Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

The Benefits of Automated Decision-Making

The 3 Core Principles of Objective Decision Making

What is automated decision-making? What are the benefits of automated decision-making in business? Automated decision-making is the practice of making decisions based on predetermined criteria derived from past data. When you recognize a situation as “another one of those,” you can just refer to your rules as a shortcut to good decision-making. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of automated decision-making in a business context and consider some real examples of how it is executed in practice.

Jamaican Runners: Nature or Nurture?

Why are Jamaicans so good at sprinting? Is their sprinting ability a matter of training or genetics? Just as Kenya is known for producing talented distance runners, Jamaica is known for producing talented sprinters. Since Jamaicans have largely West African ancestry, a high ratio of fast-twitch muscle fibers may provide an initial advantage, but this doesn’t explain how Jamaica continues to produce so many elite sprinters. According to David Epstein, Jamaican culture can help explain why there are so many elite Jamaican runners. Here are three reasons why Jamaica produces a disproportionately large number of elite sprinters.

Fast-Twitch and Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers in Sports

What is the difference between fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers? Is it possible to change your ratio of fast-twitch to slow-twitch muscle fibers through training? Fast-twitch muscle fibers support explosive muscle activity (e.g., lifting heavy objects or sprinting short distances), while slow-twitch muscle fibers support activities requiring endurance (e.g., long-distance running). To some degree, we can train our fast-twitch muscles to have more endurance and our slow-twitch muscles to become stronger, but we cannot actually change the ratio of slow-twitch to fast-twitch fibers that we are born with. Here’s how fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers impact sports.

3 Ways to Practice Being in the Present Moment

Do you often find yourself lost in thought about the past or the future? Are you disconnected from the present? In his book The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris refers to being in the present moment as “connection.” Harris writes that connection is the practice of using our observing self to shift our attention away from the past and future in order to be fully engaged in the present. He offers the following three exercises for developing the skill of connection.

Ray Dalio: Meditation as a Tool to Generate Ideas

What are the benefits of meditation? How does meditation help with creativity? According to Ray Dalio, meditation can help sprout new innovative ideas by reconciling the two yous: the conscious you and the subconscious you. When you are only engaging your conscious mind, you are missing out on the fountain of creative ideas buried in your subconscious, Here is how meditation can help you unleash your creative potential.

What Is the SRY Gene, and How Does It Impact Sports?

What is the SRY gene? What role does the SRY gene play in sports performance? According to David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, no single gene has as much of an impact on an athlete’s performance as the SRY gene found on the Y chromosome. The SRY gene also accounts for the predictable and significant differences in sports performance between men and women. Learn about the SRY gene’s function and its implications for atheltic ability.

Being Self-Reliant Is Not Necessarily a Good Thing

Are you the type of person who always tries to be the jack of all trades? Do you pride yourself on being self-reliant? Being self-reliant is generally a good trait to have but it has downsides. You will never be able to be proficient at all the things necessary to reach your goals. Be humble about this, and look toward working with good people to fill in those gaps. Here is why being self-reliant is not always a good thing.

Starting a Second Career: Advantages and Pathways

Are you entertaining the idea of starting a second career? What are the advantages of having two careers? A second career is a career you initiate around the midpoint in your working life. According to Peter Drucker, there are two key advantages of starting a second career: 1) avoiding career stagnation, and 2) having an extra opportunity for professional realization. Let’s explore Drucker’s notion of a second career, its advantages, and how to start it.

Understanding Gender Differences in Sports

What are the reasons for the gender performance gap in athletics? Can men and women compete equally in sports? According to David Epstein, the author of The Sports Gene, gender differences in sports are a decisive testament to the power of genes in determining athletic ability. Because athletic ability is at the mercy of genetics, Epstein argues, women are unlikely to surpass men in most sports. Here’s why men and women can’t compete in sports at the same level.

Personality: The Secret Sauce of Effective Teamwork

How does personality influence teamwork? How can you make use of personality typing to build an effective team? Personality complementarity is a key aspect of effective teamwork. If you want to assemble a successful team, you should identify the personality types of the contenders and match them according to how well they work together. Here is how personality typing can make help you assemble an A-star team.