Success
Looks might not kill, but they are certainly a magnet for money. Australian academics Andrew Leigh and Jeff Borland released research earlier this week confirming what we all secretly suspected: better looking Australians get hired first, earn more, and marry richer spouses.
Holding age, education, and origin fixed, the hourly wages of attractive people are around 20 per cent higher than their appearance-challenged contemporaries, reflecting similar conclusions in umpteen overseas studies.
The effect is especially pronounced for men: those with above average looks enjoy household incomes 15 per cent above the average, while more ‘minging’ chaps, as young Brits would say, earn 24 per cent below, a whopping gulf of around $30,000 a year, based on average Australian incomes, wholly owing to nature’s arbitrary favour.
“If it has to happen, it has to happen first.” That’s the advice of Lauren Vanderkam, an American journalist who’s written an e-book about what the world’s most successful people do before breakfast.
Her point is clear, do the most important thing in your life within an hour of waking up and you’ll be happier and more successful.
Vanderberg is a terrific counterpoint to yesterday’s great piece by my News Ltd colleague, Sarah Michael who revealed what successful people do in their first hour of the working day.
Continue reading "If you eat Froot Loops, your life’s going down the hole" »
Latest 2 of 32 comments
View all comments-
Scotchfinger says:
Dawn Treader? Scariest scene: where they visit the island where dreams come true, regardless of good or bad. Still sends chills down my spine… Read more »
-
Mouse says:
M, I was going to say “Keep it up!” , but then I read patsy’s and colin’s posts and thought I’d better not! lol :o/ pasty, only if you eat it! lol :o) colin…......are you jealous of M?? ;o) Read more »
When I was 12, I wanted to be an air hostess when I grew up. My best friend wanted to be a traffic warden. She even drew a picture of herself in a beige uniform handing out a parking ticket.
Neither of us achieved our dreams, what with me becoming a journalist and her having to make do with working for one of the world’s biggest film companies.
So she, in particular, was astounded that today’s children no longer have such civic aspirations as we did. Instead, they just want to be famous.
Latest 2 of 6 comments
View all comments-
jg says:
compared to the ALP, ‘We have no f%%king idea.’ Read more »
-
Not telling says:
It’s true - I was never famous or even nearly famous but from my late teens to the end of my twenties I was pretty well recognized in my sport of choice and it totally sucked. I’d read garbage about myself in magazines, people would think I’m a snob if… Read more »
Our society puts great stock in the merits of hard work. You know how it goes. If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.
Fail to achieve a goal? If only you’d worked harder. For an upcoming Lateline interview, I’ve read a book called Bounce by Mathew Syed.
His theory is that God-given talent is a myth and that the key to achieving greatness lies in how hard you’re prepared to work. I’m not sure I buy all of that.
Continue reading "Well readhead: the illusion hard work alone triumphs" »
Latest 2 of 25 comments
View all comments-
Ture Sjolander says:
I’m not writer, but I’m a bloody good reader. So this is my point of view: http://www.unitednation.homestead.com/unitednations.html If you can’t handle this Internet language, well than try this: http://www.newstime2010.net/ You are just one click from a new brave world! Ciao Read more »
-
Ture Sjolander says:
Can you imagine the whole Australian population of 22 million citizens being dogs and you have to pick a PM among them? I would pick a Golden Retriever. It struck me after seeing the interview with Alexander Downer on TV. There is less politicians talking during parliamentary debates than during… Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Serious question. What's your definition of "terrorism"? Was the hideousness in London this morning a terrorist attack?
Emails reveal the direct negotiations between between Steve Jobs and James Murdoch on e-book prices http://t.co/D0n5VMCGfm
RT @theheraldsun: BREAKING NEWS: Ford set to announce it will shut plants at Broadmeadows and Geelong - http://t.co/uyL9nZB4L0
Officers "flooding the streets" after 40 EDL members ran at police following the #woolwich killing http://t.co/sjhMVVONzQ
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Latest 2 of 91 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment