Elizabeth Whitworth

Senior SEO Writer

Elizabeth has a lifelong love of books. She devours nonfiction, especially in the areas of history, theology, and philosophy. A switch to audiobooks has kindled her enjoyment of well-narrated fiction, particularly Victorian and early 20th-century works. She appreciates idea-driven books—and a classic murder mystery now and then. Elizabeth has a Substack and is writing a book about what the Bible says about death and hell.

Expertise

History, Theology, Government

Awards

Contributions to joint task force efforts (FBI), Contributions to Special Operations Division (DOJ & DEA), Efforts to fight the war on drugs (NSA), Contributions to Operation Storm Front (US Customs Service)

Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Rule #1

Do you know how to be so good they can’t ignore you? How can you set yourself up to call the shots with your job? Cal Newport shares four rules for how you can be so good they can’t ignore you. Ultimately this leads to job satisfaction. The first rule is this: Don’t concern yourself with passion. He debunks the “passion hypothesis” and shows how following your passion is the wrong way to pursue your dream job. Read more to learn how to be so good they can’t ignore you.

Leadership Legacy: A Lesson from the Navy

What difference did Captain David Marquet make during his time with the USS Santa Fe? What can we learn from his leadership legacy? David Marquet revolutionized naval leadership when he commanded Santa Fe. He departed from the traditional model in several ways, most notably by assuming that everyone can be a leader. He built a powerful leadership legacy that can instruct and inspire all of us. Read more to learn about the leadership legacy of Captain Marquet.

How to Improve Morale: Tips From a Navy Captain

Do you need to improve morale at your workplace? What leadership model could make this happen? When Captain L. David Marquet took command of USS Santa Fe in 1999, the need to improve morale was palpable. He accomplished this feat within a year by deploying the leader-leader model to empower the demoralized crew. Read more to learn how to improve morale with the leader-leader model.

Gary W. Keller’s Formula for Success: The One Thing

How did Gary W. Keller get Keller Wililams back on track after it faltered? How can you apply his approach to your own life and work? Gary W. Keller, the founder of the world’s largest real estate company Keller Williams, argues that the key to extraordinary success is focusing daily on the “One Thing” that’s most important for achieving your goal, rather than scattering yourself in many directions. Keller used this approach in his business when it seemed to be faltering after a successful first decade. Keep reading to learn Gary W. Keller’s formula for success.

Your Dream Job: 2 Traits That Lead to Job Satisfaction

Do you know how to find your dream job? What does that job look like? When you consider your dream job, you might think about a certain industry, role, or title. Even more important to consider are the terms of the job. Does it allow you freedom and flexibility? Does it help you make a difference and leave a legacy? In other words, your dream job probably involves autonomy and mission. Read more to understand what desirable jobs entail and learn how to find your dream job.

Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet: Book Overview

Have you read Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet? What leadership lessons can be learned? In Turn the Ship Around, David Marquet tells the story of how a captain turned the U.S. Navy’s worst-performing nuclear submarine crew into one of the best by replacing the Navy’s traditional “leader-follower” (or command-and-control) structure with a “leader-leader” model that gave crew members control over their work. Its lessons are applicable to any organization—business, nonprofit, or government. Read more to learn the lessons of Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet.

How to Decentralize Authority: Mechanisms and Tips

How can you get more out of your team by decentralizing authority? How is this different from a traditional leadership structure? When David Marquet took command of USS Santa Fe in 1999, he revolutionized the way the crew was led. He decentralized authority, which is the key to a leader-leader model. This switch from a traditional leadership structure had amazing results. Read more to learn how decentralizing authority can make a positive difference for an organization.

Love Your Job: The 4 Rules That Might Surprise You

Do you love your job? Have you been looking for this love in all the wrong places? Cal Newport offers four rules for loving your job that he learned through his own experience and research. He found that, contrary to popular opinion, the key isn’t in following your passion. Rather, the key lies in developing skills that you can cash in for the job you want. Keep reading to learn how to love your job.

William Henry Seward: Survivor of an Assassination Plot

How did the plan to kill William Henry Seward tie in with the Lincoln assassination? What happened to Seward and his attacker? In addition to killing Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth wanted to assassinate Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Henry Seward. He hoped that killing several key government officials would rally Confederate sympathizers and veterans to renew their fight. Read more to learn what happened to Seward on the night that Lincoln was assassinated.

Take Pride in Your Work: Lessons From a Submarine

When you take pride in your work, what difference does it make for you—and your work? How can you, as a leader, help others have this attitude—and behavior—of pride? David Marquet shares leadership principles that he employed to turn around a demoralized submarine crew. He offers practical ways—such as the three-name rule—that you can take pride in your work and turn around things for your team. The key is to start with behaving proud, and thinking proud will follow. Read more to learn how taking pride in your work can lead to a change in thinking and morale.