The World's Best Book Summaries
How do you deal with failure? How can embracing failure help you on the way to success? Most of us will do anything we can to avoid failure—it’s embarrassing and painful. However, to achieve success, you’ll need to fail a few times. Every failure teaches you how not to do something and forces you to come up with ideas you wouldn’t have normally thought of. Here is why you must fail to succeed.
How do you deal with anger? Is it ever a good idea to express your anger? According to the Dalai Lama, anger is a destructive emotion that stems from ignorance. If you struggle with anger issues, he counsels, you must first understand where your anger stems from and if it’s justified. Then, use patience and tolerance to neutralize it. You may not be able to completely eradicate it, but you can at least reduce your anger’s potency. Here’s how to deal with anger, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Are you worried that another company will poach your best employees? How can you convince employees to stay with your company? Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wrote in his book No Rules Rules that there are three ways to prevent employee poaching: paying top-of-market salaries, eliminating performance-based bonuses, and giving raises that reflect market value. Some of these methods may be difficult but it’s important to remember that good employees are investments, not tools. Here’s an overview of each of the three methods.
Why does smoking cigarettes turn into a habit but changing a tire doesn’t? What makes a habit form in the brain? According to Charles Duhigg, the author of The Power of Habit, habits need three elements to form: a cue, a routine, and a reward. Once these three elements are in place, a habit is reinforced by craving—the anticipation of the reward when you perceive the cue. Continue reading to learn what makes a habit.
How much does attitude matter in sales? How much can you outperform the competition by cultivating positivity? Jeffrey Gitomer, in the bestseller The Sales Bible, discusses the importance of attitude when it comes to success in sales. He outlines three traits that positive people have, and he shares three ways to foster a positive attitude. Continue reading to learn how to have a positive attitude in sales and in life.
What does Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way teach about Stoicism? What is the key message to take away from the book? Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle Is the Way is Stoicism applied. The key premise can be distilled into two basic truths: 1) no event is inherently good or bad, and 2) you can choose to see every problem as an opportunity. These truths are Holiday’s foundational beliefs about the world that lead him to conclude that you can transform any problem into an opportunity that benefits you. Keep reading to learn about the key premise of Ryan Holiday’s
Do you often feel anxious? What causes anxiety, and how do you overcome it? According to the Dalai Lama, anxiety, like all negative emotions, stems from ignorance. If you struggle with anxiety, educate yourself about where the anxiety comes from and whether it’s valid, recommends the Dalai Lama. Here’s how to deal with anxiety, according to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
What is Netflix’s management strategy? How can such a huge company remain successful with so few policies? Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings believes that employees should have as much autonomy as possible. That’s why he aims to eliminate controls so employees have the power to act in the company’s best interest without a long and complicated approval process. Here are the three benefits of Netflix’s lenient management strategy.
How do you approach problem-solving in day-to-day life? What do you do when faced with a complex problem—one that has no obvious solutions? Some daily problems seem impossible to solve—for example, complex optimization problems in which you need to find the optimal arrangement of a set of variables to achieve the best outcome under specific constraints. If you’re trying to purchase the cheapest airline tickets available that get you the most vacation days with good weather or trying to minimize risk in your investment portfolio, you’re solving an optimization problem. Here is how to solve complex problems with no obvious
What exactly are habits? How are habits formed and why are they so difficult to break? In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explains why and how the brain creates habits in order to save mental energy. He details every step of habit formation, from the first time you consciously choose to take any action to how to rewire your brain to replace bad habits. Keep reading to learn how habits are formed in the brain and why they are so difficult to break.