Wall Street’s latest trillion-dollar idea involves slicing and dicing debt tied to single-family homes and selling the bonds to investors around the world. That might sound a lot like the activities that at one point set off a global financial crisis. But there is a twist this time. (The New York Times)
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Amy Chua is known as the Tiger Mom. Ever since writing a book called about raising her daughter according to the strict — and very high — expectations of her own Chinese-immigrant parents, she's been a lightning rod for controversy about parenting and our notion of success in this country. (NPR)
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I know what you’re thinking (I grew up outside of D.C. and Boston): "How can 2 inches of snow shut down Atlanta?" Before I got here, I thought that too. I wonder it every time there’s a run on the grocery stores before a storm, or when some other city cancels schools before a flake has even hit the ground. And surely, the drivers play a part. (The Atlantic)
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The popular 10,000-Hour Rule claims that it takes 10,000 hours of working at a skill to become an expert. But research suggests that to become awesome at a skill, it's not about quantity of time spent, it's about quality. (Fast Company)
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"I went to work for a startup where the job I took was never posted," John Gannon writes at the Daily Muse. "I interviewed with the CEO of one of the most successful open source software startups – for a job that didn’t technically exist yet." How does such surreptitious serendipity happen? (Fast Company)
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The box was delivered to the Los Angeles office of One Fine Stay, a business that arranges short-term accommodations in luxury homes. Stuffed inside was a queen-size pillow in a cheap cotton pillowcase. A résumé, enlarged to about 24 by 33 inches, was attached to it with cellophane tape. It came from a man the staff began to call Pillow Guy, who was looking for a job. Nobody can remember his name. (The Wall Street Journal)
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Jesse Sostrin is the author of "Beyond the Job Description: How Managers and Employees Can Navigate the True Demands of the Job." He is also a consultant and an executive coach who focuses on leadership issues and diagnosing workplace problems. Sostrin spoke with Tom Fox, a guest writer for On Leadership and vice president for leadership and innovation at the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. Fox also heads up their Center for Government Leadership. (The Washington Post)
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Whatever your chosen profession, we all have something in common: We’re trying to do the best we can in our careers. Of course we aren’t going to gossip about our boss, fail to meet our deadlines, or do anything else to jeopardize our jobs or careers ... knowingly. It’s that "knowingly" that’s the problem. (Fast Company)
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Are the tendencies women toward guilt and empathy part of the problem? Even in this Lean-In world, are they still holding us back? Without a doubt, says workplace expert Nicole Williams, author of the career-guidance book Girl On Top. "I see a lot of women who throw themselves under the bus for the sake of others and/or appearances," she says. Women have a natural inclination toward empathy and instantly put themselves in the shoes of others, she points out. "If we're responsible – and sometimes even if we're not – we want to make others feel better." (CNN/Money)
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According to the late Roberto Goizueta, a former boss of The Coca-Cola Company, April 15th 1981 was "one of the most important days...in the history of the world." That date marked the opening of the first Coke bottling plant to be built in China since the Communist revolution. The claim was over the top, but not absurd. (The Economist)
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Greece will post a budget surplus of at least 1 billion euros ($1.35 billion) in 2013 and return the bulk of that to cash-strapped Greeks, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said on Thursday, seeking to wrest momentum back from an emboldened leftist opposition. (CNBC)
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So you want an MBA? But you can’t afford to take two years off and invest upwards of a quarter of a million on tuition, books, living expenses, and lost wages? Boy, do I have a proposition for you! Now, it’s a little unconventional. And it’ll require a load of self-discipline on your part. When it’s over, you’ll have an Ivy League education on your resume. And it won’t cost you a cent! (Poets & Quants)
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Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria publicly apologized for the school's treatment of female students and professors, and vowed to make changes at the institution. (Fortune)
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Join us in congratulating NBMBAA Board member John Peoples on his new role as Vice President Global Western Markets for Merck’s Consumer Care Division in Summit, NJ. In his new role, John is responsible for the division’s business in Canada, Latin America and Western Europe.  Prior to assuming this role in December, John was responsible for Merck Consumer Care’s Global Marketing and Innovation efforts.

NBMBAA also congratulates Board Member Michael C. McNeil on his new role as Global Product Security & Services Officer at Phillips Healthcare.

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NBMBAA's new website is almost ready to go live. Go in today and update your profile to take advantage of new features, like a résumé review and score! And while you're updating, why not take the time to give your résumé a quick refresh. Whether you're actively job hunting, or just keeping your network active, a current, vibrant résumé  is key to ensuring your future success.

