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)

Start-Up Roles: The 3 Hats of a Beginner Entrepreneur

What start-up roles are necessary for your business to grow? What mindset should a small business leader adopt from the start? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber argues that a small business owner should assume three roles or mindsets: entrepreneur, manager, and technician. He describes the key characteristics of each start-up role and discusses how they must balance—rather than compete with—each other. Read more to learn the three crucial start-up roles for your business.

Environment and Economics: A Thorny History

What is the historical connection between the environment and economics? How do economic interests impact environmental policy? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at the tense relationship between the environment and economics. They explain why environmental issues are major targets for merchants of doubt—people or organizations who discredit science that threatens their agenda or ideology. Read more to learn about the historic connection between the environment and economics.

The Entrepreneurial Myth: A Quick Look at a Classic

What is the Entrepreneurial Myth? What’s the truth about starting and growing a successful small business? The E-Myth Revisited is a classic business book by Michael E. Gerber. The E-Myth stands for “the Entrepreneurial Myth.” Gerber explains how you can undermine your new business by focusing solely on the product and just trying to work harder. The right approach is to view your business like a franchise—to systematize operations so that it no longer relies on you. Read more to learn about the Entrepreneurial Myth.

Nuclear Winter Theory and Merchants of Doubt

What is the nuclear winter theory? How did doubt-mongering affect public awareness and policy about it? During the Cold War, the nuclear winter theory inspired scientific research—as well as doubt-mongering. In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway identify the people and organizations who sought to discredit the science that threatened their agenda or ideology. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt influenced the debate about the nuclear winter theory.

The E-Myth: Book Overview and Key Takeaways

What can small business leaders learn from the E-Myth book? How can it give a business a better chance to succeed? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber explains how focusing solely on the product—and just trying to work harder—undermines new businesses. The right approach is to view your business like a franchise—to systematize operations so that it no longer relies on you. Read more to learn the primary principles from the E-Myth book.

Missile Defense and the Merchants of Doubt

What was the truth regarding missile defense during the Cold War? How did doubt-mongering impact the debate? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at doubt-mongering in several contexts, including strategic missile defense. They discuss the science and how certain merchants of doubt entered the arena and affected public awareness and policy. Read more to learn how merchants of doubt impacted the missile defense narrative.

Business Format Franchise: What It Is and How It Works

What is a business format franchise? How did Ray Kroc innovate franchising to create huge success? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber discusses Ray Kroc’s business format franchise, a template that’s been widely adopted by other companies. He shares the key to McDonald’s success, and he offers insights into how you might succeed by doing what they do. Read more to learn about the business format franchise template.

The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke: A History of Doubt

What is the truth about the dangers of secondhand smoke? Why has it taken so long for people to understand them? In Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at the history of doubt-mongering surrounding the dangers of secondhand smoke. The merchants of doubt attacked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for doing “bad science.” This had crucial implications for public awareness and policy. Read more to learn about the truth and doubt surrounding the dangers of secondhand smoke.

The Entrepreneurial Model: Think Like an Entrepreneur

What is the entrepreneurial model for business? Do you have the mindset of an entrepreneur? In The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber asserts that a successful business owner embraces an entrepreneurial model—a business model with measurable steps, a guiding vision, a defined structure, and functional systems. Another key to success is an entrepreneurial perspective, which keeps the focus on the business rather than the work. Read more to learn about an entrepreneurial model and mindset.

The Tobacco Industry: How They Challenged Science

What is the history of science and the tobacco industry? Why did it take so long for most people to believe that smoking is harmful? In Merchants of Doubt, historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway look at doubt-mongering around the science of tobacco use. Their doubt-mongering was so successful that it took over 50 years for the majority of the public to believe that smoking is dangerous to health. Read on to learn about the history of science and doubt in regard to the tobacco industry.