• We are entering the waning days of the Trump presidency.
• But just because Trump is about to be kicked out of the White House doesn't mean he can't cause problems on the way out.
• Trump is looking to bolster his macho, strongman reputation after his electoral loss and that means he could look to flex his muscles as Commander in Chief in his last months as president.
• Brett Bruen was the director of global engagement in the Obama White House and a career American diplomat. He runs the crisis-communications agency Global Situation Room.
• This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The president has had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year. 

Donald Trump's management of COVID-19 only served to exacerbate the pandemic. As a result, the economy collapsed. Faced with unprecedented outrage over racial injustice, he has worsened the country's wounds. Then there was the election he lost to President-elect Joe Biden.

Given the magnitude of this mess - mostly of his own creation or exacerbation, Trump desperately needs to strengthen his standing before leaving office.

His undemocratic efforts to overturn the results are not bearing fruit. Instead, it just looks like a whole lot of sour grapes. The legal flailing makes him look weak, which is a very uncomfortable place for such a fragile fellow. Something has to be done before he leaves office to shore up his macho image, especially as he eyes another run in 2024.

He begrudgingly acknowledged reality this week, in his own way.  He did not just lose one election, he lost over three dozen lawsuits and support of key Republicans.  In some ways, this precarious political position increases the likelihood that he could take extreme steps to boost his now badly blemished brand.

Trump is already trying to undermine Joe Biden

 A key part of Trump's strategy is aimed at weakening Biden even before he takes office. Delegitimizing him is only stage one. We are already seeing attempts to saddle him with so many problems, he cannot hope to make much progress. There appears to be little regard for the considerable consequences it creates for our country.

This "salt the Earth" strategy has played out through the Trump administration's lack of effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. Trump has done nothing to assist the millions of Americans who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis — and the Treasury Department is now actively undermining programs designed to help the economy. He is recklessly pulling our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, emboldening the Taliban and the Islamic State. 

All of these moves add up to a simple fact: the next several weeks are very likely to be the most dangerous of his presidency.

The worst case scenario: a truly belligerent Trump

Enter the even more worrying possibility he could manufacture or muddle into a foreign crisis. After years of national security negligence, there are certainly no shortage of scary scenarios. 

According to recent reports the president was actively exploring options against Tehran. 

China is always atop his list of rhetorical and real targets. Trump is also reportedly weighing options on how to go after Beijing before leaving office  In the past he has threatened to invade Venezuela and relations with Cuba have certainly worsened.

Just like in the movie Wag the Dog, a manufactured or provoked international crisis, would allow Trump to brandish his Commander in Chief credentials before walking out of the White House. He would be able to launch the first strike and reap the reputational benefits of appearing "strong" without having to manage the follow up and fallout.

President Biden would then be handed a difficult deck. Withdrawing would be challenging, while the political and security consequences of staying the course would be high. Meanwhile, the former president will be tweeting constant criticism from the sidelines.

In the event that Trump takes some sort of unilateral action, it is unlikely he could convince many or any countries to join a coalition. The United States might well witness an unprecedented response from the international community. We are talking about other nations cutting off diplomatic relations and even sanctions against our country, along with American companies. The political, economic, and security consequences would be considerable.

A check on a dangerous lame duck

Trump has proven his willingness to break traditions and even laws to further his personal and political goals. Using the White House and official acts like a citizenship ceremony for his party's national convention were obscene and obviously a violation of the rules. Yet, no one stepped in to stop him. We now have to be prepared that he is willing to go much farther. 

So how do we stop it from happening? It's critical that our leaders especially those on the Republican side of the aisle are vigilant and very directly trying to dissuade the president from pursuing such a path. This is their chance to redeem themselves from their shameful silence on who won the presidential elections.  The press and pundits need to try and put any concerns or claims of a crisis in context. We need to avoid the echo chamber effects that have led us into ill-advised conflicts in the past. 

Trump has often treated the military as a political prop. They are useful for parades and portraying himself as a strong leader. Yet, his alleged comments to aides, along with similar prior remarks, deriding the service and sacrifice of our troops belies an astounding lack of respect. 

While almost any other president would think long and hard before sending American soldiers into harm's way, this one would not. He sees them as little more than "losers" and "suckers" who should fight for his political life. That is what makes the next weeks so scary.

• This holiday season, consumers are shopping differently, using their dollars to reflect their values and have a greater impact.
• Experts argue that just as one day in the year doesn't define a company's success, one unofficial holiday is no longer the key to making your end-of-year sales. 
• Business Insider spoke with economists and business leaders about what the holiday season means for small business survival and the U.S. economy.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Over the past several months, Tal Zvi Nathanel has noticed customers adopting a different mindset when they shop in-person and online at his New York City retail store and art gallery, Showfields.

Located in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhood with a second store in Miami, another crucial Showfields location is on customers' smartphones, where they can walk through the front doors, browse curated collections of beauty, art, and lifetsyle products, and check out with a swipe and a click.

Nathanel told Business Insider that he noticed instead of browsing by product or price, customers are spending their dollars based on criteria like where the product is made, the cause behind the brand, and who's selling it. They, like many American consumers, have become more mission-driven.

"It's less about, How much does it cost?" Nathanel said. "It's more about, What's the impact?"

If there's one thing 2020 has taught entrepreneurs, it's to prepare for change. In just six months, the pandemic has forced nearly 100,000 small businesses to shut down for good, and customer preferences have shifted even more to ecommerce, delivery, and virtual business models.

Now that the holiday season is upon us, business owners that have weathered the storm thus far are wondering what moves they should make next. Small Business Saturday was invented by American Express in 2010 as a marketing initiative the day after Black Friday, and since then typically gives entrepreneurs a leg up on the holiday season. Several business owners told Business Insider they rely on the holiday season for at least 30% of their annual sales.

It's not so simple this year, and what happens in the last six weeks of 2020 could have major impact on America's economic recovery. Small businesses with fewer than 100 workers account for 98.2% of employers and businesses with fewer than 20 workers account for 89% of employers, according to the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), more than 98% percent of all retail companies employ fewer than 50 people. Without a revival on Main Street, the American economy won't right itself any time soon.

Business Insider spoke with economists and business leaders about where small businesses are headed in America's economic future, and they stressed that entrepreneurs will need to examine how their customers' experiences have shaped their buying behaviors — and be prepared to make changes to accommodate them. 

The key takeaways for business owners: Identify and appeal to the value-conscious consumer, and set up as many points-of-sale as possible.

The largest shift in consumer values since the Great Depression

This shopping year is unlike any other.

In practice, consumers have adapted their purchasing habits to the times by shopping online earlier to avoid pandemic-induced shipping delays. The data indicates that culturally, shopping local has become a sign of one's values, humanity, and morality. Seven out of 10 holiday shoppers find it more important to support small businesses than to get a good deal — 43% said they were willing to spend $20 more on an item to support a small business rather than save $20 at a large retailer — according to a survey by Union Bank and research firm Edelman Intelligence.

An anaylsis by communications agency Zeno Group found that the most important values among consumers this year are protecting family, self-reliance, simplicity, honesty, and duty — rather than the sentiments of ambition, experiences, travel, and adventure that have ruled behavior and preferences in years passed.

Alison DaSilva, the managing director of purpose and impact at Zeno Group, said this shift in American values is unlike any since the Great Depression.

"They want to have an impact with the decisions that they make when they're shopping — an impact on society, on their family, on the world at large," she said. "This notion of people wanting to use their dollars to have a greater impact and saving small business is very top of mind."

That's good news for entrepreneurs who can find a way to get customers to connect with their purpose or founding story. Leon VanGelder, the VP of small business advertising for music streaming platform Pandora, said that in a survey of 2,000 listeners, more than half of holiday gift-givers planned to shop local. VanGelder pointed to millennials, Gen-Z women, and households with incomes of $100,000 or more as the key groups most likely to shop local.

Consumers want to support small businesses — you just have to meet them where they are

Given the loss, uncertainty, and tragedy that have marked 2020, experts argue that just as one day in the year doesn't define a company's success, one unofficial holiday is no longer the key to making your end-of-year sales. For many, Small Business Saturday is a symbol of the season on which they pin their hopes of meeting revenue goals. 

Ann Cantrell of Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store in Brooklyn, New York, said 37% of her 2019 sales came in the last two months of the year. Kaylin Marcotte of JIGGY Puzzles and Jelani Memory of A Kids Book About in Portland, Oregon, both expect to make a third of their 2020 revenue in that time. For Ali Rose of Genusee Eyewear in Flint, Michigan, it's nearly half.

Despite all the changes in 2020, the NRF expects total US retail sales to grow between 3.6% and 5.2% in November and December, compared to a 3.5% average increase over the past five years. Even for business owners desparate to attract customers this year, it's not the time to slash prices on everything in the store, said Fred Hurvitz, a marketing professor at Pennsylvania State University. That's because he expects to see more people stick to necessities this holiday season.

