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The 10 apps millennials say they can't live without

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Kids on smartphones

The global app economy is poised to explode, and the competition for users' attention is intense. 

ComScore recently surveyed app users ages 18-34 about the apps they "can't go without." The top 10 includes the likes of Instagram, YouTube, and Gmail.

The list "speaks to a broader insight, which is that millennials seem to recognize the importance of the more functional apps, like Amazon, Gmail and Google Maps," Andrew Lipsman, the senior vice president of insights and marketing at comScore, told Business Insider's Tanya Dua.

Surveyed users were asked to choose the top three "most essential" apps they own.

Here are the results:

10. Instagram

ComScore's surveyed users who put app in top three "most essential": 11%



9. WhatsApp

ComScore's surveyed users who put app in top three "most essential": 11%



8. Apple App Store

ComScore's surveyed users who put app in top three "most essential": 11%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's how ailing African leaders hide their illnesses so they can stay in office

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african union

The Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation say for the past months, and indeed years, have seen speculation mounting over the health of at least four heads of state on the African continent.

These include Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari, 74, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 93, Angolan leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, and Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 80.

Bloomberg reports that these leaders often leave their countries in limbo, as they spend a lot of time abroad seeking medical attention. 

Their ailments are always kept a secret from the public as if the electorate won't vote for them if they open up. 

The Institute for Security Studies say the stance often taken by most leaders not to disclose their illnesses was "a reflection of lack of trust in their citizens".

Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa takes a look at African heads of government who have made the news in recent times because of their health challenges and the secrecy shrouding it. 

SEE ALSO: HIV/AIDS is no longer the leading cause of death in Africa

Muhammadu Buhari

With more than seven months gone in 2017, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has spent the better part of the year holed up in a London hospital treating an undisclosed illness far away from the 180 million Nigerian citizens that elected him to lead them out the worst economic crisis to hit the country in decades.

Mr Buhari’s continued absence has fueled a leadership crisis that has threatened to boil over on several occasions amid calls for him to take the high road and hand in his resignation if he can no longer cope with the physical and mental rigor of leading Africa’s most populous country.

But 74-year-old Mr Buhari is hardly the only African president who has had his productivity and ability to govern seriously limited by reoccurring health problems.



Peter Mutharika

In 2016, President Peter Mutharika of Malawi was absent from the country for weeks, leaving the door open to wild speculations about his death as his aides provided no specific information about his whereabouts.

On his return to the country, 76-year-old Mutharika admitted at a press briefing that he had been away in a U.S. hospital to treat rheumatism, a muscle and joint condition that is often chronic and debilitating in older sufferers.

Mr Mutharika, who is rumoured to be seeking re-election, however, insisted that he is in excellent health, adding that he is as healthy as any 30-year-old.



Jose Eduardo Dos Santos

Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos was away from his country for the entire month of May, sparking speculations that he was dead or terminally ill.

Authorities were not willing to provide specifics about his whereabouts until they bowed to the pressure from the opposition and civil society groups, forcing the Foreign Minister to clarify that 74-year-old Dos Santos, who has led Angola since 1979, was in Spain receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Amazon is officially buying Whole Foods — here's everything that will change for customers (AMZN, WFM)

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Amazon's $13.7 billion purchase of Whole Foods is set to go through on Monday. 

The online behemoth's purchase of the organic grocer will come with many changes for customers. 

Here's what the companies have told us so far. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime members will get special discounts at Whole Foods

Whole Foods will get cheaper for everyone starting Monday.

"Customers will enjoy lower prices on products like Whole Trade bananas, organic avocados, organic large brown eggs, organic responsibly farmed salmon and tilapia, organic baby kale and baby lettuce, animal-welfare-rated 85% lean ground beef, creamy and crunchy almond butter, organic Gala and Fuji apples, organic rotisserie chicken, 365 Everyday Value organic butter, and much more,"the companies said.



Amazon Prime members will get special discounts.

Amazon Prime will replace Whole Foods' current loyalty program. It's estimated that half of American households have an Amazon Prime membership. 



Over time, Whole Foods will get cheaper in general.

"The two companies will invent in additional areas over time, including in merchandising and logistics, to enable lower prices for Whole Foods Market customers," Whole Foods and Amazon said in a release



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 photos of models auditioning for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show prove there's an unofficial uniform for the job

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Victoria's Secret models

Whether you're a Victoria's Secret fan or not, its annual runway show has become a huge event on the fashion world's calendar.

