Category Archives: general

Values and Behaviors That Empower CEO Forums to Transcend

In a world where leaders are pressed for time, overloaded with information, and often isolated at the top, the CEO Forum remains one of the few places where they can think clearly, speak honestly, and grow intentionally. The world’s highest-performing CEO Forums don’t succeed by accident. They thrive because their members operate from a deeply shared set of values. These values are not just theoretical ideals; they are observable behaviors practiced consistently over time. After decades inside these rooms (and Zooms), as a member, facilitator, researcher, and student, I’ve seen ten values rise again and again as the differentiators values that separate “good” groups from truly exceptional ones: confidentiality, vulnerability, commitment, preparation, generosity, courage, honesty, respect, empathy, and growth-mindset. When these values are practiced consistently, they create conditions where leaders learn faster, make better decisions, and experience the rare gift of genuine peer support. Let’s explore each value and what looks like in practice: Confidentiality: Protecting the Container What happens during the meeting stays there. While it is one of the sacrosanct values observed by the top CEO Forums, it is never taken for granted. Preserving confidentiality requires commitment, loyalty, and intentionality. They recognize the wisdom of never sharing someone else’s story a practice that has utility beyond the peer group, indeed. Members demonstrate confidentiality when they: Speak freely without fear of their comments resurfacing elsewhere. Avoid triangulation and refuse to discuss another member’s issues outside the room. Treat each story as if it were their own. Vulnerability: Dropping the Armor Vulnerability is the gateway to genuine connection, requiring a combination of generosity and courage, not lip service. High-performing CEOs practice vulnerability when they: Admit mistakes openly. See asking as an act of resourcefulness. Understand the value of going deep and getting to the root cause. Commitment: Showing Up Fully In a high-performing forum, commitment is visible not invisible. Members show commitment when they: Attend meetings consistently and on time. Engage fully, avoiding distractions. Support group members outside the meeting as well. Preparation: Respect for the Room Preparation transforms meetings from discussions into breakthroughs. In elite CEO Forums, you’ll see members: Arrive having reflected deeply on their issues. Provide clear context when presenting challenges. Review pre-read materials to elevate the conversation. Generosity: Giving Without Keeping Score Generosity in CEO Forums shows up in dozens of micro-moments: Offering expertise without expecting something in return. Leading Tiger Teams to support a member going through a crisis. Modeling vulnerability and providing the tacit permission for others to do so as well. Courage: Saying What Needs to Be Said Every leader needs colleagues who will tell them the truth when no one else will. Courageous behavior includes: Asking the hard question. Challenging assumptions respectfully. Identifying the elephants in the room. Honesty: Truth Without Harm Honesty is essential, but in high-performing groups, it’s delivered with care. Members demonstrate honesty when they: Provide feedback that is both direct and constructive. Share what they really think, not what is easiest. Own their viewpoint without blaming or deflecting. Respect: The Foundation of Professional Kinship Respect is a behavior long before it becomes a value. It shows up as: Listening deeply to understand. Valuing diverse experiences and backgrounds. Challenging ideas without diminishing people. Empathy: Understanding Before Advising Many CEO Forums are filled with problem-solvers. But exceptional ones practice empathy first and share their experiences and ideas second. Empathy looks like: Asking clarifying questions before recommending actions. Putting yourself in the other leader’s context. Validating the emotions behind the issue. Growth-Mindset: Learning as a Leadership Advantage The most defining value of elite CEO Forums is the belief that everyone can get better. Growth-mindset behaviors include: Welcoming feedback and applying it quickly. Seeing setbacks as data, not failure. Coming to each meeting with a Beginner’s Mind open to embracing new ideas, frameworks, and perspectives. Why These Values & Behaviors Matter In 2026 and beyond, CEO Forums hold even greater strategic importance. Leaders face unprecedented volatility, rapid technological shifts, and increasing pressure to deliver financially, culturally, and ethically. Isolation is costly. Blind spots are dangerous. Unchecked assumptions can be fatal. These ten values, with their supporting behaviors, create a unique ecosystem where leaders can: Confront complexity with clarity. Test ideas in a safe, skilled environment. Build resilience through shared experience. Develop habits that translate directly into better organizational performance. They empower you to apprehend and safeguard each of the Five Factors necessary for driving high-performing forums. Beyond that, these values nurture something rare for leaders today: a space where excellence and humanity coexist. When confidentiality protects the room, vulnerability opens it, commitment stabilizes it, preparation sharpens it, generosity enriches it, courage strengthens it, honesty clarifies it, respect elevates it, empathy deepens it, and growth-mindset propels it, something extraordinary happens. A group of leaders forms a community, and this community becomes a force multiplier that develops better leaders, stronger teams, and improved organizations. That’s why the world’s highest-performing CEO Forums don’t simply meet. They transcend.
https://ceoworld.biz/2025/11/25/values-and-behaviors-that-empower-ceo-forums-to-transcend/