"People don't have to make those purchases," he said. "Anything that's discretionary will probably be put on hold." 

Even for the smallest businesses, experts agree there is one strategy entrepreneurs can employ to protect themselves: Sell wherever possible. 

"If you don't have online offerings for people, you're in trouble," Prisinzano said. 

Penn State marketing professor Fred Hurvitz expects omni-channel businesses with multiple purchasing and payment options will see the best holiday sales.

Showfields is just one example of a business taking such an approach, offering contactless payment, an app that enhances customers' in-store experience, virtual online tours, an ecommerce site, and curbside pickup.

Nathanel said the pandemic has provided his business with an excuse to innovate. For example, Showfields' Magic Wand app escorts customers through its store and gallery, and presents a mobile payment screen at checkout.

"It pushed us to redefine many things we know how to do very well physically," he said, "and try to figure out if there are other ways to do that."

Emily Canal also contributed reporting for this story.

• Spirit Airlines inaugurated service between Newark and Boston on November 18, becoming the fifth carrier on the busy route. 
• The two daily flights join a competitive sector dominated by American, Delta, United, and JetBlue, primarily serving business travelers and offering bonus perks for flyers. 
• We flew on the first flight from Newark to Boston to see if Spirit's dirt-cheap fares held up to the competition on the 200-mile route.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Shipping up to Boston from New York just got a whole lot cheaper.

Spirit Airlines just launched its newest route between Newark and Boston on November 18, one of the shortest in its network. Starting with only two daily flights, the carrier joins a highly-competitive sector that sees four other airlines flying between the two cities with countless flights. 

The New York-Boston route typically serves the business traveler segment and is known for the shuttle flights offered by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The elite clientele flying the route often makes the short flights back and forth quite expensive since airlines know business travelers are willing to pay.

In true ultra-low-cost carrier fashion, however, Spirit is now the cheapest carrier on the route by far, offering fares as low as $18 one-way. That beats all other airlines and even most bus and rail connections between the two cities, save for the famous one-dollar bus. 

I flew on the first flight to Beantown to see just how Spirit would hold its own on the 200-mile route. It's not technically a shuttle flight since it doesn't depart from LaGuardia but, for the purposes of this story, that's how I'll refer to it. 

Here's what it's like flying on a Spirit Airlines shuttle flight from Newark to Boston.

Though the first flight of any new route should be cause for celebration, it was shockingly empty at Newark airport just a week before Thanksgiving.

Spirit Airlines uses Terminal B here and while typically reserved for international carriers, it's also used by Allegiant, Frontier, and Delta, so it should've been busier.

I'd flown Spirit over the summer so knew what to expect from the airline: plexiglass partitions at check-in, masks required onboard, hand sanitizer stations during boarding, etc.

Read More: I flew on the infamous Spirit Airlines for the first time and saw how well no-frills can actually co-exist with safety – here's what it was like

I also knew I could skip check-in and go to a kiosk to save money on printing a boarding pass, so I headed straight there.

The seating map for the flight showed full, which I figured par for the course as Spirit had canceled the flight later in the day to Boston and presumably bumped all those passengers onto this flight. I was assigned an aisle seat, though, so I wasn't too worried.

Boarding pass in hand, I headed straight to the gate as there wasn't anything worth sticking around pre-security to enjoy. Some of the shops were open but the Priority Pass lounge was not.

Spirit participates in TSA PreCheck but, as is my typical experience when flying on an ultra-low-cost airline, it wasn't printed on my boarding pass despite uploading my known traveler number.

While it may seem like a superficial perk to a leisure traveler, it can mean saving valuable minutes for a business traveler. In this case, the difference between PreCheck and regular security was 25 minutes.

Arriving at the gate a few minutes before boarding, I was sure that the flight would be full as the gate area was jam-packed. As I waited for boarding, I went to go have a look at the plane.

Our aircraft for the day would be one of Spirit's newest, an Airbus A320neo.

Still rare in the US, the fuel-efficient jet is a favorite among ultra-low-cost airlines due to its cost savings and this one had just been delivered in October.

Source: Planespotters.net

Despite the scores of people sitting near the gate, it became increasingly clear that this wouldn't be a crowded flight when boarding began.

Spirit boards its aircraft in zones, with zone assignments based on the type of ticket that you have and the seat you're assigned. If you have a Spirit credit card or purchased a special seat, you'll likely board in the first few zones.

After the crew boarded, only a small handful of passengers boarded with each zone. Numerous boarding calls for each zone yielded fewer passengers than expected.

The jetway was devoid of any Spirit Airlines-branded social distancing signage but Delta Air Lines was kind enough to place a few of its own.

Just before stepping on the plane, however, this Spirit Airlines-branded hand sanitizer dispenser awaited.

After a quick sanitization, it was time to board the bright yellow Airbus A320neo that would be home only for around an hour.

As hoped, it was mostly empty, making this short flight all the more enjoyable.

Row after row was deserted, a true paradise when flying during the pandemic; though, still a sad sign for the industry.

And even with the low passenger count, I was still assigned a seat in row 23. eight rows from the back.

Here I am in my aisle seat, in which I didn't stay long.

The plane was only a month old and it showed. The seats were impressively new, albeit slim.

Though covered in faux leather material, I could feel just how bare the seats were as soon as I sat down and wondered if I'd last on a cross-country flight in them.

Seats are 17.75 inches wide with small armrests and no additional recline.

Source: SeatGuru

Legroom was similarly meager with 28 inches of pitch, well below the industry average.

Source: SeatGuru

The tray table was also tiny and I reckoned I wouldn't comfortably be getting any work done on a laptop by using it.

Put simply, the seats were bare with no adjustable headrests, in-flight entertainment, or even in-seat power. Then again, I couldn't complain at $25 per seat.

For comfort, the "big front seat" offers a recliner seat similar to that in a domestic business class cabin. It doesn't come with any extra amenities; though, a flight attendant told me that Spirit is working on changing that.

I couldn't really stretch out but it was bearable for the 41-minute time up to Boston.

Once it became clear that there wasn't going to be anybody else joining me in my row, I moved over to the window as the views on this route are not to be missed.

I was greeted by a friendly "howdy" on the sharklet.

There were less than 30 passengers on the 182-seat plane, and that's after Spirit consolidated the two Boston flights into one.

Having so few passengers, we departed early and were in the air just 10 minutes after pushing back. Route I-95, the road that connects New York and Boston, was directly adjacent but its travelers wouldn't get to Boston as quickly as we would.

The plane was so light that we were able to get airborne in just a few seconds after advancing to full power.

My eyes were glued to the window for the first five minutes of the flight as the sights were incredible. First up, Lower Manhattan and the Freedom Tower...

Midtown...

And finally, the George Washington Bridge.

It was only a few minutes until we were parallel to the Connecticut coast, soaring high over the I-95 and Amtrak travelers that would arrive in Boston hours later.

To my surprise, the seatbelt sign was actually turned off for around 10 minutes and flight attendants started an in-flight service. As there were so few people, however, it was done without a trolley.

Unlike the shuttle flights, there'd be no free offering of any kind as there's even a price for water on Spirit. The only perks we'd get from the flight were the views.

New England in the fall is truly a sight to see, especially from a plane flying overhead.

We were preparing to land than a half-hour into the flight and Boston was luckily landing on its northwest-facing runway, which kept the flight time down.

Exactly 41 minutes from takeoff, we'd touched down in Boston.

It was just a quick taxi to the gate, past the JetBlue terminal, and then we were off.

In true shuttle-like fashion, I was on board the aircraft no more than an hour and a half from boarding to deplaning. Off to Boston!

While devoid of any frills or perks, Spirit provides an incredible value for money here and I even overpaid for my ticket as the flight normally costs $18 one-way. Spirit, of course, isn't perfect but a lot can be overlooked for that price on a flight that's less than an hour in duration.

The plane was new, the service was great, and I got to Boston earlier than scheduled. For a simple shuttle flight, it was actually quite enjoyable and I would undoubtedly choose Spirit again when traveling on the short hop to Boston, especially when on a budget. 

For a business traveler, however, the shuttle service from LaGuardia still has unbeatable perks like near-hourly service, an enhanced service offering, and dedicated gates. If in a pinch, the Spirit service will do just fine but don't expect any frills unless you pay up. 

• The coronavirus pandemic made Black Friday completely different this year.
• More sales were online and spread across the entire month.
• Photos showed stores were far emptier than last year.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Black Friday looked different this year, and some are theorizing that it will never look the same again.

The entire holiday shopping season was upended by the coronavirus pandemic, with sales that started earlier and were mostly online. Retail trade group the National Retail Federation said that nearly 69% of retailers that responded to a survey said they expected consumers to start their holiday shopping in October, and the sales have been going ever since.

The organization projected that overall holiday spending would be slightly down, at $997.79 per consumer, but 60% of shoppers in its survey said they planned to do at least some holiday shopping online, in a year when e-commerce has boomed. Analysts from eMarketer predicted that holiday spending this year would total about $1 trillion, with a slight decrease in in-store sales but a 35% jump in online sales.

