• You won't wow your boss by doing absolutely everything. Instead, prioritize the work that will have the most impact — and say "no" to everything else.
• That's according to Justin Angsuwat, vice president of people at Thumbtack and former human-resources executive at Google.
• Angsuwat said he doesn't reward people who just seem busy, but it seems that other managers and industries to some extent do.

First one at the office in the morning? Last one out at night? Justin Angsuwat doesn't really care.

Angsuwat is the vice president of people at Thumbtack, an online platform that connects people with local professionals; he was previously the head of human resources for Google's go-to-market functions. So he's spent a lot of time thinking about how to evaluate employees' performance.

Angsuwat said he often sees people trying to wow their manager by doing absolutely everything. This is a mistake.

At Thumbtack and at Google, Angsuwat said, "we rarely reward people who just seem busy." Hence the indifference to who spends the most time at their desk. "We would rather reward those who are having an impact through the work they do."

To be sure, some managers and organizations value time spent working more than others — even if employees aren't actually being very productive during that time.

Erin Reid, an associate professor of human resources and management at McMaster University, studied a global consulting firm and found that many men simply pretend to log 80-hour workweeks. That way, they can impress their superiors with their dedication to the company while still spending time with their families.

But Angsuwat's broader point is that results are key. He said, "The single best way to impress your boss is showing you can prioritize the things that matter and then executing well on those things."

Read more: An HR exec who's worked at Starbucks and Coach shares the best way to impress your boss

Always keep in mind how your work contributes to the organization as a whole

That necessarily means that you'll often have to muster "the courage to say 'no' to some things," Angsuwat said. In fact, you might even need to say "no" to your manager.

As Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job,"previously told Business Insider, you might say something like: "I would be happy to do that project, but what that could mean is that [whatever other project you're working on] will have to be put off until tomorrow, because I was actually going to spend the next three hours finishing that proposal. Would you like me to put that off?"

That is to say, frame your response in terms of doing your best work for the organization.

It's also important to learn what your boss really cares about and deliver on that, also known as "managing up." Dave Kerpen, founder and CEO of Likeable Local, previously told Business Insider that managing up is about "helping your manager look great to his or her manager." Kerpen recommends either asking your boss directly what's important to them or subtly trying to figure it out on your own.

"The key to impressing your boss is not doing lots of things, but doing the right things," Angsuwat said. "Ultimately, it's being able to answer the question, 'What impact am I having?''

SEE ALSO: 11 simple ways to make your boss love you

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Navy SEALs debunk 5 misconceptions about good leaders in the military and the workplace

• The typical age of a state's population varies across the US.
• Using recently released Census data, we looked at the median age in each state and DC.
• States in the western half of the country tend to have lower median ages than the eastern half.

Some US states have older populations than others.

The US Census Bureau recently released statistics from the 2017 American Community Survey, an annual program that asks millions of Americans each year about several social, economic, and demographic attributes. The Bureau publishes figures for each of the 50 states and Washington DC.

One of the questions on the survey asks for the ages of everyone living in a household. Using those answers, the Bureau publishes estimates of the median age for each state, or the age for which half of a state's population is older and half is younger than that age.

Read more: All 50 states and Washington DC, ranked from least to most average

States in the western half of the country tend to have lower median ages than the eastern half. Utah, with a median age of 31.0 years, had the youngest population in the country, followed by DC with a median age of 34.0 years and Alaska with a median age of 34.5 years.

The three states with the oldest populations are all in New England. Maine had a median age of 44.6 years, followed by New Hampshire at 43.2 years, and Vermont at 42.6 years.

SEE ALSO: Here's how much more the typical baby boomer makes than the typical millennial in every US state

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how the map of the United States has changed in 200 years

• The ways that many women may experience heart attacks can be very different than the ways that many people expect people would experience them.
• Because the signs of heart attacks in women can be far more subtle or vague than those traditionally associated with heart attacks, women may not always get the care they need when they need it.
• Knowing what sorts of things could actually be related to your heart could potentially also help you determine what sorts of things might be worth chatting with your doctor about and which sorts of things might be more serious than you realized.

Though women can certainly experience the more classic and traditional signs of a heart attack like chest tightness, pain, pressure, and more, women often times experience heart attacks a bit differently than others do.

And since heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, according to the American Heart Association, knowing how to spot the signs of a heart attack is super important. If you know what to look for, you may be able to seek treatment — and get it — sooner, and that's very important as well.

You might be nauseous.

Nausea isn't probably something you typically associate with heart attacks, but for women, it can be a sneaky, subtle sign that something might actually be going on with your heart, so it's important to be aware, as Dr. John Cheng, MD of South Coast Medical Group told INSIDER.

"Women who have this recurrent nausea with exertion, that is something wrong, there's something there, but they won't admit to it and get help,"Dr. Peter A. Reyes, MD, a cardiologist, told INSIDER. And recognizing that something's not quite right can make all the difference.

You might experience serious fatigue.

Fatigue is difficult to pin down, because it's a vague symptom that can just be a part of life for some people sometimes.

"If you're busy and you're taking care of your family, or if your busy at work, or you've got like 17 things to do, you know, swinging by the doctor's office is probably not your one, two, and three thing to do and so you kind of monitor and wait and see if things escalate and get worse,"Dr. Nicole Weinberg, MD, a cardiologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center, told INSIDER.

"I think that's one of the reasons why I really love dialing into exercise because if somebody has on their schedule that they're exercising regularly and then they know that there's a change in how they feel with exercise, I feel like that's a great barometer to know when to take the time and seek some medical attention vs people that, you know, maybe are feeling like they're a little fatigued or they're not feeling quite themselves, but they can go out and do a spin class without any limitation or difficulty, that would make me a lot less concerned as a medical practitioner."

You might struggle with pain in your jaw.

Jaw pain can be the sign of a number of different things, not just heart conditions, but, chances are, some of those other things might be higher on your list of suspicions than anything related to your heart.

Even if you wouldn't think they'd be related, jaw pain can be a sign of a heart attack, as Dr. Ravi Kishore Amancharla, the chief interventional cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Health City Cayman Islands, told INSIDER.

Though you may first think that it's dental or stress-related, it really could be your heart, so if you have other subtle symptoms as well, seeking out care from a cardiologist could potentially be a better strategy than heading right off to the dentist.

