Bill Gates didn’t stay at Harvard University for long — dropping out after three semesters to found Microsoft in 1975 — but he was there long enough to make an impression.

Gates’ former applied mathematics professor Harry Lewis, for example, remembers the future billionaire as being inquisitive and “mature” beyond his years, with a tendency for questioning adults and tackling difficult problems.

“He always wanted a challenge,” Lewis, who has taught at Harvard since the 1970s, told The Times of London in an interview that published last week. “I wasn’t surprised when he dropped out — I just wish I’d invested in him.”

Gates left Harvard early to launch Microsoft, which was then a startup in the nascent software industry. Microsoft ultimately turned Gates into a billionaire by age 31. It now has a market value of nearly $3.2 trillion, and Gates’ estimated net worth is $108.7 billion, according to Forbes.

If Lewis had invested $100 in Microsoft when the company went public in 1986, his shares would be worth roughly $650,000 today, after accounting for price appreciation and dividend payouts, according to a CNBC analysis.

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As a college student, Gates was surrounded by students whose math skills surpassed his own, giving him something of a wake-up call, he told The Times. He “nearly killed” himself by loading up on extra classes while spending hundreds of hours per month writing software code in the university’s computer lab, he said.

“It was, ‘Oh s—, there may be people better than me at math,’” said Gates, whose upcoming memoir “Source Code,” largely about his life pre-Microsoft, is set to publish next month.

Gates may have questioned his own math skills while at Harvard, but the tech pioneer also could have been a professional mathematician “if he wanted to,” Lewis told NPR in 2008.

In one specific moment, Gates’ precocious curiosity and eagerness to take on a challenge made him stand out, even among his gifted peers, Lewis told The Times: “The first day [of class] I showed them the pancake problem [a mathematical sorting question involving different-sized pancakes] and two days later he came back to show me he could do it better.”

Gates’ solution was published in an academic paper in 1979. “The problem remained pretty much in that state for 30 years,” Lewis told NPR, until some researchers finally improved upon Gates’ method in a 2008 research paper.

Ironically, those researchers were enabled by the development of the computer industry, which Microsoft was partially responsible for. “They never could have actually done the case analysis were it not for the computer industry that Bill Gates built in the intervening 30 years,” said Lewis.

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When it comes to enhancing brain health and reducing the risk of dementia, one kitchen staple consistently rises to the top: olive oil.

As a medical professional who specializes in disease prevention and longevity, I frequently recommend olive oil as a cornerstone of a brain-healthy diet, largely due to its powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

In fact, a 2024 Harvard study of 92,383 American adults found that regardless of genetic predisposition and overall diet, participants who consumed at least 7 grams of olive oil per day had a 28% lower risk of dementia-related death compared to those who never or rarely consumed olive oil.

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I often prescribe the Mediterranean diet, which has been extensively studied for its cognitive benefits. Olive oil is essential to it.

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are well-documented for their role in brain health. These healthy fats promote blood flow to the brain and reduce inflammation.

Additionally, olive oil contains polyphenols, such as oleocanthal, which have been shown to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can increase your risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.

Need more convincing? Here are a few other benefits of olive oil:

• Appetite regulation. Olive oil helps promote satiety, which can support healthy weight — a key factor in reducing dementia risk.
• Gut health boost. It stimulates bile production, supporting fat metabolism and nutrient absorption.
• Hormonal balance. Healthy fats are essential for producing and regulating hormones that impact mood and memory.
• Energy boost. Olive oil provides sustained energy for focus without spiking blood sugar.
• Antioxidant shield. Rich in vitamin E and polyphenols, it protects brain cells from oxidative damage.
• Skin health. Olive oil’s anti-inflammatory properties support skin repair, indirectly benefiting brain health by reducing systemic inflammation.

1. Take a shot

Each day I take a shot — one to two tablespoons — of high-quality, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, either first thing in the morning or as a mid-afternoon boost. To enhance the flavor, I add a squeeze of lemon juice or a pinch of turmeric for an extra antioxidant kick.

