MUCH THE BETTER!

 

We could spend all year living healthier, more productive lives, so why do we only decide to make the change at the start of the year? Why do we all make (and break) New Year resolutions?

Many of us  started  with resolutions – to get fit, learn a new skill, eat differently. If we really want to do these things, why did we wait until an arbitrary date which marks nothing more important than a timekeeping convention? British psychologist Tom Stafford asked this. And not only him. The answer tells us something important about the psychology of motivation, and about what popular theories of self-control miss out.

Today is a very cool and rainy day. I am lazy. Not in the mood to do anything. It's even difficult to write this column. But my motivation gets bigger and bigger while writing.

My family and friends found out that what we want isn't really straightforward. At bedtime you might want to get up early and go for a run, but when your alarm goes off you find you actually want a lie-in. When exam day comes around you might want to be the kind of person who spent the afternoons studying, but on each of those afternoons you instead wanted to hang out with your friends. Believe me - I heard it many times from my students.

You could see these contradictions as failures of our self-control: impulses for temporary pleasures manage to somehow override our longer-term interests. One fashionable theory of self-control, proposed by Roy Baumeister at Florida State University, is the 'ego-depletion' account. This theory states that self-control is like a muscle. This means you can exhaust it in the short-term – meaning that every temptation you resist makes it more likely that you'll yield to the next temptation, even if it is a temptation to do something entirely different.

A corollary of the 'like a muscle' theory is that in the long term, you can strengthen your willpower with practice. So, for example, Baumeister found that people who were assigned two weeks of trying to keep their back straight whenever possible showed improved willpower when asked back into the lab.

Another explanation may answer these questions, although it isn't as fashionable as ego-depletion. George Ainslie's book 'Breakdown of Will' puts forward a theory of the self and self-control which uses game theory to explain why we have trouble with our impulses, and why our attempts to control them take the form they do. The virgin page of a new calendar marks a clean break between the old and new you - a psychological boundary that may help you keep your resolutions.

And, so to speak with Tom Stafford again, Ainslie gives us an answer to why our resolutions start mostly on 1st January. The date is completely arbitrary, but it provides a clean line between our old and new selves. The practical upshot of the theory is that if you make a resolution, you should formulate it so that at every point in time it is absolutely clear whether you are sticking to it or not. The clear lines are arbitrary, but they help the truce between our competing interests hold.

'I am feeling better' means you are feeling better than before. It doesn't mean you are completely well or have fully recovered. 'I am feeling much better' means you are feeling a lot better than before. It means you have almost fully recovered.

How to read one book a week, even if you’re super busy

BY TOM OLIVER

JULY 27, 2026

Most busy leaders tell me the same thing: “I would love to read more, but I don’t have the time.” But it rests on a fallacy. Most executives imagine reading requires a magical moment—a quiet room, an empty to-do list, nothing pulling at them. For almost everyone, that moment never comes, except perhaps on a rare vacation, and even those are packed with activities.

This is not about savoring a novel word by word. It is about absorbing content—mostly nonfiction—at a pace that lets you finish roughly one book a week, however full your calendar is. It is not about time. It is about having a system. Here is mine.

Step 1: Are you a reader or a listener?

It starts with a single question, from Peter Drucker—the Austrian American regarded as the father of modern management. In his 1967 classic “The Effective Executive”, a landmark of twentieth-century management, he made a simple observation: Some people are readers, and some are listeners.

“It is a waste of time to talk to a reader,” he wrote. “He only listens after he has read.” And it is equally a waste to hand a listener a thick report—a listener grasps the world through the spoken word, not the written one. Most people have a dominant channel, and most have never asked which is theirs. Here is how to find out: When a colleague sends you a detailed report, do you grasp it only after reading it yourself, or faster when someone talks you through it? Do you retain more from documents, or from conversations and briefings?

Your honest answer reveals your type. The implications are enormous: Readers should ask for memos and read before meetings; listeners should ask for briefings and decide as they talk. Match your input to your wiring and you absorb more, faster. That same wiring decides how you read a book a week: If you are a reader, you read it; if you are a listener, you listen on audiobook. Choose the path that fits how your brain works.

Step 2: Find your sweet spot

Next, find the sweet spot in your week where this fits—it works even if you are exceptionally busy. Take my own schedule. I own and run a global strategy and management consulting firm. I give keynotes around the world. I also protect my mornings for creative work—writing books and composing music, something I have done since childhood, when I trained in music alongside business. I have a family I want to be present for and a global circle of friends I stay close to. And I am highly active: Sports five times a week, a good ninety minutes each. That calendar is full.

