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

Women and Self-Esteem: Fake It Till You Make It

Why do women have such a hard time building self-esteem? What steps can you take to build up your confidence? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that for women, self-esteem can be built by dressing to match how you feel on the inside, faking a confident attitude, and spending time with people who build you up. These acts may be difficult or feel fake in the beginning, but she says you just need to “fake it ’til you make it,” or in other words, act confident until you feel confident. Keep reading to learn how to build

Benedict Anderson: Nationalism as a Personal Identity

Why is nationalism such a powerful concept? Why would many people die for their country but not for their political party or hometown? In his book Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson says nationalism is a form of personal identity that creates bonds of loyalty and love. The only other identity that is as strong as nationalism is religion. Here’s what Anderson has to say about nationalism.

The 3 Most Important Skills for Life to Acquire

What are the three most important skills to acquire if you aim to start your own business? How does Hollis’s advice match up to the advice from other experts in the field? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that some of the most important skills you should practice are persistence, positivity, and leadership. Those three skills will help you develop your goals, stick with them even when times get tough, and lead your team when it starts to grow. Continue reading to learn more about the three skills.

John Kotter: A Sense of Urgency Drives Change

What is step 1 in John Kotter’s 8-step model? Why is it important do develop a sense of urgency when initiating change in a company? In his book Leading Change, John Kotter says a sense of urgency is a crucial first step to change because nothing will change if your employees don’t feel it is necessary. Complacency is the first hurdle you must get over if you want to initiate change. Here is John Kotter’s step 1 in his 8-step model for change.

Girl, Stop Apologizing: Review, Context, and Reception

Are you thinking of reading Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Stop Apologizing? Does the book live up to all of the hype? In her book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Hollis takes you one by one through all of the excuses that are holding you back. She lists the behaviors that you must be willing to change in order to succeed, and the skills that will help you along the way. Continue for our Girl, Stop Apologizing review.

Benedict Anderson: A Different Theory of Nationalism

Where does the idea of “nationalism” stem from? What is Benedict Anderson’s theory of nationalism? According to Benedict Anderson, the author of Imagined Communities, the nation is simply a social construct. It has no biological or historical basis. Continue reading for Anderson’s nationalism theory.

Leading Change Step 2: Form a Guiding Coalition

What does John Kotter mean by “guiding coalition”? Why should you avoid forming a change committee to lead organizational change? Step 2 in John Kotter’s 8-step change model says to create a guiding coalition. This means that you must create a group of impactful change leaders rather than relying on a single person to lead the change. This will convince the rest of your employees to follow the changes. Continue below for more on step 2 of Kotter’s change model.

What Is the Link Between Language and Nationalism?

How did language and literacy impact the growth of nationalism? What indirect impact did the advent of the printing press have on nationalism? According to Benedict Anderson’s theory, nationalism is a modern and “unnatural” social construct that quickly expanded after the rise in literacy. Language and nationalism are connected because one of the primary bonds that link strangers is their shared language. Continue reading for more on the link between language and the rise of nationalism.

How to Know When It’s Time to Cut Off Toxic People

How much do your friendships affect your life? Can a negative influence or unsupportive person really bring you down? In her bestselling book Girl, Stop Apologizing, Rachel Hollis says that the people you spend your time with (your community) mold who you are. Hollis talks about the importance of having a community and how to know when it’s time to cut off toxic people. Here is why your community matters so much.

How to Create an Inspiring Leadership Vision Statement

What is a leadership vision statement? Why is making a vision statement an important step in leading change in your company? In John Kotter’s book Leading Change, he stresses the importance of creating a vision statement when leading change. This is important because it allows you to articulate the ultimate vision of the change and connects all your employees towards a singular purpose. Continue below to learn how to create a vision statement.