Archive | social

The science of subtle signals

Mark Buchanan is a theoretical physicist who writes about how physics can be used to understand biology, economics, psychology and other social sciences. His book, “The Social Atom: Why the Rich Get Richer, Cheaters Get Caught and Your Neighbor Usually Looks Like You” is a fun read in the style of The Tipping Point and Freakonomics. In an article…

Continue Reading 6

To Sleep or To Rest?

As a frequent traveler, I sometimes find myself so time-shifted I can’t sleep even though it’s late at night. During a recent episode, I wondered whether lying in bed with my eyes closed had the same benefits as actual sleep. Doesn’t my brain and body still get some rest? The answer isn’t clear cut. Brian Fung asks exactly this question…

Continue Reading 8

The Politics of Brand

With the U.S presidential election imminent, not surprisingly politics are dominating everyone’s conversations. Last week I had an on-going discussion with a work colleague on whether brands have political connotations. We decided to try to figure out the politics of brand. The conversation started with my colleague’s observation about cars in our office parking lot: more…

Continue Reading 27

Choose Your Words Wisely

In research conducted by Accountemps, 150 senior executives from the nation’s 1000 largest companies were asked, “What is the most annoying or overused phrase or buzzword in the workplace today?” Their responses included the following: Leverage Reach out It is what it is Viral Game changer Disconnect Value-add Circle back Socialize Interface Cutting edge While…

Continue Reading 21