Malou Jacques

Welcome, I am Malou Jacques, I am passionate about exploring human behavior and discovering new and better ways to live a richer and more fulfilling life. With a deeper understanding of the inner workings that govern our values and beliefs, we can improve the quality of our lives.

Brexit: Did the UK commit 'economic suicide' by exiting the EU in 2016? Find out how much it has cost the British people!

One of the major events of 2016 was Brexit. This emblematic case illustrates the extent to which far-fetched initiatives led by irresponsible politicians with no long-term vision prove detrimental to a country's economy.

Read more

The ‘culture of victimhood’: a highly effective way to manipulate reality and spread fake news

A consistent trend is emerging in today's world: the ‘culture of victimhood’ is rampant. Often perpetrated by individuals, leaders, politicians or cultural groups seeking to feed their egos and magnify their personal importance, or to justify the harm inflicted on others by invoking their moral superiority. Ultimately, this self-perception is a recipe for disaster.

Read more

What a Growing Moral Vacuum Means for American Democracy

The breakdown of the moral framework in America has left our country in an inarticulate, self-referential moral vacuum, endangering our democracy.

Read more

Leading in a Hostile World: Dealing with Collective Stress – and Our Own – in Times of High Tension.

Anxiety and fear have become a widely universal experience. And there is no shortage of causes: from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to climate change. Faced with so many uncertainties and tensions, the world's leaders are challenged to inspire and guide their people, while keeping their own insecurities in check.

Read more

Microstress: The Hidden Threat to your Mental and Physical Well-being

Repetitive microstresses of everyday life build up in our minds, adding to each other, day after day. Their damaging effects are the result of their inability to trigger the brain's normal stress response that helps us cope. Their long-term effects can prove debilitating to our mental and physical well-being.

Read more

Setting Boundaries: Gives us Control Over our Life, our Time, our Energy

Setting and enforcing boundaries in all our relationships is essential. It's a form of self-care: to clearly articulate guidelines/rules/limits on how we want others to behave towards us – it’s fundamental to our well-being and burnout prevention.

Read more

Excellence Never Happens by Accident

Excellence is a prerequisite for a happy, successful, and fulfilling life. The quest for excellence may look different for each one of us, but it calls for the same set of core skills, irrespective of where we are on our life’s journey.

Read more

‘Tipflation’: How is it changing Tipping Culture in America?

People used to tip based on performance. Now the near ubiquitous use of touch screens at places where you’d never previously thought of tipping applies enormous pressure. You shouldn’t feel guilt or misery and leave a tip for excellent service.

Read more

How to make the transition into the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) easier for everyone?

The development and adoption of AI is profoundly transforming the future of work – not just job quality, but also how work is organized, the nature of the tasks we perform and therefore the skills that we’ll need.

Read more

Lessons from Peter Drucker's Approach to Business Strategy in an Era of Fast-Paced Change

Today’s organizations are in constant flux. New business models are emerging, new technologies are being developed, and consumer behavior is shifting. Peter Drucker's guiding principles for successful strategy management have never been more relevant than today.

Read more

The historic journey of women's economic emancipation since World War II - by Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize in Economics 2023

Investigating the gender gap in the labor market, Claudia Goldin demonstrated how technological progress, the expansion of the service sector and rising education levels have led to a growing demand for female labor. Yet societal stigma, legislation and other institutional barriers have limited the effects of these factors, which continue to weigh heavily on the gender gap.

Read more

Higher Education may Improve your Life Expectancy by as much as 10 Years in the United States

Access to education leads to greater opportunities, higher earning potential and upward mobility, especially at a time when the economy relies increasingly on highly skilled workers. Education is key to mental and physical well-being, happiness and longevity

Read more

China is Facing its Worst Economic Crisis since the Cultural Revolution. What does a Weaker China Mean for the Rest of the World?

China and the West grow apart – China launches a strategic shift in its economic relations with the world

Read more

What is Brain Health?: Why is it Important?

Maintaining a healthy brain all your life is an absolute priority: it's the key to mental and physical health, well-being, happiness and longevity.

Read more

It’s time for organizations to radically rethink the employee experience

Evidence from around the world supports the value of flexibility in the workplace: it enhances work-life balance, boosts productivity and organizational results by increasing employee engagement and performance.

Read more

What does the Future look like in a World Moving Toward a Collaborative Economy?

