Fast Company recently published an article about America's new thriving class of employees, Generation Flux--pioneers in the new way business is being conducted. The intriguing report not only explains why these mavens are who they are, it also breaks down the systematic changes occurring in the outdated workforce by describing ideas like: which competitive advantages have staying power, what skills matter most, and how can you weigh risk and opportunity when the fundamentals of your business may change overnight? Check out the entire piece here and arm yourself. Knowledge is more than power in this volatile frontier. It's essential!

Our institutions are out of date; the long career is dead; any quest for solid rules is pointless, since we will be constantly rethinking them; you can't rely on an established business model or a corporate ladder to point your way; silos between industries are breaking down; anything settled is vulnerable.

Book publisher, Penguin, is setting its sights on the digital-only market with their new Penguin Shorts programme. The premise of the move is to focus on short reads that'll be available for $1.99 USD a pop and fertilize its own niche among avid digital readers. Not a bad idea considering music went the route of singles and the iTunes store. And with gadgets like the Kindle Fire and Nook, who's to say the reading market won't adapt just as easily as music has? Smart.

Music mogul, Jay-Z, was in the spotlight this past Wednesday as he re-opened his famous 40/40 Club in New York City. The star-studded evening was graced with a handful of celebs, one of which was probably more noteworthy than the rest--Warren Buffett. The multi-billionaire was caught enjoying the scene and remodeled look of the trendy establishment. Photographers even caught him throwing up Jay-Z's infamous "Roc Diamond." Now we've seen everything!

Wikipedia and founder Jimmy Wales will be protesting the U.S. Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) today. The English version of the online user-based encyclopedia will not be greeting visitors with the usual search bar and information. Instead, those that log on can expect to read the company's stance on the bills and information on how to take action against them. Online news link service, Reddit will also join Wikipedia in the 24-hour blackout. Fight the power!

Not sure about everyone else, but when we hear the phrase "global recession" we pretty much assume that all world markets are taking some kind of hit, no? Well, according to Rolls-Royce sales in 2011, such isn't necessarily the case for luxury car sales, in fact, the company reported its most successful year to date! The infamous makers of the Phantom sold a whopping 3,538 vehicles last year, 391 more vehicles than their last record year in 1978. It's also highly relevant to note that sales growth in worldwide markets had much to do with the feat. The company reports a 47-percent increase in the Asian Pacific region, 17 in North America, 23 in the Middle East, and a 30-percent growth at home in the UK. Astonishing. Further proof that while things may be globally awry, upper class spending's got more than a healthy pulse!

Just last month, communications giant, Verizon, signed a $3.6 billion dollar deal with "competitors" Comcast, Time Warner, and Bright House Networks. Experts argue that the alliance unofficially spells out the end of the United States' Telecom Act of 1996--a congressional bill that promised consumers fair and competitive tele-communications services. And now a second part of that multi-billion dollar deal is speculated to draw out how each company will actually stay out of one another's way and possibly sell each other's services to overlapping customers--in other words, a cleverly disguised monopoly, as the New York Times reports:

Instead of reaping the benefits brought by competition -- downward pressure on prices, improved infrastructure investment, faster download speeds -- consumers can expect to face monopoly market conditions where cable and telco companies sit back and collect increasingly high monthly rates because subscribers have nowhere else to turn.

International Hip-Hop artist and producer, Kanye West, recently announced the inception of his very own creative company--DONDA. Named after his late mother, Dr. Donda West, the venture is going to be dedicated to producing projects and products that, as Yeezy describes, will marry emotional wants with utilitarian needs. And he's not looking to tackle it alone. Mr. West is actually calling out thinkers and creatives from all walks: architects, scientists, teachers, designers, and more, to reach out and join the action:

DONDA is a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers and put them in a creative space to bounce there dreams and ideas. 

I am assembling a team of architects, graphic designers, directors musicians, producers, AnRs, writers, publicist, social media experts…app guys, managers, car designers, clothing designers, DJs, video game designers, publishers, tech guys, lawyers, bankers, nutritionist ..doctors, scientist,teachers.

All inquiries can be sent to contactdonda@gmail.com

Chicago Bulls All-Star point guard, Derrick Rose, is rumored to be preparing to sign a $250M USD contract with Adidas. The deal, being dubbed a "lifetime" one, will span 10 years. Sources say the plan is to give the Nike/Kobe deal some competition, especially in China and the rest of the Far East. If true, Rose will make it into the books as the current highest paid shoe endorser in all of the NBA!

Apple has recently filed for the patenting of some very intriguing hydrogen fuel cell technology. According to sources there are two specific patents in the works: "Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device" and “Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device.” If there's one thing you need to know about the technology, it's that it's what NASA uses to power its satellites! Now imagine that kind of long-lasting energy powering up the next wave of Apple products...

While typical American 7-year-olds are just beginning to learn how to write independent sentences and understand numbers 1-100, the not-so-typical, Nzinga Amaju, is actually running her own business! The young Marcus Garvey Institute and Teaching Academy pupil started her own jewelry-making enterprise after discovering that she had a passion for arts and crafts. Check her out as she so eloquently describes her work and mission. Her poise and professionalism is nothing short of remarkable!