Import substitution industrialisation, often shortened to ISI, is an economic theory usually adopted by developing countries that want to depend less on the rest of the world. The plan is to protect and nurture newly formed domestic industries until they are fully developed, so that the goods they make can hold their own against imports.

Where it came from

The idea took shape in Latin American countries after the Second World War. Its main goal was to shield and build up home industries, so that what people at home need is made at home.

The tools

Governments use several tactics. They set tariffs on imported goods, place quotas on how much may come in, and offer subsidised loans to local producers. Countries following this path aim to build production channels for every stage of a product, from raw material to finished item, inside their own borders.

The opposing idea

ISI runs directly against the theory of comparative advantage. Under that theory, each country specialises in the goods it can make best and trades them abroad. ISI instead asks a country to build its own capacity first and to depend less on trade for what it needs.

A plain way to picture it

Think of a seedling under a glass dome. The dome shields it from wind and frost until the stem is strong. The open question, which economists still debate, is when to lift the dome.

This page is for learning the vocabulary only. It is not advice on policy or investment.

There is a long running argument about work. Older people tend to believe in working hard. The new generation believes in working smart, meaning more effective work and more time for themselves. They say that once you clock out, the work should stay behind. Each view has strengths and weaknesses, and many people wonder whether they have to pick one. They do not.

It is about balance

Know your limits. If you are exhausted, it is fine to take a break and return to the task refreshed. That does not mean you have stopped working hard. Working smart often means the good idea shows up once the mind is rested.

It is about being strategic

People who only work hard are often busy because they are overwhelmed by the tasks on their plate, perhaps five projects with tight deadlines. People who work both hard and smart set goals, rank the workload and keep looking for better ways to get the projects done.

It is about the right things

Someone who works hard on the wrong things will not succeed. Neither will someone who works smart on the wrong things. The skill lies in knowing which task needs your full effort, and not wearing yourself out on a job that matters less.

Emotional intelligence, often shortened to EI, is the ability to understand and handle your own feelings and those of the people around you. It affects how we manage our behaviour, get through social situations and make personal decisions. People with a higher level of it read the world and its people well, and they adjust their emotions to the place and the moment. Here are seven things they tend to do differently.

They are driven

They see the problems in the world and in people, yet they do not lose heart. They look for new ways around the obstacles and want to improve things for everyone.

They are self aware

They know their strengths and their weak points, and how to work on the weak ones. They are comfortable being who they are and feel secure in it.

They are empathetic

They listen to other people’s troubles and feel real compassion, placing themselves in the other person’s position. They feel the pain without letting it swallow them, and they look for a solution. They do not stay in the dark place of negative feelings.

They are curious

Everything interests them. They keep learning, enjoy new experiences and try several ways of solving one problem to see where each leads. They share what they learn, because knowledge grows when it is passed on.

They handle change well

Most people fear change. They believe it brings something good, that a few things may go wrong for the greater good, and that they will get through whatever comes.

They strike a balance

They are neither all work nor all play. They know what must be done on time and what can wait, and they give themselves breaks. They keep a routine and stick to it.

They do not chase perfection

They know perfection is a myth. They do what feels right at the moment, taking their strengths and weak points into account, and get on with it.

It is common to take a job you dislike and tell yourself it is only for now. Staying uninspired is unhealthy, and it is also avoidable. These steps help you move from an interest to a livelihood.

Find your interests

Start by finding what you love. Is there a hobby you cannot resist, such as drawing, singing, an outdoor activity or new technology? Name it before you do anything else.

Build the skill

People pay only when you are truly good, so hone the relevant skills until others see you as a professional. If your passion is yoga, for example, formal training helps, and weekend courses are a good route.

Follow your curiosity

You may not have a clear vision yet, but you are curious about certain things. Follow them. Those interests connect to what motivates you and sets you apart, and pursuing them helps you learn who you are and how creative you can be.

Check the demand

Find out how many other people share the interest, especially if you plan to invest in a business. If you love cooking Italian dishes, for example, do not assume crowds will come to your restaurant. Test the demand first.

