THE VERY BEGINNING

You've got to start somewhere. Let's start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start. Doing my best to live (and laugh) in the present. Working mom. Girls on the Run Board Member. Northwestern and Kellogg alum. Aspiring runner. Sunday Puzzle player. WBEZ member. Kindle reader. Family historian and shutterbug. Plate spinner.

[nprfreshair]

Prepare For ‘The End Of College’: Here’s What Free Higher Ed Looks Like

Kevin Carey is the author of The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere

[verygoodstart]

Worth the 10 minutes, especially if you are a parent.

[americanexpresstravel-deactivat]

6 Things Happy People Never Do

by Marc Chernoff, Co-Founder, marcandangel 

Read more here

MarcAndAngel.com is a regular paid contributor to the American Express Tumblr community.

[verygoodstart]

I realize that I’m reblogging a sponsored post (you’re welcome, American Express), but this is a good reminder. And, as a marketer, I appreciate AmEx's transparency in Marc Chernoff's paid involvement.

[verygoodstart]

All is calm. All is bright.

[teachorg]

(via WeHeartIt)

[verygoodstart]

Thank you teachers. Especially relevant as I wrapped all our teachers' Christmas gifts and wrote notes last night.

[americanexpresstravel-deactivat]

[a-joyfuljourney]

[dailydoseofstuf]

[verygoodstart]

Google Express comes to Chicago.

Concept sound familiar?

You’re welcome for the 1998 flashback.

[fatanarchy]

[verygoodstart]

Appropriate, as I just became a leader for my daughter’s Daisy troop this year. 22 incredible little girls! Whoa.

[psych-facts]

Stop comparing where you’re at with where everyone else is. It doesn’t move you farther ahead, improve your situation, or help you find peace. It just feeds your shame, fuels your feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately, it keeps you stuck. The reality is that there is no one correct path in life. Everyone has their own unique journey.

Daniell Koepke  (via thatkindofwoman)

[monochrome-monitor]

~ 29 years old ~ Steve Jobs [refreshingly youthful]

[verygoodstart]

I am proud to say that I worked with Dr. Siddique when I was at the Les Turner ALS Foundation. The fact that they have discovered a cause of the disease is huge news. It's been a mystery for so long. Congratulations, Dr. Siddique!

[almosthalfway]

[verygoodstart]

#likeagirl

Own it.

Thanks for sharing this, almosthalfway. As the mother of two girls, I love this. It’s heartbreaking, but so important. I have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, but I know it’s something that we can help change.

Afterthought: The marketer in me finds it brilliant that Always is behind this. Reminiscent of the Dove message. Wondering how it will impact long term bottom line.

[mashable]

Jimmy Fallon Remixes “All About that Bass” Using Only Classroom Instruments

[verygoodstart]

Friday fun! I usually don't post Jimmy Fallon clips here, but I especially loved this one, for so many reasons. Take a listen!

[fastcompany]

Google does it. So does Facebook and Twitter. Are free snacks and drinks making our workplaces better—or more fattening?

A couple of centuries ago, women were taught the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. In today’s world this dating advice seems overtly old-fashioned, but the theory could partially hold true for companies wanting to retain employees.

According to a recent WorkSphere survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the staffing agency Spherion, if you want a happy worker, then feed them. Around 30% of respondents said the availability of food throughout the day contributes to their workplace happiness.

Whether you offer free cookies in the break room, doughnuts at meetings, or—following the lead of Google, Facebook, and Twitter—provide full-blown meals prepared by a company chef, smart companies should give the idea some thought, but understand that free food doesn’t necessarily equal a more productive staff. It’s more complicated than that, say experts.

“With examples like Google, we’re constantly reminded of the chicken-or-the-egg dilemma,” says Frank Bosco, assistant professor of management in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business in Richmond, Virginia. “That is—is Google successful because they offer all sorts of perks, resulting in better-performing employees? Or, do they offer free food because they’ve been so successful over the years?”

Read More>

[verygoodstart]

I've always thought like perks like this were just thinly veiled ways to increase productivity or make you overlook how much time you're really spending at the office. Free meals, dry cleaning services, childcare solutions etc. because you're going be putting so much time in that you're not going to be able to tend to "life." I know that sounds pessimistic, but in actuality, it's just smart. It means that if you are in a busy job, in the free time you do have, you can do the things you enjoy, which will ultimately lead to happier employees. In my case those things include: building Legos with my girls, running around the park, reading on my Kindle or watching Netflix with a glass of wine, and doing laundry (I'm kidding on that last one).

[americanexpresstravel-deactivat]

10 Things to Stop Tolerating 

Featured on Forbes… Click here to read more

By Paula Davis-Laack, Lawyer turned stress & resilience expert on Forbes

Paula is a stress and resilience expert with popular blogs on The Huffington Post and Psychology Today. Paula has appeared on the Steve Harvey TV show and in numerous publications, most recently in Working Mother magazine. Paula writes about the science of happiness in her new e-book, “10 Things Happy People Do Differently.” To learn more, please visit her website.