From Estonia to Antarctica, this once-pagan symbol has taken on many strange forms. Christmas trees are a strange tradition, if you think about it: Every December, people in regions around the world head to the nearest forest, chop down a tree, drag it into their homes, adorn it with lights, baubles, and tinsel—then unceremoniously drag it to the curb in January. But evergreen boughs have been essential seasonal decor since ancient times as part of pagan winter solstice celebrations. “Evergreens at midwinter festivals were traditional since the ancient world, signifying the victory of life and light over death and darkness,”…

Daniel Pink In our quest to become better persuaders, we often focus on what we need to do and how we need to do it. But, after decades of studying the science of persuasion, I’ve discovered something new: We also ought to focus on the when of these decisions. Here are three key timing methods persuasive people use to boost their chances of getting what they want: 1. Know when you should (and shouldn’t) go first. Many persuasive encounters are “serial competitions,” in which people appear before “judges” one after another. (Think: Pitching for new business or a series of…