You’ve probably heard about Obama’s big brain project, the BRAIN Initiative? Also the European Union Human Brain project? You might be tempted to think that these are just one last big push to figure out exactly how the brain really works. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reigning theory is that our brain works something like a computer; with electrical signals making neurons fire. In this telling our brain is just like a von Neumann machine. Sure there are brain chemicals up there that doing something but we have no idea exactly how these two systems, electrical and chemical relate. We now know that there are many more glial cells in the brain than neurons but we don’t know what they really do from the perspective of thinking. The current view is that they scavenge the byproducts of normal brain functioning but that’s just a theory. So in reality we are still the dark ages of brain science, even though there are valiant efforts to turn this around. We are in need of our own brain theory of relativity to give us a breakthrough into seeing what’s actually happening up north. So here’s another try. What if the brain is really a quantum computer? That it works using entangled photons, just like the quantum computers were close to building in the lab? Of course that’s at the very least a heretical and maybe totally stupid idea. After all, how could the brain invent something we haven’t been able to? But of course, the brain evolved millions of years before anyone knew what electricity was, and it somehow worked that one out. And, as I have pointed out in another post, it’s now clear that biology uses quantum effects. We are in the early days yet in our research but you can no longer claim that quantum effects only have an impact at the levels of atomic particles. We now know that biological systems have evolved to use some of these effects in at least some biological systems. Who’s to say that mammalian biology hasn’t already beaten us to the punch and leveraged quantum effects for thinking? Since its beaten us at just about everything else, it might be more surprising if that weren’t the case. Of course if you believe this there’s some heavy stuff to swallow. First and foremost is that a quantum computer can, in principle, calculate all possible values from a single computation. Surely our brain doesn’t do that? Wouldn’t we get totally overloaded with results if that were the case? But here’s a thought. Maybe our brain is so big because it’s using a huge amount of its processing power to block out and filter the vast majority of computational results. In this perspective our brain is really a giant filter to go through the massive dumps we routinely create and to bring them down to a size we can cope with. So in this case our brain is really a filter for the Big Data it creates. We are drinking out of a fire hose and just getting the good water molecules. And is another piece of evidence about the quantum nature of our brain the fact that humans have such powerful conceptual vision? That we can even see to the end of our own universe, as awesome as this feat is, and even to multiple universes? For the religious-minded, is that what helps us see God? So what evidence could one possible have for such an outlandish idea? Well here’s one piece: how about the existence of idiots savants? How can they perform the prodigious feats of computation if it isn’t a mechanism way beyond our current theories? You no doubt have heard about the movie "Rain Man"? It’s loosely based on a real person, Kim Peek, who died in the US in 2009 at the age of 58. In the movie, idiot savant Raymond Babbitt (played by Dustin Hoffman) was able to carry out his prodigious feats in the casinos of Las Vegas. Was he really looking at all the possible combinations in real time? And was that why he was so dysfunctional from a social point of view? That unique thinking mode was using up all his mental energy? And is the autistic nature of many idiots savants an adjustment of their awesome processing power? A warning of what happens if you let your brain go its natural quantum way? Maybe idiots savants are people whose blocking mechanism doesn’t work properly? Technologists are currently working on a quantum computer with 3 or 4 qubits of capacity. Is this a new way of defining the evolution of animal intelligence? Early mammals had one qubit, gibbons have 2, humans have five? Wouldn’t that make more sense in any case than talking about IQ? And if this were true, maybe all of us are really idiots savants in drag. We all have the quantum computer up north but for the vast majority of us, it’s kept in check by the blocking mechanism that conceals the iron fist behind that velvet glove? Remember the movie "A Few Good men" starring Jack Nicholson? Jessep: I'll answer the question. You want answers? Lieutenant Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to them. Jessep: You want answers?! Lieutenant Kaffee: I want the truth! Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Maybe the notion that we have a quantum computer between our ears is equally hard to swallow.          Read More