Discover how the growing tensions between two opposing forces – the "old economy" and the "new economy" – will shape society and businesses in the years to come.

Read more

Barbie, a Timeless Icon of the American Dream?

Launched in 1959, the world's most famous doll - with adult features - embodies the very essence of American culture and the major social and cultural changes that have shaped over half a century of history. More than 60 years after her creation, she continues to capture our imagination.

Read more

How you See the World – Good or Bad – Matters for your Well-being and for your Success in Life

Our basic worldviews are fundamental in shaping our self-image, ambitions, behaviors and ultimately our success in life. They have their roots in early childhood are passed on by family, the school system and society. They are often unconsciously reflected in our actions.

Read more

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: A Snapshot of Current Trends

From drug discovery to greater accuracy in early disease detection, diagnosis, and personalized treatment, AI could be the next game-changer in healthcare.

Read more

A New World Emerges from the War in Ukraine – the Economic and Geopolitical Stakes

The world prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine belongs to the past.

Read more

It’s a Woman's Prerogative to Make Decisions about her Body and her Life.

More women are following alternative paths to motherhood. Only she knows when she is physically and emotionally ready to give birth and care for a child. That final choice is deeply personal; it’s hers and no one else's.

Read more

Discover what Research Reveals about the Biology of Happiness and How to Navigate that ‘Temporary Low’ that Comes with Middle Age

Midlife is a time of significant change and readjustment of our priorities. Themes of change include our body, our role as family provider, our career, or our ambitions, all of which are deeply relevant to our sense of meaning and purpose in life. These basic building blocks of meaning are at risk of collapsing in midlife.

Read more

Younger Generations are Grappling with More Severe Mental Health Issues and Emotional Distress than their Elders

The significant rise in the number of adolescents and young adults battling mental health challenges may be explained by an increased awareness of mental health issues, a greater openness to seeking help, and an exceptionally stressful life context that exacerbates mental health disorders.

Read more

Key trends that will shape the future of the world of work

How is the world of work changing? What will be the new normal? A snapshot of emerging trends affecting the workforce and the workplace should help us prepare for what’s next.

Read more

Job Search Tips to Leave a Lasting Impression and to Stand Out

A compelling story is the key to a successful job interview. A great story takes the audience on a journey. It has a clear beginning, middle and end. You have one goal: To leave a lasting impression by candidly depicting who you are, what you value, and how these two elements fit into the larger mission of the team or organization.

Read more

Reinspire your Life and Career with a Sabbatical: the Transformative Magic of Sabbaticals

Suddenly your work seems meaningless, you experience job fatigue, or your career is at a standstill; are you ready to quit? Or have you been laid off? Consider the benefits of taking an extended break from work.

Read more

The Power of ‘Weak Ties’– The Value of Social Connectivity in Work and Life

Research supports the notion that casual interactions with strangers or acquaintances improve our sense of well-being in life and provide access to the kinds of connections that are conducive to career advancement.

Read more

As "High Profile" Burnouts are on the Rise, the Stigma of Burnout is Trending Down for the Rest of Us

Burnout is highly prevalent and much talked about in the abstract, as a set of signs and symptoms. Now, with prominent names such as Ms. Ardern, Simone Biles, and Pope Benedict XVI personally connected to the subject, it becomes more real and relatable to us.

Read more

Honoring Pioneers of Mental Health – Black History Month

Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, two black scientists, studied the effects of segregation on children. Their landmark ‘Doll Test’ study persuaded the Supreme Court to overturn school segregation in 1954.

Read more

The Middle Class is the Lifeblood of a Prosperous Society

The middle class plays a major role in our society: its purchasing power drives global economic growth, contributes to healthy democracies, and keeps the world safer. Yet, globally, we are witnessing a decline in the middle class amid growing economic inequality, increasing corruption, and rising political instability.

Read more

Denying Access to Education Affects People, Nations and the World : the Case of Afghan Women

The tradition of patriarchy with its beliefs and values about gender division of labor has its roots in early childhood, through family, society and the school system.

Read more

What can the World Cup Teach Business Leaders about Top Performance?

Exceptional events occur when ordinary leaders and people rise to the challenge of attempting the seemingly impossible. In so doing, they become extraordinary leaders and extraordinary people.

