Commercial sailing positions in the US now offer starting salaries of over $200,000, along with benefits such as free food, accommodation and global travel. Shipping companies are also offering large signing bonuses and enhanced onboard conditions to attract and retain talent. Despite these lucrative incentives, the industry is still grappling with a lack of interest from young Americans.

Giving a successful presentation is less about perfection and more about preparation, vulnerability and authenticity, writes leadership development consultant Amber Johnson, who shares insights from her TEDx experience. Johnson emphasizes the importance of meticulous preparation, writing for a specific audience, being memorable through storytelling and humor and being open to feedback. "The next time you have an opportunity to share ideas that matter to you -- whether it's a boardroom presentation, a community talk or yes, even a TEDx stage -- remember that your audience wants you to succeed," Johnson writes.

Just as the typewriter eliminated the clerk's career progression by automating entry-level work, AI now threatens to remove junior roles in fields like law, consulting and accounting. With AI handling research, drafting, and analysis, traditional training grounds for future leaders may vanish, risking a collapse of the career ladder and leaving organizations without a pipeline of experienced talent to advance into senior positions.

The labor market remains in a precarious "no hiring, no firing" phase, with unemployment still low at 4.4% but trending upward. Experts note that while layoffs have not yet surged, the risk of rapid job losses looms if conditions shift. "If employers start laying off workers, then you're going to expand the supply of workers who could plausibly be hired," said Ben Harris of the Brookings Institution. "Then employers will feel more comfortable laying off workers because they know they can hire them if they need to."

The "52/17 rule," which involves working for 52 minutes followed by a 17-minute break, is said to be a productivity hack that could help combat afternoon slumps, according to Olivia Remes, a mental health researcher at the University of Cambridge. The strategy has been around for some time but has gained renewed attention after Remes highlighted it on Instagram, noting the importance of completely disconnecting from technology during breaks.

From sister publication Kiplinger: The period between today's Giving Tuesday and New Year's Eve, known as "giving season," is a peak time for charitable donations, driven by holiday traditions and tax planning. This year, the One Big Beautiful Bill and interest rate cuts have influenced giving strategies, with donors front-loading contributions before tax changes in 2026. To maximize impact, donors can use tools like donor-advised funds, prioritize recurring giving, and offer unrestricted funds.