It would be easy to assume that dressing celebrities is a glamorous job, but if Hollywood favourite Elizabeth Saltzman is anything to go by, this is hardly the case.

Saltzman, who lives in London with her husband, two sons, and a terrier named Fred, juggles being a mother and wife with being "fairy godmother" to stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Uma Thurman, her role as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, being a consultant and mentor to designers and brands, and trying to squeeze in as much charity work as possible.

"It's not a nine to five job – it's whenever and wherever," she said. "There are many months where I haven't seen a weekend – it's the opposite of glamorous."

Saltzman began her career in New York folding clothes at a store and working at nightclubs in the evenings. In 1984 she started working at Armani store, and shortly after was moved to Milan to work in the brand's design studio.

This led her to a job at Vogue back in New York starting in 1985.

"I started at the bottom of the heap, but working for the greatest style editor, Polly Mellen," she said. "I considered that my college – every job I had in the beginning I felt so lucky to be paid to work."

She was promoted to senior fashion editor, a role which she held for eight years, then became contributing editor before she made the move to Vanity Fair as fashion editor in 1994, becoming fashion director in 1995.

"[Vanity Fair] is spectacular – it's an epicentre and hurricane of ideas and people and brains, and it was such a treat to be able to be a fly on the wall," she said. "With a great leader [Graydon Carter], a real visionary, and someone who thinks outside the box, it's a gamechanger."

In 2000, Saltzman decided to move to London, where she married her now husband. She continued to work for Vanity Fair travelling back and forth until 2007, when a friend she had made through her time at Vogue and Vanity Fair, Gwyneth Paltrow, was looking for a stylist.

"I liked her, she liked me, and I thought there was alot I could do for her," Saltzman said. "I started out and it felt right."

Soon after, brands started to approach her to help them figure out how to reach America, get their pieces on the red carpet and select locations for shows. "It was everything I dreamt of, but it was actually just common sense to me because it was my world," she said.

She hired a team in London, as well as New York and Los Angeles, and set up an office in Notting Hill.

Now, each morning she feeds her kids and takes them to school before heading to the office, reading the news, magazines, emails, and checking Instagram on the way.

Her days involve juggling meetings with designers like Prada, fittings – she paused our conversation for a quick fitting over FaceTime with Nancy Fallon, Jimmy Fallon's wife, who "needed to feel like the queen" for the Golden Globes – and styling celebrities Like Paltrow, Uma Thurman, and Saoirse Ronan.

"I try and wrap up at the actual office at 6.30pm, as I'm trying to give my girls a life," she said.

So how does she fit it all in?

We asked Saltzman for her best pieces of advice on working your way to the top while balancing motherhood, a social life, and a healthy lifestyle. See her best pieces of advice below.

1. Working harder doesn't mean working longer

"For all the designers and celebrities I work with, whatever the job is, I try and sprinkle Fairy Godmother dust on it," Saltzman said. "I like to help people be the best they can be and build confidence. That's what I was taught by all of these great leaders – Mr. Armani, Anna Wintour. Each one showed me to work harder, which doesn't mean more hours, it just means being more."

2. Listen to what people want – and what they don't

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Saltzman said that clients ask for "a lot of absurd things," to which she obliges. "I have taped ice packs to lower backs of people on red carpets on hot days, or used hand warmers in the strangest places on icy days.

However, she added: "I like to listen to what people don't want to do and hear what their fears are," she said. "If people say 'I don't want to show my legs' or 'I don't wear sequins,' that's usually the first thing I'll do for someone."

3. Be prepared

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Be ready for any situation that comes your way, no matter your job. For Saltzman, this means carrying a "prop kit" containing "everything from mints to safety pins to different types of nipple covers in every skin colour you can imagine, ribbons for making a belt, chewing gum, tampons, razors in case you have to shave someone before a show, shoulder pads, ridiculous things."

The Rich Kids of London Instagram account, which showcases the opulent lives of some of the city's wealthiest young residents, came under fire recently after footage emerged of a hooded teenager apparently setting fire to a Mercedes G-Wagen, valued at an estimated £87,000.