A couple of blog posts ago I discussed the huge problem of mental illness ("The Invisible Pandemic"). I pointed out that we still don’t know how mental illness is caused which put a severe limit on what we can currently do to help people suffering from it. But we do know something that can help, although as usual there are constraints here too. That something is getting people to walk in natural environments with lots of trees and vegetation. There have been numerous studies showing this; e.g. see here and this area have been nicely summed up by the Harvard School of Public health in its Natural Environments Initiative. What this Initiative’s major report demonstrates conclusively is that walking in nature has a significant and positive effect on the level of mental health. It also, incidentally, shows that living in natural areas reduce mortality. It isn’t just their analysis, but a meta-analysis of numerous studies. In other words, if you have mental health issues, something that can help improve your condition is regular walks in the park, or living in an area with lots of lush vegetation. And the effect also extends to cognitive performance. There is now good research evidence which shows that exposure to children to green spaces improves cognitive performance. Of course the idea that communing with nature could improve mental attitude has been knocking for around for a couple of thousand years at least. Jean-Jacques Rousseau had more than a couple of things to say about it as you may recall (notably in his novel "Emile"). It’s just that it’s only recently that humans have deserted green spaces and started to face down the many perils of urban living that we have started to count some of the many costs. But the latest studies are not just talking about political and human philosophy but real clinical outcomes. So what could be having this powerful impact in alleviating mental illness if we walk in the forest aka commune with nature? Modern science is throwing up the answer. It turns out that natural vegetation throws off a lot of chemicals. Some of these are in a category called the phytoncides. These are antimicrobial allelochemic volatile organic compounds derived from plants. They are related to phytochemicals, the ones that are associated with good dietary outcomes due to their oxidative nature. And there’s more. Vegetation also throws off a class of chemicals in the class if the terpenes. These also have medicinal properties. You might be fascinated to know that marijuana also contains high amounts f certain terpenes and these are amongst the chemicals that give marijuana some if its medicinal impacts. So just a word to the wise; walking in nature can also give you a whiff of the good stuff, hence maybe that’s why people can get a natural high just from the activity. Another way of looking at this is that when you are walking in green spaces you are actually exposed to a natural air freshener comprised of natural medicinal agents. Did you know that of the top 180 prescription drugs, 118 are based on plants? By walking in nature you are taking in a pot-pourri of natural medicines, the vast majority of which we know nothing about. Although some people might be skeptical, this is one effect that is being attempted in aromatherapy. In other words, odor can have a positive impact on mental health and cognitive performance, providing you have the night odors. A recent study shows that the scent of rosemary actually has a significant impact on cognitive performance. These findings open up a lot of doors for improving health, especially mental health and cognitive performance. If you are a runner, don’t do it indoors (see my blog post "Are gyms bad for your health?") Run where there’s plenty of trees and vegetation. Or if you are not disposed to running, walk there anyhow. If you are stressed, same thing. Bring your kids too; it will help them in multiple ways. If you have older parents or grandparents who have cognitive problems, or even if they don’t, take them along too. It’s going to give them a bit of a cognitive burst. Is there a business in this? An indoor air freshener based on these natural chemicals? My name for them is neuroceuticals but I’m sure the companies that produce domestic cleaners can think of something more imaginative. It might sound fanciful, but if there’s anything we can do to help all those suffering from mental health issues, we should do it.              Read More

The Secret Society of Happy People - yes they are a real group - declared August "Happiness Happens Months" in 1999. What a beautiful concept!So let’s make happiness happen this month. How can you bring more happiness to your team? To your friends? To your home?In this busy, always-on-the-go world, I am continuing to step away from my phone more. And focusing on finding happiness in every moment.In his recent blog, Richard Branson said, "But don’t just seek happiness when you’re down. Happiness shouldn’t be a goal, it should be a habit. Take the focus off doing, and start being every day. Be loving, be grateful, be helpful, and be a spectator to your own thoughts."Well said, Sir Branson.This week’s tip is to make happiness a habit. Find ways  to enjoy the moments every day.Where will you focus?The post Fierce Tip of the Week: Make Happiness a Habit appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

