What Is a “Black Swan” Event? The Ultimate Guide

What Is a “Black Swan” Event? The Ultimate Guide

What is a black swan event? Can you predict black swan events? Prepare for them? Avoid them? A black swan event is an extremely unpredictable event that has a massive impact on human society. These include positive Black Swans, like the invention of the Internet and the discovery of antibiotics, as well as negative Black Swans, like the 2008 recession. We’ll define black swan events, look at “black swan” event examples, and discuss how best to prepare for them.

Refusal of the Call: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 2 (Explained)

Refusal of the Call: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 2 (Explained)

What is stage 2 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey? What is the “refusal of the call”? The refusal of the call is the initial reluctance of a hero to follow the steps of their destiny and heed the call of adventure. The refusal of the call is stage 2 of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, from The Hero with a Thousand Faces. We’ll cover what the refusal of the call entails and look at an example of a hero refusing the call.

Call to Adventure: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 1 (Explained)

Call to Adventure: The Hero’s Journey, Stage 1 (Explained)

What is the “call to adventure” in the hero’s journey? What step in the hero’s journey is it? In Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the call to adventure is the first stage of the 17 stages of the hero’s journey. It is during this stage that the hero discovers a hidden world of possibility. We’ll cover the elements of the “call to adventure” stage of the hero’s journey and look at three examples.

The 17 Hero’s Journey Steps: The Complete Guide

The 17 Hero’s Journey Steps: The Complete Guide

How many hero’s journey steps are there? What are they? Where did they come from? In Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces, there are 17 hero’s journey steps. The Hero With a Thousand Faces is a journey through the world’s mythological traditions, from the ancient Egyptians, to the Romans, the Hindu and Buddhist legends of the east, and the folk-tales and foundation myths of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and Oceania. We’ll cover the 17 hero’s journey steps and what happens in each stage of Campbell’s hero’s journey cycle.

Monomyth: 17 Stages of the Hero’s Journey

Monomyth: 17 Stages of the Hero’s Journey

What’s a monomyth? How many monomyth stages are there? What are they? Where did they come from? The monomyth is a template that shows the hero’s journey common in many myths, folktales, and religions. The monomyth is an expression from James Joyce but was popularized by Joseph Campbell in The Hero With a Thousand Faces. We’ll dive into the monomyth definition above and cover the 17 stages of monomyths and what happens to the hero in each.

Explained: “In the Midst of Chaos, There Is Also Opportunity” (Sun Tzu)

Explained: “In the Midst of Chaos, There Is Also Opportunity” (Sun Tzu)

In Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, the author advises that “in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” What does Tzu mean by this? We’ll cover what’s involved when mobilizing an attack, how to use both orthodox and unorthodox actions to confuse your opponent, and what Tzu means when he says, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”

Cumulative Advantage: Why Success Is a Matter of Luck

Cumulative Advantage: Why Success Is a Matter of Luck

What is cumulative advantage? How does it work? Why is it dangerous to society? Who does it help? Cumulative advantage is the idea that small gains compound over time. In the work of Nassim Nicholas Taleb, cumulative advantage refers to the innate human tendency to flock to past successes, regardless of whether those successes are the product of merit or chance. We’ll cover cumulative advantage, where it’s most prominent, and why the rich get richer.