David Lidsky's Blog, page 43

What Machiavelli and St. Francis can tell us about the motivations of CEOs

We found very high correlations between power motivation and CEO behavior.

Niccolò Machiavelli, the infamous author of The Prince, wrote in the 1500s that the ideal leader makes and breaks solemn agreements. He creates alliances with weak allies to defeat a powerful enemy and then eliminates them one by one. He blames his next-in-charge for his own mistakes, and he executes opponents in public.

The silent manipulations that often go unnoticed, according to a Harvard law professor

From ‘sludge’ to peer pressure, manipulation is a serious problem that we need to reduce.

Cass Sunstein is a Harvard Law School professor and one of the most cited legal scholars in the world. He founded the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School, served in the White House during the Obama Administration, received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, and has written dozens of books on topics ranging from behavioral science to constitutional law.

Scrolling on the toilet could raise your risk of hemorrhoids, a new study finds

Americans spend two days a year on their phones in the bathroom, and researchers say longer toilet time increases pressure on anal tissues.

If you’re someone who sneaks off to the bathroom for a little phone time, you could be upping your odds of developing hemorrhoids.

5 things I learned about leadership as I grew my multimillion dollar business

I started my business with $300. Today it’s a multimillion dollar global operation. Here’s what I learned about leadership along the way.

As is the case for many founders, my journey began as a one-person show. I started Digital Voices, an influencer marketing agency that helps brands grow by pairing them with creators across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. With just a shoestring budget of $300 and a background in digital strategy, I launched the company with more ambition than certainty. After—long hours coupled with hustle and self-doubt—it has now evolved into a multimillion-80-person operation spanning the globe.

Robinhood and AppLovin to join the S&P 500, sending shares soaring

In the minutes after the S&P announcement, shares of Robinhood were up 7.2%, while AppLovin rose 7.8%.

Trading app Robinhood Markets, mobile app monetization company AppLovin, and building company Emcor Group, will be added to the S&P 500 later this month, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced Friday. 

Anthropic to pay $1.5 billion to book authors to settle AI copyright suit

The payout is thought to be the largest in the history of U.S. copyright suits and could influence other AI copyright cases.

Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has agreed to pay a record-setting $1.5 billion to a group of book authors and publishers in order to settle a class action lawsuit. The payout is thought to be the largest in the history of U.S. copyright suits and could influence other cases where an AI company has been sued for copyright violations.

Tylenol maker’s stock dips after report says RFK Jr.’s HHS plans to link the drug to autism

Drug maker Kenvue, which makes Tylenol, saw its shares slump following a Wall Street Journal report that RFK Jr.’s health department plans to link the drug to autism.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning to release a report that will reportedly link autism and acetaminophen use in pregnancy, according to The Wall Street Journal. The department has confirmed a report is in the works, but has not revealed its conclusions. 

This week in business: Markets stumble, gold glitters, and burgers get cheaper

Nvidia and Broadcom weighed down Wall Street while Klarna and Via prepared to go public. Plus: tariffs, layoffs, and more.

Labor Day usually marks the slowdown. Not this year. From corner offices to checkout lines, businesses are scrambling as shaky markets test prices, patience, and loyalty. Tech is still the flashpoint—AI is fueling record demand while doubling as cover for layoffs and financial gymnastics. IPOs are slowly coming back, but only for companies that can prove they’ve got the growth to back it up. Meanwhile, D.C. drama over tariffs and the Fed is shaking currencies, commodities, and investor confidence.

Kalshi found a backdoor to sports gambling, and is throwing it open to everyone

The prediction market now offers something that looks a lot like online sports betting to 18 year olds and states where it’s currently illegal. What could possibly go wrong?

Last month, the online prediction market Kalshi filed some very dry but potentially very lucrative paperwork with the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The company, which allows users to predict real-world event outcomes that range from election winners to the annual number of U.S. cases of whooping cough, announced its intent to offer markets for football point spreads, totals, and individual touchdown scorers, too. 

How breaking the habit of saying yes can boost your productivity

When you say yes to everything, you leave very little space for the things that actually matter.

We live in a world where workers are doing more varied and complex tasks. And in most instances, they’re doing so at the expense of focus and performance, according to a global EY study.