Darya Sinusoid

Darya’s love for reading started with fantasy novels (The LOTR trilogy is still her all-time-favorite). Growing up, however, she found herself transitioning to non-fiction, psychological, and self-help books. She has a degree in Psychology and a deep passion for the subject. She likes reading research-informed books that distill the workings of the human brain/mind/consciousness and thinking of ways to apply the insights to her own life. Some of her favorites include Thinking, Fast and Slow, How We Decide, and The Wisdom of the Enneagram.

What Are Economic Incentives?

What are economic incentives? What are the key forces that drive the behavior of economic agents? Economics is based on the assumption that incentives drive the market. This means the incentives of both individual people and also individual firms, each of which are working to benefit their own particular well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the incentives of both firms and individuals and some ways in which incentives can work poorly, distorting the market instead of allowing it to function properly.

Using the N-Word Invokes Oppressive Power Structures

Ever wondered why it’s OK when black people are using the N-word but white people are discouraged from doing so? Why does the word carry a different meaning depending on the skin color of the person saying it? Words carry emotions and they perpetuate social structures. Every word has a history, and the word “nigger” carries a particularly ugly emotional history of dehumanization, disadvantage, exploitation, and oppression. Here is why who’s using the N-word matters.

How to Overcome an Inferiority Complex

How does inferiority complex affect one’s personality? How do people develop inferiority complexes? And what can be done to overcome one? Inferiority complexes create barriers in our personalities, stopping us from achieving our full potential. They are often the result of emotional damage done to us in childhood or the result of childhood circumstances. Below are some tips on how to overcome an inferiority complex and grow belief in yourself.

How to Close a Face-to-Face Sale

Does your company do a lot of face-to-face sales? What is the best way to approach and secure a face-to-face deal? Getting a face-to-face meeting with a prospect is the culmination of your new business development efforts. There can still be a lot of work to do after the first meeting, including preparing a formal proposal or presentation. But the essential step to winning new business is first getting in front of the prospect and setting the tone for a productive relationship. In this article, we’ll discuss the eight stages of a face-to-face sales call and what to do at

Economics Explained: How a Capitalist Market Works

What exactly is a market? How does an economic market regulate itself given there’s no central authority overseeing its inner workings? A market is essentially a collection of billions of separate transactions that form a complex economy in which people can earn and spend money to fund their lives. A capitalist market functions cohesively, not because a centralized authority tells it what to do, but because each transaction works together efficiently. The paradox of the market is that while individuals use the market to increase their own individual well-being, in the process, they increase everyone else’s well-being also. In this

Level 1 Leadership: Title Is Just the Beginning

What is Maxwell’s level 1 leadership? What powers can you command at this level? And how do you move up the leadership ladder towards level 2? In Maxwell’s leadership hierarchy, level 1 leadership is called positional or title-based leadership. At this level, you have the title but no real power, other than the authority to lead—people only follow you because they have to. In this article, we’ll discuss Maxwell’s first level of leadership, its pros and cons, and what you can do to make the most of your title and move up the leadership ladder.

Vincent Peale on How Emotions Affect the Body

Do you believe that emotions can “spill over” into your body? How can negative emotions influence your physical state? When you have an unhealthy emotional life marked by feelings of anger and resentment, your energy and vitality can sag and your physical health can diminish. According to Norman Vincent Peale, the author of The Power of Positive Thinking, this happens because what you think in your mind has a profound effect on how you feel in your body. In this article, we’ll discuss how emotions affect the body and what you can do when negative emotions take over to restore

Customer Prospecting: Who Should You Target?

What is customer prospecting? How do businesses prospect for new customers? What are some things you can do to identify and target prospects that will guarantee sales? Customer prospecting is the first stage of the sales process. It involves defining, identifying, and initiating contact with prospects—customers who are most likely to buy your products/services. In this article, we’ve put together some prospecting tips to help you find and engage with the right prospects.

The Economics Behind Exchange Rates—Explained

What exactly is an exchange rate? How do countries determine their exchange rates? In simple terms, the exchange rate is the price at which you can purchase one currency using another currency. There are several ways that a country can determine the value of its currency and its exchange rate. Learn about the economics of exchange rates, explained in simple terms. We’ll discuss the gold standard way of determining the exchange rates, and the difference between floating and fixed exchange rates.

John C. Maxwell: Relationship-Based Leadership

What is relationship-based leadership? How does relationship-based leadership differ from title-based leadership? Relationship-based leadership (also known as permission leadership) is the second level of leadership in John Maxwell’s leadership hierarchy. Maxwell writes that progressing from the first level leadership (title-based leadership) to the permission level means that you have gained some influence over your team members and they now do their jobs because they want to, not because they have to. They transform from subordinates into followers—they go along with you because they get along with you, not because your title coerces them to. In this article, we’ll discuss Maxwell’s