Amongst his many leading-man roles, it’s telling that the first performance that always jumps to mind when I’m asked about Matt Damon is a small cameo. Amongst the drawn out visions of the life of the radical Cuban militant Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh’s astonishing four-hour-long "Che," Damon appears in the second movement of the film, for a moment, as a German priest attempting to strike piece between Benicio Del Toro’s Che and the Bolivians. Considering that Del Toro is the biggest name in the film otherwise, Damon’s appearance comes to signal something unexpected in a film that is, in its way, a consideration of the fight to get a personal film made and distributed in the modern marketplace. In the story, Damon was the comely, reasonable voice of peace, a symbol of compromise in a film about resisting compromise in the hopes of making something that is truly yours.

And as an actor, Damon has come to represent a career about compromise. Big-budget, left-leaning blockbusters figure into Damon’s oeuvre equally as much as smaller, more intimate projects that touch on personal political issues for the vocal movie star. Before "Jason Bourne," his last two films were "The Martian" and "Interstellar," two science fiction epics with humongous budgets and plenty of star power alongside him, but before that, he lent his talents to both Terry Gilliam’s bizarre "The Zero Theorem" and Gus Van Sant’s quite excellent "Promised Land" while also playing a whippersnapper in George Clooney’s deeply dull "The Monuments Men" and an unlikely action hero in "Elysium."

Few major actors feel such a pressing need to work with artists both big and small, flush with cash and scraping by; his friend and writing partner Ben Affleck certainly hasn’t felt that need for awhile. There are plenty of benefits to this work philosophy for Damon, who has only indulged in auteur-led franchises like "Bourne" and "Ocean’s Eleven" thus far, but one is that he’s played a myriad of character types in a vast array of films that range from genre workouts to eyes-on-the-Oscar-prize dramas to grippingly personal true-life biopics.

On the eve of "Jason Bourne’s" release, I thought I’d gather up his best work thus far that hasn’t been under director Paul Greengrass (or Doug Liman) in the Bourne films.

SEE ALSO: Here's the reason Matt Damon barely talks in his 'Bourne' movies

DON'T MISS: Matt Damon says he'll do a superhero movie but only on one condition

"The Informant!"

One thing that has become glaringly clear over the years since "Good Will Hunting" came out is that Matt Damon is one hilarious motherf----- when he wants to be. His work with Jimmy Kimmel on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"has often been uproarious, and his sarcasm in "The Martian" made for a handful of memorable deliveries, but these are largely done without emotional stakes, which great comedy requires. To see him truly throw himself into the world of a fool, one need look no further than this inexplicably ignored gem from Steven Soderbergh, in which Damon plays a dimwitted, overtly willing corporate spy tied to the corn industry. It’s difficult to summarize just how staggeringly funny this movie is, but its even harder to convey just how devastating Damon’s portrayal of Mark Whitacre is at the end of Soderbergh’s film. There’s a rueful undercurrent to the film that carries a venomous view of corporate criminals, but Damon’s performance strikes at a painful kind of ambition – the wanting to do some good in the world while also benefitting from the very worst of society at large.

"Invictus"

Full disclosure: I love Clint Eastwood as a director. As a performer, he’s hit and miss but as a director, he calls upon a recollection of old Hollywood that informs his aesthetic and pacing but has a long history of disrupting that classicism in his choice of story and his visible attention to personal details. Invictus is a perfect example of how he makes run-of-the-mill real-life material into something far more distinct and intimate, turning the story of the South-African rugby champions into a master class in political maneuvering and intellectual showmanship. Here, Damon plays rugby team leader Francois Pienaar, who is asked to win the Rugby World Championship by South Africa’s newly appointed president, Nelson Mandela, played with surpassing gravitas and unexpected humor by the inimitable Morgan Freeman.

Freeman’s Mandela, like Eastwood, knows that the world understands wins in entertainment and athletic talent over political urgency, and sees the Rugby game as a way to signal that he is a good leader and that South Africa is worthy of worldwide consideration after the scarring horrors of Apartheid. So, Pienaar becomes the vision of national pride and white hope for Mandela, and it’s to Damon’s credit that he both nails the accent and gives the character notes in delivery and gesticulation that suggest a pensive, active inner life. Damon’s interactions with Freeman are wonderfully wandering in trajectory, evoking a sense of two resourceful, well-known men getting to know one another, and of a political leader crafting his still-malleable image.

