I embarked on my first Arctic cruise to Svalbard, a remote Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in 2023 with Aurora Expeditions, a small ship cruising company that operates in the polar regions. Earlier this year, I set sail again to explore the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. At first glance, the two regions appear as mirror images—icy, remote, and full of extremes. But despite their shared latitudes and frozen landscapes, each has distinct identities and offers unique perspectives on our planet’s rawness and fragility.

Geography versus topography

Piotr Damski, an expedition guide and Arctic expert with the company, suggests differentiating the two based on geography and not just topography. Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean, while the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land. While towering, jagged mountains are indicative of Antarctica, the Arctic isn’t entirely flat. Greenland, Baffin Island and Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen) all have dramatic peaks of their own, but in general if you’re seeing a vast, frozen ocean with land on the horizon, it’s probably the Arctic.

Another key difference is crossing into the polar circles. Both mark latitudes where the sun never sets for at least one day a year. However, because Antarctica is so vast, most cruise ships don’t reach the Antarctic Circle. In contrast, it’s easier to venture inside the Arctic Circle , where the midnight sun illuminates the ice in midsummer. 

In terms of size Antarctica is larger in landmass, while the Arctic has a greater total area including ice-covered waters. Though poles apart (pun intended), Antarctica is colder than the Arctic, with winter temperatures reaching -90 degrees C (-130 degrees F), while the Arctic remains milder with temperatures as low as -69 degrees C (-92 degrees F) due to the ocean’s moderating effect.

Whaling in the polar regions

While whaling has been around for thousands of years, commercial whaling began as early as the 17th century. Whales were hunted globally almost to extinction. Whale oil fueled street lamps and lubricated machines in Europe, and their baleen was used for corsets and fishing rods.

Because the Arctic is surrounded by big, populous continents, it’s no surprise that early polar exploration, research, and commercial whaling took off there first. By the 17th century, whalers had already set up shop in Svalbard, rendering blubber into oil on-site and shipping it to Europe. When Arctic whale populations dwindled, whalers turned their sights south.

Unlike the small, scattered Arctic whaling sites that left little trace, Antarctic operations were massive industrial slaughterhouses. In the early 20th century, over 175,000 whales were killed just in South Georgia, a remote island in the South Atlantic. At Deception Island, a former whaling station, rusting machinery and scattered bones on black volcanic sand are haunting reminders of this history. Experiencing it first-hand made me reflect on how much of the world’s past remains frozen in time, waiting to be uncovered.

Exploration and science

For centuries, the poles have been at the forefront of exploration. Antarctic explorations started in the late 18th century. Between 1897 and 1922, the “Heroic Age of Polar Exploration,” 17 major expeditions contributed to scientific discoveries on its ecology. The race to the South Pole had a clear winner with Roald Amundsen reaching it first in 1911, beating Sir Robert Falcon Scott by five weeks. Today, Antarctica hosts 70 research stations from countries including Argentina, Chile, Great Britain, and the U.S. supporting both year-round and summer-only research.

In contrast, Arctic exploration dates to the Ancient Greeks, intensifying in the 15th century with the search for new trade routes. The race to the North Pole was equally dramatic, with Frederick Cook (1908), Robert Peary (1909), and even Roald Amundsen (1926) all having disputed claims about being first. Unlike Antarctica, where expeditions left permanent markers, the Arctic’s shifting sea ice makes historical claims difficult to verify.

Polar wildlife

For travelers, the best wildlife encounters tend to be on the outer islands like South Georgia and South Shetland in Antarctica and Svalbard in the Arctic rather than the mainland because wildlife thrives near nutrient-rich waters. 

The Arctic is home to polar bears, while Antarctica’s most famous residents are penguins but each region hosts seals, whales and seabirds uniquely adapted to these extreme environments. In Antarctica, massive southern elephant seals take center stage while in the Arctic, it’s the walrus. The wandering albatross, with the world’s largest wingspan, glides over the Southern Ocean, while the north is home to puffins which I find to be one of the most charming birds I’ve ever seen. 

And while polar bears roam the Arctic, Antarctica has its own top predator, the leopard seal. Unlike the playful seals most people picture, these animals are sleek, fast and incredibly intelligent hunters. They are the closest thing Antarctica has to a polar bear in terms of sheer dominance. And of course, both have many different species of whales. At the end of the day, wildlife is one of the biggest highlights of any polar adventure. 

A traveler’s perspective

I had an incredible time in both regions, and traveling with Aurora Expeditions made it both exciting and educational, with expert-led lectures and hands-on citizen science projects providing valuable insights into each. 

In the Arctic, the thrill of navigating sea ice and the richness of wildlife made it more impressive than I expected. The animals share space with Indigenous communities that have lived here for centuries so they can sometimes be difficult to spot. I remember watching a polar bear hunt on the ice, then settle in for a nap, while an opportunistic Arctic fox stole scraps of meat before dashing off. The opportunity to experience the midnight sun and, if timed right, the northern lights, added another magical layer to an Arctic cruise.

That said, Antarctica is equally special. At first glance, its vast, inhospitable terrain evokes a sense of silence. But once you tune in, you realize just how loud the bottom of the world really is. The blows and whistles of humpback whales mix with the raucous squabble of penguins, only to be shattered by the thunderous crack of calving glaciers. Meanwhile, in sheltered coves, ice floes bob rhythmically in the current, creating a mesmerizing soundscape.

The wildlife in Antarctica is also remarkably bold. At Recess Cove, curious humpback whales swam around our ship, their blows, tail slaps and spy hops adding a playfulness in the air. At Petermann Island, a lively welcome party of chinstrap, gentoo, and Adelie penguins enthusiastically greeted us. And in Lindblad Cove, massive icebergs dwarfed our ship, making those in the Arctic seem modest.

I loved the idea of being “bi-polar” in the best possible way and appreciating the unique lessons they both offer. As melting sea ice and rising temperatures rapidly transform both poles, environmentalist John Sawhill’s words take on new urgency: “A society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy.”

Photo courtesy of Karthika Gupta www.culturallyours.com

The post I’ve Traveled to Both Polar Regions. Here’s What I Learned About Being ‘Bi-polar’ appeared first on SUCCESS.

