Skip to main content

Posts

How to solve hard problems, the power of reflection, and the miracles of daily life

Thoughts from James Clear   Yoga teacher and spiritual leader Sadhguru on the miracles of daily life: "Every moment there are a million miracles happening around you: a flower blossoming, a bird tweeting, a bee humming, a raindrop falling, a snowflake wafting along the clear evening air. There is magic everywhere. If you learn how to live it, life is nothing short of a daily miracle." Source: Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy ​ ​ ​ ​   Philosopher and author Arthur Schopenhauer on the importance of reflection and contemplation rather than mere reading and research: “You may accumulate a vast amount of knowledge but it will be of far less value to you than a much smaller amount if you have not thought it over for yourself; because only through ordering what you know by comparing every truth with every other truth can you take complete possession of your knowledge and get it into your power." Source: Essays and Aphorisms (Hat tip to Nat Eliason )   

Human Freedom Index

  Top 10 Countries with the Highest Human Freedom Indexes (2021): Switzerland — 9.11 New Zealand — 9.01 Denmark — 8.98 Estonia — 8.91 Ireland — 8.90 Canada — 8.85 Finland — 8.85 Australia — 8.84 Sweden — 8.83 Luxembourg — 8.80 In the 2021 edition of the Human Freedom Index, the average human freedom score was 7.12. Compared to the levels in 2008, the overall freedom of the countries included has decreased by 0.01. The report finds a strong relationship between human freedom and democracy. The regions with the highest levels of freedom are North America , Western Europe , and East Asia . The lowest levels of freedom are in the Middle East and North Africa , sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Women are particularly unprotected in these regions, where female-specific freedoms are more likely to be repressed. Top 10 Countries with the Lowest Human Freedom Indexes (2021): Syria — 3.66 Venezuela — 4.03 Yemen — 4.08 Sudan — 4.48 Egypt — 4.49 Iran — 4.53 Somalia —

Stop Trying to ‘Find’ Your Passion—There’s a Better Way to Love What You Do

Recognizing that interests are malleable and can be developed can make us more resilient, open and creative By Paul A. O'Keefe , E. J. Horberg  on  September 29, 2023  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stop-trying-to-find-your-passion-theres-a-better-way-to-love-what-you-do/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-intl

Serviced Apartment Chains

 https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/serviced-apartments-new-trends/ Longer stays, community-focused activities and sustainability are top priorities for serviced apartment guests. Interest in serviced apartments increased during the pandemic, as travellers wanted additional space, flexibility and places for remote working. While we are leaving those Covid years behind, such requirements remain significant to travellers. In addition, the sector is seeing the introduction of new brands, as well as a larger focus on eco-friendly operations and multipurpose accommodation that appeals to both business and leisure travellers. Finally, operators are also gearing up for a younger cohort of travellers – Generation Z – who are looking for experiences which draw on local surroundings. Here we look at five trends within the industry, and what to expect in the coming years. For further information on the sector, see our feature ‘Serviced apartments: Community spirit’ (June 2

10 Things Successful People Never do

https://theconsideredman.org/10-things-successful-people-never-do-in-their-free-time/ Ever wonder what successful people do (or don’t do) when they’re not working? Their secret sauce to success isn’t just about working hard, but also spending their free time wisely. We’re about to dive into 10 things they avoid to stay productive and happy. Spoiler alert: it’s not always about doing more, but doing the right stuff and ditching the bad habits. Ready to find out what to cut from your downtime to level up your life? Let’s jump right in.  1. Mindless Scrolling Successful people are highly aware of how they spend their time, especially when it comes to social media and the internet. While it’s tempting to spend hours scrolling through social media feeds, successful individuals avoid getting sucked into this time-drain. They know that these platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. But, they also know the importance of time and prioritize tasks that con

The Armani Marketing Strategy

 https://www.martelnyc.com/luxury-fashion/marketing-strategy.html The Armani fashion empire currently employs 4,800 people worldwide, owns 13 factories and has 300 outlets in several countries. This feat was not achieved by accident but through carefully developed business strategies and models that have been effectively implemented. The following is a summary of the main elements of the Armani marketing strategy : • Product The Armani product range is developed under different subbrand categories to fit with the market requirements and to address different segments of the luxury consumer market. The products however have a single unifying factor in the elements of its development. The same high level of skill, precision, craftsmanship and quality materials is applied in the development of each product, whether it is denim-based, a lamp or a pair of shoes. Pricing Armani's pricing strategy is the premium-pricing strategy. Some of the sub-brands have products in lower

Zara's Supply Chain Strategy

 Produce in small lot: small lot is the unique characteristics of lean manufacturing which is not the case here. The logic behind this is that small lot creates the sense of exclusivity. Customer need to make a quick decision otherwise the next day the products they want will be gone. So customer visits Zara’s stores to see new products more often and this creates the huge amount of traffic and revenue. Centralize design and product development: the norm in the apparel (and some other) industries is to develop new products by both in-house staffs and through merchandisers. In the latter case, suppliers need to send samples (through merchandisers) to buyers many many times. Elimination of this back-and-forth communication reduces the time to market drastically. Utilize work cell organization: each new product development team has its own designers, sales, procurement and production planners the same way as in a cellular manufacturing. This help Zara to streamline the in