shops across the U.S.
The greatest entrepreneurs don't sell products; they sell an experience like fun, happiness, or a comfortable, inviting place to enjoy a cappuccino. What experience does your product offer? If you're an insurance agent, do you sell annuities or "peace of mind"? If you're a financial planner, do you sell mutual funds or "financial freedom"? Think hard about what your brand really stands for—it's not always the product itself.
Odds are there are hundreds, if not thousands, of competitors offering the same type of "product" that your business provides. Stand out by standing for something.
Read full article: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/may2009/sb20090519_058809.htm
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Only the Optimists Survive - BusinessWeek
Only the Optimists Survive - BusinessWeek
The Case for Optimism May 18, 2009, 2:02PM EST text size: TT
Only the Optimists Survive
In moments of crisis, writes management consultant and author Warren Bennis, "Yes, We Can" is far more than a political slogan
By Warren Bennis
Excerpts:
Making Setbacks into Stepping Stones
Of course, some of the same old rules of management will always apply. Hard work and luck still make a difference; and as golfing legend Ben Hogan noted, the more he practiced, the luckier he got. Yet optimism is what puts work and luck to proper use, helping the leader to see a new event as a serendipitous inflection point rather than a disruption. Steve Jobs' decision to fund the development of the iPod, while others were retrenching in the face of the dot-com bust, is just one such transforming moment of boldness.
A common expression in recent months has been, "It's too big too fail." But nothing is too big or too small to fail. Sustainable organizations are based on the same principles that guide successful individuals. Good organizations and good leaders, especially in our tense and uncertain moment in history, have the capacity to bounce back; to adapt as necessary; to persevere with an expectation of success; and to engage others in a shared sense of purpose; and to win a reputation for integrity through these other qualities.
This is not merely a recipe for good cheer; in our times, it's a blueprint for survival.
Warren Bennis, University Professor at the University of Southern California, is the author of a newly revised, 20th anniversary edition of On Becoming a Leader, which was named the best leadership book of all time by Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten in their new volume, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time.
Read full Article: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090518_917239.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_news+%2B+analysis
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
The Case for Optimism May 18, 2009, 2:02PM EST text size: TT
Only the Optimists Survive
In moments of crisis, writes management consultant and author Warren Bennis, "Yes, We Can" is far more than a political slogan
By Warren Bennis
Excerpts:
Making Setbacks into Stepping Stones
Of course, some of the same old rules of management will always apply. Hard work and luck still make a difference; and as golfing legend Ben Hogan noted, the more he practiced, the luckier he got. Yet optimism is what puts work and luck to proper use, helping the leader to see a new event as a serendipitous inflection point rather than a disruption. Steve Jobs' decision to fund the development of the iPod, while others were retrenching in the face of the dot-com bust, is just one such transforming moment of boldness.
A common expression in recent months has been, "It's too big too fail." But nothing is too big or too small to fail. Sustainable organizations are based on the same principles that guide successful individuals. Good organizations and good leaders, especially in our tense and uncertain moment in history, have the capacity to bounce back; to adapt as necessary; to persevere with an expectation of success; and to engage others in a shared sense of purpose; and to win a reputation for integrity through these other qualities.
This is not merely a recipe for good cheer; in our times, it's a blueprint for survival.
Warren Bennis, University Professor at the University of Southern California, is the author of a newly revised, 20th anniversary edition of On Becoming a Leader, which was named the best leadership book of all time by Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten in their new volume, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time.
Read full Article: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090518_917239.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_news+%2B+analysis
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
FACE YOUR FEAR!
FACE YOUR FEAR!>
By Lionel Ketchian>
Do you know what the opposite of happiness is? No, it's not unhappiness. Unhappiness is not a cause; it's the effect of something. The opposite of happiness is FEAR! Fear is without a doubt one of the worst things you can experience. Fear is an inability to cope with life. Unfortunately, if not corrected, that inability becomes a disability. >
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." These are the brilliant words of John Homer Miller. They can point the way to your liberation from fear. >
About nine years ago I was giving a class on happiness at Sacred Heart University. At the time, a woman named Jane, was taking the course and shared this story concerning her experience of fear with the class. Jane was divorced for about ten years at the time. She was uncomfortable about being alone, and many times was afraid of being in her house by herself. Late one night she heard quite a lot of noise coming from her front door. She hoped it would just go away, but she knew that someone was definitely outside her front door. She was terrified, and did not know what to do.>
Jane finally decided that she had to face this problem and do something about it. She ran to get a baseball bat that was in another room. She figured she would fling open the front door and scare the burglar away with the baseball bat. If that didn't work, she would run out the back door. So she got the bat and headed in the direction of the front door. >
Right next to the front door, there was a window with a curtain. So she decided to very carefully sneak a look out the window through the curtain to try to see the threat that was waiting for her. She slowly lifted the curtain and looked outside her front door. She was really surprised at what she saw before her eyes. Instead of seeing some impending doom, she saw three baby raccoons playing on her front stairs. One of the baby raccoons was jumping on her bushes next to the stairs. The other two baby raccoons were frolicking with each other right at her front door. >
Instead of being terrified, she broke out into sidesplitting laughter. She said the babies were so cute and were so much fun to watch. Jane said the interesting thing about her story, is that she was never afraid again. This experience was the catalyst that allowed Jane to overcome her fear of being alone. She said that the adventure taught her not to give in to her fears and not to limit her thinking about anything. As John Masefield said: "Best trust the happy moments. What they gave makes man less fearful and gives his work compassion and new eyes, the days that make us happy make us wise.">
Daniel Goleman, the author of the book: Emotional Intelligence said: "Even mild mood changes can sway thinking. In making plans or decisions people in good moods have a perceptual bias that leads them to be more expansive and positive in their thinking. This is partly because memory is state-specific, so that while in a good mood we remember more positive events; as we think over the pros and cons of a course of action while feeling pleasant, memory biases our weighting of evidence in a positive direction, making us more likely to do something slightly adventurous or risky, for example. By the same token, being in a foul mood biases memory in a negative direction, making us more likely to contract into a fearful, overly cautious decision. Emotions out of control impede the intellect.">
Fear is being out of control, and happiness is taking control of yourself. I think it was Emerson who said the only way out of fear is through it. The next time something shows you fear within yourself, go through it instead of running away. Running only allows your fear to gain ground, not you. Not facing your fear is much harder than dealing with it. Use happiness as ammunition and you can shoot through fear!>
Take it slow in the beginning, but deal with your fear, face to face. If you face your fear it will make an about face, and it will retreat instead of you. You will become more powerful for having faced your fear and overcoming it. In the words of Shakespeare: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." If you doubt anything, doubt your fears, never yourself. >
Here are the timeless words of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who lived between 121-180 AD, and was not only the ruler of Rome, but also a philosopher, and well known author. "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts." >
See original post and website: www.happinessclub.com
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By Lionel Ketchian>
Do you know what the opposite of happiness is? No, it's not unhappiness. Unhappiness is not a cause; it's the effect of something. The opposite of happiness is FEAR! Fear is without a doubt one of the worst things you can experience. Fear is an inability to cope with life. Unfortunately, if not corrected, that inability becomes a disability. >
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." These are the brilliant words of John Homer Miller. They can point the way to your liberation from fear. >
About nine years ago I was giving a class on happiness at Sacred Heart University. At the time, a woman named Jane, was taking the course and shared this story concerning her experience of fear with the class. Jane was divorced for about ten years at the time. She was uncomfortable about being alone, and many times was afraid of being in her house by herself. Late one night she heard quite a lot of noise coming from her front door. She hoped it would just go away, but she knew that someone was definitely outside her front door. She was terrified, and did not know what to do.>
Jane finally decided that she had to face this problem and do something about it. She ran to get a baseball bat that was in another room. She figured she would fling open the front door and scare the burglar away with the baseball bat. If that didn't work, she would run out the back door. So she got the bat and headed in the direction of the front door. >
Right next to the front door, there was a window with a curtain. So she decided to very carefully sneak a look out the window through the curtain to try to see the threat that was waiting for her. She slowly lifted the curtain and looked outside her front door. She was really surprised at what she saw before her eyes. Instead of seeing some impending doom, she saw three baby raccoons playing on her front stairs. One of the baby raccoons was jumping on her bushes next to the stairs. The other two baby raccoons were frolicking with each other right at her front door. >
Instead of being terrified, she broke out into sidesplitting laughter. She said the babies were so cute and were so much fun to watch. Jane said the interesting thing about her story, is that she was never afraid again. This experience was the catalyst that allowed Jane to overcome her fear of being alone. She said that the adventure taught her not to give in to her fears and not to limit her thinking about anything. As John Masefield said: "Best trust the happy moments. What they gave makes man less fearful and gives his work compassion and new eyes, the days that make us happy make us wise.">