• More time, fewer interruptions. We all could use a few more hours in the day, and waking up early gives you that time, often without distractions. “In the early morning hours, it’s often quiet, which can allow for better focus, intention and planning of the day without the distraction of emails, phone calls or social/personal obligations,” says Courtney Zentz, MBA, corporate sleep coach and founder of Tiny Transitions.
• Mental clarity. “Your cognitive functioning will be better, giving you more ability to focus on tasks and be more mindful in their execution,” says Juli Shulem, a certified productivity coach and owner of Coach Juli.
• Increased motivation. Shulem also notes that motivation increases when you get tasks done early in the day. “This spurs us on to complete more tasks.”
• Natural boosts of cortisol and serotonin. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll have better energy levels with your natural cortisol boost that should happen in the morning, according to Zentz.

If you’re a night owl who wants to become an early bird, these five expert tips can help you to wake up earlier, allowing you to accomplish more or simply enjoy your mornings more fully. Just be prepared for the changes to take some time.

1. Gradually transition to an earlier bedtime

Sleep-deprived people are less productive overall; they have difficulty focusing, making decisions and solving problems, and tend to make more mistakes than those who’ve had adequate sleep. So, it’s important not to miss out on sleep just to wake up earlier. Instead, make a plan to go to bed earlier. Small incremental changes to your bedtime are key to waking up earlier, according to Zentz. 

“My advice for those looking to change is to begin your shift slowly, about 15 to 30 minutes a day, as you work your bedtime earlier to support the full seven to nine hours of sleep that most adults need for optimal restoration,” she says. “This means you can’t just jump from a 1 a.m. bedtime to 9 p.m. That needs to happen gradually as your body clock adjusts.”

As you make your bedtime earlier, also set your alarm for 15 to 30 minutes earlier. Adjust your sleep and wake time every day or every other day until you hit your desired wake time. 

2. Make a morning plan

Lisa Medalie, PsyD, the founder of DrLullaby, recommends committing to three steps after you wake up every morning, such as taking a stroll outside, making coffee and writing in your journal.

“Making your morning steps non-optional and committed ahead of time allows you to take the decision-making out of the morning,” she says. “Often, the reason people struggle to wake at their desired time is because when partially waking to their alarm, they still feel they have a decision to make.

“The sleepy brain does not modulate thought errors or make decisions well, so it’s best to have committed to your morning plans ahead so that you are not deciding from the sleepy brain,” she adds.

To overcome that, prepare your morning steps from the night before. “If your new plan is to rise at 5 a.m. and journal while you have coffee, then schedule your coffee to brew at 4:50 a.m. and set your journal next to the coffee pot as a gentle reminder,” says Zentz. “If you plan to go to the gym, lay out your clothes for the workout before bedtime and pack your post-workout gym bag the night before.”

3. Wind down in the evening

Doing things like drinking caffeinated beverages, looking at your phone or even eating too close to bedtime won’t help you get the sleep you need for an earlier start to your day.

“Our bodies need cues telling us it is time to get ready to sleep,” says Shulem. She suggests avoiding all screen activities and refraining from eating two hours before bedtime.

Drinking alcohol too close to bedtime is another no-no. “[Alcohol] suppresses melatonin and REM sleep, among other impacts. So, while it might allow you to fall asleep faster, it will often disrupt the overall restorative quality of sleep,” says Zentz.

It’s also crucial to create a bedtime routine that works for you.

“Do relaxing activities before bedtime such as reading, meditating, stretching or talking with friends or family members,” says Shulem. “Then get ready for bed—change clothes, wash up, brush teeth, etc. Doing the same activities nightly will create a ritual which will trigger your brain [to know] what to expect next: sleep.”

4. Be prepared to fight ‘sleep inertia’

“While transitioning from sleep to wake, we experience sleep inertia. If we are not prepared to fight this, we will most likely decline the morning alarm we’ve set,” says Medalie. “The mood slump, grogginess and slow thinking when first coming out of sleep can be combatted though.”

Sunlight can really help you wake up. “In the morning hours, get exposure to the morning sunlight as soon as it rises. This is the best way to signal to your body that you are resetting your circadian rhythm,” says Zentz. To fight sleep inertia, Medalie also starts her days by getting out in the sun and listening to a podcast or audiobook. 

Taking that first step out of bed in the morning is often the hardest part of waking up. Shulem suggests placing your alarm clock across the room so you have to physically get out of bed, which will help set you into motion for the day.

5. Stay consistent

Consistency is the key to achieving your early-morning goals. Just one missed day can disrupt your routine and make the following days more challenging.

“To develop a new sleeping routine, as with most things we want to put in place, it will need to be done consistently,” says Shulem. “Once you achieve your desired bedtime and wake-up times, keep this going every day. This new schedule needs to become a habit.”

Shulem notes that if you have to go to bed later than usual because of a special event or other circumstances, try your best to plan it on a night when you don’t have to wake up early the next morning. 

“Disrupting your sleep schedule is a lot like jetlag, as a major change in your sleep schedule can take many days to acclimate to. The only way we maintain a new habit is by consistently repeating the behavior,” says Shulem.

Photo by Reezky Pradata/shutterstock.com

The post Stop Hitting the Snooze Button and Have a More Productive Day, With These Expert Tips appeared first on SUCCESS.

Whether they’re quotes about spring or about the metaphorical ideas of personal renewal and rebirth, quotes about resting and rebuilding can bring a sense of hope and new life. They can uplift and energize you, sparking laughter and happy moments. They can share positive perspectives you can embrace and use to brighten your heart. Use them for inspiration or pass them along to cherished friends and treasured family members, and share the love. To help with this resetting process, here’s a carefully curated collection of refocus and renewal quotes. 

Powerful Renewal Quotes to Help You Refocus And Reset 

Sometimes, it’s helpful and self-nurturing to meditate on refocus quotes that allow your heart to center your thoughts and truly feel grateful. Reset quotes can help you transform your life and renew your enthusiasm for life’s blessings. 

