Retired Navy SEAL and "Extreme Ownership" co-author Jocko Willink talk about using simplicity for effective leadership.
You can follow Jocko on Twitter.
Produced by Joe Avella & Richard Feloni
Follow BI Video: On Facebook
Join the conversation about this story »
I've always been one of those guys who doesn't do anything to his skin. I would usually wake up, shower, brush my teeth, and walk out the door.
Sometimes I would wipe the excess oil off my face with my hands — without soap or cleanser — in the shower, but that's really as far as I went in my skincare routine.
As any grooming or dermatological professional will tell you, I was making a huge mistake.
It wasn't until until I spoke with Dr. Terrence Keaney, a dermatologist specializing in men's skin, for a series of articles on men's skincare, that I realized just what I was doing to my skin — or, rather, not doing.
He stressed to me the importance of keeping the skin moisturized and protected via sunscreen, as it wards off premature skin aging, stops wrinkles from settling in, and prevents skin cancer.
Now obviously those are three things no one particularly wants, but they're also not really on the typical guy's radar.
I wasn't convinced I would be able to keep it up every day, but the insistence of multiple experts convinced me I needed to at least try it — and boy am I glad I did.
I've been wearing a moisturizer every day for the last two weeks, and I've noticed a huge difference in how my skin looks and feels. It's not "magic," but it is a subtle, yet noticeable improvement. My skin doesn't feel dry or tight after I wash it, it's noticeably softer and more supple, and the fine lines of my brow and under my eyes are much less noticeable.
My skin just looks better on a day-to-day basis — much better than I would have guessed one small step in the morning would have been able to do.
You should try it, too. I'm not saying you should obsess over your skin à la Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho," but using just one product in the morning will make a world of difference.
I guarantee you'll be happy with the results.
SEE ALSO: The most important thing men should know before starting a skincare routine
DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!
Join the conversation about this story »
Turning 30 is a major milestone.
For many it means that you're no longer in the hard-partying, bad decision-making stage of your life, for better or worse.
Before you turn the big 3-0 — or even if you already have — here are 30 things you should do, from adrenaline-pumping activities to experiences that help you grow.
Additional reporting by Julie Zeveloff.
SEE ALSO: The 11 most underrated ski resorts in America
DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's lifestyle page on Facebook!
See the 11 music festivals you can't miss this summer here
Hundreds of movies come out every year, but only a fraction become hits. Business Insider decided to rank the most successful movies of 2015 based on global box-office performance, critic reviews, and fan ratings.
We started with a group of the 150 highest-grossing films of the past year through the weekend ending Dec. 20 — culled from Box Office Mojo — and then subtracted their production budget to arrive at a box-office profit figure. We also compiled critic ratings from review aggregator Metacritic (scale: 0 to 100) and fan ratings from IMDb (scale: 0 to 10). We combined these three metrics by taking their geometric mean and ranking the movies based on that composite score. We included some films on our list that technically opened in 2014, as their wide-release box office run took place primarily in 2015.
Our top 50 grossed a combined $19 billion worldwide at the box office. Many were reboots or extensions of a franchise, including Vin Diesel's action blockbuster "Furious 7," which claimed the top spot thanks to strong reviews from fans and critics as well as an expectations-shattering $1.3 billion box-office profit worldwide.
With only one weekend under its belt, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" vaulted to No. 9 after a record-breaking $529 million opening weekend; it will likely ascend higher in the final days of 2015.
Read on to see the 50 most successful films of 2015:
SEE ALSO: THE A-LIST: The 30 coolest, most famous people in Hollywood right now
DON'T MISS: The 10 biggest box-office bombs of 2015
Global box office sales: $61.6M
Production budget: $11M
Box office profit: $50.6M
Critic rating: 51
Fan rating:7.3
In "Woman in Gold," Helen Mirren plays a World War II survivor trying to reclaim her family's possessions that were stolen by the Nazis — including a valuable painting — with Ryan Reynolds serving as her lawyer. Critics were lukewarm about the treatment of this true-to-life tale, but audiences were more forgiving.
Global box office sales: $94.6M
Production budget: $53M
Box office profit: $41.6M
Critic rating:68
Fan rating:7.2
Detailing the rise of notorious Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, "Black Mass" earned approval as one of the best gangster movies in years. And after a string of curious, underwhelming film decisions, Johnny Depp is once again in prime form in the lead role as the kingpin.
