• WITH 2025 LOOKING LIKE A POSITIVE TURN-AROUND YEAR, a reminder of the areas where DCG services can support and enhance your business & personal opportunities, productivity and profitability. Initial consultation is always a courtesy.

• MOST NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS INCLUDE SOMETHING ABOUT EXERCISE, and few last longer than a matter of weeks when we remember that physical exercise takes time, is typically unpleasant and uncomfortable. Reality is that human brains are highly sensitive to wasted effort, with a tendency to always query ‘is this worth it for a very uncertain reward?’ Good news though is that newest studies, based on monitoring of wrist-worn data trackers, suggest that significant health benefits result from just a few minutes of routine daily activity, like even brisk walking or running upstairs. Studies report examples like: (1) Middle-aged and older inactive people who did three 1 to 2-minute bouts each day were around 40% less likely to die within seven years; (2) Every hour of walking by people over 40 could add an extra six-hours to their lives, as much as eleven years; (3) ‘Exercise Snacks’ of short daily activity also work – like marching on the spot next to your desk or jumping jacks before brushing teeth. The World Health Organization recommends 75-minutes of ‘vigorous’ activity or 150-minutes of ‘moderate-intensity’ activity weekly and messages that ‘Every Minute Counts.’ [BBC SCIENCE FOCUS]

• AS THE DECADE PROCEEDS, THE FUTURE OF ‘CAREER’ PREPARATION is being re-defined by “adaptability, collaboration, and a shift toward lifelong learning. The era of College being the best path for career success is fading as: (1) Alternative options grow in legitimacy and appeal; (2) Companies are increasingly shifting hiring practices to prioritize skills, experience and micro-credentials over formal degrees; (3) Advancements in technology allow personalized learning, experiences that cater specifically to goals, interests & schedules; and (4) Without incurring additional time or cost of Degree programs… At the same time, the job market is undergoing a significant transformation, with employers placing greater emphasis on specific skills over traditional academic Credentials – recognizing that practical knowledge often matters more than Degrees, especially in technology, healthcare and skilled trades.” https://futuristspeaker.com/future-of-education/skipping-college-the-new-playbook-for-successful-careers-without-college/

• BUSINESS LEADERS OFTEN AVOID CONVERSATIONS FOR FEAR OF IGNITING ‘CONFLICT’ and the emotional discomfort that causes. But absence of confrontation generally results in wasted time, decreased productivity, and likelihood for lack of trust. So coping mechanisms like appeasement, smiling or nodding despite feeling uncomfortable, or pushing feelings aside can lead to seeing the other person as a nemesis and even lead to a culture of avoidance. Eventually, negative energy causes resentment and lack of collaborating, so acknowledging the reality of Conflict and addressing issues upfront to at least develop clarification or set appropriate boundaries is an important management tool. Conflict can actually be productive when leaders speak up faster and honestly. [SMARTBRIEF – 5/6/24]

THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR:
• In addition to Dep’t of Education funding of over $1 billion for DEI-related hires & programs to promulgate radical leftist ideology under the guise of ‘anti-violence initiatives,’ the Dep’t of Justice also spent over $100 million of DEI grants to schools to promote ‘restorative justice’ and ‘social-emotional learning’ concepts’ during the Biden Administration. [PATRIOT POST]

• Babies born this year will begin the newest ‘Generation Beta’, expected to comprise a sixth of global population in a decade, and will grow up experiencing A.I. and automation in every aspect of life. Their parents will be today’s Gen Zers likely be more cautious with how their children interact with both the digital world (like limiting screen time) and focus on eco-conscious climate change. [USA TODAY]

• Crazy Optical Illusions — https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/the-top-ten-best-optical-illusions