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

The Origin of Wal-Mart: Five and Dime to Superstore

What is the origin of Wal-Mart? How did Wal-Mart go from a small five and dime in Arkansas to a multinational superstore? Sam Walton, the founder of what is now Wal-Mart, opened his first five and dime store in 1950. Within four years, he would open a second store and by 1962 he would own 16 stores. The Walton Five and Dime grew rapidly thanks to Walton’s superior pricing and business sense. Continue reading to learn more about the origin of Wal-Mart.

How to Achieve a Flow State of Optimal Experience

What does it mean to reach a “flow state”? What does flow feel like? In his book Flow, Csikszentmihalyi explains the flow state as the state we’re in when nothing else seems to matter and we lose track of time. There are many different ways to achieve a flow state, which we will discuss in this article. Continue below for more details on the flow state and how to achieve it.

Flow Activities: How They Make You Complex

What is a flow activity? How can engaging in flow activities make you more complex? What are the four categories of flow-producing activities? There are four categories of flow activities: aleatory, mimicry, vertigo, and competition-centered. Partaking in these activities will help your consciousness become more complex in many ways. Continue reading to learn about flow activities.

Amazon: Management Tactics and High Expectations

What are Amazon’s management tactics? In what way does Bezos run Amazon differently than any other company? Some of Amazon’s management tactics have become well known, and for a good reason. Jeff Bezos has a unique way of running Amazon and some of his practices include writing presentations in prose, the two-pizza teams, a door-desk prize for embodying values, and more. Keep reading to learn about Amazon’s strange management practices.

Wal-Mart’s “Put the Customer First” Strategy

Why does Wal-Mart have such a focus on putting the customer first? Where did this idea originate from? Wal-Mart’s founder Sam Walton believed in putting the customer first, no matter what. Walton believed that if you exceed the customer’s expectations, then they will always come back for more. Keep reading about Sam Walton’s “put the customer first” strategy and how it helped Wal-Mart dominate.

The Growth of Wal-Mart: Expansion and Low Costs

How did Sam Walton manage to grow Wal-Mart so quickly? What growth strategy did Walton use? In 1970, Sam Walton decided to take Wal-Mart public, which contributed to the growth of Wal-Mart. However, Sam Walton’s strategy of going into smaller towns with less than 5,000 people, keeping costs and prices low, and setting up distribution centers was the real reason for Wal-Mart’s success. Keep reading to learn more about the growth of Wal-Mart and Sam Walton’s business strategies.

Brené Brown’s Guidepost #7: Work, Rest, and Play

Why is it important to balance work, rest, and play? How can you overcome the pressure to be productive? In her book The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown explains that embracing rest and play is a crucial part of living Wholeheartedly. Refusing to engage in play and rest can lead to depression and has been linked to serious health conditions. Learn why you should leave “hustle culture” behind and learn to balance work, rest, and play.

The Influence of Culture on Flow Experiences

What is the influence of culture on flow experiences? What do some cultures do to promote flow? What are some cultural norms that may discourage flow? Culture has a huge influence on flow. Some cultures provide ample opportunities for people to fulfill themselves while some are more structured and limit the people’s opportunities. Additionally, research actually shows that more leisure time does not lead to more flow. Keep reading to learn about the cultural influence on flow.

Can You Overcome Personal Obstacles to Reach Flow?

Do you struggle to enter the flow state of mind? What do you think is preventing you from getting into flow? Some people are predisposed to focus inwardly when things get tough. These people tend to have a difficult time achieving a flow state. It is possible to overcome these personal obstacles to flow, but it takes practice and understanding. Keep reading to learn about the obstacles that may be preventing you from reaching flow.

Amazon: Core Values and What They Mean

What are Amazon’s core values? How does Bezos instill these values in his team? There are a few core values that Jeff Bezos tries to emphasize to his team. Some of these values include long-term ambitions, the ability to dive deep, and their competitive retailing strategies. Continue reading for more information on Amazon’s core values.