Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Examining Peter Lynch’s Investment Strategies & Principles

What are Peter Lynch’s investment strategies? Are they sound and effective? What are some alternative approaches to investing? In Beating the Street, famed mutual fund manager Peter Lynch presents principles and strategies by which non-professional, individual investors can beat the pros. We examine several of his recommendations and see how they stand the test of time. We also compare them with the advice of other investment gurus. Read more for an analytic look at Peter Lynch’s investment approach.

Malcolm X in Boston: Shorty, the Ghetto, & the Road to Prison

Why was Malcolm X drawn to Boston? What did he learn about society there? How did he end up in prison? In Malcolm X’s autobiography, he details his early life and why he chose to move to Boston when he was a teenager. While there, he got a firsthand view of both sides of the coin of Black culture—and one side in particular drew him in. Keep reading to learn about Malcolm X in Boston.

James Williams’s Communication Skills Training: Book Overview

Do you go into conversations with confidence? How often do people misunderstand you? When is it appropriate to ask someone specific personal questions? Communication Skills Training, a book by James Williams, explains that good communication skills don’t come naturally. Instead, they’re built up over time through intentional practice. Williams lays out the skills you need for interpersonal communication and provides a few tips on public speaking. Continue reading for an overview of this practical book that can help you hear and be heard more effectively.

Don’t Sacrifice Your #1 Business Priority on the Altar of Growth

What’s the core work of your business? Have you let important matters get in the way of the single most critical matter? Paul Jarvis warns business leaders about the pitfalls of growth. While growth can be an important aspect of business success, the most important priority is too often sacrificed on its altar. Growth creates many complications that you can and should deal with, but you mustn’t let it chip away at the core. Read more to understand how growth can make it difficult for you to tend to your top business priority in the way you should.

Malcolm X in Harlem: Hustling, Drugs, & the Struggle to Survive

Why did Malcolm X move to Harlem? How did he get pulled into the underground crime scene? The Autobiography of Malcolm X chronicles the time Malcolm X spent in Harlem from 1943 to 1945. As a young man in his late teens, Malcolm X got drawn in by a rough crowd on the tough streets of New York City, and he entered adulthood by sliding into a life of crime. Continue reading to learn about Malcolm X in Harlem.

Is Your Business Growing Too Fast? Avoid These 2 Pitfalls

Is your business growing too fast? Why are outside investments sometimes a bad idea? Should your expenditures be based on projections or actual revenue? Business growth is exciting and feels like success. But, there’s such a thing too much, too fast. In Company of One, Paul Jarvis identifies two negative consequences of fast growth that your company could experience: (1) damage to the relationships with your original customers and (2) outright failure. Keep reading to learn about the potential pitfalls of rapid business growth.

How to Practice Active Listening: 4 Tips for Fully Understanding

How often do you misunderstand what people are saying? When someone’s talking to you, do you pay attention to more than just the words they say? Every day, you hear people communicate. But, hearing doesn’t necessarily equal understanding. To completely get what someone is attempting to communicate to you takes skill—specifically, the skill of active listening. Read more to learn how to practice active listening and stop missing what people are trying to tell you.

23 Questions About Bad Habits to Ask Yourself to Break the Cycle

What routines do you have that don’t serve your goals? What harmful behaviors would you like to stop doing? Everyone has bad habits. One of the best ways to tackle them is to engage in serious self-exploration. We’ve put together several questions about bad habits that will help you identify and understand your habits, identify replacement behaviors, and then implement those replacements. Continue reading for five exercises that will propel you toward a healthier, happier life.

Malcolm X’s Crimes: From Stealing Food to Burglarizing Homes

When did Malcolm X start breaking the law, and why? What kind of crimes did he commit? Malcolm X had a rough introduction to the world. He felt the pressure of society pushing him down, and he fought back by doing what he thought he needed to do to survive. When he was a kid, he stole food to eat. As he entered adulthood, he got busted for his involvement in a burglary ring. Read more to learn about Malcolm X’s criminal activities as chronicled in his autobiography.

The Disadvantages of Business Growth: 3 Reasons to Be Wary

When is business growth your enemy and not your friend? What priorities are more important than growth? Fast and endless growth isn’t always the best goal for a business. That’s the view of Paul Jarvis, who argues against this common ethos found in the business world. He describes three disadvantages of business growth, especially rapid growth, in his book Company of One. Continue reading to learn why growth-focused companies don’t always succeed.