Black MBA NetWire

As the holidays roll around, there are so many other things demanding your time and attention along with work. And after working so hard all year, no one can blame employees for wanting to slack off. In reality, that doesn't have to be a bad thing.Here are a few ways to slack off productively. (The Muse)

Visit https://www.themuse.com/advice/12-productive-ways-to-slack-off-at-work?ref=the-muse-editors-picks-1 to view the full article online.

In reality, five minutes doesn't seem very long. And it definitely doesn't seem like it's long enough to do anything of great value. But Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom believes that five minutes is actually all the time you need to conquer your fears and get started on that important project or big dream you've been persistently putting off. (Inc.)

Visit https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-5-minute-hack-instagram-founder-kevin-systrom-uses-to-beat-procrastination.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter to view the full article online.

In a deal that will alter the landscape of the American media industry, the Walt Disney Company will buy the vast majority of 21st Century Fox, a strong indicator Disney plans to battle rivals like Netflix. (CNN)

Visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/14/media/disney-fox-deal/index.html to view the full article online.

The national spotlight that is shining on sexual harassment in the workplace has human resources professionals across the country trying to figure out how to throw a festive and professional event in the midst of a heightened awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace. (The Washington Post)

Visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/no-booze-at-your-office-holiday-party-this-year-its-the-weinstein-effect/2017/12/11/f85a3fda-db82-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html?utm_term=.5d63801d8be9 to view the full article online.

With the severe contraction in the U.S. workforce as a result of the Great Recession, many long-time employees were forced to either re-think their career choice or take early retirement. But today's workers are far more inclined to make a career change of their own volition--and to jobs they actually enjoy. (CNBC)

Visit https://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/26/career-change-is-the-new-normal-of-working.html to view the full article online.

Black Enterprise continues its 45th anniversary celebration of its roster of the nation's largest black-owned businesses and their significance in and impact on American industry, with a spotlight on Cathy Hughes, the first African-American woman to take a company public on NASDAQ. (Black Enterprise)

Visit http://www.blackenterprise.com/45-great-moments-in-black-business-no-20-radio-one-founder-cathy-hughes-first-black-woman-to-take-company-public-on-nasdaq/ to view the full article online.

Some jobs by nature require long hours, and sometime a break-neck pace, but there are ways employees can decrease the hours they are putting in, yet increase their productivity at the office. (Harvard Business Review)

Visit https://hbr.org/2017/12/how-to-be-more-productive-without-burning-out?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=dailyalert&referral=00563&spMailingID=18648550&spUserID=MjU0MjUwMTQzODA0S0&spJobID=1161005638&spReportId=MTE2MTAwNTYzOAS2 to view the full article online.

It’s not about doing the right thing, making others think you’re good people or keeping up with your competitors. Doing diversity right is about getting superior results. (Workforce)

Visit http://www.workforce.com/2017/12/13/5-proven-strategies-guarantee-diversity-initiative-produces-results/ to view the full article online.

Though cultural and educational diversity among tech company design teams has shown to have a positive impact across a broad spectrum of consumer goods, the tech industry in general has largely held off from diversification in its employment protocols. (Entrepreneur)

Visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/303824 to view the full article online.

Millennials want workplace diversity and inclusion more than any previous generation, and their reasons for valuing diversity and their perspectives are different from other generations. (Forbes)

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/annajohansson/2017/12/13/millennials-see-diversity-as-a-learning-opportunity-not-a-requirement/#645cad692816 to view the full article online.

Policy makers with the Bank of England believe the positive results in the Brexit negotiations earlier this month could be positive for the U.K. economy, which has lagged behind many of its international peers this year. (Bloomberg)

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-14/boe-holds-interest-rate-sticks-to-outlook-for-modest-tightening to view the full article online.

The fate of the controversial net neutrality protections is scheduled for vote Dec. 14, by the Federal Communications Commission with leaders at the FCC leaning toward doing away withe the Obama-era mandates. (CNN Money)

Visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/13/technology/net-neutrality-vote-preview/index.html to view the full article online.

The government's proposed rule change would allow broadband providers to have the technical capability and legal right to discriminate in the way it provides internet access and small businesses and entrepreneurs could pay a heavy price. (Harvard Business Review)

Visit https://hbr.org/2017/12/what-small-businesses-stand-to-lose-in-a-net-neutrality-rollback?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=dailyalert&referral=00563&spMailingID=18652672&spUserID=MjU0MjUwMTQzODA0S0&spJobID=1161045122&spReportId=MTE to view the full article online.

