If there’s one thing the video game industry is known for, it’s fostering a terrible work environment. From the extreme working conditions at studios like Netherrealm to the hostile, sexist, favoritism-driven culture at Rockstar Games, gaming in many ways serves as a manual for how not to treat employees. After all, nobody wants to work…

I’m sitting down for coffee with a colleague of mine, a marketing professional who works with several large brands. He casts a cursory glance at his phone as he sits down. I can tell his mind is racing even as we exchange greetings.

Recently, a city-sized wildfire blazed through northern Alberta, blanketing most of the Canadian province with smoke. Air quality in the region was worse than in Dehli and Beijing, widely known to be among the most smog-choked cities in the world. I’d say that very little got done amidst the smoke and heat.

We all know people who seem to be an endless source of new ideas. People who never seem to fall short when it comes to creativity. I imagine most of us have felt at least a small twinge of jealousy when faced with such individuals, too.