And yet the sweet spot is there. It is always there. I am a listener, so my question is simple: Where can I fit in regular listening? For me, it is my workouts—in the gym, while swimming with waterproof Bluetooth headphones, while stretching, doing yoga or cycling outdoors. Because I train five times a week, I don’t have one slot. I have five.

That is the beauty of listening: You do it while doing something else, which makes the slot easy to find. If you are a reader, the question is the same—where can I sit down with the book? Only you can answer that. But I promise: However busy your schedule is, there is always a sweet spot.

ILLUSTRATION BY RUTH MACAPAGAL

Step 3: Go faster than you think you can

That almost gets you there. The final piece is speed. If you are a listener, use this: On any audiobook service—Audible is excellent, but there are many—you can set the playback speed. Push it to a level genuinely too fast to follow, then dial back just below that ceiling, to where you capture most of what is said, and hold there. You now “read” it faster than it was ever narrated. Most audiobooks are not narrated quickly and most of us process content far faster than it is spoken. A book that would take six hours might be done in three—on a good day, in two. The right speed fluctuates day to day, so stay flexible.

If you are a reader, use this instead: The key is switching off your inner voice—the one in your head that reads each word aloud. Two ways to silence it: Run your index finger under the text to guide your eyes, or press your tongue from behind against your incisors or the roof of your mouth. Both quiet the voice reliably and, with practice, let you read faster while retaining more.

This inner voice is called subvocalization—automatic, part of the “phonological loop,” the component of working memory that briefly stores words so you can stitch a sentence into meaning. We do it because reading is, in evolutionary terms, a very young skill. The finger gives you a sense of security—you never worry about losing your place—which makes the voice easier to switch off. Pressing your tongue to your palate mechanically blocks the tiny muscle movements behind that silent speech. Use either alone or combine them. Practice regularly and your speed climbs noticeably, while comprehension does not suffer. On the contrary—it improves.

Whether you read or listen, both paths reach the same place: A pace far quicker than most people manage, which lets you make the most of your sweet spots. We all process information far faster than we believe—the brain adapts and the conscious and subconscious mind constantly work to make sense of what we take in. That is why people badly underestimate how fast they can grasp new content.

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Why this matters

Do I really read a book a week? Yes. Occasionally it slips to one every two weeks, but only when I am unusually busy and must give a sweet spot to something else. On some workout days I listen instead to briefings from my team on matters I didn’t get to, or to the latest artificial intelligence (AI) developments—so much of our work, and our clients’, is now about making their businesses AI-native to beat the competition. But that is still listening to a book of sorts. So I get my “book” either way.

I had no idea readers and listeners even existed until I came across Drucker many years ago. After that, I added a few more tricks until I had the full game plan laid out here. It has let me absorb enormous knowledge across many subjects — and that breadth is exactly what lets me recognize the patterns I use to solve my clients’ most complex problems and to see solutions and opportunities others miss. That is what a book a week buys you: not trivia, but pattern recognition, judgment, an edge.

Three to thrive

1. Diagnose yourself: reader or listener. Then commit to the matching path—read it or listen to it.

2. Claim your sweet spot—the slot already hiding in your week, stacked, for listeners, onto something you already do.

3. Break the speed barrier. Listeners: playback speed just below “too fast.” Readers: silence the inner voice with finger and tongue. You can process far more than you think.

Tom Oliver, a “global management guru” (Bloomberg), is the chair of The Tom Oliver Group, the trusted advisor and counselor to many of the world’s most influential family businesses, medium-sized enterprises, market leaders and global conglomerates.

 

DTI: Over 60% of PH exports exempt from 12.5% US tariff

BY LOGAN KAL-EL M. ZAPANTA

JULY 27, 2026

Despite the new 12.5-percent tariff imposed by the United States, the Philippines remains in a stronger position than many of its regional competitors, with more than 60 percent of its exports exempt from the additional levy.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the tariff, imposed by Washington on countries which it deems to lack safeguards against the importation of goods made through forced labor, would be “not at all” disruptive for Philippine exporters.

Only 34.28 percent of Philippine exports to the United States—or $6.25 billion worth of goods—will be subject to the new tariff, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The remaining $11.98 billion will remain exempt.

“We’re not in a bad situation. Not at all,” Rodolfo said. “But we want the best for our exporters.”

Bianca Sykimte, director of the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau, said the Philippines’ top exports to the United States—semiconductors and electronics as well as agricultural products—will continue to enter the US duty-free.

Automotive parts, minerals and aircraft parts are likewise spared from the new tariff.

