When Warren Buffett was just 11 years old, he predicted that he’d become a billionaire. (He was certainly right!) Everyone assumes that he became one of the richest men in the world by making investments. But a key factor in his success was also not making investments. Buffett chooses the companies he invests in very, very carefully. […]
The Man Behind the Conspiracy Theories
Before he became the subject of all those strange conspiracy theories, George Soros was best known as an honest-to-goodness businessperson and international philanthropist. At age 91, he still has billions, but that’s not even the most interesting thing about him. He survived Nazi Germany before he ever became a student of economics. His early brush […]
Is Intermittent Fasting For You?
You’ve heard the most common weight-loss advice: eat less and move more. It might sound simple, but special diets and exercise equipment can be expensive, difficult, and unpleasant to maintain. And if you don’t maintain the regimen—well, you know what happens. The weight piles back on. An increasingly popular alternative is intermittent fasting, which can […]
Inside the House of War
According to Islamic religious law, the world is made up of two parts: the house of Islam and the house of war. This rule came in handy for non-Muslim rulers who lived in the time of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted for more than six centuries. As long as opponents accepted the Ottoman sultan as […]
Can You Spy the Lie?
Special equipment and advanced training aren’t necessary. All you need is to learn how to interview people properly and evaluate how they respond. Take body language, which carries all sorts of information. The classic visual indicator that someone is lying is nodding the head while verbally denying something (or vice versa). A liar might also […]
Is it Time to Purge Your Clients?
It may sound crazy, but it might be time to “fire” some of your clients. Business owners should value quality over quantity when it comes to their client and customer lists. Good clients should make you excited to work for them. They should be pleasant to collaborate with. And they should always pay you what […]
Can We Eliminate Extreme Poverty?
About 10 percent of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty. But what may surprise you is that, until somewhat recently, poverty was near universal. Almost everyone in the world was extremely impoverished, except for a lucky few. So what happened? Starting around 1820, population and economic growth accelerated dramatically. This expansion happened all over […]
Are You Underestimating Yourself?
The cult of genius tells us to celebrate the heroes of the past for their unique qualities. But what if we looked at them as role models, more than special cases? Even regular folks have an incredible potential for greatness. That’s been one of the big lessons of psychological research in the 21st century. Modern […]
What We Know About China’s “Godfather”
With its incursion on Taiwan and zero-Covid policy, China has been all over the news lately. Between its strict lockdowns and tense diplomatic relationships, the country’s political system is frequently discussed. But how much do you know it, really? It may be helpful to think of President Xi Jinping as the CEO of the world’s […]
Why “Move Fast and Break Things” is Bad Advice
The hardest part of any project is getting started. This is especially true when it comes to launching a new business. Entrepreneurs often feel pressure to “move fast and break things,” as Mark Zuckerberg used to say. But as Facebook demonstrates, it can be enormously difficult to go back and fix things later. Businesses aren’t […]