A place in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is highly coveted and — with the models being some of the highest-paid in the industry, like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid — difficult to get. Nevertheless, hordes of hopefuls flocked to the casting calls held this week in New York City in the hopes of securing a spot on the runway.

As photos of the contenders surfaced, Fashionista noticed some common trends in the way models were dressed. Most of the models auditioning wore all-black outfits baring their stomach and/or their legs, and almost all of them kept their hair, makeup, and accessories minimal.

See what models wore to their auditions below — and no, you're not seeing the same picture more than once.

Dutch model Maartje Verhoef attended a call back audition wearing a pair of slim-fit black pants and a cropped black top.



Lorena Rae wore very high-waisted black pants with a matching halter crop top to give a glimpse of her chiseled abs.



Noel Berry wore an almost identical outfit, except her pants are denim and her crop top has a ribbed detail.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

You'll never guess what these 12 brands are called in other countries

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T.K. Maxx

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Some famous brands have completely different names in certain parts of the world. 
  • For instance, Burger King is actually known as "Hungry Jack's" in Australia.
  • Most of the brand's color schemes and overall logo design tend to stay the same regardless of the country.

Burger King

In Australia, you can't get a Whopper at a Burger King. If you see the golden burger buns with red letters down under, they'll say "Hungry Jack's." When Burger King expanded into Australia, there was already an Australian company called Burger King, so Burger King offered its Australian franchisee several alternative names. The franchisee went with Hungry Jack's, which probably wasn't a difficult choice for him since his name was Jack. Here are 10 cool and weird restaurants around the world.



Kraft Mac & Cheese

Kraft Mac & Cheese used to be called "Kraft Dinner" in many countries, but "Kraft Mac & Cheese" eventually became the moniker in most of them. However, just a bit north of us in Canada, the blue box still goes by "Kraft Dinner." Canadians actually love the cheesy goodness of Kraft even more than we do — they buy 55 percent more per year than Americans.



Mr. Clean

In England, Mr. Clean looks the same as he does in the USA, but he has a different surname: he's "Mr. Proper." To us, this sounds less like a cleaning product mascot and more like someone who enforces good manners. Also, we can't hear "Mr. Proper" in our heads in anything other than a British accent, so it fits. Here are 50 etiquette rules that it's definitely proper to follow.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This is what it's like to eat at the secret club in Disneyland that has a 14-year waiting list

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Disney club 33 PROMO

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Club 33 is the not-so-secret club hidden in plain sight in Disneyland. Unless you're a member (and there's a 14-year waiting list for membership) or know one, you can't get in.
  • Lilian Disney designed the interior of Club 33, but Walt died before it was constructed.
  • We spoke with three lucky guests who recently had the opportunity to dine there. 


Right in the middle of New Orleans Square in Disneyland, located across from La Mascarade d'Orleans, is the inconspicuous entrance to one of the most-whispered-about spots in Disney parks across the globe: Club 33.

Club 33 is a secret five-star restaurant that the regular public cannot access. There are only two ways to get into Club 33: being an exclusive member, or being invited by one.

Membership costs up to $100,000 annually, with a reported$12,500 to $30,000 in additional annual fees. As of 2012, there was a 14-year waiting list for membership applicants.

The club was the brainchild of Walt Disney himself, who, after the 1964 World's Fair, envisioned opening a secret apartment for entertaining corporate sponsors and special guests near his own apartment, which was above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Unfortunately, Walt Disney never saw his idea come to fruition, as Club 33 opened in 1967, about six months after his death. Originally designed by Walt Disney's wife Lillian, Club 33 underwent extensive renovations and expansions in 2014, and now looks completely different than it used to. 

INSIDER spoke with three lucky diners who got the rare opportunity to visit Club 33 about their experience. Lily Hopkins dined there with her brother Max and his girlfriend Christina Martini in June 2017, during the club's 50th anniversary celebration. They got reservations through Michael's co-worker. 

Keep scrolling to see what it's like to eat at one of the world's most exclusive clubs.

This is the original entrance to Club 33, though it fell out of use after the 2014 renovations, when a second entrance opened up.

"When we got to the area, we had to make sure to go to the right door because there are two doors," Martini told INSIDER.



The new entrance opens up into the picturesque Court of Angels.

Members only need to swipe their membership cards to get in, though "regular" people must be buzzed in. 

