Thomas Parenty and Jack Domet, cofounders of the cybersecurity firm Archefact Group, say that most organizations are approaching cybersecurity all wrong. Whether they're running small companies or working in multinational corporations, leaders have to think beyond their IT department and technology systems to instead focus on protecting their businesses' most important assets from attack. They need to work across functions and geographies to identify key risks, imagine potential threats and adversaries, and develop a plan for combating them. Parenty and Domet are the authors of the HBR article “Sizing up your Cyber Risks,” as well as the HBR Press book "A Leader’s Guide to Cybersecurity."

James Clear, entrepreneur and author, says that the way we go about trying to form new habits and break bad ones — at work or home — is all wrong. Many people, he says, focus on big goals without thinking about the small steps they need to take along the way. Just like saving money, habits accrue compound interest: when you do 1% more or different each day or week, it eventually leads to meaningful improvement. So if you’ve made a resolution for the new year or have an idea for how to propel your career forward at any time, these strategies will help. Clear is the author of the book "Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results."

In this repeat episode, we honor the legacy of HBS professor Clayton Christensen, who passed away on January 23, 2020. The legendary management thinker was best known for his influential theory of “disruptive innovation,” which inspired a generation of executives and entrepreneurs. This HBR IdeaCast interview was originally published in 2016.

Stefan Thomke, professor at Harvard Business School, says running experiments can give companies tremendous value, but too often business leaders make decisions based on intuition. While A/B testing on large transaction volumes is common practice at Google, Booking.com, and Netflix, Thomke says even small firms can get a competitive advantage from experiments. He explains how to introduce, run, and learn from them, as well as how to cultivate an experimental mindset at your organization. Thomke is the author of the book "Experimentation Works: The Surprising Power of Business Experiments" and the HBR article "Building a Culture of Experimentation."

Joel Peterson, chairman of JetBlue Airways, has spent a career leading teams, building businesses, and managing people at every level. Along the way, he's learned valuable lessons about the best ways to bring on new talent – as well as when and how to let people go. He also teaches at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is the author of the book “Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Art of Launching New Ventures, Inspiring Others, and Running Stuff.”

Jim McKelvey, entrepreneur and cofounder of Square, says that most companies that think of themselves as innovative are really just copycats. True innovation, he argues, is about fearlessly exploring novel solutions and dramatically expanding markets. Doing so also helps startups defend their innovations against industry giants, as Square did against Amazon. McKelvey is the author of the book “The Innovation Stack: Building an Unbeatable Business One Crazy Idea at a Time.”

Tsedal Neeley, a professor at Harvard Business School, says that there are simple ways leaders can help their employees stay productive, focused, and psychologically healthy as they work from home during the current global pandemic. The right technology tools and clear and constant communication are more important than ever. She recommends that managers do an official remote-work launch, carefully plan and facilitate virtual meetings, and pay extra attention to workers' behavior. For individual contributors, it's critical to maintain a routine but also embrace flexibility, especially if you're in the house with family.

Eric McNulty, associate director of Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, studies how managers successfully lead their companies through crises such as the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and the Boston Marathon terror attack. He identifies the common traps that leaders fall into and shares how the best ones excel by thinking longer-term and trusting their teams with operational details. He also finds that companies that put people ahead of the bottom line tend to weather these storms better. McNulty is a coauthor of the book “You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When It Matters Most” and the HBR article “Are You Leading Through Crisis… Or Managing the Response?”

Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General, says that, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we were facing another health crisis: loneliness. Studies show that, around the world, more people have been feeling a greater sense of social isolation, which has many negative affects, including increased blood pressure, reduced immune response, and decreased engagement and productivity at work. But organizations can be a place where people find a greater sense of belonging. Murthy wants us to take loneliness more seriously and focus on fostering the types of authentic connections -- face-to-face and virtual -- that we need to combat it. He's the author of the book "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World."

