The World's Best Book Summaries
What is an egalitarian culture? How does egalitarianism manifest in leadership? In an egalitarian culture, the power distance is low. In other words, everybody is equal—even in the workplace. Members of egalitarian cultures are also more likely to act on their own and ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Keep reading to learn about the key characteristics of egalitarian cultures and how they develop.
Do you want to know how to plan your goals and follow through? What do you think is the main obstacle? Most people have at least some idea of the goals they want to achieve. The challenge comes in creating a realistic and actionable plan on which they can follow through. In his book The Sligh Edge, Jeff Olson lays out a two-step process for planning your goals: 1) design a representation of your goal, and 2) create a blueprint for carrying it out. We’ll explore both of these principles below.
How does time perception differ across cultures? What are the two types of cultural time perception? Time isn’t a fixed item—it is a concept, and each culture conceptualizes time differently. In her book The Culture Map, cultural expert Erin Meyer divides the methods of perceiving time into two overarching types: linear-time (aka monochronic) and flexible-time (aka polychronic). In this article, we’ll explain the difference between monochronic and polychronic cultures and present some strategies you can use when working with people who perceive time differently than you do.
What is lateral thinking? Can you really come up with great ideas based on old knowledge or technology? In his book Range, David Epstein discusses the importance of lateral thinking in innovation. He says that contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to think outside the box and come up with brand new ideas to be innovative—sometimes it just takes looking at an existing product and improving upon it. Keep reading for examples of lateral thinking from David Epstein.
What is contrarian thinking? How do you practice divergent thinking? Contrarian thinking involves challenging the prevailing consensus on any particular issue to arrive at an independent point of view. Thinking for yourself can help generate new ideas that are more correct than the public consensus. You practice divergent thinking by inverting the prevailing view on an issue to see it from a different perspective. Read on to discover how to practice contrarian thinking.
How do you join in a group conversation without being rude? Is there a polite way to interrupt an ongoing conversation? Whether you’re at a work party, a family get-together, or a business meeting, it’s important to connect with others. But that’s not always easy when they already know each other or are already engaged in a conversation. So, here are some tips on how to insert yourself into a group conversation.
What are the major characteristics of a good business? Why is Toyota an excellent example of a good business? A decisive competitive advantage, well-designed incentive systems for employees, and a reputable brand backed by product quality are all key characteristics of a good business. Toyota is an excellent example of a good business because its efficient manufacturing processes give it a competitive advantage in the market, its well-designed incentive systems reward employees that contribute to improvements in the company’s processes, and it has established and preserved a brand reputation for reliability and quality. Read on to understand more about the
How do you use the power of compounding to build wealth? Can a compounding investment strategy help with taxes? A passive investment approach utilizes the power of compounding to build wealth. You will earn interest on the money you originally invested plus on the interest you have accumulated. As the pool of money grows, your rate of returns will also grow exponentially. This strategy will also help with taxes because you only have to pay taxes once on the accumulated pool of money as opposed to paying each year and diluting the impact of your capital gains. Read on to
How did the caste system in America come to be? What influence did slavery have on the forming of the American caste system? The American caste system started back in the 1600s when Blacks were taken as slaves due to their non-Christianity. What started as a religious hierarchy quickly turned into a racial caste system. Keep reading to learn all about the development of the American caste system.
What exactly is self-image? Do you think your self-image accurately reflects who you are and what you are capable of? Your self-image is the mental image you hold about yourself. According to Maxwell Maltz, the author of Psycho-Cybernetics, your self-image is not an accurate reflection of who you are. It’s simply a construct of thoughts you chose to think about past experiences. In this article, we’ll look at the psychology of self-image: what influences it, and how it affects your ability to succeed and experience happiness.