Products that will be covered by the new levy are those produced by “labor-intensive” industries, such as leather and travel goods, apparel, footwear and toys.

The Philippines also compares favorably with its regional peers.

Based on the DTI’s assessment, Sykimte said about 83 percent of Indonesia’s exports to the US and roughly 40 percent of Malaysia’s shipments are exposed to the additional tariff.

Rodolfo added that the Philippines’ 12.5-percent tariff appears to be its “ceiling” under the US Section 301 investigation.

‘Best deal possible’

Unlike several neighboring economies, the Philippines was not included in the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) separate investigation into structural excess capacity. This covers China, the European Union, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Japan and India.

Even so, Rodolfo said the government continues to engage the USTR to secure the “best deal possible” for Philippine exporters.

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He added that the DTI has also secured offers from multilateral institutions and bilateral partners to support the implementation of the joint administrative order banning the importation of goods produced through forced labor.

That order, issued a day before Washington announced the new tariff, created an interagency committee led by the DTI, together with the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Finance, to establish a mechanism for investigating forced labor cases. Support from development partners will come in the form of grants and technical assistance.

“They see that, at a principles level, this is something very good—that the Philippines is promoting decent work, even if the supposed forced labor happens outside the country,” Rodolfo said.

Rodolfo added that the USTR is already reviewing the order and has assured the Philippine government that its assessment is ongoing, meaning changes to the 12.5-percent tariff could be made “at any time.”

Mittelschicht oder nicht? Diese Zahl entscheidet für alleinstehende Rentner alles

Stand:26.07.2026, 18:00 Uhr

Von: Martin Wald

Für viele Ruheständler ist nicht nur die Rentenhöhe entscheidend, sondern das gesamte verfügbare Einkommen. Maßgeblich sind dabei feste Grenzwerte und der Median.

München – Wie hoch die eigene Rente ausfällt, lässt sich nicht pauschal beantworten. Ausschlaggebend sind die Erwerbsbiografie, die gesammelten Entgeltpunkte und zusätzliche Einkünfte. Für den tatsächlichen Lebensstandard spielen zudem Wohnkosten, Haushaltsgröße und vorhandenes Vermögen eine wichtige Rolle.   

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Derselbe Rentenbetrag kann deshalb in einer teuren Großstadt deutlich weniger wert sein als in einer günstigeren Region. Wer die eigene finanzielle Lage einordnen möchte, sollte nicht nur auf die gesetzliche Monatsrente schauen, sondern auf das gesamte verfügbare Haushaltseinkommen.

Für viele Ruheständler ist nicht nur die Rentenhöhe entscheidend, sondern das gesamte verfügbare Einkommen. Maßgeblich sind dabei feste Grenzwerte und der Median. © IMAGO/Westend61

Eine allgemein verbindliche Definition der Mittelschicht gibt es nicht. Das Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft zählt Alleinstehende zur Mitte im engeren Sinne, wenn ihnen monatlich zwischen rund 1.850 und 3.470 Euro netto zur Verfügung stehen. Grundlage sind Daten für das Jahr 2022 und eine Abgrenzung von 80 bis 150 Prozent des mittleren bedarfsgewichteten Haushaltsnettoeinkommens.

IW-Grenze: 1.850 bis 3.470 Euro netto für Alleinstehende

Diese Grenzen gelten nicht ausschließlich für Rentner, sondern für alleinstehende Personen insgesamt. Ein alleinlebender Rentner mit einem verfügbaren Nettoeinkommen von mindestens rund 1.850 Euro gehört nach dieser Definition zur engeren Mittelschicht. Oberhalb von etwa 3.470 Euro beginnt die einkommensstarke Mitte.  

Erst bei deutlich höheren Beträgen zählt ein Single statistisch zu den relativ Einkommensreichen. Die ursprünglich genannte Spanne von 36.700 bis 97.900 Euro netto im Jahr wäre für einen Single mit monatlich rund 3.058 bis 8.158 Euro gleichzusetzen. Sie passt weder zur aktuellen engeren IW-Mittelschicht noch zu einer üblichen Abgrenzung für alleinstehende Ruheständler.

1.849 Euro markieren den Median alleinstehender Ruheständler

Betrachtet man ausschließlich alleinstehende Haushalte im Ruhestand, lag deren mittleres bedarfsgewichtetes Nettoeinkommen nach der aktuellen IW-Auswertung bei rund 1.849 Euro monatlich. Die Hälfte dieser Haushalte verfügte über weniger, die andere Hälfte über mehr. Der Wert beschreibt jedoch keine eigenständige Mittelschichtgrenze, sondern den Median innerhalb dieser Vergleichsgruppe.