Myriam Sidibe, senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, says that brands are uniquely positioned to encourage shifts in consumer behavior that benefit individuals, communities, and the environment. A public health expert, she has studied these types of mission-led marketing campaigns and helped Unilever design one for Lifebuoy soap that not only promoted hand-washing in the developing world but also boosted the business's bottom line. She explains how companies of any size can find the right causes, craft authentic messages, and measure the return on their investments, adding that the current pandemic and economic crisis have made this work even more important. Sidibe is the author of the HBR article "Marketing Meets Mission."

The most important takeaway for holiday consumers completing their Christmas shopping online is to order early. Ordering online may be a very simple solution to the holiday rush, but it still takes preparation.

J. Martinez & Company fine coffees would like to discuss the recent rise in coffee tastings.

Courtesy of the creators of BAGPATCH, the colorful peel-and-stick woven labels with sassy messages to help travelers ID their luggage.

Committed to bring continuous excitement to reading, FarFaria adds musical component to already stellar library.

If you are still looking for that cool gift for your friend or family member, make sure to stop by GiftNowOnline.com where you will be able to find one of the largest varieties of unique products and items ever found online.

For those who end up doing their Christmas shopping a little late in the month 4giftsnsuch.com came up with a variety of cool deals and promotions specially designed for those last minute shoppers. All deals are available right now at 4GiftsNSuch.

The sending of good wishes and greetings during this season is an accepted tradition in most western countries and corporate giving can be a huge factor in marketing at this time of year.

Custom jeweler quadruples studio space, adds another retail location as national sales increase.

The selection recognizes Nancy A. Marino's commitment to excellence in the Retail industry and Consulting/Advisory sector.

Stocking everything from original Scotch whisky to interesting blends from Ireland, Japan, Canada and the United States, Whisky Marketplace is a one stop destination to research and purchase the best brands in time for the holidays.

GiftWorksPlus offers an extensive line of custom wood picture frames that can be engraved with names, dates, messages, and more at no extra charge.

Weldon's Jewellers of Dublin have recently uploaded a brand new batch of exquisite diamond engagement rings to their website.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Perimeter hotel, near Sandy Springs, GA, offers close lodging to guests attending upcoming auctions at Gallery 63, featured on the Discovery Channel show Auction Kings.

GiftWorksPlus urges a New Year's resolution to capture treasured memories in personalized custom picture frames.

Harris Seeds is offering sweetheart deals with the launch of its Valentine's Day Shop at www.harrisseeds.com.

The creations shared in "my Sicilian kitchen" have been prepared by members of the Bilo family for generations, and now are passed on to you and your family. Buon Appetito."-Linda Bilo-Brechtel

Maiden Gifts, easiest and fastest gift has expanded their fast delivery offers all through the month of February including their Valentine's Special Catalogue of Products.

Mr Garrett Weldon of Weldons jewelers Dublin announced a new arrival in stock of a very interesting antique Irish silver salver, made in Dublin circa 1740, by Samuel Walker.

GiftWorksPlus, the leader in custom picture frames, is offering a blog series full of tips for improving photography skills.

Be A Doll, known for their personalized action figures, has developed a new product "Be A Bust". Submit 2 photos of your loved ones and get a 4 inch likeness of their head and shoulders, mounted on a stained wood base of your choice.

Make it the best Easter ever. Decorate with style, entertain with ease and give beautiful unique gifts to create a memorable EGGCELLENT holiday. It is about Family, Eggs and Bunnies of course.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites N-Atlanta Perimeter Mall hotel offers convenient lodging to guests attending the American Craft Council Show at Cobb Galleria Centre from March 15-17, 2013.

GoldMax USA announces the grand opening of two new stores in Murrieta, California at 40790 California Oaks Road, Suite B and C and 39209 Winchester Road, Suite 102.

You've probably heard that America's billionaires have gotten at least $282 billion richer during the pandemic. What will they spend that extra cash on, once this is all over? Maybe this Aviro Business Jet Explorer, if BAE Systems ever makes it. The concept was developed for BAE by the British consultancy Design Q, targeting "VIP aircraft market segments."

"Pilot! Take off, then land again with the plane pointed the other way on the runway. The sun is in my face."