With the caption "we were bored so we burned G-Wagen for a laugh," it was easily one of the most extravagant — and reckless — stunts ever shared on the account, which now has more than 300,000 followers.

Rich Kids of London accepts photo submissions from "the wealthiest kids from around London" over Facebook, Snapchat (its user name is "richkidslondon"), and email, according to its Facebook page. The posts show lives of excess and luxury, which is never more clear than when the rich kids are on holiday– or celebrating.

We took a look into how some of London's youngsters spent the festive season this year. From elaborately decorated homes in Knightsbridge to Christmas morning in the Bahamas, see some of their most over-the-top Christmas Instagram posts below.

There's nothing like spending some family time at home for the holidays, which is where some of London's rich kids headed for Christmas.

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Lamborghinis were on the Christmas wish lists of London's richest this year.

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Cartier was a favourite for shopping for that special someone.

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. 

After food-induced Christmas comas and indulgent New Year's Eve celebrations, we can probably all do with making a resolution to be healthier this year.

If a healthier lifestyle is your goal for 2017, make it a priority, and make use of a calendar.

Not only will that mean you'll have to find time to go to the gym, or cook healthier meals, but it's also one of the best ways to stick with it year round. 

Still, making something as painful as going to the gym a habit can be hard, so we've rounded up some of the gadgets, products, and deals which will make your New Year's resolution easier to stick with this year. 

From inexpensive gym memberships, to healthier takeout alternatives, all these products can help you get a healthier start to 2017. 

A yoga class

If one of your New Year's resolution is to exercise more, but you prefer to avoid the gym in favour of a group activity, you can pick up these ten Bikram Yoga sessions for just £35. Considering that a gym membership can cost up to £70 a month, this is an absolute steal. 

Bikram Yoga London: Ten Sessions, £35

A practical lunch box

Part of living a healthier lifestyle is avoiding unhealthy lunches you pick up during your lunch break. This Joseph Joseph lunch box will save space, and enable you to bring your lunch, as well as healthy snacks. 

Joseph Joseph Go Eat Lunch Box, £16

A recipe book

Joe Wicks (also known as the Body Coach) has inspired loads of people to change their lifestyles, and become their healthiest selves. This book is full of recipes which can be cooked up in 15 minutes or less, which means you'll have no more excuses not to whip up some great meals. It also includes four workouts if you fancy working up a sweat before dinner. 

"Lean in 15 - The Sustain Plan,"£8

We lost a lot of legends in 2016, and we're not going to forget them soon.

As we settle into 2017, Business Insider has compiled a list of some of the most influential, important, and prized figures in entertainment who died last year — from towering music stars (Prince, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Merle Haggard, George Michael) to film legends like Carrie Fisher and Alan Rickman.

It's by no means an exhaustive list, but one that hopefully helps pay tribute to the talents who have left us as we move forward.

Here are 30 stars we said goodbye to in 2016:

SEE ALSO: THE A-LIST: The 20 most powerful stars in Hollywood right now

January 10: David Bowie (1947-2016)

English rock artist

January 14: Alan Rickman (1946-2016)

English theater and movie actor

January 26: Abe Vigoda (1921-2016)

American actor

2016 was an eventful year in both politics and markets, and it reflects in what investors were interested in knowing about during the course of the year.

Investopedia, the popular financial website, released its list of the top 10 terms used by investors in 2016. The ranking was compiled by Investopedia's editors based on investor interest, key trends, and events.

All of Investopedia's top 10 picks are listed below.

10. Calexit

Hopping on the bandwagon of buzzwords like “Grexit” and “Brexit,” a group known as Yes California is trying to garner support for California to secede from the U.S. Hillary Clinton has the hearts of the majority of Californians, but with Donald Trump’s surprising victory, the group plans to place an initiative on the 2018 ballot which, if passed, would call for an independence referendum the following year.

Source: Investopedia

9. NAFTA

Donald Trump called it a disaster and the worst trade deal the U.S. has ever signed. With significant spikes in interest at each major juncture in the election season, the term “The North American Free Trade Agreement” (NAFTA) peaked when it tripled in popularity after the election. NAFTA, which lowers trade restrictions between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, was signed by president Bill Clinton in December 1993.