Read more: Retailers are struggling to attract seasonal workers for what experts anticipate will be a 'tough holiday season'

The analysts predicted that as shoppers avoid crowds and are drawn in with monthlong sales, e-commerce spending would make up about $190 billion of the $1 trillion in holiday spending. So far, stores look mostly empty, while it remains to be seen if the bulk of online orders will exceed the capacity of shipping companies and cause delays.

Here's how Black Friday is different this year.

Black Friday is no longer just one day

Black Friday's remaining connection to its namesake day is tenuous, at best. Sales arguably started with Amazon's Prime Day in October, which itself was spread across two days. Other stores like Walmart responded with similar sales, kicking off the holiday shopping bonanza in a year of huge e-commerce growth.

"I don't even know if I'd call it Black Friday anymore," Boston Consulting Group's head of retail, Nate Shenck, told Business Insider. Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, traditionally three of the biggest Black Friday sellers, each opted to spread deals across the entire month of November, instead of concentrating them on the day after Thanksgiving.

A major change from previous years was spreading sales across the month instead of packing them into one day. Deals were be divided by type of product, so electronics shoppers wouldn't have to fight with home-goods buyers and parents picking up last-minute toys.

No more lining up in the middle of the night 

Black Friday sales previously crept earlier and earlier, into Thanksgiving itself as some stores released the biggest sales before dinner was even over. This year, though, most retailers reversed that trend, and may have ended it for good.

Most stores did not open on Thanksgiving this year, even the ones that traditionally have like Walmart and Target. On Black Friday, they opened slightly earlier than normal, but midnight openings were rare. JC Penney, Kohl's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and other were among the earliest, opening at 5 a.m.

Though deals were spread across the month, actual hours on Black Friday were cut from past years, which experts cautioned could lead to more crowding.

Shoppers had to follow COVID safety protocols

Consumers couldn't walk inside stores this year without being intensely aware of the pandemic going on. Retailers had to make shoppers feel safe. For Walmart's coronavirus pandemic measures, stores were limited to 20% of capacity, and Walmart just started counting customers going in and out of stores again as COVID-19 cases rise.

Each shopper was offered a sanitized cart when they entered the store, and "health ambassadors" reminded them to wear masks on Black Friday, according to Walmart.

"We're reinforcing our messaging to customers, members, and associates regarding wearing face coverings, social distancing, and other safety measures," Walmart said in a third-quarter earnings call.

Target and Best Buy, along with Walmart, required customers to wear face masks and limited the number of people allowed inside. Each store also emphasized specific cleaning procedures, and many had floor markings and signs encouraging six feet of distance between people where possible.

Many stores were much less busy

Photos of stores so far on Black Friday have shown them to be much emptier than in years past. The flagship Macy's store in New York City was nearly empty, and photos from social media showed malls and retailers across the country lacking the usual crowds. Walmart and other retailers were also prepared to keep stores at lower capacities, if necessary.

People likely stayed home because of the coronavirus, which is surging across the country. The CDC classified shopping on Black Friday as a "higher-risk activity," and experts warned even with masks and social distancing, there was still some danger of infection.'

"Going during off-hours, low crowd times, and having a plan when you're going to these stores is going to be critical," Jill Weatherhead, an assistant professor of infectious disease at Baylor University, told Business Insider. Dr. Stephen Kissler at the Harvard School of Public Health said that he wouldn't be shopping on Black Friday, and said that he "personally would try to take measures to do it more safely, mostly online."

It's easier than ever to order delivery or curbside pickup

Along with spreading sales throughout the month, retailers' other main strategy was encouraging customers or order online or buy using curbside pickup.

In their holiday plans, Best Buy and Target focused statements on options to get orders without going inside stores. That may be appealing to customers who want to avoid crowded stores during a pandemic, though it could backfire if mail systems are overwhelmed and packages arrive late. Target also doubled parking spots for contactless pickup and created a tool to let customers check if their store has a line before they arrive.

Online sales exploded

Though in-store shopping was down on Black Friday this year, online shopping has been way up. On Thanksgiving, people spent $5.1 billion online, up over 21% from last year according to Adobe Analytics data. Big e-commerce spending continued throughout the month, with over $1 billion in sales each day in November. These numbers suggest that companies "successfully moved shoppers to buy earlier in the season with early discounts and effective promotions," according to Adobe.

By Thanksgiving, online shoppers had spent $71 billion in November, which doesn't include data from Black Friday. The day "has become less of a physical event and more of a virtual event in the last five to six years," senior vice president at Kantar Retail Dave Marcotte told Business Insider.

The biggest items aren't on sale

The exception to a decentralized, quieter Black Friday has been video game retailers, where consumers are waiting for hours just for the chance to buy a new PlayStation 5.

With high demand for the console and limited supplies, PlayStations get bought up nearly as soon as they are restocked, and are reselling for double or more the $500 price tag, Business Insider's senior correspondent Ben Gilbert reported. Some extreme fans even started camping outside of GameStop stores on Wednesday for the chance to buy the console on Friday.

The PlayStation 5 isn't discounted at all. The long lines are due to the console's scarcity.

• Tim Denning is an Australian blogger who writes about personal development and entrepreneurship.
• As a chronic over-worker, Denning says he uses a strategy called the 85% rule to produce better, more creative work while curbing anxiety and burnout. 
• To slow down your efforts from 100% to 85%, he recommends identifying and prioritizing your most essential tasks, and declining invitations or additional work that aren't a good use of your time.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Recently, while listening to a podcast, I heard an anecdote that transformed the way I work.

It was an episode of "The Tim Ferris Show," and Hugh Jackman, a guest, was recounting a story about a sprint coach who was fascinated by Carl Lewis, the legendary track and field star who's won nine Olympic gold medals. The coach couldn't understand why Lewis would always be in last or second-to-last place after the first 40 meters but then go on to win the 100-meter sprint.

Some people assumed that Lewis was simply a slow starter who ramped up speed in the end. But after watching the race footage from a different angle, the coach found this wasn't the case. Jackman explained:

"What he realized Carl Lewis did at the 50-meter mark, 60-meter mark, was that he did nothing. His breathing was exactly the same. His form is exactly the same as had been between meters 25 and 50. Whereas everyone else starts to push to the end — "Gonna try a little extra harder!" … their face would scrunch up, their jaw would tighten, their fists would start to clench — Carl Lewis stayed exactly the same, and then he would just breeze past them."

Read more: The best way to ask for an extension on a work deadline — plus the email you should send to your boss to get the conversation started

This strategy, Jackman noted, became known as the 85% rule. As a chronic over-worker prone to anxiety and burnout, I've been using the rule to do better work, find more creative ideas, and chill the hell out.

The trick is to work at 85% capacity rather than 100%. It can be surprisingly challenging to take your effort down a notch and keep it there — especially right now when so many livelihoods feel precarious. But going full-throttle all the time actually works against you. When your mind is relaxed, you're able to produce better, more thoughtful results.

As a writer, I've often rushed to crank out story after story to the detriment of the work I put out. A friend once commented on a piece I wrote, saying, "I felt like you were yelling at me in that story, and it really hurt." Not the best feedback for an author whose goal is to inspire his readers to level up their lives.

Get to 85% by identifying what's essential and trimming out the rest to the extent that you can do so without making life difficult for others. Decline invitations to things that aren't good uses of your time. Take breaks in your day—or in your career. Find ways to remind yourself to simply slow down.

Read more: 8 ways to make yourself indispensable at work during COVID-19, according to an executive coach

Here's another story that helps me when I need that reminder myself: In his book "Hell Yeah Or No," author and entrepreneur Derek Sivers describes how his son loves going on mountain adventures, but he would always get carsick on the drive up. One day, Sivers decided to drive extra slowly. His son kept his lunch, and they were both able to take in the beautiful scenery. The only challenge was that the drivers behind him started to get angry at his speed. So Sivers tried something: He tilted his rearview mirror toward the sky so that he could focus on his own journey.

When you begin working at 85%, you may have to turn your rearview mirror toward the sky. But if you're in it for the long haul, it's best to keep yourself below 100. The work you produce in the end will be the work you're most proud of.

• Stephanie Taylor is the outreach manager at Covenant House Michigan, a shelter for homeless youth ages 18 to 24 located in Detroit.
• She spends her days making contact with at-risk youth to offer them food, clothing, and medical attention, and encourages them to come stay at the Covenant House shelter.
• Taylor and her colleagues provide education, employment, and permanent housing opportunities to help youth get back on track and become independent adults.
• Amid the pandemic, Taylor says she hopes more people realize that homelessness and poverty can happen to anyone, and that no young person should be overlooked or left behind.
• This is her story, as told to freelance writer Ashley Zlatopolsky.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We pray before we leave every day for our outreach program at Covenant House Michigan, a faith-based nonprofit organization in Detroit that provides a home for homeless youth ages 18 to 24. We don't carry any weapons and we can't touch anyone, so we ask God to keep us covered. Some of these youth don't like rules, and they've been banned from other shelters for violence, but as outreach workers, it's our job to service them.