Yes, it's got a deployable sun deck. It looks to me like the floor slides out, though I can't fathom how those railings could be automatically deployed. Then again, if you're cruising around on a jet like this, you've probably got staff on hand who could install them manually.

There's also a little dining area for two you can set up beneath the plane.

"Pilot! How many times have I asked you NOT to test the engines whilst I'm dining!"

And don't worry--if it's raining outside, there's a weather-safe dining and lounge area inside.

See Also:

How Rich People Board Their Private Jets: Via Elevator

Don't you miss last year, when we were killing each other with weapons rather than airborne droplets? When mass shootings and home invasions dominated the news, a company called Battenshield rolled out their design for a virtually unbreakable door barricade.

It's not the greatest-looking thing in the world, but I will say the functionality of the design is clever, along with half of the installation. The system with the battens simply hangs on the door.

What I'd worry more about is the ability of the average homeowner to install the brackets (particularly over trim with a wavy cross-section) and get the lags driven into the studs.

Interestingly enough, the system was designed by a former SWAT officer whose role was, you guessed it, the "entry team member" who breaches doors.

The video below features three mask tutorials. In the first, industrial designer Eric Strebel's wife shows you how to sew a pleated mask that contains a slot you can slide a filter into; then Strebel shows you how he modified his shop mask for easy on/off; finally, he runs you through making a BU Mask, which is a cardboard mask (designed by Evgeny Maslov, freely downloadble plans at the link) that can also take a replaceable filter.

In 1970, Plymouth hoped to persuade Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro buyers to choose their Barracuda instead. One of Plymouth's tactics was to offer greater customization options.

At the time, the Mustang offered 15 exterior color options:

1970 Ford Mustang Exterior Paint Options

The Camaro offered 18 exterior color options:

1970 Chevy Camaro Exterior Paint Options

Note: This sheet pertains to multiple Chevy models. We have obscured the color options unavailable on the Camaro.

Plymouth went heavy by offering a whopping 25 color options. They demonstrated this to buyers not with a lame sample sheet, but by dropping this innovative-for-the-time rendering into the brochure:

1970 Plymouth Barracuda Ext. Paint Options

That rendering is freaking gorgeous, as are all of the colors. There's not a single one of those I'd decline.

As Hot Rod reports, automotive enthusiast Tim Wellborn, founder of the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alabama, had known about the rendering since childhood and recently decided he wanted a real version. According to My Classic Garage, "Collaborating with the Big Easy Motors television show on the History Channel, the Wellborn Musclecar Museum tapped famed builders at The Bomb Factory in New Orleans, LA [and] set out to create a real life version of the original 1970 illustration."

Here's what they came up with:

They did commit to a single color for the driver's side (looks like #17 on the chart):

While the "Paint Chip 'Cuda" isn't for sale, the museum sells both posters and banners featuring its image.

Pandemic-time party pioneers in Germany have been holding social-distance-obeying drive-in raves. The cars line up in rows and no one gets out of the cars, so presumably your dancing is limited to whatever you can pull off in a seated position. Also, since all cars have built-in noisemakers, attendees aren't shy about using them.

I'm sure it was fun for the people who went, but between the honking, the flames and whatever that music is, it looks and sounds like a living hell to me. But I recognize I'm not the target market, and I hope this helps attendees blow off steam.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I welcome constructive criticism” and wondered how on earth they can feel that way? It seems a little unnatural that anyone would enjoy hearing someone tell them what they are doing wrong, or what… Read More

The post How to Handle Criticism at Work appeared first on Anders CPAs.

In light of the unprecedented changes happening in higher education, we want to accommodate students in any way possible to provide opportunity for career experience. With that being said, Anders is offering a Virtual Interview Day for potential Discover Anders… Read More

The post Join Us at Discover Anders – Virtual Interview Day on April 15 appeared first on Anders CPAs.

I’m a little late getting this post up, it’s been quarantine mood swing central around here. There are some days where I feel crazy productive and in a good mood like “hey I got this!” and then those days where I’m asking myself how much time is too much to spend on the couch because