TED Tuesday: David Autor— Will automation take away all our jobs?

"Here's a paradox you don't hear much about: despite a century of creating machines to do our work for us, the proportion of adults in the US with a job has consistently gone up for the past 125 years."

Good Morning Folks,

Here's a startling fact: in the 45 years since the introduction of the automated teller machine, those vending machines that dispense cash, the number of human bank tellers employed in the United States has roughly doubled, from about a quarter of a million to a half a million. A quarter of a million in 1970 to about a half a million today, with 100,000 added since the year 2000.

Why hasn't human labor become redundant and our skills obsolete? In this talk about the future of work, economist David Autor addresses the question of why there are still so many jobs and comes up with a surprising, hopeful answer. Says David, "I don't have the guts to take that bet against human ingenuity. Look, I can't tell you what people are going to do for work a hundred years from now. But the future doesn't hinge on my imagination."

Have a look.

Have a GREAT day,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

Shout-Out Wednesday: "Always Going Above And Beyond"

"Great job to Greg for providing top notch white glove service. He stepped in and provided coverage so that service could proceed uninterrupted."

Greetings Folks,

Here's some feedback I received on the folks who serve our clients every day:

From The World's Largest Professional Services Firm 

Faiza – Madison Ave
"Several partners from other offices were on site for a very important client meeting  recently and Faiza made herself available to assist the partners. She helped with technology issues and was able to enlist the help of office services to make adjustments to the meeting room."

Ezra – Madison Ave
"Ezra responds to every request quickly and efficiently. No request is too big or too small. He is always available to help in anything and everything that is asked of him. Every morning he checks in  to see what assistance he can provide to them. He is very enthusiastic, energetic and displays positive behavior. He is able to troubleshoot and solves all work related problems quickly and efficiently."

Michael – Madison Ave
"Kudos to Mike for his fantastic job in his support of the site. He always comes through, promptly responding to all emails and calls. He is efficient, pleasant and diligent and makes it easier for the us to do our jobs."

At One Of The Big Four Mobile Communications Companies

Elaine – Frisco, TX
"Kudos to Elaine for her positive attitude and uplifting spirit. She is a pleasure to work with. Her attention to detail ensures that all requests are efficiently completed."

Dwayne – Atlanta
Kudos to Dwayne for assisting in the set-up of office space. Dwayne was able to answer all of the employees questions and advise on other matters. His attention to detail, passion and dedication make him a true asset."

Musa –  Bellevue
"Kudos to Musa for stepping in and helping an fellow coworker with an urgent matter. Musa jumped right in and assisting until the issue was resolved."

From Our Wall Street / Financial Services Clients

Rene – Financial Technology
"Great job to Rene for successfully executing 4 separate events over the course of 2 days. He went above and beyond in preparation to make sure that every detail was covered."

From Our AMLAW 200 Clients

Jamie – Newark
"Kudos to Jaime for always being in at no later than 8AM and assisting with urgent requests at that time. He is always eager to help and friendly in accomplishing his tasks. With his friendly demeanor he helps with everything and anything. He is truly a team player and exemplifies FSO values."

Jim – MA
"Jim is always helpful and recently he has gone above he usually responsibilities and brought some important things to our attention. He provided excellent customer service which is exactly the partnership we look to have with FSO."

Linda  – TX
"Linda has done a great job on a very important project. She has maintained an amazing attitude and steadily worked through to accomplish the task at hand. The work could be tedious at times but Linda provided the concentration the project was owed. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed."

Shawnette – New York City
"Shawnette tackles every project with enthusiasm and excitement. She is respectful, professional and a joy to have as part of the family."

Lisa  – New Client Relations Director, NJ
"In the short time that Lisa’s done a great job motivating her team and encouraging them to take on more and more leadership within their sites. Her positivity is infectious and she is an amazing new asset."

Ezequiel  –  Chicago
"Ezequiel always going above and beyond to WOW end users each and every day. He handles every request with efficiency and professionalism."

 From Our Clients In Property Management

Carmen – Downtown
"Carmen went above and beyond to get to work during the recent snow storm. She knows she works in a high profile building, so she got up a few hours earlier than normal and made it to work in time to open… Business as Usual.  Her hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated by everyone at the Realty Trust."

From The World's Largest Advertising Companies, NYC

Tory  – NYC
"Tory was a key asset in the successful delivery of a project. HE was attentive to the needs of the client, he confirmed information about the project directly with the client and even coordinated pick up of the deliverables. He made all of it a smooth process."

Our success is all about our clients knowing they can always count on us, we will always be there for them, we care about their success and we would never let them down.

To those applauded today, thank for all that you do! The next time you see any of the folks above, please give them a “Shout Out” – for job well done.