The Best Sales Questions to Ask on a Second Call Life would be fantastic if initial sales calls resulted in every question being answered, in full, with enough detail to go straight to the close. That rarely — if ever — happens. That’s why it’s necessary to plan the best sales questions very carefully for the second sales call. In my previous post, The Art of Asking Sales Questions to Engage Prospects, I discussed the kinds of questions and strategy that salespeople should use in calls with prospects and clients. Now, let’s consider the best sales questions to focus on for the second call. One of the first things to do is share your understanding of the initial conversation. The reason is twofold: it validates your understanding of the situation based on what you heard, and you can gauge reactions and uncover additional perspectives in various areas. What I typically do is to put together a conversation summary, highlighting my understanding of the conversation and what the prospect is trying to accomplish. This makes for a good starting point for a second meeting, and I always ask if there are others who need to be engaged in these conversations. The questioning strategy at this point should be designed to drill down into more detail of the initiative under discussion. Many of these would focus on implementation and on uncovering each individual’s point of view: How do you see this working within your organization? What are the roadblocks? Who are the stakeholders with an interest in this initiative? You might begin to pressure test a sketch of your recommendation, making this a collaborative conversation instead of a pitch: What’s your reaction to this recommendation … and why? What challenges do you see with this? What are next steps and your time frames for implementation? When can we schedule time for a presentation to all of the decision makers? There’s another area of questioning that is beneficial for salespeople to explore. Prospects may decline to answer, but it doesn’t hurt to ask: Who else are you considering as a partner for this initiative? What criteria will you use in making this decision? What have I not addressed that you’ve heard about and are intrigued by from other potential partners? The reason for asking about the competition is that it’s good to know who you’re up against. Sometimes, that knowledge can guide you to change your approach or highlight certain aspects of your expertise. It’s never a good idea to badmouth the competition. What you can do is help the prospect reshape his/her thinking based on your knowledge of the competitor’s strengths and weaknesses. You might say, "I know you’re doing your due diligence, and I wanted to share that ABC is a fantastic XYZ organization. You just might want to ask who would actually be delivering the onsite services, as my clients have told me that’s not their area of expertise." One thing I often do in preparation for a second meeting is try to establish my first contact as a coach and champion within the company. I will ask what success looks like for our second meeting. Then, I will request to have one-on-one conversations with all of those who will be invited to the second meeting. I do this to uncover individual perspectives and the key things they want to learn from me, so they’ll consider the meeting time well spent. Prospects may not agree to this approach every time, but when they do, it usually works great. One last thing I’ll share that works for me is this: Before a second meeting, I try to get my hands on as much information as I possibly can. I’m not afraid to ask more information because I’m never going to get it if I don’t ask. This also shows the prospect that I’m serious about the engagement and committed to its success. What are some of the best sales questions you ask on a second call? Let us know. Learn more about Richardson’s Consultative Selling Sales Training Solutions. The post The Best Sales Questions to Ask on a Second Call appeared first on Richardson Sales Enablement Blog.

Ben Stiller is back as everyone's favorite dim-witted male model, Derek Zoolander.

Building a Magnetic Culture: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent to Create an Engaged, Productive Workforce The perils of a disengaged workforce are well known—low productivity, high employee turnover, and failure to meet organization-wide goals. Less well known is what to do about it. How do you create a workforce that is always ready, able, and eager to take the organization to the next level? You have to create a MAGNETIC CULTURE. As CEO of leading employee survey and HR consulting firm HR Solutions, Inc., Kevin Sheridan...

The "Last Week Tonight" host presents a "new" song about the 50 states with help from an assembled contingent of adorable children.