Look at the competition

If you plan to earn from your interest, see who else is offering the same service and how they do it.

Stay open

Mistakes in the first attempt are normal. What counts is learning from them and keeping an open mind. None of this works without determination and commitment, and results will vary with the situation, the demand and other factors you cannot see. Treat these steps as a way to test the idea, not as a guarantee.

Good connections lead to jobs, investors and customers, and modern technology has made it easier for anyone to reach them. These habits turn networking into something people want to take part in.

Be yourself

Many people put on a front, hoping to look like whoever they think others will like. They forget what everyone wants to see, on a professional site or at a conference: a real person. People enjoy talking to other people, not to advertising or a polished persona.

Meet face to face

A connection made by email is a start, but meeting in person takes it further. Use meet-ups and events to get to know people properly.

Take notes

After a meeting, in person or by phone, jot down a few points. Small details, such as a favourite food or a place they love to visit, become useful openings for your next conversation.

Be memorable

Being different is easier than being the very best. Think about what sets you and your work apart from the crowd, such as an interesting story or an unusual experience.

Become a connector

You can give value to others at no cost by introducing people who would gain from talking to each other. An introduction email takes two minutes and can brighten two people’s days. As your own name grows, you will find many such pairs.

Audit your circle

Every few weeks, check your time and your network. Are you around people who make you a better person, and who challenge you in the right ways? If not, adjust.

A role model is someone in your field or in your life whom you look up to for guidance or inspiration. You may never speak to them, yet they show you which way to go.

Why they matter

Role models count most for young people. When you face pressure from friends, money problems, an unsupportive home or a hard decision, a role model can offer input and advice where nobody else does. Someone struggling with an illness or a disability can gain a great deal from a person who has come through the same difficulties and can show how to cope.

Who can serve

Almost anyone can play the part. An older sibling, a relative, a teacher, a neighbour, a world leader or your own manager may be the person whose example shapes you most. Ask yourself whom you admire and why. The people you admire now are probably giving you your most useful lessons. Leaders at work matter here too, because a team with positive supervisors as role models gains from it, and so does the whole organisation.

What a good one does

Whatever their line of work, good role models share one trait: their example encourages those who follow to go further. They keep you motivated and lift your confidence.

How to pick

Start with four questions. What are your values, and what type of person do you want to be? What qualities do you need to live by those values? Who, near or far, shows those qualities consistently? What can you learn from how they live and what they have achieved? You can have separate role models for separate areas, such as business, social life and fitness. Write down your goals, find people who have reached what you want, and study them. That study becomes a map.

Keep your perspective

Most of us want success yesterday, and impatience pushes us to slack off or give up. Count the years your role model needed to get where they stand. That count shows how slow real progress is, and how much dedication it asks for.

You have grown fond of a friend and you are not sure what to do about it. That spot is often called the friend zone, and plenty of people find themselves there. There is no perfect script, but these steps make it easier.

Look at the risks first

A friendship you value is on the line, so think about what you stand to lose before you say anything. Once you have weighed it, begin showing your interest in small ways instead of a sudden declaration.

Find out where the other person stands

Talk to the friends you both have in common and learn how they feel about you. This helps you judge whether the feeling might be shared, without putting either of you on the spot.

Get the timing right

Even a direct approach works better with care. Do not blurt everything out of the blue. Wait until the two of you are alone and can speak openly, with no distraction and nobody around to cause embarrassment.

Build up slowly

Start with something small and work your way up. A long friendship will not turn into something special overnight, so give the change time to happen.

Be upfront

Say plainly how you feel. Hints and games only confuse people. An honest sentence, said kindly, respects the other person.

Be ready for a no

When you invite your friend on a date or make your feelings known, the answer may be no. Prepare yourself for that. If the friendship does not survive the conversation, do not blame yourself. You acted honestly, and that counts for something.

In every class a few students seem to do well without visible strain, while others study just as long and fall behind. It is tempting to look for a secret, but no pill is involved. What separates them is a small set of habits that anyone can borrow.