Global box office sales: $43.9M
Production budget: $5M
Box office profit: $38.9M
Critic rating: 72
Fan rating:7.5
Still among the best actors in the business, Julianne Moore proves it once again in "Still Alice," in which she plays a Columbia University linguistics professor stricken by early-onset Alzheimer's. Released in time for the 2015 award season, Moore won an Academy Award — she had been nominated three times previously — and a Golden Globe for best actress, likely helping the film secure a nice profit at the box office during its wide release this year.
The holiday season is here, and from now through the end of December you'll be tempted by many delicious foods.
We know — this holiday is all about spending time with family and friends and not about counting calories.
But how much do you know about the food that's on your plate? What type of pie is the least bad for you? Which casserole dish has the fewest calories?
You might be surprised which one wins out above the rest.
Take this quiz and find out how you can indulge this holiday season without adding an inch, or two, to your waistline.
RELATED: Ways to manage stress during the holidays
NEXT: 15 healthy eating habits that work according to scientists
A) Yam casserole
B) Green-bean casserole
C) Sweet-potato casserole
D) Corn casserole
Surprisingly, this classic clocks in at just 227 calories a serving. In comparison, starch-filled casseroles like ones made with sweet potatoes or yams are much higher in calorie count, especially if you pile on the marshmallows and brown sugar.
Fun fact to think about when planning your meal: Sweet potatoes have fewer calories than yams.
A) Whole wheat
B) Rye
C) Pumpernickel
D) Corn bread
The most dreaded part about using dating apps is actually starting the conversation. A simple "Hello" is fine, but then what? It can be awkward talking to someone without really knowing what you have in common.
To fix that, the dating app Hinge is rolling out a new feature called Story Cards, which is meant to surface the similarities you have with another person so you can start talking more easily.
Here's how Story Cards works: You'll be shown questions about past experiences to which you can swipe to answer yes or no, things like "Have you ever visited Europe?" or "Have you ever been suspended?"
You don't see other users' responses to these questions right away, but once you're matched up with someone, you'll be shown the most unique things you have in common with the person based on your shared answers.
Hinge works by connecting you to friends-of-friends, displaying a set of profiles of single people in your city every day. If you like someone's profile, swipe right; if you're not interested, swipe left. But unlike location-based dating apps like Tinder, Hinge shows you only second- and third-degree Facebook connections. These are people you might have heard of, even if you've never met.
Here's what Story Cards looks like:
Earlier this year, Hinge introduced a new feature: self-destructing matches, which essentially force you to talk with the people you match with within 24 hours before they vanish forever.
And Story Cards is another attempt to engage you with your matches. Hinge says that in beta testing, Story Cards led to 20% more back-and-forth messages and even led to phone numbers being exchanged.
SEE ALSO: I tried every major dating app — and the best one surprised me
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: The most desired man on Tinder in New Jersey reveals how guys can be successful on Tinder
"If it has to happen, then it has to happen first," writes Laura Vanderkam, a time-management expert and the author of "What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast."
Those among us who have managed to find professional success and eke out a life actively embrace this philosophy. They must set aside their first hours of the day to invest in their top-priority activities before other people's priorities come rushing in.
Science supports this strategy. Vanderkam cites the famous finding of Roy Baumeister, a Florida State University psychology professor, that willpower is like a muscle that becomes fatigued from overuse.
Diets, he says, come undone in the evening, just as poor self-control and lapses in decision-making often come later in the day. On the other hand, early mornings offer a fresh supply of willpower, and people tend to be more optimistic and ready to tackle challenging tasks.
So what do successful executives and entrepreneurs do when they are rested and fresh? From Vanderkam's study of morning rituals and our own research, we outline the following 14 things that the most successful people do before breakfast. While they might not do all of these things every morning, each has been found to be an effective way to start the day.
SEE ALSO: What I learned by waking up at 4:30 a.m. for 21 days
DON'T MISS: 26 time-management tricks I wish I'd known at 20
Successful people know that time is a precious commodity. And while theirs is easily eaten up by phone calls, meetings, and sudden crises once they've gotten to the office, the morning hours are under their control. That's why many of them rise before the sun, squeezing out as much time as they can to do with as they please.
In a poll of 20 executives cited by Vanderkam, 90% said they wake up before 6 a.m. on weekdays. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, for example, wakes at 4 a.m. and is in the office no later than 7 a.m. Meanwhile, Disney CEO Bob Iger gets up at 4:30 to read, and Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey is up at 5:30 to jog.