Daniel Goleman, the author of the book: Emotional Intelligence said: "Even mild mood changes can sway thinking. In making plans or decisions people in good moods have a perceptual bias that leads them to be more expansive and positive in their thinking. This is partly because memory is state-specific, so that while in a good mood we remember more positive events; as we think over the pros and cons of a course of action while feeling pleasant, memory biases our weighting of evidence in a positive direction, making us more likely to do something slightly adventurous or risky, for example. By the same token, being in a foul mood biases memory in a negative direction, making us more likely to contract into a fearful, overly cautious decision. Emotions out of control impede the intellect.">
Fear is being out of control, and happiness is taking control of yourself. I think it was Emerson who said the only way out of fear is through it. The next time something shows you fear within yourself, go through it instead of running away. Running only allows your fear to gain ground, not you. Not facing your fear is much harder than dealing with it. Use happiness as ammunition and you can shoot through fear!>
Take it slow in the beginning, but deal with your fear, face to face. If you face your fear it will make an about face, and it will retreat instead of you. You will become more powerful for having faced your fear and overcoming it. In the words of Shakespeare: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." If you doubt anything, doubt your fears, never yourself. >
Here are the timeless words of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who lived between 121-180 AD, and was not only the ruler of Rome, but also a philosopher, and well known author. "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts." >
See original post and website: www.happinessclub.com
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Power And Benefit Of Adversity - John Maxwell
Leadership Wired >
Leading Through AdversityBy Dr. John C. Maxwell >
Had Chesly B. Sullenberger known that US Airways Flight 1549 would fly through a flock of geese and lose both engines, then he likely would have stayed out of the cockpit that day. After all, who in their right mind wants to pilot an engineless aircraft? Thankfully for the 155 passengers on board, however, the veteran airman was at the controls to safely crash-landed the plane in the Hudson River. >
Although he never would have volunteered for the adversity he faced in the skies above New York City, Sullenberger's influence soared as a result of his leadership in the midst of harrowing circumstances. Before January 15th, Sullenberger was an accomplished, but anonymous pilot. Afterward, he was recognized as an American hero, drew a captive audience whenever he spoke, and was highly sought after by federal aviation officials for his safety recommendations. >
Going through adversity, though not pleasant at the moment, opens the door to new levels of influence. By staying poised and keeping a positive attitude under pressure, leaders can pass through adversity having grown in stature more than they ever could have in comfortable times. In this article, I'd like to focus on the potential benefits that can be gained by triumphing over adverse conditions.>
Overcoming Adversity Creates Resilience
A study in Time magazine in the 1980's described the incredible resilience of a group of people who had lost their jobs on three occasions due to plant closings. Researchers expected them to be discouraged, but they were surprisingly optimistic. Their adversity had turned into advantage. Because they had already coped with job loss and found employment at least twice, they were better equipped to handle adversity than people who had always worked for the same company and found themselves unemployed for the first time. >
Overcoming Adversity Develops Maturity
During more than four decades as a pilot, both with the Air Force commercial airlines, Chesly B. Sullenberger had to weather his share of storms and mechanical glitches. When questioned by Katie Couric about his heroic landing of US Airways Flight 1549, Sullenberger credited his past experiences for giving him the maturity to steer the plane. "One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.">
As an African proverb says, "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." The bumps in the road may seem only to be nuisances, but they're often the best instructors on the leadership journey. If we're observant, the lessons learned during hard times can be mined at a later date for our advantage.
Overcoming Adversity Creates Greater Opportunities. >
Just about every successful entrepreneur I've met has numerous stories of setbacks that opened the door to greater opportunities.>
Consider these not-so-flattering moments from the lives of famous Americans.>
In the middle of adversity, it can be difficult to stave off feelings of hopelessness, but oftentimes a bright future waits on the other side of hardship. The mental strength acquired in dealing with misfortune can be an invaluable asset in pushing forward into new ventures. >
Overcoming Adversity Wins Respect
Respect almost always is gained on difficult ground. In the words of Plutarch, "The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune." No one sees your courage in the sunshine. It takes difficulty and darkness to prove bravery. When others see your character and persistence during the rough stretches in leadership, they walk away with an enhanced opinion of you. >
SUMMARY
The economic crunch creates adversity, and leaders feel its pain and pressure acutely. While no one hopes for adversity, it can actually serve to benefit a leader. By bearing in mind the potential upside of leading through difficulty, it can be easier to deal with our present troubles.>
AboutJohn C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. EQUIP, the organization he founded has trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and audiences as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell was named the World's Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. He was also one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.>
"This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at www.giantimpact.com."
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Leading Through AdversityBy Dr. John C. Maxwell >
Had Chesly B. Sullenberger known that US Airways Flight 1549 would fly through a flock of geese and lose both engines, then he likely would have stayed out of the cockpit that day. After all, who in their right mind wants to pilot an engineless aircraft? Thankfully for the 155 passengers on board, however, the veteran airman was at the controls to safely crash-landed the plane in the Hudson River. >
Although he never would have volunteered for the adversity he faced in the skies above New York City, Sullenberger's influence soared as a result of his leadership in the midst of harrowing circumstances. Before January 15th, Sullenberger was an accomplished, but anonymous pilot. Afterward, he was recognized as an American hero, drew a captive audience whenever he spoke, and was highly sought after by federal aviation officials for his safety recommendations. >
Going through adversity, though not pleasant at the moment, opens the door to new levels of influence. By staying poised and keeping a positive attitude under pressure, leaders can pass through adversity having grown in stature more than they ever could have in comfortable times. In this article, I'd like to focus on the potential benefits that can be gained by triumphing over adverse conditions.>
Overcoming Adversity Creates Resilience
A study in Time magazine in the 1980's described the incredible resilience of a group of people who had lost their jobs on three occasions due to plant closings. Researchers expected them to be discouraged, but they were surprisingly optimistic. Their adversity had turned into advantage. Because they had already coped with job loss and found employment at least twice, they were better equipped to handle adversity than people who had always worked for the same company and found themselves unemployed for the first time. >
Overcoming Adversity Develops Maturity
During more than four decades as a pilot, both with the Air Force commercial airlines, Chesly B. Sullenberger had to weather his share of storms and mechanical glitches. When questioned by Katie Couric about his heroic landing of US Airways Flight 1549, Sullenberger credited his past experiences for giving him the maturity to steer the plane. "One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.">
As an African proverb says, "Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." The bumps in the road may seem only to be nuisances, but they're often the best instructors on the leadership journey. If we're observant, the lessons learned during hard times can be mined at a later date for our advantage.
Overcoming Adversity Creates Greater Opportunities. >
Just about every successful entrepreneur I've met has numerous stories of setbacks that opened the door to greater opportunities.>
Consider these not-so-flattering moments from the lives of famous Americans.>
Early in his career, Walt Disney's Laugh-O-Gram studio went broke, leaving
the talented man out of work.>
Abraham Lincoln plummeted into financial ruin as a young shopkeeper.
>
Milton Hershey failed dismally in his initial attempts to open a
candy
store. >
Henry Ford's Detroit Automobile Company went
bankrupt before
reorganizing as Ford Motor Company. H.J. Heinz's
venture to sell
horseradish flopped before his recipe for ketchup met with
commercial success.
>
In the middle of adversity, it can be difficult to stave off feelings of hopelessness, but oftentimes a bright future waits on the other side of hardship. The mental strength acquired in dealing with misfortune can be an invaluable asset in pushing forward into new ventures. >
Overcoming Adversity Wins Respect
Respect almost always is gained on difficult ground. In the words of Plutarch, "The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune." No one sees your courage in the sunshine. It takes difficulty and darkness to prove bravery. When others see your character and persistence during the rough stretches in leadership, they walk away with an enhanced opinion of you. >
SUMMARY
The economic crunch creates adversity, and leaders feel its pain and pressure acutely. While no one hopes for adversity, it can actually serve to benefit a leader. By bearing in mind the potential upside of leading through difficulty, it can be easier to deal with our present troubles.>
AboutJohn C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold over 16 million books. EQUIP, the organization he founded has trained more than 2 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and audiences as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and ambassadors at the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell was named the World's Top Leadership Guru by Leadershipgurus.net. He was also one of only 25 authors and artists named to Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary Hall of Fame. Three of his books, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader have each sold over a million copies.>
"This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at www.giantimpact.com."
