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☆ Warren Buffett's toll roads, Elon Musk's bottlenecks, and why both men prize the same kinds of businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Buffett likes toll roads that give him monopoly power and the ability to raise prices easily. AdvertisementAdvertisementYears later, one of Buffett's companies held a 24% stake in Detroit International Bridge Co., the only public company in the country that owned a toll bridge. He also highlighted toll roads among the specific assets he wanted to buy in his Buffett Partnership letters in the 1950s. "I have said in an inflationary world that a toll bridge would be a great thing to own if it was unregulated." Shared valuesBuffett appears to like toll roads because they're a simple, safe, and reliable way to make money.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Elon, Elon Musk, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, Roger Lowenstein, Sandy Gottesman, Warren, Bill Brewster, Bill Cohan, Kara Swisher, Cohan, Tesla, Nathan Furr, Jeff Dyer, Musk Organizations: Buffett, Service, Elon, Berkshire, American, Detroit International, Co, Apple, Yorker, SpaceX, Harvard Business, EV Locations: Wall, Silicon, Detroit, Berkshire

☆ Billionaire CEOs said working from home made them happier. Some now want to fire workers who don't show up to the office.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Meta CEO told staff they could expect him to spend half of the next year working remotely. True to his word, in his first week Musk banned remote work in a 2:30 a.m email to Twitter staff. Still: Unlike some of the other wealthy CEOs on this list, Eric Yuan has always been a little skeptical of permanent remote work. Roy RochlinSalesforce CEO Marc Benioff was initially outspoken in his support for remote working. Joining the growing list of CEOs that say remote work is not conducive to productivity, Salesforce revised its work-from-anywhere strategy.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Goldman Sachs, Prithwiraj Choudhury, Zuckerberg, Meta, I've, Erin Scott, Skip, Insider's Kali Hays, Hugh Langley, Evan Spiegel, Miranda Kerr, Pierre Mouton, Stringer, Spiegel, I'm, ERIC PIERMONT, Kali Hays, Jack Dorsey, PRAKASH SINGH, lockdowns, Dorsey, Elon Musk, Musk, Zoe Schiffer, hasn't, Eric Yuan, Kena, Zoom, Kelly Steckelberg, Yuan, Marc Benioff, Roy Rochlin, Salesforce, Benioff, Justin Sullivan, Kara Swisher Organizations: Service, Meta, Harvard Business School, Wall Street, Staff, CNBC, Getty, Twitter, San, New, Elon, San Francisco, Bloomberg, Zoom, Workers, MarketWatch, Smith, Yahoo Finance, Insider Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Francisco, Singapore, Silicon Valley , California

☆ The back-to-office backfire: Companies ending WFH perks lose out on top talent, who view flexible work as equivalent to an 8% raise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Employees see flexible workplaces as an equivalent benefit to an 8% raise, WSJ reported. In some cases, employer pressure to return to in-person work results in employee efforts to unionize or strike over the rollback in benefits, according to Entrepreneur magazine. Insider previously reported work stoppages seen have the highest level of public support since 1965. Some employees, like an Arizona administrator making six figures, have quit altogether when called back to the office, Insider previously reported. Research by Prithwiraj Choudhury, an associate professor at the Harvard Business School and remote work expert, found that employees who worked from home 75% of the time were the most productive, Insider previously reported.

Persons: Nicholas Bloom, Prithwiraj Choudhury Organizations: Service, Disney, JPMorgan, Guardian, Labor Department, Actors Guilds, Employers, Street, Workers, Stanford, Harvard Business School Locations: Wall, Silicon, Arizona

Even for 'Barbie' director Greta Gerwig, negotiating a salary isn't always easy. And while her salary has not been made public, the movie has a budget of $145 million, according to Variety. Within the movie industry, Gerwig believes there is a need for more women directors. And Gerwig isn't alone in her fear of asking for too much. But for Gerwig, directing movies comes with a much different pay structure than other professions.

