Shortform Books

The Best Open-Ended Sales Questions for Undecided Customers

Want to know some of the best open-ended sales questions? What are the best techniques for asking open-ended questions? Author and sales expert Phil M. Jones wrote Exactly What to Say to teach readers how to use conversational selling to appeal to their customers’ subconscious minds. Jones claims that the best open-ended sales questions should help you to control the direction of the conversation. Keep reading for the best open-ended sales questions, according to Jones.

How to Create a Project Management Plan: Step-by-Step Guide

Want to know how to create a project management plan? What do project management experts suggest? According to management expert Scott Berkun, the planning phase is about figuring out what your project is trying to accomplish. In Making Things Happen, Berkun walks readers through how to create a project management plan based on each step of the planning and pre-planning phase. Read on to learn how to create a project management plan, according to Berkun’s guide.

How to Take Accountability for Your Actions in Just 2 Steps

Have you made a big mistake? How do you take accountability for your actions? We’re all human, so we make mistakes from time to time. But it’s important that we take accountability, rather than shifting the blame elsewhere. Learn how to take accountability for your actions, according to Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson’s book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me).

The 3 Major Psychological Barriers to Listening Well

Are you a good listener? Or do you, like most people, listen to respond instead of to understand? Listening is one of the most important yet overlooked communication skills you can develop. Most people aren’t very good at listening because they listen with the intention to respond, not to understand. Keep reading to learn about the major psychological barriers to listening well, according to psychiatrist Mark Goulston.

How to Seduce Someone: Create a Sense of Intrigue

How do you seduce someone? Is there a universal seduction technique that works on everyone? According to Robert Greene, the author of The Art of Seduction, the first step to seducing someone is to lure your “victim” or target by creating an air of intrigue about you. By creating a sense of intrigue, you’ll make your target invested in finding out more about you. With this in mind, here’s how to seduce someone, according to Robert Greene.

How Was Our Solar System Formed? The Cloud Around the Sun

How was our solar system formed? What were the conditions on and around Earth? Our sun formed a few billion years ago after the universe was set in motion with the big bang. Planets and moons formed out of the gas and dust that swirled around it. Read more to learn about the formation of our solar system.

How Does Attention Work? A Neuroscientist Explains

How does attention work? How does your brain know what to focus on? Can you pay attention to more than one thing at a time? Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explains the two modes of attention and how the brain chooses between them. He also argues that multitasking is impossible. Continue reading to learn how attention works.

Noncompete Clauses in Contracts: Will the FTC Ban Them?

What are noncompete clauses in contracts? Why has the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a ban on noncompete clauses? The FTC recently proposed banning noncompete clauses, which restrict former employees and contractors from launching or working with rival companies. The clauses aim to protect businesses’ sensitive information. Keep reading to learn why the FTC wants to ban noncompete clauses in contracts and if they’ll succeed.

The 8 Best Books on Climate Change: Learn and Adapt

Do you want to learn more about global warming? What are the best books on climate change? Climate change is a pressing issue that politicians and scientists debate. If you want to be more educated about the topic, there are many books written by experts that can give you a better understanding of climate change. Here are eight books on climate change you should read to stay informed.

Closing the Deal in Sales, Even if They Say No

Want some tips for closing the deal in sales? How can you best handle a “yes” or “no” response from your client? In Exactly What to Say, business expert Phil M. Jones describes how to improve your business interactions by using key phrases that appeal to your listener’s subconscious mind. He offers tips for closing the deal in sales, telling you what to say to capitalize on a “no” or “yes.” Read on to learn Jones’s advice for closing the deal in sales, regardless of the customer’s ultimate response.