When we go out on the streets in Detroit to encourage youth to come to our shelter, it can take time to build a relationship. 

If they do trust us and come with us, we're able to provide some of our services right away, whether it's taking them to a hospital for medical care or taking them to our shelter if they need food and clothing.

If they want to go back to school, we'll help them get registered. We'll also help them find permanent housing. The shelter allows for a 90-day stay, but because of COVID-19, we've been letting people stay longer. If they need somebody to talk to, we'll try to do whatever we can to make sure we can give them a support system. We always ask them, "What's your one goal? What's the one thing you've always wanted to do?" Then, we'll work to help them achieve that.

As outreach manager at Covenant House, I do a bit of everything.

My work can sometimes feel like case management. Our days run from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with two shifts, morning and afternoon. There is a staff of four on the outreach team that alternate shifts. We travel in groups of two, always one female and one male. This is for safety and liability for both parties. Now with COVID-19, we take temperatures and ask safety questions as well. We make sure anyone we pick up gets a shower and clean clothes.

Every day we begin by checking our voicemail to see if we've received any calls for help. We'll immediately make arrangements to get people connected to our services. For example, we took in a young lady who was homeless and had been staying in an abandoned mobile home for six months. We took care of her medical needs, made sure she had a physical and had her dental work done. We helped her get housing, and got her registered in school. 

We take our outreach van to "hotspot" areas where homeless youth hang out. We show our presence to make sure they know that when they're ready, they have a place to go for help. We hand out our business cards with our phone numbers. My phone is on 24 hours a day, so youth can reach me anytime. I've learned to find balance with my work duties by meditating and praying in my free time.

Read more: A chef and restaurateur founded a successful snack brand after overcoming addiction. He shared how investing in his self-care made him a better leader and entrepreneur.

We always make sure the shelter is a safe place for each person who comes our way.

Some people need more intensive mental health or medical care, so we might take them to the hospital instead. When youth come to the shelter, there are special measures that keep everyone safe, including checking for weapons with a metal detector. It can be dangerous sometimes.

In fiscal year 2020, our outreach program served nearly 700 individuals. The program has an annual funding of $100,000. To keep a youth member fully off the streets for one day, it costs $81.96. To provide food and shelter only for a week, it costs about $204, while a month will cost $819, and a year will cost $9,828.

When I started here in 1998, I was only 25 years old myself, close to the age of the young people we service. I'm originally from Inkster, which is in metro Detroit. I was always interested in outreach and initially worked for another nonprofit organization that provided support for youth waiting on court dates and facing jail time. We would sit down and listen to them, and they would tell us why they committed crimes. A lot of them would say things like "I was hungry" or "I needed to get food for my family."

I realized that these young people were babies, often whose backs were up against the wall and thought these were the only options they had. When Covenant House came to Michigan to start their program, it gave me an opportunity to try to prevent these situations from happening to more young people who were struggling and needed support. It inspired me to join their mission and go further into this field.

Read more: COVID-19 threatens to create a 'lockdown generation' in Europe: Here's why young people could be the ones paying for yet another crisis

We always say to people, "Don't forget about these youth." 

A lot of them tend to have mental health concerns or substance abuse struggles because they try to erase what they've been through. So many of them have been in the foster care system that once they turn 18, we hear them say something like, "I just wish I had a family."

For most of us, we don't realize how blessed we are to go home to our families every night, and know they're going to be there. For these young people we serve at Covenant House, we workers become their aunts or uncles or families. We don't judge them. 

Especially now during COVID-19, I think more people realize that homelessness or poverty can happen to anyone. 

Even if you have a comfortable income, a disaster or unavoidable circumstance could cause you to go from having a safety net to being unable to pay for housing or bills in an instant. 

A lot is different now because of the pandemic. Places like coffee shops and the dining areas in McDonald's have shut down, so youth have fewer places to go for temporary shelter from the outdoors. 

Social distancing is also hard for us because we need to be able to approach youth in order to help them. It's tough because we try to keep everyone safe, and because of the pandemic we might not be able to reach out to as many youth as we previously could. I don't want any young person out there to suffer, so it means a lot to me to be able to come in and do whatever I can to help these young people.

I want to help them become safe, successful, and get connected to the resources they need. I tell people all day long that even though this is a job, it's a ministry. It's a blessing. If you want to go into this field, please have a lot of patience and don't ever give up. Some of these young people are going to be in charge one day, and we have a chance to plant that seed to help them flourish.

Ashley Zlatopolsky is a Detroit-based writer and editor. Her work can be found in Rolling Stone, National Geographic, the Guardian, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. Follow her on Twitter at @ashley_detroit and learn more on her website.

• McDonald's tweeted recently: "remember when we sold McPizza." 
• The fast-food giant debuted its pizza in the late '80s, but the menu item failed to truly win over customers. 
• While some chains including Panera and Red Robin are adding pizza to the menu during the pandemic, McDonald's seems unlikely to follow suit. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Do you remember the McPizza? 

Gen Z probably doesn't. But, for children of the '80s and '90s, the dish brings back memories of a time when you could order a pizza alongside your burgers and fries. 

For some reason, McDonald's Twitter account also recently decided to reminisce about its lost pizza, tweeting: "remember when we sold McPizza." 

—McDonald's (@McDonalds) November 2, 2020

Memories of McPizzas past provide an opportunity to walk down memory lane, savoring the cheesy nostalgia of menu items lost but not forgotten. 

The dawn of the McPizza 

McDonald's first debuted its pizza in the '80s. Rivals mocked McDonald's attempts, with Pizza Hut even running ads calling the pies "McFrozen" in 1989.  

The pizza became a part of a wider effort from the chain to win over customers around dinnertime in the early '90s. McDonald's also tested items including "grilled cod served on french bread with sauce, lettuce and tomato, and 'Chicken Zestado,' a grilled chicken breast served on pita bread with salsa," the Associated Press reported in 1991.

Unfortunately, the McPizza — like most of McDonald's other attempts to expand outside of burger and fries — did not really succeed. By the end of the '90s, nearly every McDonald's in America had removed pizza from the menu.

However, a few holdouts remained. Two McDonald's locations  — one in Pomeroy, Ohio, and the other in Spencer, West Virginia — continued to sell pizza until a few years ago, when corporate McDonald's forced them to remove the menu item.

Today, only one McDonald's continues to serve pizza: a mega-location in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando location is the largest McDonald's in the US and features a special menu, serving up pasta and Belgian waffles in addition to pizza. 

Will McDonald's serve pizza again? 

McDonald's tweet sparked some speculation on Twitter that pizza could be returning to the menu. 

Chains like Domino's and Papa John's have seen sales skyrocket as people stay home during the pandemic. Panera recently announced it was serving pizza for the first time. Red Robin said earlier this month it plans to add Donatos pizza to the menu at roughly half of its company-owned locations, after seeing pizza boost sales during the pandemic. 

However, adding pizza seems out of line with McDonald's current strategy. Back in the '90s, McDonald's struggled to speedily serve up pizza. In the drive-thru-centric world of fast-food in 2020, adding pizza would be even more difficult. 

Read more: The pandemic is permanently changing fast food as Wendy's, Burger King, and Chipotle double down on high-tech drive-thrus

The chain has been simplifying its menu, with franchisees and employees pushing for a permanent retirement for All Day Breakfast. Adding pizza would be the opposite of simplification. 

McDonald's did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the possible renaissance of the McPizza. On Twitter, McDonald's responded to a question about the menu item's potential return by tweeting: "brian from legal said i can't answer this one." 

• Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of shoes and clothes retailer Zappos, has died at age 46. 
• The cause of death was injuries he sustained from a house fire, a spokesperson told TechCrunch.
• After 20 years with the company, he had announced his retirement in late August. 
• Zappos' current CEO, Kedar Deshpande, called Hsieh a "tremendous visionary and an incredible human being."
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of shoes and clothes retailer Zappos, has died aged 46. 

The cause of death was injuries he sustained from a house fire, a spokesperson for Hsieh told TechCrunch. He was apparently visiting his family in Connecticut at the time. 

CNN reported that he died peacefully and surrounded by his relatives. 

Hsieh was a Harvard Graduate who first worked for the Las Vegas-based company in 1999, back when it was named ShoeSite.com, according to The LA Times. The company was sold 10 years later to Amazon for $1.2 billion.

Despite the sale, Hsieh was still involved with the company, and recently retired after working there for a total of 20 years. 

The entrepreneur had also worked tirelessly to breathe new life into the neglected downtown Las Vegas area. In 2013, he moved the company headquarters from the suburbs to the old City Hall building, AP reported at the time.

Zappos CEO, Kedar Deshpande, wrote in a statement Friday: "The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being. "We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader, but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend."