"After confirming your last name and reservation through a speaker outside the secret door, the staff buzzes you in and you enter a beautiful courtyard where they offer to take your photo before walking upstairs to the actual restaurant," Hopkins said.



A staircase at the back of the Court of Angels leads up to the actual entrance to the Club 33 lounge and restaurant.

"My family goes to Disneyland often, so Club 33 has always been a fun mystery/myth," said Hopkins. "We would pass the secret door making jokes about all the celebrities that must be inside. It was really exciting to finally be able to see it for ourselves after talking about it all these years."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what happened when 700 Goldman Sachs bankers duked it out in a wiffle ball tournament for charity

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A player from Wiffle Blowers from Internal Audit

On Tuesday, over 700 Goldman Sachs employees left their desks to enjoy the sunshine, play some ball, and raise $150,000 for the New York City-based non-profit and charter school Dream.

Dream hosts kids at after-school and summer programs that focus on physical wellness. Kids connected to Dream served as referees during the Goldman Sachs games, which took place at the Battery Park City Ballfields in Manhattan.

Ahead, take a look at the competitive day.

SEE ALSO: 2,000 WeWork employees and their guests flew to the UK for an epic summer camp with outdoor activities, parties, and concerts

The games took place at the ballfields in Battery Park City, near Goldman Sachs' headquarters.



Brian Levine, managing director in the securities division at Goldman Sachs, organized both this year's and last year's events.



"This is a great event all around, both for the kids from Dream, and for the people at [Goldman Sachs] to get exposure to Dream while having a blast," Levine said. "To have 700 employees take time out of their work days and raise $150,000 for this organization is something we're very proud of."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Photos of tech workers having the time of their lives at Burning Man

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2011 burning man Reuters

Elon Musk, who famously came up with the idea for SolarCity while at Burning Man a few years back, once said"Burning Man is Silicon Valley."

Judging from the photos of tech moguls, startup founders, and venture capitalists that have surfaced since the annual counterculture festival began, we're guessing Musk is right.

We rounded up the best photos of tech workers sweating it out on the playa.

SEE ALSO: Here's why Google went to Burning Man to find its next CEO

User experience designer Olia Birulia made the well-traveled trek from San Francisco to Burning Man in 2016, and made some friends along the way.

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Emily Hsiung, a product designer at Uber, left for 2017 Burning Man with the 7 Sirens Cove theme camp. She helped make this sign with a computer-controlled cutting machine.

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Will O'Brien, an angel investor and chief operating officer of cloud-analytics platform Keen IO, couldn't resist the chance to fly direct to Burning Man's pop-up airport in 2016.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 common mistakes people make that could risk the health of their dogs

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Dogs

Many people consider dogs to be like members of the family.

Keeping them healthy and happy seems straightforward — feed them, walk them, love them. But there are some things you may be doing that are hurting your dog's health and happiness.

Here are a few mistakes you're probably making with your dog, and what you can do to become a better parent to your pup.

You're hugging them.

Hugging your dog has some mixed reactions from vets and psychologists. Sparked by an op-ed piece in Psychology Today, people have been unsure if hugging your dog is the best thing to do. Business Insider explained how doing so can make your dog feel uncomfortable

"The reason we say they don't like being hugged is because of what they look like when you're hugging them," dog-cognition scientist Dr. Alexandra Horowitz told Business Insider. "They pin their ears back, they lick their lips (sort of air licking). Or they yawn, which is another stress behavior. Or they move to get away. Or they show this kind of whale-eye posture — you can see the whites of their eyes. They show behavior that's like, 'This is uncomfortable.'"

Horrowitz is onto something — NPR reported that the dog's stress level increases when we hug them. 



You let them lick your baby's face.

Dogs and babies are arguably two of the cutest beings on the planet, but there's a reason why you shouldn't let your dog lick your baby's face. 

Although licking is a sign of affection for dogs, a baby's immune system is not strong enough to fight off any bacteria or microbes that dogs may pass along. There's also the issue of the dog's diet. If they eat raw food, their saliva could transfer bacteria like salmonella to your baby's facial mucous membranes. 



You let them eat table food.

Feeding dogs table food is another thing veterinarians always warn against.

Pet owners should be aware that there are specific foods that can cause your dog harm. Peach stems, potato skin, grapes, and avocados are a few culprits, and look out for things like 'xylitol' in diet peanut butter.

Of course, not all dogs will react the same way to human foods, so play it safe and stick with specific dog food. 

