Books Archives

Nassim Taleb: Is Your Skin in the Game?

How does Nassim Taleb define “skin in the game”? How do you know whether you have your skin in the game? Someone who has their “skin in the game” has a vested interest in the outcome of an event and, more importantly, has something to lose. Essentially, Taleb equates skin in the game to risk. The more you have to lose, the more skin you have in the game. In this article, we’ll go over some broad principles that are key to understanding Nassim Taleb’s skin in the game philosophy.

Skin in the Game: Book Overview and Key Takeaways

What is Nassim Taleb’s book Skin in the Game about? What is the central premise of Taleb’s “skin in the game” philosophy? Skin in the Game is the fifth book in Taleb’s Incerto series. The main idea of the Incerto is that the world is fundamentally unpredictable, and Skin in the Game is about the ethics of living in that uncertain world. Below is a brief overview of the key points.

John Kotter: Drive Progress With Short-Term Wins

5 Steps to Practicing Empathy in the Workplace

Why is it important to celebrate short-term wins when leading change in an organization? How does reaching short-term benchmarks help employee morale? In his book Leading Change, John Kotter says that short-term wins are important because they allow employees to feel accomplished and give them something to celebrate—even if the project is far from being over. If you only set long-term goals, employees may become discouraged. Here is John Kotter’s advice for generating short-term wins.

Modern Education Breeds “Intellectuals, Yet Idiots”

What does Taleb mean by “Intellectual, Yet Idiot”? What are the defining traits of someone whom Taleb would consider Intellectual, Yet Idiot? “Intellectual, Yet Idiot” is a term coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb to refer to a type of person who lacks “skin in the game”—that, who is averse to risk. Taleb argues that Intellectual, Yet Idiots create flawed systems because the concept of skin in the game is totally foreign to them. They would never think to dissect a situation in terms of risk, and as a result, they fundamentally misunderstand many aspects of life. In this article, we’ll

The Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, & Rebel: Explained

What are the four tendencies from Gretchen Ruben’s book? What are the personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses associated with each tendency? The four tendencies are the Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, and Rebel. Knowing what type of tendency you are can help you find a better job fit, discover your strengths, and understand those around you better. Here is an overview of each of the four tendencies.

Drama-Free Discipline: It’s Not the Same as Punishment

What is the difference between traditional forms of discipline and drama-free discipline? Is punishing your child the same as disciplining them? In their book No-Drama Discipline, Siegel and Bryson believe that many parents misunderstand discipline to mean punishment. However, discipline should be about strengthening their growing brains and forming bonds. Here is the difference between punishment and drama-free discipline.

Leading Change: Quotes by John P. Kotter

What does John Kotter have to say about his 8-step model for change? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting from Leading Change? In Leading Change, John P. Kotter argues that in a fully globalized and ever-evolving economic environment, successful firms are those that can implement long-term change. This enables them to stay competitive in a rapidly shifting market, respond effectively to new threats, and take advantage of new opportunities. Below is a selection of Leading Change quotes with explanations.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: Quotes by P. Lencioni

Are you looking for The Five Dysfunctions of a Team quotes by Patrick Lencioni? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni explores the five most common obstacles (“dysfunctions”) to successful teamwork. Lencioni presents the five dysfunctions like a pyramid—each one builds on the next. And to solve all the dysfunctions, you need to start at the bottom and most fundamental dysfunction. Below is a selection of quotes with explanations.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Creativity Is Magic

Is creativity an inborn quality? How do creatives develop novel ideas? According to Elizabeth Gilbert, creativity can come to anyone who gets in touch with what she calls “Big Magic.” This force is bigger than us and cannot be explained scientifically or proven empirically. It is an eternal cosmic entity that creatives must have faith in. In this article, we’ll explore Gilbert’s conception of creativity and two key ways Big Magic might come to you: via ideas and your genius.

The Slight Edge Quotes by Jeff Olson

Are you looking for The Slight Edge quotes by Jeff Olson? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In his book The Slight Edge, motivational speaker Jeff Olson argues that success and failure are both a result of the “slight edge.” The slight edge is the idea that success is built over time with small disciplines executed on a consistent basis. Here is a selection of The Slight Edge quotes with explanations.