Credit crisis: new problem or ancient Roman history?
When things are looking dim, I often look to history to provide perspective. Learning that other societies have faced similar circumstances--and that my problems are not unique--is a reassuring experience. The tales of history provide an unusual source of hope. So what can history tell us about the economic crisis? Mind ...

Is it better to play your strength or your weakness? Finding the right mix
Top ranked tennis player Rafael Nadal seems to win by surprising opponents with his unexpected left-handed spin..but perhaps even more surprising is that Nadal is naturally right-handed! It might be fair to say that Nadal's success stems not just from his bulging muscles, but also from his ability to surprise opponents. ...

Game theory joke on being dumb
Mind Your Decisions reader Scott sent me the following joke which offers a unique perspective about being dumb. Enjoy! The dumbest kid in the world A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it ...

3 ways to cut costs at happy hour
photo by pink sherbet Do you enjoy happy hour? I sure do. It's a fun way to get to know your co-workers and end a long day of work. That's why I wanted to make happy hour more affordable and I came up with these ideas. Before I get started, a word ...

Think about more than timing: 6 questions you should ask yourself before making any investment
While there are many issues to consider when investing, most people make a decision based on a single question: "Is it a good time to buy?" I can sympathize because I used to think that way. My first investment was a speculation on an airline stock since I had a hot ...

4 tips for winning in a game of chicken
The game of chicken is often told through a story about reckless teenagers. In the classic game, two teenagers are driving towards each other on a crash course. The point of the game is to overcome fear and stay on course. The driver that gets scared and swerves away is ...

The Automatic Millionaire: book review and criticism
Can you become a millionaire...without making a lot of money or having willpower? You can, promises money writer David Bach in The Automatic Millionaire. Bach is one of the most popular money advisers and his explanations can be very catchy (he's the one who coined the term "the latte factor"). Does ...

How much money do you need to be happy?
source: Joe Shlabotnik via flickr At Stanford, I heard someone say they needed to make at least $150,000 annually to be happy. I was surprised for many reasons, but most of all, I was surprised at how serious the person took the question. I was raised with values like "health is ...

Fair division and game theory in a Jif Peanut Butter commercial
I was recently pointed to a Jif Peanut Butter commercial that touches on game theory. It deals with a mom trying to resolve a dispute between her two kids and the last slice of bread. Here is the commercial on Youtube (my transcription of it follows): Link to Youtube video Jake: Mom it's ...

The strategy of writing a complaint letter or email
source: aturkus via flickr I remember the first time I complained to a company. I hastily made an angry call and was flatly rejected. I composed myself and five minutes later I made another call. This time I used a calm tone and I read from a complaint script I found ...