Modern management chronically suffers from too many meetings — and not enough time to get work done.

Middle management has suffered for decades under the heavy burden of too many meetings.

Meetings should support work; when they don’t, they become a time suck that wrecks productivity for companies and organizations. But the reason management is increasingly buried in meetings generally center on leadership wanting more control or believing (erroneously) that gabbing in groups clarifies and expedites.

However, Apple founder Steve Jobs observed the problem and knew what meetings to keep and which to cut. And he knew how to run them efficiently, according to Inc. Magazine.

Keep the invite list small — ideally, three to five people.
His reasoning? The more people you have in a meeting, the less productive it is. Too many voices become a sea of noise and it’s less likely you’ll get anything accomplished. In fact, Jobs famously declined an invite from President Obama to a tech meeting because, well, the guest list was too long.

Also, as you craft your invite list, know exactly what each person’s stake or role in the meeting will be. If they cannot or will not contribute, cut them. Anyone there for informational purposes can be sent a transcript or recording after the fact.

Keep the agenda short — no more than three items.
The goal here is focus. With more than three items on an agenda, you’re likely to get lost in a rabbit hole of unrelated topics and side conversations. It’s hard to know what conclusions to draw and what action items you have at the end when agenda items run amuck. Keep it short — and make sure all three agenda items are clearly connected to the core meeting purpose.

Keep the length to no more than 30 minutes.
You may think the substance of a given meeting demands a bigger time slot, but science tells us that largely ends up as a waste of time. Our attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s and our mental stamina is unable to sustain meaningful, analytical discussion for very long. If you keep meetings short (no more than 30 minutes) and parcel key pieces of information in digestible chunks (one- to two-minute segments), you’re more likely to leave the meeting with broad comprehension.

Sheryl Sandberg took this a step further, actually — she kept a lot of her meetings to 10 minutes.

There’s also the question of need. Do you really need to have a meeting? Ask yourself the following three questions; if the answer is no to all of them, don’t schedule one.

Does this meeting require feedback from others, or is it just informational?
If I do need input/feedback, is a meeting a more time-effective way to get it than a message or email?
Would a meeting provide anything that an email or message wouldn’t (such as in-the-moment feedback on problems that are constantly evolving)?
And finally, as a general note to CEOs just establishing business cadence, consider building a minimalist meeting culture. Following the “Rule of 3s,” keep this general guideline in mind: Management should aim to schedule no more than one minute of meeting time for every three minutes of work. In essence, no more than a quarter of a day should be spent in meetings.

https://www.inc.com/jeff-steen/steve-jobs-3-point-formula-for-leading-effective-meetings-was-brilliant-we-need-to-get-back-to-it.html

Never underestimate the power of a comprehensive financial plan to assist you in building wealth and achieving financial freedom.

Your financial plan is like a roadmap for you money. It’s your long-term guide to answer questions such as:

Will I have enough money to retire?

Do I have my expected health care expenses covered?

Once you have your financial plan laid out, following it becomes much easier. When you have a clear goal in sight, reaching it feels more achievable.

In order to help figure out how to set aside a significant amount of money for retirement, one first needs to get a handle on current spending. Set a plan, create milestones, and go after them relentlessly.

To help achieve retirement goals, it’s important for a person to understand a clear definition of needs as opposed to wants.

With inflation showing few signs of slowing down anytime soon, it is important to create and follow a financial plan.

https://trib.al/eFPyVFb

All the major stock market indexes are trading close to new highs, pushing valuations well above historical norms. The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for the S&P 500 is around 30—almost double the historical average.

It is getting challenging to find reasonably priced growth stocks in 2025. But, billionaires often use a mix of strategies and criteria when selecting stocks. Here are some common factors they consider:

• Company Fundamentals: They analyze financial metrics like revenue growth, profit margins, return on equity (ROE), and earnings per share (EPS) to assess a company’s financial health.
• Competitive Advantage: They look for companies with a unique product or service that gives them an edge in the market.
• Valuation: Stocks undervalued relative to their intrinsic worth are often attractive, as they offer potential for long-term gains.
• Debt Levels: A company’s debt-to-equity ratio is scrutinized to ensure it isn’t over-leveraged, which could hinder growth.
• Market Trends: They consider broader economic and industry trends to identify sectors with growth potential.
• Management Quality: Strong leadership and a capable management team are key indicators of a company’s ability to execute its strategy.
• Long-Term Potential: Many billionaires focus on companies with sustainable growth prospects and the ability to weather market fluctuations.

These criteria often combine with a deep understanding of the market and a disciplined approach to investing.

There may be nothing wrong with spending excessively or extravagantly on things you love, whether it’s a luxury vacation or a $100,000 car.

The key is being honest with yourself about whether you can truly afford it and whether the spending aligns with your intrinsic values. Most people can’t and their spending decisions don’t, and that’s where the problem lies. But if you can and they do, then live your life to the fullest!

Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments, is known for her **value investing** approach and **long-term perspective. Here are some key principles that guide her investment strategy:

1. **Value Investing**: Hobson focuses on investing in assets that are undervalued by the market. Ariel Investments looks for public companies trading at about a 40% discount to their private market value.