• With winter coming, thousands of small businesses and millions of jobs are under threat and may shutter without aid from Congress. 
• A new aid package must include three things: extending PPP funds and tax credits to winter expenses, fund testing and PPE with forgivable loans, and provide a general winter tax credit. 
• Lexi Reese is the COO of Gusto, the people platform that provides modern payroll, benefits, compliance, and expert HR to more than 100,000 small businesses across the U.S. Jeanette Quick is Gusto's Lead Counsel for Financial Services.
• This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the authors. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

While a new federal coronavirus relief bill remains at a standstill, small businesses are struggling to prepare for winter and a resurgence in COVID-19 cases. Unless aid comes quickly, thousands of small businesses will be forced to shutter. 

Ensuring the survival of small businesses should not be a partisan issue. Millions of jobs are at stake, and a new aid package cannot wait until Inauguration Day.

As the United States hit 11.6 million COVID cases in mid-November, states including New Jersey, Washington, Michigan, and Iowa rolled out new restrictions. California halted its reopening plans, suspending indoor dining, fitness center workouts, and religious services. These restrictions are important safety measures, but the impact on small businesses — which employ 47.5% of the US workforce — could be devastating. 

Small business owners aren't sure what happens next

Suzanna Cameron, who owns a flower delivery business called Stems Brooklyn, has made numerous pivots in 2020, but now finds it impossible to plan for the next phase. "The uncertainty of event restrictions and shutdowns makes financial planning only 50% reliable, while in past years we could guarantee income. At this point, it feels like I have to operate on blind faith."

As COVID restrictions shrink some businesses and shut down others, winter weather will soon take away the outdoor options that have sustained many retailers, restaurants, and bars. 

Urban Body Pilates and Gyrotonic Studio in San Jose, California, went virtual in the spring and opened an outdoor space in its parking lot during the summer. "Now it's too cold for outdoor workouts, and mandated business closures keep changing," says owner Shannon Bynum-Adams. "It's incredibly costly to run a boutique studio right now between online class management, staff overhead, and the cleaning supplies for a 1,700-square-foot space."

Data from our company, Gusto, which works with 100,000 US small business customers, estimates a potential loss of 2.8 million of the jobs recovered since April due to winter weather alone. Historically underserved workers will be hit hardest: Black workers are projected to lose 140% of recovered jobs across Retail Trade and Leisure & Hospitality. Latinx workers are projected to lose 51% of recovered jobs in these industries, and women are projected to lose 76%.

Small businesses can't hold on until next year. Congress must act immediately to provide a new aid package that addresses small businesses' most urgent needs. Here are three specific areas the package must address. 

Extend PPP funds and tax credits to winter expenses like heaters.

As cold weather brings new expenses, small businesses shouldn't have to bear the burden alone. Without costly equipment like space heaters, tents and awnings, the outdoor options that have kept bars, restaurants and other businesses afloat won't be possible. 

The next aid package must provide tax credits and Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds for these expenses. Small businesses that accessed PPP funding in the spring and summer must also be allowed to reapply for aid to cover new expenses. 

Fund testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) through forgivable loans and tax incentives.

It's not enough to help businesses keep staff on payroll. Congress must also help them keep staff and customers safe, especially during the current wave of COVID. Providing PPE like masks, gloves, face shields and disinfecting wipes is a major expense, and we're hearing from small business owners that they're struggling with the cost.

Federal aid must fund PPE through both forgivable loans and tax incentives. This equipment is essential for limiting the spread of COVID and is often mandated by law. Additionally, some states are now mandating COVID testing by employers — but putting the cost on small businesses. Business owners shouldn't be stuck footing the bill. 

Provide a general winter tax credit. 

A separate October survey, which has yet to be published, of Gusto's 100,000 US small business customers showed that 36% of owners have used personal funds to keep their business running as a result of COVID, while another 27% think they'll have to do so soon. These businesses are running on a fraction of their revenue with little to no cash reserves. Federal aid will be crucial to helping them survive the coming months, especially as the holiday revenue that many businesses rely on may not come. 

The next relief package must include a general winter tax credit for the hardest-hit seasonal businesses — for example, those that show at least a 30% reduction in gross receipts in winter 2020 relative to the same period in 2019. 

Helping small businesses should be everyone's priority

The fate of small businesses and the US economy are closely entwined. The country's 30.2 million small businesses employ nearly 60 million people. Targeted aid will safeguard jobs and help businesses provide the equipment and PPE necessary to keep employees and customers safe. The third wave of COVID and winter weather have already started, and the worst of the economic damage will happen in the coming months, well before Inauguration Day. Small businesses deserve a Congress that works together to provide aid immediately.

Lexi Reese is the COO of Gusto, the people platform that provides modern payroll, benefits, compliance, and expert HR to more than 100,000 small businesses across the U.S. She has spent her career advocating for small businesses at American Express, Google, and Accion International.

Jeanette Quick is Gusto's Lead Counsel for Financial Services. She is a widely recognized expert in fintech and financial services, and previously was Senior Counsel to the Senate Banking Committee, where she was the lead advisor on consumer finance, and Senior Attorney at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

• Hoarding disorder is a psychiatric illness that makes it difficult to discard everyday items that are no longer needed and can lead to unstable living conditions and difficulty with self-care, explains psychiatrist Carol Mathews. 
• Stockpiling and panic buying during the pandemic are not signs of hoarding, Mathews says — they're expected, impulsive behaviors by people who are preparing for a known shortage or crisis. 
• If you're experiencing symptoms closely associated with hoarding, resources like the American Psychiatric Association or the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation can help. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorders have emerged or worsened for many during the pandemic. This is no surprise to clinicians and scientists, who have been increasing worldwide access to mental health information and resources.

But what effect has the pandemic had on another common but often misunderstood problem — hoarding? The issue first received attention when people piled up paper towels, toilet tissue, and hand sanitizer in their shopping carts at the start of the pandemic, leading some people to wonder whether they or a loved one were showing signs of hoarding disorder.

The short answer is: Probably not. Hoarding disorder goes beyond stockpiling in an emergency. I am a psychiatrist at the University of Florida and the director of the Center for OCD, Anxiety, and Related Disorders. I also recently authored a book on hoarding disorder. My work focuses on identifying the causes of hoarding and its impact on individuals and on society.

Millions have hoarding disorder

Although often sensationalized in the popular press as a behavioral oddity, hoarding disorder is a serious psychiatric illness affecting more than 13 million American adults. The cause is a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors. Doctors have known about hoarding for centuries, although the disorder was only formally recognized by the psychiatric community as a distinct psychiatric illness in 2013. Perhaps the most famous person who had a hoarding disorder was Howard Hughes.

The disorder is chronic and often lifelong. Although symptoms typically begin in adolescence, they usually do not become problematic until mid- to late adulthood. No one knows exactly why the disorder takes so long to manifest; perhaps as those with hoarding symptoms get older, their ability to decide what to discard becomes increasingly impaired. Or they might have fewer people around, like parents or spouses, to encourage them to get rid of unneeded items.

Read more: 7 ways entrepreneurs and business owners can better manage their mental health and wellbeing

What is clear is that the increase in hoarding behaviors across the lifespan is not just a result of a lifetime's accumulation of clutter. About 7% of adults over age 60 have problematic hoarding; that's one in every 14 people.

And contrary to popular belief, the defining feature of hoarding disorder is not clutter. Instead, it is the difficulty in discarding what's no longer needed. The most commonly hoarded items are everyday belongings: clothes, shoes, containers, tools, and mechanical objects like nails and screws, household supplies, newspapers, mail, and magazines. Those with the disorder report feeling indecision about what to discard, or fear the item will be needed in the future.

This trouble in disposing of items, even common items like junk mail, plastic bags, and plastic containers, leads to the accumulation of clutter. Over time, living and work spaces become unusable. In addition to affecting living spaces, hoarding also causes problems between spouses, between parents and their children, and between friends. At its worst, hoarding can also impact one's ability to work.

Hoarding disorder has a substantial impact on public health, including not only lost work days but also increased rates of medical illness, depression, anxiety, risk of suicide, and cognitive impairment. As many as half of those suffering from hoarding disorder will also suffer from depression, and 30% or more will have an anxiety disorder.

Hoarding-related clutter in homes increases the risk of falls, pest or vermin infestation, unstable or unsafe living conditions, and difficulty with self-care. It may stun you to know that up to 25% of deaths by house fire are due to hoarding.

Stockpiling and panic buying

What is the difference between stockpiling, panic buying, and hoarding? Will someone who stockpiled toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the early days of the pandemic develop hoarding disorder? Or are they instead rational and thoughtful planners?

While these terms are often used interchangeably, stockpiling and panic buying are not symptoms of hoarding disorder. Nor are they necessarily the result of a psychiatric or psychological condition. Instead, stockpiling is a normal behavior that many people practice in preparation for a known or anticipated shortage. The goal of stockpiling is to create a reserve in case there's a future need.

For example, people who live in cold climates may stock up on wood for fireplaces and salt for driveways before the winter. Similarly, those who live in the southeast US may stock up on gasoline and water before hurricane season.

