Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

The Autobiography of Malcolm Little: Malcolm X’s Early Life

Why did Malcolm X’s family move frequently when he was a child? What was his experience in school like? How did he get involved in criminal activity? Malcolm X believed that the racism he experienced throughout his childhood to adolescence determined the path he would take as an adult. Racist violence and structural inequality destabilized and discouraged a young Malcolm X—and ultimately led him to spend time in prison. Read more to learn about Malcolm X’s early life, based on his autobiography.

Why Customer Education Should Be in Your Sales Toolbox

Are you an expert on your business’s products and services? How easy is it for prospective customers to understand how your product or service works and benefits them? In Company of One, Paul Jarvis explains how to start and build a company on your own. He contends that customer education is a must, and he outlines what it requires and how it sets your business apart from the competition. Read more to learn why customer education is important and how you can prioritize it in your business.

How to Communicate Clearly: 3 Quick Tips for Accuracy

Do you tend to talk around your message rather than hit the nail on the head? Can you tell whether someone is tracking with you when you’re talking? James Williams explains that expressing yourself accurately and clearly is crucial. If you don’t, the other person will likely misunderstand you, and you’ll fail to achieve your goal for the conversation. He offers three tips for staying clear and on point. Read more to learn how to communicate clearly and get an accurate message across that’s likely to be understood.

Malcolm X in Prison: How He Went From Burglar to Believer

Why was Malcolm X in prison? How did his life change dramatically when he was incarcerated? Malcolm X’s childhood was steeped in adversity, and it didn’t take long for him to turn to crime. When he was just 20 years old, he was sent to prison after being convicted on burglary charges in Boston. Six years later, he emerged a different man than he was when he went in. Keep reading to learn about Malcolm X in prison, as presented in his autobiography.

How to Build Strong Customer Relationships: 2 Key Tips

8 Essential Grant Cardone Follow Up Tips

Are you an educator when you engage in sales? When is having fewer customers a good thing? Paul Jarvis argues that it’s vital for a single-person company to foster strong connections with its customers. Since these companies aren’t receiving money from investors, they depend on customer relationships to sustain and grow their business. Here’s Jarvis’s advice on how to build strong customer relationships.

8 Radical Acceptance Exercises to Help You Be Fully Present

Is anything negative going on in your life right now? Is your body trying to tell you something? Are you holding on to any regret or resentment? Radical Acceptance is a practice in which we acknowledge what we’re experiencing—positive or negative—and welcome it. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to be fully present in each passing moment. It helps us avoid getting stuck in our own heads. Continue reading for eight Radical Acceptance exercises based on the book of the same name by Tara Brach as well as books by Eckhart Tolle and Ryan Holiday.

4 Core Communication Skills + Tips for Making Them Your Own

Do you have a reputation as a good listener? Does it feel like you have to repeat yourself a lot? Do you get easily triggered, or do you seem to set other people off emotionally? Communicating effectively with others is a crucial skill—it’s how we build and maintain relationships, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. However, James Williams explains that good communication skills don’t come naturally—instead, they’re built up over time through intentional practice. Keep reading to learn about four core communication skills and how to practice them in your everyday life.

2 Major Benefits of a One-Person Company: Is It for You?

How quickly can your company pivot when it needs to? Do you crave independence, not just for yourself but for your business? In Company of One, Paul Jarvis advocates for one-person companies. He argues that, by owning such a business, you can exercise more control over your work and create your own schedule. Also, your company is more likely to ride the waves of external changes better than larger businesses can. Keep reading to learn about these two significant benefits of a one-person company.

How to Resolve Misunderstandings in Communication

Does “That’s not what I said” sound familiar? How often do you say it or hear it? No matter how careful you are with expressing yourself and listening to others, misunderstandings are bound to happen. Extend some grace to yourself and others, and develop a few skills that can help clear things up and smooth things over. Continue reading to learn how to resolve misunderstandings in communication.

Why Did Malcolm X Change His Name—Twice?

Why did Malcolm X change his name? What do his name changes tell us about his life? You might know him only as Malcolm X. But, that wasn’t his original name, nor was it his name at the time of his death. The fact is that Malcolm X changed his name twice in his lifetime, and the reasons reflect his evolving beliefs and experiences. Read more to learn why Malcolm X changed his name, as presented in his autobiography.