With thousands of applicants applying for the same jobs, recruiters are only spending an average of six (yes, that's 6!) seconds scanning your résumé, Making it past those few seconds is critical.
Click here for tips on refreshing your résumé and login to your NBMBAA member account to update your profile.
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Apple and Samsung Electronics dominate the smartphone business, controlling about half of the sales and most of the profits. An ever-changing roster of also-rans has struggled to close the gap. Now one of those challengers, Lenovo, has broken free of the pack and pushed itself into a clear No. 3 position with an agreement to buy Motorola Mobility from Google. (The New York Times)
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On April 8, Windows XP's life is coming to an end. On that day, Microsoft will stop issuing security updates to the 12-year-old operating system, and it will end nearly all technical support as well. (CNN/Money)
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There will be plenty of times in the early days of a business when you'll ask for something you want, and the answer will be no. For most people, that no is the end of the conversation. For you, though, a no can open up a wealth of opportunity, according to sales legend Tom Hopkins, who recently co-authored "When Buyers Say No" with longtime sales pro Ben Katt. Here's what he told me. (Inc.)
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This week, we’re approaching the ultimate advertising opportunity, which captures the attention of millions of Americans and keeps them talking for weeks: Super Bowl ads. While most new, small businesses don’t have the budget to advertise at the Super Bowl – this year’s ads are expected to ring in at around $4 million – the truth is they might not need to. Big budget ads created by your competitors can actually work to your advantage. (Entrepreneur)
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The American economy finished 2013 on a healthy note, buoyed by strong consumer spending along with an improved trade picture, spurring hopes that the momentum will continue into this year. (The New York Times)
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But the thing which really stood out to me was his plea for lower taxes. Perkins said: "Upon my death the government will take 45 percent" of my estate. To which I am compelled to respond: Only if you are an idiot. Or, perhaps, if you were on the way to your lawyer’s office when you got hit by a bus, and died intestate (without a will), then that makes sense as well. Short of those things occurring, no one in America actually pays 45 percent in estate taxes. It is simply too easy to avoid paying estate taxes. (Bloomberg)
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When we’re younger, we probably think that we’ll make more money when we’re older. Job seniority comes with promotions – and raises – right? As it turns out, your money arc is shorter than you think. According to an analysis from PayScale.com, women’s pay peaks at age 39, and, according to their median data, at about $60,000. After that, there may be small bumps in salary, but they rarely outpace inflation – so in real terms, you’ll make that $60,000 for the rest of your career. (Fast Company)
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A recent survey by Credit.com found that half of the respondents who have credit-card debt said it’s extremely important to have a plan in place this year to pay off what they owe. However, consumers often say they want to repay debt but don’t take the time to figure out how to make that happen, says Gerri Detweiler, Credit.com’s director of consumer education. (Kiplinger's)
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Manipulation used to be a bad word. Now, for a growing number of financial startups, it’s a stated goal. Using digital technology and the findings of behavioral economists, these companies poke, prod and nudge customers to spend and borrow less, and to save and invest more. (Bloomberg)
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As the CEO of a company that places independent consultants and executives with companies for short-term assignments, I talk to a lot of senior executives about their hiring practices. I’m constantly surprised by the persistent bias against hiring people who are not currently employed. (The Wall Street Journal)
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If you hate performance reviews – and the "if" in that clause is ceremonial; you do hate them – don't blame your boss. Blame the Wei Dynasty. Historians aren't sure who officially invented the annual ritual of grading our colleagues' performances (technically, a post-hunt slap on the back from a Neanderthal would qualify), but one of the earliest examples of formal appraisal comes from China's Wei Dynasty, around 230 AD. (The Atlantic)
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President Obama picked a good venue to boost the "MyRA" retirement savings accounts he touted in this week's State of the Union address. He spoke at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, a state where the public pension system has a $47 billion shortfall and where workers would be right to worry about running out of money as they age. (Bloomberg/Businessweek)
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When Louise Jordan walked into the doors of Abraham Lincoln High School in North Philadelphia 34 years ago, after landing her dream job as a special education teacher right out of college, she didn't worry about her tiny salary -- just $10,770 per year back then. It wasn't a lot to live on, but if she kept contributing 7.5 percent of every paycheck into Pennsylvania's pension fund, the state would support her when the time came to retire. (The Washington Post)
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Skilled managers have never been more critical to the success of firms than they are today. Not because employees can’t function without direction, but because managers play a vital role in talent management. Gone are the comprehensive career management systems and expectations of long-term employment that once functioned as the glue in the employer-employee contract. In their place, the manager-employee dyad is the new building block of learning and development in firms. (Harvard Business Review)
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When Tracy Britt Cool was finishing Harvard Business School, she wrote to Warren Buffett to ask for a job. Less than five years later, she’s among Buffett’s top aides at Berkshire Hathaway (BRK/A), where she oversees subsidiaries with more than $4 billion in annual sales and more than 10,000 workers. "She thinks like I would," Buffett says. Bloomberg/Businessweek
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Towns in New Jersey, where the Super Bowl will be played, were expecting an economic boost from the game. Local officials grumble the biggest share of spending is happening across the Hudson River in New York City. Economists say the total economic impact of the game is close to zero anyway, despite the NFL's claims to the contrary. (NPR)
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Most of us are familiar with the cycle. At work, the pressure to be "always on," to meet deadlines, to serve the demands of colleagues or customers, or to deal with a difficult coworker can create stress that leaks into our personal lives. This stress can cause us to be impatient with romantic partners or kids or to neglect our duties at home, creating a vicious cycle of anxiety outside the office that makes work stresses even harder to face. (Harvard Business Review)
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