Shortform Books

How to Be More Socially Confident: 4 Tips for Success

Do you want to improve your social confidence? What are some things you can do to feel more comfortable and confident in social situations? People who are comfortable in social situations have the best chance of establishing beneficial relationships and creating opportunities for personal and professional success. Unfortunately, many people struggle with social situations and don’t know how to confidently approach and talk to others. Here are some tips on how to be more socially confident.

What Is a Sales Funnel and How Does It Work?

What is a sales funnel, and how does it work? What are the advantages of using a sales funnel over a regular website? In a sales funnel, each page links only to the next one in a pathway leading to a purchase. According to Russel Brunson, the author of Dotcom Secrets, sales funnels result in better conversions because they don’t distract leads with multiple options, focusing solely on closing the sale. Keep reading to learn why sales funnels convert better.

How to Read a Person: 3 Insightful Tips From Robert Greene

What are people really thinking? What are their true emotions? What if you could know? According to Robert Greene, power dynamics play a role in all areas of life. You must learn how to navigate them to get what you want. To use power dynamics to your advantage, you must first develop a realistic understanding of human nature. That requires you to get past a person’s facade. Continue reading to learn how to read a person and understand who they truly are and what they really want.

How Storytelling in Presentations Sets Up & Bolsters a Message

Do you give presentations at work? Are you ever called on to make a toast? Does your company have an origin story that needs to be told? Stories have an important place in presentations, whether you’re pitching an idea, introducing a product, or giving a lecture. In Unleash the Power of Storytelling, Rob Biesenbach provides practical advice for using storytelling in presentations, including your corporate story and even a toast or eulogy. Keep reading to learn how to engage an audience by using storytelling in presentations.

How the Anti-Nuclear Movement Hijacked the Narrative

How connected are nuclear energy and nuclear weapons? Does nuclear power imply nuclear fallout? Award-winning science writer Michael Shellenberger says that nuclear power is the best way to meet rising energy demands. However, it’s hard to convince people of that because anti-nuclear propaganda has drastically clouded public opinion on the topic. Read more to learn how and why the anti-nuclear movement hijacked the narrative.

How Russia Became an Energy Superpower in Europe

Is Russia a superpower? How did Russia make Europe dependent on it for oil? Rachel Maddow writes in her book Blowout that Russia is an energy superpower in Europe. Thanks to this, Russia gained the ability to manipulate several countries by cutting off their supply of gas. Keep reading for a look at how Russia dominated Europe with energy.

How to Stay Productive All Day: Create a Marathon Out of It

What is a productivity marathon? How can you stay productive all day? With phones and email distracting us all day, it’s easy to slack off and get off task. By taking a productivity marathon, you can check off all the items on your list and stay focused on the task at hand. Here’s how to stay productive all day, according to Jeff Haden’s book The Motivation Myth.

How to Get Your Life in Order: Prioritize Your Purpose

Does your life feel out of control? Do you take your life’s purpose into account when you schedule your day? Practicing discipline helps you fulfill your one purpose by leading you to prioritize your purpose and behave appropriately. When you do this, Discipline Is Destiny says that your life will be well on its way to being the best it can be. Continue reading to learn how to get your life in order, according to Ryan Holiday.

Moving Upstream: Dan Heath’s Advice for Real Solutions

Do you want to solve a major problem in your organization or in society at large? How can you intentionally foster an upstream mindset with those around you? In Upstream, business writer Dan Heath explains a strategy for focusing energy on proactive, long-term solutions: upstream problem-solving. He shares recommendations for implementing upstream solutions in any context, and he points out three roadblocks that are likely to be in your way. Continue reading for Heath’s advice for moving upstream along with an exercise to help you implement his ideas.

Perspective-Taking: Psychology’s Solution for Tantrums

What is perspective-taking in psychology? Why is it important to see things from your child’s point of view? In The Explosive Child, Ross Greene claims that asking for your child’s perspective on challenges and outbursts they’re having will help them process their feelings and behavior. This is called perspective-taking, psychology’s great solution for fixing bad behavior. Find out how to use your child’s perspective to correct tantrums.