Identify the people and activities that affect your energy levels as a starting point for choosing more of what invigorates you, writes Scott Eblin. "There's even a chance that you might influence the energy draining people in your life to take a more productive path," he writes.

Tony's Chocolonely has taken over the Dutch chocolate market in two distinct ways: nontraditional flavors and trying to prevent its supply chain from using child labor or oppressive farming practices. Unusual packaging and chocolate sizes have also helped the brand disrupt a stable market, writes Jeroen Kraaijenbrink.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared likely to rule in Comcast's favor regarding a $20 billion racial discrimination case brought by Byron Allen, who is suing over the company's decision not to carry seven of his channels. The court is examining whether the Civil Rights Act of 1866 applies in Allen's case.

This photo was submitted by Dawn Baker.

Give team members the freedom and direction they need to complete assignments even as you monitor their progress and step in as needed, writes Naphtali Hoff. "If you see that things are starting to veer off the rails, you'll need to figure out how to correct or redirect the process to put it back on track," Hoff writes.

Conflict is inevitable, but destructive conflict must immediately be addressed through steps such as peer review, professional coaching and counseling, or dismissal, writes consultant and board member Fred Engelfried. "Failing to confront destructive conflict emboldens others to act the same while demotivating many more," he writes.

Humor can keep an audience engaged, but avoid off-color jokes, and remember to pause after the punchline to allow for laughter, writes Jim Anderson. "The right way to deal with laughter is for you to remain quiet while your audience laughs and then start to speak again after their laughter has peaked," he writes.

A shrinking labor pool and declines in productivity and capital spending suggest US economic growth could be sluggish at best, writes Joel Naroff. "The economy is largely in a trap: It has the jobs but not the workers to fill them," he argues.

Panera Bread founder Ron Shaich says he's always trying to discern the next trend in food and how to capitalize on it. "It may turn out to be disruptive, but my goal is simply to deliver something that matters to the customer," he says.

Nine years after putting a note into a bottle and tossing it into the Atlantic Ocean off the Massachusetts coast, Max Vredenburgh has received a reply from someone named G. Dubois who found his bottle on a beach in France. Now 19, Vredenburgh says he wants to learn more about his new pen pal.