Last Thursday, Handmade at Amazon went live featuring over 100,000 unique, handcrafted products from sellers across the globe. While this is exciting for the 5,000 or so artisans whose work will reach a vast new audience, much speculation has been made about how this will impact the established craft marketplace, Etsy.

For those unfamiliar, Etsy is a ten year old online community of artists, craftsmen, fashion designers, and more. Their purpose is to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more fulfilling world. From their mission statement:
"We are building a human, authentic and community-centric global and local marketplace. We are committed to using the power of business to create a better world through our platform, our members, our employees and the communities we serve.

As we grow, commitment to our mission remains at the core of our identity. It is woven into the decisions we make for the long-term health of our ecosystem, from the sourcing of our office supplies to our employee benefits to the items sold in our marketplace."

Etsy appears to truly want to build a community and help artists connect with one another, developing a framework of likeminded folks. And actually, so does Handmade at Amazon. Their current pool of sellers is reasonably sized, especially considering the amount of retailers on their parent site. But it's unclear exactly what Handmade at Amazon intends to do to connect their sellers. And while Etsy has expanded their definition of what qualifies for their marketplace based on the feedback of their sellers, Handmade at Amazon appears to have much stricter rules about which items will be allowed. For example, a large amount of the goods on Etsy are fan art using licensed material and reproductions--which is fine, and within Etsy policies. However, it doesn't seem like those types of goods will be allowed in Handmade at Amazon--will they have the bandwidth to actually monitor that?

Since Etsy's policies appear to be an organic evolution over a decade of trial and error, it raises the question of how much influence sellers will have with Amazon. Will they pay attention to the feedback of their customers? And will those voices be able to impact the future of the site? It also raises the question if Amazon will be able to modify their reputation as a retail titan. Plenty of ink has been spilled about the perception of Amazon's presence impacting other, smaller businesses (and frankly, even other large retailers.) Will they be able to rebrand as a company that cares about raising up the profiles of small businesses, attracting bespoke artisans? And will sellers be abandoning Etsy for the newer, shiner platform?

In the coming months as Handmade at Amazon fills out and grows into a robust marketplace, it will be fascinating to see the impact it has on Etsy and perhaps even eBay. As someone who has been a loyal Etsy shopper since the early days, I will definitely be keeping my eye on the changes to both sites, as well as how they impact the quality and variety of goods.

Based on Forrester Research's latest US Telecommuting Forecast, nearly 34 million Americans work from home. The benefits of this flexibility are clear--less time commuting, more time to be productive, less revenue spent on office space, employees having more time to balance their personal and professional needs. As this trend is becoming more of a majority, with the forecast indicating that by 2016 nearly 43% of the workforce will be remote, it's important to start good habits now and do your future self a favor.

Let's be honest--as beneficial as it can be, working from home is not without it's challenges, namely distractions. So check out these tips for creating a healthy, comfortable home office.

1. Be intentional with your space
No matter if you're using your dining room table or a spare room, be clear about the boundaries of your professional space. Keep yourself focused on the task at hand by filling this space with work-related items. While sitting on the couch is comfy, it's tempting to drift into relaxation mode (and it's not great for your back, either!) Research some ergo-friendly chairs and don't forget to check places like Craigslist, where high-quality office furniture can be found for a fraction of the retail price. Keep your office space clean, clutter-free and welcoming in whatever way feels right to you. This is a place for you to do your best work.

2. Set office hours
One of the best parts about working from home is having a little leeway with your hours, but don't let that freedom prevent you from setting yourself up for success. Be consistent with your schedule, and make sure that includes taking lunches and breaks.

3. Speaking of breaks...
Even though you're at home, that doesn't mean you won't need time to rest. Stand up, do some stretches, get some fresh air, just as you would if you were working in an office. Take some time to do meal prep and feed yourself, don't just graze on whatever is easy. Do good things for your body and reward yourself for your hard work.

4. Get in the right mindset
Rolling out of bed in your sweats and sitting down in front of the computer may save time, but are you really working from a good head space? Do you feel professional? It may sound silly, but just the simple act of grabbing a quick shower and putting on a casual outfit can help keep you focused on the right mindset. So don't neglect the power of presentation, even if no one else is seeing you.

5. Ask your family/roommates for support
If you cohabitate with anyone, ask for their commitment to helping you maintain your office time. Set some ground rules about your availability and what you need in terms of privacy and noise control. If you have children in your home, take some time and explain to them what you're doing and why it's important. Work out some quiet signals if they need to get your attention. As well, don't be afraid to let your co-workers know if you have an emergency situation and need to tend to your loved ones.

6. Work outside of your home once a week
When you're planning your schedule, find some time to hit up your favorite coffee shop or co-working space. Getting out of your usual set up is refreshing, and meeting other similarly situated professionals is a great social and networking opportunity. If you need to take in person meetings, spend some time finding a few reliable places nearby. By expanding your professional stomping grounds, you'll have even more places where you can take care of your work.

Holidays are a big time for movie releases. Big stars headline movies slipping in at the deadline so they are fresh in the minds of Academy members as Oscar season begins warming up. This particular movie, Concussion, starring Will Smith, may not please the NFL or even high school coaches, but rumor has it that it’s going to leave their ears ringing.

The first trailer, just released, is powerful and will hit hard… and may help a whole lot of young men understand why their parents worry at practices, games, and any time they hear the crunch of helmets hitting pads, the ground, and each other.

Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist from Nigeria, was the first doctor to identify the horrific impact of repetitive head injuries on NFL players. Believe it or not, this discovery was made ten years ago. People spend more time discussing Deflategate than the consequences of this health threat.

In repetitive head injuries, after the initial brain injury is resolved, damage remains. Multiple episodes of these traumas can result in significant neurological deficits. 1.6-3.8 million sports-related head injuries are sustained every year in the US. (NCBI) In football, a player may sustain thousands of further hits throughout the season. Many concussions are not medically diagnosed. Players want to play. They may tell their coaches whatever it takes to get back on the field.

The response of creating safer helmets may provide a small amount of increased safety, but most high schools can’t afford to provide the helmets with the highest safety rating, leaving kids open to repeated injuries early in life.

Dr. Omalu, after performing an autopsy on a 50-year-old ex-pro football player that was presumed to have died from a heart attack, questioned the cause of death, especially after hearing about serious behavioral changes after his retirement. He was squirting superglue into his teeth, used a Taser gun to self-treat back pain by inducing sleep, and gave away all of his money. The erratic behavior led Omalu to closely examine the brain. His findings… Well, maybe you should see the movie. Let’s just say they were not normal. And the cause of death was not natural.

Will Smith knows how to connect with a diverse audience and with his star power, the topic of football, and coverage by GQ magazine will guarantee the Christmas Day release will likely hit the top ten at the box office. The question is this: Will the increased awareness, especially mid-football season, render any significant attention to this serious issue? Will there be a demand for more studies and more information? Will people respond to situations in their own lives? Will parents question coaches in high schools and take concerns to the School Boards instead of accepting platitudes?

Only time will tell. Brain damage from football is devastating. Is it worth it for a game? Is there a way to really protect players? Questions and more questions. See the movie. Form your own opinions. And then make some noise if you think something should be done. This isn’t just Hollywood. This is life.