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 60 greatest kids' toys ever invented

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Raggedy Andy

Playing around is very serious business. Or at least, it is at the National Toy Hall of Fame, a real institution that honors the finest childhood playthings. 

Since 1999, the Toy Hall of Fame has inducted toys that have met their strict criteria for admission. The toys need to have achieved icon status, be more than a passing fad, promote creativity and learning, or be innovative enough to have totally changed the toy game. So far, 60 toys have made the cut, and they're represented at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, which houses the Hall of Fame.  

The toys on this list range from Barbies to Super Soakers, with plenty of surprise in between. There are high-tech gizmos like the Nintendo Game Boy right alongside the most basic toy of all time — a simple wooden stick.

Here are the 60 toys that have endured the test of time.

BARBIE: Sure, she's garnered a decent amount of criticism, but Barbie is perhaps the ultimate doll and a fashion icon.

Inducted in 1999. 



CRAYOLA​ CRAYON: With a seemingly infinite number of creatively named colors, Crayola Crayons are a creative staple for young budding artists.

Inducted in 1999. 



ERECTOR SET: Though they haven't been made since the line was discontinued in 1980, Erector Sets were the go-to for kiddie engineers as far back as 1911, when the toy was invented.

Inducted in 1999. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

29 kids attend a school behind barbed wire on the border of North Korea — once called 'the scariest place on earth'

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Children look at a soldier as they stand in a line to take a school bus at the Daesungdong Elementary School. In 2008, facing extinction as the surrounding population dwindled, the school opened its doors to South Korean children living outside the DMZ. At the same time, the U.S.-led United Nations command headquarters began sending soldiers there to teach English twice a week.

  • Twenty-nine students attend school in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea.
  • American troops monitor the situation to the North and teach English to the students.
  • Less than 100 miles away from the border lies 70% of North Korea's soldiers.

In a small buffer zone on the southern side of the border that separates North and South Korea resides Daesungdong Elementary School.

The school is located in Taesung Freedom Village, a settlement in the Korean peninsula's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The DMZ was created in 1951 for peace talks during the Korean War, and is a small area of just a little over a mile on either side of the border.

While the conflict stopped after an armistice was signed in 1953, a peace treaty was never signed, which means the two countries are technically still at war.

That tenuous situation led President Bill Clinton to call the DMZ "the scariest place on Earth" when he visited in 1993.

Reuters captured the daily life of students at Daesungdong Elementary School in a photo package called"Learning English in the Korean DMZ's Freedom Village."

SEE ALSO: Thousands of people gathered for a candlelight vigil at UVA — see the moving photos

On the southern side of the DMZ are American troops, many just a five-minute drive from a United Nations camp set up to monitor the situation to the North. Here, a US navy officer high-fives children at the Daesungdong Elementary School.



The students' daily commute includes trudging past barbed-wire fences, military checkpoints, and anti-tank barricades.



One of the students, a South Korean 4th grader named Lee Su-jin, said despite attending school in the DMZ, she isn't worried for her safety. "People are worried about us, but soldiers are with us, and we do evacuation drills," she told Reuters. "So I don't think there is anything to be scared or worried about."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

49 of the craziest MTV 'Video Music Awards' outfits of all time

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miley cyrus 2015 vma

This Sunday marks the 34th anniversary of MTV's "Video Music Awards," and it's going to be as wild as ever. 

Hosted by Katy Perry, the night will include performances by Miley Cyrus, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, and Jared Leto's 30 Seconds to Mars. Pink is recieving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and will perform live as well. And with the release of Taylor Swift's new single Friday, rumors of a surprise Swift performance at the VMA's are swirling.

This year marks the first year of the "Moonperson," a gender-neutral replacement of the old "Moonmen" statues. Kendrick Lamar received eight nomination, the most of the night.

See who takes home the top prizes during the live awards show on Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. 

In the meantime, let's take a look back at some of the most memorable outfits to ever hit the VMA's.

Aly Weisman contributed to an older version of this post. 

Gwen Stefani dyed her hair and wore some jewels in 1998.



That same year, singer Marilyn Manson and actress Rose McGowan had an interesting couples look. McGowan's dress was barely there.



Lil' Kim rocked one of her most daring looks in 1999.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

There are 3 habits that waste the bulk of your time at work — and you probably don't realize you're doing them

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woman annoyed coworker talking mad angry upset fight sad

A big shock to people when we first meet is when they learn that I research drama in the workplace. I am a drama researcher.

