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7 of the richest people in the world, by region

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Bill Gates

Wealth research and insight firm Wealth-X recently released its annual Billionaire Census — a report identifying and analyzing the different trends and behaviors of the world's 2,473 billionaires, including the most common hobbies and the regions of the world that play host to the most tycoons.

Europe is home to the most billionaires with 806, followed by Asia (645) and North America (628).

But at $2.56 trillion, North America's uber-wealthy are the richest — thanks in part to Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who is still the wealthiest person on the planet, with a net worth of $77.1 billion. 

Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific each are home to titans of industry with eye-popping fortunes in their own right, and Wealth-X identified the richest from each region. 

Read on to learn about the wealthiest person in every part of the globe. 

Emmie Martin and Tanza Loudenback contributed reporting.

SEE ALSO: The 20 most common hobbies of the richest people in the world

DON'T MISS: The 50 richest people on earth

Pacific: Gina Rinehart

Net Worth: $9.5 billion

Country: Australia

Industry: Mining

The richest person in Australia is mining tycoon Gina Rinehart. Her family was one of the largest landowners in the country, and her father vastly increased their wealth in the 1950s by establishing an iron-ore prospecting business on their vast holdings that would become Hancock Prospecting. Rinehart, 62, was born into wealth, but greatly expanded her lot, including inking a partnership between Hancock and natural resources behemoth Rio Tinto on a massive iron ore project called Hope Downs.

Slumping iron ore prices have diminished her fortune in recent years. Rinehart has also been involved in long, drawn-out legal battle with two of her children over control of significant chunks of the family fortune. 



Africa: Aliko Dangote

Net Worth: $10.4 billion

Country: Nigeria

Industry: Diversified investments

At 20, Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote borrowed money from his uncle to start a business that dealt in commodities trading, cement, and building materials. He quickly expanded to import cars during the country's economic boom. Four years later, in 1981, he formed Dangote Group, an international conglomerate that now holds diversified interests including food and beverages, plastics manufacturing, real estate, logistics, telecommunications, steel, oil, and gas.

The majority of the 59-year-old Dangote's wealth stems from his stake in Dangote Cement, which is publicly traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and is worth some $9.5 billion. 



Middle East: Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud

Net Worth: $19.7

Country: Saudi Arabia

Industry: Diversified investments

Prince Alwaleed — grandson of Abdul Aziz al Saud, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — built his fortune with savvy investments in a range of companies across the US and the Middle East. He founded Kingdom Holding Co. in 1980 and has since invested in everything from real estate to entertainment to education, with stakes in companies like Twitter, The Four Seasons, Time Warner, and Motorola.

Alwaleed, 61, has an enigmatic relationship with his money. In 2013, he sued Forbes for allegedly underestimating his wealth. But last summer he announced plans to donate his entire fortune to charity anyway.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's everything we know about Apple's secretive car project

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tim cook

As Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, Apple's electric car is an "open secret."

Apple has never confirmed the project, but we've gradually collected details of Apple's car plans over time, dubbed internally as Project Titan.

Here's everything we do know:

SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly working with a South Korean company to make batteries for its secretive car project

Rumor has it that Apple aims to release its electric car in 2021.

That target date was originally 2019, according to a September Wall Street Journal report. But the project has suffered through a series of setbacks that has pushed the target date back to 2021, according to an article by Amir Efrati in The Information.



The company reportedly has around 1,000 engineers working on the project.

Source: IBTimes



And Apple has purchased several web addresses related to cars, including apple.car and apple.auto

Source: Macrumors



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Experienced business travelers reveal their favorite travel tips

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airport

Living on the road can be tough, but business travelers often have traveling down to a science.

From scoring upgrades to the best way to pack a suitcase, anything that can make the hassle of jet-setting a little easier can be a lifesaver. 

We reached out to several frequent flyers to find out their favorite travel strategies.

Mandi Woodruff contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: 16 packing tips every business traveler should know

DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!

Have one go-to piece of luggage that always works, no matter what kind of trip you're taking.

Investor and former Luxury Link CEO Scott Morrow says that he always takes his Tumi roller bag with him whether he's going on a long trip or short one.

"It doesn't depend on the length of the trip — I've even been to Europe and Africa for 35 days straight and I only take a roller bag," Morrow said. "I never check luggage, ever. It forces me to be efficient with what I pack."

Price: $595



Pack less than you think you need.

Fathom Way To Go founder Pavia Rosati suggests thinking about what you want to bring and then paring that list down — by a lot. 

