You have heard it a thousand times: weight loss is simple, just eat less and exercise more, right? Well, maybe not.Your expanding waistline and muffin top may be the result of something other than simply eating too many cupcakes. Research now suggests that weight gain and obesity are not only caused by a genetic predisposition or dietary and lifestyle behaviours, but are also affected by modern environmental factors.1 You're not getting enough sleepA lack of sleep may be hindering your weight-loss goals. Sleep deprivation slows your metabolism and affects the hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin.Leptin tells your brain to stop eating, whereas ghrelin, produced in the stomach, stimulates hunger. Research suggests inadequate sleep is associated with low levels of leptin, high levels of ghrelin and weight gain.Solution: Turn off your phone and laptop. Instead, focus on good sleep hygiene: get to bed early, make sure your room is dark and cool and avoid all drugs including cigarettes, alcohol and sleeping pills.2 You're eating hidden sugarsHidden sugars are everywhere. The biggest culprits include muesli bars, breakfast cereals, sports drinks, sauces and spreads – even certain peanut butter brands contain sugar. So what's the big deal? Added sugars are now considered to be more damaging than dietary fat to your weight and overall health, contributing to conditions including dental decay, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.Solution: Read labels and avoid products with high amounts of added sugar. It may be listed as corn syrup, sucrose, malt, glucose, molasses, fructose, maltose or fruit juice concentrate.3 You count calories, not nutrientsThere is no question that portions need to be smaller in order to lose weight. However, we have become so obsessed with calorie control that we often overlook the most important aspect of food – the nutrients.Solution: Think quality. Don't just focus on the calories. Instead, choose nutrient-dense foods and nourish your body with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in fruit, vegetables and wholefoods.4 You're absorbing environmental oestrogensAlso known as xenoestrogens, these are synthetic chemicals found in plastics, fertilisers, detergents and cosmetics. While the effects of xenoestrogens on the body are still being studied, it is believed they can mimic the biological hormone oestrogen. Excess oestrogen can result in weight gain in both men and women.Solution: Ditch plastic drink bottles and containers and opt for glass instead. Buy organic products if possible.5 You sit down too muchWatching the Kardashians, doing sedentary jobs and stalking old flames on Facebook is a far cry from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. You may think you're too busy to exercise, but the reality is we are meant to move.Solution: Fidget. You may laugh, but this is known as NEAT non-exercise activity thermogenesis). Research suggests those who fidget burn hundreds of extra calories throughout the day. Fidgeting includes crossing or uncrossing the legs, stretching, standing up often or maintaining a good posture. Aim to move every 30 minutes to bump your body out of hibernation mode.6 You don't have time to cookThe combination of busy lifestyles and fast food at our fingertips has resulted in less food preparation in the home. Grabbing breakfast on the go or takeaway for dinner is not good for your waistline.Solution: Set a goal to attempt a new, healthy 20-minute meal each week. Whenever you make a meal, make extra and freeze portions for those days you don't have time to cook.7 You're dealing with a hormonal conditionHormone conditions such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance can cause weight gain and make it hard to lose weight.Solution: Talk to your GP and get tested. If you have one of these conditions, diet may help. Exclude refined carbohydrates and increase good-quality protein, vegetables, seaweed and essential fatty acids.8 You're not eating enough good fatsFor decades dietary fat was considered the enemy when it came to weight loss. But interestingly, since the introduction of low-fat products we have seen an increase in obesity around the world.Solution: Scrap your negative view on fat and include a small amount of "good" fats in each meal. The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil, oily fish, nuts and seeds not only help you feel full but also facilitate fat breakdown.9 You believe the food hypeMarketing of processed foods can be confusing. A package may read "source of calcium" or "no artificial colours" but still be packed with sugar.Solution: Read the ingredient list. If sugar is in the first three ingredients or it has chemicals you haven't heard of, don't buy it.10 Your body has a set pointThe set point theory says our body is programmed to be a certain weight and fights to stay there. This may explain why calorie restriction alone doesn't produce long-term weight loss.Solution: Steady weight loss through a balanced diet and exercise is the only proven way to lower your set point. Aim for a loss of a kilo a week and give your body time to adjust.