"Contagion"

I had to limit my Soderbergh-Damon pairings to two – "Behind the Candelabra" and "Ocean’s Eleven" lost out here. "Contagion" should have been the movie that put Soderbergh back up at "Ocean’s Eleven" level but, alas, it was not. The director’s vision of a fast-killing, flu-like disease spreading in America in the days of social media and camera phones doesn’t necessarily center on Damon but he remains the anomaly: The Man Who Can’t Get Sick. He keeps his life and a sizable portion of his sanity while people at the CDC can’t say the same. Damon’s performance could be dismissed as an everyman caricature but he gives such feeling to the character, with small, smart moments: the way his face cheers up when he sees his daughter at the hospital, that devastating “What happened to her?” line, the way he looks at the photos of his late wife (Gwyneth Paltrow). The film is a fair, unsparing take on what the next extinction event would likely look like, if not by bomb or comet, and in Damon we see the practical man left to wonder about what happened, and how everyone else reacted when things got truly dire.

Innovation is what grows economies.

We can't become more productive without new technology, strategies and markets, and huge innovations can create economies all to themselves, according to Elizabeth Curmi, an analyst at Citi Global Perspectives and Solutions.

New innovations like the internet of things and electric cars are starting to create their own markets. But what will come next?

Citi Global Perspectives and Solutions compiled a list of ten innovations that have the possibility of changing the way we think about our economy. From biotech to energy, these are the ten best chances we have at finding the next big thing.

Read on to find out which innovations made the list ...

Big Data in Energy

Big data is basically a buzz word for data analytics.

For energy and utility companies, big data could change their business models. Companies like Solar City and Tesla are starting to give people the means to meet their own electricity demands. If this trend continues, the main source of power for many people may not be a giant power station, but their neighborhood full of solar panels.

Utility companies could become more of a mediator between homes, using big data to seamlessly find the best source of power for a home, whether it be their neighborhood solar panels or the nuclear power plant in town.

It could lead energy to become 'un-commoditized' according to Anthony Yuen, an analyst at Citi.

Contextual Commerce

Take Amazon's "recommended for you" suggestions, and expand that to your fridge, car dashboard and smartphone screen and you get an idea of what contextual commerce could mean.

Contextual commerce allows a customer to purchase products wherever and whenever they might need them.

Your fridge might notice that you are low on hummus, so it suggests buying a refill. Or maybe you are chatting about a party with your friends on Facebook Messenger, and the app suggests ordering an Uber to help get you to the party.

These types of smart commerce suggestions are coming soon, and provide a huge opportunity for companies that want to reach consumers when it is most convenient.

Direct-to-Consumer Marketplaces

Esty lets small creators sell directly to their customers, and sites like Squarespace allow small business to set up online stores for their goods.

These direct-to-consumer markets are opening all over thanks to the internet, and they represent a big opportunity to diversify industries that were traditionally bottle-necked by retail stores and middle sellers.

One of the great things about Netflix is that it has brought thoughtful, compelling documentaries to a much wider audience that filmmakers could only dream of a decade ago.

And with binge-worthy titles like “Making a Murderer” and the vast ESPN “30 for 30” library being just a click away, you can get a lot of great nonfiction viewing any night of the week. You'll learn a lot more about the world, but don't worry — you'll also be entertained.

Here are 15 documentaries we think you should stream right away on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: All the "Avengers" and Marvel fans who nailed their cosplay at Comic-Con

1. “30 for 30” ESPN movies

Pretty much any “30 for 30” title is worth your time. The documentaries that highlight moments in sports that you may or may not be aware of are both entertaining and filled with emotion. A few we highly recommend: “No Crossover: The Tale of Allen Iverson”; “June 17th, 1994,” which looks at everything that happened in the world of sports at the time of O.J. Simpson's Bronco chase; “I Hate Christian Laettner”; and likely available in 2017 will be ESPN’s new masterwork, “O.J.: Made in America." 

2. “The Act of Killing”

Joshua Oppenheimer’s Oscar-nominated doc looks at the Indonesian genocide by having death-squad leaders reenact their mass killings. The results are both comical and heart-wrenching. 

3. “Blackfish”

Why is Sea World going to end killer-whale shows? It’s because of this incredible movie that looks at the abuse these magnificent creatures have endured for decades.

A date can bring on nervous sweats no matter the season. But when it's so hot out you might sweat through your clothes two minutes after walking out your front door, you need a strategic plan in place. This does not, however, mean you should wear shorts on the date. (Unless your date includes a soccer match — and you are playing in it.)

Now, give in to the fact that you will sweat. The good news is, so will everyone else around you including your date. Once you accept the reality of your eventual perspiration, you can take measures to hinder and lessen the visible and olfactory signs of said sweating.

Here are five steps to making your next summer date as breathable as it is good-looking.

SEE ALSO: 25 of the most luxurious homes you can stay at around the world

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(Under) cover your bases.

Layer. Yes, we're serious.

We know this seems counterintuitive. But wearing a soft and thin cotton tee under your button down allows you two choices of shirt in case you end up someplace super air-conditioned. And it gives you two layers to stand up to sweaty pits.

Camouflage your pits

Speaking of button downs, we'd recommend choosing one in plaid linen. The fabric is cool and loosely woven for ultimate breathability, and the pattern will hide sweat stains with its busy set of intersecting lines. Go for one with a dark navy or gray base to increase the shirt's camo capabilities.