"I think about the stuff I want to bring, and then I only bring half," Rosati said. "And you’re still not going to wear a good two-thirds of it."



Bring clothes that are dark colors.

Pauline Frommer, editorial director of the Frommer Guide Books and Frommers.com, doesn't put all that much thought into the clothes she brings with her on her travels — besides bringing dark colors that hide stains.

"I am probably the least stylish traveler on the face of the planet," Frommer said.

"To me it's not about how I look, it’s about how the world looks. And if I'm worrying too much about how I look, then I'm missing out on my trip. I wear dark colors that hide stains."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

An MBA isn't as important as you might think for building a career on Wall Street

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Harvard Business School grads

You might think that holding a Masters of Business Administration, or MBA, is essential to building a career on Wall Street.

You would be wrong.

It turns out that MBA degrees are very common at the upper levels within investment banks — but they don't dominate.

In fact, the most common degree for the most part is in fact a Bachelor of Science.

That is, of course, because people typically go to business school after completing an analyst program or attaining an associate-level position.

To better understand which degrees are most popular on Wall Street, we spoke to Emolument, a salary benchmarking website that collects self-reported pay data. They gathered data on 2,800 finance professionals in New York at the analyst, associate, vice president, and director level. 

Here are the most popular degrees.

SEE ALSO: A day in the life of a top Wall Street strategist

For entry-level analysts, the most common degree is a Bachelor of Science.



Bachelors of Science still dominate among associates, too.



Bachelor of Science degrees are most popular at the VP, or vice president, level too — but followed closely by MBAs and Bachelor of Arts degrees.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

6 encouraging signs you're saving enough money

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smiling happy summer raft

How much money is enough?

It depends.

The number varies by person, but it's always a lot.

In fact, pretty much everything in personal finance varies by person, from how much you need to live to how much you should be saving.

Below, find six guidelines that indicate you're probably saving enough, no matter what that means for you.

SEE ALSO: 13 signs you're better with money than you think you are

You have savings goals, and you've priced them out

The first step to saving "enough" is knowing how much "enough" is, and that varies by savings goal. Just socking away money with no clear end date or amount or use isn't very motivating, and generally isn't very effective. 

An effective savings goal has a purpose, an amount, and a timeline. For instance:

• Purpose: 20% down payment for a $500,000 house, based on research on home prices in my area

• Amount: $100,000

• Timeline: 5 years

• How much I need to save: $20,000/year; $1,666/month

It's impossible to know if you're saving enough until you give "enough" a number.



You're paying yourself first

For many people, savings is an afterthought. Bills first, then savings.

The danger with this point of view is that it's easy to run out of money to save. What if your bills are higher than usual? What if you decide to spend a little more on something fun this month, and use that not-yet-saved extra cash in your checking account?

One way to avoid this challenge is to treat your savings like any other bill. "If you want to be rich, all you have to do is make a decision to do something that most people don't do," writes David Bach, who became a millionaire by age 30, in his book "The Automatic Millionaire."

It's to pay yourself first. 

Now, paying yourself first assumes you have some money to save, and you aren't living month-to-month without wiggle room. If you are, there are two solutions that are easier said than done: Reduce your bills to spend less, or increase your income to earn more. And once you do, that money goes straight into savings.



You're increasing your savings regularly

If you can cover your necessities, afford things you want but don't need, and stash away funds for the future, you're doing something right. In fact, Pew Charitable Trusts found that 33% of Americans have no savings at all.

And if you're increasing your savings, you're in an even better position. When Bach, who saves 20% of his income, started setting aside money in his mid-20s, he could only afford to save 1% of his earnings. Then, he gradually increased the percentage.

Many retirement plans offer a similar feature: You can select an automated savings increase at regular intervals. Or, you can manually bump up your savings rate each time you get a raise or a bonus. Either way, if you're cognizant enough about your savings rate to keep it rising, you're going to find yourself in a good place.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

8 types of people who will never be able to start a business

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surfboard fall surfing

Every entrepreneur I know is dismayed by the number of friends who approach them with a line such as "I have an even better idea that will change the world, and one of these days I’m going to get around to starting my own business."

I always wonder what is more important to them on an ongoing basis than changing the world, since their startups usually never materialize.

With the cost of entry to be an entrepreneur so low today, the common excuse of "lack of funding" doesn’t get much sympathy from me.

