Carlos Escobar

I’m wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend with a quick list of things I’m thankful for, from the big, important stuff to the tiny (and somewhat ridiculous)!

Good health

Amazing family

Great friends

Anything and everything Wally (my dog)

Audiobooks

The opportunity to visit national parks

The entire veterinary team that took care of Wally when he was super sick

Leaving Twitter before it became what it is now

Growing up (mostly) without the internet

My camera

The long-forgotten gift cards I found when I was cleaning

No mega power outages in 2023 (so far)

Being able to run half marathons once a year or so

Anytime there’s a “save to read later” option on a website

Cooler temperatures (finally!)

Fall foliage

Spring blooms

Sunrises

Sunsets

Pan dulce

The Do Not Disturb setting on my phone

The fact that I sleep well most nights

I don’t have allergies

Swiffer dusters

NPR

Thinking less and less about the pandemic

My lifelong habit of reading

The great outdoors

Texas State Parks

My upcoming trip to Spain

I still don’t need readers

Rain, and some much-needed relief from the summer drought

Grocery curbside and delivery

Our still-standing, but wavering, democracy

Noise-canceling earphones

Naps

Wifi

Good music

The fact that I’ve never had to worry about shelter

Coffee

Podcasts

Work that affords me the flexibility to live my life

Local running stores

Quiet mornings

My passport

REI

Great coworkers

My weighted blanket

The aisle seat on flights

A full pantry and refrigerator

Five articles that have had me thinking over the last few weeks…

Harvard professor highlights the importance of ventilation for “healthy buildings”

Joe Allen believes rethinking building design, with an eye on better ventilation systems, is crucial for public health.

Read More

http://www.cbsnews.com

The Sociopaths Among Us—And How to Avoid Them

You’re bound to come across the “Dark Triad” type of malignant narcissists in life—and they can be superficially appealing. Better to look for their exact opposite.

Read More

http://www.theatlantic.com

How to Unlock the Talent in Yourself and Others

In a new book, Adam Grant argues that anyone can improve if they focus on the right skills and have the right kinds of support.

Read More

greatergood.berkeley.edu

Here’s What We Do and Don’t Know About the Effects of Remote Work

Three years into a mass workplace experiment, we are beginning to understand more about how work from home is reshaping workers’ lives and the economy.

Read More

http://www.nytimes.com

5 Ways to Develop Talent for an Unpredictable Future

We may not know what tomorrow’s jobs will look like, but we can safely assume that when people are more curious, emotionally intelligent, resilient, driven, and intelligent, they will generally be better equipped to learn what is needed to perform those jobs, and provide whatever human value technol…

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hbr.org

People don’t want a handout; they want to know where to put their best efforts. Walk with them. Guide them. Show them the way.

I spent last the last week in Yosemite National Park with a group from REI.

Going on these trips has been a great way to get into these amazing places without having to go it alone (or wait for family and friends to be available!). This year, I chose Yosemite and it was a fantastic experience from beginning to end!

Here are 3 articles that have had me thinking over the last few weeks:

How to Take Back Control of What You Read on the Internet

Social-media algorithms show us what they want us to see, not what we want to see. But there is an alternative.

Read More

http://www.theatlantic.com

Effective Change Management Begins With a Compelling Why

Create a compelling why for your change management effort when you tell a concise, inspiring story. Learn how with our video and downloadable worksheet.

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http://www.prosci.com

The Powerful Duo of Strengths and Engagement

Combining employee engagement and strengths creates sustainable high performance. Learn how to achieve it by studying your highest-performing teams.

Read More

http://www.gallup.com

You ALWAYS have a choice: Choose what you go big on!
Every day. Every week. Every month…

Here are five articles that have had me thinking over the last few weeks:

Changing Company Culture Requires a Movement, Not a Mandate

Culture is like the wind. It is invisible, yet its effect can be seen and felt. When it is blowing in your direction it makes for smooth sailing. When it is blowing against you, everything is more difficult. For organizations seeking to become more adaptive and innovative, culture change is often th…

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hbr.org

Stifle or Inspire: How to Unlock Employee Confidence

Organizations have employees with untapped potential. But many companies are failing to build workers’ confidence to unlock that potential.

Your personal brand is crucial for your next promotion and raise. Here’s how to create one

“Be intentional and consistent with what you want to be known for.”

How to Get the Most Happiness From Your Social Life

Simply seeking out people who are different from you will make you smarter and more contented.

IBM says 40% of the global workforce will have to learn new skills over next three years due to AI implementation

The IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) looked at two prior surveys for its study: one involved 3,000 C-level executives from 28 countries; the other questioned 21,000 workers in 21 nations.

Create and nurture processes where all voices can be heard, and decisions are made based on clear criteria.

Counter the assumption that “this isn’t always possible” with the assertion that time spent involving people in the decisions that impact them will yield better, more effective solutions and save time and resources in the long run.

MULTIPLY people’s contributions. Don’t inadvertently diminish them.