• Preparing for a trip to Japan is more intricate than simply laying out an itinerary.
• I wasn't prepared for cultural differences between Japan and the US or other logistical complications.
• It is not the norm to eat or drink on the subway or while you walk.
• There aren't many trash cans in Japan and the indoor smoking laws in Japan are more laid-back than those in the US. 

When I planned my first trip to Japan, I made sure my itinerary was filled with activities. I did exhaustive research on bars, restaurants, and landmarks I wanted to see, but unfortunately, there are a lot of things I didn't think to look up.

There are a lot of cultural norms and common decencies that are specific to Japan, plus there are also a ton of logistical differences that I wish I had known about in advance. 

Here are 13 things I wish I had known before visiting Japan. 

There isn't as much free public Wi-Fi.

Free Wi-Fi isn't as readily available in Japan as it is in the US, but the country has several great options for getting internet access if you don't have an international phone plan. The most helpful piece of technology I rented in Japan was a pocket Wi-Fi.

A pocket Wi-Fi is exactly what it sounds like — it's a handheld Wi-Fi device with enough juice to power several phones and even a laptop or two. With one pocket Wi-Fi, I was able to use data on two phones and a laptop.

I rented one online before my trip, picked it up at the airport, and dropped it off at the same place on my way home. For a 10-day trip, my 1 GB-per-day Wi-Fi rental cost me $55.

The smoking laws are more laid-back than they are in the US.

In the US, smoke-free laws generally prohibit people from smoking at most indoor locations. So, when I was in Japan, I was surprised to find people smoking inside of restaurants and bars.

Smoking laws are generally more relaxed in Japan than they are in the US, so it's important to do a bit of research if you want to find smoke-free restaurants. 

Tipping isn't necessary.

Like many other countries, Japan doesn't participate in the tipping culture. In some cases, it can even be considered rude to tip your server.

However, because you aren't expected to tip, there is often a table charge, a cover charge, or a mandatory appetizer fee.

Sometimes the restaurant doesn't tell you that there's a table charge, but if they set a small appetizer on the table that you didn't pay for, then you know to expect a table fee on your bill. Most of the table fees I was billed were about 300 yen (less than $3). Casual lunch spots, like ramen shops, that I visited generally didn't have a table fee.

Read More:How to tip like a local in 20 countries around the world

• More and more employers are evaluating candidates through automated, one-sided phone interviews, the Wall Street Journal reported.
• The move is meant to lock in potential employees quickly in a tight job market.
• But candidates say it's impersonal and frustrating.

Desperate employers in a tight job market are trying out a new kind of job interview: Automated phone calls in which a candidate answers a series of pre-recorded questions. What that means is that on these interviews, candidates effectively talk to themselves.

More and more companies, from healthcare and insurance companies to retailers, restaurants, and law firms, are implementing this type of automated interview, the Wall Street Journal reported. But it may not be ideal for candidates.

Jeremy Maffei told the Journal that his first automated interview for a digital marketing job in Florida caught him off guard.

"I blanked out," he told the Journal. When asked to answer a common job interview question about his greatest success and biggest failure, he couldn't figure out whether his answers "resonated," adding that it was "highly impersonal."

Recruiters told the Journal that this tactic is meant to lock in prospective employees as quickly as possible amid a nationwide labor shortage. The US unemployment rate is at 3.7% and there are more job openings than unemployed people.

Read more: Starbucks' former HR exec says a job candidate's answer to a simple interview question predicts success better than their entire resume

It's not the first unusual strategy employers have started using to attract talent in a tight job market.

Some companies are offering people jobs after a single phone interview, Business Insider previously reported, a practice that's mainly being seen with seasonal jobs at retail companies such as Macy's and Bath & Body Works. But employees have also reported it happening for roles including teachers, engineers, and IT professionals.

And as Business Insider's Rachel Premack previously reported, companies across the country are swapping out job title keywords like "associate" with ones like "evangelist,""rock star," and "ninja" in order to appeal to younger employees.

Have you ever had an experience with an automated phone interview? Email the reporter at kwarren@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Forget teenagers: Fast food joints across the US are hiring senior citizens, and it's thanks to 2 major demographic trends

DON'T MISS: 'It kind of feels like a scam': Employers are so desperate for workers they're making job offers after a single phone call

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why you shouldn't be afraid to fly, according to a pilot with over 20 years of experience

A slew of TV shows were canceled in 2017, and the list of shows canceled in 2018 has grown rapidly since May as networks decide their schedules of new and returning shows, and figure out what they're doing in 2019.

The most recent cancelation comes from Comedy Central, which canceled the comedy "Another Period" after three seasons. 

Despite slightly better reception for its second season that dropped in September, Netflix has canceled "Iron Fist" after two seasons, a show that wasn't a hit with critics. Days later, Netflix canceled Marvel's "Luke Cage," leaving many wondering why these seemingly successful superhero shows are getting the axe. And the week after that it, canceled satire series "American Vandal."

So far in 2018, networks have canceled fan favorites like "The Last Man on Earth" and "Quantico." Fox also canceled its quirky cop comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," but NBC picked it up for another season less than two days later.

ABC also canceled the previously renewed "Roseanne" revival, after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. However, ABC announced a spin-off called "The Conners" without Barr that premiered in October.

In 2018, the streaming giants are canceling more shows than ever as well, with many getting cut on Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. 

So if you're wondering why a show you love hasn't returned in 2018, it might have been canceled. (You can also use this list to see what shows are not returning in the fall or in 2019.)

Here are all the shows that were canceled in 2017 and 2018, including those from networks and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon:

SEE ALSO: All the confirmed original shows coming to Netflix in 2018

Canceled in 2018:

"The Mayor"— ABC, one season

"Chance"— Hulu, two seasons

As the year flies by, the list of canceled TV shows piles up.

While there's been somewhat of a quiet period since May, some networks have cut shows throughout the summer and fall.

Comedy Central recently canceled "Another Period" after three two seasons. 

Other recent cancelations come from Netflix. Netflix recently canceled "Iron Fist" after two seasons, and announced that "Orange is the New Black" will end with its upcoming seventh season. Netflix also canceled the excellent satire series "American Vandal" after two seasons. 

ABC canceled the previously renewed "Roseanne" revival in late May, after Roseanne Barr posted a racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. However, ABC debuted a spin-off called "The Conners" without Barr.