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Poise
http://www.giantimpact.com/
Poise
"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."~ James Allen
"Whenever you get into a jam, whenever you get into a crisis or an emergency, become the calmest person in the room and you'll be able to figure your way out of it."~ Rudolph Giuliani
"Calmness is the cradle of power."~ Josiah Gilbert Holland
"Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances."~ Thomas Jefferson
"This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at http://www.giantimpact.com/."
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Poise
"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."~ James Allen
"Whenever you get into a jam, whenever you get into a crisis or an emergency, become the calmest person in the room and you'll be able to figure your way out of it."~ Rudolph Giuliani
"Calmness is the cradle of power."~ Josiah Gilbert Holland
"Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances."~ Thomas Jefferson
"This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, GiANT Impact's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscription at http://www.giantimpact.com/."
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
A Theory: On Being Open | Science Blog
Happiness - A Theory: On Being Open Science Blog
Happiness - A Theory: On Being Open
April 9, 2009
Our brains appear wired to adopt a belief about our milieu, consecrate it, then bar the door to our consciousness against any competing belief. If a different belief gets past our mental bouncer, the result is conflict, sometimes labeled cognitive dissonance. This process should be familiar to most of us, yet how likely is it to reflect some objective quality of our universe? The transcendent achievements of our brains help to blind us to their concomitant evolved limitations. There appears to be little circuitry in the brain encouraging it to adopt a critical posture towards itself.
There is, so to speak, a pantry full of ingredients, and a universe of possible recipes, tucked into this convoluted organ and the larger organism it serves. Much as a solitary person may infrequently feel the urge to cook, however, we seem inclined to ignore the culinary opportunities.
Perhaps in questioning the integrity of our thinking, we may take a seat at one of life’s great feasts. If we cultivate within ourselves the capacity to hold two competing beliefs, simultaneously, we may proceed from there to a perhaps unlimited gathering of data and ideas within us, resisting the persistent impulse to clear the room of intruders. The very moment we feel the zing of eureka -- that we have figured something out, and we would banish the inconsistent data and perceptions -- we may do well to resist this deportation. The process of keeping our minds open – familiar to our tongues but rarely to our hearts – may require an ease with dissonance. Our brains appear to crave certainty, solidity. The question arises: can we rewire our reward circuitry to appreciate uncertainty, fluidity? What if your enemy can teach you something that would change your life? What if you wander down an aisle in the bookstore and select something you might never see? Might there be an idea out there to complement your treasured hypotheses, but your brain’s bouncer leaves it shivering on the sidewalk?
Recent neuroscience is littered with accounts of compensatory perceptual achievements in the face of lost functionality. See, for instance, My Stroke of Insight, by Jill Bolte Taylor. It stands to reason that our neuroplastic brain can adapt to see things, including ideas about our milieu, in new ways. Is there a meditation that would assist our brain to get out of its own way? Knowledge is knowing that we cannot know, said Emerson. In that simple phrase may lie a mantra which, if we utter it daily, may help us not only to keep our minds open, but to find doing so a pleasure.
See Original Post: http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/5634-happiness-theory-being-open-20161.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Happiness - A Theory: On Being Open
April 9, 2009
Our brains appear wired to adopt a belief about our milieu, consecrate it, then bar the door to our consciousness against any competing belief. If a different belief gets past our mental bouncer, the result is conflict, sometimes labeled cognitive dissonance. This process should be familiar to most of us, yet how likely is it to reflect some objective quality of our universe? The transcendent achievements of our brains help to blind us to their concomitant evolved limitations. There appears to be little circuitry in the brain encouraging it to adopt a critical posture towards itself.
There is, so to speak, a pantry full of ingredients, and a universe of possible recipes, tucked into this convoluted organ and the larger organism it serves. Much as a solitary person may infrequently feel the urge to cook, however, we seem inclined to ignore the culinary opportunities.
Perhaps in questioning the integrity of our thinking, we may take a seat at one of life’s great feasts. If we cultivate within ourselves the capacity to hold two competing beliefs, simultaneously, we may proceed from there to a perhaps unlimited gathering of data and ideas within us, resisting the persistent impulse to clear the room of intruders. The very moment we feel the zing of eureka -- that we have figured something out, and we would banish the inconsistent data and perceptions -- we may do well to resist this deportation. The process of keeping our minds open – familiar to our tongues but rarely to our hearts – may require an ease with dissonance. Our brains appear to crave certainty, solidity. The question arises: can we rewire our reward circuitry to appreciate uncertainty, fluidity? What if your enemy can teach you something that would change your life? What if you wander down an aisle in the bookstore and select something you might never see? Might there be an idea out there to complement your treasured hypotheses, but your brain’s bouncer leaves it shivering on the sidewalk?
Recent neuroscience is littered with accounts of compensatory perceptual achievements in the face of lost functionality. See, for instance, My Stroke of Insight, by Jill Bolte Taylor. It stands to reason that our neuroplastic brain can adapt to see things, including ideas about our milieu, in new ways. Is there a meditation that would assist our brain to get out of its own way? Knowledge is knowing that we cannot know, said Emerson. In that simple phrase may lie a mantra which, if we utter it daily, may help us not only to keep our minds open, but to find doing so a pleasure.
See Original Post: http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/blog/5634-happiness-theory-being-open-20161.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Articles About Influence and Persuasion Science and Practice
Articles About Influence and Persuasion Science and Practice
Follow The Crowd? Or Go It Alone?
By Steve Martin, CMCT
Excepts:
In summary, the study showed that fear can lead to messages using social proof as potentially being more persuasive than messages that use scarcity information. However feelings of romance would cause the opposite to be the case.
There are several implications of this study that could be of importance to marketers, salespeople and managers.
- Imagine for example that your organisation is considering placing advertisements in a series of magazines or perhaps on the internet. As well as asking questions about where your ad will appear in the publication it might also be appropriate to ask what will precede your ad so you can be sure that the effectiveness of your ad won’t backfire due to the emotional status of the reader being influenced by a story or article they have read immediately before seeing your advertisement.
- Similarly managers might consider taking steps to assess the emotional state of their teams before deciding whether to frame their communications or requests in terms of social proof or scarcity. For example if people are uncertain or perhaps fearful of the future they will be more persuaded and guided by messages that employ the social proof heuristic.
- For those working in sales this research suggests that spending a few moments describing a situation, case study or even another customers experience to evoke an emotional response in your target customer might be a worthwhile thing to do providing that a) it is done so ethically and b) the appropriate social proof or scarcity heuristic is then employed in any subsequent message.
Read full article: http://www.insideinfluence.com/article.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Follow The Crowd? Or Go It Alone?
By Steve Martin, CMCT
Excepts:
In summary, the study showed that fear can lead to messages using social proof as potentially being more persuasive than messages that use scarcity information. However feelings of romance would cause the opposite to be the case.
There are several implications of this study that could be of importance to marketers, salespeople and managers.
- Imagine for example that your organisation is considering placing advertisements in a series of magazines or perhaps on the internet. As well as asking questions about where your ad will appear in the publication it might also be appropriate to ask what will precede your ad so you can be sure that the effectiveness of your ad won’t backfire due to the emotional status of the reader being influenced by a story or article they have read immediately before seeing your advertisement.
- Similarly managers might consider taking steps to assess the emotional state of their teams before deciding whether to frame their communications or requests in terms of social proof or scarcity. For example if people are uncertain or perhaps fearful of the future they will be more persuaded and guided by messages that employ the social proof heuristic.
- For those working in sales this research suggests that spending a few moments describing a situation, case study or even another customers experience to evoke an emotional response in your target customer might be a worthwhile thing to do providing that a) it is done so ethically and b) the appropriate social proof or scarcity heuristic is then employed in any subsequent message.
Read full article: http://www.insideinfluence.com/article.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
I like you, because I always feel good around you and I don’t know why. | Psychology Today Blogs
I like you, because I always feel good around you and I don’t know why. Psychology Today Blogs
By Art Markman, Ph.D. on April 29, 2009 - 11:54am in Ulterior Motives
Excerpts:
In a May, 2009 paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Christopher Jones, along with Russell Fazio and Michael Olson argue that this change in evaluation of the objects occurs because of a mis-attribution of the good feeling to the object. That is, in these kinds of experiments, the positive words and pictures make the person feel good. They are not sure why they feel good, so the good feeling is attached to the Pokemon character that is consistently associated with feeling good. Likewise, the negative words and pictures make them feel bad. They are not sure why they feel bad, so they attach the negative feeling to the Pokemon character that is consistently associated with feeling bad.
