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Weve been sold a myth about entrepreneurial success: sharpen your skills, tighten your systems, hustle harder. But after years of working with independent professionals across industries, Ive noticed that the highest performers share something that rarely makes the productivity lists: theyve intentionally built communities of colleagues, clients, and partners who expand how they think, create, and deliver impact. Community isnt a nice to have for the self-employed. Its strategic infrastructure. And this is especially important for solopreneurs, entrepreneurs who work primarily solo. The stakes are higher than most solopreneurs realize. According to research from Leapers, a UK-based organization studying self-employment and mental health, 70% of freelancers have experienced loneliness, disconnection, or isolation while working independently. Thats not just an emotional burden, its a creativity killer. When we work in isolation, our assumptions calcify, our thinking narrows, and our best ideas never get the friction they need to become great. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-16x9-figure-thinking.jpg","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-16x9-figure-thinking_0b545c.jpg","eyebrow":"","headline":"\u003Cem\u003EWonderRigor Newsletter\u003C\/em\u003E","dek":"Want more insights, tools, and invitations from Dr. Natalie Nixon about applying creativity for meaningful business results and the future of work? Subscribe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__figure-2D8-2Dthinking-2Dllc.kit.com_sign-2Dup\u0026amp;d=DwMFaQ\u0026amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM\u0026amp;r=xHenyQfyc6YcuCNMBsOvfYGQILM1d1ruredVZikn4HE\u0026amp;m=F383gnrChFhYKPhcpNHI1hY3o58IHIn_LkB5QJDrs3G5Wfft-DcucUO4UEmGO7GZ\u0026amp;s=JlJm7GyKCJvPW0jyrsfTFtinteKDitN13vfPZiuJnP8\u0026amp;e=\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E for the free WonderRigor newsletter at Figure8Thinking.com","subhed":"","description":"","ctaText":"Learn More","ctaUrl":"http:\/\/Figure8Thinking.com","theme":{"bg":"#3b3f46","text":"#ffffff","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","subhed":"#ffffff","buttonBg":"#6e8ba6","buttonHoverBg":"#3b3f46","buttonText":"#ffffff"},"imageDesktopId":91470060,"imageMobileId":91470061,"shareable":false,"slug":""}} Community oxygenates your thinking When you work solo, you start mistaking your perspective for the perspective. But a strong community acts as a foil for your ideas, exposing your ideas to new light, context, and critique. This isnt just about generating more ideas, its about generating better ideas. The kind of synthesized, pressure-tested thinking thats stronger than anything youd develop in isolation. Community provides reality checks and emotional ballast Solopreneurship demands extraordinary mental fortitude. Youre simultaneously the product, the strategist, the salesperson, and the back office. A trusted community offers reality checks that keep you from veering off course, and gut checks that help you discern which risks are worth taking. Just as important, community provides emotional ballastpeople who understand the volatility of self-employment and can normalize the inevitable ups and downs without judgment. Community converts intention into momentum Left to our own devices, its easy to confuse motion with progress. Communities help convert intention into actual momentum. When youre regularly sharing what youre working on, asking questions, and reporting back on experiments, youre more likely to follow through. This kind of accountability shifts focus from mere outputlike checking tasks off a listto true impact: work that meaningfully moves clients, audiences, and industries forward. Community accelerates learning A well-designed community is a living archive of experiments, failures, and breakthroughs. Instead of learning only from your own trial and error, youre drawing from a collective body of experience. You can ask for help, offer your own hard-won insights, and benefit from perspectives across sectors and disciplines. That diversity of vantage points is a powerful driver of both creativity and strategic clarity. Community unlocks opportunity Finally, community is how transactional encounters evolve into long-term, mutual relationships. When you consistently show up in spaces with colleagues, clients, and partners- whether in mastermind groups, professional associations, or communities of play- youre building trust over time. That trust leads to collaborations, referrals, and invitations you simply cannot manufacture through cold outreach. And because these relationships are grounded in shared values and curiosity rather than immediate deals, they tend to be more resilient and more creatively fulfilling. For independent professionals, community is not a distraction from real work. Its the infrastructure that makes your best work possible. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-16x9-figure-thinking.jpg","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/01\/i-16x9-figure-thinking_0b545c.jpg","eyebrow":"","headline":"\u003Cem\u003EWonderRigor Newsletter\u003C\/em\u003E","dek":"Want more insights, tools, and invitations from Dr. Natalie Nixon about applying creativity for meaningful business results and the future of work? Subscribe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/urldefense.proofpoint.com\/v2\/url?u=https-3A__figure-2D8-2Dthinking-2Dllc.kit.com_sign-2Dup\u0026amp;d=DwMFaQ\u0026amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM\u0026amp;r=xHenyQfyc6YcuCNMBsOvfYGQILM1d1ruredVZikn4HE\u0026amp;m=F383gnrChFhYKPhcpNHI1hY3o58IHIn_LkB5QJDrs3G5Wfft-DcucUO4UEmGO7GZ\u0026amp;s=JlJm7GyKCJvPW0jyrsfTFtinteKDitN13vfPZiuJnP8\u0026amp;e=\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E for the free WonderRigor newsletter at Figure8Thinking.com","subhed":"","description":"","ctaText":"Learn More","ctaUrl":"http:\/\/Figure8Thinking.com","theme":{"bg":"#3b3f46","text":"#ffffff","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","subhed":"#ffffff","buttonBg":"#6e8ba6","buttonHoverBg":"#3b3f46","buttonText":"#ffffff"},"imageDesktopId":91470060,"imageMobileId":91470061,"shareable":false,"slug":""}}
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E-Commerce
Known as the self-help guru whose tagline let them has encouraged millions to stop worrying what others are doing or saying, and focus on their own personal growth, has another significant lesson: dont be afraid to keep moving forward to goals. During an interview with Norah ODonnell on CBS Sunday Morning this week, Robbins said, “If you feel stuck in your life, it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means that what’s missing in your life is growth. And if I can get you to grow and learn in any area of your life, you start to change.” The 57-year-old mother and former lawyerwho, at one time in her 40s, was unemployed and over a million in debtshares her motivational mindset and messages through her books, including The Let Them Theory, and the accompanying namesake podcast. Still, 15 years later, her loyalists still refer to her iconic 2011 TED Talk, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over.” In this CBS interview, Robbins said we to accept change in ones life trajectory, building the comparison to sustainable needs: “When you’re thirsty what do you need?” “Water.” “When you are hungry, what do you need?” “Food.” When youre stuck, do you know what you need? Growth. This motivation for self-advocacy can be an astounding motivator for personal growth and change. When one accepts they are ready to move forward, do the work and make the change, positive results happen. And theres data to back this up. Growth mindset interventions are increasing in popularity and can be effective, according to a study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin. A meta-analysis of 53 prior analyses revealed positive effects on academic outcomes, mental health, and social functioning, especially when interventions are delivered to people expected to benefit the most. Furthermore, understanding that change is inevitable can be scary, but key to personal growth, according to an article in Psychology Today. The article offered pointers for self-growth, including to adopt a growth mindset, to engage in activities that broaden perspectives and push you out of your comfort zoneand to remind yourself of the progress youve made thus far. All opportunities that only exist if you feel stuck. After all, being stuck is really just a way to access your full potential: 3 questions that will help you regain momentum when youre stuck Change is a choice: Embrace your power to transform How to train your brain to embrace change And, if being stuck makes you feel like youre broken or behind or a failureremind yourself of your progress, and of your end goal. Envisioning what life looks like once youve achieved your accomplishments can be a great source of motivation, whether its pursuing more education, starting a business, or changing career paths. One quote from Robbins book sums how you can move from what you interpret as being broken, to being an achiever: You dont need anyone elses permission to be happy, to pursue your passions, express yourself more, or to live the life youve always dreamed of. The only permission you need is your own.