2012年5月29日星期二
DNA dictates if we triumph or fail
Some people are born a success, scientists believe.Research shows that much of our predisposition towards determination, sociability and self-control and sense of purpose is in our genes.In fact, our DNA plays a bigger role in influencing these traits than our upbringing and the company we keep.Taken together, these facets of personality can make the difference between success and failure, say the Edinburgh University researchers.They questioned more than 800 pairs of twins about their attitudes to life to tease apart the influences of nature and nurture.Comparing identical twins, who share all their DNA and their upbringing, with non-identical twins, who have a shared background but are no more genetically alike than other siblings, is a technique often used by researchers to quantify the influence of genetics.The results, published in the Journal of Personality , revealed genes to play a much bigger role than lifestyle, with self-control particularly etched into our DNA.Our genes also largely determine how determined and persistent we are. This is important in terms of success, as someone who refuses to give up is more likely to achieve their dreams than someone who throws in the towel at the first hiccough.Researcher Professor Timothy Bates said: ‘Ever since the ancient Greeks, people have debated the nature of a good life and the nature of a virtuous life.‘Why do some people seem to manage their lives, have good relationships and cooperate to achieve their goals while others do not?‘Previously, the role of family and the environment around the home often dominated people's ideas about what affected psychological well-being. However, this work highlights a much more powerful influence from genetics.’However, those who haven’t been dealt a helpful hand of genes shouldn’t be too despondent. The professor says a sense of purpose is key and advises those vying for success to focus their thoughts on making a difference.
12 Questions to Ask Yourself to Simplify Your Life
Achieving balance and simplicity is much easier said than done for most people. We forget to remind ourselves to step back, breathe, and appreciate the simple things when we’re constantly on auto-pilot, working ourselves to the bone, and falling victim to overwhelming stress and pressure.
For me, achieving balance and simplicity is all about making it a habit to do so. It is habitual for me to consider play to be just as necessary as work, make time for the things that matter most in my life, and cut myself some slack when I recognize that I’m putting too much pressure on myself.
I can easily turn into a reactive and overwhelmed basketcase if I get too anxious, emotional, or stressed out. My mental health and overall well-being is important to me – and making balance a priority in my life typically leads to that good mental health and overall well-being.
Asking yourself the following questions will help you get clear on your priorities, be honest with yourself, and hopefully, make steps towards a more balanced and simple life.
Am I taking care of myself? Sometimes we get so wrapped up in taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. It can be so easy to leave ourselves behind.
Identify any areas of your life where you may be neglecting your health or happiness. What steps can you take to make self-care more of a priority?
Do I have too much clutter? Drowning ourselves in too many material possessions can ultimately lead to stress. Get clear on what you absolutely need and what you can get rid of.
Do I take time out of my day purely for myself? We all need a little “me time.” Set aside some time every day to just relax and do something that you enjoy, whether that is reading, meditating, watching TV, cooking, spending quality time with your loved ones, etc.
Am I eating healthy? The types of foods we eat can greatly affect how we feel both physically and emotionally.
Eating too much junk food can lead to crankiness and a relatively low energy level, whereas eating healthy foods can lead to better moods and a more positive energy level. Take a look at your own eating habits and see if there is a certain one that you can improve or eliminate altogether.
What are my core values? What is important to you as an individual? Is it family, health, spirituality, work, etc.?
Make sure that you are living in alignment with what matters most to you.
Am I maintaining healthy relationships? Is there a relationship in your life that needs a little extra care and attention? Do you need to right a wrong with someone?
Try to stay aware of how you’re treating the people in your life.
Am I working too hard? Taking time to re-charge and spend time on activities that make you happy is so important. Honor your desire to pull back from work or school pressure when needed and give yourself time to breathe, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time.
Am I playing too hard? A lack of motivation to accomplish certain things can throw you off balance or make you feel stressed out and pressured later on. Taking breaks is very necessary, but if you take so many breaks that your productivity level drops, or you get into the habit of procrastinating too much, it might be time to balance out your schedule so that you will get a generous amount of things done and still have time for breaks and leisure.
Am I spending too much? Overspending can lead to stress, clutter, and financial complications. It can also turn into a nasty habit over time.
Distinguish your wants from your needs and try to maintain a healthy balance between the two. Saving money is an excellent practice and you will more than likely be glad you did in case of an emergency.