The bottom line: Productive mornings start with early wake-up calls.
Many successful executives reach for water instead of coffee first thing in the morning.
Kat Cole, president of Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, and Cinnabon, wakes up a 5 a.m. every morning and drinks 24 ounces of water.
Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and Birchbox Man chief Brad Lande start their days with a glass of hot water with lemon.
Drinking water in the morning helps you feel more alert, rehydrates your body, and kickstarts your metabolism, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist and author of "The One One One Diet."
The top morning activity of the rich and powerful seems to be exercise, be it lifting weights at home or going to the gym.
For example, Vanderkam notes that Xerox CEO Ursula Burns schedules an hour-long personal training session at 6 a.m. twice a week. Plus, "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary gets up at 5:45 every morning and jumps on the elliptical or exercise bike, and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk starts every day with an hour-long workout with his trainer.
"These are incredibly busy people," says Vanderkam. "If they make time to exercise, it must be important."
Beyond the fact that exercising in the morning means they can't later run out of time, Vanderkam says a pre-breakfast workout helps reduce stress later in the day, counteracts the effects of high-fat diet, and improves sleep.
Picking out the perfect gift for a military member can be daunting, as their styles and needs can be drastically different from what is useful for civilians.
That's why Business Insider, with an eye to the practical, has put together a gift guide geared toward the military member in your life.
Here are 12 gifts that any service member would love to receive, from the functional to the fun.
SEE ALSO: 10 gifts guys REALLY want for the holidays this year
The Casio G-Shock is the ideal gift for anyone looking for a durable and hardy watch that comes in a variety of styles.
The GA110 in particular is perfectly suited for someone who wants bold colors while still having the durability Casio delivers.
The watch is shock-, magnetic-, and water-resistant up to depths of 200 meters.
It also has a battery life of approximately two years, an LED light, and can keep its time accuracy to within 15 seconds of the set time in the course of a month.
Price: $140
The Leatherman WAVE multi-tool is the most popular model that Leatherman sells.
The Wave features nearly everything someone could possibly need, from wire strippers to a 420HC Serrated Knife, in a single, easy-to-hold tool.
The model is perfect for hardware and camping enthusiasts, and in 2004 was redesigned to feature larger and stronger knives, pliers, and wire cutters.
Each Leatherman tool also comes with a 25-year guarantee.
Price: $99 (engraving for an additional $6.95)
According to Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Jeff Arnett, the US military buys the most of the brand's premium Single Barrel whiskey in the world.
Only 1 in 100 barrels makes the cut for the select 94-proof Single Barrel whiskey.
When buying a 560-pound, 53-gallon barrel, clients are invited to tour the distillery, meet the Master Distiller, and sample various barrels.
A barrel has approximately 250 bottles, which swings from $9,000 to $12,ooo since no two barrels have the same volume of whiskey.
Price: $9,000-$12,ooo
Instability throughout large parts of the world in 2015 have furthered exacerbated a growing refugee crisis in Turkey, parts of the Middle East, and throughout Europe.
Coming from war zones in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and portions of sub-Saharan Africa, the refugees have been driven towards Europe with the hopes of finding a better life for themselves and their families. The scope of the crisis is almost impossible to grasp: in 2015, over 1 million refugees have entered Europe alone.
To give an idea of the struggles that so many have faced, we have compiled 21 of the most heartbreaking images of the ongoing refugee crisis.
For years, children have risen from their beds early on Christmas morning, rushing to find what Santa left them.
Mode put together a video of the gifts kids hoped to find beneath the Christmas tree over the last century.
By Andrew Fowler
INSIDER is on Facebook: Follow us here
SEE ALSO: Kelly Rowland talked about being a new mother after losing her own
Join the conversation about this story »
Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities captured a "narco-sub" with three Ecuadorians and three tons of cocaine on board. The Ecuadorians on board are allegedly associated with Colombia's FARC rebels.
Produced by Emma Fierberg
Follow BI Video: On Facebook
Join the conversation about this story »
Exercise. Read more. Save money. Travel. Those are the staple resolutions.
But if it’s not that complicated, why are there so many fat, dumb, poor people who don’t even have passports?
