Nothing was business as usual in 2020. It was a tough year. Millions of people lost their jobs. Thousands of businesses closed. Working from home became part of life, homes turned into schools, and "please unmute yourself" became part of everyday conversation.
But challenges can present opportunities. 2020 allowed more time to bond with family and provided the space to learn new skills and think outside the box to adapt and grow. It also gave people more time to take stock of their lives and figure out what really matters.
We have seen how hard it is to get anyone to agree on anything these days. Except this: The best part of 2020 is that it's over. Before we turn the page, let's remember the stories that made us think, laugh and look forward to better days ahead.
Editor's note: This top 10 list has more than 10 stories. Since 2020 was like no other year we've ever experienced, this top 10 list will be like no other top 10 list you've ever experienced.
Bonus: How to Use GIFs Like a Boss at Work
Author: Nesan Waran
Published: March 16
Bottom line: Nesan is the lead engineer at Granite Media, the parent company of Work + Money. Nesan also has a black belt in GIFs, the most efficient form of business communication. You can become a master, too.
Bonus: Largest Private Equity Firms Today
General Atlantic founder Charles F. Feeney has given over $8 billion away to charity. Chuck Charles Feeney / Facebook
Author: Eric Ortiz
Published: Dec. 19
Bottom line: Want to know what business trends are going to be in 2021 and beyond? Look at what rich people are doing with their money. These private equity firms manage the assets that power the world and are the names you should know.
Bonus: Hilarious Pictures of Dogs Working From Home
This is how you focus. dogsworkingfromhome / Instagram
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: April 4
Bottom line: Life is all about how you look at things, and dogs make that perspective (and life) better. Canines have been the unsung heroes of working from home (#WFH), and these furry coworkers have some industry insights and productivity hacks to share.
Bonus: Best Children's Books of All Time
The 1968 children's book Corduroy by Don Freeman is a classic. Don Freeman / Puffin
Author: Claire Gillespie
Published: June 15
Bottom line: Reading never gets old. Neither do classic children's books. They are great for all ages. 2020 gave us plenty of time to read our favorites and teach kids new lessons.
10. Coolest Dream Jobs in the World
Dare to dream. loki / Instagram
By: Brittany Alexandra Sulc
Published: July 8
Bottom line: Work is always, well, work, but these jobs are about as cool as they come.
9. Grateful Dead Houses and Party Pads, Then and Now
The most famous Grateful Dead house is 710 Ashbury Street in San Francisco, California. jerrygarcia / Twitter
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: Nov. 25
Bottom line: What a long, strange trip this year has been. If 2020 had a house band, the Grateful Dead would be a good choice. The group has a song for every moment and could help us all make sense of the peaks and valleys. Take a tour of this legendary band's homes and see how they lived and played.
And remember these words from the Grateful Dead song "One Thing to Try":
The show ain't over til you pack up at night.
Don't ever let it get the best of you.
Plan what you can, let the rest shine through.
Just so many angles you can possibly see.
Got to figure on those let the other ones be.
Don't be a collector of more than you need.
Got a lot of things growing but keep watching your seeds.
8. Oldest Black-Owned Businesses in America
Carver Bank started in Harlem, New York, in 1948. This ribbon-cutting event was circa 1975. CarverBankNYC / Twitter
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: July 22
Bottom line: Black men and women own 2.6 million businesses across the United States today, roughly 9.5 percent of businesses in the country. Some of them have been around for generations, and they are an integral part of American life.
7. Queen Elizabeth Has Always Had It. Here's Proof.
Even Hollywood stars got starstruck. Look at Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra meeting Princess Elizabeth in 1951. AvaMuseum / Twitter
Author: Eric Ortiz
Published: June 1
Bottom line: Why is the British royal family so popular? It starts with Queen Elizabeth II. Funny thing is, she wasn't meant to be queen. But she turned out to be the perfect person for the job.
6. Worst Swindlers of All Time
Charles Ponzi invented the "Ponzi scheme." Wikimedia Commons
Author: Claire Gillespie
Published: Sept. 22
Bottom line: Financial fraud is as old as business itself. These con artists took scamming to a whole new level.
5. Best Discontinued Breakfast Foods
Get ready to feel nostalgic and hungry. MrClassicAds1970s / YouTube
Author: Max DeNike
Published: Feb. 21
Bottom line: They call it comfort food for a reason. And breakfast can be comforting any time of day. Some breakfast foods have disappeared, but they remain in our hearts and stomachs.
4. Most Underrated Movies of All Time
Want to laugh? Watch "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story." Sony Pictures Entertainment / IMDb
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: July 10
Bottom line: 2020 took us for a ride we didn't expect. Just like these movies, which never got the attention they deserve. But they are worth your time.
3A. Most Valuable Hot Wheels Cars
The 1971 Red Oldsmobile 442 was a sweet ride. Car and Driver
Author: Tyler Omoth and Craig Donofrio
Published: Feb. 18
Bottom line: Remember the feeling of getting a brand-new Hot Wheels car? That feeling has matured. The toys launched by Mattel in 1968 now are sought-after collector’s items worth thousands of dollars.
3B. Greatest Classic Muscle Cars of All Time
The definition of cool. Steve McQueen with his 1968 Ford Mustang GT in "Bullitt." Bondisland / Catawiki
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: June 27
Bottom line: The adult versions of Hot Wheels are popular, too. In their heyday, they turned every head in the parking lot. They still do.
2. Most Expensive Homes in the World
The Bubble Palace in Theoule sur Mer, France, is a one-of-a-kind place. Christie's International Real Estate
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: Feb. 28
Bottom line: The most expensive homes in the world start at $76 million. You might not be able to afford them, but they’re still incredible to see.
1. What Life in Ancient Rome Was Really Like
"Pollice Verso" (Thumbs Down), an 1872 painting by French artist Jean-Leon Gerome, depicts a gladiator fight in ancient Rome. Wikipedia
Author: Craig Donofrio
Published: May 29
Bottom line: Exploding toilets. Deadly gladiators. Cruel punishments. And psychotic rulers. Ancient Rome had it all. But would you want to live there?