Often, of course, this strategy is a pretty good one. If there is a person in the world, and you usually feel good around that person, chances are that person is making you feel good. If there is a person and you usually feel bad around them, chances are that person is making you feel bad. However, this strategy can lead to the wrong outcome too. You may end up liking people and things you encounter in positive situations more than perhaps you should. Similarly, you may end up disliking people and things you encounter in negative situations more than you should.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/200904/i-you-because-i-always-feel-good-around-you-and-i-don-t-know-why
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By Art Markman, Ph.D. on April 29, 2009 - 11:54am in Ulterior Motives
Excerpts:
In a May, 2009 paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Christopher Jones, along with Russell Fazio and Michael Olson argue that this change in evaluation of the objects occurs because of a mis-attribution of the good feeling to the object. That is, in these kinds of experiments, the positive words and pictures make the person feel good. They are not sure why they feel good, so the good feeling is attached to the Pokemon character that is consistently associated with feeling good. Likewise, the negative words and pictures make them feel bad. They are not sure why they feel bad, so they attach the negative feeling to the Pokemon character that is consistently associated with feeling bad.
Often, of course, this strategy is a pretty good one. If there is a person in the world, and you usually feel good around that person, chances are that person is making you feel good. If there is a person and you usually feel bad around them, chances are that person is making you feel bad. However, this strategy can lead to the wrong outcome too. You may end up liking people and things you encounter in positive situations more than perhaps you should. Similarly, you may end up disliking people and things you encounter in negative situations more than you should.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/200904/i-you-because-i-always-feel-good-around-you-and-i-don-t-know-why
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Very Good Years | Psychology Today Blogs
Very Good Years Psychology Today Blogs
By Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. on May 5, 2009 - 9:54am in The Good Life
Excerpts:
.....as individuals, we all have good years and not-so-good years and that one of the goals of positive psychology should be to characterize these. And if possible, we should try and increase the very good years. Here are some of my ideas about very good years.
Daniel Kahneman's (1999) peak-end theory about what people recollect from hedonic experiences (their peaks and their ends) applies broadly, at least for me. My very good years were densely packed with peaks. I don't mean good meals or exciting vacations (see my earlier blog entry "Happy Days and Happy Times") but rather sustained experiences that were shared with others and could be savored in their company. At age fifty, I took a leave of absence from Michigan to work on a positive psychology project. I did not know how much my life would change as a result. But it did. My research, my teaching, my outreach, and indeed my identity now revolve around positive psychology. It was a very good year.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200905/very-good-years
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. on May 5, 2009 - 9:54am in The Good Life
Excerpts:
.....as individuals, we all have good years and not-so-good years and that one of the goals of positive psychology should be to characterize these. And if possible, we should try and increase the very good years. Here are some of my ideas about very good years.
Daniel Kahneman's (1999) peak-end theory about what people recollect from hedonic experiences (their peaks and their ends) applies broadly, at least for me. My very good years were densely packed with peaks. I don't mean good meals or exciting vacations (see my earlier blog entry "Happy Days and Happy Times") but rather sustained experiences that were shared with others and could be savored in their company. At age fifty, I took a leave of absence from Michigan to work on a positive psychology project. I did not know how much my life would change as a result. But it did. My research, my teaching, my outreach, and indeed my identity now revolve around positive psychology. It was a very good year.
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200905/very-good-years
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Fragrant Attraction | Psychology Today
Fragrant Attraction Psychology Today
Evolutionary Psychology
Fragrant Attraction
By Rachel Herz, Ph.D. on March 19, 2009 - 10:15am in Smell Life
Excerpts:
... wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.
... researchers found that it had to do with how confident the men felt and how the scent of the deodorant made them feel. The more the men liked the fragrance they were wearing, the more confident they felt-- and the more confident they felt the more attractive their body language was to women. The other amazing finding was that it only took 15 minutes of wearing the scented deodorant to boost the guys' self-confidence.
On the opposite side of the aisle, in a large survey study I found that 90% of women (from teenagers to seniors) feel more confident when wearing fragrance than without. Therefore wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.>
Indeed in a recent study conducted in the UK, men who wore the British label version of AXE deodorant (Lynx) were rated by woman as significantly more attractive than men who weren't wearing scented deodorant (1). The surprise, however, is that the women didn't actually smell the men-the men just smelled themselves. Women rated headshots of 35 men and 15 second video clips of the same men imagining introducing themselves to an attractive woman. The women rated all the men as equally attractive on the basis of their photos. But on video, the men wearing scented deodorant were rated as significantly more appealing than the men who weren't wearing fragrance, and the women only watched the video clips for 15 seconds. >
Probing why the AXE men were so much more alluring the researchers found that it had to do with how confident the men felt and how the scent of the deodorant made them feel. The more the men liked the fragrance they were wearing, the more confident they felt-- and the more confident they felt the more attractive their body language was to women. The other amazing finding was that it only took 15 minutes of wearing the scented deodorant to boost the guys' self-confidence. On the opposite side of the aisle, in a large survey study I found that 90% of women (from teenagers to seniors) feel more confident when wearing fragrance than without (2). Therefore wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.>
However, there is biological peril, especially for women, to the magic of fragrance. Not only does a man's use of fragrance make him behave more charmingly, my laboratory has shown that above all other physical characteristics, women rank how a man smells as the most important feature for determining whether she will be sexually attracted to him. Critically, she doesn't discriminate much between whether his scent comes from his clean natural body-odor or from the bottle on his dresser. The reason this is a biological hazard is because, as my last blog explained, our body-odor is the representation of our immune system genes and women use their noses to choose their "correct" biological mate to ensure maximum fertility and child health (see The Scent of Sex ). Therefore by wearing a fragrance that a woman finds enchanting, a biologically unsuitable man can trick a woman into being with him by "falsely" smelling scrumptious.>
The take home message for men is: if you smell good to yourself and to the lady of your dreams you'll be a sure-fire winner. But for women the message is: beware a man who smells too good because of his fragrance. If you think he has potential and you're on the hunt for a man to be your mate, ask him to wash with unscented soap and to kick the fragrance/deodorant habit for a while. If your nose and heart remain enamored then you're on to something good.
Read full article: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smell-life/200903/fragrant-attraction
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Evolutionary Psychology
Fragrant Attraction
By Rachel Herz, Ph.D. on March 19, 2009 - 10:15am in Smell Life
Excerpts:
... wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.
... researchers found that it had to do with how confident the men felt and how the scent of the deodorant made them feel. The more the men liked the fragrance they were wearing, the more confident they felt-- and the more confident they felt the more attractive their body language was to women. The other amazing finding was that it only took 15 minutes of wearing the scented deodorant to boost the guys' self-confidence.
On the opposite side of the aisle, in a large survey study I found that 90% of women (from teenagers to seniors) feel more confident when wearing fragrance than without. Therefore wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.>
Indeed in a recent study conducted in the UK, men who wore the British label version of AXE deodorant (Lynx) were rated by woman as significantly more attractive than men who weren't wearing scented deodorant (1). The surprise, however, is that the women didn't actually smell the men-the men just smelled themselves. Women rated headshots of 35 men and 15 second video clips of the same men imagining introducing themselves to an attractive woman. The women rated all the men as equally attractive on the basis of their photos. But on video, the men wearing scented deodorant were rated as significantly more appealing than the men who weren't wearing fragrance, and the women only watched the video clips for 15 seconds. >
Probing why the AXE men were so much more alluring the researchers found that it had to do with how confident the men felt and how the scent of the deodorant made them feel. The more the men liked the fragrance they were wearing, the more confident they felt-- and the more confident they felt the more attractive their body language was to women. The other amazing finding was that it only took 15 minutes of wearing the scented deodorant to boost the guys' self-confidence. On the opposite side of the aisle, in a large survey study I found that 90% of women (from teenagers to seniors) feel more confident when wearing fragrance than without (2). Therefore wearing a fragrance you like will make you feel better about yourself which will consequently make you more attractive to others.>
However, there is biological peril, especially for women, to the magic of fragrance. Not only does a man's use of fragrance make him behave more charmingly, my laboratory has shown that above all other physical characteristics, women rank how a man smells as the most important feature for determining whether she will be sexually attracted to him. Critically, she doesn't discriminate much between whether his scent comes from his clean natural body-odor or from the bottle on his dresser. The reason this is a biological hazard is because, as my last blog explained, our body-odor is the representation of our immune system genes and women use their noses to choose their "correct" biological mate to ensure maximum fertility and child health (see The Scent of Sex ). Therefore by wearing a fragrance that a woman finds enchanting, a biologically unsuitable man can trick a woman into being with him by "falsely" smelling scrumptious.>
The take home message for men is: if you smell good to yourself and to the lady of your dreams you'll be a sure-fire winner. But for women the message is: beware a man who smells too good because of his fragrance. If you think he has potential and you're on the hunt for a man to be your mate, ask him to wash with unscented soap and to kick the fragrance/deodorant habit for a while. If your nose and heart remain enamored then you're on to something good.