  An employee handbook is essential for the well-being of every organization. It communicates the employer’s mission, vision and culture, as well as information on rules, policies and benefits. It also contains information on state and federal employment laws.  When well-constructed, employee handbooks help employers build trusting relationships with workers, avoid conflicts and ensure fair treatment in the workplace. When poorly written, they can create a nightmare of situations for HR, ranging from hostile work environments to lawsuits.  According to Allan H. Weitzman, head of the Labor and Employment Law Department in the Boca Raton office of Proskauer Rose LLP,...

Hi there - my name is Jennifer Catrambone and I am the Director of Evaluation & Quality Improvement at the Ruth M Rothstein CORE Center in Chicago, Illinois. That’s an Infectious Disease Clinic specializing in HIV/AIDS. I’m presenting on my favorite nerdy topic - the what and how of Nonparametric Statistics. I’ve taught both parametric and nonparametric stats at the graduate and undergraduate levels and have done stats consulting. Hang on!! Before you go running away because I used the word Statistics a bunch of times already, let me get a couple more lines out. It hurts my soul (not like sick puppies or mullets, but still…) when people just reach for the parametric stats, e.g., ANOVAs, T Tests, etc…, without thinking carefully about whether those are the best ones for their data. Why? Because those tests, the parametric ones that we all spent all that time learning in school, are sometimes wildly inappropriate and using them with certain very common kinds of data actually decreases your likelihood of finding that sought-after p<.05. The trick is to match your data set, with its imperfections or unpredictable outliers, to the right kind of stats. Lesson Learned: So, what situations require nonparametric statistics? They can be broken down into a few major categories: The data set is very small. Sometimes that N just does not get to where we want it to be. The subgroups are uneven. Perhaps there are many pretests and very few post tests, or maybe you let people self-select which group they were in and no one chose the scary sounding one. The data is very skewed. Bell Curve, Schmell Curve. Your variables are categorical or ordinal. There aren’t a lot of resources on Nonparametric Statistics out there. College/grad school statistics textbooks offer minimal information on nonparametric stats, focusing disproportionately on Chi Squares but rarely include info on the post hoc tests that should follow that test. One excellent Nonparametric Stats resource, though published in 1997, is by Marjorie Pett and is entitled, "Nonparametric Statistics for Health Care Research." The popular stats texts by Gravetter and Wallnau have also introduced decision trees for nonparametric stats that are incredibly useful for determining what test to use. OK - so all of that being said, the bad news is that many of us just use Parametric Stats because that’s what we know, regardless of the data, and accept that with our messy data, effects will be harder to come by. The great news is that that’s not necessary. Nonparametrics take all that into account and slightly modifies parametric tests (e.g., using medians instead of means), making it so that things like skew and tiny samples are not effect-hiding problems anymore. Want to learn more? Register for Nonparametric Statistics: What to Do When Your Data Breaks the Rules at Evaluation 2015 in Chicago, IL. This week, we’re featuring posts by people who will be presenting Professional Development workshops at Evaluation 2015 in Chicago, IL. Click here for a complete listing of Professional Development workshops offered at Evaluation 2015. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org. aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators.

87% of organizations cite culture and engagement as one of their top challenges, and 50% call the problem "very important." (source) Advice from Diana Oreck, Vice President of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center: If you really want your organizational culture to be embraced consistently, the following should be non-negotiable: Every employee in your organization, regardless of role, should be able to articulate the culture. A well-articulated culture establishes a framework and foundation for expectations, accountability and engagement. At The Ritz-Carlton, the Gold Standards encompass the values and philosophy by which we operate. All of our employees—also known as our Ladies and Gentlemen—review the Gold Standards at Daily Line-Up and apply them throughout the day. When your culture is enlivened daily, this ensures everyone is marching in the same direction toward success. ∞ Join us for a one-day symposium, "Your Journey to Service Excellence." The day includes a keynote speaker, a Q&A session with The Ritz-Carlton executive panel, an optional networking reception and presentations about legendary service, employee engagement and developing a customer-centric culture. The Blog Post Significant Stat: Culture and Engagement appeared first on The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center.