Shortform Books

The 6 Hallmarks of Cancer Explained by Oncologist

What are the hallmarks of cancer? What are the six characteristics a cell has to possess to be considered cancerous? The hallmarks of cancer are the qualities that cells have to possess to be diagnosed as cancerous. The original six were proposed by Robert Weinberg and Douglas Hanahan: 1) automatic mitosis, 2) non-responsive to antigrowth signals, 3) “immortality,” 4) limitless replication, 5) self-sustaining, 6) mobility. Keep reading to learn about the hallmarks of cancer, explained by oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Why Traditional Accounting Methods Don’t Work

Are you still using traditional accounting methods in your business? Why don’t these methods lead to long-term success? According to Mike Michalowicz, the author of Profit First, the traditional methods of business accounting don’t work in the long term. He says that the logic of traditional accounting clashes with the natural ways people think and make decisions. Here are the four reasons why traditional accounting doesn’t work.

The SolarCity Founders: Why They Needed Elon Musk

Who are the SolarCity founders? What was Elon Musk’s role in helping them start SolarCity? The SolarCity founders are Elon Musk’s cousins, Lyndon and Peter Rives. The two cousins founded SolarCity in 2006, thanks to a recommendation and large investment from Musk. The company eventually was bought out by Elon Musk 10 years later. Keep reading for more information on how the SolarCity founders started, grew, and sold their business thanks to Elon Musk.

How to Assess the Financial Health of a Company

Is your business financially healthy? How can you assess the financial health of a company? In his book Profit First, business makeover specialist Mike Michalowicz explains how to assess the financial health of your company using the allocation percentage equation. He also provides a table of what a healthy business should look like in terms of allocation percentages for businesses of various sizes. Here’s how to assess your company’s financial health, according to Michalowicz.

Business Problem-Solving: 3 Steps to a Solution

When you encounter a problem in your business, what do you do? Do you have a process to solve it? Entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David argues that effective business problem-solving must be part of your strategy for long-term success. He outlines three steps to get to a solution: take ownership of the problem, identify the core problem, and solve the problem with cost-benefit analysis. Keep reading to get a handle on these three steps.

How to Help Poor Countries: Impose Ethical Laws

Do you want to know how to help poor countries? How can laws and charters improve the lives of the bottom billion? Paul Collier, a British economist, believes that one of the most cost-effective ways to help the poorest countries is to change their laws. It sounds harsh, but by creating a more ethical system, the economy can start to grow. Here’s Collier’s method for helping the bottom billion.

How to Persuade a Customer to Choose Your Business

How do businesses encourage people to hand over their money before they lose interest? What can you do to persuade a customer to buy your product/service, and not the competitors’? Unless your product/service is one-of-a-kind, it will compete with other offers that aim to address the same needs. That’s why you need to think about how to persuade a customer to buy your solution, and not the competitors’. In this article, we’ll discuss customer persuasion tactics businesses use to drive sales. Then, we’ll discuss different strategies for determining your prices.

Sequencing Gene Mutations in Cancer

Which genes are mutated in cancer? Is it possible to sequence all the gene mutations giving rise to cancer? Cancer cells are extremely diverse, and finding the exact gene mutations in a cancer patient to inform treatment would be difficult and time-consuming. A much more feasible approach would be to identify and repair the disrupted biological pathways. Researchers believe that the typical cancer cell has anywhere from 11 to 15 disrupted pathways, with an average of 13. Keep reading to learn about cancer cell genomes and pathways.

The Profit First Method: The Key Tenets Explained

What is the Profit First method? Why does entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz believe the traditional accounting method doesn’t work? In his book Profit First, Michalowicz asserts that traditional business accounting methods don’t align with the way people think. That’s why he put together a new method that will help business owners reach long-term success. Keep reading to learn about the four main tenets of the Profit First method as well as how they work in harmony with the natural ways people think and make decisions.

Accountable Employees: Elon Musk’s #1 Hiring Criteria

Why does Elon Musk focus on hiring accountable employees? What tactics does he use to force employees to take accountability for their actions? Elon musk focuses on hiring accountable employees because it eliminates workflow inefficiencies and gets the job done faster. He uses multiple tactics to ensure accountability such as asking certain questions and following up. Keep reading to learn how Elon Musk manages his accountable employees.