Get the most important things accomplished during the day by identifying what they are, the best time of the day to do them (usually, that time when your focus is sharp) and where to do them (preferably a place that signals to your brain the type of work it will do), writes Laura Mae Martin, Google's in-house productivity expert. In addition, make reading and sorting email like doing the laundry by doing it at a specific time until the chore is complete, Martin advises.

A Harvard Business Review case study explores the benefits of recognizing employee strengths during periods of change, particularly as an incoming leader weighing how to reorganize your team. "Some people aren't as skilled as others at inventing the future, but they excel at operating the existing business -- and a top team needs both types," says Jeff Jones, the president and CEO of H&R Block, who also adds new leaders brought in to drive transformation need months to get the right executive team in place.

Setting goals is one of the most effective ways to successfully reach your aspirations, writes executive coach Naphtali Hoff, but first you must overcome a fear of failure and commitment to begin the process. Hoff recommends starting small with achievable goals, visualizing success and celebrating each step of progress, among other tips to "embrace the transformative power of goal setting."

Going from the corporate world to entrepreneurship means focusing on networking and continuous learning, writes Chicken Coop Company co-owner Chris Bowman. "Being willing to put in the work and learn how to apply the same concepts to different scenarios will be invaluable even when you hire people to do the same work later," Bowman writes.

Recent data from Glassdoor reveals a significant decline in US worker confidence, with only 46.4% of professionals reporting a positive six-month business outlook, and the job market is splitting, with blue-collar jobs thriving while white-collar opportunities dwindle. "The evidence can be found in the data, which shows a higher unemployment rate for professional and business services workers, and a lower one for people who work in manufacturing," said Glassdoor's chief economist, Aaron Terrazas. "It's a buyer's market for brain and a seller's market for brawn."

New college graduates are entering a challenging job market, with only 13% finding entry-level positions in the past six months, down from 20% in 2022, according to Goldman Sachs. The unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds has increased to 7.9%, but experts like Harry Holzer from Georgetown University are optimistic that the strong economy will help new graduates find jobs more quickly than during the 2008 financial crisis.

Real estate agents have embraced new technologies when it comes to showing and staging a house, including videos, 3D Walk-Thru technology and drones to capture the essence of a property. But now, agents are featuring cute dogs in listings to  to generate more interest, with some potential buyers even wanting to meet the dogs. This method contrasts with the traditional neutral staging approach, but agents say dog photos add warmth to listings.