• “Perhaps the earth could teach us/everything would seems dead/and then be alive.” —Pablo Neruda, “Keeping Still”
• “There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.”—Franz Kafka, Conversations with Kafka
• “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” —Joseph Campbell, Reflections on the Art of Living
• “Doing those deeply unfashionable things—slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting—is a radical act now, but it is essential.” —Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
• “It is amazing how a new child can refocus one’s direction seconds after its birth. Everything falls into a feeling of ‘rightness.’” —David Bowie
• “I love how spring is a season of renewal. I see a renewal in the foliage and feel a renewal in my soul as the winter fades away.” —Jamie Smith
• “Starting over is never easy, but it can be the first step toward a life filled with renewed purpose and unexpected grace. Rebuilding your life is possible.” —Thom Singer  

Related: 95 Uplifting Quotes About New Beginnings

Encouraging Quotes to Remind You to Rest And Recharge 

A meaningful quote about rest can remind us that downtime is crucial to recharge yourself. This kind of self-care isn’t selfish. It helps you to be your best self and have the capacity to help others. As the flight attendant mantra of “put your own oxygen mask on first” reminds us, when you don’t have enough air, you can’t help those you love. Use these quotes about resting and recharging to give yourself permission to stop and relax.

• “If you want rest, you have to take it. You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it.” —Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
• “You rest now. Rest for longer than you are used to resting. Make a stillness around you, a field of peace. Your best work, the best time of your life will grow out of this peace.” —Peter Heller, The Painter  
• “Sleep fully, then work intensely. Focus deeply, then relax completely. Give each phase your full attention.” —James Clear
• “If we know how to be content, we can relax our endless striving and welcome serenity.” —Haemin Sunim, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down 
• “We have a choice. We can spend our whole life suffering because we can’t relax with how things really are, or we can relax and embrace the open-endedness of the human situation, which is fresh, unfixated, unbiased.” —Pema Chödrön,  Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change
• “Rest is not laziness. It is a crucial part of the cycle of life, a period of renewal that prepares us for what’s ahead.” —Louise Vallace

Related: 13 Ways to Take Care of Yourself Every Day

Quotes On Rejuvenating And Refreshing Your Spirit

Just as a long cool drink of fresh spring water can soothe a dry throat, these quotes about rejuvenation and refreshing your spirit can refill your innermost self.

• “What’s so fascinating and frustrating and great about life is that you’re constantly starting over, all the time, and I love that.” —Billy Crystal
• “Some knowing is never pursued, only received. And for that, you need to be still.” —Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath
• “It’s a good idea always to do something relaxing prior to making an important decision in your life.” —Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage
• “The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” ―E. Joseph Cossman
• “Unplug from people, noise, thinking and being awake. This stops all the stimulus coming at you. Then when you reconnect it’ll be like rebooting yourself emotionally.” —Danielle Bernock
• “On my new path, I’ve embraced that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. I’m me.” —Sophie Lemieux
• “Know your sources of rejuvenation: the amount of solitude you need to feel fresh again, the activities that strengthen your creativity, the people who light up your spirit.” —Yung Pueblo, Clarity & Connection 

Empowering Quotes On Rebuilding And Resetting Your Life   

We’ve collected some powerful quotes about rebuilding yourself. If you feel like you’re in a stage where you are rebuilding, you’re not alone. Find comfort, solidarity and understanding in what others have to say with these quotes about resetting life.  

• “Learning to relax and conserve your natural energies is one of the greatest gifts you can offer life.” —Iyanla Vanzant
• “You are worthy of love and respect—first and foremost from yourself.” —Lisa Nichols
• “You will need help to start moving in the direction of your joy. You can’t do it alone. Nobody has been able to do it alone.” —Amarvani 
• “When the mind is allowed to relax, inspiration often follows.” —Phil Jackson, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success
• “Today, I will relax, breathe, and go with the flow.” —Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go
• “Outward circumstances may not always change in a hurry, but it IS possible to experience refreshing and hope in the midst of challenge.” —Glenda O’Neill

Reset, Restart, Refocus: Short Sayings to Inspire

Sometimes, the most succinct sayings can be the most impactful—and that’s what we’ve gathered together for these reset, restart and refocus quotes: pithy, powerful sayings. 

• “We must believe we are worthy of rest.” —Tricia Hersey, Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto 
• “Rest, let your body relax and grow.” —Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder
• “Resting is not a waste of time. It is an investment in well-being.” —Adam Grant
• “Renewal. An infusion of new strength, sufficient for the day.” —Fran Haley
• “When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.” —Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Embrace These Renewal Quotes And The New Life You’re Creating

There is beauty all around us. Sometimes, though, we need to stop to smell the roses—whether they are literal blooms or the blessings that surround us. So, whenever you need a boost, we invite you to brew a cup of tea or prepare another favorite beverage, take a few deep breaths and read these reset, restart and refocus quotes once again.

The post 31 Refocus, Renew And Reset Quotes to Inspire Your Life   appeared first on SUCCESS.

Gonzalez-Santana, who uses a wheelchair, is among more than one in four—or 70 million— adults in the U.S. who reported having a disability, according to the CDC. However, many entrepreneurs with disabilities and experts in the field say finding resources to support their small business dreams is challenging.

The National Disability Institute

Through its Small Business Hub, the nonprofit National Disability Institute (NDI) has spent the past several years working with federal and state government agencies and other organizations to make their educational services more accessible for entrepreneurs with disabilities. NDI provides entrepreneurial support services including a streaming TV channel, webinars, podcasts, and in-person gatherings. Beyond NDI, two other business incubators specialize in this sector; Synergies Work an 2Gether International.

The need is great. According to the National Disability Institute, one in four people with disabilities live in poverty and experience barriers to wage-based employment. An average of just 22.5 percent of people with disabilities were employed in 2023— an all-time high, according to the Center for American Progress, yet still a small portion of the population. Without wage-based employment, many of these individuals experience financial instability, which compromises their ability to live independently. 

Entrepreneurship can be a viable alternative—and it often is. People with disabilities start businesses at a higher rate than the general population; 9.5% of people with disabilities are entrepreneurs, compared with 6.1% of Americans without disabilities, according to the Small Business Administration.