Have a GREAT day,

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer 

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"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”
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Ted Tuesday: Dr. Dan Gilbert— The Surprising Science of Happiness

"Gilbert's elbow-in-the-ribs social-science humor is actually funny. ... But underneath the goofball brilliance, he has a serious argument to make about why human beings are forever wrongly predicting what will make them happy." 

~~ New York Times Book Review

Good Morning Folks,

I woke up this beautiful morning I wanted to share an inspirational Ted Talk with all of you. When you watch it you may wonder why you hadn't heard of this before, or better yet be surprised that over a million people have already watched it (between YouTube and Ted postings alone). That's the power of Ted.

Dan Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, challenges the idea that we'll be miserable if we don't get what we want. Our "psychological immune system" lets us feel truly happy even when things don't go as planned.

Gilbert believes that, in our ardent, lifelong pursuit of happiness, most of us have the wrong map. In the same way that optical illusions fool our eyes -- and fool everyone's eyes in the same way -- Gilbert argues that our brains systematically misjudge what will make us happy. And these quirks in our cognition make humans very poor predictors of our own bliss.

The premise of his current research -- that our assumptions about what will make us happy are often wrong -- is supported with clinical research drawn from psychology and neuroscience. But his delivery is what sets him apart. His engaging -- and often hilarious -- style pokes fun at typical human behavior and invokes pop-culture references everyone can relate to. This winning style translates also to Gilbert's writing, which is lucid, approachable and laugh-out-loud funny. The immensely readable Stumbling on Happiness, published in 2006, became a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 20 languages.

Dr. Gilbert asks us to imagine two different futures ... One, winning the lottery (yes, I like this ... I will buy a plane, and maybe an island suitable for the construction of a landing strip ... and definitely a sail boat, a small one ... I will recreate the Corona ad and learn to enjoy beer or at least ice cold limeade ... ). The other is become paraplegic.  (No thanks.)

He informs us that "Happiness" data has been collected on these two different groups.

"Because the fact is that a year after losing the use of their legs, and a year after winning the lotto, lottery winners and paraplegics are equally happy with their lives."



The lesson I want to leave you with from these talk is that our longings and our worries are both to some degree overblown, because we have within us the capacity to manufacture the very commodity we seek.

What an inspiration Gilbert is to the very core and spirit of FSO's brand. 

We are pumped, super excited and ready to rock.

Love Life,

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

Shout-Out Wednesday: "Amazing" Works Here

"She is hard working, efficient and her attention to detail ensures projects are completed correctly."

Greetings Folks,

Our clients love what we are doing for them. 

Here are some of the amazing things I am hearing about our motivated, team-oriented, passionate people. "Amazing" describes all that are mentioned here. I am honored to be in their company.

From Our Wall Street / Financial Services Clients

Christian – Financial Technology
"Kudos to Christian for exemplifying the FSO DNA and doing a great job. His passion to provide the best service is evident in all his does."


Ashlee – International Bank
Kudos to Ashlee Black for braving the elements to make it to the site during the snow storm a couple of weeks ago. Thank you so much Ashlee!"

Cristiane – International Bank
"Kudos to Cristiane for taking full ownership of her new role as Client Relations Manager. She has taken the lead to ensure her team is providing the best possible service. She has also taken the initiative to set expectations of her team for everyday tasks."

From The World's Largest Professional Services Firm 

Ezra  – Madison Avenue
"Kudos to Ezra for always providing prompt and efficient service. He handles every request with a sense of urgency and all with a smile on his face. His quick response is always appreciated."

Marlen – Madison Avenue
"Marlen was a great help in making sure that one of the floors at the client was fully stocked with supplies after an extended period of time. Marlen patiently and carefully went through everything to make sure that the department had all the needed supplies by close of business."

Elaine – Madison Avenue
"Kudos to Elaine for her continued support to our client and her representation of our “All Hands In” philosophy. Recently, she assisted in the planning and execution of an onsite conference. She also assists many of the projects that are in full swing due to tax season. She has offered her assistance time and time again with tasks that have strict deadlines. She is hard working, efficient and her attention to detail ensures projects are completed correctly."

Ezra – Madison Avenue
"Ezra is a great asset to the 35th Floor. He has assisted in booking meetings at three different locations as well as carried out other tasks asked of him. Ezra is approachable and willing to assist in anything and everything that is asked of him. His efficiency and responsiveness make the day of those around him go by so much smoother."

Kimberly – Madison Avenue
"Kimberly does a great job at welcoming all who arrive with a warm smile and high energy. She instantly makes everyone’s day as they arrive on site."

From Our AMLAW 200 Clients

DeCorrey – Dallas
"Kudos to DeCorrey for his great work on a special project. He worked very hard to ensure that the project was completed in a timely and efficient manner. He also ensured that everything was organized for presenting the very next day. His participation and work on this project are appreciated."  