Source: Investopedia

8. Trumpflation

When Trump won the presidency on November 8, markets began to indicate that higher inflation was on the way. The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds spiked, and the Federal Reserve said on December 14 that the risk of inflation in 2017 is “considerable.” Is this because of Trump, or is it simple economics now that the U.S. has finally recovered from the financial crisis of 2008?

Source: Investopedia

Netflix has loudly rejected the "pilot" system of TV, instead ordering full seasons of shows before any of them air.

And since it began releasing original shows in 2013, Netflix has stuck by a remarkably high percentage of them for subsequent seasons. But even Netflix knows sometimes you have to cut your losses.

So far, Netflix has canceled four shows, not including "Bloodline," which will "conclude" after season three.

The worst of the bunch for Netflix was probably "Marco Polo," which The Hollywood Reporter estimated lost Netflix a whopping $200 million. And not all of them were panned by critics; remember, what Netflix cares about most is how a show can drive new subscribers and keep old ones. 

Here are the four shows Netflix has killed, along with their critic and audience ratings from Metacritic:

'Longmire': Canceled after 6 seasons (3 on Netflix)

Netflix description: "This contemporary crime thriller focuses on a Wyoming sheriff who's rebuilding his life and career following the death of his wife."

Critic rating: 77/100

Audience rating: 9.1/100

'Lilyhammer': Canceled after 3 seasons

Netflix description:"They killed his dog. They made him run. Now he's living a new life in a strange land ... like a boss."

Critic rating: 68/100

Audience rating: 7.6/10

'Hemlock Grove': Canceled after 3 seasons

Netflix description:"A quaint town links a mangled corpse to a dark outsider with a carnivorous secret. But monsters come in many forms."

Critic rating: 37/100

Audience rating: 6.7/10

The US auto market continued its hot streak in 2016 with more than 17.4 million cars and trucks sold. As expected, pickup trucks and SUVs accounted for much of the growth. While sedans remain popular, their influence — in terms of sales volume — on the US auto market has atrophied over the past few years. Compact-car sales fell 6.1% last year. At the same time, its mid-size counterpart saw sales plummet 11.2%.

In its place, the dominant force in the marketplace is the compact and mid-size crossover SUV. Combined, these two segments account for 35% of all cars and trucks sold in the United States. At the same time, America's insatiable appetite for full-size pickup trucks is alive and well. Even though the segment is made up of just six models, total sales topped 2.2 million.

Here's a rundown of the 20 best-selling cars and trucks of 2016.

SEE ALSO: Ford's F-Series has been America's best-selling vehicle for 35 years — here's how it's changed

20. Hyundai Elantra: 208,319 sold during 2016. Down 13.8% over 2015.

19. Jeep Grand Cherokee: 212,273. +8.1%.

18. Nissan Sentra: 214,709. +5.5%.

As every prospective homebuyer knows, there's a lot that goes into buying a new home beyond just its listing price. You have to ask yourself: Does this city have a strong education system? Is the neighborhood safe? How much will my property taxes be? Will my home become more valuable in the future when it's time to sell?

To help out those who are house hunting, GOBankingRates.com determined the best city to buy a home in every state, taking into account various factors, including school districts, property tax bills, home prices and incomes.

Whether you're looking to start a family or make money off investment property in the near future, check out our picks of the best places to live.

Methodology: In order to source list, GOBankingRates identified the three cities in each state with the best-ranked school districts, according to Niche. Then, GOBankingRates used the following factors to determine the best city in each state: 1) median property tax bill, sourced from the Tax Foundation; 2) median home listing price, sourced from Zillow; 3) median household income, 2010-2014 (in 2014 dollars) sourced from U.S. Census Bureau. Based on those three factors, the study selected the best city out of three cities for each state. States left out due to insufficient data include: Alaska, Montana and Hawaii.