In other notable cancellations, USA's critically acclaimed "Mr. Robot" will end with its upcoming fourth season, and CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" is ending after 12 seasons. 

We'll update this list as more are announced.

Here are all the shows that have been canceled this year, including those from networks and Netflix:

SEE ALSO: The worst TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

Amazon

"Jean-Claude Van Johnson"— Amazon, one season

"I Love Dick"— Amazon, one season

• Stocks fell Thursday as Wall Street mulled over an expected meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
• The Dow had posted its best day since March on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve chairman gave a speech received as dovish.
• Follow the US indices in real time here.

Stocks fell Thursday amid concerns about escalating trade tensions, a day after Federal Reserve comments received as dovish helped the Dow rally by the most in eight months.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.11%, and the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.25%. The S&P 500 was down 0.22%. The three major US indices had risen for a third straight session Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said rates were "just below"the neutral level.

"Markets were cheered by Powell's dovish remarks, but trade dispute rhetoric between the US and China ahead of this weekend's G20 summit is keeping a lid on investor enthusiasm," said Vincent Heaney, a strategist at UBS.

Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting out Thursday pointed to a December rate increase, but left the path for next year open. Market watchers have been closely monitoring for signs of whether recent equity turbulence or ongoing trade tensions could influence the Federal Reserve's rate path.

Yields on the 10-year note fell 1.6 basis points to 3.028% following the minutes, and the dollar rose slightly against a basket of peers.

President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping are expected to meet at the G20 summit in Argentina this weekend. Trump has offered conflicting remarks about negotiations in recent days, however, stirring fears that more tariffs could be put in place between world's largest economies.

"I think we're very close to doing something with China but I don't know that I want to do it,” he told reporters Thursday, referring to a potential deal to ease tensions first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Not helping the mood, Reuters reported Thursday afternoon that White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, a vocal critic of China who is seen as a policy hardliner, is expected to attend the Trump-Xi meeting.

On the commodities front, oil rose 3% after Russia signaled it could cut production. With West Texas Intermediate trading below $50 a barrel at session lows and Brent around $60, however, prices are still deep in bear territory. OPEC and other major producers are set to discuss coordinated output levels at a meeting next week.

SEE ALSO: An investment director at a $150 billion firm warns that US companies are engaging in a risky, unsustainable practice — and explains why traders should be looking overseas

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 7 places you can't find on Google Maps

• Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano has many more health benefits than the parmesan you find in a plastic shaker. 
• Parmesan is lactose-free and low in fat.
• It's a good source of protein, calcium, and certain vitamins. 

Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano, or parmesan, hails from Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy known for its incredible restaurants and food products.

It's made at a special dairy that uses farm-fresh milk from cows that have never been fed silage (dried animal feed). The dairy implements a regimented process to brine and age wheels of cheese until they're ready to enjoy.  

All of this is to ensure consumers are getting authentic parmesan that's packed with health benefits. Notably, the parmesan you might find in a plastic shaker isn't made using the same process and it doesn't boast these same health benefits. 

Here are some ways authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano can be beneficial to your diet. 

Naturally low in fat, free of carbs, and lactose-free, Parmigiano-Reggiano has plenty of health benefits

"Parmesan cheese is a good source of protein and fat. It's rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamin A, vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorus, zinc, and copper,"Leah Silberman, RDN, told INSIDER. "Harder cheeses like parmesan or provolone tend to be the best options. In general, the harder cheeses have a higher protein content and lower fat content."

An ounce of parmesan packs about 10 grams of protein. And, according to a report about parmesan cheese and bone health published in the US National Library of Medicine, authentic parmesan is easy to digest due to its probiotic effects and it is rich in calcium. According to the report, the cheese's high calcium content can be beneficial for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. 

Read More: 14 foods that have a lot more protein than you think

Parmesan is a dairy product, but it's lactose-free

"People who normally suffer unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms from lactose intolerance may tolerate a serving of parmesan cheese just fine," Goldman told INSIDER.

Made from milk with lactose, the lactose in the dairy becomes lactic acid as the wheel of cheese matures, meaning that any lactose left by the time the cheese has aged is negligent if at all existent.

As a hard cheese, parmesan is also considered safe for pregnant women to eat. There are also Halal-certified and Kosher-certified variations of Parmigiano-Reggiano that allow those with dietary restrictions to enjoy the taste and health benefits of the cheese.

There are a lot of ways to incorporate parmesan into your diet

Although parmesan shouldn't become a major cornerstone of your diet, Goldman said parmesan can be a "delicious supplement" to any well-rounded healthy diet. When choosing to top your meal with parmesan or enjoy it as a snack, she advises following the suggested serving size, which is about ¼ cup of shredded parmesan.

And, of course, to really gain the health benefits, you'll want to enjoy your cheese with reasonably healthy foods. "I sprinkle it on my chickpea or lentil pastas and I love adding it to roasted veggies like broccoli or asparagus," Goldman told INSIDER.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why you shouldn't be afraid to fly, according to a pilot with over 20 years of experience

• According to global fashion search platform Lyst, suits were one of the five biggest trends influenced by celebrities in 2018.
• From Blake Lively to Bella Hadid, some of Hollywood's biggest stars wore pantsuits this year.
• While some stars opted for crisp, tailored looks, others donned oversized, business-casual designs.

Athleisure dominated celebrity fashion in 2018, reviving '90s trends like bike shorts and dad sneakers. But over the past 12 months, Hollywood was also swept by a more tailored look: suits.

One of the biggest fans of the trend, Blake Lively famously wore five different pantsuits in one day in September. Lady Gaga's oversized suit at Elle's annual Women in Hollywood celebration went viral overnight. And Meghan Markle has pushed the envelope of royal fashion in several designer suits since she became a duchess in May.

According to global fashion search platform Lyst, which recently released its annual Year in Fashion report, suits were also one of the five biggest trends influenced by celebrities in 2018, with searches for women's suits up 87% year on year.

Below, take a look at some of the most memorable ways celebrities wore the trend this year.

Rihanna wore a double-breasted gray Ralph Lauren suit at an international conference on February 2.

An ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education, Rihanna delivered a speech at the organization's financing conference in Senegal, which helped raise $2.3 billion to support education in developing countries around the world.

On February 10, Cardi B was photographed in a mint green pantsuit at Christian Siriano's show during New York Fashion Week.