XRP, Solana, and Ethereum Lead as Altcoin ETFs Gain Strong Inflows

TLDR Five new altcoin ETFs, including Grayscale Dogecoin and Franklin XRP, are set to launch in early December. XRP, Solana, and Ethereum ETFs are seeing strong capital inflows, with XRP ETFs reaching $420 million in inflows in just six days. Experts predict more than 100 additional altcoin ETFs will launch within the next six months. Solana ETFs are bucking the trend of Bitcoin outflows, recording a $57. 99 million net inflow over the past 24 hours. Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka upgrade is expected to increase token value capture, boosting demand for Ethereum-based ETFs. Five altcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are set to launch in early December, boosting investor interest in altcoins like Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP. The upcoming listings follow the recent debuts of the Fidelity Solana Fund and the Canary Marinade Solana ETF. These new altcoin ETFs include the Grayscale Dogecoin ETF, Grayscale XRP Trust, Franklin XRP ETF, Bitwise DOGE ETF, and the Grayscale Chainlink Trust. Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas forecasts that the debut of these ETFs marks only the beginning. He expects more than 100 altcoin ETFs to launch in the next six months. According to James Seyffart, an expert ETF analyst, over 150 more altcoin ETFs are in the pipeline. Altcoin ETFs Seeing Increased Demand in the Market Recent data highlights a surge in capital flowing into altcoins through ETFs. Over the past 24 hours, Solana ETFs recorded net inflows of $57. 99 million. Ethereum and XRP also saw substantial gains, with inflows of $96. 6 million and $164. 04 million, respectively. This comes in stark contrast to Bitcoin’s decline, which recorded a $151. 08 million outflow. The market’s growing appetite for altcoin ETFs signals a shift in investor preference. VanEck’s Matthew Sigel attributes Bitcoin’s selloff to tightening liquidity and broader market factors. In contrast, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan believes that Bitcoin’s retreat offers opportunities for altcoins to gain value. “Tokens are getting much better at capturing value,” Hougan stated, pointing to Ethereum, UNI, and XRP as examples of tokens benefiting from this trend. XRP ETFs Record Impressive Debut Numbers XRP’s growth in ETF markets is noteworthy, with the U. S. XRP ETFs posting six consecutive days of inflows exceeding $420 million. The first day of trading saw inflows of over $250 million, marking the best ETF debut performance of the year. Ray Youssef, CEO of NoOnes, stated that ETFs are providing a stable liquidity buffer, absorbing the selling pressure that has affected other crypto assets, such as Bitcoin. The strong performance of XRP ETFs is consistent with the growing interest in altcoins. Youssef further noted that the ETF inflow trend reflects a shift toward more diversified altcoin exposure. With ETFs integrating brokerage access, retail and institutional investors now have easier access to high-beta altcoins. Solana, Ethereum, and Other Altcoins Gaining Traction with ETFs As altcoin ETFs continue to debut, Solana (SOL) stands out as a leading example of ETF-driven growth. ETFs tied to Solana are bucking the outflow trend seen in Bitcoin ETFs, a sign of the altcoin’s rising appeal. The upcoming December launch of the Fusaka upgrade for Ethereum is also expected to boost token value capture, benefiting Ethereum’s altcoin ETFs. Investors are becoming increasingly focused on the potential for altcoins like XRP to benefit from changes in token economics. Youssef added that the focus on value capture through staking mechanisms could redefine the economics for altcoin holders in the future. As altcoin ETFs continue to roll out, experts predict an uptick in market activity for these tokens. The entry of new ETFs could fuel a broader altcoin rally, especially if Bitcoin stabilizes in the coming months. Many anticipate that altcoins such as Ethereum and Solana could see substantial price increases by the end of the year. “Altcoin ETF season could trigger an end-of-year rally,” Youssef concluded. “If ETF demand remains strong and macro volatility eases, Ethereum could surpass $3,200, XRP could hit $3, and Solana may reclaim $150.” As more altcoin ETFs hit the market, their influence on token prices and broader market dynamics is expected to intensify. The post XRP, Solana, and Ethereum Lead as Altcoin ETFs Gain Strong Inflows appeared first on Blockonomi.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/ethereum/xrp-solana-and-ethereum-lead-as-altcoin-etfs-gain-strong-inflows/

