Shortform Books

Peter Drucker’s Definition of Management + Its Purpose

How does Peter Drucker define management? How do you define your company’s mission? In The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker, management is defined as the practice of enabling groups of people with different knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to work together toward a common goal. This goal is often the company’s mission that either you or a higher-up is responsible for creating. Keep reading to learn more about the responsibilities of managers in an organization.

Sexism in the Entertainment Industry: Britney Spears’s Take

Why is sexism in the entertainment industry such a problem? Are there double standards for men that women wouldn’t be able to get away with? In The Woman in Me, musician Britney Spears uses her own narrative to point out the favoritism toward men in the entertainment industry. The differing treatments between men and women stand out when it comes to their dating lives, mental health issues, and physical appearances. Learn what else Spears discovered about the mistreatment of women in an industry where men aren’t held to such high standards.

Imposter Syndrome at Work: What Is It & Can You Defeat It?

What’s imposter syndrome? How does imposter syndrome prevent you from performing your best? Imposter syndrome is a mindset that makes people believe their success is undeserved, no matter how hard they worked for it. This phenomenon can cause episodes of self-doubt, shame, negative thoughts, and psychological distress. Let’s dive into the effects of imposter syndrome at work, and how you can defeat it.

Effects of Childhood Trauma on Brain Development

What are the effects of childhood trauma on brain development? Do early experiences of stress have long-term consequences? The effects of childhood trauma on brain development include changes in feelings of empathy, intensified fight or flight responses, and a dissociative response to stress. Children may experience some or all of these symptoms, and understanding where they come from is key to beginning treatment. Keep reading to understand how childhood trauma affects the brain and why childhood trauma is different from adulthood trauma.

Grace Beverley’s 4 Productivity & Self-Care Strategies

Are productivity and self-care mutually exclusive? How can they feed each other and even operate together? According to Grace Beverley, productivity and self-care can work together in supportive cycles. She shares four strategies that will help you be more efficient, thereby freeing up time for self-care. In turn, this energizes you to get more done. She also shows how you can engage in self-care while working. Keep reading to get these valuable strategies that can transform the way you work and live.

The Biological Response to Stress: Trauma and the Body

What is the biological response to stress? How does the body respond to trauma? The biological response to stress can look like either hyperarousal or dissociation, both of which overpower higher-level brain functions like abstract thinking and impulse control. Knowing how your body responds to stress can help you understand and take care of yourself better. Continue reading to learn more about biological responses to stress.

What Makes Something Go Viral? 5 Reasons Ideas Catch On

What makes something go viral? Why do some ideas catch on when others don’t? Economist Robert J. Shiller contends that narratives drive behavior far more than we might realize. He outlines five factors that contribute to the widespread dissemination of economic narratives: memorable visuals, emotional resonance, influential endorsers, holistic explanations, and a human-centric focus. Continue reading to understand these virality factors that apply to narratives of all kinds.

How to Define the Mission and Objectives of a Business

Who defines the mission and objectives of a business? Is making a profit the most important part of business? According to The Essential Drucker by Peter Drucker, management is directly responsible for whether the organization’s efforts produce its desired results. Managers do this by articulating an enterprise’s mission and spelling out its objectives. Let’s look at how managers create and carry out a company’s mission.

How Are You Helping Others Grow in Your Community?

How are you helping others grow? Should there be room for advancement in communities? Although you should prioritize relationships over status, Charles Vogl says it’s natural to want to continue growing as a person and advancing within a community. In The Art of Community, he makes a few recommendations that can help community members make healthy progress. Continue reading for his recommendations that apply to both offline and online communities.

Stock Market Speculation & the 2 Types of Psychological Anchors

What causes stock market speculation? How do psychological anchors influence investors? Stock market speculation is influenced by psychological anchors, both quantitative and moral, which ground an investor’s decisions even more than recent news about company performance. Taking a look at how these anchors work gives insight into why certain stocks grow and when. Let’s take a look at how quantitative and moral psychological anchors and how they influence stock investors.