SEE ALSO: The most expensive housing market in every state

DON'T MISS: 10 of the best American cities to live comfortably on $40,000 a year

Alabama: Madison

Median property tax bill: $763
Median home listing price: $228,775
Median household income: $92,965

Madison is located in the Huntsville Metro Area, which has been experiencing economic prosperity due to its growing research, technology and manufacturing industries, according to Sperling's Best Places. In fact, Alabama as a whole is the best state for your money in 2017, according to another GOBankingRates study.

The median home value in Madison is $196,500, which is about $74,000 higher than the median home value in Alabama. According to Zillow, home values are expected to continue increasing in the Madison area.

Arizona: Tucson

Median property tax bill: $1,701
Median home listing price: $179,000
Median household income: $37,149

The housing bubble hit Arizona particularly hard, but some housing markets have rebounded. Home prices in Tucson are affordable, especially compared to prices in Phoenix ($250,000) and Scottsdale ($564,000). Take note, however, that incomes in Tucson are low. But, if you can find a higher-paying job in this city, your paycheck will likely stretch further.

Arkansas: Jonesboro

Median property tax bill: $698
Median home listing price: $172,500
Median household income: $40,583

Jonesboro has a low median home listing price on top of relatively low property taxes. Memphis, Tenn., is actually located close to Jonesboro and boasts cheaper homes. However, homebuyers — especially families looking to settle in and start a new life — might be turned off by Memphis’ high crime rates.

Self-driving cars had a big year in 2016. 

Uber launched a pilot program for its self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, followed by a short-lived one in San Francisco before ultimately going to Arizona. Tesla also started installing hardware that can enable full autonomy in October. 

But traditional automakers will be making some big moves in 2017 to advance its autonomous car efforts as well. Here are the biggest milestones to come:

SEE ALSO: 17 innovative features in Fiat Chrysler's new electric minivan concept

1. Volvo is releasing 100 self-driving cars on public roads in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2017.

The Swedish-based automaker will also release a fleet of 100 self-driving cars on public roads in China, but it's not clear when that trial will begin. Both the Sweden- and China-based pilots will give local citizens a chance to ride in the car and experience full autonomy.

Volvo is on a mission to make its cars "deathproof" by 2020 — the 2017 trial will be a big step in that direction.

2. Ford will also begin testing its self-driving cars in Europe in 2017.

The automaker currently has a fleet of 30 vehicles but plans to more than triple its size to 100 in 2017. Ford wants to make self-driving taxis that come without a steering wheel, brake or gas pedal available to the public in 2021. 

3. General Motors will look to gain an advantage in the self-driving car space by conducting tests in snowy conditions.

GM will test its self-driving cars in Detroit in 2017. The automaker has a fleet of 40 autonomous cars that are also being tested in San Francisco and Scottsdale, Arizona. Michigan recently became the first state to establish regulations allowing for the testing, use, and eventual sale of self-driving cars.

GM's Marry Bara has been vocal about the importance of testing in difficult road conditions like snow, while many in the space still have a long way to go to prepare their cars for inclement weather.

Hotels have a ton of free amenities just waiting for the travelers savvy enough to ask for them.

Since many of these items aren't found in the rooms themselves, guests often don't even realize they're available.

We asked representatives from Hilton Worldwide and Starwood Hotels and Resorts to help us put together a list of free amenities you should ask for on your next trip.

It turns out you can often get everything from GoPro camera rentals to curling irons sent straight to your room — free.

Talia Avakian contributed reporting on a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: New York City's most iconic hotel is closing indefinitely — take a look back at its star-studded past

DON'T MISS: The 20 best ski resorts in America

Phone chargers and adapters

If you forgot your phone charger or just don't have the proper adapter, check with the hotel's front desk; they will often lend out their extras.

Participating hotels include the Sheraton Puerto Rico, which recently launched its Energizer Butler program that provides complimentary chargers for a variety of mobile devices. Ditto for Kimpton and Hyatt hotels. 

Better pillows

Some hotels have been trying out pillow menus that allow guests to select their preferred pillows based on their level of firmness, shape, and suitability for sleeping habits.