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E-Commerce
Another round of Epstein filesapproximately three million documentswas released January 30, and this batch included a lot of prominent names. That list included philanthropist and business magnate Bill Gates, entrepreneur Elon Musk, and author, doctor and longevity influencer Peter Attia. They were all allegedly connected to Epstein in different ways, and as a result, their mentions in the documents are varied. But its their responses that offer lessons to others in the business world about how to respond when faced with a crisis. Dealing with one of this magnitude is no easy feat, and it requires absolute trust between a client and a crisis manager, Beverly Hills celebrity PR and crisis expert Eric Schiffer tells Fast Company. Addressing allegations Its true that when it comes to forward-facing events, being included in something like the Epstein files is the type of calamity a lot of leaders in the business world arent likely to be faced with. But bosses can learn from high-profile, high-stakes examples as some of the nations most powerful men grapple with allegations like these. Gates is dealing with the fallout from an email Epstein sent to himself. In it, Epstein alleges that Gates hid a sexually transmitted disease he allegedly contracted after engaging in presumed sexual activities with Russian girls affiliated with Epstein from his then-wife, initially released a statement via spokesperson. The allegations were decried as absolutely absurd and completely false. The Microsoft founder was forced to directly address the allegations this week, telling Australian television channel 9News the claim is false and speculated that Epstein may had been attempting to blackmail him. Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent, Gates added. The email is false. Musk appears to have emailed Epstein trying to coordinate plans to visit Epstein’s private island. In one email apparently exchanged between the pair in 2012, Musk indicated he planned to bring then-wife Talulah Riley and asked, What day/night will be the wildest party on your island? The tech founder turned to X to vehemently deny he participated in any untoward behavior alongside or by way of Epstein: I have never been to any Epstein parties ever and have many times call[ed] for the prosecution of those who have committed crimes with Epstein, he wrote on January 31. The acid test for justice is not the release of the files, but rather the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein. And Attia, a wellness influencer who has courted controversy over the years, appeared to exchange a series of emails with Epstein in which the pair made disparaging comments about female genitalia. A separate set of emails made it seem Attia and Epstein were together while the formers wife was in the hospital with their son. Attia denied he was not involved in any criminal activity in a lengthy statement also shared to X. All three men have, at various points, been considered leaders within their business communities and among the great minds of our collective experience. Though Musk has already experienced a steep tumble from years past when he was revered by many, Gates and Attia are wading into some of the murkiest waters in their professional lives. Staying truthful Crisis PR expert Schiffer says navigating this requires absolute trust between a client and a crisis manager. As a crisis manager, youve got to ensure you get the absolute truth from your client, he says. And then, once you have the truth, then the goal is to begin to repair whatever challenge that the facts may reveal without doing any further damage. Unfortunately, thats the stage when a lot of clients still mess things up. What occurs in these situations is clients that are attempting to manage their crisis can end up creating even bigger problems, because they may not reveal the entire truth, or they may obfuscate the facts, Schiffer adds. And they create all these secondary challenges. At the core of the issue is a strong need to quickly rebuild trust with the public. In order to do that, a crisis manager has to know with complete certainty they can trust their own clientand if they find out someone is lying, the cord has to be cut immediately. This is a place for absolute honesty, and I need to know what you’re dealing with, he says. And then if I find out that in any way that you were not 100% truthful, I’m out. Presuming a client is being completely truthful, though, the next steps depend on the underlying facts: Part of what Gates, Musk, and Attia are dealing with is that its difficult to get all of the details out. What’s kept this Epstein matter alive is that there’s more to reveal, Schiffer says, It’s not over yet. So all of it hasn’t gotten out, and it’s extending the story. This is a story that should have been over a long time ago, had they just released all the records. He continues: You’ve got a lot of powerful people who are in the mix, and so you want to understand where you are in the cycle. And the cycle right now is still . . . I’d say we’re probably two-thirds through the cycle. It’s not complete, that’s for sure. Crisis PR is a two-way street, Schiffer later explained. Its vital that theres an ethical alignment between client and manager. Some [managers] will take the perspective, well, they’re the same as a defense attorney, and a defense attorney would take on a case of charges against someone who might be seen as a pedophile or allegations against that, he said. But it’s not something that interests me. Once honesty and alignment are in place, manager and client should work together to identify the best outcome, and then make that happen. Secondary implications, such as other details that could surface or anticipated legal parameters, will also need to be considered. And then? You build a strategy from that, Schiffer concluded.
