David Lidsky's Blog, page 98

Those security codes you ask to receive via text leave your accounts vulnerable. Do this instead

Here are some other, safer ways to verify your identity and sign into your accounts.

Do you receive login security codes for your online accounts via text message? These are the six- or seven-digit numbers sent via SMS that you need to enter along with your password when trying to access your bank accounts, health records, online photos, and more. This type of security is known as multifactor authentication (MFA) and is designed to keep your account secure even if someone knows your password. Without the additional security code, bad actors can’t gain access to your data. Or at least that’s the idea.

This overlooked personal finance tip can help your loved ones

3 out of 4 Americans don’t have a will, but over half will struggle financially when a loved one dies

Thinking about your own death is not something most people enjoy doing. However, if you plan to pass on savings or assets, like a home, having a will is important in ensuring those items end up in the right hands. Still, according to a new survey, most Americans don’t have a will. 

Van Life 2.0: Gen X is tricking out vans for road tripping’s next era

“The nostalgia factor is not to be discounted.”

While not everyone bought a camper van during the COVID-19 pandemic, we all probably know someone who did. As people with money suddenly found themselves with time on their hands and no particular place to be, sales of compact but full-featured Class B camper vans soared, increasing 91.5% from 2020 to 2021, according to the RV Industry Association (RVIA). Van life became a hashtag, a lifestyle, and an aspiration. While sales have settled back down to pre-pandemic levels, the market for high-end vehicles remains strong, with manufacturers tempting new and returning buyers with an array of new models that push the limits of performance, luxury, and price.

How leaders can change the ‘mattering deficit’ at work

Mattering is knowing you’re significant to individual members of a group.

Zach Mercurio is a researcher who specializes in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. He works with hundreds of organizations worldwide, and some of his clients include the U.S. Army, USA Wrestling, J.P. Morgan, Delta Air Lines, Marriott International, the government of Canada, and the National Park Service. He also serves as one of motivational speaker, author, and business consultant Simon Sinek’s “optimist instructors.”

The art of caregiving can strengthen leadership

Four tangible ways to improve your management by leaning your real world experience

Caregiving is often viewed as a personal duty separate from our professional lives, instead of another layer of that life, one that can strengthen and improve how we live. Caregiving has strengthened my skills rather than detracted from my role in the C-suite, providing a masterclass in how to lead.

3 ways brands can win back consumer confidence

Rage is driving the market in 2025. Here’s how to stop a revenge economy.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” 

Thanks to bans and fees, there are fewer plastic bags littering beaches

Policies aimed at reducing single-use plastic bags have led to a significant decrease in bags found on shorelines.

It turns out eliminating the “paper or plastic” question through plastic bag regulation is effectively reducing the number of bags found in shoreline litter across the United States. 

Neuroscientists find brain cells that explain why stress keeps you up at night

A new study shows how neurons in the hypothalamus may connect stress to sleepless nights and forgetfulness—and may offer hope for new treatments.

If your anxiety before a big test or a high-stakes presentation has ever kept you up at night, you can rest easier knowing that scientists are trying to get to the bottom of matters.

Astroworld is back in the spotlight and survivors are sharing haunting stories on TikTok

With the release of Netflix’s ‘Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy,’ attendees are posting chilling videos and firsthand accounts from the deadly 2021 concert.

Astroworld is back in the news, and social media has some thoughts.

‘Jaws’ 50th anniversary: How to watch the movie that launched blockbusters

The summer of 1975 was one for the history books, changing America’s relationship with cinema—and the ocean.

The summertime beaches of 1975 were empty, but the movie theaters were full thanks to Steven Spielberg’s thriller Jaws. Considered by film historians to be the first-ever summer blockbuster, Jaws put the young director on the map and was the highest-grossing movie of all time until Star Wars was released two years later.