Some help decrease snoring, while others were basically made for a lazy morning in bed. Conrad Hotels offer guests the option to select from their extensive pillow menu or even pre-book their favorites though the mobile concierge app. Acqualina Resort & Spa also offers the service free.

Curling irons and straightening irons

For ladies who forgot to pack a straightening or curling iron, several hotels will have them on hand. Hyatt hotels,Kimpton hotels, and the W Paris-Opéra include these items in their list of complimentary amenities available on request.

Want to know the most popular US stocks among active fund managers?

A Credit Suisse team led by Lori Calvasina looked at "long only, actively managed" small, mid, and large cap funds to find the answer.

Microsoft was the most crowded US stock with 380 large cap funds holding long positions. Apple and Google followed close behind with the interest of 374 and 358 funds respectively.

The team claims its ranking, as it incorporates holdings of both retail and institutional funds, is more robust than other studies.

It advised against owning too many crowded stocks for reasons including the ongoing outflow of funds from active to passive management.

We present the 11 most popular US stocks among large cap funds below.

1. Microsoft

Ticker: MSFT

Industry group: Software & Services

Market cap: $483.2 billion

No. of large cap funds: 380

4Q '16 performance: 7.9%

Source: Credit Suisse

2. Apple

Ticker: AAPL

Industry group: Tech hardware & Equipment

Market cap: $617.6 billion

No. of large cap funds: 374

4Q '16 performance: 2.5%

Source: Credit Suisse

3. Google

Ticker: GOOGL

Industry group: Software & Services

Market cap: $539.1 billion

No. of large cap funds: 358

4Q '16 performance: -1.4%

Source: Credit Suisse

As one of the world's most popular, most widely played games, "Minecraft" attracts a large swath of players. Many of these folks are just like you and me — casual, into playing fun games, but maybe not ready to dig in and spend, like, years handcrafting a massive world.

And then there's a small section of that massive playerbase that takes the game's creation aspect to stunning heights. Such is the case with the "Kingdom of Galekin," an enormous, incredibly ambitious world that one "Minecraft" player has been building for nearly five years.

In both size and detail, the Kingdom of Galekin is insanely impressive. Check it:

SEE ALSO: Microsoft bought Minecraft for $2.5 billion to make sure it's around for the next 100 years

Rather than a single impressive building, or a city, or a re-creation of something famous, the Kingdom of Galekin is an entire unique world.

With distinct regions:

Friendship is friendship, but cheese costs money.

That's how you caution someone not to take advantage of a friend's generosity in Bulgarian, according to a series of idioms collected by financial product comparison website Gocompare.com.

Below, find 12 quirky idioms that people around the world use to describe their relationship with money, republished with permission from Gocompare.com.

SEE ALSO: 9 common phrases from around the world that lose all meaning in English

On Saturday, the Raiders will play their first playoff game since their Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2002 season. It could also be their last as the Oakland Raiders as they continue their attempt to relocate to Las Vegas.

Earlier this season, it was reported that the team filed three trademarks for "Las Vegas Raiders." Meanwhile, Nevada has approved $750 million for a new stadium. 

Raiders owner Mark Davis has pledged $500 million toward the project, and according to a report from the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, the stadium would cost a total of $1.9 billion.

While this is a far from concluded move, the renderings of the stadium, via MANICA Architecture, do portray a flashy, eye-catching stadium.

Take a look below.

The stadium won't be directly located in the heart of Las Vegas.

Much like Las Vegas itself, the stadium looks like an oasis in the desert.

According to the SNTIC report, Las Vegas can expect $100 million worth of media exposure per year from the Raiders.

The NFL playoffs are here! 

After 17 weeks, 12 teams have emerged for a postseason that looks intriguing on a number of levels. Can anyone in the AFC stop the Patriots? Will the Cowboys' dynamic rookie duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott continue to shine in elimination games? The Packers have won six straight and the Steelers have won seven — will they keep rolling through the Wild Card Weekend? 

This weekend, the Saturday games feel like an appetizer for Sunday. Raiders-Texans and Lions-Seahawks should both be fun, but Sunday's slate of Dolphins-Steelers and Giants-Packers should be even better.