I've actually been able to quantify how much time each person in the workplace spends in drama.

And it's two hours and 26 minutes a day.

Now, let's do some quick math. Take your team headcount, multiply by two and a half hours a day. The result is the amount of time and energy spent in unproductive thinking, dealing with tattling, resisting change, lack of buy in, lack of engagement.

Just imagine, when you think about people in human resources and leadership really wanting to make an impact on the bottom line, really wanting to fully utilize existing resources, if we could conserve two and a half hours per day per headcount, and put it back into the workplace, via focused energy or productivity or results, it would absolutely transform our workplaces in a positive way.

Yet the thing is, we've come to accept drama as a cost of doing business. We've simply accepted the conventional wisdom that if you have people, you will deal with some drama and there's nothing we can do about it.

But as a former therapist, I know that there are ways of thinking that produce better results. How do we get rid of waste in the workplace? Through better processes. So, if drama is emotional waste, how do you get rid of emotional waste in the workplace? You use better mental processes.

Here's a new line of thinking that is counterintuitive to conventional leadership wisdom, and one that we've experienced with our clients to generate better results: Leaders' jobs aren't to motivate and inspire and engage their employees; leaders' jobs are to teach people better mental processes by which they can eliminate drama (emotional waste), upcycle that energy and that time, and help others step into the power they already have to create a better workplace.

The first thing to be aware of as you work to generate better mental processes, is that you'll bump up against the ego. I'm not talking about the healthy, self-confidence ego, but the ego that narrates our own world, our filter through which we see our circumstances.

Our ego is a horrible source of information. It corrupts all data that comes in. And the way it primarily corrupts data or our view of our circumstances is to paint you as a victim. This filter is what generates the drama and emotional exhaustion we experience in the workplace.

Here are three common ways that ego generates tremendous waste — energy vampires if you will — in the workplace:

SEE ALSO: 18 quick and easy daily habits that can significantly improve your life

DON'T MISS: 10 simple but effective ways to make 2017 your most productive year yet, according to my busy coworkers

1. Wishing

"If only my boss, coworker, team, et. al were different." Wishing my current realities were different leads me to believe that the reason I can't succeed or be happy is my circumstances.

And our circumstances aren't the reasons we can't be happy or successful, our circumstances are the reality in which we must be happy and successful.

Accepting this makes happiness and success far more of a choice and less dependent on our circumstances. But the ego often keeps us wishing for a different hand to be dealt and distorts the basis of all of this.



2. Scorekeeping

This is all about keeping track of who gets what, why they seem to get it, and why I am not living in the perfect circumstances that my ego says I should.

The ego loves to see itself in life as one up or one down, and scorekeeping is a common reason why we head into the HR office to vent or hold mental energies that prevent us from taking the best and most helpful action.



3. Storytelling

So much of what we are worried about isn't even true.

When our circumstances get tough, and we take a step down instead of stepping up, our ego loves to jump in to our defense. In the absence of facts or information, it loves to connect the dots and create its own story, full of drama, of why we are helpless in our current reality and what has to change for us to give the gift of our presence, productivity or work.

I can interrupt my thinking, and edit my story by asking: "What do I know for sure?""What could I do next that would add value?""How can I increase our understanding and have more dialogue about the current reality?"

Work and relationships become this beautiful, peaceful place when I go beyond ego. It's that place in your brain that's all about innovation, collaboration and recognition.

What you might be realizing is self-awareness has a big role to play here. "I'm doing this to myself? Wow, I didn't even realize that."

So when people ask me for my best advice, I tell them, "Stop believing everything you think. Question most of what you think." This new awareness is groundbreaking in and of itself.

Let's take this one step further to the workplace: What role does leadership play to help reduce all of this drama? Unfortunately, many things we teach leaders today actually engage the ego, rather than diffuse the drama.

For instance, many of us are taught as leaders, everyone needs a chance to vent to comfort the upset employee and problem solve together. But venting is the ego's way of avoiding self-reflection.

You see, a person can't be in ego and self-reflect at the same time. In fact, when you study two-year-olds, and the ego is like a two-year old, they can't really hold two things in their minds at once.

For example, if they have a spoon and you want to get the spoon from them, the worst thing you do is just grab it. What you do is trade it. You distract them, "Do you want some Cheerios?" And they drop the spoon to pick up the Cheerios. Likewise, your ego can't hang on to the spoon and Cheerio at the same time; can't vent and self-reflect at the same time.