People can build great ecommerce sites with free tools, smartphone apps in their spare time and use crowdfunding to bypass the dreaded angel funding and venture capital penalties. There must be something deeper that slows people down.

So if you have a great idea, and funding isn’t an overwhelming challenge, what are the real reasons that the world is filled with so many "wannabe" entrepreneurs that never get around to starting up?

Related: The Startup Life May Be for You If You Have These 5 Qualities

Based on my own experience mentoring real entrepreneurs and likely candidates, there are at least eight categories of non-starters.

I’m sure you will recognize someone you know, maybe even yourself, in one of the following groups:

SEE ALSO: 22 entrepreneurs share the advice that made them successful

1. Enjoy the dreaming, but not the implementation

These are people who often call themselves "idea people," who like to talk about their vision and leave the implementation to some lesser beings. In my experience, there are a wealth of good ideas out there, and the harder part is converting the dream into a profitable business.



2. Unwilling or unable to acquire business implementation skills

Our culture propagates the myth that business skills, like rocket science, can only be learned in a classroom or lab. In today’s world, with a pervasively connected and constantly updated Internet knowledge base, online self-learning is always available and more productive.



3. Irrational fear of failure or embarrassment

Everyone has some fear of the unknown, and that’s a good thing for survival. Successful entrepreneurs are ones who overcome their fears and manage some risk and failures as a part of the learning process. Others are debilitated by their fear, avoid risk at all costs, and never start.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A psychologist says parents should do these 17 things to raise a more confident child

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Jacob Tremblay

Confidence is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child. 

Carl Pickhardt, a psychologist and author of 15 parenting books, says a kid who lacks confidence will be reluctant to try new or challenging things because they're scared of failing or disappointing others.

This can end up holding them back later in life and prevent them from having a successful career.

"The enemies of confidence are discouragement and fear," he says. So, as a parent, it's your job to encourage and support your child as they attempt to tackle difficult tasks.

Here are 17 more tips for raising a confident child: 

Natalie Walters contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: Science says parents of successful kids have these 11 things in common

1. Appreciate effort no matter if they win or lose

When you're growing up, the journey is more important than the destination. 

So whether your child makes the winning goal for his team or accidentally kicks it out of bounds, applaud their effort, Pickhardt says. They should never feel embarrassed for trying.

"Over the long haul, consistently trying hard builds more confidence than intermittently doing well," he explains. 



2. Encourage practice to build competence

Encourage your child to practice whatever it is they're interested in — but do so without putting too much pressure on them.

Harmony Shu, a piano prodigy, told Ellen DeGeneres that she started practicing when she was just 3 years old.

"Practice invests effort in the confident expectation that improvement will follow," Pickhardt explains. 



3. Let them figure out problems by themselves

If you do the hard work for your child then they'll never develop the abilities or the confidence to figure out problems on their own.

"Parental help can prevent confidence derived from self-help and figuring out on the child's own," Pickhardt explains. 

In other words, better that your child gets a few B's and C's rather than straight A's, so long as they are actually learning how to solve the problems and do the work. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 of the best places in the world to meet a billionaire

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Art Basel Miami

The world's richest people spend much of their time working to earn their fortunes, but there's always time for fun, especially when they appear on the guest lists for the most prominent film festivals, yacht shows, polo matches, football and soccer games, and tennis tournaments around the world.

Wealth-X, a company that conducts research on the ultra-wealthy, recently released its annual billionaire census, which explores the trends and habits of the world's richest people. The report reveals that the typical billionaire's social calendar is jam-packed year round.

From the fashion runways of London and Milan to a waterfront auto raceway in Monte Carlo, Monaco, read on to check out 21 of the biggest and best events frequented by billionaires.

SEE ALSO: The 20 most common hobbies of the richest people in the world

DON'T MISS: There are more billionaires than ever before — and they're worth a total of $7.7 trillion

Davos World Economic Forum

World Economic Forum's annual meeting of the minds — and money — is held in Davos, Switzerland, every January. The week-long international business conference invites world leaders and business magnates like Bill and Melinda Gates and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to discuss the world's most pressing social, political, and economic issues.



Sundance Film Festival

Hollywood takes over the scenic ski town of Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival every January. The 10-day event is the largest showcase of independent filmmaking in the US and doubles as a swanky winter getaway for Hollywood elite. 