Read full article: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/smell-life/200903/fragrant-attraction
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Monday, May 11, 2009
10 Steps To Conquer Perfectionism | World of Psychology
10 Steps To Conquer Perfectionism World of Psychology
10 Steps To Conquer Perfectionism
By Therese J. Borchard May 11, 2009
tackle this adversary every day. And although my inner perfectionist clearly has hold of my brain many days, I do think I am handcuffed less often by the fear of messing up than I used to be. Here are 10 techniques I use to break out of the prison of perfectionism in order to live and create as freely as I can in an imperfect world.>
1. Remove yourself from the competition.... And as a perfectionist, you don’t need folks feeding you the very message you are trying to forget: “you are nothing without total success…. and if you don’t get there, I will!” >
2. Make up some rules.>
3. Do a reality check....distinguish realistic expectations from unrealistic ones. >
4. Return to your exodus moment....when we were freed from fear and crossed the Red Sea of anxiety into a land of peace. >
5. Show your weakness... This is counter-intuitive for most perfectionists. But I can guarantee that you’ll get good results if you try it.... You are real. You feel that way too! So I guess I shouldn’t beat myself up for similar emotions. >
6. Celebrate your mistakes... accept your mistakes. ... each big blunder deserves a round of toasts. Because almost all of them teach us precious, rare lessons that can’t be acquired by success. Nope, the embarrassment, humiliation, self-disgust … all those are tools with which to unearth the gold. >
7. Add some color. Perfectionists are color blind. They see the world in black and white. In order to get a pair of glasses on our inner perfectionist, then, we have to add a few hues to every relationship, event, and goal: we have to become a tad more tolerant of life’s messiness, unresolved issues, and complicated situations that can’t be neatly boxed up. Seeing in color is realizing that even though a certain solution to a problem worked well yesterday, it might not be right for today. >
8. Break the job down... many of us are so petrified of bloopers that we can’t begin the project. “One of the secrets of people who are highly productive is that they rarely try to tackle a difficult job all at once. Instead, they break the task down into its smallest component parts and do one small step a day.” >
9. Be yourself.... “nothing important, or meaningful, or beautiful, or interesting, or great, ever came out of imitations.” >
10. Believe in redemption.identifying the broken places in your heart and in your life can be one of the scariest exercises you ever do, and yet only then can you recognize the grace that comes buried with every hole. If the journey to the Black Hole of despair and back has taught me anything, it’s this: everything is made whole in time … if you can just hang on to the faith, hope, and love in the people and places around you long enough to see the sun rise yourself. Absolutely nothing is forsaken, not even those relationships and memories and persons that you think are lost forever. All things are made right in time. So you don’t always have to get it right on the first try.>
Read full article: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/05/11/10-steps-to-conquer-perfectionism/
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
10 Steps To Conquer Perfectionism
By Therese J. Borchard May 11, 2009
tackle this adversary every day. And although my inner perfectionist clearly has hold of my brain many days, I do think I am handcuffed less often by the fear of messing up than I used to be. Here are 10 techniques I use to break out of the prison of perfectionism in order to live and create as freely as I can in an imperfect world.>
1. Remove yourself from the competition.... And as a perfectionist, you don’t need folks feeding you the very message you are trying to forget: “you are nothing without total success…. and if you don’t get there, I will!” >
2. Make up some rules.>
3. Do a reality check....distinguish realistic expectations from unrealistic ones. >
4. Return to your exodus moment....when we were freed from fear and crossed the Red Sea of anxiety into a land of peace. >
5. Show your weakness... This is counter-intuitive for most perfectionists. But I can guarantee that you’ll get good results if you try it.... You are real. You feel that way too! So I guess I shouldn’t beat myself up for similar emotions. >
6. Celebrate your mistakes... accept your mistakes. ... each big blunder deserves a round of toasts. Because almost all of them teach us precious, rare lessons that can’t be acquired by success. Nope, the embarrassment, humiliation, self-disgust … all those are tools with which to unearth the gold. >
7. Add some color. Perfectionists are color blind. They see the world in black and white. In order to get a pair of glasses on our inner perfectionist, then, we have to add a few hues to every relationship, event, and goal: we have to become a tad more tolerant of life’s messiness, unresolved issues, and complicated situations that can’t be neatly boxed up. Seeing in color is realizing that even though a certain solution to a problem worked well yesterday, it might not be right for today. >
8. Break the job down... many of us are so petrified of bloopers that we can’t begin the project. “One of the secrets of people who are highly productive is that they rarely try to tackle a difficult job all at once. Instead, they break the task down into its smallest component parts and do one small step a day.” >
9. Be yourself.... “nothing important, or meaningful, or beautiful, or interesting, or great, ever came out of imitations.” >
10. Believe in redemption.identifying the broken places in your heart and in your life can be one of the scariest exercises you ever do, and yet only then can you recognize the grace that comes buried with every hole. If the journey to the Black Hole of despair and back has taught me anything, it’s this: everything is made whole in time … if you can just hang on to the faith, hope, and love in the people and places around you long enough to see the sun rise yourself. Absolutely nothing is forsaken, not even those relationships and memories and persons that you think are lost forever. All things are made right in time. So you don’t always have to get it right on the first try.>
Read full article: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/05/11/10-steps-to-conquer-perfectionism/
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
The Happiness Project: A psychological principle that works like magic: Act as I would feel.
The Happiness Project: A psychological principle that works like magic: Act as I would feel.:
Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project Blog
"One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in my happiness research is that although we think that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act.
As a result, one of my Twelve Commandments is “Act as I would feel.” And as improbable as it may sound, it really works. Try it. If you don’t like the way you’re feeling, act as you’d like to feel—and your feelings will change. Like magic.
William James sums up the phenomenon nicely: “Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not.”"
Read Full Article: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2006/09/a_psychological.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Gretchen Rubin
The Happiness Project Blog
"One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in my happiness research is that although we think that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act.
As a result, one of my Twelve Commandments is “Act as I would feel.” And as improbable as it may sound, it really works. Try it. If you don’t like the way you’re feeling, act as you’d like to feel—and your feelings will change. Like magic.
William James sums up the phenomenon nicely: “Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not.”"
Read Full Article: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2006/09/a_psychological.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Gretchen Rubin: How To Be Happier: Kiss More, Hug More, Touch More
Gretchen Rubin: How To Be Happier: Kiss More, Hug More, Touch More
Gretchen Rubin
Posted May 10, 2009 08:35 AM (EST)
Excerpts:
I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.
It's easy to see that kissing, hugging, and touching would boost the tenderness in your romantic relationship. However, physical expressions of affection can strengthen all sorts of connections.
Interesting fact: to be most effective at optimizing the flow of the chemicals oxytocin and serotonin - which boost mood and promote bonding - hold a hug for at least six seconds.
Along with hugging, playful and affectionate touching makes you feel closer to the people important to you. And touch is important even with strangers -- studies show that subliminal touching (touching so subtle that it's not consciously perceived) dramatically increases a person's sense of well-being and positive feelings toward you, the toucher. For example, research shows that when restaurant servers touch their customers, they increase their tips by more than 3 percent.
Expressing affection (in whatever way you express it) makes a big difference in relationships. For instance, people are 47% more likely to feel close to family members who frequently express affection than to those who rarely do so.
But there's another reason to express affection. One of my most important Personal Commandments is to Act the way I want to feel. We think we act because of the way we feel, but often, we feel because of the way we act. By acting in a loving way, you prompt loving feelings in yourself. It's much harder to be angry or annoyed with someone when you're kissing or hugging or touching.
Read Full Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/how-to-be-happier-kiss-mo_b_199744.html
*********************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Gretchen Rubin
Posted May 10, 2009 08:35 AM (EST)
Excerpts:
I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.