That said, stockpiling can be excessive. During a crisis, it can lead to national shortages of essential items. This occurred early in the pandemic, when people bought toilet paper in large quantities and emptied store shelves for everyone else.

Ironically, the more media attention on stockpiling, the more it triggers additional stockpiling. People reading about a potential shortage of hand sanitizer will be driven to buy as much as possible until it's no longer available for weeks or months.

While stockpiling is planned, panic buying is an impulsive and temporary reaction to anxiety caused by an impending crisis. Items, even if unneeded, may be purchased simply because they are available on store shelves. Panic buying may also include purchasing enormous quantities of a particular item, in volumes that will never be needed, or emptying a store shelf of that item. Panic acquiring, which involves getting free things through giveaways, food pantries or scavenging, also occurs during a crisis.

Unlike those with hoarding disorder, panic buyers and stockpilers are able to discard something no longer needed. Usually, after the crisis has passed, they can easily throw or give these items away.

Read more: I'm a 3-time CMO and 5-time ironman triathlete, but having a child is the hardest thing I've ever done

How to get help

For some with hoarding disorder, the pandemic has made it even harder to dispose of unneeded items. Others find their material belongings provide comfort and safety in the face of increased uncertainty. Yet others have used the lockdowns as a reset — time to finally declutter their home.

If you or someone you know has problems with hoarding, help is available. Resources are on the American Psychiatric Association website and at the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation.

Carol Mathews, professor of psychiatry, University of Florida

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway amassed north of $8 billion of JPMorgan stock, only to sell almost all of it this year.
• The billionaire investor's conglomerate owned about 60 million of the bank's shares at the end of December 2019, but slashed the holding to fewer than 1 million shares worth less than $100 million last quarter.
• Berkshire's selling is surprising, given Buffett personally owned the stock in 2012, two Berkshire executives sit on JPMorgan's board, and he's a longtime admirer of CEO Jamie Dimon.
• "If Jamie decides he wants to make more money, all he has to do is call me and I'd hire him at Berkshire," he told The Wall Street Journal in 2014.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

  ---

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway built a stake in JPMorgan worth more than $8 billion at its peak, only to virtually eliminate the position in the space of six months as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the US economy.

The famed investor's company began buying the banking giant's stock in the third quarter of 2018, ending the period with roughly 36 million shares worth $4 billion. It boosted the holding over the next six months to about 60 million shares valued at $6 billion.

Buffett and his team didn't touch the position for the next nine months. The investment cost it about $6.6 billion, gave it 1.9% ownership of JPMorgan, and was worth $8.4 billion at the end of December 2019, the Berkshire chief said in his 2019 letter to shareholders.

It's been a totally different story this year. Berkshire trimmed the holding by 3% in the first quarter, slashed it by more than 60% in the second quarter as it soured on several financial holdings, then sold 96% of the remaining shares last quarter. It held fewer than 1 million shares at the end of September, a stake worth less than $95 million.

Berkshire's firesale of JPMorgan stock is surprising given the links between the two companies. Todd Combs, one of Buffett's two portfolio managers, sits on the bank's board of directors. Stephen Burke, one of Berkshire's directors, also sits on that board.

Read more: 36-year Wall Street vet David Rosenberg breaks down why the stock market's latest milestone leaves it 'egregiously overpriced' — and warns another near-20% meltdown is in the cards

Buffett is also a fan of the company and CEO Jamie Dimon. He told CNBC in 2012 that he personally owns some of the bank's shares, and has praised Dimon many times in recent years.

For example, he described Dimon as a "fabulous banker" to Bloomberg in 2011, and a "first-class guy" to the Financial Times in 2014.

The investor also defended a massive pay rise for Dimon in 2013, a tough year for the bank. "If Jamie decides he wants to make more money, all he has to do is call me and I'd hire him at Berkshire," he told The Wall Street Journal.

Moreover, Buffett suggested the banking chief would be an excellent treasury secretary during a Marketplace interview in 2018. "I think he knows more about markets than probably anybody you could find in the world," he said.

Buffett and Dimon have also collaborated in the past. The pair penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed in 2018 that warned about the risks of short-termism. It also called for an end to quarterly earnings guidance.

They also partnered with Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos, that year to launch Haven, a joint venture with the goal of providing better and cheaper healthcare for their employees.

Buffett's decision to take a knife to JPMorgan, despite his fondness for Dimon and close ties to the bank, suggests he doesn't allow personal relationships to fog his investing logic. Given his exit from Costco and evisceration of Wells Fargo last quarter, it seems there are no sacred cows at Berkshire. 

Read more: Buy these 20 deeply undervalued stocks expected to surge in 2021 – including one that could skyrocket 64%, Barclays says

• Jeremy Siegel told CNBC on Friday the stock market's record rally is sustainable and laid out three factors that will make 2021 a "very good year."
• The Wharton professor of finance is eyeing record levels of liquidity, better-than-expected vaccine progress, and the outcome of the US election.
• Siegel is also forecasting that corporate earnings will beat expectations in 2021.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

While the Dow Jones took 18 years to jump from 10,000 to 20,000, it reached it's next round-number milestone in less than four years, hitting 30,000 at the start of this week. But Wharton's Jeremy Siegel said Friday that investors shouldn't be concerned that it's too much too soon for the stock market.

In a Friday CNBC interview, the professor of finance laid out three factors that have supported the market's record-setting rally and will send stocks higher in 2021.

The first is the record amount of liquidity from investors that's been held back by the coronavirus, Siegel said.

"I don't just mean reserves added by the Federal Reserve, I mean the M1 money supply, up 44% since the beginning of March. We have not seen that since World War II," Siegel said.

The second factor—better-than-expected vaccine progress—will enable lead investors to unleash pent up liquidity and increase spending next year as the economy reopens, he added.

Read more: Buy these 20 deeply undervalued stocks expected to surge in 2021 – including one that could skyrocket 64%, Barclays says

Lastly, the outcome of the US election will help stocks in 2021, as a likely Republican-controlled Senate will put a cap on tax increases, while president-elect Joe Biden will avoid "some of the crazy trade policies" that President Trump pursued, the professor added.

"On all those three fronts, we have positive forces for the market that I think are going to cause 2021 to be a very good year," he said.

Siegel also forecasted that earnings will beat expectations in 2021. 

"I think we're going to beat in 2021," he said. "Normally earnings expectations go down as we progress through the year, but I actually think that we're going to have a boom next year."

"In a world of interest rates so low, you can't beat stocks as an asset," Siegel said.

Read more: 36-year Wall Street vet David Rosenberg breaks down why the stock market's latest milestone leaves it 'egregiously overpriced' — and warns another near-20% meltdown is in the cards

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• Black Friday 2020 is officially over, but you can still snag great deals this weekend in the lead-up to Cyber Monday. 
• If you missed out on the deals yesterday, we found 25 tech, home, kitchen, and style deals that are available and in stock right now. 
• The best Black Friday deals you can still get on Saturday include $40 off an efficient vacuum sealer, $20 off a luxurious, hotel-style bathrobe, and $90 off a Samsung smartwatch. 

Black Friday is a busy day for everyone, especially when you have to divide your time between making the perfect platter of Thanksgiving leftovers and penning your gift shopping list for everyone in the family. It's even more frustrating when you click on a deal only to find it's no longer available or won't be shipped until January. So if you woke up this morning and realized you didn't end up buying a single thing yesterday, you're not out of luck just yet.

Though we're constantly keeping tabs on the best tech deals, mattress deals, and more, we've also been up since the wee hours of the morning working on this all-star group of deals that are still available right now.

Below, we've rounded up the best deals worth your time and money. Some of the products have been featured as the best in their category in our guides, while others come from our favorite online startups. 

Here are the 25 best Black Friday 2020 deals still happening on Saturday: 

Dell XPS 13 Touch Laptop

23andMe Ancestry + Health Kit

Kindle Paperwhite

Apple Watch SE (40mm, GPS)

XBox Game Pass Ultimate 3 Month Membership (Digital)

Patagonia Women's Re-Tool Snap-T Fleece Pullover

Theragun Mini

Ecovacs Deebot N79W

Our Place Always Pan

Sonos Beam

FoodSaver Space-Saving Food Vacuum Sealer

Amazon Fire TV Cube plus 1-year subscription to Food Network Kitchen

Parachute Classic Bathrobe

Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch

VTech Digital Video Monitor

Google Chromecast

Autonomous Smart Desk 2 Premium

Echo Dot (4th Generation)

Foreo Luna Mini 2

Luna Mini 2 (medium, Preferred: Amazon) Brooklinen Weighted Comforter

Everlane Day Boot

Leesa Hybrid Mattress

Nintendo Super Mario 3D All-Stars for Nintendo Switch

Nordstrom Adult Washable Face Masks (6-Pack)

Dyson V8 Absolute

V8 Absolute (medium, Preferred: Dyson)

• Investors, journalists, politicians, and tech founders are paying tribute to former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, who died Friday, according to multiple reports. 
• Hsieh died at 46 from injuries sustained during a house fire in Connecticut while visiting family.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

News of Tony Hsieh's death rumbled social media Saturday morning as investors, journalists, politicians, and tech founders paid tribute to the former Zappos CEO. 

