Carrie Cabral

Carrie has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember, and has always been open to reading anything put in front of her. She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.

Baseball Sabermetrics: Can Data Create a Winning Team?

What are baseball sabermetrics? Did the theory of sabermetrics work for the Oakland A’s when they implemented the strategy in Moneyball? By the 2002 season, Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane adopted the idea of baseball sabermetrics. Sabermetrics helped the A’s redefine their team and season, and ultimately get to the playoffs. But baseball sabermetrics were not without controversy. Read about sabermetrics’ definition and Beane’s strategy for the A’s.

Your Next Actions List Template: 2 Simple Rules

What is a Next Actions list template? Why do you need one to succeed in using the Getting Things Done system? A Next Actions list is a part of the GTD system that helps you organize your tasks and decide how to complete them. Next Actions lists are an important part of the GTD program, and you’ll need to pay close attention to how you creating them. Use this Next Actions list template and examples of lists to help you form your own.

GTD Reference: The Best Filing System for Busy Lives

What is the best filing system? Is a good filing system really the right way to stay organized? The best filing system is vital for success, according to David Allen in Getting Things Done. The GTD reference filing system is the best filing system if you want to keep your to-do list short, and make sure you’re prioritizing tasks.

How to Have Crucial Conversations: The 7 Steps

Do you want to know how to have crucial conversations? Is learning how to have crucial conversations part of your goals for improving yourself and your communication skills? Learning how to have crucial conversations can help you communicate better and more efficiently in your personal and professional life. Keep reading to find out how to have crucial conversations, as well as advice and tips.

The GTD System: Modern Tools Get the Best Results

What is the GTD system, and how does it work? Can it help you have better organizational skills? The GTD system is a method for organization that focuses on tasks and time management. If you’re looking for a way to organize your life and tasks efficiently, the GTD system is for you.

How the 2002 Oakland A’s Season Changed Baseball

What did the 2002 Oakland A’s do? What made this team unique? The 2002 Oakland A’s did go to the playoffs, but that’s only part of what makes this season so interesting. The 2002 Oakland Athletics redefined how to build a strong baseball team, and introduced the idea of Sabermetrics to the mainstream baseball world.

Cliff Floyd: A Failed Trade Reveals Billy Beane’s Plans

Who is Cliff Floyd? Was Cliff Floyd a baseball player, and what role did he play in Moneyball? Cliff Floyd was a player whom Athletics GM Billy Beane tried to acquire through trades. The Cliff Floyd trade was a failure, but it shows Billy Beane’s shrewdness in acquiring players that fit his plan.

How to Stop Being Defensive: Advice for a Better You

Do you find yourself getting defensive during difficult conversations? Do you want to know how to stop being defensive? Learning how to stop being defensive is difficult—often, being defensive is a natural reaction to dealing with vulnerabilities. But with practice, you can hone your communication skills and take steps to learn how to stop being defensive.

What’s Your Conversation Style? Advice for Your Type

What is a conversation style? How does a conversation style alter how you talk about difficult topics or have crucial conversations? During crucial conversations, conversation style can mean a significant difference in communication. But you can learn to take someone else’s conversation style into account, and learn to communicate better.

The Oakland A’s Playoff Games, 2002: Win Some, Lose Some

What happened in the Oakland A’s playoff run in 2002? Did the Oakland A’s Moneyball strategy pay off? The Oakland A’s playoffs were a chance for them to show what their team, put together by data, could do. The Oakland A’s playoffs were also a critical test for Billy Beane and Sabermetrics; with baseball insiders saying they’d never work, the playoffs were the A’s chance to prove everybody wrong.