Am I worrying about the future? Worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet causes stress and anxiety. Focus on the moment in front of you and realize that it is all that exists.
Am I dwelling on the past? It is very tempting and almost involuntary to look back on the past and obsess over something we regret or something we miss. Learn to let go and only focus on what’s happening right now, and on the choices you will make today.
Is there something I am clinging to? We don’t always realize when we’re clinging to something harmful when it feels safe and familiar, whether it is an unfulfilling job, an unhealthy relationship, or a stagnant way of life. Recognize if you are clinging to something that isn’t serving you and work on taking small steps towards change and release.
2012年5月27日星期日
How to Live Unhappily Ever After
I can't think of another phrase capable of causing more misery and permanent unhappiness. With the possible exception of, 'Honey, I'm in love with your youngest sister.'Yet at first glance, it seems so guileless. Children just want to be happy. So do puppies. Happy seems like a healthy, normal desire. Like wanting to breathe fresh air or shop only at Whole Foods.
But 'I just want to be happy' is a hole cut out of the floor and covered with a rug. Because once you say it, the implication is that you're not. The 'I just want to be happy' bear trap is that until you define precisely, just exactly what 'happy' is, you will never feel it. Whatever being happy means to you, it needs to be specific and also possible. When you have a blueprint for what happiness is, lay it over your life and see what you need to change so the images are more aligned.
Still, this recipe of defining happiness and fiddling with your life to get it will work for some people岸but not for others. I am one of the others. I am not a happy person. There are things that do make me experience joy. But joy is a fleeting emotion, like a very long sneeze. A lot of the time what I feel is, interested. Or I feel melancholy. And I also frequently feel tenderness, annoyance, confusion, fear, hopelessness. It doesn't all add up to anything I would call happiness. But what I'm thinking is, is that so terrible?
I know a physicist who loves his work. People mistake his constant focus and thought with unhappiness. But he's not unhappy. He's busy. I bet when he dies, there will be a book on his chest. Happiness is a treadmill of a goal for people who are not happy by nature. Being an unhappy person does not mean you must be sad or dark. You can be interested, instead of happy. You can be fascinated instead of happy.
The barrier to this, of course, is that in our super-positive society, we have an unspoken zero-tolerance policy for negativity. Beneath the catchall umbrella of negativity is basically everything that isn't super-positive. Seriously, who among us is having a 'Great!' day every day? Who feels 'Terrific, thanks!' all the time?
Anger and negativity have their uses, too. Instead of trying to alleviate some of the uncomfortable and unpleasant emotions you feel by 'trying to be positive,' try being negative instead. Seriously, try it sometime. This will help you get in touch with how you actually feel: 'I feel hopeless and fat and stupid. And like a failure for feeling this way. And trying to be positive and upbeat makes me feel angry and feeling angry makes me feel like I am broken.'
If that's how you feel岸however you feel岸then you have a base line, you have established a real solid floor of reference. Sometimes just giving yourself permission to feel any emotion without judgment or censorship can lessen the intensity of those negative emotions. Almost like you're letting them out into the backyard to run around and get rid of some of that energy.
A corollary to the idea that we must all be happy and positive all the time is that we must all be 'healed.' When I was 32, somebody I loved died on a plastic-covered twin mattress at a Manhattan hospital. His death was not unexpected and I had prepared myself years in advance, as though studying for a degree. When he died, I was as stunned as if he had been killed by a grand piano falling from the top of a building. I was fully unprepared.
I did not know what to do with my physical self. It took me about a year to stop thinking, madly, I might somehow meet him in my sleep. Once I finally believed he was gone, I began the next stage: waiting. Waiting to heal. This lasted several years.
The truth about healing is that heal is a television word. Someone close to you dies? You will never heal. What will happen is, for the first few days, the people around you will touch your shoulder and this will startle you and remind you to breathe. You will feel as though you will soon be dead from natural causes; the weight of the grief will be physical and very nearly unbearable.
Eventually, you will shower and leave the house. Maybe in a year you will see a movie. And one day somebody will say something and it will cause you to laugh. And you will clamp your hand over your mouth because you laughed and that laugh will break your heart, it will feel like a betrayal. How can you laugh?