Super Bowl

The biggest sporting event in the US happens every February, marking the end of the football season and the final face-off between the champions of the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference. More than 111 million television viewers watched this year's game — the 50th anniversary of the franchise — while deep-pocketed fans cheered from the stands.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The best things to do in New Zealand, according an Instagram star who visited 50 countries in 2 years

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gleason hobbit house

Taylor Gleason may only be 21 years old, but he's already seen more of the world than most people ever will. 

The young adventure-seeker has traveled to a whopping 65 countries, documenting it all — in classic millennial fashion — on an Instagram account that has amassed an impressive 65,800 followers. 

Of all of the places he's been to, though, New Zealand stands out to Gleason as an exceptionally cool destination. Beautiful scenery, laid-back locals, and endless adrenaline-infused activities are just some of the reasons that the Kiwi nation was one of his favorites. 

Gleason gave Business Insider an exclusive look into his top picks of things to do on the two main islands that make up the tiny country, complete with jaw-dropping pictures and videos of his experiences. Just beware of the sharks: they look close enough to touch. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the 21-year-old Instagram star who traveled to 50 countries in just 2 years

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

Go to Christchurch, where you can visit one of the leading International Antarctica research centers and see a population of adorable penguins.

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Bungee jump off of Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, the birthplace of this death-defying sport. Gleason recommends the "water touch" bungee jump, where a head-first plunge off the bridge lets your body submerge in the water for a split second before you spring back up.

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Take in the gorgeous Queenstown scenery from high up in a hang glider. "It was my first time doing it, and it was surreal," Gleason said. "It was amazing to be able to actually be in the same position as a bird and get a real 'bird's eye view' of nature and the world."

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20 franchises you can launch for less than $50,000

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H&R Block Store

Think you can't afford to be your own boss?

Think again: Some of the top franchises in the world cost less than $50,000 to start.

These bargain franchises encompass everything from pet training to commercial painting, so there is something for every hopeful franchise owner.

Here are 20 of the top affordable franchises from Entrepreneur's 2015 Franchise 500.  

 

SEE ALSO: The top 50 franchises in the world

AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services

Category: Home inspections

Website: amerispec.com

Startup cost: $44.3K-$75.5K

Total franchises/co.-owned: 290/0

More info



CleanNet USA

Category: Commercial cleaning

Website: cleannetusa.com

Startup cost: $9.8K-$97.95K

Total franchises/co.-owned: 2,951/14

More info



Complete Weddings and Events

Category: Photography, DJ, video and photo-booth services

Website: completewedo.com

Startup cost: $30.4K-$48.7K

Total franchises/co.-owned: 200/2

More info 



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12 habits of genuine people

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woman question ask smile nice smiling happy presentation talking speaking confident

There's an enormous amount of research suggesting that emotional intelligence (EQ) is critical to your performance at work. TalentSmart has tested the EQ of more than a million people and found that it explains 58 percent of success in all types of jobs.

People with high EQs make $29,000 more annually than people with low EQs. Ninety percent of top performers have high EQs, and a single-point increase in your EQ adds $1,300 to your salary. I could go on and on.

Suffice it to say, emotional intelligence is a way to focus your energy with tremendous results.

But there's a catch. Emotional intelligence won't do a thing for you if you aren't genuine.

A recent study from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington found that people don't accept demonstrations of emotional intelligence at face value. They're too skeptical for that. They don't just want to see signs of emotional intelligence. They also want to know that it's genuine — that your emotions are authentic.

According to lead researcher Christina Fong, when it comes to your co-workers,

"They are not just mindless automatons. They think about the emotions they see and care whether they are sincere or manipulative."

The same study found that sincere leaders are far more effective at motivating people, because they inspire trust and admiration through their actions, not just their words. Many leaders say that authenticity is important to them, but genuine leaders walk their talk every day.

It's not enough to just go through the motions, trying to demonstrate qualities that are associated with emotional intelligence. You have to be genuine.

You can do a gut check to find out how genuine you are by comparing your own behavior with that of people who are highly genuine. Consider the hallmarks of genuine people and see how you stack up.

SEE ALSO: 11 habits of highly successful people

1. Genuine people don't try to make people like them

Genuine people are who they are. They know that some people will like them, and some won't. And they're OK with that. It's not that they don't care whether other people will like them but simply that they're not going to let that get in the way of doing the right thing. They're willing to make unpopular decisions and to take unpopular positions if that's what needs to be done.

Since genuine people aren't desperate for attention, they don't try to show off. They know that when they speak in a friendly, confident, and concise manner, people are much more attentive to and interested in what they have to say than if they try to show that they're important. People catch on to your attitude quickly and are more attracted to the right attitude than what or how many people you know.

