I just came across this TED talk by University of St. Thomas professor AnneMarie Thomas. I am a huge TED fan and it's exciting to me that a TED speaker is right in my own backyard here in the Twin Cities. Even more exciting is how Professor Thomas challenges the audience to take ordinary kitchen ingredients to help children learn about electricity. In a time where most of us stare at screens all day, the ideas she shares are a welcome break and even better — they're fun! Enjoy.

With the economy continuing to weigh heavy, it's important to examine the shifts in the market and look at what's hot and what's not from an employment perspective. Higher education is no longer optional because if you want a good job you need a good education and many times an undergraduate degree is not enough. Like good branding, people must differentiate themselves and be able to quickly answer the questions "what are you good at and why should I hire you (or buy your product)?" Judging by the top jobs in 2011, it's all about specialization, focus and becoming an expert.