2. **Long-Term Perspective**: Hobson emphasizes the importance of patience and a long-term outlook. She believes in the power of time and compounding returns.

3. **Discipline**: Hobson advocates for a disciplined approach to investing, avoiding impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations .

4. **Financial Literacy**: Hobson is a strong proponent of financial education and literacy, encouraging people to understand and take control of their financial futures.

5. **Diversification**: Ariel Investments diversifies its portfolio across small-cap and international stocks, seeking value across the entire stock market.

6. **Active Patience**: Hobson describes her approach as “active patience,” meaning staying invested and patient while actively managing the portfolio.

Hobson’s principles have helped her build a successful career and transform Ariel Investments into a firm with billions in assets under management. Do any of these principles resonate with you or align with your own investment philosophy?

Cutting back on sugar can have some dramatic and positive effects on your body. Here’s what can happen:

1. Improved Energy Levels: You’ll likely notice a more stable and sustained energy throughout the day without the highs and lows caused by sugar crashes.
2. Better Mood: Reduced sugar intake can help stabilize your mood and reduce feelings of irritability and anxiety.
3. Clearer Skin: Many people find that their skin starts to clear up when they cut back on sugar, as sugar can contribute to inflammation and breakouts.
4. Reduced Cravings: After the initial adjustment period, your cravings for sugary snacks will decrease as your body adjusts to a lower sugar diet.
5. Better Sleep: Cutting sugar can lead to improved sleep quality, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
6. Weight Loss: Reducing sugar and carbohydrate intake can help with weight loss, especially by reducing appetite and leading to more effective fat burning.
7. Improved Blood Sugar Levels: A low-sugar diet can help regulate blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.
8. Heart Health: Some studies suggest that low-sugar/carb diets can improve heart health markers such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Making the change can be challenging at first, but the benefits are worth it! Have you started cutting back on sugar, or are y

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” — Charles Darwin

Champions adapt is a powerful concept that highlights the importance of flexibility and resilience in achieving success.

Champions thrive because they can adapt to the ever-changing landscape and turn challenges into opportunities.

1. Champions embrace change because they understand that change is inevitable and they are willing to adjust their strategies and approaches to stay ahead. They don’t cling to outdated methods but instead look for innovative solutions.

2. Successful individuals and teams view setbacks as opportunities for growth. They analyze what went wrong, learn from their mistakes, and make necessary adjustments to improve.

3. Adaptability is closely linked to resilience. Champions remain strong and determined, even in the face of adversity. They keep pushing forward and find ways to overcome obstacles.

4. Champions are committed to continuous self-improvement. They seek out new skills, knowledge, and experiences that can help them stay competitive and reach their goals.

5. Being adaptable means being able to pivot when needed. Champions can change their game plan on the fly, whether in sports, business, or personal endeavors, to achieve the best possible outcomes.

In essence, champions adapt is about individuals thriving and being successful regardless of the environment and circumstance.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” — Albert Einstein

Dark chocolate offers a wide range of health benefits, including decreased inflammation, improved gut health, and mood improvement.

Hoever, in recent years, researchers have reported on the reality of heavy metals that are often an undesirable part of dark chocolate and cocoa products.

Heavy Metals?

Lead, arsenic, mercury, manganese, or cadmium are examples of heavy metals, because they have a high atomic mass and are well-known for their toxicity to people and animals.

Most heavy metals are naturally occurring, but some are the result of human behaviors. Unfortunately, these substances can become strongly toxic by mixing with the soil, air, and water all around us as well as through living organisms in the food chain.

Heavy metal poisoning comes from significant exposure to or ingestion of one or more of these heavy metals. These metals can be encountered in acute doses, causing a medical emergency, but more often than not, healthy people experience bioaccumulation, a process of heavy metals building up within the blood and tissues of the body. According to The Cleveland Clinic, even the slow build-up of heavy metals can cause issues like arrhythmia, anemia, memory loss, and kidney or liver damage, among others.

Heavy Metals and Dark Chocolate

Recently, a series of tests were performed by Consumer Reports, first on 28 dark chocolate bars, then on 48 chocolate-based products across seven categories, including hot chocolate mix and chocolate chips. Specifically, researchers were looking for lead and cadmium. And every product they tested had detectable levels of the two heavy metals.

Chocolates You Can Eat

In a pair of studies, a handful of chocolate bars came out on top by having the lowest levels of heavy metals. The brands and varieties that led the pack:

Mast Organic Dark Chocolate 80% Cocoa
Taza Organic Deliciously Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa
Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolate 86% Cacao and Intense Dark Chocolate Twilight Delight 72%.

In a one-ounce serving, these had the lowest levels of both lead and cadmium. These chocolates, consumed in moderation, are the clear choices for those of us who love chocolate and want to minimize our heavy metal exposure.

It’s not always easy to find these specific chocolate bars, so it is helpful to keep a few guidelines in mind. While it may seem counterintuitive, lower concentrations of cocoa solids tend to contain less heavy metal, so if you must choose between an 80% bar and a 70% bar, the 70% is likely to be safer.

Source:  https://drwilliamli.com/dark-chocolate-and-heavy-metals/