Shortform Books

Dialectical Culture: Thinking in Contradictions

What is dialectical thinking? Which cultures tend to think dialectically? In dialectical cultures, people tend to focus on the overall situation. Instead of focusing on individual elements, they emphasize the relationships between individual elements. Dialectical thinking focuses on the big picture and the relationships between the different elements rather than the elements themselves (which is the prerogative of analytical thinking). According to Erin Meyer, the author of The Culture Map, the dialectical way of thinking is most prevalent in Asian countries. In this article, we’ll look at how dialectical cultures think, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.

TALC: The Innovators and the Early Adopters

What is the difference between innovators and early adopters? What are their motivations for trying out new, experimental technology? Innovators and early adopters represent the two early-market categories of customers in the Technology Adoption Life Cycle (TALC). Innovators are technology enthusiasts: they are the first to try out new technologies for its own sake. Unlike the innovators, early adopters are not interested in new technology for its own sake, but rather in the new advantages it may afford. We’ll take a look at the key characteristics of both groups below.

Capturing Leads: How to Turn Visitors Into Customers

What are some great techniques for capturing leads? How can capturing leads increase your sales? In marketing, capturing leads involves collecting customer data so that visitors become potential customers. For example, someone visiting your website might give you their email to receive a free e-book. Find out more about capturing leads below.

How to Choose a Niche for a Startup Business

How do you choose an appropriate niche for your product/service? Why is it especially difficult to choose a niche for a startup? For a startup, choosing an appropriate niche in the market is especially challenging because you can’t survey your customers or gather data on them—you don’t have any customers yet. This makes it difficult to make a decision that will determine the fate of your company because you don’t have enough data to substantiate your choice analytically. In this article, we will discuss how you can select an appropriate startup niche.

How to Pick a Niche for Your Personal Brand

When it comes to marketing, why is it better to pick a niche than to try to target popular demographics? What factors should you consider when choosing a niche for your brand? Gary Vaynerchuk, a successful entrepreneur and social media expert, says that you should pick a niche audience rather than a popular one when creating your personal brand. There are many reasons why he gives this contradictory advice. Here is why you should pick a niche and how to do it.

Western Thinking: Theoretical vs. Empirical

Is there such a thing as a Western way of thinking? What is the difference between theoretical and empirical methods of reasoning? Which style of thinking does your culture tend to use? Cultural communication expert Erin Meyer divides non-Asian cultures into two broad patterns of thinking or reasoning. Specifically, Meyer argues that Western and Latin American cultures tend to use either theoretical or empirical thinking. Latin Americans and Germanic countries fall in the middle of this spectrum. In this article, we’ll look at the two variations of Western thinking or reasoning, according to Erin Meyer.

How to Make an Entrance at a Singles Event

Do you want to make an entrance at a singles event? How can you make an impression when you enter a room? In her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, Debra Fine takes some time to discuss communication in the dating scene. Specifically, she suggests looking at singles events as a networking opportunity. Here’s how you can make an entrance at an event.

Working in a Different Culture: Things to Keep in Mind

Do you work in a culture that’s very different from yours? What challenges does that bring? Working in a different culture brings a lot of unknown unknowns—you don’t even know what you don’t know. In her book The Culture Map, author Erin Meyer provides some tips for working effectively across cultures. Here are some things to keep in mind if you work in a different culture, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.

Crossing the Chasm: Quotes by Geoffrey Moore

Are you looking for Crossing the Chasm quotes by Geoffrey Moore? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In Crossing the Chasm, Geoffrey Moore outlines a strategy that companies can use to move their products across this “chasm” to enter the mainstream market. Since the book’s publication, it has become a standard text for managers, engineers, and students, as well. Here’s a selection of top Crossing the Chasm quotes with explanations.

The 6 Best Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

What are the best marketing strategies for small businesses? How can you incorporate these strategies into your business’s marketing plan? Entrepreneur and consultant Allan Dib argues that marketing is the highest-value activity a small business owner can engage in. In his book The 1-Page Marketing Plan, he outlines the best marketing strategies for small businesses and gives advice on how to implement them. Find his six best marketing strategies for small businesses below.