Read more

There is a Growing Cultural Trend to ‘Retire’ the Concept of Retirement

People are living longer today and realize that their journey has only started after 30 years of life experience. They’re looking for opportunities to grow personally and professionally so they can leave their mark on the world.

Read more

Now More than Ever, be the CEO and Champion of your Career

Historically, people had little need to manage their careers – they were naturally born into a career track or, until recently, relied on their company to chart their career path. But times have changed... Today, we must assume responsibility for managing our future and acquire the skills to manage ourselves and others.

Read more

The Value of the Concept of ‘Good Enough’ in a Highly Complex World

Many of the personal, social, and environmental ills we face are rooted in our obsession with "greatness" as a value. This mindset is based on the premise that only outperformance and excellence are acceptable, when in reality they can sometimes prove irrelevant or counterproductive.

Read more

Stalking Hubris, Before It Leads To A Fall

In a constantly evolving environment with hybrid work arrangements, the danger is real that some executives will lose touch with reality or cultural norms. A leader plagued by hubris is a major source of toxicity at work.

Read more

Where is the Global Economy headed?

Inflationary pressures are improving, spiraling costs of living are beginning to ease - and as expected and desirable - the pace of economic growth is slowing.

Read more

Putin’s aggression in Ukraine Echoes Hitler’s actions in the late 1930s

Historical parallels indicate that both despots used the same playbook, but the forceful and decisive interventions of the Western states suggest a very different outcome this time around.

Read more

Is it time for the ‘American Dream’ v2.0?

The American Dream evolved to mean different things to different generations and people – though it usually includes some promise of opportunity. It is part of the American ethos and likely always will be.

Read more

‘Quiet quitting’ is the Latest Buzzword in the Workplace

It means ditching the ‘hustle’ culture mindset. The term ‘Quiet quitting’ is a misnomer; we reframe it as ‘healthy working’ which is about restoring a healthy work-life balance

Read more

Does Success in Business and in Life rely on Similar Strategic Approaches?

The same basic management concepts that drive business success may also be applied to make better choices in life

Read more

Creating a Work Culture Intentionally Designed to Support an Organization's Purpose and Strategy is a Key Priority when Transitioning to a Hybrid Work Environment

Culture often receives less attention than purpose and strategy, yet it plays a huge role in an organization’s success. Culture happens – whether by design or by default – so why not design it intentionally based on how we want the organization to operate?

Read more

How Serious is the Threat to our Democratic System today? What are the Major Challenges? What can be Done?

The current crisis of the democratic system poses a serious risk to the stability of multicultural societies as well as to free market capitalism.

Read more

With the Current Level of Inflation, are there Signals that a Pernicious Visitor from the ‘70s and early ‘80s is Back?

There is little indication that a future recession is looming. However, skyrocketing demand and supply shortages are stretching the economy to the limit.

Read more

Coping With the Unprecedented Challenges of Taking Care of Aging Parents

Rapidly aging populations and demographic shifts underscore the reality that aging will affect all of us personally and require care and support for those close to us.

Read more

At Least 6 Extra Years of Higher Quality of Life for Everyone is Within Reach

It's time to set more ambitious goals for our health. It's not just about adding years to life but also adding life to years. 

Read more

The Merits of Long-term Value Creation for All Stakeholders

It is time for capitalism to keep pace with the evolving needs of society and respond to the new ways of how the world operates. The shift from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism is not only about adjusting the metrics of success, but also about redefining the rules that govern the world.

Read more

When Life Spirals Out of Control: Self-compassion as an Alternative to the Relentless Pursuit of Self-esteem

Why? We are more likely to develop emotional resilience by being gentle with ourselves than by boosting our ego with harsh self-criticism.

Read more

How Can We Use The Power Of Our Intuition To Improve The Accuracy, Confidence, And Efficiency Of Our Decision-Making?

Intuition is a "special sense" – an ability to recognize patterns – that, if well developed and cultivated, can be a valuable complement to effective decision-making.

Read more

The Consequences of Negativity Are Prevalent in Failing Relationships

Positive behaviors (words, attitudes, interactions) make a difference, but it is crucial to avoid negativity that irrevocably damages the health and sustainability of a relationship.

Read more

The Relentless Pursuit of Success – Addiction to Success – Is Source of Dissatisfaction and Unhappiness

For many people, success is addictive, and many will sacrifice their lives and relationships to keep getting hits of success.

