David Lidsky's Blog, page 74

Welcome to the Anxiety Economy, where safety sells and streaming is optional

Consumers aren’t just cutting back—they’re making emotional trade-offs, and safety keeps coming out on top

Americans are seriously worried about their finances. Between high costs of living, tariffs, and job instability—driven, in part, by artificial intelligence—the added anxiety means that consumers’ spending habits are shifting. And while people are aiming to spend less overall, the stress also seems to be driving purchases that make them feel safer in an economy (and world?) that feels uncertain.

Goldman Sachs’s Q2 earnings exceed estimates, fueled by trading

The investment bank’s equities revenue rose 36%, to $4.3 billion, higher than the $3.6 billion analysts were expecting.

Goldman Sachs’s second-quarter profit exceeded Wall Street expectations, as turbulent markets raised revenue in its equities division to a record, and a pickup in dealmaking boosted investment banking.

Europol-led operation hits pro-Russian cybercrime network

Europol said that the cybercrime network was involved in attacks in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland.

A coordinated international operation has hit the infrastructure of a pro-Russian cybercrime network linked to a string of denial-of-service attacks targeting Ukraine and its allies, the European Union’s police agency Europol announced Wednesday.

Southwest Florida’s housing market is undergoing a material home price correction—here’s why

Home prices in Punta Gorda and Cape Coral–Fort Myers are down 18.6% and 13.7%, respectively, since their July 2022 peak.

Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.

Windows 95’s look and feel are more impressive than ever

In 1995, Microsoft designed a masterpiece right when the PC world needed it most. In the age of AI and dark patterns, it‘s grown only more resonant.

Every so often, Microsoft design director Diego Baca boots up an old computer so he can play around with Windows 95 again.

Imposter syndrome? It might be because of your workplace, not your gender

Turns out, women don’t have imposter syndrome at higher rates than men.

The feeling that you’re not quite qualified enough for a job, yet somehow managed to slip through the cracks without anyone noticing, is known as imposter syndrome. The sneaky form of self-doubt can show up across occupations (and even outside of work). But while imposter syndrome was once thought to impact women at higher rates then men, a new study reveals work environments, not an individual’s gender, may be what’s actually fueling the phenomenon.

The research, which was published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, included six experimental studies on how competitive work environments can cause an employee to feel like an imposter. The researchers surveyed employees on how competitive their work environment was, while also collecting information on age, gender, educational level, experience level, and how competitive their personalities were. 

There’s a formula to loyalty—super-fandoms have mastered it

Four ways to build fandom and rethink traditional customer-building approaches.

Building super-fandom isn’t an art, it’s a science with a proven formula that brands can learn and replicate. The most successful fandoms, like Taylor Swift’s Swifties, follow predictable patterns centered around building strong emotional architecture around a shared idea to generate a sense of belonging. Mastering this formula is integral for brands seeking lasting loyalty as it’s the only reliable path to transforming casual consumers into passionate advocates who drive real business impact.

A focus on sustainability’s return on investment

In real estate, there are many ways to improve ROI through action plans.

For the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to apply my experience in sector diversified financial services, sustainability, and operational leadership at RE Tech Advisors. I oversee a suite of solutions and services allowing real estate portfolio managers/owners a pathway to integrate and communicate their sustainability efforts.

Consumers win in Big Tech antitrust cases

Big tech monopolies can lead to higher ad costs and less innovation.

Can you imagine your life without Google?

When will we leverage our above-ground mine?

Critical minerals policies need a fast and effective overhaul to boost domestic supply.

Everyone in Washington knows the score: America’s rare earth supply chain runs straight through China. It’s one of the few issues before Congress that enjoys bipartisan support. But most of the solutions on the table remain shortsighted, dominated by two false binaries: Mine more at home or buy more from allies abroad. And yet, the most immediate solution is one barely being discussed.