If you're looking to scale down, a tiny house could be your next dream home.

An increasing number of start-ups are creating designs for micro-homes, which they claim re-think traditional living spaces.

There are numerous benefits to living in tiny houses — they're easy to manage and have a small energy footprint. The limited square footage also encourages residents to keep only the possessions that bring them joy, à la Marie Kondo.

Here are eight manufacturers making immaculately designed tiny homes that measure under 500 square feet.

SEE ALSO: Here's another sign that Amazon is betting big on Alexa, its smart personal assistant

Wooden tiny homes on wheels.

In 2014, Tumbleweed Housing Company debuted its Cypress House, which ranges from 130 to 172 square feet.

Complete with wood paneling and wheels, the homes feature two beds (one lofted), a kitchen, a bathroom, and a washer and dryer.

The Colorado-based startup sells them for $58,000 to $70,000, depending on the amenities and size.

Prefabricated tiny homes that you can design with an app.

In April 2016, Blu Homes, a California-based prefab home manufacturer, launched a line of micro-houses that customers can customize on an app.

The tiny homes start at $250,000, and owners can pick the layout, materials, colors, and appliances to match their taste.

When someone orders one, Blu Homes will assemble it in a factory near the Bay Area — the area that's perhaps the biggest incubator of America's tiny home movement — and deliver it.

Micro-cottages in Georgia.

A team of architecture students at Auburn University designed a pair of tiny homes that each cost less than $20,000 to build.

The cottages are part of a pilot project to produce beautiful micro-homes at low production costs. They're located at Serenbe, a community of nearly 500 people in northwest Georgia.

The 500-square-homes have design elements that make them feel larger than they actually are, like deep window sills that bounce natural light and promote ventilation. They're also fully-furnished and feature a living room, bedroom, and full kitchen.

Currently, the houses are being used for artist residencies at Serenbe.

Southeast Asia has long been popular with budget travelers from more developed countries, thanks to great weather, incredible cultural and historic attractions, delicious and inexpensive street food, and — of course — exchange rates that favor travelers with dollars, pounds, euros, and yen. While avoiding high-end hotels and fine-dining restaurants will certainly help keep your costs down, here are a few tips from expert travelers that can help you stretch your budget even further. 

1. Bring your friends and loved ones

While solo travel is a great way to step away from your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a local culture, you can save a lot of money by buddying up. According to travel expert and authorTim Leffel, who runs The World's Cheapest Destinations, “A couple can easily travel on 1.5 times (roughly) what a single person can and get much better rooming options as well. A decent double room is nearly always less [expensive] than two hostel beds in this region, and it makes it easier to take a taxi or share plates of food to try different things.”

Photographer and world traveler Shawn Liebling concurs. "Traveling alone can be fun, but it is also expensive. The key is selecting the right type of friends. Make sure they are budget conscious and share similar interests, as well as dietary preferences, et cetera."

2. Travel light

One of the most overlooked ways of indirectly saving money on your travels is keeping your luggage to a minimum. Many airlines charge extra for checked bags (and have strict weight restrictions for carry-ons) and if you’re bogged down with lots of stuff, you might find it more difficult to use cheaper transportation options, such as public busses or motorcycle taxis. Pack a few lightweight essentials that can be easily washed and quickly dried, and keep your toiletries to a minimum (Dr. Bronner’s castile soap is a good choice as it can be used as a body wash, laundry soap, and -- in a pinch -- shampoo or even toothpaste. 

And while you might want to bring a paperback book with you, only take one; you can always trade it in for something new at one of the many traveler book exchanges found in hostels and guesthouses throughout the region. As for guidebooks, you’re better off sticking with apps, many of which can be used offline. 

Bangkok Hotel Pick: 

3. Choose your lodging wisely

When researching hotel prices for many Southeast Asian destinations, it’s easy to get lured in by cheap prices flashing across your screen. However, $20/night hotel rooms can add up quickly, especially when you factor in little extras like taxes and tips. If you’re on a super strict budget, you may want to hold back from impulse booking. 

If you’re on a long backpacking trip, you may even want to consider waiting until you are on the ground before deciding on where to stay, Leffel points out. “Besides the inevitable things going wrong, you'll also get tips from other travelers, and the flexibility will allow you to stay longer or move on instead of being committed to another booking.”

And if you do insist on booking ahead or have a tight schedule you need to follow, hostels are often a cheaper option than regular hotel rooms. If you aren’t comfortable with sharing dorm space, many offer private rooms, some with en-suite bathrooms. Moreover, many hostels have shared kitchen facilities, which can save you a fair chunk of cash if you're willing to cook meals for yourself. 