Read more

The Culture of Overwork: A Distinctly American Tradition

The concept of workism is the belief that work is not only necessary for economic production but is also the centerpiece of our identity and the purpose of our lives; and that any policy to promote human well-being must always encourage more work.

Read more

How Can We Lead with Compassion and Care while Dealing with Daily Pressures and Stress During a Crisis ?

The more compassionate we are as leaders, the deeper we connect with people and address their daily concerns, the sooner we will set the stage for business recovery and success.

Read more

When the previous (older) version of you no longer resonates with you

The concept of outgrowing old versions of ourselves isn’t new: we grow out of old beliefs as our worldview expands; we grow out of habits or routines that no longer make sense for our lives.

Read more

Parallels Between The Annual Cycle Of Nature And The Moments When Life Knocks Us Down

Mastering life’s challenges starts with revisiting our perception of time. We mistakenly think that our life is linear, but it is in fact cyclical and mirrors the cycle of nature.

Read more

Discover How Persuasion Tactics Influence Human Decision-Making Almost Automatically

Have you ever wondered how persuasion works? How are salespeople, fundraisers, and politicians able to lure us into compliance – without even realizing that we’re being manipulated?

Read more

The Benefits of Physical Activity on Preserving Cognitive Function in the Aging Brain

Preserving cognitive function, especially executive cognitive function, is key to continued independent living for seniors, as it improves mental flexibility, working memory and inhibitory control. These functions rely on neurobiological mechanisms that support the relationship between positive health behaviors and cognitive abilities.

Read more

How Good Are We At Predicting What Will Make Us Happy In The Future?

Our imagination is not reliable in helping us to figure out what will make us happy in the future or even what has made us happy in the past. Because of logic-processing errors our brains tend to make, we misestimate our future satisfactions. However, we find ways to adapt to circumstances and create our own happiness.

Read more

We Have the Power to Influence our Emotional Well-being in More Ways than We Realize

Have you ever wondered where your emotions come from? We have much more power over our feelings than we imagine. This awareness alone is a powerful tool to reclaim control over what is getting us down or holding us back.

Read more

The Essential Role of a Growth Mindset and Neuroplasticity in Facilitating Lifelong Learning

The awareness that the brain is malleable and can evolve empowers anyone who makes deliberate and repeated learning efforts to rewire their brain for maximum benefit.

Read more

Neuroplasticity: Harness the Power of Neuroplasticity for Greater Health and Well-Being at Any Age

The structures and functional capabilities of our brain are not fixed; the brain can reorganize, develop, and change in response to new experiences. A healthy lifestyle, combining diet and exercise, promotes neuroplasticity and improves our memory and cognitive performance.

Read more

Uncovering the Mind-Body Connection: The Mind and Body Interact in Powerful Ways that Affect our Physical and Mental Health.

Mind-body interactions are a two-way street. Our mental health or distress affects our physical well-being, while our physical health or discomfort may influence our mental health.

Read more

Does Passion Always Drive Performance and Emotional Well-Being?

We often believe that passion is an essential component of success and well-being. However, researchers differentiate between two qualitatively distinct types of passion; harmonious passion and obsessive passion, both intended to improve performance, but with opposite results.

Read more

Early Childhood Adversity Is a Key Risk Factor for Substance Abuse

Early adversity, manifested by insensitive, unpredictable, and unresponsive caregivers, leads to numerous neurobiological abnormalities in the developing brain and an inappropriate response of our body to stress, which is believed to be implicated in the development of substance abuse.

Read more

Our Early Life Experiences Shape Who We Are, how We Think, how We Feel, how We Process Stress and Inform Our Beliefs and Behaviors (Part II)

In "What Happened to You?", Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry explore the crucial role of early childhood experiences in shaping the people we become: our strengths, weaknesses and unique responses to daily events reflect what happened to us. They conclude that the power of meaningful connections with others is essential to offset the impact of early trauma.

Read more

Our Early Life Experiences Shape Who We Are, how We Think, how We Feel, how We Process Stress and Inform Our Beliefs and Behaviors (Part I)

In "What Happened to You?", Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry explore the impact of early childhood experiences on the biology of our brains and the people we become. Their scientific and emotional insights help us understand how our personal journey influences the development, organization, and functioning of our brain – determining how we deal with stress, make decisions, and relate to others. To defeat the effects of trauma and adversity, they advocate shifting the focus from "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?” This is a subtle but fundamental shift in our perspective on trauma that opens the door to resilience and healing.

