If you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Tipping Point, you’re already familiar with the key concepts of the influentials theory and its place in modern marketing.

Many have tried to debunk its validity, but as far as I know no one has yet succeeded. Although, it appears some are steadily gaining ground: (more…)

There’s definitely something to be said about the psychological effects of 24/7 connectivity. Not sure if this is it, although he does seem to be on to something.

Perhaps understandably, boredom has never caught the attention of the psychological world. Emotions like anxiety, fear, or anger have been subjected to a much more thorough examination than merely feeling drab, according to Richard Ralley, a lecturer in psychology at Edge Hill University in England. [...]

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Is gambling as addictive as nicotine, and if it is, are casinos the new tobacco of the 20th century legal system?

Let’s wait and see.

“This is the most powerful addiction you can have without putting something into your body. You remember your first big win, and you think `Hey, I can do this again; I can get it all back.’” [...]

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A different take on the placebo effect. Give it a skim… It’s an interesting read:

Expectations have long been a topic of psychological research, and it’s well known that they affect how we react to events, or how we respond to medication. But in recent years, scientists have been intensively studying how expectations shape our direct experience of the world, what we taste, feel, and hear. The findings have been surprising - did you know that generic drugs can be less effective merely because they cost less? - and it’s now becoming clear just how pervasive the effects of expectation are.

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This certainly gives “going long” and “shorting” a whole new spin:

Women tend to wear their hair long when Japan’s economy is doing well and short when there is a slump, the Nikkei business daily reported, citing a survey conducted by Japanese cosmetics company Kao Corp.

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Although the concept isn’t exactly new (it has been covered and discussed in length for quite some time), I still get asked how I manage to successfully juggle my busy workload while living a fairly balanced life.

The short answer is “focus”. But that’s only part of the equation. The remainder is a collection of small techniques and life hacks that help increase productivity. (more…)

Hello. I’m Eric. Welcome to my blog.

Before I get started, I should note that I’m not much of a blogger. Be prepared for a myriad of seemingly disjointed topics. Comments are always welcome. Especially if they add to the discussion.