Travelers with tight lodging budgets may also want to consider signing up for Couchsurfing.com, which connects travelers with locals, many of whom will gladly let you crash on their couch (or pitch a tent in their backyard). The service is free, though there is a small, optional security verification fee of around $20 which, along with a system of transparent feedback, helps ensure the system's safety. 

Siem Reap Lodging Pick: 

Five years ago, a company called UberCab made a splash in San Francisco by letting you hail a car with your smartphone. Since then, the company, now known as Uber, has spread like wildfire through the globe. Uber currently operates in 58 countries and is valued at over $60 billion.

But the road hasn't been easy.

Uber has fought rivals and regulators as it has transformed from a black-car service into a sprawling logistics company gunning for a future of self-driving cars. It has confronted threats from the taxi industry and even its own drivers.

But its valuation has continued to climb, and it has attracted more and more investors.

As Uber continues its battle in China, where is just became officially legal, we look back at how the company got to where it is today. See the insane and successful journey of Uber and its CEO, Travis Kalanick, as it has moved from an idea to a worldwide phenomenon. 

June 1998: Scour, a peer-to-peer search-engine startup that Kalanick had dropped out of UCLA to join, snags its first investment from former Disney president Michael Ovitz and Ron Burkle of Yucaipa companies.

Source.

October 2000: Scour files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after being sued by several entertainment companies for around $250 billion.

Source.

April 2007: Kalanick sells RedSwoosh, a company he'd founded in 2001, to Akamai for $23 million and becomes a millionaire. He says he started RedSwoosh as a “revenge business” to turn the 33 litigants who sued Scour into customers.

Source.

If you graduated this past spring and are still trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, don't fret. 

To help those entering the job market figure out where the greatest opportunities lie, personal-finance site WalletHub used data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, Indeed.com, and Salary.com to find the best and worst entry-level jobs.

To compile its ranking, WalletHub analyzed 109 entry-level occupations to determine their immediate opportunity, growth potential, and job hazards. It assessed these factors based on 11 metrics, including median starting salary, unemployment rate, projected job growth by 2024, income-growth potential, probability of the job being replaced by a computer, and number of fatal occupational injuries.

Each of the 11 metrics were given a value between 0 and 100 — 100 represents the most favorable conditions for a specific entry-level position and 0 the least. WalletHub then calculated the score for each position using the weighted average across all metrics and ranked the jobs accordingly. Read more about the methodology here.

Below are the 16 best entry-level jobs for the class of 2016:

SEE ALSO: 13 high-paying side jobs for people in their 20s

16. Industrial engineer

Median annual salary (at the entry level):$62,812

Immediate opportunity rank: 27

Growth potential rank: 50

Job hazards rank: 38

15. Aerospace engineer

Median annual salary (at the entry level):$68,613

Immediate opportunity rank: 33

Growth potential rank: 29

Job hazards rank: 38

14. Certified nursing assistant

Median annual salary (at the entry level):$25,392

Immediate opportunity rank: 25

Growth potential rank: 56

Job hazards rank: 24

Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the world's most famous political leaders. He is arguably the most talked-about. This is because Putin is a political enigma.

The West generally regards him with suspicion and disapproval — especially after Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea in 2014.  

But, at home, he enjoys insanely high levels of popularity.

Scroll down to take a look at some of the Russian leader's most adoring followers. 

Vladimir Putin's name is known around the world. In 2007, he was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year." Last year, he came top of the magazine's "Most Influential People" list.

Time Magazine.

Putin is adored back home. He has a tough, heroic image, which is why he is often pictured, like in this badge, in macho poses wearing military uniform.

This person has used cutting boards to celebrate Putin's macho image. In order to cultivate this image, Putin has in the past been pictured flying military jets, shooting animals, and taking part in numerous sports.

Choosing the perfect “wake up” song isn’t an easy task.

It has to get your energy level going, but it can’t just be pounding bass into your ears. It's a delicate balance. 

That’s why in order to create the perfect “wake up” playlist, Spotify enlisted the help of music psychologist and Cambridge PhD candidate, David M. Greenberg. Greenberg and Spotify's data team identified three main elements these songs needed to have:

• Music that builds: A song that is too vigorous from the start won't help you get out of bed — it’s too much too soon. Songs that start more gently (even just for a few seconds) and then build, help you wake up more gradually.
• Positivity: Once alert, you need to become motivated for the day to come; positive lyrics can get you out of a grumpy state and shift towards a feel-good attitude.
• Strong beat: It’s not just the lyrics, it’s also the sonic elements of the music. Songs that emphasize beats 2 and 4 of each measure — usually with the bass and drums — with a BPM of approximately 100-130 will get you moving and further the feel good mood.

Here are the songs:

SEE ALSO: Spotify told us the top 20 songs people listen to in the shower — here they are

Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"

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St. Lucia - "Elevate"

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Downtown"

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There's a new challenge among artists who use Instagram called the #stylechallenge. It has nothing to do with personal style or the way they dress, and everything to do with their artistic precision.

