Shortform Books

Rework: Jason Fried & David Hansson’s Philosophy

What is Jason Fried and David Hansson’s entrepreneurship philosophy? What is the benefit of keeping a company small and lean? In their book Rework, Jason Fried and David H. Hansson champion a simpler, cheaper, less labor-intensive way to manage any company. In brief, you don’t need an MBA, outside investors, strategic plans, or a board of directors to launch a business. You don’t even need an office. Instead, you need to reject old-school myths, embrace simplicity, and run your company like a smart, frugal, well-oiled machine. The Rework philosophy is 6-fold.

The Importance of Gratitude and Listening in Leadership

Why is it important to always show gratitude as a leader? How do listening and leadership go hand-in-hand? Leadership expert Marshall Goldsmith says that expressing gratitude and listening to others are two essential skills for managers to have. However, many managers tend to hold on to these two bad habits: 1) not saying thank you and 2) neglecting to listen to others. We’ll discuss both of these principles below.

The Power of Now: Quotes by Eckhart Tolle

Are you looking for The Power of Now quotes by Eckhart Tolle? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In The Power of Now, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle walks you through his methods for quieting your thoughts and fears to find fulfillment through presence. He insists that we can’t find the peace and happiness we seek in anything outside ourselves. Below is a selection of The Power of Now quotes with explanations.

What Makes an Effective Sales Strategy?

What makes a good sales strategy? What is the key to designing a sales strategy that drives results? A crucial element of strategic sales management is devising and communicating a clear sales strategy for your team to follow. Your sales strategy should highlight which customers or potential customers each team member should call, how they should prioritize these customers, and which products they should prioritize selling. In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes an effective sales strategy, according to sales expert Mike Weinberg.

Advice From the Way of the Superior Man—David Deida

What does it mean to become a “superior man,” according to David Deida? What advice does the book on learning to be yourself? In The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida, he gives advice on how to live authentically and follow your purpose. Deida rebels against the traditional views of masculinity and says that it’s okay for men to admit fear, accept and give love, seek purpose, and more. Keep reading for a brief overview of how to live with authenticity and purpose from The Way of the Superior Man.

Practice Exemplary Leadership—Encourage the Heart

What do Posner and Kouzes mean by “encourage the heart” in The Leadership Challenge? What can a leader do to “connect with the heart” of your team members? “Encourage the heart” is one of the core leadership principles in The Leadership Challenge by Barry Posner and James Kouzes. There are two guidelines for connecting with the heart of your subordinates 1) recognizing contributions, and 2) celebrating values and victories. We’ll take a look at each of these concepts below.

Understanding the Psychology of Victim Blaming

What is victim blaming? Why do people sometimes blame the victim, and not the perpetrator? Victim blaming is a phenomenon whereby a victim of a crime or an accident is accused of the incident. There are several theories as to why people blame victims. Keep reading to understand the psychology of victim blaming.

What Is a Value Proposition?—Business Basics

What exactly is a value proposition? Why is it important to provide unique value to your customers? As the name suggests, your business’s value proposition is the value you provide to your customers in the form of products or services. When defining your value proposition, consider the nature of your product/service and how it is different from your competitors’ products/services. If you’re servicing the same customers, with the same needs, at the same price, you are not providing unique value. Here are some things to consider as you define how you intend to offer value to your customers.

How to Know When You Should Upgrade Your Product

How often should you upgrade your products? What should you do if customers request to add features to existing products? An important element of running a business is deciding when and if you should make improvements or upgrades to your product. Customers may request product upgrades or modifications, but that doesn’t mean you should make them before you are ready. Here is why you should hold off product upgrade requests—even if it means your customers outgrow your product.

4 Leadership Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Are you in a position of leadership at work? What leadership mistakes should you avoid making at all costs? There are four leadership mistakes that you may be making without even realizing it: withholding information, taking undeserved credit, practicing favoritism, and obsessing over goals. These bad habits may even be holding you back from receiving a promotion. Learn more about the four leadership mistakes and how you can work to fix your bad habits.