So, forget about all of the tired, regurgitated resolutions that you recycle unfulfilled year in and out. Here are twenty practical and realistic goals for 2016 that will fundamentally make your life better:
John LeFevre is the creator of @GSElevator on Twitter, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Straight To Hell: True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery, And Billion-Dollar Deals
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: JIM CRAMER: This is where you should invest your first $10,000
The first time someone meets you, it takes them about three seconds to determine whether they like you or want to do business with you in the future, said Jean Baur, a career coach and author of the book "The Essential Job Interview Handbook."
This is crucial when it comes to meetings where that first impression makes all the difference, such as a job interview or client presentation. From your posture to the jewelry you wear, key details can have a significant impact on how you're perceived.
Here are a few ways to make a brilliant first impression in a flash.
This is an update of an article originally written by Vivian Giang.
SEE ALSO: A Harvard psychologist says these simple body-language tweaks can instantly boost your confidence
DON'T MISS: 9 things you're doing that make people dislike you immediately
First and foremost, you need to look like you take care of yourself. This means paying attention to your fingernails, hair, and makeup. Baur said to make sure that your fingernails are clean and trimmed or nicely manicured. If you wear makeup, you should make sure it doesn't draw attention to itself, but is used to highlight your features.
Don't forget to also pay attention to your feet. Career expert Nicole Williams said her biggest pet peeve is when women wear open-toed shoes without getting pedicures. "If you're going to show your toes, make sure your toes are well-groomed," she said.
If you are a man who is interested in sporting facial hair, make sure that it works for you, said Adam P. Causgrove, chairman of The American Mustache Institute.
Think about it like a haircut — not every cut is going to look good on every person, he said. Regardless, your facial hair needs to be kept trim and tidy to maintain a professional look.
Whatever you wear, make sure it's appropriate in your industry. "Everyone draws their lines differently," said etiquette coach Barbara Pachter. "For example, you may be able to wear shorts, but not cutoffs. If your company has a dress code, follow it."
Baur advised: "If you're in banking, wear a navy blue, gray, or black suit (pantsuits are fine for women). But if you're in marketing, training, or academia, you have a wider choice. I like to wear bright colors, such as a red or turquoise, as they complement my coloring and reflect my personal style."
It's also important to consider how your color choices will play in the environment, said Pachter. "Darker colors usually convey a stronger impression than lighter ones." If you're giving a presentation, make sure the color you're wearing doesn't blend in with the background behind you.
According to 2,100 hiring managers and human resource professionals who participated in a CareerBuilder survey, blue and black are the best colors to wear to a job interview, and orange is the worst. Conservative colors, such as black, blue, gray, and brown, seem to be the safest bet when meeting someone for the first time in a professional setting, whereas colors that signal more creativity, like orange, may be too loud.
"Keep your jewelry subtle unless you're an opera singer or nightclub entertainer," said Baur. "And don't wear things that will clank when you rest your hand on the table or that make noise when you gesture."
Accessories are meant to complement your outfit, not overpower it. "I once met a woman who had a ring on every finger," Pachter said. "You couldn't look at anything else."
Li Hongbo makes paper creations that expand and contract into beautiful, intricate shapes. He uses an old technique used in Chinese paper gourd making.
His work makes you see paper differently, and challenges your perception of the material. In his latest exhibition, "Irons for the Ages, Flowers for the Day," Hongbo made brightly colored paper weapons, that looked more like a flowery garden when expanded from their folded up gun shape.
Story by Jacob Shamsian and editing by Stephen Parkhurst
INSIDER IS ON FACEBOOK: Follow us here
INSIDER is on YouTube: Subscribe here
SEE ALSO: This artist makes paintings with firecracker explosions
Join the conversation about this story »
'Tis the season to eat loads of chocolate-y, peppermint-filled treats with loved ones.
Yes, for the most part, holiday treats aren't great for you. But if you had to choose between a candy cane and a gingerbread man, we figured you might like some guidance.
So we took the best 15 desserts and accounted for their calories, fat, sugar, and protein content. That way, desserts lower in sugar, fat, and calories and higher in protein got ranked more positively than candies higher in sugar, fat, and calories and lower in protein.
Here were the winners and losers from best (#1) to worst (#15):
CHECK OUT: The ultimate guide to the most and least healthy Halloween candies
NEXT: Take this quiz to figure out what you should be eating this holiday season
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: You will never want to eat a hot dog again after watching how they're made
Let's face it: The holidays can be the most wonderful time of year, but also the most stressful.
