The Small Blog

Sat, July 24, 2010 - 10:41:49

From Old Phone to New Porsche

By now, we all know that it’s not safe to have one hand on the phone while your other’s on the wheel, but what if we told you that a California 17 year-old traded a cell phone in order to get his hands on a new set of wheels? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Steven Ortiz who, through a series of Craigslist trades found himself as the only teenage owner of a Porsche in his high school.

Steven’s story may remind you of another Craigslist phenom, Kyle MacDonald, whose famed One Red Paperclip Project in took him from humble paperclip owner to proud home owner in just one year. And although both Ortiz and MacDonald’s stories are uncommon to say the least, they both illustrate the SMALL truth that anything is possible when you take advantage of even the littlest of opportunities.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Thu, July 22, 2010 - 2:17:41

Jay Shafer and the Tiny House that Launched a Big Career

According to Deloitte’s 2010 American Pantry Study, there’s been a dramatic culture shift in America from a society of spenders, to a society of savers. And 55% of those surveyed said they were cutting back not because of a reduction in income, but simply because they felt they “should be.” Clearly, big cars, big McMansions, and big debts are becoming a thing of the past, while “living small” has become much more main stream.

And it’s something Jay Shafer decided to do in the extreme, when he built his very own—and very small—house in 1997.  But, that hand-built, 85 square-foot home (yes, you read that right!) didn’t just dramatically change his lifestyle; it transformed his whole life.

As, the one-time grocery-clerk turned CEO explains in this video we discovered on Yahoo!, “My whole life changed when I started living small.”

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sun, July 18, 2010 - 11:43:10

How to Keep Your Good Employees

According to recent figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the winter of 2010 marked the first time since October 2008 that more workers quit their jobs than were laid off.  While this statistic bodes well for the economy, it can be cause for concern for employers who want to hold on to their top team members. As many companies are still trying to recover during these tough economic times, attempting to retain their best and brightest with dramatic salary increases and sizeable bonuses isn’t always possible. Luckily, there are other SMALL ways to keep them on board—and some studies say they’re even more effective.

Although conventional wisdom has long been that “money talks,” the truth is that there are many other ways to make your employees feel valued, and recent research can back it up. A May McKinsey survey found that more than any other factor, employees are motivated most by praise and recognition from their immediate managers and attention from company leaders. In other words, one of the best investments your company can make is offering employees positive, ongoing feedback—it carries very little risk and delivers an immediate return.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sun, July 18, 2010 - 11:33:54

A Good Handshake is All it Takes

According to conventional wisdom, it only takes five seconds to make a first impression. But, is it true that people can make up their minds about you with little more than a “hello?” Well, according to professor Geoffrey Beatty of the University of Manchester, all it takes is a handshake. And thanks to a new mathematical formula he’s developed, he can help you make yours—and that all-important first impression—a good one.

On ABC’s World News Tonight, Beatty explains that after being commissioned by GM’s British division, he has identified the most important components that make up a good handshake: verbal greeting, quality of smile, vigor, and dryness of hand. The biggest no-no’s? Sweaty palms, limp grip, shaking too hard or too long, and getting too close.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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Sat, July 10, 2010 - 3:34:07

Are You Addicted to Stress?

It’s prime vacation time and many of you are probably looking forward to packing your suitcases, loading up the car, and driving off to enjoy the summer sun at your favorite get-away spot. But, when writing up your “To-Pack” check list, how many of you write “Blackberry” or “laptop” on the page. (For those of you who left it off, how many of you secretly plan to bring at least one of them along?)

In today’s wired world, it can be tough—if not downright impossible—to relax, unplug, and unwind. But, too much time with a so-called “productivity device” can actually make you less productive.  What’s worse, it can feed an increasingly common yet surprising addiction: stress.

Posted by Linda and Robin
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