Solano gears up to crawl

While there’s no place like home for the holidays, seasoned travelers know there’s often no pain like getting there. This Thanksgiving weekend, millions of motorists will take to California’s highways for a chance to see loved ones and get a pumpkin pie fix, and Solano County’s stretch of Interstate 80 will be no exception. According to AAA, Solano County’s average gas price was $4. 431 per gallon on Tuesday, about 16 cents cheaper that the state average, but about $1. 38 higher than the national average. As of Tuesday afternoon, according to the website Gas Buddy, the cheapest gas in Vacaville is $3. 99 at both Sam’s Club at 1500 Helen Power Drive and the Quik Stop at 1091 Leisure Town Road. Sam’s Club requires a membership card to purchase gas. Gas prices in the city range between about $4. 00 and $4. 50 a gallon. In Fairfield, Grand Gasoline at 2990 Travis Boulevard sold gas as of Tuesday at a cash price of $3. 79 per gallon. In Vallejo, Central Gas at 2100 Springs Road offered gas at $3. 95 per gallon. This year, AAA expects 9. 6 million drivers to be on the road in California beginning Tuesday and running until the end of Sunday. That would be an increase of 200, 000 motorists from 2024. “Really, to be safe, what it really comes down to is that you have to give yourself a lot of time to get where you’re going, and you need to be patient,” California Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Barclay said of the annual Thanksgiving rush that puts car bumpers within inches of each other. “You’re not getting anywhere fast.” The good news: It will be done in calm weather, with clear sky in some areas of the state and cloud-covered sky in others, according to the National Weather Service. No rain or snow is forecast anywhere in the state. “We lucked out,” NWS meteorologist Dylan Flynn said Monday. “There’s a pretty persistent ridge of high pressure along the coast. There could be clouds in the morning, but there’s no real chance of rain. Including air travel, AAA puts the national figure of people traveling at least 50 miles at 81. 8 million people nationally, an increase of 1. 6 million from last year. Johnson said that will establish a new record. Nationally, 73 million people will travel that distance by car. Those figures don’t include the heavy trickle that Barclay said already began to occur on Bay Area freeways late last week. So, the best strategy to stay safe is to be patient and not in a hurry to get anywhere, because it simply isn’t going to happen. “My best advice to people is that as we get closer to Thanksgiving, we’ll see more people traveling,” he said. “So be prepared and plan ahead.” AAA projects that nationwide travelers leaving between noon and 9 p. m. on Tuesday and between 11 a. m. and 8 p. m. on Wednesday will face the slowest crawl. Barclay said it really doesn’t make a difference. CalTrans will suspend its work on non-emergency projects over the holiday weekend. “It doesn’t matter what time you leave,” he said. “There’s no leaving at a different time that’s going to make it easier or harder.” Overall, 36 people across the state died in crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2024, Barclay said. The CHP also made 1, 100 DUI arrests in the same period. “Very often, we see that people who crash are rushing,” Barclay said. “We also tend to see that when people rush, we have more road rage. So have patience.” The CHP announced on Tuesday that it will conduct a Thanksgiving Holiday Enforcement Period from Wednesday through Sunday on state highways. Officers will be actively looking for speeding, distracted driving, seat belt violations, and impaired driving to help ensure public safety. “As holiday travel increases, we encourage all motorists to drive responsibly and make safety a priority,” the agency said in a release. That’s more than 17. 8 million people who will be screened at airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Driving or flying, leave earlier than you think you need to, travel experts advise. Knowing you won’t have to rush to your destination can help calm any nerves, whether it’s lingering anxiety from the shutdown or because you’re traveling with young kids or someone who needs extra help getting around. “These are some very simple things to think about, but they’re important things to think about,” said Sheldon H. Jacobson, an airport and airlines operations expert. Bay Area News Group and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.thereporter.com/2025/11/25/solano-gears-up-to-crawl/