Persons: Barbie, Greta Gerwig, Gerwig's, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Variety, hasn't, Gerwig, jobseekers Organizations: Variety, Hollywood, CNBC, Harvard Business Locations: Hollywood, Jobvite

☆ The WFH-vs.-office war might be over and hybrid work is winning out, says the nation's top remote-work expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Researchers explain how both employees and companies can benefit from a hybrid work model. What's more, these data points have leveled off in the last few months, Bloom told Insider. Bloom's paper concluded that hybrid work had a "flat or even slightly positive" impact on productivity and improved employee recruitment and retention. Remote work could rise in the years ahead as technology improvesPer Bloom's most recent estimates, 60% of Americans work fully in-person, 30% work in-person between one and four days per week, and 10% work fully remotely. But Harvard's Choudhury said there's one reason a recession wouldn't crush the remote work movement.

Persons: Nick Bloom, Bloom, Choudhury, Harvard's Choudhury Organizations: Service, Stanford, Harvard Business School Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ I spent over $5,000 to race an Ironman. I have no regrets whatsoever — and experts suggest it was a good way to spend my money.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Between race entry fees, equipment, and travel, I spent well over $5,000 getting to the start line. It was money spent in alignment with my values, which experts say is the way to spend. Between July 19, 2022 (when I registered) and June 18, 2023 (race day), I spent well over $5,000 getting to the start line. It was money spent in alignment with my values and priorities, which experts say is the way to spendHow you choose to spend your money matters. In other words, don't spend money on things that aren't important to you.

Persons: I'm, it's, It's, Kathleen Elkins It's, Ramit, Sethi, we'll Organizations: Williams College, Psychological Science, Harvard Business Locations: Kärnten, Klagenfurt, Austria, Galveston , Texas, Galveston, Riding, Los Angeles, Texas

☆ Counteracting microaggressions with positive interactions at work seems obvious, yet we need to actually do it every day
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

As a woman and a person of color, I've been on the receiving end of many microaggressions. "It's not enough to simply eliminate negative interactions — we also need to encourage positive ones." "Different microvalidations will be affirming for different people and in different circumstances, so it's important to know your audience and context." Trans people can also be on the receiving end of micoaggressions at work . For those on the receiving end, the comments can feel anything but "micro," according to a recent Forbes article.

Persons: I've, microaggressions, —, Robin Lakoff, microvalidations, it's, Slack, I'm, aren't, I Organizations: Harvard, Service, Harvard Business, University of California, Forbes Locations: microvalidations, Berkeley

☆ Don’t think of quitting as failure, says bestselling author: Highly successful people know when to give up
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Highly successful people often know exactly when to give up, according to bestselling author and former professional poker player Annie Duke. Sometimes, you see something that other people don't see," Duke, a decision-making consultant, recently told the Harvard Business Review's "On Strategy" podcast. "But sometimes, when the world is yelling at you to stop and you ignore them, that's no longer a virtue. People's fear of quitting stems from two different cognitive biases, Duke added: sunk-cost fallacy and "opportunity cost neglect." DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life?

Persons: isn't, Annie Duke, Duke, it's, Simply, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, Warren Buffett Organizations: Harvard, Behavior, Organization, Amazon, Studios, Twitter

☆ 6 quick calendar tweaks that will help you get more done and optimize your daily routine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Tugba Yanaz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

In my coaching and consulting practice, I work with leaders to create healthy routines to optimize their performance and well-being. Not urgent & important; schedule — You will want to schedule tasks that are important but less urgent for a later date. Urgent & not important; delegate — Assign urgent but less important tasks to others on your team. All your priorities must be reflected in your calendar, personal and professional. It's all about establishing a healthy relationship between your work and personal life and valuing both aspects.

☆ Mercedes car "a nasty piece of work" fumes Wolff
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MIAMI, May 6 (Reuters) - Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff slammed the Formula One outfit's car as "a nasty piece of work" on Saturday after a frustrating qualifying effort for the Miami Grand Prix left the Austrian scratching his head and at times speechless. But it has been all downhill from there with Russell qualifying sixth for Sunday's race and Hamilton 13th, his worst ever qualifying at any circuit in the United States. "It's the lack of comprehension of what it is, that makes this car such a nasty piece of work. "I think that the car is not a nice car, not a good car and I wouldn't even be able to point out fundamentally it's just...," paused Wolff searching for the right words. "That's worse than I thought because we have 20 months on since we were last time in Miami and the car is just marginally better," said Wolff.

