Shortform Books

To Overcome Resistance to Change, Appeal to Identity

Are you the kind of person who puts a lot of effort into making sure things stay as they are? Do you resist change? When you need to overcome resistance to change, it can help to appeal to identity—what kind of person someone is, what they value, and how they make decisions. You need to either align your proposed change with someone’s identity or align their identity with your proposed change. Keep reading to learn how to cultivate identity to overcome resistance to change.

Commander’s Intent: The Key to Effective Messaging

What is Commander’s Intent? How can using the commander’s intent principle help you communicate more effectively? The Army adopted the concept of “Commander’s Intent” in the 1980s. It refers to a concise statement that lays out the goal or intended outcome, allowing people to react to changing circumstances as they pursue a clear goal. You can use this concept to pinpoint the essence of a message that you want to communicate effectively to others. Read more to learn about Commander’s Intent and its application.

Probability in the Real World: Beyond Mathematics

Are you a good judge of probability? Do you take into account probability when making decisions that involve an element of risk? According to former options trader Nassim Taleb, most people have a poor grasp of real-world probability, and as a result, they misunderstand the likelihood of rare events and consequently don’t plan for risk appropriately. In his book Fooled by Randomness, he cites three reasons for our difficulty in understanding how probability plays out in the real world: 1) we don’t properly interpret the past, 2) we can’t predict the future, and 3) we don’t insure against risk properly.

The Truth About Losing Weight Through Diet Alone

Do you need to exercise to lose weight? Is losing weight through diet alone possible? According to John Walker, the author of The Hacker’s Diet, you can exercise for an hour and only burn 300 calories, but it only takes one Snicker’s bar to offset your workout. That’s why Walker suggests primarily relying on a calorie deficit to lose weight rather than on exercise. Here’s why, when it comes to losing weight, diet outweighs exercise.

What Is Tax Loss Harvesting? Definition and More

What is tax loss harvesting? How does this help investors to defer taxes? Tax loss harvesting involves selling stocks at a loss and replacing those stocks with similar stocks, to pay less in taxes. Implementing this method means investors can defer their taxes while maintaining the risk/return rate of their stock portfolio. So, what is tax loss harvesting? Keep reading to find out.

What Happens When We’re Not Open to Grace?

Are you open to grace? What happens if you aren’t? In The Road Less Traveled, psychiatrist M. Scott Peck discusses the importance of being open to grace. He believes that grace is a tool for spiritual evolution—and that rejecting it can hinder our growth and even lead to mental illness. Read more to learn why it’s important to be open to grace.

Embrace Separateness: Put Individual Growth First

In what way is separateness a healthy aspect of relationships? Is growth as a couple more important than growth as individuals? In The Road Less Traveled, psychiatrist M. Scott Peck argues that couples should embrace separateness. It’s a myth that love prioritizes growth as a couple. In reality, love puts growth as individuals first. Only then does true growth occur. Continue reading to learn about the value of separateness.

The P&G/Gillette Acquisition: A Strategic Fit

P&G Case Study: Strategic Choice Cascade in Practice

Why was the P&G/Gillette acquisition so successful? How did P&G add value to Gillette? The P&G/Gillette acquisition was successful because of the synergy between the companies. Gillette had a reputable product with a strong brand that was growing faster than other alternative products in the market, while P&G had the marketing capital and distribution channels to expand Gillette’s market. P&G was able to add value to Gillette because its core capabilities were perfect for pushing the Gillette brand further in the market. Read more about the lessons on synergy from the P&G/Gillette acquisition.

Biased Decision-Making: Don’t Let Distortions Decide

What constitutes biased decision-making? Are you guilty of it? We all tend to let our biases influence our decisions. While we can’t completely eliminate distorted beliefs, we can get better at managing bias—and keep biased decision-making at bay. Read more to learn how to recognize and mitigate biased decision-making.

Time Alone With God: The Proven Benefits

Why is it important to spend time alone with God? What are the key benefits? Silent communion with God gives you a chance to clear your mind, consider what’s really important in your life, and practice gratitude. With busy schedules and crammed calendars, it’s easy to forget the importance of time alone with God, but it should remain a priority. Here are some good reasons you should prioritize time alone with God.