The 3 Basic Human Survival Instincts That Cause Stress

A man surviving in the woods with a bow and arrow, using his human survival instincts.

What are the most basic human survival instincts? When do these survival instincts kick in? Human survival instincts tell us to fear and avoid something, to protect something, or to want something better. Mo Gawdat says these instincts can be problematic because they cause us unnecessary levels of stress and dissatisfaction. Let’s discuss each of these faulty instincts, how they function, and what happens when we use them to process information.

Stoicism on Adversity: Using the Framing Effect Against Hardship

A statue punching through a wall, representing Stoicism's adversity method.

What is Stoicism’s adversity methodology? How do the Stoics handle adversity? In The Stoic Challenge, William B. Irvine explains the Stoics’ core strategy of treating adversities as tests of character. He details how to make use of two psychological phenomena to change your relationship to hardship.  Let’s look at what the Stoics said about adversity.

Scaling People: Book Overview (Claire Hughes Johnson)

A young man reading a book at a desk in an office.

What’s Claire Hughes Johnson’s book Scaling People about? What’s the greatest resource every company has? How can you ensure you’re hiring the right people? Fast-growing companies often focus on scaling key aspects of their business, such as their sales, marketing budgets, and manufacturing processes. However, according to Scaling People, they often forget to focus on their greatest resource: their people. Read below for a brief Scaling People book overview.

How to Get Out of a Slump: 5 Ways to Kickstart Progress

A worried man holding his hands to his face, wondering how to get out of a slump

Are you stuck in a rut? What are Adam Alter’s recommendations for pushing through the barriers of life? As anyone who feels like they’ve hit a wall knows, the hard part is picking yourself up and pushing on. Alter says that, when you feel like progress has ground to a halt, there are a variety of ways to kickstart it again. Check out how to get out of a slump with Alter’s recommendations.

Why You Shouldn’t Look for Negotiation Compromises

Two men who know how to please everyone, shaking hands with each other outside.

Do you want everyone to win in a negotiation? Should compromises be allowed in a negotiation? Herb Cohen states that the first step in a win-win negotiation is to establish a common goal: Announce to the person you’re negotiating with that you want to find a solution that satisfies everyone’s desires. This way, once you get into negotiation, both parties will actively search for win-win solutions. Continue reading to learn why negotiation compromises fall short.

How to Check Yourself: Monitoring What Your Brain Consumes

A strong determined man showing his brain and that he knows how to check himself.

Do you know how to check yourself? How are you perceiving and reacting to the world around you? By consistently checking yourself, you’re ensuring that only accurate information is given to your brain. You’ll also guarantee that you’re solving problems effectively and handling ruminative thoughts. Author Mo Gawdat provides a few methods to check yourself.

The Top 4 Basic Business Principles (Claire Hughes Johnson)

A businessman in a suit and tie pointing at graphs and charts on a screen that represent basic business principles.

What are the fundamental business principles your company should focus on? When should you draft a company mission statement? To ensure that your company has a clear identity to guide its business model, business expert Claire Hughes Johnson recommends that you codify your company’s key principles in a set of guiding papers. These should include four components: your company’s mission, long-term targets, key values, and team charters. Learn more about these basic business principles to get you started.

How to Win a Negotiation: 5 Tips for a Win-Lose Deal

Two people trying to win a negotiation, shaking hands by a cityscape.

Do you know how to win a negotiation? Does your negotiation partner want to be the only winner? Herb Cohen contends that sometimes, it won’t be possible to craft a win-win negotiation. When you suspect someone wants to be the only one who wins, it’s time for you to step up and take the win yourself. Let’s look at five tips that’ll help you win a negotiation.

3 Stress Relief Strategies for When You Feel Stuck

A young woman with a peaceful look and closed eyes holding a cup of tea illustrates stress relief strategies

Is stress preventing you from being successful? Do you get anxious when making difficult decisions? When you feel like you’ve hit an impasse, you need to center yourself and calmly evaluate your situation. The anxiety that feeling trapped provokes can lead to rash and reckless decisions. Adam Alter says the antidote is to slow down even more, taking stock of your options as you do. Alter offers several stress relief strategies to deal with the anxiety brought about by feeling trapped or stuck.