Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

How to Find Your People: Creating a Personal Support Group

Do you surround yourself with people who support where you’re going in life? Are they willing to speak up when you get off track? If you want to achieve extraordinary things, you must find a group of people to support you. In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks explains that your own personal support group will help you progress toward your goals by holding you accountable and providing encouragement and feedback. Learn how to find your people and why it’s so important to do so.

The First Turning: America’s High (1946 to 1964)

What was the prevailing mood of America after World War II? What was it like for young people? How did society perceive the government? In The Fourth Turning, historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe explain how Anglo-American history follows a pattern of four 15- to 25-year periods, called Turnings, and how the behaviors of different generations define these Turnings. They explain that the First Turning is a High. Read more to understand First Turnings in general and the most recent First Turning, 1946 to 1964, in particular.

The Benefits of Collaborative Learning: Stretch Your Limitless Mind

How do our brains work differently when working with others? What happens when we’re exposed to other ways of thinking? In Limitless Mind, published in 2019, Jo Boaler explains how neuroscience research has overturned our age-old beliefs about how learning works. Based on what we now know, she says that we must foster true collaboration so that students are exposed to many ways of thinking. Read more to discover the benefits of collaborative learning.

How to Cultivate Sudden Insights: Taking Advantage of Serendipity

Have you ever taken a “reading vacation”? Do you collaborate with artificial intelligence? Do you think in the shower—or just sing? You might wonder how people come up with incredible innovations. Best-selling author and theorist Steven Johnson explores where good ideas come from. Sometimes, they come from epiphanies, and he shares ways to take advantage of serendipitous moments. Keep reading to learn how to cultivate sudden insights that could lead to exciting places.

How to Maximize Productivity: 6 Ways to Make the Most of Today

Do you have big dreams but continually fail to make much progress? How many moments have you squandered just today? In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks explains how you can eliminate time-wasters and increase your efficiency on necessary tasks. Then he argues that you must learn how to maximize productivity and reach your full potential so you can become as successful as possible, as soon as possible. Continue reading for Dicks’s top six principles for maximizing productivity and an exercise to help you apply them.

3 Common Business Problems & How to Navigate Them Wisely

How long does it take to find the right investors? How do you maintain personal well-being when leading a business? Why should you memorialize business catastrophes? No matter how well your launches go, you’ll likely face challenges in your business. Serial entrepreneur Tony Fadell recommends strategies for three common business problems: a lack of funds, a lack of work-life balance, and catastrophes. Continue reading to learn how to navigate these challenges and come through as a stronger leader with a stronger business.

The Second Turning: America’s Consciousness Revolution

How did the assassination of John F. Kennedy affect America? How did parenting styles change after the 1950s? What reenergized the Republican Party? According to historian William Strauss and consultant Neil Howe, Anglo-American history goes in phases, which they call Turnings. Each Turning has its own characteristics. They say that the Second Turning is an awakening of sorts, and they call the most recent one “the Consciousness Revolution.” Read more to learn about Second Turnings in general and America’s most recent Second Turning, from 1964 to 1984.

Leadership and Self-Deception: Study Guide & Implementation

Do you and your teammates speak freely? Do people in your organization take the blame when it’s due, or do they point the finger elsewhere? Self-deception—our tendency to see the world around us in a distorted way—is a common personal and organizational problem. Leadership and Self-Deception by the Arbinger Institute explains how self-deception derails our relationships and keeps organizations from achieving the results they want. Continue reading for our Leadership and Self-Deception study guide.

How to Develop Ideas: Turning Insights Into Innovations

Do you have a million ideas in your head that seem to go nowhere? Are you looking for fresh ideas to solve specific problems? Steven Johnson takes us on an exciting exploration of good ideas and novel innovations. For an idea to be good, he says, it must be built upon accumulated knowledge and be put forward at a time when users can conceive of how to use the idea and when the needed resources for the idea are available. Keep reading to learn how to develop ideas and, ultimately, advance knowledge and society.

How to Keep Employees Engaged: 3 Tips for Team Happiness

Which should you prioritize—employee benefits or perks? What role should internal customers play in hiring? How should you handle breakpoints as your company grows? Tony Fadell shares lessons learned when it comes to creating successful product-based businesses. He provides effective strategies for hiring the right people and keeping them engaged throughout their time with your company. Keep reading to learn how to keep employees engaged.