Primed for entrepreneurship

“Many of the entrepreneurs we work with, which has been way over 1,000 in the last four years, … have said… this world is just not set up for me,” says Nikki Powis, NDI’s director of small business programs. She observes that many of the entrepreneurs the NDI has worked with have faced difficulty earning wage-based employment. “A lot of folks have experienced… assumptions about their abilities and skills, and so have sort of given up trying to get a job and decided they’re going to create their own.”  

Gonzalez-Santana says she was building entrepreneurial skills, such as creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, navigating her daily life. “I’ve been employing caretakers for 15 years. So, when you put that in perspective, that’s an extremely long amount of experience in the human resources aspect, right? It’s hiring; it’s training; it’s firing; it’s all those things,” she says. “I can’t get out of bed unless someone gets me out. So, imagine all the logistics that go into that; making sure there’s somebody here to do it. Having a backup plan. All those types of things that we just naturally have to adapt to in order to live our lives.” 

Being her own boss and controlling her own schedule is also conducive to Gonzalez-Santana’s lifestyle needs. “[With] my body, I have moments where I’m feeling really great. I have moments when I’m not. That kind of comes and goes. So, the idea of working flexible schedules is that… I’m able to manage it based on… when I feel the best,” she says.

Powis says entrepreneurs with disabilities face the same challenges as any other person starting a business and that they need a support system. Just as a tech genius may need to hire marketing support, or a creative may need to seek out a financial whiz, entrepreneurs with disabilities may need employees, contractors, or parents/family members to assist with various aspects of their businesses. NDI works one-on-one with entrepreneurs to identify their need areas and connect them with resources via an integrated resource team model.

Gonzalez-Santana channeled her dream of starting a business into classes and mentorship with SCORE, which bills itself as the country’s largest network of volunteer expert business mentors. From her SCORE mentor, she says she learned about the vitality and viability of entrepreneurship, as well as tactical information for daily business operations.

Government and corporate support

Entrepreneurs with disabilities may hesitate to start their own businesses out of concerns that doing so will cause them to lose disability benefits and/or Medicaid; however, it may be possible to maintain benefits—and many entrepreneurs have successfully done so. 

Existing entrepreneurs may in turn hesitate to disclose their disability because they’ve experienced ableism and worry that sharing will lead to other businesses or customers not wanting to do business with them, Powis says.   

However, disclosing a disability may lead to additional opportunities. Individuals must identify their disability to tap into NDI resources, and the institute encourages people to share. Historically, businesses that receive Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) certification, which indicates a business is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by a person with a disability, have received priority federal contracting. 

These certifications also assist with private sector contracts. Disability IN helps certify businesses and links them to organizations hoping to diversify their supply chains. “There are doors that open and funding that’s available if you disclose you have a disability. But it’s ultimately… up to the person and what their experience has been and whether they want to do that or not,” Powis says.

Working within the system

Government resources are available for the tenacious, Gonzalez-Santana says. She tapped into the vocational rehabilitation services department in her home state of Florida, which helped with vehicle modifications and desk equipment to start her business, as well as funding her master’s degree. 

However, she found the department wasn’t open to or encouraging of entrepreneurship; it took resourcefulness on her part to navigate the system. “There’s definitely some education that’s needed,” she says. “However [if] we look at the positive side, [vocational rehabilitation departments have] huge budgets that they can spend in order to get you the things that you need.”

Powis says the federal and state agencies NDI has worked with to date have been open to identifying where they could do more to connect with entrepreneurs with disabilities and/or make their existing resources more accessible. “They need to be at the table. They need to be part of the conversations. They need to be willing and open to hearing the voices of the entrepreneurs and business owners with disabilities and hearing where there needs to be some change,” she says.

Regardless of the sphere, when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities Gonzalez-Santana says communication is key. “Most people with disabilities… they know what works best for them, and if you’re given the opportunity to discuss that openly and freely, without judgment or fear …and both sides are just listening to each other, I think that would really just make everything flow,” she says.

Photo by SeventyFour/shutterstock.com

The post How to Support Entrepreneurs with Disabilities appeared first on SUCCESS.

Survey finds 41% of young workers are sabotaging AI strategies

Recent research from enterprise startup Writer has found that while U.S. companies are making considerable efforts to integrate AI, employees remain largely skeptical. Writer surveyed 800 employees and 800 C-suite executives from various industries such as financial services, health care, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, retail and consumer goods and technology. All those surveyed were regular users of generative AI. 

The survey discovered a significant gap in attitudes toward AI between C-suite executives and employees. While 75% of executives believe their company’s AI rollout over the past year has been successful, only 45% of employees agree. Some employees are so resistant to AI that they have deliberately tried to block adoption efforts: 41% of millennial and Gen Z employees admit to sabotaging their company’s AI strategy by rejecting AI tools or outputs. 

73% of companies commit $1M+ to AI despite workforce anxiety

Employees’ anxieties about AI are understandable. To some, AI’s growing presence is the first step toward their roles being phased out. Even as anxiety around AI grows, businesses are doubling down on its potential to reduce costs. According to HFS Research and Globality, AI-driven autonomous sourcing can reduce operational costs by 20%, enhancing productivity and accelerating speed-to-market—key advantages for leaders managing inflationary challenges.

With 73% of companies investing at least $1 million annually in generative AI, according to Writer, businesses are embracing these tools as long-term solutions. In health care, AI chatbots are now managing appointment bookings and routine questions, reducing the availability of administrative roles. In tech, AI-driven coding platforms are streamlining repetitive programming tasks, limiting the need for full-time junior developers.

Do companies have a real AI plan? Employees aren’t convinced

Though workers worry about AI affecting job security, the survey found that 81% of employees and nearly all C-suite executives (97%) would still prefer to work at a company that uses generative AI. Many workers see AI adoption as a sign of a company’s long-term success, boosting their confidence in future security and career prospects—at least for those who can avoid being replaced. 

The survey also found a divide in perceptions of AI strategy. While 89% of C-suite executives believe their companies has a solid long-term plan, only 57% of employees agree. Just 33% of employees in the survey feel their company is well-grounded in AI literacy. 

