Emily Kitazawa

Emily found her love of reading and writing at a young age, learning to enjoy these activities thanks to being taught them by her mom—Goodnight Moon will forever be a favorite. As a young adult, Emily graduated with her English degree, specializing in Creative Writing and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), from the University of Central Florida. She later earned her master’s degree in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University. Emily loves reading fiction, especially modern Japanese, historical, crime, and philosophical fiction. Her personal writing is inspired by observations of people and nature.

How to Live by Your Values & Pursue Meaningful Desires

Want to know how to live by your values? Why is it so important? What are some strategies that can help you? Luke Burgis’s book Wanting explains how “mimetic desire”—imitating what other people want or have—impacts our ability to live according to our values. He argues that increasing your awareness of mimetic desire will empower you to pursue life’s most meaningful desires and live by your values. Read on to learn more about how to live by your values, according to Burgis’s theory.

Credit Card Debt in America Exposes a Harsh Reality

What’s causing the record-high credit card debt in America? Why are Americans spending so much yet saving so little? Credit card debt in America rose to $890 billion in 2022, with total household debt hitting a record high of $16.5 trillion. Credit is a survival tool for most Americans—and the debt tied to it is so ubiquitous in the U.S. that it’s become normalized. Read on to learn more about credit card debt in America, including tips for managing debt.

Are Career Fears Holding You Back? Try These Tips

The 25 Cognitive Biases: Instinctive Reaction Tendency

What causes career fears? What’s the best way to overcome the fear of failure or shame at work? According to Seth Godin, becoming a “linchpin”—an indispensable employee—leads to a fulfilling and successful career. However, Godin claims that very few people pursue the path of a linchpin due to career fears, worrying they may fail or become overwhelmed in a leadership position. Read on to learn how to face your career fears and overcome them, according to Godin’s advice.

Advertising Techniques: 10 Examples From Drew Whitman

Looking for advertising technique examples? Which techniques are the most effective in generating revenue? Drew Whitman wrote his book Ca$hvertising to explain why most advertisements fail and how to create ads that actually generate results. According to him, customers are only drawn to ads that address their core human needs. Keep reading to discover ten examples of advertising techniques from Whitman’s book Ca$hvertising.

Pointless Jobs: How to Identify Meaningless Work

What is a pointless job? How can you identify one? What are the common characteristics and categories? In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber argues that many jobs in contemporary industrial societies are, in fact, pointless. This flies in the face of our conventional economic thinking, in which jobs exist largely to fulfill a pre-existing need that adds value to society. Keep reading to learn how to identify pointless jobs, according to Graeber.

Why Is Misinformation Bad & How Can You Stop It?

Why is misinformation bad? What are the consequences of spreading bad information? How can you stop it? Misinformation and disinformation are everywhere, leading to inaccurate beliefs and distorted worldviews. However, refuting these forms of false information can be extremely difficult. Read on to learn why misinformation is not only bad, but at times dangerous, and how you can stop it from spreading.

How to Stand Out at Work: 4 Tips From Seth Godin

How to Practice Contrarian Thinking (Charlie Munger)

Want to know how to stand out at work in any job? What advice do leadership experts offer? According to entrepreneur and leadership expert Seth Godin, if you want to stand out at work, you must adopt a “linchpin” mindset. In his book Linchpin, he offers tips to help you stand out from your colleagues, based on the linchpin mindset. Keep reading to learn how to stand out at work, according to Godin’s four tips.

David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs: Book Overview

Looking for an overview of David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs book? How does he explain pointless jobs and their effects? In Bullshit Jobs, David Graeber describes the types and characteristics of pointless jobs and why they’ve become so widespread. He further explores the psychological impact of working a pointless job and suggests a possible solution to eliminate the need for meaningless work. Read on for an overview of David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs book.

Explaining the Bring Your “Whole Self” to Work Debate

Should you bring your “whole self” to work? Why has this become a heated debate? Many workplaces are encouraging employees to bring their “whole (authentic) self” to work. However, not everyone can agree on what exactly this means or what the risks and benefits are to your career. Keep reading to learn more about bringing your whole self to work and why it’s debated.

How to Overcome Perfectionism at Work: Change These Habits

Want to know how to overcome perfectionism at work? Which perfectionist habits are the most damaging in the workplace? In Linchpin, author Seth Godin teaches you how to overcome perfectionism at work by practicing a new, empowered way of thinking—the “linchpin” mindset. Godin’s aim is not to teach you a new way to act, but rather a new way to think about your work, leading to healthier, more successful habits. Read on to learn how to overcome perfectionism at work, according to Godin’s advice.