The World's Best Book Summaries
What are good work habits? Do you want to develop a strong work ethic? Exhibiting good work habits not only makes you stand out to managers or other employees, but it can help you achieve your work goals. These work habits can cater to anybody—whether you want to run your own business, want to get solo projects done, or want to get a raise. Here are some great work habits to develop so you can have a successful career.
Why is creative feedback important for artists? How can feedback make you better? In his book The Practice, Seth Godin shares tips and tricks to improve your creative skills. He says that after you finish a project, you should ask for feedback from others, but also not pay attention to a lot of criticism. Check out Godin’s advice for effectively using creative feedback.
Do you have an idea for a business? How can you tell if it’s a viable one? Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba say you don’t need to come up with anything spectacular. A viable business idea should build on your unique strengths, or “unfair advantages,” and offer value to people’s lives. Keep reading to learn how to evaluate business ideas.
How can you build a reputation in business quickly? What are the consequences of having a bad reputation? How can you improve your business reputation? In Stephen Covey’s book, The Speed of Trust, earning the trust of others is one of the key factors Covey highlights for building a positive reputation. Covey advises business owners to focus on how trustworthy their company is perceived when trying to build or improve business reputation. Read on to learn Covey’s advice for building a reputation in business that will earn you more loyal customers.
What is “flow?” Why is it so hard to find your flow these days? Flow is our highest form of sustained attention. Johann Hari, the author of Stolen Focus, argues that the distractions of modern life are destroying it. Find out what makes finding your flow so difficult these days.
Are you winsome at work? Are people drawn to you and your ideas? Do you have presence and influence? Startup success hinges on your ability to win over others. That’s the view of entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba, authors of The Unfair Advantage. They discuss how you can determine whether interpersonal skills are your unfair advantage, and they provide tips on how to improve these skills. Continue reading to learn about the importance of interpersonal skills in business.
What behaviors should you adopt to become more competent? How does demonstrating competence help others trust you? Author and former CEO Stephen Covey believes building competence relates to demonstrating trustworthy behaviors. In his book, The Speed of Trust, Covey explains that your most valuable interpersonal currency is having trust in your relationships. Read on to learn Covey’s advice on how to be more competent by building trust with others.
What if socializing doesn’t come naturally to you? Is success really about who—not what—you know? Not necessarily, according to peak performance expert Eric Barker. But, your relationships are essential, so you must expand and nurture your network. He shares three steps to cultivate professional connections: focus on building friendships, mentor and be mentored, and regularly thank the people in your life. Keep reading to learn how to expand your network and make the connections stronger.
What is a hiring plan? Why do you need to have one for your business? A hiring plan helps you determine what roles you need to fill in your company. Once you’ve done that, you need to begin interviewing candidates. Read below to learn how to create a hiring plan by interviewing potential job candidates.
How hard should you work? What does it mean to work hard but smart? Is work-life balance achievable? In Barking Up the Wrong Tree, peak performance expert Eric Barker discusses the importance of hard work and persistence. He does, however, believe that there’s such a thing as working too hard. He argues that a truly successful life involves pursuing joy, reaching your goals, connecting with others, and making an impact, and he offers tips on how to build a schedule so that you can achieve this healthy balance. Keep reading for Barker’s ideas on finding balance between work and life.