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E-Commerce
Last week, Google released Project Genie, a powerful new AI-powered platform for videogame design. Project Genie, which is currently only available for Googles AI Ultra subscribers, uses AI to build virtual worlds. That sounds interesting, if not necessarily revolutionary. Videogame developers already model and build virtual worlds all the time. Project Genies simple concept, though, belies the techs potential impact. The new system, and the Genie 3 model behind it, have the potential to forever change how videogames are built and played. Model the World Most videogames today rely on a handful of game engines to render their virtual worlds so they look realistic for players. Engines like Unreal and Unity have long dominated the space. To build a game within them, developers first create virtual spaces, populating them with 3D digital models of objects, characters, buildings and the like. They then release players into their worlds. As a player explores, the game engine renders the currently-visible portions of the virtual world in near real-time, creating the seamless experience of wandering through a realistic environment. Game engines revolutionized game design because they allowed developers to hand off messy and complex things like physics and lighting to the engine. Instead of worrying about modeling how fur moves in a breeze or how fast bullets travel, they could focus on creative jobs like building delightfully scary monsters or realistic weaponry. Game engines come with their own set of limitations, though. Although players are free to explore a world as they please, developers still generally need to create every element of that world themselves. Todays virtual worlds are massive. Players could reportedly spend as many as 130 real-world hours exploring the worlds inside games like No Mans Sky without seeing the same part twice. But even so, everything in that virtual world had to be put there on purpose. The worlds feel huge, but nothing in them is truly new. Worlds on the fly Googles new Project Genie is different. Rather than creating a world piece by piece, the new tool allows developers to upload concept art or even a simple text prompt. Google Genie 3 model, which underlies the system, then transforms those inputs into a seamless, virtual space that players can move within. Crucially, though, Project Genies worlds arent bounded, like the worlds of traditional game engines. Genie 3 imagines its worlds on the fly, literally creating them fresh as a player explores. That means Genies worlds are effectively infinite. As a player reaches the bounds of the world, the Genie 3 model simply expands them, imagining new parts that have never existed before. In an example video, Google shows a developer asking the system for an undersea world. Project Genie spins up a virtual coral reef environment, with the player controlling a realistic-looking fish. As the fish swims around the reef, Project Genie adds new parts seamlessly. As the player-controlled fish swims upwards, the system even creates realistically-shimmery water above the virtual reef. The user could presumably have their fish leap from the ocean into the air, and Project Genie would go right on imagining new parts of the worldperhaps an ocean landscape complete with (hopefully friendly) seagulls, buoys and boats. Truly open worlds Currently, Project Genie has some serious limitations. It can only perform its magic for about 60 seconds at a time, before its imagined worlds go off the rails. Its also limited to 24 frames per secondimpossibly slow for a modern game, where FPS can easily hit 120 on a powerful computer. Practically, this means Project Genies worlds have movement thats too choppy for real world use. Project Genies demo games also lack actual gameplay elements, like rules and goals. You can only swim around as a fish for so long before getting boredeven if the virtual reef around you is being automatically generated by an insanely powerful AI. The bones are there, though. And the implications for the future of gaming are massive. As the Genie 3 model improves, game designers could use it to create worlds that players could explore forever. Each time players loaded a game, theyd be experiencing something completely newand theyd never run out of territory in which to play. Genie 3 could potentially also create bespoke models of a world, tailored to individual players. Imagine playing a game like Grand Theft Auto, but with the action taking place in your hometownwhether you live in Los Angeles or Lincoln, Nebraska. And Genie could create entirely new kinds of gamesones where the player actively participates in building the world. Because Genie can accept prompts and imagery, players could provide input on the places theyd like to explore. Genie could then build them a custom world based on their ideas. Traditional game designers are clearly taking note. The stocks of gaming companies like Nintendo and Roblox promptly dropped when Project Genie was announced. So-called open world gameswhere players explore an environment for hours on end, sometimes without specific goalsare already massively popular. Making those worlds truly open and unbounded using Genie would almost certainly make the games more compellingand better selling. For now, Project Genie is a cool demo. Soon, though, its AI magic could spell disruption for an entire industry.
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E-Commerce
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games kick off in Italy on Friday, with top athletes from across the world competing for not just any prize, but for the most expensive medals in Olympics history. The Milano Cortina-based games come as the value of precious metals have skyrocketed, most notably gold and silver. Gold was worth about $2,500 per ounce when the Paris Summer Olympics took place in 2024. Now, less than two years later, gold sits at just over $4,800 per ounceand even thats a significant drop from its recent record-high of about $5,600 per ounce just last week. Silver averaged around $28 per ounce during the last Olympic games, but is now valued at about $77 per ounce. Again, this is a downturn from a high of over $121 per ounce at the end of January. [Photo: Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026] How much are Olympic medals worth during the 2026 winter games? At time of writing, a rough calculation shows that each gold medal is worth about $2,176up from about $900 in Paris. Meanwhile, a silver medal is valued at about $1,245, based on the metals current worth. Notably, the Olympic gold medals havent been pure gold in over 100 years, as CNN previously reported. Instead, they are now made up of 500 grams of silver and just six grams of gold. The silver medal is solely made of 500 grams of, well, silver. There will be 735 Olympic medals and 411 Paralympic medals awarded during the two events. Each medal is a thickness of just 10 millimeters with an 80 millimeter diameter. Of course, the cost of each medal is more significant for the manufacturer than the recipient (you can learn more about how the Olympic medals are made here). Olympic medals are not commonly sold and, when they are, typically go for a lot more than face value. In January, swimmer Ryan Lochte sold three gold medals for about $385,000, Swimming World reports. Previously, he sold six Olympic medals for $166,000.
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E-Commerce
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