Linda – Dallas
"Way to Go Linda for providing exceptional customer service on a daily basis. Her ability to always go above and beyond, and her attention to detail in all she does is appreciated."

Jennifer – Newark
"Jennifer has been very helpful as the client prepares for a big event. She has been assisting with anything and everything that has been asked of her. Her attention to detail and organization skills have been essential in preparing for the event."

Nadia – Newark
"Kudos to Nadia for her professional, friendly and upbeat attitude. She is a joy to have at the site and they looking forward to seeing her smiling face every day."

 At One Of The Big Four Mobile Communications Companies

Vince – Richardson
"Vince can always be depended upon to handle every request with urgency and efficiency. We are truly grateful to have him part as the team and provide great service."

Marco – Bellevue
"Marco continues to go above and beyond. Recently, without hesitation, he helped with a task when all the rest of the staff had already left for the day. He stepped up and helped out on very short notice. and were thrilled with his assistance."

Thanks fort taking the time to write to me about these gifted employees. The PERSONAL touch AND CARE that our clients complimented us on…this is what sets us apart.

I am always eager to hear more about how we are doing.

Have a GREAT day,


Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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 “To find a fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.”
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TED Tuesday: Tim Urban— Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator

"This just might be the funniest TED talk I have ever seen—Wait  Tim Urban goes inside the mind of a master procrastinator." ~~Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

Good Morning Folks,

The term paper looms. Your computer sits open before you, the cursor blinking on your pristine white screen like a tiny black devil come to taunt you. On the corner of your screen, a notification pops up. Now you have a choice. You can either start writing the paper that’s due next week, or you can watch the latest YouTube video on Poodle-haircuts gone wrong.

If you choose the Poodle, you’re not alone. Tim Urban’s hilariously entertaining TED Talk entitled “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator” has gotten over 10 million views and counting. I agree with Tim - in the modern age, we're all procrastinators. The key to getting rid of it, in my humble opinion, is different for anyone. 

Tim Urban knows that procrastination doesn't make sense, but he's never been able to shake his habit of waiting until the last minute to get things done. In this hilarious and insightful talk, Urban takes us on a journey through YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes and bouts of staring out the window — and encourages us to think harder about what we're really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.

Tim Urban is a brilliant presenter!!! That is the best ever explanation of importance of setting deadlines! Urban doesn’t believe non-procrastinators exist.  He believes we’re all procrastinating about something. We all have-- excuse the cliche-- a monkey on our backs. And we all need to be aware of it when he (or she) takes the wheel. Have a look:

His ending argument? Life is short. He puts up a visual filled with tiny boxes, one for each week in a 90 year life. It’s not that long. For online high school students, your future begins with what you do today. So, in the words, of Master Procrastinator Tim Urban, be aware of your instant gratification monkey. Be aware of why you’re procrastinating. And embrace your life while you can.

Thinking long and well about that last slide might help out the efforts. Good luck out there, fellow sufferers. Thanks to CMASAS, the top 5 of the 50 Best Online High School Diploma programs, for pointing me to this great presentation. And thanks to all of you for watching.

Have a GREAT day. Love LIFE!

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have."
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Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

TED Tuesday: Isaac Lidsky— What Reality Are You Creating For Yourself?

How to overcome fear and see life clearly. Isaac Lidsky challenges us to let go of excuses, assumptions and fears, and accept the awesome responsibility of being the creators of our own reality.

Good Morning Folks,

Reality isn't something you perceive; it's something you create in your mind. Isaac Lidsky learned this profound lesson firsthand, when unexpected life circumstances yielded valuable insights. In this introspective, personal talk, he challenges us to let go of excuses, assumptions and fears, and accept the awesome responsibility of being the creators of our own reality.

Your fears, your critics, your heroes, your villains — they are your excuses, rationalizations, shortcuts, justifications, your surrender. They are fictions you perceive as reality. Choose to see through them. Choose to let them go. You are the creator of your reality. With that empowerment comes complete responsibility.

Have a look:

So how can we live "Eyes Wide Open?" Isaac believes that "It can be taught" that our reality "is learned" and that "it can be practiced."

He shared nine ways we can create our own reality:

1. Hold yourself accountable for every moment, every thought, and every detail.
2. See beyond your fears & recognize your assumptions.
3. Harness your internal strength.
4. Silence your internal critique.
5. Correct your misconceptions about luck and about success.
6. Accept your strengths and your weaknesses (and know the difference)
7. Open your hearts to your bountiful blessings.
8. Choose to see through your fear.
9. Know that "you are the creator of your reality."

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

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"Ultimately, passion is the driving force behind success and happiness that allows us all to live better lives."

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Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

Shout-Out Wednesday: High Marks For The FSO Team

"I’m very impressed with the responsiveness of this team and I really appreciate your commitment and willingness to jump in whenever needed and your desire to do whatever it takes to get the job done."