 



2. They don't pass judgment

Genuine people are open-minded, which makes them approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.

Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace, as approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other people's eyes. This doesn't require you to believe what they believe or condone their behavior; it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.

 



3. They forge their own paths

Genuine people don't derive their sense of pleasure and satisfaction from the opinions of others. This frees them up to follow their own internal compasses. They know who they are and don't pretend to be anyone else. Their direction comes from within, from their own principles and values. They do what they believe to be the right thing, and they're not swayed by the fact that somebody might not like it.

 



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Border agents keep finding drugs hidden in food shipments — here are some of smugglers' most bizarre methods

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Marijuana hidden in limes food shipment

Every year, billions of dollars in illegal narcotics circle the globe, driven by the demand of millions of users.

At every step, authorities try to intercept the drugs and apprehend their purveyors. In response, traffickers have developed a variety of inventive ways to obscure their cargos.

On the US-Mexico border, one of the favorite methods seems to be hiding drugs in food shipments.

Earlier this month, border agents uncovered more than 4,000 pounds of marijuana hidden among limes. In two incidents in early July, border agents found well over 200 pounds of meth hidden in shipments of jalapeños and cucumbers. Farther south, in mid-July Mexican marines intercepted a multiton shipment of cocaine hidden in containers of salsa and bound for Sinaloa state, from where it would almost certainly be smuggled to the US.

From fake carrots and real doughnuts to air cannons and catapults, here's a non-exhaustive list of clever ways traffickers have smuggled drugs.

SEE ALSO: Here's how "El Chapo" Guzmán's cartel dominates the flow of cocaine around the world

Stuffed chili peppers and fake carrots

Drug traffickers have mixed legitimate business with their illicit activities, in part so that the former can conceal the latter. Vaunted drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, now in prison in Mexico, is no exception.

“He opened a cannery in Guadalajara and began producing thousands of cans stamped 'Comadre Jalapeños,' stuffing them with cocaine,” Patrick Radden Keefe wrote in his New York Times Magazine profile of Guzmán, before “vacuum-sealing them and shipping them to Mexican-owned grocery stores in California.”

In one instance, according to a court in San Diego, 1,400 boxes of canned peppers, containing “hundreds of kilos of cocaine,” were intercepted at the border.

More recently, officials in Texas discovered a shipment of marijuana wrapped in orange tape and a concealed within a cargo of carrots. The bust uncovered more than a ton of weed worth a half-million dollars.

Drugs hidden within food shipments can make it deep into the US. In December, police in Chicago were tipped off to the arrival of a tomato shipment with 54 kilos of cocaine in it — drugs with a street value of almost $7 million.



Watermelons, pineapples, and other produce

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In February 2014, just a few days before Guzmán was captured for the second time, it was reported that authorities in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state, seized more than 4,000 cucumbers and plantains stuffed with cocaine.

In another case, a checkpoint in Arizona came across a shipment of marijuana that had been packaged in green plastic with yellow streaks — giving the bundles the appearance of watermelons.

Authorities on the US-Mexico border have also discovered crystal meth hidden in pineapples.



Donuts

Some time in late 2014 or early 2015, Mexico soldiers confiscated packages of donuts covered not in powdered sugar — but instead “were sprinkled with cocaine,” according to BBC Mundo.

In late 2013, authorities in San Andrés Island in Colombia, a popular tourist destination, found almost a kilogram of cocaine hidden in 12 donuts.

Pastries seem to be a source of inspiration for drug traffickers. Authorities have also encountered cakes stuffed with amphetamines, BBC Mundo notes.



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16 things successful 20-somethings do in their spare time

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girls, women, hipster, friends, talking, millennial, gen yWe all define "success" differently, but most 20-somethings associate it with happiness, good health, a strong social network, and a well-balanced life.

According to experts, how you spend your downtime plays a huge part in your ability to achieve these things.

"If you take time to recharge and pay attention to fitness and your diet, for example, after work or on weekends, you'll set the stage for great life habits that put you at the top of your game at the office," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

She continued:

"It's self-perpetuating. A healthy mind and body helps you do your best work. Knowing that you are achieving great results at the office further encourages you to relax and follow your passions during your leisure time — which creates a work-life balance and positive outlook in all your endeavors."