“Subclade K” new flu variant with more severe symptoms leading to more hospitalizations

CENTRAL VALLEY, Calif. (KFSN) — The holidays and flu season are upon us and medical professionals are warning people of a new version of the virus. “Subclade K is a variant of the common flu strain that we are typically seeing this year, it’s known to be a little more aggressive and a little bit more infectious but it has the same effects and same symptoms as your regular flu strain,” says Dr. Emanuele Maccalli, who is the Medical Director of in-patient Pediatrics at Kaweah Health. Symptoms include fever, aches and muscle pains. You can also have a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and headaches. But- symptoms are typically more severe. “And we have already shown an increase in hospitalizations, particularly in populations, such as Children under the age of five, and the elderly do seem to be hospitalized at higher rates even compared to last year, which was a very severe year,” explains Dr. Maccalli. While it’s just taking hold here . this new flu variant has already run rampant overseas. “In other countries, it has already been declared like an epidemic. Here in the U. S, we still don’t know how it is going to be presented. It may cause some similar issues here in our country. But yes, this new subclade variant may be associated with more, higher transmission, with higher problems, with higher symptoms,” explains Dr. Saul Diaz Martinez, with Pediatrics at Adventist Health Hospital Fowler. Doctors say the current flu shot does offer some protection. The key is prevention, such as washing your hands and staying away from others if you feel sick. It’s especially important to keep an eye on vulnerable populations, especially children under 5, who are at higher risk of dehydration. “I always encourage my parents to trust their parental instincts. If your child is not doing well, then bring them in to get checked out,” urges Dr. Maccalli. Also, if over-the-counter medications are not working, it is important to know when to seek medical help. “Debilitating symptoms, difficulty feeding, refuse intake of liquids, or decreased urinary output. It may be that there is something more serious going on, such as pneumonia or other complications for influenza, and they need to be seen right away,” mentions Dr. Diaz Martinez. Doctors remind us that the flu is a serious virus that can have permanent consequences. “This can be life-threatening. It can get very severe. Last year’s flu season was one of the highest instances of hospitalizations, particularly for children and this year we are already seeing rates of hospitalizations that are even higher than last year,” says Dr. Maccalli. Doctors say respiratory symptoms, including cough and difficulty breathing, are also reasons one should seek medical attention. Again, they remind people that prevention is key, which includes frequent hand-washing.
https://abc30.com/post/subclade-new-flu-variant-more-severe-symptoms-leading-hospitalizations/18209827/

XRP Defies Institutional Meltdown, Records Massive Gains Amid BTC & ETH Tumble ⋆ ZyCrypto