Read more

Freedom of Choice, a Sense of Control, Autonomy and Happiness Are Closely Related

Life is an individual adventure: discover how freedom of choice, a sense of control and autonomy can significantly increase your happiness.

Read more

Building Resilience in a Hostile World: Survival, Adaptability, and Transformability are All Required for Growth.

In an uncertain and ever-changing world, the art of survival is not to resist, but to adapt and transform. Would you agree that change - no matter how painful – can act as a catalyst for continued growth and renewal?

Read more

Delayed Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood: an Expected Response to the Economic Conditions at Entry into the Workforce.

When young adults delay reaching adulthood, it does not mean that something has changed about them; but that the economic context in which they grew up has changed.

Read more

Our Emotions Play an Essential Role in our Decision Making and Actions. It Takes More than Willpower to Exercise Self-Discipline.

Working with emotions, not against them, is essential to creating the willpower needed to overcome obstacles and setbacks.

Read more

Neoteny – The Secret to Being a Lifelong Leader

The successful application of a biological concept to leadership practices.

Read more

Six Common Fallacies in Critical Thinking

Every day we are inundated with information; some useful, some worthless or worse, misleading. Being critical allows us to triage the information we receive. Spot the most common fallacious arguments right at the outset of a conversation.

Read more

It’s Been a Year – Things are Looking Up, So Why Haven’t We Adjusted to COVID?

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, millions of people maxed out their disaster quota and are eager to move on from the pandemic. But emotional wounds still run deep and will take time to heal.

Read more

Happiness is the Ability to Relate to Emotions with Greater Granularity and Depth - The Benefits of Practicing "Emodiversity".

Learning how to discern and experience the full range of our emotional landscape comes with huge rewards. Do you embrace all your emotions – positive and negative?

Read more

Is There an Influence of Era on Leadership Values and Behaviors?

A fascinating study that started in 1938 continues to give us insightful information, in particular: “Does the era in which a person lives ultimately influence his or her worldview and overall aspirations?”

Read more

The Power of Personal Leadership – It Starts with You!

Results of a landmark study describing a magical process by which ordinary people of all ages become leaders.

Read more

Lift Your Spirits Through Social Connectedness – The Power of “Weak Ties”

Research shows that casual interactions with strangers or acquaintances are equally important in restoring our sense of well-being and belonging as connecting with family and friends.

Read more

Covid-19 Pandemic-Induced Loneliness

Research confirms that loneliness is multidimensional and that its resolution requires a multifaceted therapeutic approach.

Read more

Self-Actualization – Becoming the Best Version of Yourself

As human beings, we have basic psychological needs for personal growth and development throughout our lives. By achieving self-actualization, we are able to find meaning and purpose in our lives and lead a more fulfilling life. What are six essential characteristics of a self-actualized person?

Read more

Aging – Is Living by Subtraction!

Aging affects all of us. Understanding the dynamics of aging, its impact on our daily lives and a few tips to stay in control is the topic of this post.

Read more

About Free Speech on Social Media!

Freedom of speech has been a recurring topic on the internet and social media platforms lately. What are the objectives pursued by social media? How do they work? This blog attempts to answer the question: "Is online freedom of expression a myth or a reality?”

Read more

What Makes A Good Life? – Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness

Having “meaningful interpersonal relationships”, more than money or fame, is what keeps people healthy and happy throughout their lives. Discover the evidence gathered over eight decades that supports this affirmation.

Read more

The Benefits of Living Purposefully at Every Life-Stage!

To thrive we need a direction and goals to look forward to; a clear sense of purpose allows us to find meaning in our lives. Finding and Reinventing Life’s Purpose Indefinitely is critical.

Read more

Retired – Who Am I Now?

Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. What are the consequences of this change on daily life? A new study offers valuable insights on how to effectively navigate the transition to retirement.

Read more

Don’t Fall Prey to Validation by Social Media!

Research shows that we are wired to seek social acceptance – Self-awareness and reconnecting with oneself, are the first steps in overcoming the constant need for recognition.

Read more

Living Impactfully – Applying the 80/20 Rule

Focus on the activities that are most critical to your happiness!

Read more
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Sign up for our newsletter

And never miss our latest articles

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.