Conventional wisdom teaches leaders to grab the spoon, muscle through some feedback, tell them what they need to do, or even worse, enable their behavior through taking over with my own heroics and then blame you for being so entitled, right?

What I do is teach leaders a better way: to bypass the ego. If you're venting, I need to get you self-reflecting. Venting leads to more venting. It feels good by feeding our pleasure centers in the brain, but so does crack cocaine, and that's not really a lifestyle, right?

Yes, we let in the venting because we believe people just "need to get it off their chest," but then that leads to the wasted productivity and emotional waste of gossip, to more ego and pride-tattling.

A tool that leaders can immediately use when people come to vent is to quickly ask them a question that gets them into self-reflection. This question is as simple as, "Take a breath, your brain needs oxygen. Now, what would great look like? If you were great right now, if you were the most incredible employee, happiest, highest impact employee ever, what would you be doing?"

You see, everyone knows what great looks like, because "great" is the basis for which we judge other people on. And so the question, "What would great look like?" causes venting to stop, and switches back to the better part of your brain. Then all those things we teach people, like innovation, collaboration, creativity, team work; those come naturally, because those behaviors are our natural state once the drama is gone.

Cy Wakeman is a dynamic international keynote speaker, leadership expert and New York Times bestselling author who has spent over 20 years cultivating a revolutionary approach to leadership and work. To find more successful case studies that teach leaders a modern leadership philosophy and illustrates how accountability, not engagement, drives results, pre-order her new book, No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results. Contact her at info@cywakeman.com.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 of the best perks you get with an Amazon Prime membership (AMZN)

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amazon boxesAs a member of Amazon Prime, you get a convenient and well-publicized perk: free two-day shipping on almost any item on Amazon. 

But the $99-per-year membership actually gets you a lot more than expedited shipping. In fact, signing up for Prime unlocks features like Amazon's vast digital library of music, movies, television, and books; one-hour restaurant delivery; and unlimited cloud storage for your photos. 

And starting soon, Prime members will get special discounts at Whole Foods, thanks to Amazon's acquisition of the grocer, which is expected to close on Monday.

Here are 18 of the coolest benefits of Amazon Prime

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime members can upload their outfits and get a fashion expert's opinion — here's what it's like to use in person

1. Free two-day shipping

Most things you buy on Amazon are eligible for free two-day shipping, but there are a few exceptions:

- Some items that are fulfilled by Amazon Marketplace sellers

- Magazine subscriptions

- Personalized gift cards

- Items sent to international addresses and addresses in US territories, possessions, or protectorates (except for Puerto Rico)



2. Amazon Restaurants

For a $20 minimum order, you can get restaurant food delivered in less an hour in Manhattan, Orlando, Los Angeles, and 17 other metro areas. 



3. Prime Photos

A Prime membership also gives you access to Prime Photos, Amazon's cloud storage feature. Members get unlimited storage for photos, plus 5 GB for videos and documents. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 most destructive hurricanes in US history

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a hurricane

Hurricane Harvey is currently making its way toward Texas with winds as high as 80 miles per hour in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Hurricane season lasts from June to the end of November for the Atlantic Ocean. the US has seen plenty of catastrophic and costly storms throughout history, with single events causing billions of dollars in damage.

Here's a look at some of the most devastating, costly storms ever to hit the US.

SEE ALSO: Why your picture of the eclipse might have a little blue crescent hidden in it

DON'T MISS: Hurricane Harvey could devastate parts of Texas — here's what you need to know

Hurricane Opal, 1995: $5.1 billion

In 1995, Hurricane Opal devastated the Florida panhandle before hitting Alabama and Tennessee. The storm caused $5.1 billion worth of damage.  



Hurricane Isabel, 2003: $5.3 billion

Hurricane Isabel, the costliest hurricane of the 2003 season, made landfall in North Carolina, impacting much of the Outer Banks. It caused $5.3 billion in damages. 



Hurricane Floyd, 1999: $6.9 billion

Hurricane Floyd was a catastrophic storm because of the rain it brought. The downpours caused extreme flooding from North Carolina on up the East Coast as the Category 2 storm traveled north.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 7 best frozen foods you can buy at Trader Joe's

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trader joe'sThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Trader Joe's offers endless food options in their freezer section.
  • Not only are their frozen meals delicious, but they're also affordable.
  • From orange chicken to turkey burgers, these are the frozen items you should be buying at Trader Joe's.