Das Statistische Bundesamt kam mit einer anderen Datenbasis für Personen im Ruhestand zuletzt auf ein mittleres Nettoäquivalenzeinkommen von rund 1.990 Euro monatlich. Solche Abweichungen entstehen unter anderem durch unterschiedliche Erhebungsjahre, Definitionen und betrachtete Personengruppen.

Der Median ist robuster als der Durchschnitt, weil einzelne sehr hohe Einkommen ihn kaum beeinflussen. Wer unter dem Median liegt, gehört deshalb aber nicht automatisch zur Unterschicht. Der Wert zeigt zunächst nur die Position innerhalb der jeweiligen Vergleichsgruppe.

Das Haushaltseinkommen zählt, nicht nur die gesetzliche Rente

Für die statistische Einordnung ist das gesamte verfügbare Einkommen des Haushalts entscheidend. Dazu gehören neben der gesetzlichen Rente beispielsweise Betriebs- und Privatrenten, Pensionen, Erwerbseinkommen, Mieteinnahmen, Kapitalerträge und staatliche Transfers. Davon werden direkte Steuern und Sozialversicherungsbeiträge abgezogen.   

Anschließend wird das Einkommen nach der Haushaltsgröße gewichtet. Die erste erwachsene Person erhält dabei nach der modifizierten OECD-Skala das Gewicht 1, jede weitere Person ab 14 Jahren den Faktor 0,5 und jedes jüngere Kind den Faktor 0,3. Dadurch wird berücksichtigt, dass mehrere Personen in einem Haushalt bestimmte Kosten teilen.

In einigen IW-Auswertungen wird zudem der Nettomietwert selbst genutzten Wohneigentums als Einkommensbestandteil berücksichtigt. Damit soll abgebildet werden, dass Eigentümer keine marktübliche Miete zahlen müssen. Diese statistische Größe ist jedoch kein Geld, das monatlich auf dem Konto eingeht. Auch verwenden nicht alle Statistiken denselben Einkommensbegriff.

Der Rente-Newsletter: Wege in die Frührente

Wichtige Entwicklungen rund um Ihre Rente erhalten Sie wöchentlich am Mittwoch. Eine kurze Registrierung genügt.

Mit Klick auf den Button "Zum Newsletter anmelden" stimme ich den Datenschutzbestimmungen und dem Erhalt weiterer Medienangebote zu.

Ein Rentner mit abbezahltem Eigenheim kann daher statistisch und praktisch besser dastehen als ein Mieter mit derselben gesetzlichen Rente. Umgekehrt sagt eine hohe Bruttorente wenig aus, wenn davon noch Kranken- und Pflegeversicherungsbeiträge, Steuern und eine hohe Miete bezahlt werden müssen.

Mittelschicht bedeutet nicht automatisch finanziellen Spielraum

Die statistische Einordnung bildet regionale Lebenshaltungskosten nur begrenzt ab. Die Einkommensgrenzen gelten grundsätzlich bundesweit. Ob 1.900 Euro netto für einen komfortablen Alltag reichen, hängt jedoch stark von Miete, Gesundheitskosten und persönlichen Verpflichtungen ab.    

Auch Vermögen wird bei einer reinen Einkommensbetrachtung nicht vollständig sichtbar. Ein Rentner mit niedriger Monatsrente, aber schuldenfreiem Wohneigentum und Rücklagen kann finanziell stabiler sein als jemand mit höherem Einkommen, hoher Miete und ohne Ersparnisse.

Rente im Ausland: Die zehn besten Länder für den Ruhestand

Fotostrecke ansehen

Die Mittelschichtgrenzen liefern deshalb eine Orientierung, aber keine abschließende Bewertung des Lebensstandards. Entscheidend bleibt, welche regelmäßigen Einnahmen tatsächlich verfügbar sind und welche festen Ausgaben ihnen gegenüberstehen.  

Wer Versorgungslücken erkennt, kann auch im höheren Alter zusätzliche Einnahmen erzielen oder Ausgaben neu strukturieren. Eine freiwillige Beschäftigung, private Vorsorge oder der spätere Rentenbeginn können das verfügbare Einkommen erhöhen. Je früher die Planung beginnt, desto größer ist allerdings der Spielraum.

Für alleinstehende Ruheständler lässt sich als Orientierung festhalten: Ab etwa 1.850 Euro verfügbarem monatlichem Nettoeinkommen beginnt nach der engeren IW-Definition die Mittelschicht. Ob sich dieses Einkommen im Alltag auch nach Mitte anfühlt, entscheidet vor allem die persönliche Kostenstruktur.