AI literacy remains an ongoing challenge for many companies racing to adapt. Major organizations are now recognizing the urgent need to upskill not just executives but the entire workforce, ensuring that everyone understands how to work with AI effectively and to a reasonable standard. While AI is certainly causing “deep rifts” within companies and, in some cases, even “tearing apart” organizations (at least according to almost half of executives), Writer CEO May Habib argues that this shouldn’t overshadow the positive potential of generative AI moving forward.

“The future belongs to the enterprises that can turn AI enthusiasm into business reinvention. Generative AI holds transformative potential, but it’s also creating deep rifts within companies that are relying on a patchwork of point solutions or developing internal apps in a silo,” she said. 

Closing the intelligence gap: Why AI strategies must include everyone

Writer points to a divide that goes beyond AI, exposing a deeper disconnect between leadership and employees as organizations navigate rapid technological change. 

Executives see AI as a game-changer, a tool that can drive profitability and efficiency. But for workers, AI often represents uncertainty, a force that could alter their roles or make them obsolete. Many organizations choose to sidestep these concerns rather than confront them. In doing so, they inadvertently create intelligence gaps, limiting employees to AI-driven insights for routine tasks while keeping them out of strategic and big picture decision-making. 

Successful AI integration requires organizations to balance innovation with investment in human capital. A workforce that feels valued and secure is essential; otherwise, even the most ambitious strategies can fall apart. For this reason, AI integration cannot be a top-down effort. Without full workforce involvement, adoption risks being incomplete, ineffective and burdened by internal struggles. Writer’s research suggests that while employees are still generally optimistic about AI, concerns arise when discussions shift to job security and trust. For most organizations, this is the more manageable of two challenges—if approached with pragmatism and honesty. 

Photo from Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

The post Nearly Half of Executives Say AI is Dividing Their Company, Survey Reveals appeared first on SUCCESS.

If it’s any comfort, you are not alone if you’re unhappy in your current job. Nearly 6 in 10 workers are considering a search for a new job in 2025, according to a recent survey by Resume Templates. And 28% of respondents cited poor management as their reason for wanting to move on.

In a 2014 survey, 59% of employees interviewed reported working for a micromanager at some point in their careers. The survey also found the constant scrutiny negatively impacted most workers: 68% of those who felt they’d been micromanaged said it decreased their morale and 55% said it hurt their productivity.

Tales from the front lines

Beth Ezekiel has a computer science degree from an Ivy League university and was working for a software development company. She wrote code all day and made sure everything was running before she left for the evening. It wasn’t long before her manager started rewriting all her code every night. 

“Each morning I would find him pacing outside my office so he could go over all the changes he made, none of which were necessary. As this was only my second job after graduation, I thought maybe this is how companies operate,” she says. “I lasted two years there but then decided to leave as the situation never improved.”

Don’t think micromanaging only happens to entry-level employees. John Stanton was a very experienced CFO of a manufacturing company in New York. After about three months, he realized the CEO was not only a micromanager but a bully as well. “I woke up at 5:45 a.m. one day and saw seven texts from him, starting at 4 a.m., wanting an update on something,” he says. “The texts got angrier and angrier because I hadn’t responded. Each day he had to know every detail of what I was working on and would tell me to send an email to someone, dictating every word of what I should say.”

At the office holiday party, Stanton says the manager even told his staff what great things to say to his wife about him so she would know how valuable he was to the company. “He would not tolerate any kind of conversation when I tried to improve the relationship and would just say that I was not performing up to par. I lasted six months before I decided I had to leave.”  

Why managers micromanage 

So, why are some bosses so controlling? Steve McClatchy, author of Leading Relationships: Build Meaningful Connections, Eliminate Conflict, and Radically Improve Engagement, says micromanagement is not always a bad thing. “Micromanagement is a tool in the toolbox of a manager that needs to be complemented with macromanagement,” he says. Macromanagement means giving employees a lot of autonomy.

He notes that micromanagement is often a trust issue. “If the manager was promoted because they mastered a certain skill and, as a result, became the best performer, then their tendency as a manager might be to teach everyone to do a task exactly the way they used to do it. The problem with this approach is it leaves out the ability for that task to be completed a different way.” 

Strategies to manage the micromanager

If a micromanager is driving you crazy, you do have options beyond finding another job. First, I find complaining to HR is usually not a great strategy. While trying to be helpful, they may go to your boss and say, “Mary Smith was in my office today saying that she is unhappy with how you constantly micromanage.” It will upset your boss that you took the issue outside the group, and you might set yourself 10 steps back when trying to improve the situation.

McClatchy suggests meeting with your micromanager and saying something like, “‘I need your help. I could be off base with this, but I’m sensing that you’re worried about my ability to complete the task (or project) successfully. I often find myself spending a lot of time updating you on the completion of a task versus spending that time working on it. What do you think?’ 

“From here you would navigate the conversation towards what you are looking for, which is to receive more macromanagement,” he says. “Ask your boss what they would need to see, hear or  experience to have trust and confidence that you can produce the end result.”

Gail Welch is a retired vice president of a large defense contractor, and over the years, she worked out great strategies to deal with a micromanager. “First you need to build a foundation of trust,” she advises. “Always meet your deadlines and if you can, turn in assignments a day or two early.”

When assigned a project, Welch would come up with at least two ideas on how to accomplish the work. The first would be a traditional, straightforward approach and the second would be more creative. 

“I would always emphasize how this new idea is grounded in the company’s culture and how they work with a customer,” she says. “You also want to get buy-in from your internal stakeholders and even bring another person, such as [from] finance, to a planning session with your boss. Always keep in mind their tolerance level for creativity. When you are successful a couple of times, your boss is more assured that they can rely on you.”

Welch says she would then ask, “‘How often do you want me to brief you on my progress? How do you like to communicate—by email, phone or by swinging by your office?’ I would also frequently send out ‘Heads Up on XYZ Project’ emails so my boss always had sound bites if he was in a meeting with his management or a customer,” she adds. “You never want them to be caught not being in the know. Basically, you have to adjust your style to their style and be on the same page—and your page is his page.”

