EDITION 888
27 SEPTEMBER 2021

There is no escaping it: too much news is bad for you. It should come with a government health warning: “This intellectual diet is fine taken in small doses, and preferably in weekly instalments, via a well-balanced newsletter, such as 10 things from William Montgomery."

So, as another week slips by, here are 10 things which caught my attention and may have escaped yours. Please feel free to share on social media and forward to your colleagues and friends so they can also subscribe, learn and engage. I would be very grateful if you did.

William Montgomery
Editor and CEO of TEN

1. How to embrace uncertainty. The pandemic threw us a major curveball a year-and-a-half ago, and even as we settle into our "new normal," we will continue to face uncertainty in our everyday lives. While the human brain simply was not built for this, there are ways we can make even the most overwhelming situations more manageable. That way, we can remain motivated and engaged in every aspect of our lives. READ MORE >>

2. Offenders to have records wiped clean. Thousands of drug dealers, burglars and conmen are to have their criminal records wiped clean under government plans to help them find work. As part of the Ministry of Justice’s rehabilitation reforms, offenders who have served jail sentences of more than four years will no longer have to tell employers about their past crimes. Victims’ campaigners said it was wrong to conceal serious previous convictions from employers. The Times

3. Thousands to get temporary visas to tackle supply crisis. Temporary UK visas will be issued to up to 10,500 lorry drivers and poultry workers, the government has confirmed, as it tries to limit disruption to supply chains in the run-up to Christmas. It comes after a shortage of lorry drivers led to disrupted fuel deliveries and long queues at petrol stations. However, the British Chambers of Commerce said the measures were equivalent to "throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire". There is a shortage of around 90,000 drivers in the UK, says Logistics UK. The Independent

4. Covid lowers life expectancy. A worldwide study has found that the Covid pandemic has caused the biggest decrease in life expectancy in western Europe since the Second World War. Even bigger declines were seen among males in the US, with a decline of 2.2 years relative to 2019 levels, followed by Lithuanian males (1.7 years). Last week the Office for National Statistics estimated that life expectancy for men in the UK had fallen for the first time in 40 years because of the impact of the pandemic. The Daily Mail

5. Why are women having fewer babies? According to the Social Market Foundation, the birthrate in England and Wales is almost half what it was at its postwar peak in 1964, when the number of children per woman averaged 2.93. Last year that same figure had shrunk to 1.58. Some want children but can’t. Others actively choose not to reproduce. But many simply cannot afford to: factors such as job insecurity, high housing costs and the steep price of childcare combine to make reproduction a financially daunting prospect. Childcare costs are particularly eye-watering in Britain, where working parents typically pay more than double the average for Western economies. BBC

6. EU takes bite out of Apple charges. Apple may have to change its iPhone Lightning cable chargers in Europe, as the EU seeks to enforce a common USB-C standard in all phone chargers. The new legislation, unveiled by Thierry Breton, European commissioner for trade, would come into effect from 2024, and would bring “more freedom, fewer costs” and less waste. According to a 2019 study, half the charging cables sold in the EU had a USB micro-B connector; 29 percent had a USB-C; 21 percent had a Lightning connector. In a statement, Apple said: “We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation.” The Guardian

7. Europe leads global innovation. The Global Innovation Index has been released for 2021, Europe as the most innovative region in the world. Switzerland is the most innovative country, with Sweden, the UK, the US and the Republic of Korea rounding out the top five globally. The report ranked about 130 economies around the world according to indicators like venture capital deals, quality of universities and number of patents. It warned that in the wake of Covid-19, the global innovation landscape was “changing too slowly”, and that governments must prioritise innovation, and research and development. WIPO

8. The case for working from the office. With productivity and corporate earnings up for many amid the pandemic, it may seem like we should just work from home forever. But that’s not the point of the office, as many clients tell me. Sure, we can successfully do “hard work” remotely - research, calls, emails, coding, etc. - but it’s the “soft work” we’re missing out on. Small moments of gossip, eavesdropping, annoying colleagues and other informal relationship-building opportunities have been lost, further siloing employees and hampering the creativity forged by these connections. Editor

9. What to do when progress is slow. In times of slow progress, a feeling of being stuck might arise. Instead of giving up on your goals just because progress seems to be slow, try cultivating strategic patience. Here are a few ideas: [1] Do thorough research and then set realistic timelines to meet your targets. [2] Acknowledge and celebrate the small wins. They are a sign of success. [3] If you are comparing yourself to competition, factor in their age and years of experience. [4] Be proud and aware of how far you have come. [5] Accept the fact that your career goals can change with time. What do you do when progress towards your goals is slow? VOTE HERE >>

10. The bottom line. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was reported to be using next month’s Budget to rein in government spending, including a commitment to stop borrowing to fund day-to-day spending within three years. Sunak is concerned about the potential impact of higher inflation – and rising interest rates – on government debt. The debt-to-GDP ratio is currently at an all-time high of around 100%. The Telegraph