2. Veggie snack

Coming from Mediterranean roots, a daily childhood snack was sliced cucumbers with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt, and it remains a favorite.

3. Meal topper

My go-to salad dressing is olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard and a touch of honey. For dinner, I will often finish roasted fish or vegetables with a splash of olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper for an antioxidant-rich flavor boost.

4. Don’t cook with it on high heat

I recommend using olive oil raw whenever possible to preserve its delicate polyphenols and maximize its brain-boosting properties.

But cooking with olive oil will not destroy its benefits. It retains many of its health properties at moderate cooking temperatures, such as sautéing or roasting at 350°F or lower. For higher-heat cooking, I suggest using avocado oil, which has a higher smoke point.

Ultimately, incorporating olive oil into your diet is an easy, delicious way to support brain health and reduce the risk of dementia. Small, consistent changes — like adding this superfood to your routine — can have a significant impact on your cognitive health and overall well-being.

Dr. Sogol Ash is a naturopathic doctor and functional medicine researcher. As the Clinical Director for Concierge MD, she merges cutting-edge science with personalized care to help her patients achieve optimal health and longevity. She is also Chair of the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation, leading efforts to find cures for rare genetic diseases while promoting prevention through education. Follow her on Instagram.

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Have you ever been to a party and heard “So what do you do?” about 30 seconds into every conversation? If you’re like most people, you probably responded with your role and company’s name. But if you want to sound really interesting, you have to use a different formula. 

As a global communication expert, I’ve worked with a lot of smart and talented people to help them elevate their presence and boost their confidence at work. Over time, I’ve discovered that the key — and often missing — ingredient for better small talk is relatability. 

In my book, “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons,” I lay out how you can build relatability, which increases engagement and connection, by answering the ubiquitous “What do you do?” question with this formula:

“You know how [talk about issues you solve]? So what I do is [share the solutions you offer]. In fact, [drop some proof].”

Let’s break down the three steps:

There’s nothing wrong with answering “What do you do?” with your company and job title. But it doesn’t tell people much and, frankly, it’s just not that interesting. 

Instead, start with a rhetorical question. For example:

• “You know how cyberattacks are getting more frequent and sophisticated?” 
• “You know how you see ads when you scroll through a news story?”

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What you’re doing with this rhetorical question is referencing an everyday problem your conversation partner may have heard about or even encountered firsthand. It paints an interesting visual people can relate to and understand, whether or not they’re familiar with your job function or industry. 

Now it’s time to dive deeper into what your work involves, by following up with the solutions you offer. If you’re not sure how to articulate this, think about the real-life implications of what you do every day. 

Building on the examples above, you might add: 

• “What I do is create software systems that alert companies when a suspicious user tries to access their platform.” 
• “What I do is research the best places to put ads so that they have maximum visibility.” 

Conclude your response with some evidence or context. This is where you can use company names, numbers, or a story to tie it all together. 

For example, finishing out the examples above, you might say: 

• “In fact, our organization is one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world with clients like [well-known company].” 
• “In fact, the click-through rate of our ads is around 3%, which is much higher than the industry average.” 

This kind of closing gives weight to your claims, makes your work tangible, and solidifies your credibility. 

I used this trick myself on a recent flight. I said:

“You know how communicating clearly and confidently is one of the most important workplace skills, but so many people and teams struggle with it? What I do is speak at conferences and facilitate workshops to help teams collaborate better at work. In fact, I have a communications book out and I’m headed to an event now.”

Suddenly, the person I was chatting with had so many questions because he could relate. 

Since the “What do you do?” question is bound to come up, you can rely on this small talk strategy to craft a compelling introduction, talk about your work, and connect with new people in a more meaningful way.

Jessica Chen is a global communications expert, keynote speaker, and a former Emmy-Award Winning TV journalist. Her new book “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons” teaches smart professionals how to develop workplace confidence and build a career they love using strategic communications skills to stand out. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

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If you earn an average salary, you likely want to live somewhere you can comfortably afford your necessities and still have money leftover to put away for emergencies, retirement and leisure. 