Give these tactics a try and you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment that you managed your micromanager. 

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The post How to Manage the Micromanager appeared first on SUCCESS.

Evolving data privacy and security risks along with ethical concerns have pushed AI literacy and basic data privacy fluency into every function of the workplace. Many companies are now screening all candidates on their ability to handle AI tools responsibly. The days when data privacy was solely IT’s problem are over. 

Companies also want to know that the people they’re employing are future ready. For companies with low churn rates, it’s especially important to invest in someone who shows an interest and ability to master an ever-evolving roster of tools to improve productivity in their role or function.

As a prospective candidate for a job, expect to be asked about data handling, your understanding of AI’s limitations and the ability to spot potential ethical issues before they become problems. As a marketing, sales and creative AI trainer and AI consultant, I regularly work with recruiters and executives to create future-ready hiring processes for non-technical roles. These questions regularly make it into the hiring process, so be prepared to answer them. 

“What is your level of AI fluency?”

This seemingly straightforward question is actually a test of your business judgment. Hiring managers don’t need you to explain large language models or neural networks. They want to know if you can meaningfully contribute to their AI initiatives from day one.

The trick is showing progression in your AI journey. Maybe you started using AI to streamline email responses, then graduated to more complex applications like data analysis or content creation. Whatever your path, frame it as a thoughtful evolution rather than a scattershot approach to the latest tech trends.

Talk about your increasingly advanced applications of projects, and tie your use of tools to financial or productivity gains if you can. For example, if a task that used to take you three days now takes you six hours, that’s going to be a meaningful win for a prospective employer.

“How do you measure AI effectiveness?”

Are you using AI because it’s trendy, or because it actually improves business outcomes? Do you know whether using AI is a lost cause or if it’s producing measurable results in the business?

Skip the vague efficiency claims. Instead, share specific examples where AI measurably improved your work. Explain how the process used to work before in brief, what changes the team made once they started using AI, and how it improved productivity, boosted revenue, halved customer resolution time, etc.

“How do you teach others to use AI effectively?”

Companies need people who can help their colleagues adopt new technologies without feeling overwhelmed. This question shows whether you can translate complex concepts into practical applications.

Share your teaching philosophy and back it up with results. If you taught your department how to use a specific AI tool, talk about your methods for teaching. Explain how you help others grasp the tools and how you help them troubleshoot and reach fluency.

“What AI tools do you rely on most?”

This question separates the amateurs from the professionals. While anyone can name-drop ChatGPT, employers want to hear about enterprise-grade solutions and thoughtful implementation.

Focus on business-appropriate tools and how you use them strategically. Demonstrate you understand the difference between consumer and enterprise AI and industry-specific tools. If you can turn them onto a new tool and why you like it, that will go a long way.

“How do you verify AI’s accuracy?”

Behind this question lurks every executive’s nightmare: AI-generated mistakes making their way into client presentations or public materials. Companies need people who can catch errors before they become problems by utilizing strong editing and fact-checking procedures.

Outline your verification system. Maybe you cross-reference AI outputs against primary sources, or you’ve developed a checklist for spotting common AI mistakes. The key to doing a great job on this question is showing you never take AI outputs at face value. Don’t be the person who lets fake statistics or quotes end up in the public sphere.

“How do you stay updated on AI developments?”

This question isn’t about proving you’re a tech enthusiast. Companies want to know if you can separate genuine innovations from hype and whether you stay current with new developments in the field.

Skip the jargon and focus on practical learning. You can use the rule of three: If you hear about the same tool from three different sources—for example, a LinkedIn post, conversation with a coworker, and Product Hunt—then it’s worth further exploration. Name-drop publications like Tech Crunch that cover technology developments and industry blogs and publications with regular AI coverage.

“How do you decide whether or not to use AI?”

Companies have been burned by both over-eager AI adoption and stubborn resistance to change. They need people who can strike a balance and make good judgment calls about what’s best in a human’s hands and where a tool can help make processes more efficient and consumer-friendly.

Share your decision-making framework, making sure to touch on the issue of data privacy and quality of output. A small and insignificant task won’t be that impressive, but if you use it to do a first draft of a sales page or to run sophisticated data analysis—after pruning the data to remove sensitive or confidential info, you’ll show the interviewer that you know how to exercise good judgment.

“How do you handle sensitive data with AI tools?”

When interviewers ask this question, they’re really asking if they can trust you with their data and company IP. This question isn’t about data as much as it is about trust. Can the company trust you not to be the person who accidentally pastes their confidential financial projections into ChatGPT?

Most employees have to go through some sort of mandatory security training, as an employer needs to know you won’t be the culprit behind a major company breach of confidential or sensitive info. Smart candidates acknowledge both the power and the risks of AI tools. 

The strongest answers demonstrate both awareness and action. Explain your personal system for protecting sensitive information. Talk about your personal guardrails: maybe you maintain separate workflows for public and private information, strip spreadsheets of confidential information before inputting them into a tool, or have a specific process for verifying AI outputs before sharing them. Whatever your approach, make it clear that data privacy is built into how you work. Companies want to see that you can spot risks before they become problems.

As AI continues reshaping the workplace, your ability to thoughtfully engage with these tools could make the difference in landing your next role. The key to acing these questions is showing mature discernment about when and how to use AI tools. Companies want employees who can leverage AI’s benefits while protecting against its risks. These questions reveal how you think about technology, solve problems and balance innovation with responsibility. Your answers should demonstrate AI literacy alongside business acumen and professional judgment.

Photo by insta_photos/Shutterstock.com

The post You’ll Hear These 8 AI-Related Job Questions in Interviews This Year. Here’s How to Answer Each One appeared first on SUCCESS.

Work smarter and faster with Zoom’s latest agentic AI tools

Zoom’s new agentic AI tools will be seamlessly integrated across its platform, enhancing Zoom Meetings, Team Chat, Docs and Whiteboards with intelligent features. Designed to support your entire workday, these agentic AI capabilities are expected to autonomously manage tasks once trained to understand your workflow. 