☆ Tom Hanks used a popular productivity hack to write his first novel—here's how it works
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

With an Oscar-winning career spanning more than 80 films over four decades, Tom Hanks knows a thing or two about making movies. But when it came time for the 66-year-old to sit down and write his first novel, Hanks needed help. Despite employing the productivity boosting technique while writing his book, Hanks described his desire to write as nothing more than the pursuit of another creative outlet. "I just do writing," Hanks said. Hanks' novel will be released on May 9.

☆ Consultancies are coming off a pandemic boom. Are they still worth hiring?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Management consultancies helped design vaccination programs during the pandemic and are currently providing advice on how to rescue one of the world’s biggest banks. The $230 billion management consulting industry is a broad church: it includes companies offering everything from project management expertise to designing new organizational structures. Many big firms — think EY and KPMG — also conduct audits and advise on their clients’ tax issues, though these services are generally seen as distinct from their consulting work. In The Big Con, published in February, prize-winning economist Mariana Mazzucato and her co-author Rosie Collington argue that management consultancies “infantilize” governments by keeping them dependent on their services. Nearly 80% of firms surveyed globally have told the think-tank that consultants’ work is either of high or very high quality, she noted.

☆ Pepsi's new logo takes inspiration from its '90s design, tapping into Gen Z nostalgia for the era
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pepsi unveiled a new logo on Tuesday, which closely resembles its '90s design. The redesign comes alongside rising popularity for the '90s era among Gen Zers. The old Pepsi logo, pictured in 1990. Jean-Erick PASQUIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesBut taking inspiration from a previous design also comes as Gen Zers bring back several trends from the '90s. Burberry was among those companies, replacing its knight logo and serif font in 2018, before bringing them back in February this year.

☆ 3 ways your business can survive an economic downturn without layoffs or marketing budget cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Joy Gendusa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It can be tempting to go straight to layoffs or cut marketing costs during an economic downturn. Losing new business to less marketing and laying off experienced staff you'll have to rehire are not the best ways to go. The better option is to find smart ways to continue marketing your products and services rather than stop marketing completely. Find ways to reduce expenses and maximize efficiencyYou'll have to get clever to weather an economic storm and come out strong. Review all areas of your business, and find ways to cut expenses, maximize efficiency, and keep marketing consistently.

☆ Biden's stock buyback tax isn't working. In State of the Union, he's asking Congress for more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

In September 2021, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) proposed that stock buybacks should be taxed at 2%. Lazonick, who thought any minor buyback tax would be ineffective, says he has been proven correct. If a higher buyback tax is enacted, he is betting it will not have the outcomes that Democrats envision. While it's hard to see a higher tax getting passed in the current Congress, it does make sense for Biden to state his desire for 4%. Changing a buyback tax, though, might first prove harder.

☆ Israel's president became the first world leader to publicly use ChatGPT when he gave a speech partly written by the AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, delivered a speech partly-written by ChatGPT on Wednesday. Herzog opened his speech with an intro written by ChatGPT. He then ended the speech with a ChatGPT generated "inspirational quote" about AI. During his speech, Herzog also emphasized that AI will not replace humans, despite using it to write part of it. The president also used ChatGPT to end his speech with an "inspirational quote," Sky News reported.

☆ Why Paid Sabbaticals Are Good for Business: Better Employees, Less Burnout
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Crissie Hoskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

And through it all, I didn't get fired, there was no formal reprimand, and I got paid the entire time. Sabbaticals provide a proactive hedge against employee burnout, an antidote for attrition, and a protection from career wanderlust. Some employers argue that offering paid time off won't help keep employees around, but my sabbatical made me more passionate about my work — and my workplace — than ever. I love my job and want to be sure my team and clients get the best of me. Sabbaticals are good for businessMy sabbatical wasn't an anomaly — research shows that sabbaticals help employees fight burnout and improve their well-being.