The rapper accessorized the Christian Siriano suit with black platform sandals, black and white sunglasses, and a white fur stole from Duckie Confetti.

One day later, Laverne Cox attended Prabal Gurung's show in a red pantsuit featuring a fitted blazer with bell sleeves and a plunging neckline.

Designed by Prabal Gurung, the red blazer and pants retailed for a total of $2,790 before selling out online.

• Body acne can occur on the chest, back, underarms, and bottom. 
• Certain things, like not showering after working out or getting too stressed out, can trigger body acne. 
• If you have no relief with over-the-counter products such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid wash, consider seeing a dermatologist. 

We all know that hormones, diet, and skin-care products play a big part in influencing those nasty breakouts that appear on your face every so often. However, you’ll definitely want to acknowledge that body acne (which can occur on the chest, back, underarms, and bottom) can be particularly stubborn, as board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Lortscher explained that some body acne cases require a course of oral antibiotics for treatment.

However, aside from seeing a dermatologist, Dr. Lortscher recommended being aware of body acne triggers, as lifestyle and dietary habits can be a big indicator of what’s actually causing it. To help you find the root behind your body acne, we spoke to some experts on the topic to help you keep those breakouts at bay once and for all.

Below are some things to keep in mind if those acne flare-ups are becoming too much to handle.

You are not showering after working out.

"Bacteria (one component of acne) loves moist warm skin and proliferates, causing acne flares," said board-certified dermatologist Anna Guanche, MD.

To avoid unwanted flare-ups, she recommended showering and cooling off after workouts.

You are using testosterone gel.

"Testosterone made you break out in puberty and here it is again," Dr. Guanche said. If you are supplementing with a gel or cream, that may be the culprit, she suggested.

You are using steroids.

"Whether you are taking them to bulk up, have eczema or psoriasis, and are using a steroid cream, you can definitely get steroid acne on your trunk from this," Dr. Guanche said.

• Microsoft Office is getting a new set of icons, the company announced on its Medium blog.
• All your favorite tools — Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Skype — are getting fresh icon designs for the first time since 2013, which you can check out below.
• The redesign is to reflect Office's move toward a cloud-based suite of tools that are used and accessible from a multitude of devices and platforms. 

For students and desk workers all over the world, the Microsoft Office app icons are, ahem, iconic. 

But now, every single one of those icons is getting a refresh across all platforms "in the coming months,"Microsoft said in a blog post— their first new look in five years. 

All of those well-known logos will be getting upgrades, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and even Skype. The color palettes for each of the icons will, fortunately, remain the same, with some slightly updated hues that are brighter and more modern-looking.

Without further ado, here's the new lineup, as compared with the 2013-era icons:

The idea, says Microsoft, is to reflect the change that Office is now less of a software suite, and more of a set of cloud-based services you use from a variety of devices. 

"Our design solution was to decouple the letter and the symbol in the icons, essentially creating two panels (one for the letter and one for the symbol) that we can pair or separate," Jon Friedman, Microsoft Office's design head,  said in the blog post. 

Microsoft Office has come a long way since its first software bundle was released in 1990 featuring just three apps: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This is the longest Microsoft has gone without updating its Office icons since 2003.

SEE ALSO: Twitter keeps a list of everything it thinks you're interested in — here's how to find it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why autocorrect makes so many mistakes, according to the former Apple engineer who helped create it

• With award season coming up, it is a good time to reflect on the best actors and actresses we have seen on film.
• A study from the University of Turin determined the best actors and actresses of all time.
• The study is based on the number of movies they have been in and longevity of their careers. 

Awards season will be here before you know it, and while some will be at home gleefully watching their favorite thespians accept top honors in their categories nominated, other will be left wondering why the person they were rooting for walked away empty handed.

The conversation regarding the best actors and actresses continues from year to year. With the legendary talent that continues to entertain audiences for decades, for some it's easy to determine whose legacy will extend far beyond their lifespan.

Thankfully, researchers have done the heavy lifting for us.

Using the longevity of their careers along with the total numbers of movies starred in, a new study from the University of Turin came up with an arguably definitive list of the top 20 actors and actresses of all time.

Did your favorite make the cut? Check below.

20. Natalie Portman is one of the youngest on the list.

One of the youngest actresses on the list, the Israeli-born leading lady has a knack for picking roles that challenge her. From playing Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in a 2016 biopic to a talented but obsessive ballerina in 2010's "Black Swan," both roles earned her an Oscar nomination. However, she ultimately accepted the Academy Award for the role of Nina Sayers in "Black Swan."

19. Dame Judi Dench has had iconic roles in lots of films.

The seven-time Oscar nominee has only won once for her role in 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," but that doesn't discount the longevity she has had in the industry. Not only has she had some iconic parts in "Pride and Prejudice" and "Chocolat," she was also appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) at the 1988 New Years Honors.

18. Cloris Leachman is known for her acting and dedication to animal rights.

Not only is she an actress, but Cloris Leachman received PETA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. She also has an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress to her resume.

• Before marrying someone, there are some topics you might want to discuss.
• Some important questions to ask your partner are in regards to how much debt they have and whether or not they want to have children.
• It's also important to ask about your partner's previous encounters with the law and their sex drive. 

Whether you're dreaming of getting engaged or have already picked out the floral arrangements for your wedding, the prospect of marriage can leave many people in a happy daze. But, regardless of how long you've been with your partner, there could be a few things worth discussing before you exchange vows. 

Here are a few questions you may want to ask your partner before marrying them. 

What kind of debt do you have?

It may not be romantic, but getting a clear picture of your partner's financial situation can help you to avoid some money-related surprises down the road. 

Does your partner have a lot of student loan debt? Do they have dozens of unpaid credit card bills? How far along are they in paying off their mortgage or car loan?

Even if they seem to have their finances together, debt is fairly common and is worth discussing. Recent data from Experian revealed that the average American has over $6,000 in credit card debt. 

In most cases,you are not liable for debt your partner has accrued before your marriage. But as Yahoo! Finance pointed out, any debt you create on joint accounts after your tie the knot will be both partners' legal responsibility.

If you and your partner are looking to make any major purchases or investments as a married couple, pre-existing debt could limit your financial flexibility.

Who do you think should be responsible for keeping the house clean?

