Shortform Books

How the Health of an Economy Is Measured

What reflects the health of an economy? What markers do economists use to measure the strength of a country’s economy? Sometimes, an economy functions well: It grows at a healthy rate that allows many people to earn a good living. But sometimes, it suffers a period of stagnation or contraction, when people find it harder to survive or to thrive within the market. There are several markers of economic health including GDP (gross domestic product), unemployment rates, Gini coefficient, etc. In this article, we’ll explore how economists measure the health of an economy, what causes an economy to fall into

How to Raise Independent, Antifragile Children

Why is instilling antifragility in children so important? How can you raise your kids to be more independent, rational, and moral? In The Coddling of the American Mind, authors Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff give parenting advice for the modern-day. They believe that kids today aren’t given enough independence and that they need to overcome obstacles in order to become stronger. Keep reading to learn how to instill antifragility and independence in your children.

Organizational Strategic Planning: Think Analytically

What is organizational strategic planning? What factors should you consider when devising a big-picture strategy for an enterprise? Organizational strategic planning is an organizational process of setting objectives and devising a plan for attaining them. According to Richard P. Rumelt, the author of Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, there are three general principles you should adopt when devising a big-picture strategy for your organization: 1) think like a scientist, 2) think like an analyst, and 3) avoid common faulty biases. Keep reading to learn about these guidelines and demonstrate them with real-world examples.

What Is Shame? Brené Brown Explains in Her TED Talk

What is shame? How can you determine your proneness to shame, guilt, and blame? In her TED Talk, Brené Brown discusses the differences between shame, guilt, blame, embarrassment, and humiliation. Brown also discusses the TOSCA test for determining your proneness to the above emotions. Continue reading for Brené Brown’s take on what shame is.

Sex After Children: Rekindling Sexual Intimacy

Does having a baby kill your sex life? Why do you think that is? More importantly, how can we prevent parenthood from impinging on sexual intimacy? For many couples, once they have a child, almost everything about their lives changes: their relationships with themselves and the people they know, their bodies, roles, and amount of resources (finances, time, energy, and so on). Many of these changes affect the erotic life as well, usually in a suppressive way. In this article, we’ll discuss why parenthood often kills sexual intimacy and ways to rekindle your desire to have sex after children.

Level Five Leadership: Legacy-Based Leadership

What is Level five leadership? What do you think a leader should do once they’ve reached the pinnacle of the leadership ladder? In John Maxwell’s hierarchy, level five leadership is called the pinnacle leadership or the legacy-based leadership. At this level, people follow you because you have a reputation for developing strong leaders and strong organizations. Pinnacle leadership is about legacy—developing Level 4 leaders so that your organization continues to thrive even after you’re gone. In this article, we’ll discuss Maxwell’s level five leadership, its upsides and downsides, and what to do to thrive at this level.

How to Be Decisive, and Why It Matters to Your Success

What does it take to learn how to be decisive? How can you become a decisive decision-maker? Learning how to be decisive requires ignoring the criticism of others and standing firm on your decisions. This will help you become a better decision-maker. Decisiveness helps you reach decisions quickly and work consistently towards a goal. Read on to learn how to be decisive in your decision-making.

The Leader-Leader Model vs the Leader-Follower Model

What is the leader-leader model? How is it different from the leader-follower model in its function and effectiveness? The traditional leader-follower model practiced in most organizations assumes there are two types of people: leaders who make decisions and followers who implement them. The leader-leader model is based on a different assumption about people: everyone can be a leader, and an organization is most effective when everyone thinks and acts like a leader. Read more to learn about the leader-follower model and the leader-leader model.

5 Ways to Improve Competence and Develop Leaders

How did Captain David Marquet improve competence within his submarine crew? What lessons apply to your organization? As submarine captain, David Marquet implemented the leader-leader model on Santa Fe, he knew that he would need to find ways to improve competence within his team if they were to take on more and more responsibility and become leaders themselves. He and his officers used five mechanisms to do this. Read more to learn how to improve competence within a team.

The Traits of a True Artist: Do You Have What It Takes?

What are the personality traits of a true artist? How can changing your attitude help you achieve creative success? If you want to be a true artist, there are certain personality traits you’ll need to have, including patience, resiliance, and confidence. Understanding the typical traits of a true artist can help you develop positive qualities that will help you succeed. Keep reading to find out the traits of a true artist.