GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: "When a Revolution Isn't" by Cecily Sommers author of, "Think Like a Futurist: Know What Changes, What Doesn't, and What's Next ."

Here's a fun game to play at the office: for one week, keep count how many times the words "Disruptive," "Revolutionary," "Game-changing," and "Break-through" are used in meetings, blogs, sales pitches, emails and articles.

Add "Innovative" to that list, and your hype-o-meter is sure to tilt into the "Radioactive" zone.

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: The Fallacy of Being Mistake Free by Laurence G. Weinzimmer and Jim McConoughey co-authors of, "The Wisdom of Failure: How to Learn the Tough Leadership Lesson without Paying the Price."

Let's face it. There are two sides to every story: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times; you take the bitter with the sweet; and every rose has its thorn.

But, when it comes to great leadership, we only have half of the story – there is a discernable gap in our fundamental understanding of what it takes to be an effective leader.

Most discussions on effective leadership focus on what leaders "should do" rather than on what they "should avoid."

The result? We talk about success, but seldom talk about failure.

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: by Matthew E. May author of "The Laws of Subtraction: 6 Simple Rules for Winning in the Age of Excess Everything."

Lao Tzu was on to something 2500 years ago when he wrote, "To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day." His prophetic words might mean even more now than then.

We live in an age of excess everything—an era of overwhelming choice, crippling complexity, and feature overload.

Standing out in the age of excess everything demands a singular skill: Subtraction.

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG: by Stephen Key author of "One Simple Idea for Startups and Entrepreneurs: Live Your Dreams and Create Your Own Profitable Company."

There are many people with product ideas who would love to start their own business, but never do.

A crippling fear of failure prevents them from committing their time, energy, and money to pursuing a dream.

Unfortunately, most of these people don't realize that there are many ways to quickly and efficiently test the potential of their ideas without breaking the bank.

I've spent the last thirty years perfecting a low-risk strategy to determine the strength of my ideas in the market before committing to building a business.

Does your idea have what it takes to make it?

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG by Michael J. Mauboussin author of "The Success Equation: Untangling Skill and Luck in Business, Sports, and Investing."

Say you're an investor looking to put some money to work in the market through a mutual fund. How do you pick which fund you'll invest in?

If you're like most people, you'll find a reputable investment company and scan for the funds that have done well recently. The chances are good that you'll buy one of these winners — and that you'll live to regret the decision. In fact, professors of finance calculate that buying high and selling low costs investors 1 percent of their returns every year, a sizeable sum.

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG by Lori Ann LaRocco author of "Dynasties of the Sea: The Shipowners and Financiers Who Expanded the Era of Free Trade."

Looking for a compass to navigate the uncertain waters of the markets? There is an industry that can help guide investors. It's the shipping industry. Shipping experts say 92% of all the items in a home have been transported by vessel. Investors normally use the Baltic Dry Index as a gauge of economic health, but by looking inside the containers and tankers and seeing the volume and the quality and quantity of the products that are being transported, the shipping industry can be a forward looking indicator for the various economies. This can then help investors make decisions on where the next land of opportunity may be and what resources, materials or products these countries will need to fuel their economic expansion.

GUEST AUTHOR BLOG by Kerry Hannon, author of "Great Jobs for Everyone 50 : Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy ... And Pays the Bills."