There are 6 traits high-performers share, research suggests There are six key traits to predict how successful a person will be in life, according to MacRae and Adrian Furnham of University College London -- conscientiousness, ability to adjust, tolerance, curiosity, courage and competitiveness. It's not necessary to naturally excel in all areas, researchers point out, but to be the best you can be, it's ideal to be around other people that can improve your weaknesses. BBC (12/27)
Making the Connection
How to use LinkedIn's QR code feature Every LinkedIn account has its own shareable QR code that makes it quick and convenient to share contact information via scanning others' QR code directly on their mobile device or via a saved screenshot of the QR code they've sent to you. Access these features at the home screen of the LinkedIn app by tapping the QR code image in the search bar. Adweek (tiered subscription model) (12/27)
The Landscape
Millions to see pay bump starting Jan. 1 Starting Tuesday, about 5.3 million workers will see a bump in pay when minimum wage increases go into effect, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute. Wages are projected to increase by $5.4 billion in 2019, with average workers seeing between $90 and $1,300 annually, depending on their state. MarketWatch (12/28)
There's a rise in the rate of women getting hired at traditionally male-dominated jobs, such as transportation, mining and construction, the New York Times reports. Despite the growth, the median salary for women in these jobs is 29% less than for men, and the gap in pay hasn't narrowed, based on data collected between 2016 and now. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/14)
Balancing Yourself
Hiding negative emotions may be cause of what you think is work stress The cause of workplace stress may be deeper than just an overflowing inbox, research suggests. Hiding emotions and feelings, or "surface acting," could very well be the cause of feeling exhausted and burned out, points out Alicia Grandey, professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University. Business Insider (12/27)
Strange sounds, caused by geomagnetic storms and other space weather, are being captured by a space weather station in Antarctica. Makers of "Elite Dangerous" are even utilizing the creepy sounds in a gameplay update of the popular video game. Gizmodo (12/26)