Apple plans to invest $300 million into an American company that helps power AirPods and FaceID. It's an investment that the company said will create 500 jobs in Texas. (CNN Money)

Visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/13/technology/apple-finisar-investment/index.html to view the full article online.

Business mentors provide myriad advantages to the entrepreneur intent on succeeding--but just how does one connect with the right business mentor? (Entrepreneur)

Visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302335 to view the full article online.

The to-do list for your new business is a mile-long, including where and when to allocate your precious start-up funds. Developing a strategy early on can steer new owners through the maze of decisions from salaries to square footage. (Harvard Business Review)

Visit https://hbr.org/2017/12/does-your-startup-have-a-spending-strategy to view the full article online.

Citing the fact that the U.S. added 228,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates earlier this week for the third time in 2017. (Forbes)

Visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurengensler/2017/12/13/federal-reserve-raises-interest-rates-for-third-time-in-2017/#59c3ec447a53 to view the full article online.

Though the Dow and S&P showed above-average gains in 2017, there remains a severe disconnect between quarterly profits and valuation of those profits. Business leaders are now looking within their own ranks for innovative solutions to stagnant growth. (Harvard Business Review)

Visit https://hbr.org/2017/12/the-real-reasons-companies-are-so-focused-on-the-short-term to view the full article online.

Though the stock market is still bullish and the economy continues to expand, many Americans continue to labor under excessive credit card debt. With an average balance of more than $15,000, card holders are paying an average of $904 per year in interest alone. (CNN Money)

Visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/13/pf/credit-card-debt/index.html?iid=Lead to view the full article online.

A report requested by three lawmakers, including Rep. Maxine Waters, has found that while representation of African Americans, Latinos and Asians in lower-, mid- and senior-level management positions in the financial sector increased, the percentage of black managers decreased. (The Washington Post)

Visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/12/federal-report-finds-regression-for-black-managers-in-financial-services-industry/?utm_term=.44977bff268c to view the full article online.

While American workers can expect to see a 3 pecent increase in thier wages, analysts predict that their net pay will be offset by inflation of about 2 percent. The result is a realized 1.5 percent increase in pay. But it could be worse. (CNN Money)

Visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/12/pf/pay-salary-work-inflation/index.html?iid=SF_LN to view the full article online.

The blockbuster acquisition that will allow the Walt Disney Company to buy 21st Century Fox will not include a huge component of 21st Century Fox's media property. As part of the Disney-Fox merger, 21st Century Fox will spin off Fox News, Fox Business, and the Fox broadcasting network into a new, separately traded company. (Fast Company)

Visit https://www.fastcompany.com/40507942/what-happens-to-fox-news-after-the-disney-fox-merger to view the full article online.

In a move that will allow Target customers to purchase groceries and other products online, then have the items shipped directly to their homes from nearby Target stores, Target has agreed to purchase Shipt, Inc., for $550 million. (Bloomberg)

Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-13/target-to-buy-shipt-for-550-million-in-bet-on-same-day-delivery to view the full article online.

Just hours after a sensational win in Alabama's U.S. Senatorial race, top Senate Democrats on Wednesday called for a breather in Republican's push for sweeping new tax legislature until newly elected Senator Doug Jones takes his seat on Capital Hill. Though Republicans cited holiday deadlines for action, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) said that Jones should be seated before the legislation moves forward. (The Washington Post)

Visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/democrats-call-for-halt-to-gop-tax-bill-until-jones-is-seated-in-the-senate/2017/12/13/9c42fe44-e00f-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_tax-bill-1045am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.e84a8a to view the full article online.

Republicans in the House and Senate on Thursday agreed in principle to an agreement over their differing versions of the $1.5 trillion tax bill, which should set up a final vote on the bill next week. Rublican leaders are trying to have the bill sent to President Donald Trump by Christmas. (The New York Times)

Visit https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/us/politics/tax-bill-republicans-deal.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news to view the full article online.

While phrases like "fast-paced environment" warrant barely a blip on the radar for a prospective candidate perusing the career section of your company's websites, revamping the operations narrative may result in a more expressive working experience. (Fast Company)

Visit https://www.fastcompany.com/40506622/no-one-wants-to-work-for-you-and-these-three-words-are-why to view the full article online.

Business Insider asked 20 travel professionals — each of whom has traveled around the world and seen New Year's Eve celebrated in all manners of ways — for the most breathtaking and under-the-radar places to spend New Year's Eve. (Business Insider)

Visit http://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-places-to-spend-new-years-eve-according-to-the-worlds-top-travel-experts-2017-12 to view the full article online.