The Balance

You may read about those people who have built self-discipline. They get up at 5 am, meditate and plan their day, run for 6 miles, and then drink a kale and protein smoothie for breakfast. They do all of this before going to work at their startup, which they hope to take public next month. They never waste time, and their accomplishments are astonishing.

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Money

Is it possible to like everyone in your office? Think about how tough it is to get together 15 people, much less 50, who all get along perfectly. But unlike in friendships, you need coworkers. You work with them every day, and whether they’re your boss, direct report or equal, you depend on them just as they depend on you.

 

Here are some ways, based on psychological research and advice from career experts, that you can get the whole office on your side.

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Recruiting Daily

It’s a term I hear a lot even if it isn’t always clear what it means, so don’t feel bad if you’re also a little fuzzy on the definition of “soft skills.”

 

Lots of hiring and talent management professionals seem to be looking for candidates with soft skills, so in case you’re confused, here’s a definition I like from SearchCIO:

 

Soft skills is a synonym for “people skills.” The term describes those personal attributes that indicate a high level of emotional intelligence.”

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The Washington Post

Not sure what to make of the massive tax overhaul? Don’t worry, you’ve got some time to figure it out.

 

While most of the changes go into effect next month — and you might see a difference in your paycheck in February — you won’t file your tax return for the 2018 tax year until 2019.

 

Some people started scrambling before year’s end to boost their charitable giving, prepay property taxes and get in last-minute business expenses to take advantage of deductions that are going away or being reduced. Under the tax law, there’s a $10,000 deduction limit on all of your state and local taxes, including property taxes. Meanwhile, the standard deduction has been increased. It’s going up to $12,000 for individuals, $18,000 for heads of households and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly. Because more people will probably take the standard deduction, they won’t itemize such things as donations and property taxes.

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Kiplinger

For small business owners in need of a loan, getting an application approved can seem as mystifying as the illusions performed in a Las Vegas magic show. But the process gets a lot easier with the right preparation and an understanding of the importance of cash flow.

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USA Today

On or about Jan. 1, 18 states and 20 cities, including many in California, will hike their base pay because of laws or ballot initiatives that mandate gradual raises over several years or automatic cost-of-living increases. Later in the year, another three states and 18 cities and counties will boost their pay floors, according to the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group.

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Associated Press

Taken a look at your stock portfolio lately? It's a good bet it's racked up solid gains this year.

 

Wall Street has taken stock investors on a mostly smooth, record-shattering ride in 2017. The major stock indexes are closing in on double-digit gains for the year, led by Apple, Facebook and other technology stocks.

 

The gains have the Standard & Poor's 500 index, the broadest measure of the stock market, headed for its best year since 2013.

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Inc.

The buzzword of the year in 2017 has been "bitcoin" and merchants are asking the question - should we accept it? Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency making waves in the news, has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to understand how it works.

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Forbes

In 2018, taxes will look very different. The corporate tax rate is falling, federal income tax brackets are moving, and there are big changes to your ability to itemize deductions, including mortgage interest and state and local taxes (SALT).

 

This has led to a flurry of end-of-year activity, particularly in places most affected by SALT deductions. For instance, the governor of New York took emergency action last week to allow state residents to prepay property taxes in 2017.

 

There are four days left in 2017. Is there anything you should be doing before midnight on December 31? Here, financial planners offer advice:

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The Balance

Some subjects make for bad workplace conversations. These six topics that you should avoid discussing at work could make things awkward, or even quite unpleasant, between you and your coworkers. Without these subjects, what can you talk about? Try safe topics like movies, music, and food (especially if you bring some to share).

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