In time, to your friends, you will appear to have recovered from your loss. All that really happened, you'll think, is that the hole in the center of your life has narrowed just enough to be concealed by a laugh. And yet, you might feel a pressure for it to be true. You might feel that 'enough' time has passed now, that the hole at the center of you should not be there at all.
But holes are interesting things. As it happens, we human beings are able to live just fine with many holes of many sizes and shapes. Pleasure, love, compassion, fulfillment; these things do not leak out of holes of any size. So we can be filled with holes and loss and wide expanses of unhealed geography岸and we can also be excited by life and in love and content at the exact same moment.
This is among the oldest, deepest, most primal truths: The facts of life may be, at times, unbearably painful. But the core, the bones of life are generous beyond all reason or belief. Those things which ought to kill us do not. This should be taken as encouragement to continue.
The truth about healing is that you don't need to heal to be whole. And by whole, I mean damaged, missing pieces of who you were, your heart岸missing what feels like some of your most important parts. And yet, not missing any part of you at all. Being, in truth, larger than you were before.
Human experience weighs more than human tissue.
岸Adapted from 'This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike,' by Augusten Burroughs. To be published Tuesday by St. Martin's.
But 'I just want to be happy' is a hole cut out of the floor and covered with a rug. Because once you say it, the implication is that you're not. The 'I just want to be happy' bear trap is that until you define precisely, just exactly what 'happy' is, you will never feel it. Whatever being happy means to you, it needs to be specific and also possible. When you have a blueprint for what happiness is, lay it over your life and see what you need to change so the images are more aligned.
Still, this recipe of defining happiness and fiddling with your life to get it will work for some people岸but not for others. I am one of the others. I am not a happy person. There are things that do make me experience joy. But joy is a fleeting emotion, like a very long sneeze. A lot of the time what I feel is, interested. Or I feel melancholy. And I also frequently feel tenderness, annoyance, confusion, fear, hopelessness. It doesn't all add up to anything I would call happiness. But what I'm thinking is, is that so terrible?
I know a physicist who loves his work. People mistake his constant focus and thought with unhappiness. But he's not unhappy. He's busy. I bet when he dies, there will be a book on his chest. Happiness is a treadmill of a goal for people who are not happy by nature. Being an unhappy person does not mean you must be sad or dark. You can be interested, instead of happy. You can be fascinated instead of happy.
The barrier to this, of course, is that in our super-positive society, we have an unspoken zero-tolerance policy for negativity. Beneath the catchall umbrella of negativity is basically everything that isn't super-positive. Seriously, who among us is having a 'Great!' day every day? Who feels 'Terrific, thanks!' all the time?
Anger and negativity have their uses, too. Instead of trying to alleviate some of the uncomfortable and unpleasant emotions you feel by 'trying to be positive,' try being negative instead. Seriously, try it sometime. This will help you get in touch with how you actually feel: 'I feel hopeless and fat and stupid. And like a failure for feeling this way. And trying to be positive and upbeat makes me feel angry and feeling angry makes me feel like I am broken.'
If that's how you feel岸however you feel岸then you have a base line, you have established a real solid floor of reference. Sometimes just giving yourself permission to feel any emotion without judgment or censorship can lessen the intensity of those negative emotions. Almost like you're letting them out into the backyard to run around and get rid of some of that energy.
A corollary to the idea that we must all be happy and positive all the time is that we must all be 'healed.' When I was 32, somebody I loved died on a plastic-covered twin mattress at a Manhattan hospital. His death was not unexpected and I had prepared myself years in advance, as though studying for a degree. When he died, I was as stunned as if he had been killed by a grand piano falling from the top of a building. I was fully unprepared.
I did not know what to do with my physical self. It took me about a year to stop thinking, madly, I might somehow meet him in my sleep. Once I finally believed he was gone, I began the next stage: waiting. Waiting to heal. This lasted several years.
The truth about healing is that heal is a television word. Someone close to you dies? You will never heal. What will happen is, for the first few days, the people around you will touch your shoulder and this will startle you and remind you to breathe. You will feel as though you will soon be dead from natural causes; the weight of the grief will be physical and very nearly unbearable.