It's easy to see that kissing, hugging, and touching would boost the tenderness in your romantic relationship. However, physical expressions of affection can strengthen all sorts of connections.
Interesting fact: to be most effective at optimizing the flow of the chemicals oxytocin and serotonin - which boost mood and promote bonding - hold a hug for at least six seconds.
Along with hugging, playful and affectionate touching makes you feel closer to the people important to you. And touch is important even with strangers -- studies show that subliminal touching (touching so subtle that it's not consciously perceived) dramatically increases a person's sense of well-being and positive feelings toward you, the toucher. For example, research shows that when restaurant servers touch their customers, they increase their tips by more than 3 percent.
Expressing affection (in whatever way you express it) makes a big difference in relationships. For instance, people are 47% more likely to feel close to family members who frequently express affection than to those who rarely do so.
But there's another reason to express affection. One of my most important Personal Commandments is to Act the way I want to feel. We think we act because of the way we feel, but often, we feel because of the way we act. By acting in a loving way, you prompt loving feelings in yourself. It's much harder to be angry or annoyed with someone when you're kissing or hugging or touching.
Read Full Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gretchen-rubin/how-to-be-happier-kiss-mo_b_199744.html
*********************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Backlash - Women Bullying Women at Work - NYTimes.com
Backlash - Women Bullying Women at Work - NYTimes.com
By MICKEY MEECE
Published: May 9, 2009
Business
Backlash: Women Bullying Women at Work
By MICKEY MEECE
Published: May 10, 2009
It’s a taboo topic in the workplace sisterhood: Women who bully usually pick on other women.
Excerpts:
YELLING, scheming and sabotaging: all are tell-tale signs that a bully is at work, laying traps for employees at every pass.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10women.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By MICKEY MEECE
Published: May 9, 2009
Business
Backlash: Women Bullying Women at Work
By MICKEY MEECE
Published: May 10, 2009
It’s a taboo topic in the workplace sisterhood: Women who bully usually pick on other women.
Excerpts:
YELLING, scheming and sabotaging: all are tell-tale signs that a bully is at work, laying traps for employees at every pass.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10women.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
How to improve your relationship with Mom | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
How to improve your relationship with Mom Freep.com Detroit Free Press
May 8, 2009
Dr. Terri Orbuch
Mother's Day is a day to honor and celebrate moms because at all ages, mothers play a critical role in their children's lives. When you think about it, the first relationship children experience is typically the one with their mother.>
Several studies show that the bond children develop with their mother early in life has long-term implications for later relationships. When children have a good relationship with their mother, they wait longer before becoming sexually active, are more likely to use safe sex practices, are better able to cope with stressful events, and are more secure and trusting in their adult romantic relationships.>
But no matter how good you feel about your mother, there are times when the relationship can be filled with conflict, anger or disappointment. So, whether you want to maintain or need to repair the connection with your mother, here are some tips on how to improve the relationship.>
Focus on the positive. In any relationship there are going to be ups and downs. Instead of focusing on what your mother does wrong (from your perspective) or the struggles you have with her, shift your attention to all that she does right and what's good about your relationship. This year, make a list of what you love about your mother and read those qualities to her or write them in a card. Your true feelings are as good, if not better, than any card from Hallmark.>
Respect and validate differences. Each of you was born and raised in a different time period with distinct values and ways of living. You probably don't agree on everything, even the important things in life. That's OK. But you must learn to acknowledge and respect each other's thoughts and feelings. There are many people who have been angry with their mother for years. Those are wasted years and life is too short. This year, pick up the phone and either apologize or forgive your mother.>
Communicate. As adults, we don't spend much time talking to our mother about important topics in life. Think to yourself....do I know what is on my mother's mind these days or how she is occupying her time? Does she know my personal goals and fears in life? Strengthen your relationship by opening the lines of communication between you and your mother.>
Set boundaries. Respect each other's privacy. Limits in what you share with your mother (and what she tells you) are fine. Always remember that even when you try your hardest, there is still the possibility that she will be disappointed or you will not meet her expectations. These are the realities of any relationship. By setting boundaries, you are protecting yourself and the relationship. She may be "Mom" but your relationship still takes work. If things have been difficult or problematic, don't expect change to occur overnight. Keep working at it because the rewards are well worth the effort.>
Dr. Terri Orbuch is a marriage and family therapist, Oakland University professor, and research professor at the University of Michigan. She also is the host of "The Love Doctor" talk radio program on the VoiceAmerica network. E-mail her at torbuch@freepress.com.>
Read full Article: http://www.freep.com/article/20090508/FEATURES01/905080429/1026/TERRI+ORBUCH+THE+LOVE+DOCTOR
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
May 8, 2009
Dr. Terri Orbuch
Mother's Day is a day to honor and celebrate moms because at all ages, mothers play a critical role in their children's lives. When you think about it, the first relationship children experience is typically the one with their mother.>
Several studies show that the bond children develop with their mother early in life has long-term implications for later relationships. When children have a good relationship with their mother, they wait longer before becoming sexually active, are more likely to use safe sex practices, are better able to cope with stressful events, and are more secure and trusting in their adult romantic relationships.>
But no matter how good you feel about your mother, there are times when the relationship can be filled with conflict, anger or disappointment. So, whether you want to maintain or need to repair the connection with your mother, here are some tips on how to improve the relationship.>
Focus on the positive. In any relationship there are going to be ups and downs. Instead of focusing on what your mother does wrong (from your perspective) or the struggles you have with her, shift your attention to all that she does right and what's good about your relationship. This year, make a list of what you love about your mother and read those qualities to her or write them in a card. Your true feelings are as good, if not better, than any card from Hallmark.>
Respect and validate differences. Each of you was born and raised in a different time period with distinct values and ways of living. You probably don't agree on everything, even the important things in life. That's OK. But you must learn to acknowledge and respect each other's thoughts and feelings. There are many people who have been angry with their mother for years. Those are wasted years and life is too short. This year, pick up the phone and either apologize or forgive your mother.>
Communicate. As adults, we don't spend much time talking to our mother about important topics in life. Think to yourself....do I know what is on my mother's mind these days or how she is occupying her time? Does she know my personal goals and fears in life? Strengthen your relationship by opening the lines of communication between you and your mother.>
Set boundaries. Respect each other's privacy. Limits in what you share with your mother (and what she tells you) are fine. Always remember that even when you try your hardest, there is still the possibility that she will be disappointed or you will not meet her expectations. These are the realities of any relationship. By setting boundaries, you are protecting yourself and the relationship. She may be "Mom" but your relationship still takes work. If things have been difficult or problematic, don't expect change to occur overnight. Keep working at it because the rewards are well worth the effort.>
Dr. Terri Orbuch is a marriage and family therapist, Oakland University professor, and research professor at the University of Michigan. She also is the host of "The Love Doctor" talk radio program on the VoiceAmerica network. E-mail her at torbuch@freepress.com.>
Read full Article: http://www.freep.com/article/20090508/FEATURES01/905080429/1026/TERRI+ORBUCH+THE+LOVE+DOCTOR
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Your Money - The Hidden Peril of Deferred-Compensation Plans - NYTimes.com
Your Money - The Hidden Peril of Deferred-Compensation Plans - NYTimes.com
Your Money
The Hidden Peril of Deferred-Compensation Plans
By RON LIEBER
Published: May 9, 2009
Salary set aside by highly paid workers in accounts to lessen tax burdens would almost certainly be lost if your employer were to file for bankruptcy.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/your-money/09money.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Your Money
The Hidden Peril of Deferred-Compensation Plans
By RON LIEBER
Published: May 9, 2009
Salary set aside by highly paid workers in accounts to lessen tax burdens would almost certainly be lost if your employer were to file for bankruptcy.
Read full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/your-money/09money.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Irrationality is the real invisible hand | Psychology Today Blogs
Irrationality is the real invisible hand Psychology Today Blogs
By Dan Ariely on May 8, 2009 - 9:31am in Predictably Irrational
Excerpts:
In my mind this experience has taught us that Adam Smith ‘s version of invisible hand does not exist, but that a different version of the invisible hand that is very real, very active, and very dangerous if we don't learn to recognize it. Perhaps a more accurate description of the invisible hand is that it represents human irrationality. In terms of irrationality the hand that guides our behavior is clearly invisible - after all recent events have demonstrated that we are largely blinded to the ways rationality plays in our lives and our institutions. Moreover it is also clear that irrationality does shape our behavior in many ways, pushing and prodding us along a path can lead to destruction. Whether we're procrastinating on our medical check-ups, letting our emotions get the best of us, or letting conflicts of interest and short term time horizon ruin the financial market, irrationality is certainly involved.
