David Lidsky's Blog, page 57

How to stop stress from hijacking your productivity

Around 80% of workers have productivity anxiety, but ironically this can interfere with our ability to do work.

Do you ever have those weeks where you feel you’ve gotten nothing done? You’re staring at your screen, the same paragraph you’ve read three times still making no sense. Your mind drifts to that looming deadline, the difficult conversation with your manager, leaving before 3 to avoid a horrible commute, or the growing pile of unread emails. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Almost half (43%) of Americans report feeling more anxious than they did the previous year, with workplace pressures playing a significant role in this epidemic of stress.

Your next direct report might not be human. Are you ready to lead it?

Managing people is about guiding behavior. Managing machines is about judgement.

We’ve spent decades building frameworks to help people lead teams: courses, certifications, coaching, culture decks. All aimed at shaping better managers of humans. But that’s no longer enough. Because for many workers, their first report won’t be a person. It’ll be an agent.

Just 7% of small-business owners say the child care crisis is a critical problem. Here’s why

A new report shows that child care cost and access doesn’t rank anywhere near business owners’ top concerns. One expert breaks down the issue.

Child care costs are growing. Access is declining. But small businesses aren’t too concerned about the impact on business.  

From Figma’s IPO surge to SNAP cuts: 10 business stories that defined the week

Explosive public stock offerings, billion-dollar losses, and a megamerger that could reshape the country.

From Wall Street to Main Street, this week was packed with major business moves. There were big market debuts, tough earnings reports, and updates that show how quickly some industries are shifting.

Hasbro is entering the romantasy universe with a ‘Fourth Wing’ board game

According to Ally Simpson, senior manager at Hasbro Games, adapting the IP was a ‘no-brainer.’

Romantasy has already taken over TikTok, bookstores, and Kindles far and wide. Next, it’s conquering board games. Hasbro announced that it’s struck a “multi-program” deal with Rebecca Yarros and Entangled Publishing, the author and publisher of the hit romantasy novel Fourth Wing.

How to handle out-of-control medical bills without going crazy (or broke)

When it feels like astronomical medical bills are too confusing to fight, how do you afford the cost of care?

Several years ago, I received a bad medical bill: $150 for an in-network doctor’s appointment that my health insurance was supposed to cover with a $30 co-pay. After multiple long and frustrating phone calls over several weeks—during which time nothing was resolved—I gave up and wrote a check for $150.

Ralph Lauren’s gorgeous new campaign is fashion advertising done right

After American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney debacle, an iconic American fashion brand shows how speaking to diverse consumers is a creative win.

In Ralph Lauren’s latest campaign, Black men, women, and children wear the brand’s traditionally preppy clothes against idyllic coastal backdrops. The collection isn’t just some sort of woke fantasy of a post-racial America. It’s grounded in a very specific history that many Americans aren’t familiar with.

This free Adobe tool offers Photoshop-strength background removal

Erase any image’s background in seconds—no downloads, payments, or editing skills required.

Sometimes, the simplest photo feats are the most satisfying of all.

In uncertain times purpose-driven brands have the winning edge

Consumers want to buy from brands they believe will make a positive difference in the world.

Whether you’re sitting at your desk at work or shopping at the grocery store, you can feel it: the shared sense of uncertainty in the air. Economic indicators are shifting; tariffs have impacted trade flows, and experts predict the nation’s growth rate may be cut in half. Combined with broad geopolitical instability, this sense of economic uneasiness has seen consumer sentiment dip to its second-lowest point since 1952. 

Corporation for Public Broadcasting will close, putting public TV and radio at risk

PBS and NPR rely on the organization to fund hundreds of local stations across the U.S.

Federal funding cuts have claimed their latest victim. On Friday, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced that it will wind down operations in light of a fatal federal funding shortfall.