The idea behind the hashtag is for artists to draw the same figure multiple times — once in their own artistic style, and then a number of times in the styles of some of the most popular animated shows on television today.

It's a blast to scroll through the hashtag — here are some of our favorite submissions.

Instagram user beautifulness87 typically draws big-eyed characters with tiny noses, but she tested out styles from shows like "Adventure Time" and "Family Guy."

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Check out her Instagram to see more pieces from the challenge.

She finished her second project for the challenge a week later with even more shows.

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Other artists have been doing the same and tagging the trend #stylechallenge on Instagram.

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It may be called Beefsteak, but top chef Joan Roca's favorite fast food restaurant is all about the vegetables.

The trendy chain, which boasts just a handful of locations across the American Northeast, focuses most of its energy on produce. In a concept created by internationally-renowned Spanish chef José Andrés, veggies take center stage in a variety of innovative dishes that are prepared on the spot. 

"It's gastronomic yet economic: tasty food for a society where people have no time," Roca told Bloomberg. Roca's own restaurant — El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona, Spain — has several times been named the best restaurant in the world by the Diner's Club 50 Best Restaurants Academy, which is made up of close to 1,000 restaurant industry leaders from around the world. Though El Celler de Can Roca fell to number-two on the list this year, Roca himself was given the Chefs' Choice Award for his influence on the dining world. 

If Roca says Beefsteak is good, it has to be. Here's a closer look at what makes the fast-food restaurant stand out for him, and for the hordes of others who have lined up to be served. 

SEE ALSO: 14 expensive sushi spots that are actually worth the price

DON'T MISS: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on facebook!

Moving away from the typical fast-food fare of burgers and fries, Beefsteak serves up healthy choices that people can feel good about eating. These salads are much better fuel for the mind and body than their greasy fast-food counterparts.

Prices are reasonable: menu items hover around $9. Add some extra protein, and you will still have a meal for less than $15.

Seasonal offerings keep the veggie picks fresh and different.

It's hard finding the right gift for the one-percenter in your life.

From a one-person submarine to a projection-screen autonomous robot, here are 10 gifts the millionaire who has everything will thank you for.

This private submarine is so much more exciting than a yacht.

Yachts are the ultimate status symbol for the tech elite. No, a company called DeepFlight is taking luxury on the high seas to new depths, selling private submarines to the wealthy.

The Dragon by DeepFlight is a two-man submarine that can be piloted with minimal training and withot a licensing. It can drop up to 400 feet underwater, unlocking access to stunning reefs, sealife, and shipwrecks. The vehicle lasts five to eight hours of use on one lithium battery charge.

Buy it here: $1.5 million

Swiss watchmaking meets Silicon Valley in this luxury smartwatch.

Rolex may be the go-to watchmaker for the status-quo millionaire, but a Tag Heuer Connected is one of a kind. It's the first luxury smartwatch to emerge from the company's partnership with Google, and it has the tech to prove it.

The watch looks like some of Tag Heuer's most iconic models, and yet, it packs an impressive Intel processor. The Connected comes equipped with weather monitoring, fitness tracking, messaging, and four stylish faces.

Buy it here: $1,500

The Teal drone is the coolest way to capture's life's moments.

Most drones are designed for one primary use case, like aerial photography for the film industry or surveillance. George Matus, the 18-year-old CEO of Teal, wanted to build a drone for novices and professionals alike.

The Teal aircraft can be operated autonomously and by remote-control. A user could throw it up in the air and instruct it to follow their daughter on the soccer field, or take it onto a track to race their friends. The drone comes equipped with 4K cameras and image recognition technology, so it remembers faces and records the moments you want to capture.

Preorder it here: $1,299

From alphabet blocks to Power Wheels, Fisher-Price toys are iconic.

The Mattel-owned company has been around since 1930 and is in the midst of a revival, during a time when the toy industry is adapting to a new generation of millennial parents.

When Christopher Sinclair took over as Mattel CEO last year, he was tasked with breathing new life into a struggling company, and he doubled down on the company's recent push to embrace innovation.

Mattel reported its Q2 earnings last week, and Fisher-Price's performance was a highlight, with worldwide gross sales up 3% (up 6% if you don't adjust for currency fluctuation), indicating that Fisher Price is retaining its momentum from last year, after six consecutive quarters of declining sales.

Business Insider spoke with Fisher-Price head Jean Ann McKenzie, design head Mark Zeller, and 20-year Fisher-Price veteran designer David Dubois, who indicated that the reinvigoration of a struggling brand is the result of significant shifts in the company's approach.

A fitting representation of this new way of thinking is Fisher-Price's second annual Mix Faire, an employee expo held at the company's headquarters in East Aurora, New York, in May.