In Adam Smith's world the invisible hand was a wonderful force, and the fact it was invisible made no difference whatsoever. The irrational invisible hand is a different story altogether - here we must identify the ways in which irrationality plays tricks on us and make the invisible hand visible!
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/predictably-irrational/200905/irrationality-is-the-real-invisible-hand
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
By Dan Ariely on May 8, 2009 - 9:31am in Predictably Irrational
Excerpts:
In my mind this experience has taught us that Adam Smith ‘s version of invisible hand does not exist, but that a different version of the invisible hand that is very real, very active, and very dangerous if we don't learn to recognize it. Perhaps a more accurate description of the invisible hand is that it represents human irrationality. In terms of irrationality the hand that guides our behavior is clearly invisible - after all recent events have demonstrated that we are largely blinded to the ways rationality plays in our lives and our institutions. Moreover it is also clear that irrationality does shape our behavior in many ways, pushing and prodding us along a path can lead to destruction. Whether we're procrastinating on our medical check-ups, letting our emotions get the best of us, or letting conflicts of interest and short term time horizon ruin the financial market, irrationality is certainly involved.
In Adam Smith's world the invisible hand was a wonderful force, and the fact it was invisible made no difference whatsoever. The irrational invisible hand is a different story altogether - here we must identify the ways in which irrationality plays tricks on us and make the invisible hand visible!
Read full article: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/predictably-irrational/200905/irrationality-is-the-real-invisible-hand
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Friday, May 8, 2009
April 2009: Job losses were at their lowest point since September and this looks to be the first sign of a recovery in the labor market.
May 8, 2009
To:
MRINetwork Owners
From:
Seamus Kelleher, Director of PR and Internal Communications
Re:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Report (May 2009)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its employment numbers for the month of April this morning. We asked Kitchen PR to put together a short summary and analysis of the numbers.
An Analysis of Today's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ReportThe full report can be seen here: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm.
This morning, the Labor Department released what could be considered a warm rainstorm. In April, the U.S. workforce unemployment rate (chart 1) rose to 8.9 percent - from 8.5 - and lost 539,000 positions (chart 2). While unemployment is at its highest in 25 years, job losses were at their lowest point since September and this looks to be the first sign of a recovery in the labor market. Temporary unemployment has now continued to improve for the last three months, losing 62,000 positions in April as opposed to the 70,000 lost in March and the 72,000 lost in February.
The unemployment rate for professional and managerial occupations dipped from 4.2 percent to 4.0 percent despite an uptick in the participation rate as consumer confidence reversed course in April. Often an unemployment rate will continue to increase even after jobs are being added to a sector because the increase in participation - people who begin actively searching for a job - outpaces increases in hiring.
Specific sub-industries that are adding some positions include architectural and engineering services adding 2,600 jobs in April, and management and technical consulting adding 1,600 positions. Health and education services continued to be the leader, with an increase of 15,000 jobs in April and just over 400,000 since April 2008. On the manufacturing side, while the numbers are still mostly negative, food production added 10,000 positions, communications equipment remained flat with an increase of just 200 jobs as did coal and petroleum products with an increase of 100 jobs.
The largest single job creator in April was the government, which added 72,000 positions, nearly 60,000 of which were related to the start of hiring for the 2010 Census Bureau. Hiring for the Census is expected to exceed 1 million positions in total over the next year. Without the government positions, private sector employment fell 611,000, but this is still less than the 693,000 private sector job losses in March and showing a general trend of bottoming out.
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
To:
MRINetwork Owners
From:
Seamus Kelleher, Director of PR and Internal Communications
Re:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Report (May 2009)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its employment numbers for the month of April this morning. We asked Kitchen PR to put together a short summary and analysis of the numbers.
An Analysis of Today's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ReportThe full report can be seen here: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm.
This morning, the Labor Department released what could be considered a warm rainstorm. In April, the U.S. workforce unemployment rate (chart 1) rose to 8.9 percent - from 8.5 - and lost 539,000 positions (chart 2). While unemployment is at its highest in 25 years, job losses were at their lowest point since September and this looks to be the first sign of a recovery in the labor market. Temporary unemployment has now continued to improve for the last three months, losing 62,000 positions in April as opposed to the 70,000 lost in March and the 72,000 lost in February.
The unemployment rate for professional and managerial occupations dipped from 4.2 percent to 4.0 percent despite an uptick in the participation rate as consumer confidence reversed course in April. Often an unemployment rate will continue to increase even after jobs are being added to a sector because the increase in participation - people who begin actively searching for a job - outpaces increases in hiring.
Specific sub-industries that are adding some positions include architectural and engineering services adding 2,600 jobs in April, and management and technical consulting adding 1,600 positions. Health and education services continued to be the leader, with an increase of 15,000 jobs in April and just over 400,000 since April 2008. On the manufacturing side, while the numbers are still mostly negative, food production added 10,000 positions, communications equipment remained flat with an increase of just 200 jobs as did coal and petroleum products with an increase of 100 jobs.
The largest single job creator in April was the government, which added 72,000 positions, nearly 60,000 of which were related to the start of hiring for the 2010 Census Bureau. Hiring for the Census is expected to exceed 1 million positions in total over the next year. Without the government positions, private sector employment fell 611,000, but this is still less than the 693,000 private sector job losses in March and showing a general trend of bottoming out.
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
World's Happiest Places - Forbes.com
World's Happiest Places - Forbes.com
World's Happiest Places
Lauren Sherman,
05.05.09, 06:00 PM EDT
A new report reveals where people feel most positive about their lives.
Excerpts:
In Depth: World's Happiest Places
Where in the world do people feel most content with their lives?
According to a new report released by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), a Paris-based group of 30 countries with democratic governments that provides economic and social statistics and data, happiness levels are highest in northern European countries.
Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands rated at the top of the list, ranking first, second and third, respectively. Outside Europe, New Zealand and Canada landed at Nos. 8 and 6, respectively. The U.S. did not crack the top 10. Switzerland placed seventh and Belgium placed tenth.
The report looked at subjective well-being, defined as life satisfaction. Did people feel like their lives were dominated by positive experiences and feelings, or negative ones?
To answer that question, the OECD used data from a Gallup World Poll conducted in 140 countries around the world last year. The poll asked respondents whether they had experienced six different forms of positive or negative feelings within the last day.
Some sample questions: Did you enjoy something you did yesterday? Were you proud of something you did yesterday? Did you learn something yesterday? Were you treated with respect yesterday? In each country, a representative sample of no more than 1,000 people, age 15 or older, were surveyed. The poll was scored numerically on a scale of 1-100. The average score was 62.4.
While the global economic crisis has taken a toll on every nation, the countries that scored at the top still boast some of the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world. Denmark, which got the highest score, is not only a wealthy country, it's also highly productive, with a 2009 GDP per capita of $68,000, according to the International Monetary Fund. The United States' GDP per capita, by contrast, is $47,335. Though the U.S. got an above-average score of 74, it did not break the top 10.
Wealth alone does not bring the greatest degree of happiness. Norway has the highest GDP per capita on the list--$98,822--yet it ranked ninth, not first. On the other hand, New Zealand's happiness level is 76.7 out of 100 on the OECD list, but its 2009 GDP per capita is just $30,556.
According to a 2005 editorial, published in the British Medical Journal and authored by Dr. Tony Delamothe, research done in Mexico, Ghana, Sweden, the U.S. and the U.K. shows that individuals typically get richer during their lifetimes, but not happier. It is family, social and community networks that bring joy to one's life, according to Delamothe.
Read Full Article: http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-happiest-places-lifestyle-travel-world-happiest.html?partner=executive_picks_newsletter
*****************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
World's Happiest Places
Lauren Sherman,
05.05.09, 06:00 PM EDT
A new report reveals where people feel most positive about their lives.
Excerpts:
In Depth: World's Happiest Places
Where in the world do people feel most content with their lives?
According to a new report released by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), a Paris-based group of 30 countries with democratic governments that provides economic and social statistics and data, happiness levels are highest in northern European countries.
Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands rated at the top of the list, ranking first, second and third, respectively. Outside Europe, New Zealand and Canada landed at Nos. 8 and 6, respectively. The U.S. did not crack the top 10. Switzerland placed seventh and Belgium placed tenth.
