April 21, 2017: Friday News Roundup
Happy Friday, folks! Hope everyone had a great week. Check out this week’s bevy of thought-provoking articles, including why you need to find more quiet time for yourself and why you should probably talk to your coworkers in person.
What the Gig Economy Looks Like Around the World
The so-called gig economy promises freedom, independence, and flexibility, but does it deliver? Unfortunately, many gig workers report putting in long, arduous hours for very little pay, as more people throw their hats into the ring and the labor supply becomes glutted. This article goes on to examine ways of protecting workers in the gig economy.
A Face-to-Face Request is 34 Times More Successful Than an Email
How many of us admit to having this thought: “Ugh, I don’t want to walk all the way over to {coworker’s} desk; I’ll just send an email…” Get off your lazy duffs, people! New research found “you need to ask six people in person to equal the power of a 200-recipient email blast.”
Unlike Hyperloop, Elon Musk’s Electric Big-Rig Actually Makes Sense
While everyone’s busy looking ahead to self-driving vehicles, the ever-innovative Musk has announced Tesla will be unveiling an electric semi this fall. Battery range may be a limiting factor at the beginning, but there’s still plenty of hauling to be done within 300 miles and, conveniently enough, Tesla already has a network of charging stations along interstates.
The Best Consultants in Silicon Valley Are Teenagers
No, Udemy has not hired any teen consultants, but they’re not really our target audience. If we were in the business of developing a video-chat app, however, maybe we’d consider it! Read on to learn how startups creating products geared to the Gen Z demographic are enlisting high-schoolers to give feedback and help shape design.
You’re Too Busy. You Need a ‘Shultz Hour.’
The Shultz in question here is George Shultz, secretary of state under U.S. President Ronald Reagan. When he served in the White House, it was Shultz’s practice to find one hour of solitude for himself each week, saying it was “the only way he could find time to think about the strategic aspects of his job.” In today’s hectic, always-on, screen-obsessed world, we all could benefit from giving ourselves the weekly gift of dedicated quiet time.