Eventually, you will shower and leave the house. Maybe in a year you will see a movie. And one day somebody will say something and it will cause you to laugh. And you will clamp your hand over your mouth because you laughed and that laugh will break your heart, it will feel like a betrayal. How can you laugh?
In time, to your friends, you will appear to have recovered from your loss. All that really happened, you'll think, is that the hole in the center of your life has narrowed just enough to be concealed by a laugh. And yet, you might feel a pressure for it to be true. You might feel that 'enough' time has passed now, that the hole at the center of you should not be there at all.
But holes are interesting things. As it happens, we human beings are able to live just fine with many holes of many sizes and shapes. Pleasure, love, compassion, fulfillment; these things do not leak out of holes of any size. So we can be filled with holes and loss and wide expanses of unhealed geography岸and we can also be excited by life and in love and content at the exact same moment.
This is among the oldest, deepest, most primal truths: The facts of life may be, at times, unbearably painful. But the core, the bones of life are generous beyond all reason or belief. Those things which ought to kill us do not. This should be taken as encouragement to continue.
The truth about healing is that you don't need to heal to be whole. And by whole, I mean damaged, missing pieces of who you were, your heart岸missing what feels like some of your most important parts. And yet, not missing any part of you at all. Being, in truth, larger than you were before.
Human experience weighs more than human tissue.
岸Adapted from 'This Is How: Proven Aid in Overcoming Shyness, Molestation, Fatness, Spinsterhood, Grief, Disease, Lushery, Decrepitude & More. For Young and Old Alike,' by Augusten Burroughs. To be published Tuesday by St. Martin's.
DNA dictates if we triumph or fail
Some people are born a success, scientists believe.Research shows that much of our predisposition towards determination, sociability and self-control and sense of purpose is in our genes.In fact, our DNA plays a bigger role in influencing these traits than our upbringing and the company we keep.Taken together, these facets of personality can make the difference between success and failure, say the Edinburgh University researchers.They questioned more than 800 pairs of twins about their attitudes to life to tease apart the influences of nature and nurture.Comparing identical twins, who share all their DNA and their upbringing, with non-identical twins, who have a shared background but are no more genetically alike than other siblings, is a technique often used by researchers to quantify the influence of genetics.The results, published in the Journal of Personality , revealed genes to play a much bigger role than lifestyle, with self-control particularly etched into our DNA.Our genes also largely determine how determined and persistent we are. This is important in terms of success, as someone who refuses to give up is more likely to achieve their dreams than someone who throws in the towel at the first hiccough.Researcher Professor Timothy Bates said: ‘Ever since the ancient Greeks, people have debated the nature of a good life and the nature of a virtuous life.‘Why do some people seem to manage their lives, have good relationships and cooperate to achieve their goals while others do not?‘Previously, the role of family and the environment around the home often dominated people's ideas about what affected psychological well-being. However, this work highlights a much more powerful influence from genetics.’However, those who haven’t been dealt a helpful hand of genes shouldn’t be too despondent. The professor says a sense of purpose is key and advises those vying for success to focus their thoughts on making a difference.