New agentic skills include managing calendars for efficient scheduling, generating clips for content creation and assisting in writing for document drafting.

One of the standout features in the upcoming update is the agentic AI’s new summary tool, designed to reduce the need for extensive note-taking and lengthy post-meeting debriefs. The software’s advanced AI voice recorder will listen to meetings, providing summaries, transcriptions and key insights. Coming in May, the new Live Notes feature will deliver these capabilities in real time, helping you stay aligned with the discussion. Think of it as a live checklist that tracks what’s been covered and what still needs to be addressed. 

New $12/month Custom AI Companion brings digital avatars to Zoom

The platform is also rolling out its $12/month Custom AI Companion add-on in April. With it comes access to Zoom’s custom avatar feature—a digital version of you that can deliver messages and updates to your team. 

“AI Companion is evolving from a personal assistant to being truly agentic, which signals a major leap forward in how AI can enhance productivity and collaboration at work,” says Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. 

“We’ve focused on investing in AI technology long before the rise of ChatGPT. We knew our customers could experience unparalleled productivity from an AI solution built directly into the Zoom platform,” she added on the Zoom blog. 

Zoom’s AI agents can help deliver instant customer service support

Zoom will also integrate its agentic AI technology into its business services with a new AI agent that specifically enhances customer support tasks. This tool provides empathetic interactions and tackles more than just routine questions. Zoom says the AI can operate without human intervention, but if intervention is needed, the agent can seamlessly transfer the case to a human representative. 

This agentic AI feature isn’t just for businesses and is designed to support consumers just as much. By providing on-demand, real-time assistance, the AI can quickly resolve minor issues, saving you from waiting on phone lines or chasing down a representative. The virtual agent can operate in both audio and video chats and with AI-intent routing, the platform will provide the best agent for every specific inquiry. 

Agentic AI is not unique to Zoom, as many tech companies are leveraging its potential. Microsoft Teams now features Copilot agents, AI assistants that manage tasks and operate autonomously. Google Workspace integrates AI-driven tools like real-time content suggestions and auto-generated email drafts. Slack too has introduced similar AI features—agents can set up channels, engage in conversations and provide advice aligned with your professional goals.

Just this month, Reuters revealed that Amazon was considering a major push into agentic AI, with plans to establish a dedicated implementation group. Reuters reported the new group will be led by AWS executive Swami Sivasubramanian, according to an email from AWS CEO Matt Garman. “Agentic AI has the potential to be the next multi-billion business for AWS,” Garman wrote. 

Zoom’s latest AI Companion features are available at no extra cost for most Workplace users. Designed to adapt and improve over time, the AI becomes more intuitive the more you use it—streamlining tasks, enhancing collaboration and boosting productivity. But that’s not all. Zoom has big plans ahead, with powerful new tools being rolled out for clinicians, frontline workers and contact center teams, ensuring its AI continues to evolve to meet the demands of every industry. 

Photo by Kateryna Onyshchuk/Shutterstock

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If you’re guilty of this, then a trip to “OHIO” can help. The OHIO acronym stands for only handle it once. This productivity technique is free to use, and the payoff is immediate. 

Like most 21st-century professionals, I feel like I’ve tried every productivity trick in the book. Nothing has had a more immediate impact on my work anxiety than the OHIO principle. Let’s look at what this technique is and how you can enjoy its benefits. 

What is the OHIO principle?

The OHIO (only handle it once) principle was popularized by financial executive Robert Pozen in his book Extreme Productivity. 

Pozen introduces OHIO this way: “This means tackling your low-priority items immediately when you receive them, if possible. If you let a backlog develop, you will waste a lot of time and increase your anxiety level.”

It’s a simple yet profound concept: Avoid handling a task multiple times, like checking your inbox before bed with the intention of responding to emails tomorrow. Pozen touches on two benefits: productivity and mental health. Let’s look more closely at each of them. 

Productivity  

You may have heard of the popular two-minute rule, which states that any task that can be completed in two minutes should be completed immediately. This rule and the OHIO method have overlapping DNA, but OHIO takes a wider aim at the issue at hand: Why allow any task to linger and risk being forgotten? It offers a sense of control over areas of our work that feel overwhelming. 

Mental health

Fragmenting tasks is like keeping too many browser tabs open in your mind, creating mental clutter and adding undue stress. The OHIO principle is a preventive measure against cognitive overload. 

Even small tasks expand when not immediately handled. Think about how many times you’ve read a text message but decided to respond to it later. You might think, “I can’t forget to respond to that message,” 10 times before actually doing it. This means that you mentally picked up and put down that text message repeatedly. 

A small to-do multiplies with every thought of it, filling up your mental space like a bowl overflowing with popping popcorn kernels. These unfinished tasks take up even more mental space than completed tasks, a phenomenon called the “Zeigarnik Effect.” Understanding the power that incomplete tasks have over us can help expose the real impact of procrastination and enforce the OHIO method.

Work-life balance 

Beyond mental health and productivity, the OHIO principle can also help improve work-life balance by minimizing microbursts of work after hours. Microbursts of work at home can be subconscious, like opening your email inbox while watching Netflix with no intention of responding immediately. The OHIO principle reduces distraction and disruption while sharpening the invaluable tool of self-awareness.  

Try removing work apps from your personal devices to eliminate the temptation to work during your off-hours. If this isn’t an option, put your devices in another room or fine-tune your phone’s “do not disturb” settings so that personal messages may come through, but work messages stay out of sight and out of mind. 

Making the OHIO principle work for you  

Pick a specific task that you’ll try applying the OHIO method to. Some ideas include: 

• Writing and sending a meeting summary immediately after a meeting concludes 
• Filing your work expenses on the last workday of the month 
• Naming and sorting files immediately as you work so nothing sits in limbo in your downloads folder 

After you’ve chosen your task, choose a time to work on it. Chantel Cohen, licensed clinical social worker and founder and CEO of CWC Coaching & Therapy, encourages you to start your day with the OHIO principle to double-dip on the benefits. 