Here are our rankings entering the playoffs. 

Enjoy the games!

12. Oakland Raiders

2016 record: 12-4

Seed: 5th in AFC

Opponent: at Houston Texans

One thing to know: With both Derek Carr and backup Matt McGloin sidelined with injuries, rookie quarterback Connor Cook will make his first NFL start — on the road, in the playoffs. 

11. Houston Texans

2016 record: 9-7

Seed: 6th in AFC

Opponent: vs. Oakland Raiders

One thing to know: The Texans are starting Brock Osweiler over Tom Savage against the Raiders. This could be the game for Osweiler to salvage his career with the Texans.

10. Detroit Lions

2016 record: 9-7

Seed: 2nd in NFC North, 6th in NFC

Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks

One thing to know: The Lions are limping into the playoffs after losing their final three games of the season. And none of their nine wins this season came against teams currently in the playoffs.

If you're constantly wondering where your money is going, consider how much your daily habits are costing you.

Do you drop $10 to $15 on fast-casual lunches every day? Are you quick to buy something you don't actually need? Do you make purchases to keep up with the same level of luxury your friends enjoy?

These seemingly small habits, and many more, could be keeping you from saving hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year.

We turned to the Quora threads, "What habit has saved you the largest amount of money?" and "What are some lifestyle changes that save money?" to round up the best — and easiest — ways people save money every day.

SEE ALSO: 15 times it's worth spending a little more

Learn the difference between saving a dollar and saving a percentage.

Quora user Jaap Weel writes:

"Remember that saving 5% on a $10,000 item is not at all like saving 5% on a $10 item. But in order to process decision problems at different scales, the brain tends to normalize things so the two cases appear similar.

"Ever since I studied behavioral economics, I started spending less time worrying about saving 20 cents on spaghetti, but I spent a lot of time thinking about what car to buy and making sure I got a good deal on it. You can buy a lot of spaghetti for a $4k discount on a car, and yet I see people who spend lots of time on grocery coupon clipping but never stop to consider whether they could move to a cheaper apartment, drive a cheaper car, etc."

Do-it-yourself.

Quora user Betsy Megas writes:

"I enjoy the challenge of learning new skills and the satisfaction of accomplishing tasks. Among the things I've gotten pretty good at: basic plumbing, interior painting, sewing, bike maintenance, baking, cooking. I'm still working on gardening, and I think I'd like to learn and improve basic construction skills (I'd like to build a deck or patio and repair some fences) and maybe learn about building PCs. Here again, I see it as both entertainment and expense avoidance. Occasionally also exercise."

Practice delayed gratification.

Quora user Angela Recruiter writes:

"When you are shopping and your heart leaps at the sight of xyz product, and you think it's love at first sight...WAIT.  Save it, bookmark it.  Come back to it hours later, then a day later, then days later and gauge, each time, how or whether your level of "pumpity-pump" interests stays the same, declines, etc. Never buy on impulse. Sleep on it. Ask yourself: Do you think it'll make you happy a month from its purchase? A few months? A year? Years?"

Watch one TED talk, and you have a factoid to share with a friend at a bar.

Watch over 50 TED talks across several years — as I have, obsessively — and you begin to think a little differently about the world.

Not every talk is awe-inspiring or illuminating, but the best ones have changed how I think about education, business, psychology, and human behavior.

Here are some of the insights that have stuck with me the most.

SEE ALSO: Scientists followed 5,000 genius kids for 45 years — here's what they learned about success

Hard, dirty work isn't just necessary — it's misunderstood

Mike Rowe, former host of Discovery's "Dirty Jobs," is no stranger to the grimier side of American labor. In his 2008 talk "Learning from dirty jobs," he encourages people to think differently about those dirty jobs.

Many of them aren't the miserable, back-breaking jobs that come from poor choices and lead to dissatisfaction, Rowe says. They're gratifying, and performed by people who take pride in the great work they do.

His talk reminded me, as the jobs reminded him, never to judge the path someone's taken, no matter the smells involved.

Some choice is better than none, but more choice isn't necessarily better than some.

