Smart Skills
All Stories
How to enter the ‘flow state’ for effortless creativity
Taking a modern look at a millennia-old concept.
How to find fulfillment: Lessons from ‘dark horse’ success
Can you be happy and successful? Dark horses show us how it's possible.
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6 min
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Denmark has the flattest work hierarchy in the world
"It's about having employees that are empowered."
How lifelong learning makes you shine in the job market
Here's why the school you went to is less relevant than ever.
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4 min
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Why thinking on paper is a fast way to focus
Writing by hand is the original concentration hack.
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5 min
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Being busy all the time is a habit you made. You can unmake it.
There will never be enough time. Here's how to use it more wisely.
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5 min
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800 hiring managers reveal their job search tips
A cheat sheet containing what really works.
Why you need to embrace fighting with your co-workers
The road to harmony often means getting your hands dirty.
7 habits of the best self-directed learners
The best self-directed learners use these seven habits to improve their knowledge and skills in any subject.
Social anxiety: How to rewire your confidence
If you want to avoid conversation dead ends, remember to "turn" the conversation more than you "take it," says entrepreneur and author Andrew Horn.
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6 min
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To lead a great life, you must learn how to take risks
"I think it's worth asking yourself, 'What risks are worth taking?' And once you've decided to take them, change who you are so you can win."
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4 min
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The genius behind creating things too impractical to buy
How do companies keep getting you to buy the "latest and greatest" iteration of the product you already own? By testing the boundaries.
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4 min
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Want more motivation in life? Change how you relate to negativity
Writer Benjamin Hardy says you can actually enjoy having problems.
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Rap battles: Why cognitive friction is the engine of innovation
Want to learn about innovation? Study hip hop. From the early dance halls to the Wu-Tang Clan, cognitive friction has made hip hop better and better.
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5 min
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Why the U.S. just fell off the list of top 10 most innovative countries
It’s the first time the U.S. has fallen off the top 10 list since Bloomberg began its index.
What it’s like to shop at Amazon Go’s futuristic convenience store
Amazon has opened a new store in Seattle, one that may represent the future of what the retail giant is calling 'Just Walk Out' shopping.
How to tell if someone’s bluffing: body language lessons from a poker pro
Want to predict someone's next move, or know if someone is telling you a lie? Learn to read body language like a poker pro.
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4 min
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Be bored: How to tap into your most brilliant thinking
Being bored is great. It's where we come up with our best ideas, and how we become better people by being able to mentally solve our biggest personal problems. So why are we destroying boredom with our phones?
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6 min
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Go slow to go fast: A counterintuitive way to improve your work habits
Today's fast-paced culture leaves no time for relational intelligence. Here's why it's worth slowing down to eventually speed up.
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7 min
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Entrepreneurship 101: How to dream big—with your feet on the ground
Hertz Foundation Fellow Dr. Christopher Loose sold his first startup for $80 million. His advice is probably the kind you want to hear.
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7 min
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Learn to listen for what people mean, not just what they say
Without sounding like internet hyperbole, this super-simple listening trick can help you better understand people's intentions. And provide a fascinating insight into the minds of others.
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4 min
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How the foster care system fails so many kids—and how we can do better
The stats on teens transitioning out of foster care aren't good. Can we empower these young people to build futures to look forward to?
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4 min
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Saudi Arabia Is Building a $500-Billion New Territory Based on Tech and Liberal Values
This independent zone, with its own regulations and social norms, will be built from scratch on 10,231 square miles of untouched land at a cost of $500 billion.
Want to boost your career and income? Pick a hobby and run with it
Here's why you should always be looking for new income streams—even if you already have a full-time job.
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4 min
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Space X Releases Shocking Blooper Reel: How Not to Land a Rocket
"Well, technically it did land... just not in once piece."
The new IQ: Imagination quotient
Can imagination be measured and quantified? That's what scientists at the University of Pennsylvania's Imagination Institute are trying to figure out.
Why Breaking My Neck Was the Best Thing to Happen All Year
The worst year of former tennis pro James Blake's life was tragic—professionally and personally. Here's how he got back on his feet after multiple setbacks.
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3 min
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What the early life of Steve Jobs can teach us about success
This infographic, by Anna Vital from Funders and Founders, recaps the significant moments of Steve Jobs’ journey on, and sometimes off, the path of success.
Who Are Internet Trolls? Psychologists Build a Profile
Psychopathy and sadism play a prominent role among those who choose to take it up.