How long is this gonna take?

Interesting research from the American Marketing Association on perception of time and corresponding behavioral implications among consumers:

"Across seven experiments and a large field dataset, the authors find that time periods feel longer when they span more time categories, as consumers categorize time according to salient (natural) boundaries. For example, time periods like 1:45 pm–2:15 pm and March 31–April 6 (“boundary-expanded”) feel longer than 1:15 pm–1:45 pm and April 2–April 8 (“boundary-compressed”). This effect has important consequences on consumer decisions. For example, consumers prefer to schedule pleasant activities for boundary-expanded periods and unpleasant activities for boundary-compressed periods. They are even willing to pay more to avoid a long wait when it is presented as a boundary-expanded period rather than a boundary-compressed period.”

What are the takeaways from this?

"These findings provide significant insights for marketers. For instance, companies should try, if possible, to present negative events (e.g., waiting times) in boundary-compressed form and positive events (e.g., theater shows) in expanded form to improve consumer satisfaction.”

Organizations can’t have silos

As an organization grows, there can be a tendency to develop silos between departments. Silos extinguish the harmonious momentum that occurs when everyone is chasing the same goal and mission.

Procure purpose with a mission

There are essential tasks in every business that are, in and of themselves, mundane. Yet, mundane tasks, when understood to be part of a larger mission or goal, can become purposeful, even profound.

What is your mission or big-picture goal? How does your business, project, or work impact others? If these questions leave you stumped, start by defining your mission and its impact. By understanding the bigger goal, one can find meaning and purpose in seemingly mundane tasks.

An inspiring (though possibly apocryphal) story about John F. Kennedy illustrates this. The story goes something like this: while visiting NASA in the early days of the Apollo program, the President encountered a janitor and asked what he did at NASA. The janitor responded, "I'm helping put a man on the moon, Mr. President.”

A version of a similar allegory goes this way: Three men, all laying bricks, are each asked what they’re doing. The first man says “I’m laying bricks”. The second man says “I’m helping build a hospital”. The third man says “I’m helping save lives”.

Procure purpose for your work by defining the vision and focusing on the mission.