You might not mind picking up after your partner now, but one Pew Research poll revealed that62% of all US adults surveyed considered sharing household chores as very important for the survival of a marriage.

Before getting married, ask your partner about their attitude about divvying up work around the house — you'll probably want to discuss how you'd both like share basic household responsibilities. 

Do you want kids? If so, when?

Knowing whether or not your partner wants to have children is important when thinking about the future. Whether or not to reproduce can be a potentially relationship-ending issue, so consider having a discussion before planning a wedding. 

"Most things in relationships you can make a compromise around, butthis isn't one of them," relationship export Jenny Douglas told HuffPost Australia. "If you are firmly in the position that you don't want to have children or don't see yourself as being a parent, that's something that can be irreconcilable."

If you've established that you both want to have kids, it's also important to figure out your partner's timeline for making that happen. If you want to put off procreation for another decade but your partner is already buying baby clothes, that could be an issue.

Read More: 7 subtle signs your relationship is basically over

The US hospital ship USNS Comfort anchored off the coast of Colombia during its deployment to Central and South America, where it will see an estimated 750 patients per day. 

The Comfort departed Norfolk, Virginia on October 10 for Operation Enduring Promise. By the mission's completion in December, the ship will have seen patients in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras. This is the ship's sixth mission in the region. On previous deployments, the ship has provided medical care for as many as 390,000 patients, according to the Navy's press release.

Here's how the ship's crew provides care to their foreign patients.

The Navy works with the host nation's health services, coordinating shore-based facilities where the ship's crew will screen patients and provide more basic levels of care

The crew began screening patients in Riohacha, Colombia on November 24, two days before the official opening of its shore-based facility at a local high school.

Some patients are receiving care that they otherwise would not be able to afford.

• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday.
• Alaska Gov. Bill Walker issued a declaration of disaster, allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies to assist the state.
• A major military base in the state was reportedly damaged, in addition to roads, schools, and other infrastructure.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker issued a disaster declaration following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Anchorage on Friday.

On Twitter, Walker said he was in contact with the White House and was working with first responders to ensure that everyone is safe. The earthquake reportedly damaged Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, a military facility based in Anchorage, and caused severe damage to roads, tunnels, and schools.

A declaration of disaster formally permits a range of federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to assist the state in disaster relief.

The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning to parts of the state because of the earthquake's aftershocks. It is posting updates on its Twitter feed.

Other state and federal agencies are in the process of assessing the scope of the damage.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has reportedly opened again after temporarily suspending flight landings. Damage from the earthquake has flooded parts of the airport, according to video footage posted on social media.

For more stories, head to INSIDER's homepage.

• Read more:
• A massive earthquake just hit Anchorage, Alaska. Here's what it looked like for people on the ground.
• This town in Alaska won't see the sun again until January 23
• 12 scary takeaways from the climate report the Trump administration dropped on Black Friday — and one reason for hope

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big

• On Thursday, Google announced the release of its "Pretty Please" feature for Google Assistant, which helps encourage polite manners when interacting with its AI smart home devices.
• The "Pretty Please" feature works when users talking to their Google Assistant include words like "please" or "thank you" in their requests.
• If a user says: "Hey Google, please set a timer for 5 minutes." The response may be something like: "Thanks for asking so nicely. Alright, 5 minutes. Starting now.”
• In April, Amazon announced a similar feature called "Magic Word" for its smart assistant Alexa to reward and reinforce polite behaviors amongst users. 

Google Assistant wants to help you with your manners. 

On Thursday, the company announced the release of its "Pretty Please" feature for Google Assistant, which helps encourage polite manners when interacting with its smart home devices. The feature was first announced at Google's I/O developers conference in May and it's rolling out in time for the holidays. 

The "Pretty Please" feature works when users talking to their Google Assistant include words like "please" or "thank you" in their requests. Like, "Hey Google, please set a timer for 5 minutes.” With "Pretty Please," a Google Assistant might respond to that request by saying: "Thanks for asking so nicely. Alright, 5 minutes. Starting now.”

The idea behind "Pretty Please" is to reinforce polite behaviors for children and adults as well. The feature is now live on Google's Smart Speakers and for all those who have registered their voices with the Google Assistant app. 

In April, Amazon announced a similar feature called "Magic Word" for its smart assistant Alexa to reward and reinforce polite behaviors amongst users, especially children. 

Read more: A baby in the UK reportedly said 'Alexa' as his first word, and it reveals a raging debate over how children use tech

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Amazon wants to open 3,000 cashier-less grocery stores — and they'll have a major advantage over their competitors

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Insulated water bottle startup Hydro Flask took the proprietary TempShield insulation it developed to create containers that keep beverages hot or cold for hours on end and designed a 12-ounce coffee mug.
• We were impressed with how long the mug kept our drinks warm. We also appreciated its press-in lid cover and spout, which saved us from several accidental spills when we were on the move between meetings.
• At $30, Hydro Flask's Coffee Mug is more expensive than a normal mug, but it makes sipping on coffee and tea much more enjoyable because the mug keeps them at a consistent, hot temperature.

Three reporters on the Insider Picks team, myself included, recently tested out a coffee mug that claims to retain your drink's temperature — be it piping hot or ice cold — for hours on end.

Hydro Flask, the startup behind the mug, has an entire line of insulated bottles it makes with a proprietary double-wall, vacuum-insulated technology called "TempShield"that guards the temperature of your drink. We've reviewed its bottles before, naming them the best water bottles you can buy in our buying guide, so expectations for the new coffee mug were high.  

After using the mug for a few weeks, we noticed a few things: First, the mug's TempShield insulation not only keeps what's inside it nice and hot, but it keeps the exterior from getting too hot to handle with your bare hands. We also liked that the mug comes with a press-in lid since it helps with temperature control and prevents splashes and spills when we're on the move in between meetings.

The Hydro Flask 12 oz Coffee Mug, despite its rugged good looks (it comes in four colors), is also very durable since it's made of stainless steel. It's BPA- and phthalate-free, too, so you don't have to worry about potentially hazardous chemicals seeping into your drinks after exposing it to boiling hot water several times a week.

At $30, it costs a lot more than a regular mug, but it also looks, feels, and performs a lot better.