XRP price is gaining traction in the last 24 hours following a surge in traditional capital. This comes on the heels of an anticipated market recovery for altcoins as investors strategize to end Q4 2025. XRP Bags $89. 3 Million Inflows CoinRP as the leading crypto in terms of institutional appetite. The asset notched over $89 million in inflows over the last seven days, while other coins crumbled amid harsh headwinds. XRP, known for consecutive wins, declined in previous weeks, fueling a price plunge. While the market remained in the red zone, XRP bulls backed a rebound ahead of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Investors have now splurged $351 million on XRP products in November, with an additional $2 billion this year. A notable institutional trait is limited outflows even in a bearish phase compared to other top assets. Bitcoin saw $1. 2 billion exits as investors withdrew capital from spot ETFs and other products. This round of outflows marks the fourth consecutive week underwater while XRP reversed the bearish trend. Like Bitcoin, Ethereum posted $589 million outflows, taking monthly figures over $1. 7 billion. Large traders regained confidence in XRP due to the United States spot ETF frenzy. Spot ETF investment windows for assets like XRP and Solana are touted to drive the next upward momentum backed by a friendly government stance. Another factor behind XRP traders bucking the downward trend is recent conversations around staking. Last week, Ripple engineers began consultations to onboard staking and increase its decentralized finance (DeFi) compatibility. Staking is largely accepted by the community, especially institutional investors, because of profits, incentivizing users toward network participation. Last year, a group of wealth managers tipped Ether as the crypto with the highest potential because of its staking feature. “In most blockchain networks, staking is used to align incentives among validators and token holders. It encourages long-term participation and can strengthen security by rewarding those who help maintain consensus. For holders, these models can offer a more direct way to participate in network governance, though they can also introduce new complexities around fairness and distribution.” Furthermore, expert trader Ali Martinez noted that XRP’s ascending pattern depends on maintaining the $2 support. Several firms picked up tokens after the asset moved past that level. At press time, XRP trades at $2. 20, jumping 7% in 24 hours.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/bitcoin/xrp-defies-institutional-meltdown-records-massive-gains-amid-btc-eth-tumble-%e2%8b%86-zycrypto/

Joey Galloway questions ESPN’s frequent cutaways to Diego Pavia’s mom

Joey Galloway has a question about Vanderbilt broadcasts this season. The cutaways hit their peak during Vanderbilt’s 45-17 rout when a clip of Padilla dancing and celebrating went viral. “I’m just wondering. It’s just a question,” Galloway said. “I’m not saying it gets on my nerves, I’m just asking a question. Can you put in a request?” “To not do that?” Herbstreit asked. “Not every play,” Galloway said. “I love the story. I love the family. It’s great. Not every play.” Herbstreit joked that Galloway could track down which crew is handling Tennessee-Vanderbilt this weekend and make the request himself, given that he’s an ESPN employee and all. The exchange was lighthearted enough, but Galloway’s point still stands. There’s a difference between showing a compelling family story and turning it into the main event. His mother has been a big part of that. But ESPN’s production team seems less interested in striking that balance than they are in making sure viewers never forget Antoinette Padilla exists. And then there’s Theo Von, too. The Commodores won 31-7. Von has been cashing in ever since, showing up at multiple Vanderbilt games and giving ESPN’s cameras even more reason to stay locked on her. ESPN has always loved a good family story. This one’s legitimately compelling. But when your own analysts are openly joking about how often you’re cutting to someone’s mom in the stands, maybe it’s time to recalibrate.
https://awfulannouncing.com/college-football/joey-galloway-questions-cutaways-diego-pavia-mom.html