Hsieh died at 46 from injuries sustained during a house fire in Connecticut, according to multiple reports. 

Amazon in 2009 acquired Zappos, an online shoe and clothing retailer, for a hefty $1.2 billion. Hsieh was involved with Zappos for two decades before he retired, continuing in the role even after the sale to Amazon. He stepped down in August.

"The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a statement. "We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader, but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend."

Among those posting tributes to Twitter are Ivanka Trump, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, Recode Founder Kara Swisher, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, and scores of startup and tech CEOs.

Other Nevada leaders heralded Hsieh, who is recognized as a major influencer in the formation of several downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, initiatives.

Hsieh in 2012 founded the Downtown Project, for example, a $350 million investment intended to revitalize the Las Vegas downtown area.

Las Vegas legislator Cedric Crear wrote that he was "saddened" by the news of Hsieh's death. Crear, like many others, took to Twitter in the wake of Hsieh's death to commemorate the late entrepreneur.

"Such a creative & innovative person who positively helped change the landscape of Downtown Las Vegas," he tweeted. "We have been working on some cool projects for Downtown. God speed to his family, coworkers and our community."

Here are the tributes that poured in on Twitter to commemorate Hsieh's life:

• Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has died at the age of 46. 
• Hsieh, a Harvard grad, went from selling pizza out of his dorm room to establishing himself as an eccentric and well-liked entrepreneur. 
• In his first year at Zappos, the company went from almost nothing in sales to $1.6 million. 
• Hsieh moved Zappos headquarters to Las Vegas, Nevada, and began an initiative to make the city another Silicon Valley.
• He announced in August he was retiring after more than 20 years at the company, which is owned by Amazon.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay) has died at the age of 46. His death was due to injuries he sustained from a house fire while he was with his brother in Connecticut over Thanksgiving, a spokesperson told TechCrunch.

"The world has lost a tremendous visionary and an incredible human being," Zappos CEO Kedar Deshpande said in a statement. "We recognize that not only have we lost our inspiring former leader, but many of you have also lost a mentor and a friend."

Hsieh in August announced his retirement from the company after 20 years, marking the end of a chapter for the eccentric but widely admired entrepreneur.

During his tenure leading the company, Hsieh moved the company's headquarters from San Francisco to Las Vegas as part of a larger effort to make Vegas the new Silicon Valley. While the full scope of his vision hasn't panned out, he made a name for himself in the business community and brought noteworthy attractions to the city, including Container Park and the "Life is Beautiful" music festival.

The former CEO also made headlines when he created "Llamapolis," a mini community where Hsieh lived with his two alpacas.

From selling pizza in his dorm room to seeing Zappos acquired by Amazon, here's what you need to know about Hsieh's career rise.

While little is known about Hsieh's early life, he was born in 1973 and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Source: CNBC

Hsieh attended Harvard, where he sold pizza out of his dorm room with some friends.

Source: CNBC

His first business venture after graduating was LinkExchange, which he sold to Microsoft in 1998 for $265 million.

Source: Inc.com

After the sale, Hsieh and his friend Alfred Lin were investing money into "20 or so" companies, including one company that would eventually become Zappos.

A year later, another entrepreneur by the name of Nick Swinmurn left Hsieh a voicemail telling him about ShoeSite.com (which would later be renamed Zappos.) Hsieh, still uncertain about the venture, joined the company and invested $500,000.

Source: Inc.com

As an investor and advisor for Zappos, Hsieh was able to help the company go from almost no sales in 1999 to $1.6 million in sales by 2000. In 2011, the company passed the threshold of $1 billion in sales.

Source: Inc.com

In January of 2004, Hsieh and his team decided to move the company's headquarters from San Francisco to Henderson, Nevada. Hsieh said the move was based on the lack of people who want to work in customer service in San Francisco.

Source: CNBC

In 2006, Swinmurn left Zappos, and Hsieh became CEO, placing emphasis on employee satisfaction.

Source: Inc.com

Hsieh moved the company toward Holacracy, meaning employees work in task-specific teams instead of each employee working on their own and then reporting to a manager.

Source: Business Insider

One of Hsieh's most talked about employee perks is the "Pay to Quit" program, which gives employees a $2,000 quitting bonus if they feel like the company isn't the right fit after their first 4 months.

Source: Inc.com

In 2009, Amazon bought Zappos for $1.2 billion, after Hsieh said no in 2005.

Source: Inc.com 

In 2013, Zappos bought the old Las Vegas City Hall and Hsieh moved his team to this new location. The new location is about 30 minutes from the new strip and just a stone's throw away from Fremont Street.

Source: CNBC 

This move was a part of a bigger initiative, Downtown Project, to make Las Vegas another Silicon Valley. Hsieh put $350 million into the project, which included real estate, restaurants, and other ventures.

Source: Las Vegas Review Journal 

While the initiative garnered mixed results, it did bring some noteworthy attractions to the area, including the "Life is Beautiful" music festival and the Downtown Container Park.

Source: Washington Post

Hsieh also lived in the area, in a micro community called "Llamapolis," which is comprised of tiny houses and Airstream trailers.

Source: Business Insider 

Inspired by the artsy community found at Burning Man, Llamapolis is also home to Hsieh's two alpacas, Marley and Triton.

The retiring CEO had a net worth of about $840 million, but he previously told Business Insider that he lived in the tiny community because "[he] wanted to maximize serendipity and randomness in [his] life."

Source: Business Insider

On November 28, TechCrunch reported the CEO had died at the age of 46 after sustaining injuries from a house fire while he was with his brother in Connecticut.

Source: TechCrunch

Investors, journalists, politicians, and tech heavyweights spoke out online to mourn the iconic entrepreneur with memories and wisdom from his career.

• A man dressed as an Amazon delivery driver is stealing packages instead of delivering them in Richmond, Virginia, according to local police.
• Wearing a company vest, he approaches homes carrying dummy boxes and switches them for full ones delivered by Amazon, the police said. 
• The alleged "porch pirate's" photo was released by police, who are seeking more information.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Police in Richmond, Virginia, said on Friday they were searching for a man dressed as an Amazon delivery driver who was stealing packages from doorsteps rather than dropping them off. 

Wearing a vest that looked similar to ones worn by Amazon delivery drivers, the man had been stealing packages for a few days, the department said. He walked up to homes with a dummy box, and exchanged it for full boxes, police said.

"A male, wearing a blue delivery-type vest, much like the one in the photo, has been stealing packages from porches in recent days. With a box in hand he would approach a porch with parcels already present and switch them out before leaving area in a waiting blue vehicle," the department said on Twitter. 

—Richmond Police (@RichmondPolice) November 27, 2020

Police released a blurry photo of the alleged thief, although it was difficult to identify the person. He wore a blue Amazon delivery vest, along with gloves, a hat, and a face-covering. He appeared to have sunglasses on. He carried a small box, which appeared to be empty. After stealing packages, he made his getaways in a blue car, possibly a Nissan Sentra, officers said. He did not have an Amazon truck, they said. 

A Richmond Police spokesperson told local station WTVR: "In several incidents, the adult male wore a blue delivery-type vest which could give onlookers the impression he was legitimately making deliveries." In the released photo, it's daylight. 

WTVR said Amazon confirmed that the man was not an employee. 

It's not the first time a "porch pirate" has been caught in the act. At least one security expert has been offering advice, including allowing delivery drivers into your garage. 

Police around the US have been issuing warnings about package theft. In Romeoville, Illinois, town officials posted a video that included an actor dressed up as a pirate, saying on Twitter telling residents to "be on the lookout for porch pirates." 

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

With Black Friday 2020 officially over, Cyber Monday is less than two days away now, and we're already seeing early deals this Saturday. Some of the best deals on tech from laptops and TVs to gaming and headphones are available this weekend as well as on Cyber Monday.

Every major online store — in particular tech giants like Apple and Amazon's stores — will be throwing down deals starting this Saturday into Monday. However, Best Buy has it all, from that new monitor for your home office upgrade, to smart doorbells and security systems for that security update as well as that new 4K TV for the den.

The word's still out on what the best deals of the day will be with Best Buy on Cyber Monday proper, but in recent years past, there have been massive savings, like $450 off 75-inch 4K TVs, steep discounts on smart home devices, like the Nest and Google Home Mini, and savings on nice-to-haves like noise-canceling headphones and Bluetooth speakers.

What we do know: on Saturday Best Buy already has solid deals up on Xbox controllers, laptops, and new 4K TVs of all sizes and prices. What's more, the electronics retailer is helping you get your new gadgets faster by offering in-store pickup on some online orders.