In Barry Schwartz's 2005 talk, "The Paradox of Choice," he reviews the research that says people are misled in thinking they should want as much choice as possible, whether that's the expansive number of salad dressings at the supermarket or array of clothing styles at the mall.

His talk made me realize that decision-making takes a lot of effort. It can be mentally draining to weigh all those options, and we may be better off limiting our menu of choices to just a few. Usually, "good enough" is good enough.

If you want something, you have to ask for it.

Amanda Palmer, former lead singer of The Dresden Dolls, says soliciting help isn't a burden on people. It's actually a precious skill. In her 2013 talk, "The Art of Asking," she recounts asking people on Twitter for instruments, food, and couches to sleep on, all so her shows could go on.

In a similar talk, music journalist Nardwuar explains in his 2011 talk "Do It Yourself!" that if you want something, you shouldn't expect people to read your minds. You have to be tenacious and persistent.

Together, their talks helped me see asking less as a selfish act and more as a natural part of people working together.

Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, and it can often lead to regret.

Some people have the philosophy that everything happens for a reason, and there is no point in having regrets.

But for many of us, looking back on our lives can lead to lingering on one poignant moment or period when we wish we had done things differently That nagging question, "What if ...?," plays on repeat in our heads.

"This may sound a little melodramatic, but no matter how happy you are, at my age your regrets are countless,"writes Quora user Gary Teal. "You have made decades' worth of little miscalculations you can't completely erase from your memory, as well as a number of big mistakes that made life permanently harder."

Vaughn Bell at Mind Hacks notes that there are two ways people frame their regrets: The things they did that they wish they hadn't, and the things they wish they had done but didn't.

"The difference between the two is often a psychological one, because we can frame the same regret either way — as regret about an action: 'If only I had not dropped out of school;' or as a regret about an inaction: 'If only I had stayed in school.'

"Despite the fact that they are practically equivalent, regrets framed as laments about actions were more common and more intense than regrets about inactions, although inaction regrets tended to be longer lasting," Bell writes.

Quora user Bradley Voytek points to a national survey about the regrets of a typical American, which found 13 common sources for regret. They are, in order: romance, family, education, career, finance, parenting, health, "other,"friends, spirituality, community, leisure, and self.

Here are some of the most common regrets as chronicled by Quora users (answers have been edited for clarity): 

SEE ALSO: 17 bad habits you should break in 2017 to be more productive

DON'T MISS: 18 highly successful people share their New Year's resolutions

Romance

"I regret that I never fell in love with someone who was in love with me, when that would have been easy for me to do.

"I regret being like an old song sung by Buffy Sainte-Marie: 'Must I go bound and you so free, Must I love one who doesn't love me, Must I be born with so little art, As to love the one who would break my heart?'"—David Kahana

Family — Children

"For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to have kids. But in my younger years, I foolishly assumed that unlike certain accomplishments like a career, the marriage and kids thing would just happen.

"Well, they didn't. I dated plenty of people but never even thought about making family a priority. Then, in my late 30s, a bout with ovarian cancer left me permanently infertile.

"I think about the kids I never had every day, several times a day. I have a great relationship with my nieces and nephews, and volunteer at a children's hospital on a regular basis, but it's just not the same to be around other people's kids. I would love to adopt or be a foster mother, and hopefully be in a financial and domestic situation that would make this feasible one day.

"But again, not the same. And it pisses me off when people say, "You're lucky you don't have kids, they're so much work, blah blah blah." Yes, but a lot of things in life that are worthwhile are also so much work.

"I think the mothering instinct is so strong in some women that the knowledge that one will never get a chance to give birth and raise their own child goes beyond regret. One that a bar chart cannot capture. I can deal with most of my other regrets in life but am having a hard time dealing with this one."— Caroline Zelonka

Family — Parents

"I regret not choosing to spend more time with my parents in my 20s. I lost my mother in 2000, and I feel the loss of the friendship we never had.

"She was very demanding, very strict, and from the perspective of a young man, very unreasonable. It turned out, as I live through middle age, that most of the ideals I have today ended up being the ones she put on me.