Here are 16 things successful 20-somethings do in their downtime:

SEE ALSO: 13 hobbies that could make you a better employee

DON'T MISS: 12 hobbies that look great on your résumé, and one that doesn't

They spend time with family and friends

When they're working or going to school, it's hard for people to give focused attention to those they care about, Taylor says. That's why they make an effort to check in with friends and family during their downtime.



They exercise

Many successful people thrive on good health and seek a natural adrenaline rush, such as a regular fitness program or even extreme sports.

"You can go cycling, hiking, kayaking, snow boarding, surfing, scuba diving, and, for the extreme sports lovers, there's bungee jumping and a host of other options," Taylor says.



They learn something new

Successful 20-somethings are typically intellectually curious, seek to remain well-read, and surf the internet constantly for the truth, Taylor says.

"They don't take much at face value, as the last 10 to 15 years of world events have underscored the need for them to question things that prior generations were more apt to accept," she says.



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Psychology explains why wealthy people who love their jobs have 3 things in common

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Angelina Jolie

So you want to do what you love.

... and you want to make money.

A handful of people have the privilege to do both. Not surprisingly, these folks tend to have a few things in common, as Cornell University economist Robert H. Frank lays out in a recent story for the New York Times' Upshot blog.

But what we wanted to know was this: Among these high earners who adore their gigs, are there any psychological commonalities that the rest of us might be able to incorporate into our own lives?

Turns out, the answer is yes. According to the latest psychological research, people who make a lot of money and adore their jobs tend to share three key traits.

SEE ALSO: Here are 25 habits that psychologists have linked with happiness

DON'T MISS: 11 surprising things your physical appearance says about you

#1: They're experts in their field.

Dozens of studies belonging to a field known as positive psychology suggest that the happiest people are those who identify their unique skills — or "signature strengths"— and find a way to incorporate these into their daily life.

A team of British psychologists who recently studied hundreds of college students for two months found that, compared with students who reported rarely or never using their signature strengths, those who reported regularly using these skills tended to report better progress in reaching the personal goals that they'd been asked to identify at the beginning of the study. Those students also tended to report being happier (according to their scores on a widely used psychological measure of satisfaction) over the same time period.

Plus, experts tend to make more money than non-experts. As economists Philip Cook and Robert Frank argue in their book "The Winner-Take-All Society," those who become highly skilled at their jobs are capturing a much larger share of total income in almost every field.

"Moral: Become an expert at something!" Frank wrote in the Times.



#2: They feel good about what they do.

Sure, you might feel okay with what you do at work each day, but how do you feel about what your employer does for the rest of the world? In his book "What Price the Moral High Ground?", Frank says feeling good about your employer's broader mission is one of the most important aspects of occupational satisfaction.

"When most people leave work each evening, they feel better if they have made the world better in some way, or at least haven’t made it worse," Frank writes in the Times

And, not surprisingly, research suggests happy employees are better for the company in the long-run. A Harvard Business Review survey of 12,000 electronic journal entries from 238 professionals across seven different companies suggested that employees were far more likely to have new ideas on days when they felt happier. Win-win.



#3: They regularly find themselves blissfully submerged in their work.

When was the last time you were so immersed in something that the world around you seemed to fade away? Research from the Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi suggests that this state of consciousness, which he and other researchers have called "flow," also happens to be the time when we feel the most joyful, creative, and at-peace.

Fortunately, further research suggests that this positive, flow-state is under our control: Finding a job or a hobby that encourages us to enter our flow state can help us feel happy and satisfied.

Plus, if you've found a job that regularly gets you in your "flow," chances are you'll be more likely to devote a lot of time doing it. Dozens of psychological studies suggest that this time spent practicing can add up and increase your odds of becoming an expert in your field. Again, experts tend to make more money than non-experts.



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Morgan Stanley addressed its interns' most pressing career questions, and every young employee can learn from the answers

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If you're a Wall Street intern about halfway through your first stint in finance, you've probably got tons of questions.

Of course, you might be worried about asking them without seeming naive or underqualified.

Morgan Stanley went ahead and did the dirty work for you — collected questions from current interns and brought them to a group of managing directors and recruiters.

It shared the answers on its website.

We've got the nine most frequently asked questions and answers for you below.

SEE ALSO: A step-by-step guide on making a critical career move to land the Wall Street job of your dreams

How do I differentiate myself from equally qualified summer analysts?

"A key differentiator is how well you work in a team, as teamwork is an integral part of our firm's culture.

"Another is how much of a self-starter you are. It's important to complete an assigned task thoroughly, but it's differentiating if you go the extra mile.