They go beyond the syllabus

Real learning does not stop at the textbook. Good students read other books, look up the ideas online and find out more than the class covered. That extra knowledge gives them something to add in an exam, and teachers notice it.

They take notes

Teachers cannot say everything twice, and most of it will not be in the book. Writing down what matters in class gives you material to return to at revision time, when the lesson is long gone.

They have a place to study

Learning does not happen well just anywhere. A quiet, well lit room helps, or a proper table in the bedroom where you can sit upright instead of lying on the bed. Keep the phone and the computer out of reach so that the temptation never comes up.

They make the page work for them

Highlight key lines and definitions in books and notes. Turn chapters into flow charts built around keywords, and put comparisons into tables. Headings and subheadings make a page far easier to scan than long paragraphs, and the more visual your notes are, the more easily the keywords bring back the rest.

They practise daily and test themselves

Reading a chapter proves nothing. You need to check whether it stuck. Teachers can set mock tests, and if they do not, a parent or friend can write one for you.

They plan with a timetable

Set aside fixed hours with clear goals, and build short breaks into them so the mind does not overload. Draw the timetable up well before exams. That way there is no last minute cramming, and no rote learning done in panic.

Anyone who has come home to a wagging tail already suspects that dogs are good for us. A study reported in a scientific journal now gives that hunch some numbers.

What the study found

Researchers looked at records for more than thirty lakh people between forty and eighty years of age. Those who kept a dog were about a third less likely to die during the follow-up period than people living alone without one. Their risk of heart and blood vessel disease was also lower, by roughly eleven percent. In plain terms, a household dog was linked to a healthier and longer life and to a smaller chance of a heart attack.

Why a dog might help

The first reason is movement. A dog has to be exercised, and that means the owner walks, in all weather, most days of the year. Regular walking is one of the best things a person can do for the heart, and here it arrives without any willpower, because the dog insists.

The second reason is company. Dogs are cheerful, and their owners meet more people on those walks. A wider circle of familiar faces adds to happiness, and happiness in turn is good for health.

The bond itself

Dogs are known for loyalty, and the old phrase about a dog being a person’s best friend has lasted for a reason. Their affection asks for nothing in return. Cat lovers may argue the point, but the study is about dogs, and it suggests that this steady, uncomplicated companionship is good for the body as well as the mood.

A fair note

A study of this kind shows a link, not a guarantee. A dog is also a long commitment of time and money, so it suits those ready to walk, feed and care for it for many years.

The more moments you can recall, the fuller your life has been. Being able to bring back a great day in detail, or a fact you need at work, is worth a lot. The encouraging part is that this skill can be built. These habits show how.

Believe in your own memory

Most people decide early that their memory is poor. That belief does harm before any training starts. Approach the effort with a positive mind and treat it as a skill that improves with use.

Attach numbers to meaning

Numbers slip away faster than almost anything else, which is why birthdays and important dates get forgotten. Tie each number to something that matters to you and it gains a hook. A number that stands for a moment in your own life is far easier to keep.

Cut the distractions

Often the trouble is not forgetting but never taking the information in. A mind pulled in three directions stores nothing well. Give one task your full attention, then move to the next. Doing things singly feels slower, yet it saves time later because less needs to be relearned.

Picture it

To remember a situation or an object, build a vivid image of it in your head. The picture gives the fact something to cling to.

Group what you must carry

If you need to buy six things, sort them into three small groups instead of holding one long list. Short clusters are easier to hold than a single string.

Play games that train recall

The simplest is a tray of ten different objects. Look at it for thirty seconds, cover it, then write down everything you saw. Repeat it with a friend setting the tray. Puzzles such as Sudoku, crosswords and the Rubik’s cube add to this, and they also build concentration.

Move and calm down

Stress wears memory down, so reducing it helps. Regular exercise, yoga and meditation all lower stress and leave more room for recall.

When forgetfulness is a warning

Trouble with memory and focus can also accompany a low mood or anxiety. Time outdoors, gentle practices such as yoga or tai chi, and company from friends and family can lighten the load. If the low mood does not lift, speak to a doctor rather than trying to solve it alone.