Give to Get
While pay and benefits are important, finding meaning in their work is now one of the most important factors for job seekers. According to Harvard Business Review, 86% of millennials and 85% of baby boomers believe it’s important that their work involve “giving back.” One way companies can achieve this is by creating a culture of volunteerism. Whether it’s sponsorship on a corporate level of encouraging employees to be involved on their own (via paid volunteer hours or some other compensation), developing a strong social responsibility program can help businesses attract and retain the right people.Source: www.refreshleadership.com
Strange but True
Q. At your next party of brainiac friends, challenge them to be the first to answer: A bat and a ball together cost $1.10, with the bat costing a dollar more than the ball. So what’s the cost of the ball?
A. Rare will be your group if the first response isn’t $0.10, with the dime pushing the total to $1.10. Nice try, but think about it a minute: Is a dollar item $1 more than a $0.10 item? Think some more and you’ll get the correct answer: $0.05 for the ball and $1.05 for the bat, says Jonah Lehrer in New Yorker magazine.
Now for a second puzzle: In a lake is a patch of lily pads that every day doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?
Probably, your first tack is to divide the 48 days by half and answer 24 days. But the correct solution is 47 days, since the 48th final doubling will cover the lake’s other half.
Moral: When people face an uncertain situation, they often depend on a long list of mental shortcuts, leading them to make foolish decisions.
Source: Bill Sones and Rich Sones, Ph.D.
Cautiously Optimistic
Northern California business owners are feeling better about the national economy, according to the 2015 U.S. Bank Small Business Survey—but they’re skeptical about the local economy and conditions for small businesses in California. The survey polled 3,202 small business, including 196 in Northern California, and found 71% believe the economy is in recovery or expansion (all numbers here reflect Northern California only). However, 57% describe small business conditions in the state as fair or poor, with many citing higher taxes and regulations.
Despite feeling generally optimistic about the economy, most are still hesitant to make significant investments in their business. Just 33% indicate they’re likely to make a capital expenditure in the coming year, and only 24% plan to add staff.
On the bright side, fewer small business owners than in previous years said the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have a negative long-term impact. And 69% have successfully integrated mobile technology into their operating strategies and embraced social media for networking and marketing.
Source: usbank.com
