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Recent Articles from Helen Raleigh
Why you should start 2016 with an "everyday resolution"
So if you want to become healthier and exercise more in 2016, don't go sign up for a gym membership and only show up for the first two weeks. Instead, when you are ready to take a restroom break, walk to the restroom that is farthest away from your desk, or the one on another floor.
Fish and finance
Growing up in China, I remember no matter how difficult life was, my parents somehow managed to find fish for our New Year’s Eve “feast” every year. This special dish taught me much about finances and spending habits.
Personal finance lessons from
In episode 5 of season 5, which aired recently, Mrs. Patmore, the head cook from downstairs, just inherited 300 pounds from her deceased aunt. That might not sound like much today, but it was worth a lot more in 1924.
Simplicity is good for business
In 1418, a competition was announced in Florence, Italy. The city’s magnificent cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, had been under construction for more than a hundred years by then. Its original design called for a grand dome to be built. The dome was supposed to be an octagonal shape, higher an...
Do your best where you are
What do you want to be when you grow up? Almost everyone was asked at least once while a child. Some of us are still trying to figure it out. The answer to that question is really about one’s ambition. But I am here to tell you no matter how big your ambitions are, don’t let them distract you fro...
The stories of my life
Writing was a labor-intensive as well as an emotional experience. But it was a worthwhile project. As Russell Baker said, “Life is a braided cord of humanity stretching up from time long gone, and that it cannot be defined by the span of a single journey from diaper to shroud.” Stories of my famil...
Three Buffett rules I learned in Omaha
In early May, I attended my very first Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting in Omaha. This three-day event was full of activities: cocktail reception at Borsheims, picnic at the Nebraska Furniture Mart, and “Invest in Yourself” 5K run. The most memorable activity was the close to six hours non-c...
Did Ben just kill the bull market?
The massive bond-buying program was implemented to stimulate the weak economy. The Fed wouldn’t entertain the idea of taking its foot off the gas pedal if the economy was still weak. This year, many economic signals have shown that the economy is recovering.
Lessons from my father
Of all the lessons my father taught me, the most important one is that you can be the master of your own destiny. Thanks to my parents, I live the kind of life that they would never have dreamed of. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
Lessons from Cyprus
Most people probably never heard of Cyprus until the morning of March 18, 2013. It is a small country with a population of 800,000 and a GDP of less than $18 billion. It dropped a bombshell over the weekend when it announced that the government will take a bite out of depositors’ accounts in Cypru...
Reducing the trust deficit
Today’s leadership coaches spend a great deal of time on qualities such as vision and communication skills, but one important element is often missing: character development. The kind of character […]
Plan now, play later
Forbes magazine reported last year that the number of people who are self-employed increased from 1.3 million in 2001 to 10.6 million in 2012. This big increase partly reflects the […]
