Shortform Books

How to Build Confidence in Speaking: 4 Tips From Dale Carnegie

Does even just the idea of speaking in public make you nervous? What if you could build confidence, not just in your speaking abilities, but in your general abilities? Most people fear speaking in public. Dale Carnegie’s time-tested lessons help you overcome that fear, take the stage, and speak with assurance and poise. He shares four tactics that will give you the courage to speak and, in turn, provide you with the confidence to do just about anything. Keep reading for Carnegie’s fourfold advice on how to build confidence in speaking.

The Difficulties of Adapting to New Video Game Technology

How has video game technology changed over the years? How do game developers navigate these changes? These days, the best video games look so realistic that they could easily be mistaken for a movie. This is thanks to the always-evolving video game technology that developers are forced to keep up with every year. Let’s look at how developers adapt to new technological advancements in the video game industry.

Jennette McCurdy’s Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationship

What does a toxic mother-daughter relationship look like? What kind of boundaries did Debra McCurdy cross with her daughter Jennette? Jennette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died describes the tumultuous relationship between her and her abusive mother, Debra. Jennette goes into detail about the types of abuse she experienced from her mother, which mainly stemmed from a lack of boundaries between the two. Keep reading to learn more about this toxic mother-daughter relationship.

3 Benefits of Failure You Can Use as a Springboard to Success

How to Deal With Failure at Work and Build Resilience

Why isn’t comedian and actor Patton Oswalt afraid to take risks? What gives filmmaker David Lynch creative freedom? All of the world’s most successful people have this in common: They’ve failed. Regardless of who you are, failure happens. But, those who find success have first found a way to leverage failure. Tim Ferriss shares the advice he got from several people about how to use failure as a springboard to success. Read more to learn three benefits of failure that successful people recognize.

When to Say No: Freeing Up Time to Say Yes to What Matters Most

Do you find it hard to say no to requests and opportunities? What if you were more free to pick and choose how you commit yourself? You’re not limitless. Neither is your time. So, knowing how and when to say no is a highly valuable skill to have. When Tim Ferriss solicited life and career advice from experts in various fields, several of them stressed the importance of establishing and sticking to boundaries in order to protect your priorities. Read more for insights that will help you know where to draw the line and when to say no.

The 4 Main Objectives of Public Speaking (Dale Carnegie)

What are the various ways that public speaking can be used? How can you get clarity on what your next speech aims to accomplish? Public speaking has the power to affect audiences in different ways. A presentation can provoke thought, motivate action, or elicit a lot of laughs. In Public Speaking for Success, Dale Carnegie identifies four main objectives of public speaking. Keep reading to learn about these public speaking objectives and how each one wields its own kind of power.

What Is Zen Buddhism? Its Origins & Distinctions (Alan Watts)

What is Zen Buddhism? What does it share with other traditions? How is it unique? In The Way of Zen, Alan Watts explores the ins and outs of Zen Buddhism. He explains where Zen came from, considers the most important ideas that Zen adopted from the ancient philosophies and religions that preceded it, and points out which ideas differentiate Zen from other schools of thought. Read more to learn about the history and philosophy of Zen Buddhism.

What Is Habit Stacking? Adopting Productive Behaviors

What is habit stacking? How can you use a current habit to build a better and healthier one? According to James Clear, a great way to get used to a new habit is “stacking” it on top of another. This means adding a new behavior onto another to continue the habit routine. Below we’ll look at how habit stacking works, beginning with the cues and cravings that make it possible.

Sam Harris: Mindfulness & Meditation Without Religion

Do you practice mindfulness and meditation? Can it be done outside of the context of religion? According to Sam Harris, mindfulness and meditation are the way to contentment. In his book Waking Up, he starts from a simple foundation—everybody just wants to be happy. While many people look to religion to find happiness, Harris says that you don’t need to go there. Read on to understand Harris’s secular take on mindfulness and meditation.

3 Ways to Gain a Competitive Advantage in Business

Does your business need revamping? Do you want to gain a competitive advantage in business? The goal of every business is to outperform its competitors. Competitive Advantage by Michael Porter suggests that you align your operational procedures with one of three strategies: set lower prices, offer something unique, and target niche markets. Discover how to implement each of these strategies.