Shop all the 12 oz Coffee Mug at Hydro Flask here, or continue on to read what we thought about it:

Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter:

I've been drinking a lot more coffee and tea recently. No, not because I'm lacking sleep and I need the extra caffeine boost, but simply thanks to the introduction of this coffee mug into my life. I enjoy sipping on these beverages much more because the mug keeps them at a consistent, hot temperature, plus it feels comfortable in my hand. Meanwhile, the exterior of the mug stays cool and unfazed. As a certified Clumsy Person, I also appreciated the lid cover and spout that reduce the chance of accidental spills.

Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor:

I take a really long time to drink pretty much anything — be it coffee, cocktails, or a glass of water — which is why I've loved having this insulated mug at my desk to keep my coffee hot. I don't have to worry about choking down a lukewarm cup throughout the morning anymore. I'm also very into the color — I have the olive green one and it's just very pleasing. Little things, you know? 

Brandt Ranj, Insider Picks associate editor:

I've been happily using a Hydro Flask container for over a year now, but its shape and size always kept me from making it my go-to mug at home. It was just a little too big, and felt more utilitarian to hold rather than cozy. This 12 oz Coffee Mug solves that problem entirely. I've happily sipped tea from it over the course of four hours without it getting cold. It did cool down, but it was still perfectly drinkable. 

Hydro Flask 12 oz Coffee Mug, $29.95, available at Hydro Flask

SEE ALSO: 20 of the most exciting under-the-radar retail startups to watch in 2018

Join the conversation about this story »

• Ariana Grande released the highly anticipated music video for her latest song, "Thank U, Next," which shares its title with her upcoming album.
• It was inspired by female-led movies from the early 2000s, from "Legally Blonde" and "13 Going on 30" to "Bring It On" and "Mean Girls."
• The 25-year-old teamed up with several celebrities for the music video, including Kris Jenner; "Victorious" costars Elizabeth Gillies, Daniella Monet, and Matt Bennett; Jennifer Coolidge of "Legally Blonde"; "Mean Girls" star Jonathan Bennett; YouTube star Colleen Ballinger; and singer Troye Sivan.
• The track, which immediately became a meme when it was released, mentions Grande's exes and focuses on self-empowerment.
• Watch the music video below.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Valedictorians rarely become rich and famous — here's why the average millionaire's college GPA is 2.9

• Heather Dietrick is the CEO of the Daily Beast.
• She was the president of Gawker during the Hulk Hogan lawsuit, which brought down the company.
• Dietrick says she's embraced risk taking, and it's led to unusual job opportunities that have paid off.

When Heather Dietrick came to the Daily Beast as its CEO in 2017, she had recently weathered a storm at Gawker, the online tabloid that folded shortly after losing a lawsuit to Terry Bollea, better known as the pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.

Dietrick had started as Gawker's general counsel before founder Nick Denton promoted her to president, and followed her guidance on the front lines of the legal battle.

At the Beast, Dietrick oversees a news site that avoids the gossip Gawker sought, but has a similarly aggressive approach to reporting out news stories that make it feel, as editor-in-chief Noah Shachtman puts it, like a "high-end tabloid."

In an episode of Business Insider's podcast "This Is Success," Dietrick told us that even though she received both a law and a business degree, her love has always been for journalism, and that her career has been defined by leaving herself open to unexpected opportunities and taking risks on them.

Listen to the full episode here:

Subscribe to "This is Success" on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcast app. Check out previous episodes with:

• "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown
• Burger King CEO Daniel Schwartz
• Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal
• Pinterest's Ben Silbermann

Transcript edited for clarity.

Heather Dietrick: I'd always been fascinated with the news. I'd always been a news junkie, even as a kid. I would read the newspaper and talk about the news with my family. When I was in high school, I was editor of my school newspaper, and when I went to college, I thought, "OK, I'm going to be a journalist." In my first journalism class, they had a Washington Post war correspondent come and talk to us and the job was very exciting, very scary, and I thought, "I don't know if my personality lines up with this." You know, like a very young person's way to think about it, as if this is the only way possible to do journalism.

Richard Feloni: You could only be a war correspondent.

Dietrick: Yeah, you can only be, you know, in the bunker, like eating canned food and taking on enemy fire. At the same time, I was taking this constitutional-law class in undergrad and really just fell in love with the First Amendment and the concept of helping journalists get their stories out. I thought, "Oh, this is how I'm going to kind of convert this passion into my career," so I went to law school that with that mentality.

Feloni: When you were going for your MBA, did you aspire to be in a leadership position? Did you see yourself going beyond a general-counsel role and maybe one day running a company?

Dietrick: I thought maybe one day, but I didn't know what the path was. So part of getting there was about taking risks. Lawyers are usually risk-averse, especially in career paths. You know, you go to a firm, and there's this really lockstep way that you move through it. Quickly in my career, my first firm collapsed. It was a financial crisis, and I went to another one and was figuring out what I was going to do and I clerked. And then I took this big leap to take a fellowship with Hearst. And Hearst has this very intensive fellowship for First Amendment study and practice. It's really amazing. As I said, the field is really small and hard to get into.

Feloni: What was that fellowship like?

Dietrick: You're working on their in-house First Amendment team. Unlike a lot of companies that use outside counsel to handle their work, they really have a mini law firm running inside of it. They're just really one of the best teams in the country. You're working side by side on First Amendment cases. You start with access cases, so you're helping journalists get information, though that means helping them file Freedom of Information requests and helping them pursue those, and, at times, sue the government when you're not able to get information.

And then, you start handling, you know, regular defense, First Amendment defense cases, defamation, privacy. It's just a really intensive and fantastic experience. I did that for about a year and a half, or did the fellowship for a year and stayed on for a while afterward.

When the Gawker opportunity came up, I took another big risk in that in interviewing, the CEO said, you know, "I really like you, but this is a really crucial role. We haven't had anyone in this role. I need you to do a trial week." And I thought, "What? You know, that's outrageous. I have a job." Like, "I can't do a trial week. I can't just tell these people — "

Feloni: It's not like an internship.

Dietrick: Yeah, exactly. I can't tell them I'm on vacation. When I left, I was thinking, you know, this probably isn't going to work out, but I couldn't stop thinking about the job. The next day, I very intrepidly went into my boss's office at Hearst and decided I was going to ask him, can I try out another job for a week? And if it doesn't work out, can I come back and have this job still?

Feloni: Wow.