Good Morning Folks.

When a client takes the time to write about a great job and spends a moment to acknowledge something special that has been done, or from what they may hear from an end user, the individual and or the team have made that impact that differentiates us from any and all of our competitors.

Here's some feedback I received on the folks who serve our clients every day.

From Our AMLAW 200 Clients

Marcus, Ryan & Ty  – Dallas, TX

"Marcus, Ryan & Ty all received Kudos this month for consistently going above and beyond, especially in a recent after-hours emergency. Their quick thinking and response was key in this situation.They not only helped the sick person onsite but called 911 and stayed with the them until help arrived."

"An army of support snapped to the rescue this morning when I needed help. I can’t end my day without thanking this entire group for your responsiveness. That has to be the fastest conference room turnaround I have ever seen.   Many thanks."

Frank  – Dallas, TX

"Frank has done an impressive job at taking ownership of his position. His attention to detail assist in making sure that a task was done correctly. He informed the correct individuals and our client was incredibly thankful."

Chris W – Houston, TX

"Chris is an absolute joy to work with. He takes on any task asked of him with efficiency and professionalism. He is always up for helping in anything and everything he can." 

Marcus M – Dallas, TX

"Kudos to Marcus for taking the initiative and assisting in unpacking and setting someone’s new Varidesk. Marcus is always upbeat and shows a wonderful demeanor while delivering services to the client."

Nicole – Chicago

"Nicole's impact has been immediate. The site has been reorganized and kept in pristine condition. She has demonstrated amazing organizational skills and partners very well with others at the site. She has a great attitude and a sense of urgency in all that she does. We appreciate her work ethic and her willingness to support."

From The World's Largest Professional Services Firm 

Jasmine – Madison Ave.

"Jasmine not only greeted candidate coming into the office, but also made sure they were directed to the correct floor. She also made sure that the client was aware when the candidates arrived and where they could be found. Jasmine also demonstrated patience and understanding with all of the questions the candidates had."

Randy  – Madison Ave.

"Kudos to Randy for working very hard to ensure everything is in proper order on the 29th Floor. Everything from the bathrooms  to the pantry is always clean and organized.  His work is exemplary and very much appreciated by all on that floor."

 From Our Wall Street / Financial Services Clients

Chris – Algorithmic Trading

"Chris went above and beyond in tracking down a very important package at the client site. The package went missing and Chris made sure to exhaust all locations until the package was found and placed directly in the recipient’s hands. His dedication and tenacity is noted and greatly appreciated."

Orelbi – International Bank

"Oriel consistently provides great service to the client, exemplifying our company standards and qualities."

From The World's Largest Advertising Companies, NYC

Marcos – Madison Ave

"A huge thank you to Marcos for springing into action during an emergency situation at the client site. Someone fell and was injured on site and Marcos immediately assisted, bandaging the person’s knee and even staying with them until the ambulance arrived. HE is truly an example of the “All Hands In” philosophy."

Rosa & Jose – Madison Ave

"Rosa and Jose consistently go above and beyond in everything that they do. They truly exemplify the three P’s: Personal, Passionate & Productive."

Manny & Nicolle – Columbus Circle

"Great job to Manny and Nicolle for doing such a great job in helping the client during their Creative Boot Camp event. They were both very involved, engaged and delivered exceptional services and assistance."

From Our Clients In Property Management

Tiana  – 70 Greene

"Tiana goes above and beyond to ensure that the client is taken care of every day. She also takes time to pitch in and assist when she can to make sure everything runs smoothly."

At One Of The Big Four Mobile Communications Companies

Terence –  Bellevue

"Kudos to Terence for his great communication skills to the customer and he tireless work in making the impossible almost always possible."

DMarkiel, Musa, Terence & Ashton – Bellevue

"Great job to the team for going above and beyond on a high visibility project at the client site. Not only did they stay late the day before to set up but also step in the day of the event and ensured everything went off without a hitch."

From The NYC HQ Of The World's Preeminent Daily Newspaper

Re: Anthony 

"Anthony is a great asset to the site. He handles anything and everything that is asked of him with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. He also starts off every morning with reading everyone’s horoscope which starts the day off on a positive note."

Our success is all about our clients knowing they can always count on us, we will always be there for them, we care about their success and we would never let them down.

On behalf of the entire FSO leadership team, we are committed to identifying and driving change to provide the very best experience for our clients and employees. We will continue to evolve, innovate and change with the times to ensure we are exceeding your expectations in delivering phenomenal solutions that promise to take better care of the people, improve service, and reduce costs.

To those applauded today, thank for all that you do! The next time you see any of the folks above, please give them a “Shout Out” – for job well done.

Have a GREAT day,

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer 

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"Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold." 
~~Maurice Setter

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