10 reasons you can't lose weight
You have heard it a thousand times: weight loss is simple, just eat less and exercise more, right? Well, maybe not.Your expanding waistline and muffin top may be the result of something other than simply eating too many cupcakes. Research now suggests that weight gain and obesity are not only caused by a genetic predisposition or dietary and lifestyle behaviours, but are also affected by modern environmental factors.1 You're not getting enough sleepA lack of sleep may be hindering your weight-loss goals. Sleep deprivation slows your metabolism and affects the hunger hormones leptin and ghrelin.Leptin tells your brain to stop eating, whereas ghrelin, produced in the stomach, stimulates hunger. Research suggests inadequate sleep is associated with low levels of leptin, high levels of ghrelin and weight gain.Solution: Turn off your phone and laptop. Instead, focus on good sleep hygiene: get to bed early, make sure your room is dark and cool and avoid all drugs including cigarettes, alcohol and sleeping pills.2 You're eating hidden sugarsHidden sugars are everywhere. The biggest culprits include muesli bars, breakfast cereals, sports drinks, sauces and spreads – even certain peanut butter brands contain sugar. So what's the big deal? Added sugars are now considered to be more damaging than dietary fat to your weight and overall health, contributing to conditions including dental decay, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.Solution: Read labels and avoid products with high amounts of added sugar. It may be listed as corn syrup, sucrose, malt, glucose, molasses, fructose, maltose or fruit juice concentrate.3 You count calories, not nutrientsThere is no question that portions need to be smaller in order to lose weight. However, we have become so obsessed with calorie control that we often overlook the most important aspect of food – the nutrients.Solution: Think quality. Don't just focus on the calories. Instead, choose nutrient-dense foods and nourish your body with the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in fruit, vegetables and wholefoods.4 You're absorbing environmental oestrogensAlso known as xenoestrogens, these are synthetic chemicals found in plastics, fertilisers, detergents and cosmetics. While the effects of xenoestrogens on the body are still being studied, it is believed they can mimic the biological hormone oestrogen. Excess oestrogen can result in weight gain in both men and women.Solution: Ditch plastic drink bottles and containers and opt for glass instead. Buy organic products if possible.5 You sit down too muchWatching the Kardashians, doing sedentary jobs and stalking old flames on Facebook is a far cry from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. You may think you're too busy to exercise, but the reality is we are meant to move.Solution: Fidget. You may laugh, but this is known as NEAT non-exercise activity thermogenesis). Research suggests those who fidget burn hundreds of extra calories throughout the day. Fidgeting includes crossing or uncrossing the legs, stretching, standing up often or maintaining a good posture. Aim to move every 30 minutes to bump your body out of hibernation mode.6 You don't have time to cookThe combination of busy lifestyles and fast food at our fingertips has resulted in less food preparation in the home. Grabbing breakfast on the go or takeaway for dinner is not good for your waistline.Solution: Set a goal to attempt a new, healthy 20-minute meal each week. Whenever you make a meal, make extra and freeze portions for those days you don't have time to cook.7 You're dealing with a hormonal conditionHormone conditions such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance can cause weight gain and make it hard to lose weight.Solution: Talk to your GP and get tested. If you have one of these conditions, diet may help. Exclude refined carbohydrates and increase good-quality protein, vegetables, seaweed and essential fatty acids.8 You're not eating enough good fatsFor decades dietary fat was considered the enemy when it came to weight loss. But interestingly, since the introduction of low-fat products we have seen an increase in obesity around the world.Solution: Scrap your negative view on fat and include a small amount of "good" fats in each meal. The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil, oily fish, nuts and seeds not only help you feel full but also facilitate fat breakdown.9 You believe the food hypeMarketing of processed foods can be confusing. A package may read "source of calcium" or "no artificial colours" but still be packed with sugar.Solution: Read the ingredient list. If sugar is in the first three ingredients or it has chemicals you haven't heard of, don't buy it.10 Your body has a set pointThe set point theory says our body is programmed to be a certain weight and fights to stay there. This may explain why calorie restriction alone doesn't produce long-term weight loss.Solution: Steady weight loss through a balanced diet and exercise is the only proven way to lower your set point. Aim for a loss of a kilo a week and give your body time to adjust.
2012年5月14日星期一
The World's Oldest Companies
What is the secret of corporate longevity?
Dec 16th 2004 | from the print edition
ACCORDING to the book of Genesis, Enoch (or Henok), son of Cain and father of Methuselah, walked the Earth for 365 years and then ascended to heaven without dying. Inspired by this feat, a club was formed in France in 1981 that took his name. Les Hénokiens is a fraternity of companies that are at least 200 years old, have stayed in the control of one family throughout, are financially healthy, “modern” and are still run by a family member.
Each year representatives of the 33 member companies, from seven countries, gather for three days of fun and discussion. This year's host was Ditta Bortolo Nardini, an Italian grappa distillery founded in 1779. The nine members of Britain's Tercentenarians Club, founded in 1970 for firms at least 300 years old that still have a connection to the founding family, make do with an annual lunch.
The oldest member of Les Hénokiens is Hoshi, a Japanese inn founded in Komatsu in 718. Run by Zengoro Hoshi, the 46th generation of the family to be in charge, the firm's motto is unusually practical: “Take care of fire, learn from water, co-operate with nature”. But, according to “Centuries of Success”, published last year by William O'Hara, there is an even older company, also Japanese. Kongo Gumi, founded by a Korean in Osaka in 578, is a builder of Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and castles—and now also offices, apartment buildings and private houses. Both are family businesses.
