Weekend Digest: The World Trade Center Edition

For our weekend business and political readers:

COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING LOGO
The new logo for the World Trade Center has been unveiled, but Fast Company reports it comes across as very confusing without some tips on what it actually means.

To be fair, Landor Associates, the firm that designed the logo, had the difficult task of branding something that’s almost impossible to brand; there are too many conflicting ideas about what the World Trade Center site is, and should be. The logo reflects as much.

To take a look and for a primer on what various messages are imbedded in the logo, go to this link.

WHAT CITIES HOLD THE MOST INFLUENCE WORLDWIDE?
Forbes has ranked the “greatest global cities” based on eight factors. Size is not one of them. “Instead, what matters today is influence,” says Forbes.

We have attempted to go beyond some of the standard methods of evaluating the global importance of cities, which include assessing the concentration of support services available for multinationals, such as financial and accounting firms, or the size of the overall economy. Efficiency and access to capital and information, we believe, is more critical to being an important global city than number of jobs, and regional GDP is a false measure, since it doesn’t reflect whether the source is domestic or global economic activity.

Which cities were chosen and what are the other factors used to determine them? Think you know who is #1? You might be surprised. To find out, follow this link.

MANAGING YOUR WORKFORCE
“The physician does not make the patient healthier, the patient grows healthier; and the teacher cannot command the student to learn, that growth must happen within the student.” All very astute assertions posed by Fast Company, but why the comparisons? What is the point?

Instead, what these noble professions do is arrange the circumstances for the beings they are taking care of so that they may flourish.

You cannot tell a flower to grow, but you can help it to do so. The farmer is mindful of the seasons and plants seeds when most suited; the physician studies a patient’s case history and integrates treatment into that larger narrative; the teacher tailors her lessons to the lives of her students, allowing the material to be as relatable as possible.

So what should you do to encourage the progress of your employees? Click on this link for a light bulb moment.

NOT A PERSONALITY CLASH
Contrary to what many believe, Harvard Business Review says, “Most work conflicts aren’t due to personality.”

Conflict happens everywhere, including in the workplace. When it does, it’s tempting to blame it on personalities.

As human beings evolved, our survival depended on being able to quickly identify and differentiate friend from foe, which meant making rapid judgments about the character and intentions of other people or tribes. Focusing on people rather than situations is faster and simpler, and focusing on a few attributes of people, rather than on their complicated entirety, is an additional temptation.

So what is the “real underlying cause of workplace strife” and what does HBR say is the right approach to solving conflicts at work?  Go to this link for an excellent sociology lesson that could keep the steam from rising in your office.

THE CLINTONS BUILD TIES WITH SAN ANTONIO’S MAYOR
His name is Julian Castro and The Washington Post says the Clintons are “breaking bread” with an important ally.

As she expands her political network in advance of an expected presidential run, Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband have been cultivating an important ally who some believe could become her vice presidential running mate.

Former president Bill Clinton invited Julian Castro, a former San Antonio mayor and incoming Obama Cabinet Secretary, to the Clintons’ home in Washington last week for a private dinner that friends described as a chance for Democratic leaders from different generations to become better acquainted.

39-year-old Castro will be sworn in as the HUD Secretary this Monday, and The Post takes a close-up look at this budding relationship between this influential Hispanic rising star and Hillary Clinton at this link.

CHANGE AT NBC’S ‘MEET THE PRESS’
For weeks it had been rumored that NBC would replace David Gregory as moderator of “Meet the Press,” which has plummeted to last place in the network ratings. Thursday it was confirmed Gregory would be leaving NBC.

“I leave NBC as I came — humbled and grateful. I love journalism and serving as moderator of MTP was the highest honor there is,” he wrote on Twitter. “I have great respect for my colleagues at NBC News and wish them all well. To the viewers, I say thank you.”

Who is replacing him? Go to this link from POLITICO for the full story.

MAJOR GOP INVESTMENT TARGETS STUDENTS
POLITICO reports, “The College Republican National Committee is making a major investment in a new field program targeting students on campus this fall, seeking to improve the GOP’s standing with young voters following the party’s disastrous election results in 2012.”

The group expects to spend close to $2 million at the outset as the program kicks off in September, with potentially more down the line, POLITICO has learned. The plan is to operate in at least 16 states, including Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and other places with particular relevance in 2014 — or 2016.

For more on the CRNC strategy and how it will distribute the funds, follow this link.

‘THE WORLD IS A LITTLE LESS FUNNY’
As we mourn the tragic loss of Robin Williams, The Wall Street Journal has posted clips from “his best movies.” Enjoy again the genius talent that will be so dearly missed, at this link.

DEATH OF ANOTHER LEGEND
It was truly a sad week for the entertainment and movie industry. After the news of Williams’ suicide, we learned legendary screen actress, siren, and beauty queen Lauren Bacall has passed away at 89.

She was married to her co-star in films, Humphrey Bogart and, “She was and always will be “Bogie’s baby.”

In their first movie together, To Have and Have Not, she was beautiful, regal and in a class by herself. In the film, she delivered these immortal lines: “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and…blow.” How steamy was that moment?

It was 1997 and Barry Adelman was in his first year of producing the Golden Globes. In an enchanting story, he recounts how he first met Lauren Bacall, who appeared on the show. For a smile, go to this link from The Los Angeles Times for his memories of that meeting and the actual show the next night.

THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE
Business leaders, billionaires, and entertainers have taken the ice bucket challenge spawning more challenges to more heavy hitters. But why and what is it?

Business leaders from Mark Zuckerberg to Microsoft’s Satya Nadella have joined the social-media craze and dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over themselves to help increase awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Even Martha Stewart got her hair wet.

So how did this zany stunt get started, what is the staggering amount of money that has already been raised because of it, and who has now been challenged to keep it rolling, or should we say…splashing? Read the whole story from Bloomberg at this link.