"For example, do more analysis than your manager expects for the project and an additional task no one asked you to do but that you think could help the team.

"This demonstrates your interest, understanding of the product, how you can fit into the team, and how useful you can be."



Is there a fine line between being helpful and being overly eager and annoying? How can you know if you've crossed that line?

"Yes, there is a fine line, but not to worry — there are ways to help keep it in balance.

"Firstly, be mindful of other people's time. Email and ask your manager if you can chat at some point about an idea you think might add value, or pick a time when he or she doesn't look too busy.

"Another tip is to prep yourself before you talk to a manager. For example, write down the points you want to get across ahead of time so you know what you want to get out of that meeting."



When should I speak up at a meeting and when is it just better to pull my manager to the side and quietly ask a question or offer an idea?

"Tough question — the answer differs very much from business to business and group to group.

"The best thing is to spend the first few weeks of your internship observing and getting a feel for how the team works. Many of our businesses actively seek out summer analysts' views because they benefit from having a fresh set of eyes looking at a process, or coming from a totally different angle.

"But if you're just not sure, then err on the side of caution and pull your manager aside after the meeting to offer up an idea."



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RANKED: The 10 most successful superhero movies ever

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Superheroes are a crowded business these days.

While they've been with us for a long time, with blockbusters along the way (Superman in the 1970s and Batman through the 1980s, '90s, and '00s), the superhero genre didn't become the many-tentacled beast it is today until Marvel realized the possibilities of its movie universe under Disney.

"The Avengers," in retrospect, was an expensive gamble (for the actors' salaries alone), but it has paid off handsomely even if critics don't always love the franchise's movies. At the same time, DC Comics has struggled to keep up with its major competitor.

"Suicide Squad," DC's latest, is reviled by critics, and it is projected to have a steep drop-off this weekend after a record August opening, which will most likely keep it off the list of the most prized superhero movies.

Below are the highest-grossing superhero movies at the domestic box office of all time:

*Note: figures, from Box Office Mojo, are adjusted for inflation, to keep things fair.

SEE ALSO: The 30 most expensive movies ever made

10. "Iron Man 3" (2013) — $422,680,300

Unadjusted: $409,013,994



9. "Spider-Man 3" (2007) — $423,597,700

Unadjusted: $336,530,303



8. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) — $463,543,100

Unadjusted: $459,005,868



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I stayed in a tiny house, and it made me want to throw out everything I own

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B_A   Eleanor

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge fan of the tiny house trend that's currently sweeping the globe.

From shows like "Tiny House Hunters" to blogs and social media accounts of those who have taken the life-simplifying plunge, tiny houses are everywhere, and minimalism has become the buzzword du jour.

But going small is a big commitment, and not one that most people are willing or able to take.

Getaway House, a Boston-based startup that designs and builds 150-square-foot, eco-friendly homes, wants to give everyone a chance to live little. Getaway rents their "tiny houses in the woods" (currently three outside of Boston and three outside of New York City) starting at $99 per night, and aims to give urban professionals the chance to unplug and get a taste of minimalism.

With such a trendy premise and just six houses available for rent, nights at Getaway aren't easy to come by. So when I saw a Saturday in July open up, I booked it immediately.

Here's what it's like to live in a tiny house — at least for a night.

SEE ALSO: I took the first step to living like a minimalist and it felt surprisingly unsatisfying

Getaway keeps the exact locations of their tiny houses a secret until 24 hours before departure, though they promise that the homes will be accessible by train, and within two hours of either Boston or New York, without traffic.

My boyfriend and fellow tiny-house-goer lives in Connecticut and has a car, so we opted to forgo the extra Amtrak expense and drive to the mystery location in [SPOILER!] upstate New York.



Cell phone reception is a bit spotty on Getaway property, somewhat by design, as visitors are encouraged to undergo a digital detox. Nonetheless, a trusty Maps app got us to our tiny rental in no time.



All three New York Getaway houses are on the same plot of land, although we couldn't see or hear the other guests.



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8 signs you're in a strong relationship — even if it doesn't feel like it

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Here's the thing about relationships.

Sometimes they're candlelit date nights, walks through grassy meadows, and feeding each other cake at your wedding.

But sometimes they're doing the dishes, comforting a screaming baby, and fighting over whose turn it is to do the dishes or comfort the screaming baby.

Which is to say: While sometimes your love and passion for each other is obvious, sometimes it's really, really not.

So how do you know if your relationship is terrific — or heading south?