The oldest European family business, according to Mr O'Hara and Peter Mandel in Family Business magazine (see table), is Château de Goulaine, a vineyard in France's Loire valley that dates from 1000—and also boasts a museum and butterfly farm. Britain's oldest family business, founded in Huddersfield in 1541, is John Brooke &Sons, a textile-maker that helped clothe Britain's bravest during the battle of Trafalgar and the second world war, but has now abandoned manufacturing and turned its mills into a business park.
Not surprisingly, the oldest family firms in the United States are a bit younger. Zildjian Cymbal, of Norwell, Massachusetts, purveyor of cymbals and drumsticks to many of the world's greatest percussionists, was founded in 1623. But that was in Constantinople; the family did not emigrate to America until 1909. A more authentic choice is the Tuttle Farm, which grows strawberries and vegetables in New Hampshire, and runs a small shop. It is currently run by the 11th generation of the family.
Ancient, but maybe not commercially
Yet it is not easy to say with certainty whether such examples are really old, continuous businesses or, rather, latterday firms that were once trade associations, state organisations or, say, religious communities that turned commercial at some stage in their lives. Is, for example, Château de Goulaine really a 1, 000-year-old business or a fine old castle that has only fairly recently taken to selling wine and displaying butterflies? The Shore Porters' Society, now a transport firm, whose lorries can be seen all over Europe, was founded in 1498, but for much of its history it was a semi-public body controlled by the town of Aberdeen, only gaining full independence in 1850. How long has it been a genuine business?
Calculating the age of big complex companies—many of which are public, not family owned—is arguably just as tricky, for many of these firms have grown through multiple acquisitions. That makes it hard to know to what extent they are truly descended from their oldest part. Harsco, for instance, a big American engineering and industrial-services company, can proudly trace parts of its operations to 1742, when a firm called Taylor-Wharton began life as a colonial iron forge. But Taylor-Wharton, whose early products included cannon balls for George Washington's continental army, was not absorbed into what is now called Harsco until 1953.
Today's biggest, best-known companies are mostly spotty youths by comparison with the ancient firms listed above—not least because their main activities have become possible only since the industrial revolution. Microsoft was not born until 1975; even General Electric cannot trace its roots further back than 1876. Most of the world's corporate elderly are in very old-economy industries, such as agriculture, hospitality and building. Of these, perhaps only banking has remained at the forefront of the world's corporate elite—and a few of the world's biggest banks can fairly claim to have reached a ripe old age. Britain's Lloyds TSB, for example, can trace itself back to a bank established in Birmingham in 1765 by a John Taylor and a Sampson Lloyd. Citigroup's family tree goes back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812.
Ars longa, business brevis
In “The Living Company”, Arie de Geus nominates Stora as the company that, for probably longer than any other, “has had the character of a publicly owned company from its very beginnings”. Stora began life as a copper mine in Sweden in 1288 and, 710 years later, merged to become Stora Enso, a paper, packaging and timber firm.
The debate about which company is the oldest is likely to endure longer than the firms themselves. What is clear is that corporate longevity is highly unusual. One-third of the firms in the Fortune 500 in 1970 no longer existed in 1983, killed by merger, acquisition, bankruptcy or break-up. According to Leslie Hannah, a business historian at the University of Tokyo, the average “half-life” of big companies—that is, the time taken to die by half of the firms in the world's top 100 by market capitalisation in any given year—was 75 years during the 20th century. For small companies, most studies suggest a half-life in single figures. Corporate infant mortality is particularly high; the first year is the hardest.
How, then, have a few elderly firms succeeded in defying the corporate life-cycle? For most of them, luck has played a part, says Mr O'Hara. But he also identifies several other factors that have helped family firms in particular. Primogeniture has often ensured that a firm did not get torn apart by feuding heirs during generational succession—a common problem now that the eldest son no longer automatically inherits the lot in most countries. In general, unity and trust within the family have been vital. Long-lived firms have also been progressive about taking women into management—albeit usually out of necessity. And they have often been willing to take on new managers through legal adoption when the older generation's seed has fallen on fallow ground.
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