"Sometimes, after a setback, I feel the impulse to call her, and in the second or so that it takes for me to realize she isn't alive to speak to any longer, I realize how much I still need her.

"You cannot negotiate with death. It is final, often sudden, and personal. The last night I had with her, at a hospice in Chicago, I was exhausted and asked her if she minded if I went home. She immediately whispered that absolutely, I should rest, and to be careful driving home. I curled her fingers around the nurses call button, and kissed her on the forehead. I remember I felt some relief that I was leaving.

"I know it didn't make a difference, leaving at that time, or leaving a few hours later. She was going to die either way. But reflecting on that moment today I know then that I didn't understand how precious those minutes were, and how a door was being closed that would never open again."— Jim Wagner

McDonald's is a worldwide company with locations all across the globe (121 countries and territories to be exact). Every country has its own customs and cultures that McDonald's recognizes and respects. Menu items vary country to country, but their signature item, the Big Mac, is available across the board.

To understand how the price compares around the world, the currencies were converted to represent the U.S dollar amount. These prices come from The Economist's Big Mac Index, a unique look into the value of currencies around the world. 

The average price for a Big Mac in the United States is listed first, followed by the most expensive to the least.

United States – $5.04

The original home to McDonald's, its no surprise that the United States has the most locations; 14,267 to be exact.

Switzerland – $6.59

Switzerland has the most expensive Big Mac in the world. Costing $6.59, a Big Mac in Switzerland will cost you $1.55 more than in the United States. In addition to the typical McDonald's items you'd find here in the states, Switzerland locations have fried shrimp.

Norway – $5.51

More than a dollar less than Switzerland's Big Mac, Norway offers the Big Mac for $0.47 higher than the United States. Norwegian locations shake up the traditional salad by adding pasta and chicken.

If in 2017, you've vowed to find a new job, get a promotion, be a better boss, or simply enjoy work more, Business Insider has got your back.

Over the past year, we've covered a bunch of books that redefine "work" and offer solid tips for making it a less terrible way to spend your time.

Our list is a diverse sampling of advice and strategies from business-school professors, psychologists, and career coaches — all with the same goal of helping you craft a meaningful work life.

Below, we've rounded up our top seven picks.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best business books of 2016

'What Got You Here Won't Get You There' by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

Goldsmith is a psychologist and an executive coach who's worked with more than 150 CEOs. He's been named multiple times to the Thinkers50 list of influential management thinkers.

"What Got You Here Won't Get You There" is geared toward workers looking to advance to the next stage in their careers.

The thrust of the book is that just because you've been able to get by with your counterproductive habits doesn't mean you'll be able to reach the top of your field with those same tendencies. So it's time to nix them.

Goldsmith and Reiter outline the 20 workplace habits that keep business leaders — and everyone else — from success.

The authors also offer a number of necessary wake-up calls — like the fact that it matters more what other people think of you than what you think of you. And that asking your team for "feedforward," or suggestions for the future, is just as important as soliciting feedback.

'Smarter Faster Better' by Charles Duhigg

Four years after publishing his bestseller "The Power of Habit," Duhigg released another bestseller, titled "Smarter Faster Better."

In the book, Duhigg, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist for The New York Times, deconstructs productivity and creativity into skills that anyone can develop.

He draws on stories from Disney creatives, Google teams, and airplane pilots to make the argument that productivity and creativity are really the results of systematic thinking and behavior.

Consider the production of the hit Disney film "Frozen," for example. Duhigg suggests that the creative team succeeded by combining old ideas — princesses and sisters — in new ways. In other words, anyone can learn to be creative if they embrace the power of new perspectives.

'Payoff' by Dan Ariely

Ariely, a behavioral economist and professor at Duke University, is the author of a number of popular books, including "Predictably Irrational." He also publishes a column in The Wall Street Journal in which he answers readers' questions about human behavior.

In "Payoff," Ariely argues that human motivation is a lot more complex than we might believe. Most importantly, money isn't everything.

In fact, getting pizza and compliments can be more motivating than getting a financial bonus. And letting people take ownership of a project and giving them credit for it makes them more inclined to do it well.