Hannah Aster

SEO Team Lead

Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.

Expertise

Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing

Success Is Dependent on Effort, Not Talent or Luck

What do you think is more important when it comes to success—talent or effort? What role does inborn talent play in achievement? It was previously thought that many highly successful people were child prodigies or people born with natural talent and intelligence. However, Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit, dispels that myth and says that the most important trait that will lead you to success is grit— the combination of passion and purpose. Here is why success is dependent on effort, and less so—on talent or luck.

Match Quality: How Kids Can Choose Fulfilling Careers

What is “match quality”? How can you tell if an activity is a good fit for you or not? How does match quality relate to choosing a career? In psychology, “match quality” refers to whether or not an activity is a good fit for someone. While growing up, it’s important for children and teens to have the freedom to try and experiment with a broad range of activities so they can discover which one has the best match quality for them—this will help them choose a more fulfilling career later in life. Here is how match quality can help kids

Gary Vee’s Story: From Salesman to Proto-Influencer

What is social media guru and entrepreneur Gary Vee’s story? How did he go from working in his family’s liquor store to being a self-made millionaire? Gary Vaynerchuk (or Gary Vee as he is known online) is famous today for being one of the first internet personalities and for being a very successful entrepreneur. However, Vaynerchuk wasn’t always in the spotlight. Learn about Gary Vee’s backstory and how he grew to be so successful.

How to Introduce Yourself to Someone New

How do you introduce yourself to someone you don’t know? Why is learning someone’s name so important? Debra Fine, small talk expert, provides the following advice for introducing yourself to a stranger: choose a partner who is open to conversation, make eye contact, and learn their name immediately. There are also signals you can look for to tell whether or not the person wants to talk to you. Here’s Debra Fine’s advice on how to introduce yourself.

Predicting Success: Effort Beats Talent

Is purposeful effort really more important than natural-born talent? Why is our society so focused on talent? Is attributing success to talent just an excuse for underachievement? People tend to idolize talent and credit success to natural ability rather than hard work and perseverance. However, Angela Duckworth, the author of Grit, says that effort beats talent when it comes to predicting success. Here is why effort is more important than talent or luck.

Range by David Epstein: Advice for Organizations

How can organizations benefit from having employees with a wide range of experience? Why are teams made up of specialists prone to mistakes? In his book Range, David Epstein argues that organizations should hire employees from varied and diverse backgrounds rather than specialists. This is because specialists tend to have narrow points of view whereas generalists tend to be more innovative and broad-thinking. Keep reading to learn why your organization should hire generalists.

How to Pick a Niche for Your Personal Brand

When it comes to marketing, why is it better to pick a niche than to try to target popular demographics? What factors should you consider when choosing a niche for your brand? Gary Vaynerchuk, a successful entrepreneur and social media expert, says that you should pick a niche audience rather than a popular one when creating your personal brand. There are many reasons why he gives this contradictory advice. Here is why you should pick a niche and how to do it.

How to Make an Entrance at a Singles Event

Do you want to make an entrance at a singles event? How can you make an impression when you enter a room? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine takes some time to discuss communication in the dating scene. Specifically, she suggests looking at singles events as a networking opportunity. Here’s how you can make an entrance at an event.

Gary Vee: The 4 Steps to Building an Online Presence

What are the steps you should take when building an online presence? Should you hire a web designer to build your site for you? According to marketing expert Gary Vaynerchuk, after you pick your niche market, the second step is to establish your presence online. Vaynerchuk recommends four steps for doing this. Continue reading to learn how to build an online presence.

How to Listen Actively: Listen to Understand

Do you want to know how to listen actively? What three things should you do to become a better listener? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine explains that the three components of active listening are: 1) to give your partner visual cues, 2) give your partner verbal cues, and 3) the mental component of listening. Additionally, don’t forget that it’s not all up to the speaker to do the communicating. Keep reading for Debra Fine’s advice on how to be a better active listener.