SEE ALSO: Malcolm Gladwell tells us about his beef with billionaires, police violence, and how his new hit podcast lets him explore issues in ways his books can't

Around 100 of Fisher-Price's 750 employees showed off their prototypes of new toy ideas among 36 booths.

The Mix Faire is a day for employees across the company to come together and show off their entrepreneurial talent to colleagues and the Fisher-Price leadership team.

In 2014, the company created four "task forces" to drive change, and the Mix Faire grew out of the one dedicated to lowering risk aversion.

"There's a long history of working externally with inventors, and we still do that, but there was this strong sense that we wanted to mine all of the inventors that were already within our four walls and really give them the same information or insight into where the business was going that we would give these external inventors," design head Zeller told Business Insider.

Fisher-Price works with impressive external talent like acclaimed designer Jonathan Adler, but the Mix Faire allows for employees across the company to come up with prototypes that don't cost thousands of dollars to make.

The 'mix' comes from the freedom employees had to collaborate, with junior employees working with veterans, and designers partnering with engineers. The call center employees even got involved.

"It feels a little bit like a rebirth to me," design veteran Dubois said of Fisher-Price in 2016. The members of the executive team "are really listening to us now."

The Mix Faire is one of several steps taken to break down previously impenetrable walls in the company, he explained. "Even if you were in R&D, if you had an idea for a different group, it was a 'not invented here' type of approach" if the idea you had fell out of your expertise.

The Mix Faire is a way to open up communication in the office.

"We're really encouraging all employees to get in the game and to value their role as being a source of ideas, and using those ideas to collaborate, and there's no fear of failure," Fisher-Price boss McKenzie said.

It's not solely theoretical. The best ideas will be incorporated into future products.

When the inaugural Mix Faire launched in 2015, more than 100 employees participated, and there were a total of 60 booths.

Though there were fewer booths this year, Zeller noted, the resulting products were generally of a higher quality.

"We walked out and said, 'OK, a third of this needs to go into line right now,'" Zeller said, referring to ideas that should go into production.

SEE ALSO: I'm a financial planner, and here's what I tell my 30-something clients

A home is always a good investment

Several experts pointed to the notion that buying is better than renting as a bit of money wisdom everyone should ignore. "People think 'if I rent, I'm a loser,'" says David Schneider, a certified financial planner at Schneider Wealth Strategies in New York City. On the contrary, renting can save money in the long run, says Pete Lang, an investment advisor and founder of Lang Capital in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Homes come with steep transaction costs and maintenance expenses. Plus, there is no guarantee they will appreciate in value.

Don't ever go into debt

Conventional wisdom says debt is always bad, but it can be useful for some money management strategies. "Some people don't want any debt, and there are others who are totally comfortable leveraging debt," says Margaret Paddock, Twin Cities market leader of The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank. The key is to not overextend your obligations and understand your personality and commitment when it comes to paying back debts in a timely manner.

Unless you've lived in a Tibetan monastery for the past decade, you're probably aware of the overly tan reality show stars who've given the Jersey Shore a bad name.

Yes, some shore spots are more popular among the GTL set, but plenty of other towns are laid-back, idyllic, and the very epitome of small-town Americana.

In no particular order, here are six Jersey Shore towns that feel a lot less … shore-y. Don't worry, there will still be plenty of Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi no matter where you go.

SEE ALSO: 25 of the most luxurious homes you can stay at around the world

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Beach Haven

Further away and less accessible than most beaches, boardwalk-less Beach Haven is truly a local's beach. It's part of an 18-mile-long barrier island known as Long Beach Island, which is home to six municipalities (including 17 neighborhoods) that are far more Norman Rockwell than Snooki and JWoww. The largely affluent Beach Haven is made up of a mix of local homeowners and others from the tri-state area with second homes. Here, days are spent riding bikes down tree-lined streets, grabbing lemonade at a 10-year-old's stand, eating fresh seafood at Black Whale, and capping it all off with a drink at local dive bar fave Hudson House. If you find yourself missing the boardwalk, fear not. You can easily head over to Fantasy Island Amusement Park to get your share of arcades and rides.

Manasquan

Quiet, clean, and relaxing, Manasquan couldn't be more picturesque if a Bob Ross painting vomited on the town. The boardwalk is largely non-commercial and amusement park-free, which means next to no tourists and no lines when you try to order a slice at the only beachside pizzeria, Gee Gee's. Watch stand-up paddleboarders make their way through Stockton Lake and Watson Creek; bike ride past old Victorian homes; and, if you're a surfer, take on the waves at Manasquan Inlet. The inlet is known for being one of the best places to surf on the East Coast, attracting hardcore locals, newbies, and even some pros. Bars, like the lively yet laid-back Leggets, just one block from the beach, and the more upscale, gastropub-like The Irish Rail, keep thirsty (and hungry) beach-goers entertained until the wee hours of the morning.