"And I think when you ask around the world now about our team, the world sees us in a complete different light. Gio Reyna, 20, later confirmed in an Instagram post that Berhalter was talking about him. read moreGio is the son of Claudio Reyna, who played alongside Berhalter for the U.S. team at the 2002 World Cup and is now sporting director for MLS side Austin FC. "And it's a loving relationship, a devoted relationship and we have four amazing kids to show for it." Berhalter led the squad to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar where they were knocked out by the Netherlands.

☆ Gartner expert: College degrees matter less in 2023 job applications
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Your college degree might not matter quite as much in your 2023 job search as it used to. That translates to a de-emphasis on four-year degrees, McRae says: One of the most useful ways to attract "nontraditional candidates" is removing education requirements. Amid a tight labor market, the trend could accelerate dramatically this year. Based on current trends, they projected 1.4 million jobs could open up to workers without college degrees in the next five years. So, what does a potential influx of "nontraditional candidates" mean for you?

☆ Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol is betting that revamping the employee experience is the fast-casual chain's ticket to success
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Brian Niccol's New Year's resolution is to bump Chipotle's internal-promotion rate — the rate of how many current staffers fill open jobs — to 95%. Courtesy of ChipotleBoosting Chipotle's internal-promotion rate is part of a broader move to create career paths for all employees. Under Niccol's leadership, Chipotle has raised employees' wages and helped workers pursue a range of academic degrees, debt-free. In August, workers at a Chipotle store in Lansing, Michigan, formed the first union at the company, the Washington Post reported. But Niccol sees the employee proposition at Chipotle as simple: We're serving high-quality food and we're giving you a place to grow your career.

☆ The solution to low productivity and quiet quitting is simpler than most managers realize: It's about making people feel that they matter.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Meanwhile, more than half of the workforce and "probably more" engaged in quiet quitting this year, according to a June Gallup poll. The solution is simple, but it requires work on the part of leaders to make workers feel like they matter. Managers who don't give their employees a sense of meaning risk higher turnover, increased rates of quiet quitting, and lower productivity. Managers who don't give their employees a sense of meaning risk higher turnover, rates of quiet quitting, and lower productivity. An employee who only gets compliments will begin to wonder whether her manager is being sincere, the Babson professors wrote.

☆ Gen Zers don't have to get a new job to find meaning and purpose at work
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Many Gen Z employees want their jobs to matter and look for meaningful work. Here's how Gen Zers can find meaning at work, from forming connections to shaping values. She, like many Gen Z employees, wanted her work to matter. Connect with those around youDanielle Farage says connecting with coworkers and peers helps inspire and motivate her as a Gen Z worker. courtesy of FarageThe importance of intimate connections can not be ignored in establishing a meaningful work experience.

☆ Elon Musk's demands to make Twitter workers put in 'long hours at high intensity' is actually what many employers want, but won't say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Musk emailed Twitter employees Wednesday telling them they could either work all the time or quit. The email shows the stronghold that the concept of the "ideal worker" has on corporate America. "We will need to be extremely hardcore," wrote Musk, who became the owner of Twitter in October. Musk often flaunts his commitment to his workThe transition to "hardcore" work, Musk wrote in the email, "will mean working long hours at high intensity. The ideal worker is always available to meet the needs of a boss or a client.

☆ It's not just Elon Musk. Your boss probably wants you to put in 'long hours at high intensity' too.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The email shows the stronghold that the concept of the "ideal worker" has on corporate America. On Wednesday, Elon Musk emailed Twitter employees with new expectations for them. "We will need to be extremely hardcore," wrote Musk, who became the owner of Twitter in October. Musk often flaunts his commitment to his workThe transition to "hardcore" work, Musk wrote in the email, "will mean working long hours at high intensity. The ideal worker is always available to meet the needs of a boss or a client.

☆ Feeling burnt out? The stress of toggling between apps with the Alt-Tab buttons may be to blame, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Excessive use of the Alt-Tab toggle could be contributing to a feeling of burnout, a study suggests. Harvard Business Review research finds employees spend 5 working weeks a year toggling between apps. A study published in August by the Harvard Business Review reported by Bloomberg found workers were toggling between different apps and websites up to 1,200 times a day. That "toggling tax," another study suggests, might be helping make employees decide to quit. Okta, an identity and access management company, told Bloomberg its clients deployed 89 apps last year, up from 58 in 2015.

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