Study Says Intelligent People Spend Time Alone

A study conducted by Singapore Management System and London School of Economics and Political Science explores the "Savannah Theory" that smart people like to spend more time alone than others. The Savannah Theory, also known as evolutionary legacy hypothesis, indicates that much of our adaptation occurred in rural environments and we respond and adapt much like our ancestors did in places like the Savannah. 

We are designed to live in groups of around 150 people. When we get into a larger group such as a city we don't feel comfortable and we may feel a little antsy. When groups move above 150 they begin to split and create more groups that are easier to manage. Our social networks seem to follow that pattern as well where our preference for active engagement is for 150 people or less. 


The study indicates that highly intelligent people like to spend time alone. The study doesn't affirmatively say that people who like to spend time with others are less intelligent or why intelligent people like to spend more time alone. It also doesn't clarify whether spending time alone is more of a by product of not relating as well to people of lower intelligence or has something more to do with entertainment in one own thoughts. 

The study states that intelligent people are more goal driving than others and prefer to work alone to achieve those goals which is an evolutionary outlier. While I find this an important argument it might also depend on what those goals are. People directed at feeling good and connecting with others for their own survival is not necessarily a bad trait. It would seem a healthy balance between being with others and spending time alone would be very high intelligence when you can manage it properly to fulfill more of your goals, needs and wants. 

Set Your Goals Each Morning for Success

Each morning offers an opportunity to reassess your activities for each day that leads to life success. Goal achievement is about persistence and making the necessary steps to compete each day to move closer to your goals. Sitting down in the mornings with your cup of coffee is one of the best  times to figure out the most critical things to ad to your "to do" list.

A few tips :

-Focus on what is necessary for the day.
-Prioritize your activities.
-Find a time for your critical activities.
-Move non-critical activities to others when possible.
-Be realistic about what you can and can't accomplish.
-Make sure your activities fit with your larger goals.
-Build in some down time so you can enjoy your life.
-Give yourself plenty of time.

2017 International Conference on Hospitality, Leisure, Sports, and Tourism-Summer Session (HLST-Summer 2017)

Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 
August 23-25th, 2017
http://science-techs.org/hlst-summer/

2017 International Conference on Hospitality, Leisure, Sports, and Tourism - Summer Session (HLST-Summer 2017) is to be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, on August 23-25th, 2017. The aim of this conference is to provide a platform which focuses on important topics of Hospitality, Leisure, Sports, and Tourism. Since more than 20 different countries are typically represented, presenting at this conference is a great way to get feedback from researchers with different perspectives. Detailed information about the conference can be found on the conference website
(http://science-techs.org/hlst-summer/).

We sincerely invite your participation for this important academic event. Please submit full paper or abstract by April 15, 2017. All submissions will be subject to a double-blind review process. All accepted manuscripts will be published in the conference proceedings, under an ISSN reference, on CD-ROM support.

The conference venue Sapporo is one of the most exciting and visited cities in Japan. As the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth largest city, Sapporo was chosen as the island's administrative center and enlarged according to the advice of foreign specialists. Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Nowadays, the city is best known for its beer, ramen and the annual snow festival. We believe that you will enjoy your stay in Sapporo. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Conference Website: http://science-techs.org/hlst-summer/
Online Submission: http://175.99.76.113/HLST-summer/
Enquiries: ichlst.summer@gmail.com
Submission Deadline: April 15, 2017

Is it Possible to Save the Environment while Enhancing Business?

People sometimes believe that protecting the environment and enhancing business are separate activities but they are interrelated. Business relies heavily on natural resources and protecting those resources. Whether we are discussing tourism, medical care, farming, logging, or even mining our natural resources are part of our lives and should be a concern of the business community.

Politically they also seems to be on two different worlds but both are seeking the very same things. While one is looking for profit the other is looking for quality of life through the protection of the environment. Quality of life leads to greater productivity and output as workers and business understand that we are limited and products of our environment.

In some cases protecting the environment means we must raise costs on business and this could have an impact on jobs. At other times, they work together because the need to protect the environment forces businesses to adapt and become cleaner. Pushing business to adopt limits waste and long-term costs.