Cape May

We named Cape May the Jersey Shore's No. 1 town for a reason. Sweeping Victorian mansions and unspoiled beaches make this historic town ideal for a romantic getaway or a relaxing weekend trip with friends. The Cape May Lighthouse offers gorgeous panoramic views of the area; nature lovers can visit the bird observatory or go whale-watching; and adventurous types can go parasailing or jet boating. It's also home to an annual Strawberry Festival, with vendors selling just about anything strawberry-related, including pottery, T-shirts, stained glass, smoothies, crepes, and strawberry beer. If you’re looking for something a little more lively, pedestrian-only Washington Street Mall, lined with charming boutiques and restaurants, is a nice alternative to the boardwalk.

"I think 'niche' is the word I'm looking for," said Kim Lech, describing her line of work. 

A 22-year-old from Sweden, Lech has been working as a costume character artist for four years. She's portrayed world-famous personalities like Spongebob and the Smurfs at events, and spends her days making kids smile as a friendly rabbit at Liseberg, a popular Swedish amusement park. 

The job requires spending time inside a cramped, cumbersome suit even in summer heat, not to mention the ability to remain calm when surrounded by a gaggle of kids all seeking your attention.

While Lech is toying with plans of pursuing graphic design somewhere down the line, she said she's already working her dream job.

"I'm really proud to be part of it," she said.

Lech got her first job as a costume character artist when a production company needed someone her height at the last minute for an event in Norway.

“The rest is history,” she told INSIDER.

She then began working at Liseberg, a well-known amusement park in Sweden that attracts tourists from across Europe, appearing in costume in a section of the park called Rabbitland.

Everyone recognizes Amazon's famous logo. But did you know there are three different symbolic messages tucked within it?

We picked 21 tech company logos that have hidden, subtle, or otherwise clever messages inside their famous brand marques. They include a Facebook logo that secretly indicates another company it hoped to kill, a message you won't get unless you understand Morse, and an actual cryptogram.

SEE ALSO: There is a mathematical law that controls when your iPhone earbuds get tangled

LG's logo has three meanings: It contains the letters LG, a smiley face, and it looks like the symbol for an on/off button. And its elements can be rearranged into a Pac Man logo ...

RAW Embed

A simple but brilliant use of white space: The old Flight Finder logo is two F's that describe a plane between them.

The squares in data analytics company Eighty20's logo represent binary code: The top line, 1010000, represents 80. The bottom line, 0010100, represents 20.

Books suck. No question about it, almost everyone who writes a book is a crappy writer. 

And this is a good thing. 

It's because the writer spent his life getting GOOD at what he was writing about. He didn't spend his life being good at writing. 

He didn't spend his life typing. He ran a country. Or built a robot. Or discovered DNA or walked between the twin towers. 

He or She DID something. Something that changed lives. Something that went from his or her head out into the real world. 

But that's OK. There are a few good books out there. 

I like reading billion-person books. Books, that if read widely, would change a billion lives. 

I like reading books where I feel my brain have an IQ orgasm. Like, I literally feel my IQ go up while reading the book. 

And, (please let me stick with this metaphor one more sentence), I might have a little brain-child that turns into my own special idea or book after reading a great book. 

Before I give my list, I want to mention there are three kinds of non-fiction books: (and I'm only dealing with non-fiction. Fiction is another category). 

Business card books: 

These are books like "How to be a leader". 

They establish the author as an expert. The author then uses this book to get speaking gigs or coaching or consulting gigs. 

These books usually suck. Don't read one. But nothing wrong with writing one. 

In fact, writing one might be desperately important to your career. 

Books that should be chapters: 

A publisher will see an article somewhere like, "12 ways to become smarter" and say, "that should be a book". 

Then the writer mistakenly says, "ok" and he has to undergo the agony of changing something that was a perfectly good 2000 word article into a 60,000 word book. 

Those books suck. Don't read one. And DEFINITELY don't write one. Unless you want to waste a year of your life. I wasted 2004-2009 doing that. 

Braingasm books:

Here's my top 10 list of braingasm books. Books that will raise your IQ between the time you start and the time you end. 

By the way, there are more than 10 of these books. This is just my TOP 10. Although not really in that order. It's hard for a small mind like mine to order these.

[Note: I KNOW, Jeff, that I have a monthly book club. Don't yell at me!

But this is separate. That's 10 books A MONTH.

This is my top 10 of ALL TIME, although it might change. In fact, I know it's going to change tomorrow. I'm reading a good book right now. 

Sometimes it changes everyday.]. 

SEE ALSO: A Wharton professor recommends 7 books everyone should read

"Mastery" by Robert Greene

This book is like a curated version of 1,000 biographies all under the guise, "how to become a master at what you love." 

"Bold" by Peter Diamondis and Steven Kotler

Basically if you want to know the future, read this. 

