And the Beat Goes Ani  Ani Difranco’s first album of original material in several years, ¿Which Side Are You On? has plenty to please her most ardent fans: she’s still refreshingly direct in her political critique, still crafting marvelous lyrics about the exasperating emotions of the human experience. But it also seems that with each album, you can feel her getting wiser and exploring new possibilities — while still managing to sound like herself. So if you’ve resisted Ani in the past, this might be a good chance to give her a try as truly this album contains some of her most beautiful and inspiring song. Learn more about Ani’s folkin’ fantastic new release from her label, Righteous Babe Records.

People have different natural talents at interviewing for jobs. But even the most talented can fail to get offers if they don’t prepare. This goes beyond arriving on time, dressing professionally, being polite, and preparing to discuss every detail of your resume. Of course, these things are important. But get ready for interviews in a way that makes you stand out. Adopt a different mindset—theirs. Full Article »

Some business people are like rock stars: Richard, Warren, Bill, the late Steve—all rock stars. It’s certainly possible to become a rock star and achieve excellence in just about any field we choose, but excellence comes with a price. Natural talent only takes us so far. Excellence requires incredible focus, massive effort, and an almost superhuman drive and work ethic. Full Article »

While few of us live lives as exciting or dangerous as that of Captain Kirk, in our business and personal lives we all face no-win situations. These could include bosses who are impossible to work for, companies that are in a hopeless downward spiral, or jobs that are a terrible fit. The question that confronts us then becomes, “what course to take?” Full Article »

“Mail delivery subsystem /undelivered mail return to sender.”
“Mail delivery subsystem/returned mail see transcript for details.”
“Mailer daemon/failure notice.”

Do these messages look familiar? Well, if your email contacts were ever hacked, you saw hundreds of shocking similar ones upon opening your inbox. But even more outrageous may have been the reality smackers sandwiched in between from all the companies where you once applied for employment. Full Article »

Listener Edgar brought this Renault spot—from their Times are changing, and so is Twingo! campaign—to the attention of The Focus Group. Made for the French market, it has aired in English speaking markets as well.

The Super Bowl has long been the biggest day of the year for advertising, as more than 100 million Americans watch television’s most expensive and daring commercials. Unlike years past, one thing will be mostly missing this year: surprise. That is because many of the premier ads for Super Bowl XLVI on NBC on Sunday have already turned up on Facebook, YouTube and the sponsors’ own Web sites, some for weeks. Full Article »

Stockholm, Venice of the North  Travel to Sweden’s capital and take in the view as you cross the many snow-dappled bridges that connect this beautiful city of islands. Head to the top of the world’s largest spherical structure, discover the joys of the next generation of museum audio tours, awake to the Scandinavian design and extraordinary breakfasts at the Hotel Skeppsholmen and explore the beautiful old town (Gamla Stan) of Stockholm.

The Cold and the Beautiful  If you’re looking for a vacation your friends won’t believe without physical proof, look to the Arctic Circle where each year several tons of snow and ice are crafted into one of the world’s coldest luxuries: The Ice Hotel. In addition to experiencing its fabulous design, you can choose to participate in excursions and activities that let you create your ice sculpture, get up close and personal with actual sled dogs and reindeer, seek out the Northern Lights, explore the rich history of the Native people who have adapted to survive the snowy North or hop on board a snowmobile and head over the river and through the woods — though this certainly is no trip to Grandma’s House! Learn more about this combination of man’s ingenuity and nature’s beauty at icehotel.com. 

In 1996, Interbrand ranked Kodak the fourth most-valuable brand in the world, just behind Disney, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.

Today on the stock market, Disney is worth $70 billion, Coca-Cola is worth $154 billion, McDonald’s is worth $104 billion and Kodak is bankrupt. Full Article »

Q. Your plate at work is full, but your boss has asked you to take on yet another assignment. You say “yes” even though you know you don’t have time for it. Why?

A. In situations like this, people often automatically say “yes” out of fear, says Jim Camp, a negotiations coach in Dublin, Ohio. Full Article »

Hiring the best of the best is an absolute must if you are going to build a successful company.  You will need to be prepared to compete against big companies with deep pockets and other up-and-coming startups that also have blue chip investors and a game-changing idea. Full Article »

As long as we’ve had computers and gadgets, there’s been a tension between security and ease of use. On one extreme, there are the passwords that are so complex you intentionally can’t remember them, and emails that involve sending an encryption key to your recipients. On the other side, there’s the iPhone that you Slide to Unlock, then use to manage your email, finances, and photos from last night’s karaoke. Full Article »

Identity theft can scare the bejeezus out of anyone—drained bank accounts, credit cards set up in your name, purloined Social Security numbers, oh my—but that doesn’t necessarily means you should buy into an expensive credit protection service. Our wise older siblings at Consumer Reports break it down in a new installment of Money Adviser. Full Article »

Desire for power is a basic human instinct. But few people achieve it—or at least a great deal of it. In his book Power: Why Some People Have It—And Others Don’t, Stanford business professor Jeffrey Pfeffer tells us why we should want it, and how to go about getting it.
Full Article »

As the New Year approaches, many of us are thinking about our resolutions. What will we vow to do this coming year to be better--both at what we do for a living, and as members of the human race? There’s only one resolution you need to make and keep. Do this one thing and you’ll be good to go for the year: Do what you say you are going to do, otherwise known as accountability. Full Article »

Traditionalists and etiquette mavens are complaining, but the rest of us can thank social scientists this season. They have come up with experimental evidence to support three revolutionary rules for people who hate shopping for holiday gifts:

1. You don’t have to spend any time looking for “thoughtful” gifts.

2. You don’t have to spend much money, either.

3. Actually, you may not have to spend any money. Full Article »

It sounds like the title of a thriller by Robert Ludlum: “The Quadrennial Effect.” Actually, it is something that may make 2012 less of a nail-biter for media and advertising companies.

The fact that several events that happen every four years will take place next year will stimulate the media and ad industries, leading forecasters said on Monday, offsetting the detrimental effects of the European debt crisis. Full Article »

Hot Stuff  Sure, Hot in Cleveland has Betty White, but is this little sit-com that could the heir to “The Golden Girls?” It just may be. Though Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and Valerie Bertinelli may seem much younger, they’re actually quite similar in age to those sassy ladies of Miami. What’s more, as the show enters it’s third season (which premiered Wednesday November 30), it’s showing all the hallmarks of a series that keeps viewers coming back time and time again: a cast of talented TV veterans, a willingness to put them in wacky - almost unbelievable - situations that push the boundaries of taste, and (most important of all) the ability to deliver laughs every time.