Problems arise when adjustments are too quick for companies to handle and then they begin to lose ground against foreign competition. Government should keep this in mind as they create legislation and restrictions to ensure American companies are changing and maintaining their competitiveness. However, government should maintain its responsibilities to both parties and understand the long-term needs of its people.

Protecting the environment moves beyond corporate citizenship to economics. When the environment becomes polluted and damaged it impacts overall production of other businesses that rely on that environment. Damaging the environment damages businesses that rely on the environment and the people who live in that environment and ultimately the businesses themselves as the cyclical mother nature brings karma. Developing environmental policies that help business and the community should be the ultimate goal. 

Christmas on Small Town Main Street

Small town main streets are more than places to shop but also where Christmas cheer abounds and people get together to meet their community members. During these times children line the street and learn about their community, watch the bright lights and catch candy with the skill of a professional baseball player. Each parade is unique and part of the culture of that town.

For example, I just attended a small town parade that brought most of the town together in one act of holiday spirit. The adults picked their favorite beverage, coffee or brew, and the kids ran around playing and having fun.

Such events do more than simply bring people down town but also expose them to the stores in the area. Parades are great advertisements, and attractions that keep activities centered around the city shopping districts. Each float is sponsored by a business and part of the community.

Contributing to the town and advertising go hand in hand. It shows that businesses care about people and their needs. Each advertisement makes its way all the way down the line across residents eyes and becomes part of a greater effort that contributes to quality of life.

Enjoying Your Work Leads to Greater Peace and Prosperity

Enjoying your work leads to greater peace and prosperity. Not many of us have the opportunity to truly enjoy our work and continue on each day reaching new goals and meeting objectives in a way that fulfills our needs. When one enjoys their work they soon find themselves accomplishing their goals while finding a level of personal fulfillment.

We only have one life so if we are doing work we don't enjoy or don't help us feel as though we are having a meaningful life then we are limiting our possibilities.

When your enjoying your work the time flies and you don't feel as though you are doing work at all. Instead, you are engaging in an activity you feel good about and you are present in the moment. An extra bounce in your step, more motivation, and greater levels of achievement can be discovered through the way they feel.

Many of us have to do what we have to do. We started a career when we went to college and then stuck with that career. Some bounce from career to career. As people get older they sometimes switch careers in order to feel as though they are doing something meaningful. A few of us find a career earlier and engage in that career in a way that enhances our overall peace and prosperity.

When Should a Business Owner Seek Outside Help?

Business is tough with hundreds of different avenues and choices but limited resources of time and money to get the necessary things they need done. As the work piles up, business owners often get dragged into a world of endless choices and possibilities that could make them ineffective. At this point, it is beneficial to seek outside help to find a focal point for their energies and resources to earn the highest Return on Investment. 

Business owners are often the expert and it can be tough to ask someone for help to evaluate all of the different different avenues and decisions. For some, this could be a big ego buster as nobody knows the business as well as they do. Because mistakes can be costly it is beneficial to seek an outside perspective and advice to help evaluate possible strategic choices in an impartial way (Plenda, 2016). 

One of the important ways in which consultants can help is through processing and capitalizing on the owner's previous experience and then hedging that with their own to create a stronger strategic direction. They can encourage owners to reflect on their own experiences, evaluate the alternatives through an objective lens, and then integrate that knowledge into more lucrative activities (Lansberg & Gersick, 2015). 

As an owner, If your unsure of what direction to take or don't have a solid idea of how to formally and impartially select among multiple opportunities then it is time to consider an outside perspective. Business owners are often great at producing the product or service they sell to their customers but can use help in setting an appropriate direction to maximize their return on time and resources. Outside counsel helps them make decisions that help fit within owner's personal perspective and values in a way that reaps the greatest financial and personal rewards. 

Lansberg, I. & Gersick, K. (2015). Evaluating family business owners: The fundamental intervention. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 14 (3). 

Plenda, M. (2016) Setting goals and plans. Who advises the boss? Business NH Magazine, 33 (11).