Below are some of the best deals we've found that are live now, and answers to a few questions you might have about shopping Cyber Monday at Best Buy.

Top Best Buy Cyber Monday deals

How do we choose the best deals from Best Buy?

• We only choose products that meet our high standard of coverage, from brands we've tested and trust.
• We compare the prices against other retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart and only include the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
• We research price history thoroughly to ensure that every deal we list is actually worth your time.

When is Cyber Monday 2020?

Cyber Monday 2020 takes place on November 30 and, if last year's sale was any indicator, the deals will start rolling in at 12:00 a.m. CT this year. It's a bit different than Black Friday; as the name suggests, Cyber Monday sales are typically online-only, whereas Black Friday will still offer some in-store discounts. The discounted products are generally the same, though Cyber Monday leans a bit more tech, and you can snag equally exceptional deals both days.

That all said, there are also Best Buy Cyber Monday deals that start as soon as, well, today: Saturday – and those deals will carry on into Sunday as stock allows.

Can I order online and pick up in-store?

Best Buy offers both in-store and curbside pickup for online orders. Just select the option that works best for you when adding to your cart to knock off any extra shipping costs and, sometimes, expedite your order's arrival. You'll need your ID, the credit card used for the purchase, and order number when you get to the store. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, you must also wear a face-covering to enter the store to pick your order up. 

Here are the options:

• Contactless Curbside Pickup: Keep contact to a minimum by selecting this option at checkout; you'll receive step-by-step instructions via email to receive your order as smoothly as possible, all from the safety of your car. 
• Fast Store Pickup: Or just store pickup at checkout, you can get your order as soon as within an hour of placing it. 
• Free shipping to stores: If the item you're ordering is out of stock at your local Best Buy, you can have it shipped to your store for pickup, free. 
• Friends and Family Pickup: Send a gift to a loved one via your closest Best Buy location or have someone you trust pick your order up for you with this option. Shipping to store is still free. 
• Warehouse Pickup: For larger purchases like home appliances, select warehouse pickup to avoid scheduling conflicts and heavy shipping costs by picking your order up straight from the warehouse. Most metropolitan areas have a Best Buy Warehouse nearby; find a warehouse (it'll say in the name) near you here.

What should I buy from Best Buy during Cyber Monday?

The discounts you should expect from Best Buy this Cyber Monday are very similar to those you can hope to see during Black Friday. It leans heavily tech: TVs, audio gear, smart home accessories, gaming peripherals and the like are all deeply discounted over Cyber Monday.

If you're planning to buy a TV, do so on Cyber Monday. Last year we saw notable drops like $450 off the 75-inch Vizio P-Series Quantum, $500 off the 75-inch Samsung Q60R, and $50 off the 65-inch Vizio M-Series Quantum. This year, we expect to see the same range of TVs on sale; no matter your budget or size requirements, you're sure to find something that fits your needs this Cyber Monday.

Headphones and speakers always drop to notable lows during the event, and 2020 should be no different. Whether you're looking for earbuds, Bluetooth headphones, portable speakers, home theater soundbars, or bookshelf speakers this year, so long as you can hold out til Cyber Monday rolls around, you can find a solid deal. 

Smartening up your home is never as affordable as it is during Cyber Monday. Highlights from 2019 include $80 off the August Smart Lock Pro+ Connect, $30 off the Nest Learning Thermostat E, and $30 off a Google Home Mini. Discounts always include accessories compatible with both Google smart assistant and Amazon Alexa, along with the speakers and smart displays.  

Though typically less pricey a purchase than something like a TV, PC and gaming peripherals always fall to lows on Cyber Monday. Gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, and SSDs from brands like Logitech, Razer, HyperX, and Samsung see deep discounts every year during the event, so don't miss out if you're looking for something specific.

What is My Best Buy?

My Best Buy is the free program offered by the retailer that can get you some extra discounts and perks, members only. Some of the perks include, but aren't limited to, early deal access and the Black Friday price guarantee going on now. You don't need to be signed up to shop the deals, but if you're planning to shop from Best Buy at all this Cyber Monday, it's worth signing up — it's free. 

Which is better, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

This year, with most shopping taking place online, the difference between the two days will be less distinct — in-store exclusives will be a thing of the past as buyers stay home and opt for safety. Both days will offer exceptional savings, of that you can be sure. 

If you're worried about encountering buyers' remorse amongst the flurry of discounts, don't fret; when buying through one of our posts, you can be sure you're getting an actually good deal (and we'll always include details so you can make the most informed purchase possible). As a rule of thumb, it's always safe to buy a deal on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday themselves, especially if we note that it's a new low.

• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York once again livestreamed a game of Among Us, this time in an effort to raise money for charity.
• Just hours after posting a link to her Twitch livestream, Ocasio-Cortez announced she had raised $200,000 to go toward food pantry assistance, eviction defense legal funds, and community organizations.
• Among Us is an online game that has become a Twitch mainstay in recent months. 
• Ocasio-Cortez has previously leveraged the platform to engage voters. Her last Twitch livestream had an audience of almost 440,000 people who watched her play.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York on Friday once again invited people to watch her play Among Us on Twitch, and this time used the platform to raise $200,000 for charities.

"Today I'm using the stream to fundraise for local food pantries, eviction defense legal aid, & community support organizations," she said on Twitter, adding a link that directed people to a donor page. "So many people are having a hard time in this crisis." 

—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 28, 2020

Ocasio-Cortez is no stranger to using social media to engage voters, having previously leveraged her pages as a way to talk directly to constituents about relevant issues.

She's previously used Instagram to demystify and humanize her experience as a lawmaker in Washington, DC, and Twitter to issue candid responses to insults and criticism from her Democratic and Republican colleagues. 

In October, weeks before the 2020 election, she used her Twitch channel to get out the vote. Her livestream brought out almost 440,000 viewers and the lawmaker has over 815,000 Twitch followers.

Among Us is a deductive reasoning game that involves anywhere between four and 10 players, whose objective is to identify the "imposter" of the group. There can be multiple imposters, and each is tasked with killing off crewmembers to win the game.

Crewmembers complete tasks like running medical scans or fixing wires. Once a crewmember has been killed, a meeting is called to discuss which player could have done it. Players then have a chance to explain themselves and convince others they're not the imposter.

Among Us has become one of the most popular games of 2020, rising to the top of Twitch in September.

Just hours after posting a link to her livestream, Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter that Twitch viewers had donated $200,000.

"We did it," she wrote. "$200k raised in one livestream (on a whim!) for eviction defense, food pantries, and more. This is going to make such a difference for those who need it most right now."

—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 28, 2020

• US Army maneuver officials are testing a new sound suppressor that can quiet the M240 machine gun enough for gunners to easily hear fire commands.
• The Army Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Benning in Georgia has been testing the suppressor since October, and one official said they're "excited" about it.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US Army maneuver officials are testing a new sound suppressor that can quiet the M240 machine gun enough for gunners to easily hear fire commands.

The Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Benning, Georgia has been live-fire testing the suppressor from Maxim Defense during Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) 2021, which began in late October.

"Suppressors have always had liability in the past," said Ed Davis, director of the Battle Lab, who has seen suppressors cycle through the AEWE for the past decade. "This is the first year that I would say most of the Maneuver Center [of Excellence] has gotten excited about a suppressor."

The Battle Lab is only evaluating the Maxim Defense suppressor during this year's AEWE. Other suppressors in past tests have not been able to stand up to the heat and roar produced by the 7.62 mm M240.

"Some of them, they got way too hot and ... would glow red hot," Davis said. "Some of them wouldn't last very long; most of them really didn't dampen the noise of any significance that was worthwhile."

Battle Lab officials and soldiers have fired "a fair amount of rounds" through M240s equipped with the Maxim Defense suppressor, enough to put it in the "sweet spot" to recommend it for further evaluation, Davis said.

"This may be one that we recommend that a unit buy and do some sort of evaluation long-term," Davis said. "We do know that with the gun firing, it brings the noise down. … You can fire the M240 and have a conversation right next to it."

Finding a durable, affordable suppressor that can dampen the sound signature of an M240 would make it more difficult for the enemy to locate and target machine gun teams from a distance, Davis said.

The M240 can engage targets as far as 1,100 meters away, "so if you can suppress the noise to that level, that means the position is relatively concealed during employment," Davis said.

"It adds a great degree of protection to your machine gun teams, which are priority targets on the battlefield," he added.

"It also helps you in command and control because now you can give fire commands and so forth without having hearing protection and the voice of the gun causing confusion and things like that."

When the AEWE concludes in early March, Battle Lab officials will compile a report detailing the performance of equipment tested, which will include recommendations for further study.

"Our evaluations for AEWE are not complete by any means," Davis said, adding that Maxim Defense suppressor could go to a unit for further evaluation.

"Or it could come back to the Battle Lab as a separate event for a more comprehensive evaluation," Davis said. "You want to look at barrel wear, you want to look at how long the suppressor is going to last and you want to see how long it takes to gum these systems up."

— Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.