One of the things we love most about Trader Joe's—other than being able to grocery shop and still afford to pay rent—is that it has everything we need, from apples to za’atar chèvre. The jackpot of all departments, though, is the freezer aisle, stocked with frozen items that put those 90s TV dinners to shame. Plus, with a few quick additions from the dairy or produce section, you can take any item from frozen to finished dish in no time.

Here are seven frozen foods from Trader Joe's we recommend having on hand when "from scratch" just isn't in the cards.

Turkey Burgers ($3)

Whether you're cooking for a crowd or want to make a quick dinner after work, these frozen turkey burgers are a great option. Remember: The trick to making a delicious turkey burger is the toppings, pile on the fresh vegetable or spice it up with Siracha mayo.



Cauliflower Pizza Crust ($4)

This gluten-free crust is the best thing to happen to pizza since pepperoni. It's a blank canvas for whatever toppings you desire, whether they be meat or veggies. This item is known to sell out fast, so you might want to grab two at a time.



Organic Riced Cauliflower ($2)

Not only dos this healthy rice substitute cook in four minutes, you can top it with pretty much anything. Sauté up some fresh vegetables and toss it with soy sauce and sesame oil to make fried cauliflower rice.



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13 items everyone will be wearing this fall

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thumb trends

Fall is just around the corner, and we can barely contain our excitement over the cable-knit sweaters we'll be wearing while sipping pumpkin spice-flavored drinks in just a few weeks' time.

As you go about the many fall activities you have planned, you'll probably want to look good. Luckily, that's not hard with all the seasonal trends fall has to offer, like chunky sweaters, cozy layers, and dark patterns.

We've rounded up some of the season's trendiest items to inspire your fall wardrobe below, from flannel shirts to suede skirts.

Two-piece separates

For a modern workplace ensemble, try a colorful set like the one pictured above from Zara. It's totally appropriate to wear suit pieces individually for a more casual look, too.

Double Breasted Casual Suit Jacket and Casual Suit Trousers from Zara, $69.90and $39.90 respectively



A pair of mules

Mules are a versatile wardrobe staple. These suede slip-ons would give even a simple outfit a seasonally appropriate accent.

Marta Mule Heel from Urban Outfitters, $59



A statement T-shirt

Statement T-shirts will be back in a big way this fall. Wear one casually with jeans or joggers or dress it up with a skirt or blazer.

ASOS CURVE T-Shirt with I am Woman Print from ASOS, $19



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The startup behind these sneakers is skyrocketing in popularity — and it's easy to understand why after trying them

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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.

Screen Shot 2017 08 24 at 4.36.03 PM

Allbirds is one of the hottest footwear brands out right now — and it's not because their shoes are made of wool.

The sneaker startup came about when Tim Brown, a New Zealand native, teamed up with San Francisco based engineer and renewables expert Joey Zwillinger.

The result was the Allbirds Wool Runners— a sneaker that was innovative, comfortable, and sustainable. The brand quickly became popular because of its use of merino wool.

While most people think wool would be hot and itchy, but Allbirds uses a proprietary dual-faced wool that's super soft and itch-free on the interior and dirt-resistant on the exterior.

With Allbirds' special construction, the wool actually has many natural properties that make for amazing sneakers. They're lightweight and breathable, cool in the heat, warm in the cold, and for those that like to go sockless, they're odor resistant. And the best part is, you can throw these sneakers in the washing machine, instead of meticulously scrubbing away stains like you would with traditional sneakers.

If you're looking for a pair of sneakers that are comfort, durable, stylish, and affordable, AllBirds is the solution.

Shop all Wool shoes at Allbirds now.

A few members of the Insider Picks team recently tried Allbirds Wool Loungers and had some high praise for them. The brand also sent over a few pairs of the Wool Runners and here's what the rest of the team had to say to say:

SEE ALSO: These are hands down our favorite boat shoes

Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

Before I even got to the actual shoes, my first impression on receiving my Allbirds Wool Runners was the box. As a sneaker collector, the box is sometimes just as important as the shoes themselves — it's definitely something I wouldn't throw away. Building on its efforts to improve sustainability, Allbirds ships its shoes in the same box that they're stored in. The box unfolds and two separate compartments hold each sneaker.