Psychologists have spent years studying the traits that are fundamental to successful long-term relationships and have come up with a few key ideas. We rounded up some of their most surprising insights below.

A word of caution: If you notice that your relationship doesn't meet all these criteria, that does not necessarily mean you should end things with your partner. Consider this list a general set of guidelines that can help you start evaluating whether your current relationship is bringing you satisfaction and happiness.

SEE ALSO: 15 relationship facts everybody should know before getting married

You think about your partner often when you're not together.

In 2007, researchers randomly dialed nearly 300 married people and asked them a series of questions about their relationships and how in love they felt.

Results showed that certain relationship characteristics were linked to stronger feelings of love. One especially interesting finding: The more often people reported thinking about their partner when they were apart, the more in love they felt.

The same study included a follow-up experiment with nearly 400 married New Yorkers, which found that difficulty concentrating on other things while you're thinking about your partner is also linked to strong feelings of love — especially for men.



You respond positively to each other's good news.

Business Insider's Lauren Friedman reported that one litmus test of a happy relationship is how enthusiastically each partner responds to the other's good news.

A Psychology Today blog post breaks down four ways a man could respond after his partner tells him about a promotion at work:

  • An active-constructive response from him would be enthusiastic support: "That's great, honey! I knew you could do it, you've been working so hard."
  • A passive-constructive response would be understated support — a warm smile and a simple "That's good news."
  • An active-destructive response would be a statement that demeaned the event: "Does this mean you are going to be gone working even longer hours now? Are you sure you can handle it?"
  • Finally, a passive-destructive response would virtually ignore the good news: "Oh, really? Well you won't believe what happened to me on the drive home today!"

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the response that's most closely linked to relationship satisfaction is the active-constructive response.



You spend some time apart, with your own friends.

Over the past few decades, we've started placing increasing demands on our spouses. As Business Insider's Jessica Orwig reported, no longer do we expect them to be financial partners, protectors, and companions — now we also want them to provide personal fulfillment.

The psychologist who produced some of these findings, Eli Finkel, suggests that if you want to be happy in your marriage, it's best not to look to your partner for all your existential needs. Finkel recommends finding yourself in hobbies, friends, and work.



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These 10 US cities plan to use 100% renewable energy in the next 20 years

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renewable energy, solar panel, wind turbine

Despite the gains we've made in renewable energy, Americans' reliance on fossil fuels seems hard to escape. But some cities are leading the way.

The environmental group Sierra Club compiled a list of some of the US cities that are on track to becoming 100% powered by renewable energy in the next 20 years — including some that are already there.

The group defined renewable energy as "carbon- and pollution-free energy collected from renewable, sustainably harvested sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, tidal, and geothermal, as well as energy efficiency.

"Our definition does not include natural gas, nuclear, or any carbon-based energy source."

Here are the 10 cities that are committed to pulling it off:

SEE ALSO: The 10 cities with the worst air pollution in the world have air that's up to 15 times dirtier than what is considered healthy

DON'T MISS: Millions of people might be ingesting a potentially harmful toxin in drinking water

San Diego, California

San Diego may be the furthest on this list from reaching its sustainability goal, though it's also the largest city on the list. Among its goals, San Diego hopes to get 90% of its vehicles running on electricity.

Population: 1.37 million

100% renewable status: By 2035



Rochester, Minnesota

In the next 15 years, the Minnesota city that's home to the Mayo Clinic aims to go 100% renewable, which will be no small feat. It's still figuring out what the best way to power the city will be.

Population: 100,000

100% renewable status achieved: By 2031



San Francisco, California

The densely populated city aims to be 100% renewable in the next 15 years by encouraging investment in clean energy sources as well as pushing for reductions in energy usage around the city.

Population: 864,000

100% renewable status: By 2030



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Photos of Olympic athletes staring at table tennis balls are gorgeous and strangely hypnotic

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The Olympics offers us a glimpse at many incredible sports and athletes that we don't see too often, including the fascinating world of table tennis.

Table tennis is one of the fastest sports in Rio with competitors often needing to stand 15-20 feet behind the table to have enough time to react to a ball traveling at speeds that make it difficult for viewers to follow.

It is that speed that make the Getty photographs below so fascinating. The photographers have taken an incredibly fast sport and captured hypnotic images that not only appear to suspend the sport in time, but give a sense of just how intense the focus of the athletes can be.

Timothy Wang of Team USA.



Yue Wu of the United States.



Sharath Kamal Achanta of India.



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