Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Game Theory: The Nash Equilibrium Explained

What is the “Nash equilibrium”? How do you calculate the Nash equilibrium? One of the most important concepts in game theory is the “Nash equilibrium”—a theoretical game state in which every player is fully aware of their opponents’ strategies yet sees no need to change their own. The game becomes stable and unchanging because everyone has settled into the best possible strategy available to them. If you can calculate an equilibrium, you can predict the inevitable stable outcome of any game’s rules and incentives. Keep reading to learn about the concept of the “Nash equilibrium” and how it is used in

Why You Must First Fail to Succeed

How to Deal With Failure at Work and Build Resilience

How do you deal with failure? How can embracing failure help you on the way to success? Most of us will do anything we can to avoid failure—it’s embarrassing and painful. However, to achieve success, you’ll need to fail a few times. Every failure teaches you how not to do something and forces you to come up with ideas you wouldn’t have normally thought of. Here is why you must fail to succeed.

The Dalai Lama’s Advice for Anger Management

How do you deal with anger? Is it ever a good idea to express your anger? According to the Dalai Lama, anger is a destructive emotion that stems from ignorance. If you struggle with anger issues, he counsels, you must first understand where your anger stems from and if it’s justified. Then, use patience and tolerance to neutralize it. You may not be able to completely eradicate it, but you can at least reduce your anger’s potency. Here’s how to deal with anger, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Obstacle Is the Way: Stoicism Applied

What does Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way teach about Stoicism? What is the key message to take away from the book? Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way is Stoicism applied. The key premise can be distilled into two basic truths: 1) no event is inherently good or bad, and 2) you can choose to see every problem as an opportunity. These truths are Holiday’s foundational beliefs about the world that lead him to conclude that you can transform any problem into an opportunity that benefits you. Keep reading to learn about the key premise of Ryan Holiday’s

The Dalai Lama’s Tips for Overcoming Anxiety

Do you often feel anxious? What causes anxiety, and how do you overcome it? According to the Dalai Lama, anxiety, like all negative emotions, stems from ignorance. If you struggle with anxiety, educate yourself about where the anxiety comes from and whether it’s valid, recommends the Dalai Lama. Here’s how to deal with anxiety, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

How to Solve Complex Problems: Embrace Imperfection

How do you approach problem-solving in day-to-day life? What do you do when faced with a complex problem—one that has no obvious solutions? Some daily problems seem impossible to solve—for example, complex optimization problems in which you need to find the optimal arrangement of a set of variables to achieve the best outcome under specific constraints. If you’re trying to purchase the cheapest airline tickets available that get you the most vacation days with good weather or trying to minimize risk in your investment portfolio, you’re solving an optimization problem. Here is how to solve complex problems with no obvious

Stop Dreaming & Take Action to Achieve Your Goals

Do you tend to overthink things when it’s time to take action towards your goals? How do you get over this action paralysis? When faced with the need for action, we too often procrastinate and make excuses. But consistently putting in the effort is how you build the momentum necessary to reach your goals, and momentum is more important than anything else. If you don’t take action to achieve your goals, your risk becoming soft and complacent. Here is why it’s important to take consistent action towards your goals and never stop moving forward.

How to Cultivate Compassion: Develop Empathy

What is compassion in Buddhism? How do you cultivate compassion? In Buddhism, compassion—the desire to free others from suffering—is one of the highest virtues you can cultivate. According to the Dalai Lama, the best way to cultivate compassion is to develop empathy—the ability to understand others’ pain as if it was your own. Here’s what His Holiness the Dalai Lama has to say about cultivating the virtue of compassion.

Blue Ocean Strategy Graph: Mapping Your Competition

How do you chart a blue ocean strategy graph? How do you determine whether your product is unique enough to classify as a “blue ocean”? Kim and Mauborgne present a graphic tool to help you visualize how your product (and the strategy behind it) differs from others in the market. If your curve has a completely different shape from other curves, this implies a unique combination of value, consistent with the blue ocean strategy. Here is how to use the blue ocean strategy chart to gauge where your business stands against competitors.

How to Make Good Decisions in the Face of Uncertainty

How do you make a decision when everything is uncertain? Is there a way to predict the most likely outcome of a decision? One of the biggest obstacles preventing us from making good decisions is our inability to reliably predict the future. For example, it’s easy to decide whether or not to quit your job if you know you’ll get a raise within the next three months. As it is, the uncertain world prevents us from making decisions with confidence. Here is how to make good decisions in the face of uncertainty.