The report looked at subjective well-being, defined as life satisfaction. Did people feel like their lives were dominated by positive experiences and feelings, or negative ones?
To answer that question, the OECD used data from a Gallup World Poll conducted in 140 countries around the world last year. The poll asked respondents whether they had experienced six different forms of positive or negative feelings within the last day.
Some sample questions: Did you enjoy something you did yesterday? Were you proud of something you did yesterday? Did you learn something yesterday? Were you treated with respect yesterday? In each country, a representative sample of no more than 1,000 people, age 15 or older, were surveyed. The poll was scored numerically on a scale of 1-100. The average score was 62.4.
While the global economic crisis has taken a toll on every nation, the countries that scored at the top still boast some of the highest gross domestic product per capita in the world. Denmark, which got the highest score, is not only a wealthy country, it's also highly productive, with a 2009 GDP per capita of $68,000, according to the International Monetary Fund. The United States' GDP per capita, by contrast, is $47,335. Though the U.S. got an above-average score of 74, it did not break the top 10.
Wealth alone does not bring the greatest degree of happiness. Norway has the highest GDP per capita on the list--$98,822--yet it ranked ninth, not first. On the other hand, New Zealand's happiness level is 76.7 out of 100 on the OECD list, but its 2009 GDP per capita is just $30,556.
According to a 2005 editorial, published in the British Medical Journal and authored by Dr. Tony Delamothe, research done in Mexico, Ghana, Sweden, the U.S. and the U.K. shows that individuals typically get richer during their lifetimes, but not happier. It is family, social and community networks that bring joy to one's life, according to Delamothe.
Read Full Article: http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/world-happiest-places-lifestyle-travel-world-happiest.html?partner=executive_picks_newsletter
*****************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Ryan v. Lyondell and Provides Some Comfort to Boards of Directors, May 2009
http://www.blakes.com/english/legal_updates/mergers_aquisitions/may_2009/Alert221-DSC_Comfort.pdf
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Michael Gans and Lindsay Bunt
May 2009
Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Ryan v. Lyondell and Provides Some Comfort to Boards of Directors
Michael Gans and Lindsay Bunt >
Excerpts:
In July 2008, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a summary judgment motion by the directors of Lyondell Chemicals, an independent chemical manufacturer, to dismiss shareholder litigation asserting that they had not met their fiduciary duty in recommending the sale of Lyondell to Basell AF at a 45% premium over the pre-announcement share price. In a decision that will provide comfort to Delaware directors, the Delaware Supreme Court recently overturned the lower court’s dismissal and granted the Lyondell directors the summary motion they sought.>
While Delaware jurisprudence on directors’ duty of loyalty (or fiduciary duty) is arguably now less relevant in Canada in light of the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC) guidance in BCE Inc., the reversal of the lower court decision in Ryan v. Lyondell confirms that (i) as in Canada, Delaware directors who are diligent and informed will be afforded a high level of judicial deference even if their processes, when viewed in hindsight, may have been imperfect, and (ii) a high bar is required to establish a breach of the duty of loyalty where a board is independent and disinterested with regard to a particular transaction.>
Read Full Article: http://www.blakes.com/english/legal_updates/mergers_aquisitions/may_2009/Alert221-DSC_Comfort.pdf
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Michael Gans and Lindsay Bunt
May 2009
Delaware Supreme Court Overturns Ryan v. Lyondell and Provides Some Comfort to Boards of Directors
Michael Gans and Lindsay Bunt >
Excerpts:
In July 2008, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a summary judgment motion by the directors of Lyondell Chemicals, an independent chemical manufacturer, to dismiss shareholder litigation asserting that they had not met their fiduciary duty in recommending the sale of Lyondell to Basell AF at a 45% premium over the pre-announcement share price. In a decision that will provide comfort to Delaware directors, the Delaware Supreme Court recently overturned the lower court’s dismissal and granted the Lyondell directors the summary motion they sought.>
While Delaware jurisprudence on directors’ duty of loyalty (or fiduciary duty) is arguably now less relevant in Canada in light of the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC) guidance in BCE Inc., the reversal of the lower court decision in Ryan v. Lyondell confirms that (i) as in Canada, Delaware directors who are diligent and informed will be afforded a high level of judicial deference even if their processes, when viewed in hindsight, may have been imperfect, and (ii) a high bar is required to establish a breach of the duty of loyalty where a board is independent and disinterested with regard to a particular transaction.>
Read Full Article: http://www.blakes.com/english/legal_updates/mergers_aquisitions/may_2009/Alert221-DSC_Comfort.pdf
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
"Synthetic Happiness" - Every Bit As Real And Enduring As "Natural Happiness" Which Is The Happiness We Stumble Upon - Daniel Gilbert, Harvard
Note From Jim: Funny, intriguing, and most importantly good for you.... Create your own "Synthetic Happiness".... It's as real and enduring as "Natural Happiness", which by definition is the type of happiness that one just happens to stumble upon.
Video, Daniel Gilbert, Ph.D, Professor or Psychology - TED 21 minutes http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
Why are we happy? Filmed Feb 2004
About this talk Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.
About Dan Gilbert Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong -- a premise he supports with intriguing research, and explains in his accessible and... Full <http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/dan_gilbert.html> bio and more links
Why you should listen to him: Dan Gilbert believes that, in our ardent, lifelong pursuit of happiness, most of us have the wrong map. In the same way that optical illusions fool our eyes -- and fool everyone’s eyes in the same way -- Gilbert argues that our brains systematically misjudge what will make us happy. And these quirks in our cognition make humans very poor predictors of our own bliss.
The premise of his current research -- that our assumptions about what will make us happy are often wrong -- is supported with clinical research drawn from psychology and neuroscience. But his delivery is what sets him apart. His engaging -- and often hilarious -- style pokes fun at typical human behavior and invokes pop-culture references everyone can relate to. This winning style translates also to Gilbert’s writing, which is lucid, approachable and laugh-out-loud funny. The immensely readable Stumbling on Happiness, published in 2006, became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 20 languages.
In fact, the title of his book could be drawn from his own life. At 19, he was a high school dropout with dreams of writing science fiction. When a creative writing class at his community college was full, he enrolled in the only available course: psychology. He found his passion there, earned a doctorate in social psychology in 1985 at Princeton, and has since won a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Phi Beta Kappa teaching prize for his work at Harvard. He has written essays and articles for The New York Times, Time and even Starbucks, while continuing his research into happiness at his Hedonic Psychology Laboratory."Gilbert's elbow-in-the-ribs social-science humor is actually funny. ... But underneath the goofball brilliance, [he] has a serious argument to make about why human beings are forever wrongly predicting what will make them happy."New York Times Book
Watch Full Video: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Video, Daniel Gilbert, Ph.D, Professor or Psychology - TED 21 minutes http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
Why are we happy? Filmed Feb 2004
About this talk Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.
About Dan Gilbert Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong -- a premise he supports with intriguing research, and explains in his accessible and... Full <http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/dan_gilbert.html> bio and more links
Why you should listen to him: Dan Gilbert believes that, in our ardent, lifelong pursuit of happiness, most of us have the wrong map. In the same way that optical illusions fool our eyes -- and fool everyone’s eyes in the same way -- Gilbert argues that our brains systematically misjudge what will make us happy. And these quirks in our cognition make humans very poor predictors of our own bliss.
The premise of his current research -- that our assumptions about what will make us happy are often wrong -- is supported with clinical research drawn from psychology and neuroscience. But his delivery is what sets him apart. His engaging -- and often hilarious -- style pokes fun at typical human behavior and invokes pop-culture references everyone can relate to. This winning style translates also to Gilbert’s writing, which is lucid, approachable and laugh-out-loud funny. The immensely readable Stumbling on Happiness, published in 2006, became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 20 languages.
In fact, the title of his book could be drawn from his own life. At 19, he was a high school dropout with dreams of writing science fiction. When a creative writing class at his community college was full, he enrolled in the only available course: psychology. He found his passion there, earned a doctorate in social psychology in 1985 at Princeton, and has since won a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Phi Beta Kappa teaching prize for his work at Harvard. He has written essays and articles for The New York Times, Time and even Starbucks, while continuing his research into happiness at his Hedonic Psychology Laboratory."Gilbert's elbow-in-the-ribs social-science humor is actually funny. ... But underneath the goofball brilliance, [he] has a serious argument to make about why human beings are forever wrongly predicting what will make them happy."New York Times Book
Watch Full Video: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
***********************************************************************
This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)