Dietrick: Yeah, a really outrageous thing to ask. So outrageous. [But] he's just an incredible person who's a real believer in speech and helping journalists, and his answer was, "Look, there's no better way to advance your career in this space then to cut your teeth on the newsroom floor of a place like that." He had done the same at the New York Daily News. He very graciously said, "Go for it, and if it doesn't work out, we'll be here."

Feloni: Did you think that maybe if you made that ask, you might just get let go on the spot?

Dietrick: For sure. It was such an absurd thing to ask. If someone asked me that today, I'm not sure I would be so gracious.

Feloni: Yeah, if someone approached you.

Dietrick: Yeah, so it was really extraordinary of him. I took the leap, and the week went really well, and I ended up taking the job.

Working through a crisis

Feloni: When you ended up at Gawker — that was 2013?

Dietrick: Yes.

Feloni: And then, by 2015, you had to come up into a leadership position. Nick Denton pulled you into this role when the company was undergoing all kinds of legal issues. What was that like when you were presented with that opportunity to step up?

Dietrick: It was really exciting. It was a little bit of a surprise, though it shouldn't have been, because in a lot of ways I was already doing that job. I came over to Gawker to both build and lead a legal team. The company was, though, about 10 years old — 11 years old at the time. It was still a very nimble, very fast company, being run like a startup, but that meant it also had a lot of chewing gum and baling wire. In my role as general counsel, I really started to dig into every corner and started to learn the business really well myself, and then started to help manage parts of that business.

Feloni: Did you feel — just from being involved with startups — kind of like your role was supposed to be "the adult in the room" sort of thing?

Dietrick: I wouldn't characterize it as adult in the room, but I would say part of it was to inject some processes when the company had just been moving so quickly for so long and hadn't put structure in place, and the role was to do that, but not to diminish its nimbleness and its mission and its dedication to reporting the kind of stories it was reporting.

Feloni: And when you were with Nick and you had to break the news to 200 employees that the company had gone bankrupt and was going to be sold, how did that feel when you had to confront your entire team and be the bearer of that news?

Dietrick: Honestly, it was scary in the moments before going out in front of hundreds of people, to let them know that we needed to file for bankruptcy, but you also were depending on all of the relationship you had built up before and this incredibly strong company mission to keep people on track. So when I went out there and said this announcement, typically the company had a lot of questions, they were very active in all-hands and transparency was really important and everyone was engaged in kind of asking and answering questions, and for the first time there was like utter, utter silence and mouths agape. And I was thinking to myself, "Oh no, maybe I've lost them and we can't hold this together," but we really needed everyone to stay so that we could have a successful sale and keep the company going beyond the Gawker ownership."

And so I — this is in slow motion for me at the time — but I'm thinking, how do I advance this conversation? And so I thought, "Well, we are about asking and answering questions and getting information out there. So I'll ask myself questions that I imagine the frightened employee has in their head." Like, what does this mean for me personally in this role? What does this mean for my family? What do I tell my spouse about this? Why would I stay? How do various parts of this bankruptcy work? And we went through that for a long, long time, like hours, and by the end or rather after a bit of that, people started participating and hands were going up and there was real engagement again and by the end, smiles and everyone's full of energy and back to work.

And I knew that because of this mission that the company had built, everyone was standing shoulder to shoulder and this would work, that we would keep everyone there and working. And I couldn't say just, "I hope you stay and do your job." I needed to say, "I need you to do your job better than you ever have before because we need to show this field of potential buyers that this did not get us down. We are still growing or putting out excellent stories." And we did it. Probably three people left in the six months before we sold the company. And people were working harder than ever. And we were growing and it was really, really phenomenal.

Feloni: And there were a lot of Gawker alumni who went through that. They're on record saying that, how much they admired your leadership during that time, and still do. And do you think that you were able to maintain that goodwill with them because of that empathetic approach that you took?

Dietrick: Well, I appreciate that they said that. It certainly wasn't just me; it was just the way we had built the company over a series of years. But, yeah, a lot of it was about empathy. I said at the end of that meeting, if you have any doubt in this period before we figure out this sale, come talk to me and we will do all hands, instead of once a month, every single week and I'll keep you up to date as much as I possibly can. You can't say everything in these circumstances.

I think people could believe me because I had been transparent before, and I really felt the weight of every single person's job on my head, the entire period. I was going through trying to sell the company with our CEO and keep it running and drive the strategy forward, and if someone came and had a doubt, I would put everything completely aside and say, "Yeah, let's talk through this. If it's five minutes or two hours and, you can trust in me that we're going to save all these jobs and get you to get this company to where it needs to be." And we did that, luckily.

Feloni: I want to get back to that point where you said lawyers are typically risk-averse. When you were in your career path, what was kind of getting you off that path, the typical path?

Dietrick: Just a hope and a faith that, you know, the next thing will work out, and it's worth pursuing this passion instead of doing something that is typical. If that next leap of faith doesn't work out, there will be something else. You'll make your way somehow. It's scary, but in some ways there's a luxury in being able to do that and being able to take a risk. It's a real belief in yourself and being able to think about if this didn't work out, what's the worst thing that would happen to me? If that worst thing is not that bad, and you could pick up and move forward, then go for it to pursue something you're really, really passionate about.

Shifting out of 'wartime mode'

Feloni: Did you go through that process as well, even when it was time to move to the Daily Beast?

Dietrick: I was looking for a place that was very mission-driven, No. 1. I had learned Gawker through this difficult, tumultuous time that having a place that has, a business that has a north star that everyone is aligned on, is incredibly powerful. That's really easy to see in journalism, what that north star is. You know, you're getting out these great stories, but it doesn't only apply to journalism or businesses like that, that have a really lofty purpose. It could be, you know — everyone is roasting coffee beans and understands the mission of the company, and that they're doing, and they're passionate about doing it really well. When you have a business that's aligned like that, I think you can just take it to the moon. And then, No. 2, being in media, I was looking for a business that had a very strong core audience. Not one that was necessarily growing like gangbusters off the back of someone else's platform, but one that understood the brand and it was very committed to the brand.

Feloni: It's fairly normal to have a lawyer end up in a CEO role. What is interesting is to make that move in a media company, where I would imagine that, from a lawyer's perspective, everything is about being risk-averse. Like, whether it's Gawker and Daily Beast, they both have this like scoop-driven mentality. That's about taking big risks with reporting. How do you balance your approach between your lawyer side of things and the media side of things?