Supplement it with "Abundance" by the same two and "Tomorrowland" by Steven Kotler" and even "The Rational Optimist" by Matt Ridley. 

I feel "Abundance" is like a sequel to "The Rational Optimist". So I'm giving you four books with one recommendation. 

"Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. 

But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. 

How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? 

And so on.

After I paid off $28,000 of student loans in three years, friends started asking how I did it—and how they could do it, too. The truth is, paying off debt is simple: Spend less than you earn, and funnel any money you can spare toward your balance.

Still, the journey to debt-free can be a long one, and it helps to employ tactics to accelerate the process and stay motivated. I used a lot of strategies for saving money, like comparison shopping for the cheapest household goods and buying my clothes and books secondhand.

But I also created a visual reminder of my progress—a running tally of what I owed and how much I’d paid off—to keep me on track. When I felt down, I’d look at it and be encouraged by how far I’d come. That helped me stick to my plan. Ultimately, I was able to devote half of my $30,000 annual income toward my debt each month until it was finally paid off in 2014.

Whether you’re staring down a big balance you haven’t begun hacking away at yet, or you’re looking for ways to hit your debt-free goal faster, get inspired by these five and the tactics they used.

SEE ALSO: The first things 6 real people did the moment they got debt-free

“I automated everything.”

Eric Rosenberg, 32, a web developer in Ventura, Calif.

Establishing automatic payments not only ensures you’ll avoid the stress of late fees, but it can also help you accomplish your goals without feeling the pinch. Take it from Eric Rosenberg, who paid off $40,000 in student loans in just two years by submitting auto-payments from each paycheck.

“By paying automatically, I was used to living without the money and never had to go through the pain of seeing my checking account balance go down on payment day,” he says. Rosenberg also gradually increased the payment amount, using automation, in order to zero out his debt ahead of schedule.

Since becoming debt-free in 2012, Rosenberg’s found other productive ways to take advantage of automation, like allocating a portion of his paycheck to his 401(k) and diverting some of his direct deposit into a Roth IRA until it was maxed out. By the time Rosenberg transitioned to contract work, his automatic savings habits were ingrained—making it easy to remember to manually deposit his retirement savings each month.

“I didn’t succumb to lifestyle inflation.”

Lee Huffman, 41, finance manager at a regional bank in Anaheim Hills, Calif.

Lee Huffman knows first-hand how tempting it can be to spend extra money instead of putting it toward your loans. When he paid off his $56,000 car loan last year, he says he would have loved to trade in his car for a newer model or spring for NBA or NFL game tickets. But he was still paying down his $30,000 student loan bill, and didn’t want to fall victim to “lifestyle inflation,” or upgrading his spending as soon as he got some wiggle room in his budget.

“I’ve always had the attitude of living beneath my means and saving for the future, with the occasional splurge,” Huffman says, adding that all his bonuses and raises have gone toward paying debt, saving for retirement or purchasing rental properties. So instead of upgrading his car, Huffman doubled-down on his debt, and funnelled the money he’d been using to pay the car loan to his student loans—which he ultimately paid off in March 2016.

Now that he’s debt-free, Huffman has even grander plans for his extra cash: “Over the last year, I realized that I could retire in 10 years by accelerating the payoff of my mortgages by redirecting the student loan and car payments toward my mortgages, while continuing my normal 401(k) savings,” he says.

“I picked up a side gig.”

Lauren Elliott, 26, a restaurant and retail employee in Indianapolis, Ind.

Back in 2012, Lauren Elliott was struggling to keep her diabetes in check. So she researched and attended a wellness retreat—with a $6,000 price tag—where she learned new healthy strategies for eating better and managing her condition. In a stroke of luck, she also met her future employer at the retreat: a chef who later opened a raw vegan cafe and asked Elliott to help her get it off the ground.

“I don’t regret attending the retreat,” Elliott says. “[It] ended up being an investment in my health and in my career.”

But by the time 2015 rolled around, the medical debt began to weigh heavily on Elliott. Not only was it a source of stress, but it was also a major roadblock to fulfilling her dream of moving to Colorado. She’d spent the winters of 2013 and 2014 working at a ski resort in Aspen, and loved it. But she knew that if she wanted to return in 2016—and perhaps stay permanently—it’d be wise to stay home for the 2015 season, wipe out her medical debt and start saving.

So Elliott hunkered down and created a plan. She started tracking her spending, cutting back on extras like shopping trips, and, most significantly, picking up a new job as a sales associate at REI, which netted an additional $800 per month. In total, she was able to contribute about $1,500 each month toward her balance.

Just four months later, in early 2016, Elliott was debt-free. “It felt like freedom—like I had the opportunity to open new doors in my life because my debt wasn’t holding me back,” she says. Now, Elliott’s saving up for a car that can handle Rocky Mountain conditions, then she’s planning to pack up and head to Colorado this winter.