Intel might finally steal this feature from AMD chips

Summary Intel developing bLLC: 144 MB L3 cache in Compute Tile to rival AMD’s 3D V-Cache. bLLC likely limited to unlocked SKUs (Core Ultra 400K), targeting gamers and overclockers. More L3 lets CPU access game data faster; also expect a stronger NPU on Nova Lake-S chips. Intel has so far chosen to avoid adding one key feature AMD has been using for years to increase the performance of its chips-a larger L3 cache, which actually results in a tangible performance increase in games. This might finally change soon. According to new reports surrounding Intel’s 2026 hardware lineup, the silicon giant is developing a proprietary technology dubbed “bLLC” (big Last Level Cache) designed to directly counter AMD’s stronghold on the high-performance gaming market. Intel is reportedly integrating a massive 144 MB Last Level Cache directly into the Compute Tile of its upcoming CPUs. Large cache pools have provided rival AMD with its amazing performance gains through their 3D V-Cache technology, and this would clearly be Intel’s attempt to match and beat that. As a reminder on why that works, in modern computing workloads-particularly in gaming-the speed at which a processor can access instructions and assets is often more critical than raw clock speed. By significantly expanding the L3 cache to (in this case) a reported 144 MB, the Nova Lake-S architecture allows the CPU to store a vast amount of critical data on-chip. When data is stored in the cache, the CPU can access it almost instantly. Conversely, if the data is too large for the cache, the processor must fetch it from the system memory (DRAM). More cache, more info the CPU can access quickly. It’s simple math. The report indicates that this new cache technology will not be available across the entire Nova Lake lineup. Instead, Intel plans to make bLLC exclusive to its “unlocked SKUs.” This points specifically to the Core Ultra 400K series-the flagship chips traditionally favored by overclockers and hardcore gamers. This would mimic in some ways AMD’s current strategy with its X3D chips, where it will release a non-X3D variant of a new chip with a new architecture and add 3D V-Cache after the fact with X3D variants. 3D V-Cache is not available on all chips, and neither will be bLLC Cache. The new processors are also expected to feature a significant upgrade to the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) compared to the current Arrow Lake generation. We’ll see these chips next years, and hopefully, these rumors have some weight to them.
https://www.howtogeek.com/intel-might-finally-steal-this-feature-from-amd-chips/

Chargers open window for RB Omarion Hampton’s return

EL SEGUNDO When the Chargers returned to the practice field Tuesday after their bye week, they welcomed running back Omarion Hampton back after he spent seven weeks on injured reserve because of an injured ankle. The team opened the window for him to return to the active roster. Whether he plays Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders after he was injured in the Chargers’ loss Oct. 5 to the Washington Commanders will be determined this week in practice. The Chargers (7-4) certainly could use him against the Raiders (2-9) and for the five regular-season games to follow. Hampton, a rookie who was the Chargers’ first-round draft pick (22nd overall), would provide some depth beyond Kimani Vidal, a second-year player who inherited the starter’s position after a series of injuries. Najee Harris went out for the season because of an Achilles tendon injury in Week 3. Hampton was placed on IR after he was hurt in Week 5. Hassan Haskins was placed on IR after he injured his hamstring in Week 7. Vidal responded by rushing for a team-leading 417 yards plus two touchdowns on 96 carries over eight games, including the first six starts of his NFL career. His only backup over the past six games was Jaret Patterson, who was the odd-man out as the Chargers exited training camp in August. Patterson rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries in relief of Vidal. Hampton was the Chargers’ leading rusher with 314 yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries when he was hurt when a Commanders player fell on his leg in a 27-10 loss to Washington at SoFi Stadium, a game they led 10-0 by the end of the first quarter. His possible return Sunday means the Chargers will have more options, not that Vidal wasn’t productive. Vidal rushed for 100 yards or more twice, including a career-high 124 in a victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. He also had 117 yards in a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. “Excited about that,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of Hampton’s return to practice Tuesday. “Good to get him back on the field. Just going to ramp up, so we’ll see how the week goes. I’m not going to prognosticate that (workload split between Hampton and Vidal). We’ll see how the week goes.” In addition to Hampton, Harbaugh said the Chargers also opened the window for defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia to return from IR. Ogbonnia has been sidelined by an elbow injury since the Chargers’ loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. The Chargers did not open the window for Haskins’ return. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Painful though it might have been for the Chargers’ coaching staff and their players, they dissected the video from their 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11 and, indeed, each of the previous 10 games to determine what’s gone right and wrong with their season to date. Harbaugh didn’t dive into the specifics of what he and the others liked and didn’t like about the first 11 games, but he did say “part of the excitement” of returning to practice this week was putting into action for the final six games what was learned during their just-completed bye week. “Ready to chip away and work at it from all angles,” he said. O-LINE UPDATES Harbaugh said the bye week was especially good for tackles Bobby Hart, Trey Pipkins III and Jamaree Salyer, who will be counted on during the regular season’s final games to protect quarterback Justin Herbert and also create more room to run for Hampton and Vidal.
https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2025/11/25/chargers-open-window-for-rb-omarion-hamptons-return/