“Handle it first thing in the morning so that you can manage your energy and get the mental boost as well as the emotional boost,” Cohen shared. “Only… handling it once [is] really, really powerful because we start talking about it as not just a time management tool but an energy management tool.”

How not to use the OHIO principle

As powerful as this is, the OHIO principle can squander energy and create a whack-a-mole way of working if applied to the wrong tasks. 

For example, you may want to apply this to your phone notifications and respond to everything immediately. However, that’s a time-consuming task. A study by musicMagpie found that people receive enough phone notifications each day to average out to one every 10 minutes. Immediate action on every notification you get would wreak havoc on your time management. It would be more fruitful to save all phone notifications for one designated time (also known as “batching”). 

While this method can’t be applied unilaterally to every task, the beauty is that it can be customized to fit your needs and have an enormous impact. 

The state of Ohio has many claims to fame, like being the birthplace of aviation and home to the world’s largest basket. Now, when you think of the Buckeye State, you’ll also remember the weight of unfinished tasks—and the instant satisfaction of managing them. 

Photo by Just Life/Shutterstock.com

The post How to Reduce Work Anxiety With the ‘OHIO’ Principle appeared first on SUCCESS.

Something has to get inside your brain to inspire you to do what you never thought possible.

For pearls to be made, an irritant must find its way inside the shell of its host.

For humans, that “irritant” might be passion or purpose. For mollusks (e.g., oysters and mussels), parasites, crabs or worms can get into the lining of the shell and cause irritation. A liquid substance coats the irritant, which hardens to become a pearl over time.

The beauty that results from a mollusk’s internal struggle can take years. For Matt Harris, it took half a lifetime.

As one of the world’s most sought-after pearl experts, his ascent didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen without many “irritants” entering his brain before he found the career he was destined for.

Discovering a new passion

When he turned 50, Harris had a job he liked “just fine” and was making good money, but he wasn’t fulfilled. Change can be hard, but it’s even harder, he admits, “the older you get, when you have mortgages and bills.”

Thankfully, he knows hard can be easy when it’s the right thing for you.

Having done everything from conducting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and selling fine art to managing all of Warner Brothers’ West Coast retail stores and running his own software company, Harris’ niche-fluid career helped him become a lifelong learner.

So, it was no surprise that, in preparing for his wedding, he volunteered to research a topic that fascinated him.

“My wife and I decided to get pearls for the bridesmaids, but neither of us knew how to buy them,” he recalls. Because he’d accompanied his mom to her jewelry making classes when he was a child, he was comfortable walking into a shop at the California Jewelry Mart in Los Angeles and asking the women working there if they’d teach him Chinese pearl stringing, which uses silk and closely knit knots. “They thought it was the cutest thing in the world,” he says, “so I learned how to string this traditional silk method.”

When his software company reached its 20-year mark, he moved to Napa Valley with the intention of building a winery but says he felt stagnant.

“At a certain point later, I’m like, ‘Where did the fire go?’” he says. “It wasn’t that I was in bad shape. It’s just that I got comfortable, and I realized I didn’t want to be mediocre anymore, so I had to reignite that.”

Reigniting the fire

The fire returned when Harris moved to Austin, Texas, and started selling his pearl creations at a local jewelry store. He convinced the owner to let him manage the store and earn 50% of the profits if he doubled their revenue.

After quadrupling their revenue—and having reached a milestone birthday—he says he asked himself, “Do I want to die being known as a really great jewelry store manager, or do I want to leave a mark? Something people can remember me by—something that my daughter can remember me by and say, ‘My dad did that.’”

Turns out, the mark he wanted to leave was sitting in his drawers. With thousands of collected pearls, Harris realized pearls had a story to be told, yet no one was telling it in a way that did them justice.

“There was no one person that was the person,” he says. “It seemed like there’s this spot open, and it seemed like it was waiting for me.”

A few years and many celebrity and travel experiences later, Harris has found his purpose. He has some advice for living the life you were meant to live.

Find your 2.0

Harris attributes his shifts to The Super Connector Mastermind run by Jen Gottlieb and Chris Winfield. In the 2.0 exercise, where attendees were asked to imagine themselves a year into the future, he remembers questions like: “How do you feel?” and “What does it look like?”

“I saw myself speaking about pearls in exotic locations like Tahiti, where a lot of pearls come from,” he says. “And I saw myself being known in the industry… as the guy that’s teaching people about pearls.”

Harris 2.0 was born.

Take a leap of faith in yourself

When Harris learned of a conference in Tahiti for jewelers touring pearl farms, he asked to speak about the history of pearls. He got the gig.

He didn’t have a speech written or experience but still pitched himself as the right person for the job.

“There’s a saying that I love: ‘Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours,’” Harris says. “If I would have had the slightest thought that I couldn’t have landed that, then I wouldn’t have asked. So, I did. And before you know it, somebody says, ‘Oh, Matt, you’re speaking [in] Tahiti?… Why don’t you speak over here?’”

A year later, he’s in a video about the history of pearls shown on all Air Tahiti Nui flights—all because “I got into 2.0, and I believed that I could do it. And that’s kind of like that leap of faith in yourself.”

Don’t be afraid to ask

When Harris started designing jewelry as a hobby—long before he launched into it full-time—he emailed everyone he knew, asking if anyone knew actress Debra Messing, who he thought would look perfect in one of his necklaces.

A friend who Harris shares wine tastings with responded. “He says, ‘I don’t know if you know this, because we don’t talk business over wine, but I’m a photographer for NBC, and I work on the Will & Grace show.’”

Harris gave that friend a necklace for Messing, and her wardrobe person called, asking to meet. After designing for Messing for two seasons of the show, he asked her to connect him with Britney Spears, who was going to be a guest on an upcoming episode.

“Britney then asked if I could make a necklace and earring set for her,” Harris says. “If you don’t ask, you’re never going to get it…. In order to have the courage to ask, you have to believe that you’re the person that can do it…. You are your 2.0.” 

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of SUCCESS magazine. Photo courtesy of Matt Harris Designs.

The post Pearls With a Purpose: Why Matt Harris Left a Lucrative Career to Pursue Pearl Jewelry appeared first on SUCCESS.