Dietrick: I think you can use, as your guiding light, what is newsworthy, and what will make an impact in the way that you want it to make an impact. And so that means publishing stories that are important to your audience. I would caution against looking at each individual story and saying, is this going to be worth it? There are some stories that are really important, but maybe it causes trouble in publication. You know, maybe it brings on a litigation or something else, but if the journalist really believes in that story, it can often be important to advance it, even if there are some consequences to the organization. And so looking at each individual one is, I think, a little dangerous. You want to think as a whole. Like, is this making the right impact that we want it to make? Do we believe in this story? Does this advance people's thinking? Does this expose some kind of truth? If those things line up, then it's worth publishing.

Feloni: Yeah. And in terms of your leadership style, what led to that approach to where you are right now as CEO of the Daily Beast?

Dietrick: I think it was a process for me and trying to figure out who I was as a leader. And I would read a lot about it, I would watch different people I admired.

Feloni: Like who? What kind of sources?

Dietrick: I would even, for a while, I would watch TED Talks because those are really prominent big names or maybe people hadn't heard of but who were doing phenomenal things. And I would think, OK, they had this style, they had this approach, and what pieces of that can I take? But ultimately I realized I need to lean into what I am good at and I need to lead into my style, which is being very transparent, kind of bringing people along with me. I am empathetic. I'm not a salesperson. So I need to lean into what I am good at and develop around the margins and progress around the margins. And that's really what I did. And then at the Beast, I do the same thing. I'm still the same type of leader in wartime or in peacetime or in growth time. It's just different, different degrees.

Feloni: And when you did become CEO of the Daily Beast, what was that transition like in terms of just even the vibe of the company and then adapting to it?

Dietrick: It was an easy transition. It was refreshing to not be in wartime anymore and to really think holistically about the growth strategy and not have to build a big defense around it. And there were some similarities. There's a gonzoness to the journalism that's a little similar. And it was just very exciting to be in a place that is dedicated to not just telling their point of view but also bringing a story forward.

Feloni: So as you say, you were in a wartime mode when you wrapped up at Gawker, but what were some specific lessons that you pulled from that that you can apply now when you're not playing defense for the Beast?

Dietrick: I will say, even when you're in wartime, you still need to grow the business. So all of the focus that we had on growing the business continues to apply to the Beast, and that focus was really around the content and the audience. So it wasn't around building a pillar of the business on the back of a platform or someone else; it was around being kind of rabidly focused on how our audience reacts to our stories, what stories do well with them and what brings people back. And so it's not about chasing scale; it's about bringing people down the page, engaging them, and giving them another story that they really want to read.

Feloni: In terms of developing as a leader at the Daily Beast, recently you brought on a new editor-in-chief, Noah Shachtman. What has that been like, when now you're in a position where you're bringing on a new editor and you have develop that talent in all of that. What do you? What were you looking for?

Dietrick: Noah was really responsible for driving the Beast to be the scoop machine that it is today. He has really the devotion to advancing the story and is an incredible teacher for people in the newsroom, to kind of push them in that direction and keep them developing sources and developing their stories. So I was looking for that, No. 1. And No. 2, someone that just has a really great eye for a story. Noah's just lit up when something is popping in the news or we have something great to publish. And I just love that passion. You can build the business around the excitement of getting out great stories. And he has that in spades.

Be open to serendipity

Feloni: And as you look over your career, what do you think the biggest challenge has been?

Dietrick: It was, no doubt, keeping the company Gawker motivated and on track through a tumultuous time. A company in its 12-, 13-year history said: "We are proudly independent. We won't raise money. We won't sell." And we were in a position where we very quickly raised money with a lot of hair on the business. Went through this massive public trial, sold the assets, and that was all just a great challenge that I think we were, ultimately, really successful with, considering the headwinds.

Feloni: Was there ever a point during that time where you felt stretched too thin as the support for everyone?

Dietrick: Yeah. I would not be truthful if I didn't say yes to that. It was an around-the-clock experience. But it was so exciting; I wouldn't trade it for the world. I didn't think, "Oh, I have another 18-hour day." It was just — I was completely in the moment.

Feloni: How do you find an excitement or motivational side to it when, in some ways, it's a dark time for the company as well? How did you process that?

Dietrick: You need to think about it as solving a really complex puzzle, with one hand tied behind your back. And it becomes a difficult yet fun and challenging exercise. And the hard part was just having a lot of the entire company relying on a successful outcome, and wanting very much to make good on the promise that we would give everyone a safe place at the end of this. That their jobs would be saved, all of that. That was the part that was weighing on me. But otherwise, it's a puzzle, and it's like a difficult problem that a business needs to solve, and you need to untangle it. And when you think, "OK, we're almost out of solutions," you find that you can come up with something else, and you can get some more time, or more money, or something, to extend yourself until you get to the spot where you feel, "OK, you've done it."

Feloni: How do you personally define success?

Dietrick: On a personal level, I think it is being really excited about getting up every day and coming to work. For the Beast, it is about making an impact with our stories and getting them out to a lot of people. And then getting them to understand that that's what we do, and come back for more.

Feloni: And looking overall at your career, what is the main driver for you?

Dietrick: For me, in working in media, it is about telling important stories. It's about getting information out and helping to advance the thinking of voters and people who need to make decisions in their lives or people who buy products or rely on companies that we report on. All of our stories just help people go through their lives, being better informed. And that's really important to me.

Feloni: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to take a career path like yours?

Dietrick: I'd say be open to serendipity and be open to kind of unexpected chances. And if you're excited about them, I think pursue a nontraditional path and see where it takes you.

The biggest trick is to keep yourself open — have conversations, be out there, explore things that you might not think you'd ever do, talk to people about what motivates them, understand what they love about their jobs, and figure out if there's something for you there. Just having that network, I mean, networking is such a cliché, but it is hammered home again and again because it really is important to just be open yourself. Then as far as the decision-making process, that's, like, really personal, depending on what you want to do. But you need to first have the options. You need to have things come to you in your orbit. And you can make that happen.

Feloni: Thank you so much, Heather.

Dietrick: Thank you.

SEE ALSO: The founders of successful companies like Lyft, Harry's, and Drybar share their best advice on making business partnerships work

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We're nearing 'peak media' as Americans consume over 12 hours a day