Once I did get to the shoes I was immediately impressed. When I think of lightweight sneakers, mesh or engineered knit comes to mind first — not wool. Upon learning about Allbirds, I actually thought wool sneakers was a bad idea, but Wool Runners definitely proved me wrong. 

The Allbirds sneakers are super comfortable, lightweight, and stylish. I'm able to wear them all day long because of the plush insoles and flexible outsole. I went with the Natural Grey pair for a minimal and subdued look, and absolutely love them.

Buy the Allbirds Men's Wool Runners in Natural Grey, $95



Connie Chen, Insider Picks intern

Silicon Valley is obsessed with these wool shoes, and now I understand why. I love wearing sneakers with dresses or skirts to add a sporty-casual feel, and my white Allbirds Runners were a seamless addition into my weekend daytime look.

One day, I wore these shoes after spending the entire previous day in heeled boots, and my sore feet seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. I’d normally be a little paranoid trying to care for bright white shoes, but I don’t worry at all about any scuffs or dirt that attack these shoes since I can just throw them in the washing machine at any time.

Buy the Allbirds Women's Wool Runners in Natural White, $95



Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks guides editor

I don't wear sneakers very often, but when I do, they have to be comfortable and stylish. The Allbirds Runners meet both requirements in spades. These merino wool shoes are ridiculously soft — I couldn't stop touching them when they first arrived!

I've never worn sneakers without socks before, but the wool was so silky and smooth that I gave it a try, and it worked. The Runners are super comfortable to walk in, and they're also very light and breathable with or without socks. 

Buy the Allbirds Women's Wool Runners in Kotare Lavender, $95

 



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The White House underwent major renovations — here's what the Oval Office and other rooms look like now

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White House

The White House underwent major renovations over the past 17 days, during which President Donald Trump spent most of his time at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf resort

The renovations, which were approved during President Barack Obama's administration, included an overhaul of the White House's heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, upgrades to the building's IT system, mess hall, and outdoor spaces, and cosmetic upgrades, including new carpeting, fresh paint, and the addition of several golden eagle sculptures.

Trump picked out new wallpaper for the Oval Office and will design a new rug, according to Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Jacobs.

"[Trump] wanted to bring back the luster and glory of the White House," one official told reporters during a media tour of the White House on Tuesday.

The White House has been plagued with issues including ceiling leaks and a house-fly infestation, according to CNN. (The insects have been an issue for several years — a video of Obama killing one of the White House flies went viral in 2009, and Trump reportedly tasked his former chief of staff with killing one earlier this year.) 

According to one account, Trump told staffers and members of his New Jersey golf resort that his new home is "a real dump"— a remark he later denied making. 

"I love the White House, one of the most beautiful buildings (homes) I have ever seen. But Fake News said I called it a dump - TOTALLY UNTRUE," he tweeted earlier this month.

SEE ALSO: The White House is undergoing major renovations — here's what the Oval Office and other rooms look like right now

SEE ALSO: 'More eagles': Here's what the White House will look like after Trump redecorates

The stairs descending from the South Portico porch of the White House underwent a renovation.



This is the Oval Office, photographed on Tuesday, after renovations.



Here's the West Wing lobby of the White House.



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How Conor McGregor went from Dublin plumber to the king of combat sports

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Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor is one of the most dominant fighters alive.

A two-division champion in UFC, McGregor now finds himself as the king of combat sports, living a lavish life and getting ready for the biggest fight of his career — 12 rounds in a boxing ring against the undefeated Floyd "Money" Mayweather — and the likely nine-figure payday that will come with it.

But while McGregor is a natural to the superstar life, it wasn't something he was born into. Coming from a working-class family from the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, McGregor found his way through childhood gyms, a stint as a plumber's apprentice, and eventual worldwide fame as the most Notorious fighter on the planet and the biggest name in the UFC.

Below we take a look a Conor McGregor's rise to the top of the world.

Conor McGregor was born on July 14, 1988 to his parents Tony and Mags. His parents claim he was born with clenched fists.

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Source: Bleacher Report



McGregor would spend his youth in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin. Once his interest in Manchester United gave way to an interest in fighting, he would train in at the Crumlin Boxing Club.

Source: ESPN



In Dublin, McGregor would meet his now longtime coach John Kavanagh. After going into one of Kavanagh’s gyms in Dublin, McGregor beat up two of the best fighters there in a sparring session that he took a bit too seriously. Kavanagh responded by “pinning him and throwing heavy blows until Conor promised he was there for training and not for a street brawl.”

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Source: ESPN



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