Unfortunately, that’s a somewhat rare situation for families in the U.S. Just 18% of the 100 largest counties have a median income large enough to support a family of two adults and one child, according to a recent SmartAsset analysis. 

Fairfax County, Virginia, is home to much of the Washington D.C. suburbs and with that, many highly-paid government, financial services and tech workers. The area is quite costly, however, leaving a family of three just under $30,000 a year for nonessentials, the most of any of the largest 100 U.S. counties, according to SmartAsset.

The financial services platform used income data from the University of Wisconsin’s County Health Rankings program and cost of living estimates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator to determine how much money average working Americans can expect to have left after their needs are met.

Here are the counties where families of two adults and one child earning the median household income have the most left over after basic expenses, according to SmartAsset:

• Disposable income: $29,942
• Median household income: $144,632

• Disposable income: $20,801
• Median household income: $113,943

• Disposable income: $20,377
• Median household income: $150,502

• Disposable income: $15,769
• Median household income: $105,583

• Disposable income: $14,306
• Median household income: $135,528

• Disposable income: $12,606
• Median household income: $118,020

• Disposable income: $12,481
• Median household income: $102,711

• Disposable income: $9,254
• Median household income: $95,241

• Disposable income: $9,136
• Median household income: $113,885

• Disposable income: $8,640
• Median household income: $95,085

In all but two of these counties, median household income is over $100,000, yet families don’t have much left over after their essential costs are paid for.

Still, it may be worth it to stay in a high-cost area if it helps your career, Jen Swindler, a certified financial planner based in Salt Lake City, Utah, tells CNBC Make It.

“Typically, my high-cost area and high salary clients have a lot more savings and disposable income, even though it’s expensive to live in the city in question,” she says. “The job opportunities usually make up more than the difference.”

Local living costs and income aren’t always perfectly proportional, though. Some families may find an area where the local pay is marginally higher, but the cost of living is significantly higher, eating into any extra earnings.

On the flip side, a place could seem attractive with a low cost of living, but if you can’t bring a large salary with you as a remote worker and local salaries are correspondingly low, the savings may not be there.

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If you hire someone based solely on their ability to get the job done, you could be missing out.

The best employees share a key personality trait that hiring managers don’t prioritize enough, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger: “Genuine decency.”

“When hiring, try to surround yourself with people who are good in addition to being good at what they do,” Iger wrote in his 2019 book, “The Ride of A Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company.”

“Genuine decency — an instinct for fairness and openness and mutual respect — is a rarer commodity in business than it should be, and you should look for it in the people you hire and nurture it in the people who work for you,” Iger continued.

Skills and experience matter, of course. But so does character, which can help workers gel with their colleagues, making everyone feel more satisfied with their jobs and workplace environments.

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Louie Bernstein, a longtime CEO of an IT training company in Atlanta, told LinkedIn’s “Catalyst” video series last year about the time he fired his top-performing salesperson — and the company’s teamwide sales quickly perked up.

The salesperson was stellar at closing deals, but she lacked coachability, wasn’t a team player and made the office a hostile environment for the rest of his employees, he said.

“In the end, I felt like we had cancer and I was the surgeon that needed to cut it out to save the company,” Bernstein wrote in a 2022 LinkedIn post. “Shortly after her departure, sales picked up along with the attitude and harmony of the office.”

Bosses need to be genuinely decent people too, Iger wrote: “As a leader, you are the embodiment of that company. What that means is this: Your values — your sense of integrity and decency and honesty, the way you comport yourself in the world — are a stand-in for the values of the company.”

Forty percent of U.S. workers say they’d likely quit their job if their employer took a political stance they disagreed with, according to a 2022 survey from CNBC and Momentive. And most U.S. workers — 56% — won’t even consider working for a boss or company that doesn’t share their values, a 2022 Qualtrics survey found.

“You can be the head of a seven-person organization or a quarter-million person organization, the same truth holds,” wrote Iger. “What people think of you is what they’ll think of your company.”

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