Unemployment Blues: Are We Pre-Programmed To Be Productive?

Think back to the pre-computer days of yore. We were all wasteful – “survival of the fittest” was what our prehistoric ancestors thought led to success and dominance. But how much more productive would our society be if we still followed this common-sense philosophy?

In his blog post, "Unemployment Blues: Are We Pre-Programmed To Be Productive?" Barry Schwartz argues that, if we could get past these “pre-programmed” survival instincts and start maximizing productivity instead of living for the moment, our economy would really take off! Spend less time on Facebook and other frivolous activities with these 37 sites that will teach you something new.

In a study on lobsters, it was discovered that their tendency to fight with each other and engage in risky behavior – just for fun – actually led to higher mortality rates. What does this have to do with the economy? As Schwartz puts it: “In the animal world, survival of the fittest doesn’t mean much. But in human society, it means everything.” The lesson: “If we could get past these pre-programmed instincts and start maximizing productivity instead of living for the moment, our economy would really take off!”

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Schwartz goes on to explain how the idea of “survival of the fittest” is actually a socially dominant concept that originally came from Darwin's time period. “The value system that society held during the nineteenth century was based on survival of the fittest. So we unconsciously selected leaders who were fitter and more dominant – and also politicians who pushed these values.”

But while our ancestors in the wild would instinctively fight, today we have more peaceful ways to get ahead: “In many ways, we’ve become more civilized and less competitive.”

“But if we could get past these pre-programmed instincts and start maximizing productivity instead of living for the moment, our economy would really take off!”

Schwartz continues: “We have to change our values so that we can survive in a competitive world.” The solution: “We need to stop spending our lives getting consumed by an endless stream of meaningless ephemera and find ways to focus on what really matters.”

Does your New Year's resolution involve increasing your efficiency at work and saving money? If so, our expert reveals what's wrong with this vision and how to fix it by using new technology. Find out here!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2012/12/14/unemployment-blues-are-we-preprogrammed-to-be-productive/#7b1aba3c6fa7

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Title: The End Of Retirement As We Know It?

Source: forbes.com

Titled: "The End Of Retirement As We Know It?"

Summary: How much will you spend on retirement? Most Americans are set on saving for their golden years, but there's a risk that our savings could be put to better use. So what would you do if you could live anywhere in the world? In this article, we explore some options. This is from Forbes Magazine. Instead of a retirement plan at work, some people choose to invest their money elsewhere. Some believe in living off of their investments and using those funds for retirement. And others just don't have time for traditional retirement plans because they have too many other priorities like raising children or caring for aging parents. But are these sacrifices worth it? In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about retirement.

Read the full article here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldsemple/2012/08/07/the-end-of-retirement-as-we-know-it/#7a85f06fd4fa

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Title: The End Of Retirement As We Know It? Source: forbes.com [ARTICLE START] How much will you spend on retirement? Most Americans are set on saving for their golden years, but there's a risk that our savings could be put to better use. So what would you do if you could live anywhere in the world? In this article, we explore some options. This is from Forbes Magazine. Instead of a retirement plan at work, some people choose to invest their money elsewhere. Some believe in living off of their investments and using those funds for retirement. And others just don't have time for traditional retirement plans because they have too many other priorities like raising children or caring for aging parents. But are these sacrifices worth it?

In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about retirement.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldsemple/2012/08/07/the-end-of-retirement-as-we-know-it/#7a85f06fd4fa

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Title: The End Of Retirement As We Know It? Source: forbes.com [ARTICLE START] How much will you spend on retirement? Most Americans are set on saving for their golden years, but there's a risk that our savings could be put to better use. So what would you do if you could live anywhere in the world? In this article, we explore some options. This is from Forbes Magazine. Instead of a retirement plan at work, some people choose to invest their money elsewhere. Some believe in living off of their investments and using those funds for retirement. And others just don't have time for traditional retirement plans because they have too many other priorities like raising children or caring for aging parents. But are these sacrifices worth it?

In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about retirement.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldsemple/2012/08/07/the-end-of-retirement-as-we-know-it/#7a85f06fd4fa

_______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Title: The End Of Retirement As We Know It? Source: forbes.com [ARTICLE START] How much will you spend on retirement? Most Americans are set on saving for their golden years, but there's a risk that our savings could be put to better use. So what would you do if you could live anywhere in the world? In this article, we explore some options. This is from Forbes Magazine.

Conclusion: Instead of a retirement plan at work, some people choose to invest their money elsewhere. Some believe in living off of their investments and using those funds for retirement. And others just don't have time for traditional retirement plans because they have too many other priorities like raising children or caring for aging parents. But are these sacrifices worth it?

In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about retirement.

http://www.forbes.