Whether it's a family member or a pesky in-law who always manages to make a situation uncomfortable, from now through December, there's almost no way to escape at least one stress-filled scenario.
To help you cope, here are 15 science-backed tips to keep your stress level down this holiday season.
SEE ALSO: 15 ways to stay focused all day, according to scientists
DON'T MISS: 15 healthy eating habits that work according to scientists
Staying organized will keep you from doing all of your holiday-related shopping at the last minute and give you more time to spend with your loved ones instead of scrambling for everything at the last minute.
Not only will having a to-do list reduce stress, it will help you stay more focused, according to Cal Newport, a computer-science professor and author of the book "Deep Work," which comes out in January.
Without such a list, said Newport, incomplete work can eat away at your concentration. This stems from something called the Zeigarnik Effect, which is the tendency to remember incomplete tasks.
Sometimes, the holidays can be so jam-packed it's hard to remember to even breathe. But taking a second to step away from the kitchen or the crowd and breathe in deep may help your body handle stress a little better. The idea is to get your breath slower to activate the body's relaxation mode, with a lower blood pressure and an overall better feeling.
While there is a lot of pressure to get the holidays just right, setting realistic expectations can help manage stress. A number of studies have pointed to lofty expectations as a reason for higher stress levels. Instead of stretching yourself too thin by taking on too many fancy holiday dishes, stick with manageable tasks and spend the rest of the time enjoying the company of friends and family.
GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman is an adrenaline junkie who's tried everything from surfing to race car driving.
Now he's apparently adding yet another toy to his collection. Citing unnamed sources, CNBC is reporting that Woodman has put in an order for a 180-foot yacht from Dutch yacht-builders Amels. Here's an example of the type of yacht he's buying.
Yachts of this size typically cost between $35 million and $40 million and can accommodate 14 guests plus a crew of 13. According to CNBC, the boat will have room for water sports and a helipad when complete.
Yachts usually take about two years to build, so Woodman's yacht wouldn't be ready for the water until 2017.
Woodman, who has an estimated net worth of $1.25 billion, wouldn't be the first wealthy tech exec to invest in his own yacht. Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, Mark Cuban, Larry Ellison, and Paul Allen all own yachts — though some are much bigger than others.
Woodman and Amels did not immediately return Business Insider's request for comment.
SEE ALSO: The awesome life of GoPro's Nick Woodman, America's highest-paid CEO
Join the conversation about this story »
Roast it, broil it, grill it, fry it — there are many ways to cook a turkey for Christmas dinner.
But we bet you've never heard of some of these. From boiling a bird in a warm bath to roasting it on a car engine, here are some of the more unusual methods one could use.
You probably shouldn't try these at home!
NEXT UP: The top 10 foods with the biggest environmental footprint
SEE ALSO: QUIZ: How to eat right during the holidays
Deep-frying has become a popular way to cook turkeys in recent years. But it's also one of the most dangerous ones. It involves lowering the fowl into a vat of boiling oil for just three to four minutes, which creates a serious risk of burns or fires. And while it may taste delicious, all that fat isn't too good for your heart.
John Cohn, chief scientist of design automation at IBM and an IEEE Fellow, has tried this with hot dogs and pickles (enough to make it light up like a light bulb). He thinks you could do it with a turkey too using a high current transformer like the one in a microwave oven. Simply tie each of the high voltage wires to one end of the turkey using forks, and let it do its magic.
Karen Panetta, an associate dean and professor of electrical engineering director at Tufts University and IEEE Fellow, suggested cooking a turkey on the engine block of a car. But "don't forget to cover it so you don't get grease in your engine!" Panetta warned.
Since the Northeast is having an unseasonably warm winter, it's easy to forget that brutal winter has already hit in other parts of the world.
The Arctic Circle is one of those places. Average temperatures in the summer hover around 50° F, and in the winter they can drop below -50°F in many places.
While the Arctic is not very populated, people do inhabit the area. Photographer Cristian Barnett decided to document the lives of those people who make their homes on or near the invisible, dotted line of the Arctic Circle. In 2006, Barnett began his series, Life On The Line, which was released as a book last year.
"The Arctic Circle is much more than just hunters and polar bears," Barnett told Business Insider. "There are many thriving, modern settlements where you're more likely to meet a hairdresser than a reindeer herder."
Barnett told us about 15 of the people he photographed.
This post was originally written by Christian Storm.
SEE ALSO: 21 amazing photos that show what life is like in the coldest inhabited town on earth
