3 Ways to Fix Unproductive Meetings That are Costing You Money | Inc.com

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getty_81178164_97064797045000_45142“Meetings are indispensable when you don’t want to do anything.” observed American economist John Kenneth Galbraith.

If Galbraith’s quote makes you smile and nod in agreement, you’re not alone.

Meetings are a necessary part of every organization. They are where plans are made, goals are set, and reports are given. They offer the opportunity for dialogue and problem solving, as well as the chance to get to know colleagues better. They can even make people laugh. When conducted well, meetings can help everyone be more productive. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

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Buying Girl Scout Cookies Online: Thin Mints Finally Reach the Web | Businessweek

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Buyers in the Girl Scout cookie market are of two types: people who are pressured, on behalf of a co-worker’s daughter, into purchasing three boxes of Thin Mints, and people who desperately want to buy three—OK, six—boxes of Thin Mints but can’t find a girl scout fast enough or persuade her to accept your credit card.

If you’re the first type of cookie buyer, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America can do nothing for you because, frankly, Thin Mints are delicious and you shouldn’t need any additional persuasion to buy them. But if you’re in the second camp—the person who can’t find cookies—the scouts understand your cookie-related pain and want to help. “The No. 1 reason people say they don’t buy our cookies is they couldn’t find a Girl Scout,” says Kelly Parisi, chief communications director of Girl Scouts of America. “We needed a new way to approach the consumer.”

That’s why this year, you’ll be able to buy Girl Scout cookies online.

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Why Every Great Leader Should Study Philosophy | Page19

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In the boardroom, announcing your degree in philosophy is a lot like admitting to a history of animal cruelty in a therapist’s office: a sure sign of madness.

For philosophy scholars, the incredulous questions start early: “How will you ever get a job?” your parents might have asked. “What can you even do with a philosophy degree?” At first glance, it might seem impractical to study the great thinkers – after all, it isn’t every day that one has the burning need to apply Heidegger’s theories or ponder Derrida. But there’s one important thing that a rigorous study of philosophy trains like nothing else can: leadership.

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Sitting Stool in Backpack |CoolBusinessIdeas.com

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BAGOBAGO is a sitting backpack that allows you to sit down comfortably just about anywhere. BAGOBAGO is a sitting backpack with built-in stool. The interior is designed to prevent damage to its contents while keeping the stool always functional. The stool is hidden in the interior of the backpack and the construction is designed to prevent damage to its contents

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Small Volcanic Eruptions Slow Global Warming | livescience.com

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Small volcanic eruptions account for part of the global warming slowdown since 2000, a new study suggests. Until now, the climate impacts of small volcanic blasts were overlooked because their planet-cooling particles cluster below the reach of satellites, scientists reported Oct. 31 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. It turns out, satellites were missing about 30 percent of these particles, called aerosols, the study found

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When the Extra Mile Isn’t Worth It | Page19

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“Go the extra mile” is a familiar adage, and really, what isn’t laudable about putting in 110%? Well for starters, it isn’t actually a great strategy for success. Here, learn what works for 10X companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Southwest Airlines instead.

We are all taught that the best way to get ahead in business is to never stop trying to succeed. At the end of every day you should have achieved what you set out to and more. In short, to smoke the competition you should constantly strive to go the extra mile or 10 – but this is far from truth.

The most successful businesses don’t try and push as much as they can. Instead, they make attainable targets and ensure they reach them.

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Drop a bad habit, gain a virus | Reuters

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e-cigHe was, of course, talking about physical safety; a Mother Jones report earlier this year was subtitled “a brief history of e-cigs blowing up—in your face, in your car, in your home, in your bar. ” But if that weren’t enough, e-cigarettes are now also proving virtually dangerous: last week an IT employee on Reddit outlined the case of a malware infection that came as the result of using a USB port to charge an e-cigarette that was made in China.

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Seven Strategies I Use on Black Friday and Cyber Monday | The Simple Dollar

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downloadI’ll be honest: since about 2009, I haven’t left the house on Black Friday. Instead, I usually sleep in after a long evening spent eating a big meal and having a few glasses of wine with family members. I do get up and check a few online sales, but I haven’t found anything in a brick-and-mortar store that makes it worthwhile to actually go out there and battle the crowds.

That doesn’t mean I don’t utilize the bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I usually do end up buying an item or two each year based on those sales though they have usually been online buys, but I have a very specific strategy that I use to make this work.

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