Shortform Books

The 4 Leadership Techniques to Amplify Your Team

Are you having a hard time asserting yourself as a leader? What are some leadership techniques you can implement in your role? Without a leader, a team is liable to fall apart. An effective leader steps in and assures that every team member has an important role to play. In his book The 8th Habit, Stephen Covey describes four leadership techniques that can make you a strong and confident leader. Keep reading to learn how to apply these leadership techniques in your organization.

TED Talks: The Official Guide to Public Speaking

What is Chris Anderson’s TED Talks about? What advice does he give to aspiring public speakers? In TED Talks: The Official Guide to Public Speaking, Chris Anderson, the head of TED, shares his secrets to a spectacular public speech from the initial idea to the final bow. A great speech has the power to inspire and change the world, but most people believe that public speaking is an innate talent. Chris Anderson wrote this book to derail that self-limiting belief. Below is a brief overview of TED Talks by Chris Anderson. We’ll take you through Anderson’s advice piece by piece,

Describing Happiness: 5 Reasons Why It’s So Difficult

Have you ever tried to describe happiness to someone? Why is it so difficult to discuss happiness in an objective way? Daniel Gilbert, Harvard professor and the author of Stumbling on Happiness, theorizes that happiness is difficult to describe and discuss for five specific reasons. Gilbert further theorizes that most of the time people don’t even realize when they’re happy or unhappy, which complicates the issue further. Here’s why it’s difficult to objectively discuss and describe happiness.

David Lilienthal: One of Wall Street’s Good Guys

Who was David Lilienthal? What can you learn from his story about working with purpose and transitioning from one career to another? The people of Wall Street may have a reputation for pursuing profits at all costs, but John Brooks says that there are those who’ve managed to balance this pursuit with a sense of purpose. Brooks profiles David Lilienthal, former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and, later, chairman and CEO of the Development & Resources Corporation (D & R). Brooks traces Lilienthal’s career trajectory and how he navigated the transition from public servant to big businessman. Continue

Why Subscription-Based Business Models Don’t Work

Are you considering a subscription-based business model for your company? Are you looking for new ways to increase revenue from existing customers? For many companies such as Netflix, subscription-based business models are the only way to gain profits because they’re “subscriber-only” services. However, that doesn’t mean subscription-based business models are meant for every business. Learn why Byron Sharp, the author of How Brands Grow, believes that subscription-based business models don’t work for a lot of businesses.

The Key Elements of an Effective Speech

Do you have an important speech coming up? What are some things you need to consider when planning your speech? According to Chris Anderson, all effective speeches begin with an idea, and they come alive with a throughline. So first, you’ll need to determine what your speech will be about—your idea. Then you’ll need to decide what message you want your audience to take with them—your throughline. In this article, you’ll learn how to plan an effective speech and keep your audience on track from start to finish.

Bottom-Up Learning: Success in Small Steps

What is bottom-up learning? How does bottom-up learning breed success? Bottom-up learning is taking small steps with limited knowledge, making mistakes, and adjusting. On the other hand, a top-down approach to learning is when a small group of elites builds theories to capture the truth about something. Read more to understand why a bottom-up learning approach advances human society.

The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey: Book Overview

What is The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey about? What does Covey’s eighth habit entail? In The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, Stephen Covey adds the eighth habit to the original seven described in his bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’s 8th habit is the habit of leadership, and it determines your unique contribution and helps others do the same. Continue reading to get an overview of Covey’s The 8th Habit, split into three parts: The Individual, the Organization, and the Leader.

How to Set Personal Goals (12 Rules for Life)

Do you set goals for yourself? What’s the key to setting effective personal goals? According to Jordan Peterson, you should set your goals based on who you want to become, not who other people are. He argues that, if you compare yourself to other people, you’re using an unfairly harsh standard. With this in mind, here’s how to set personal goals, according to Peterson.

How to Talk About Happiness (Daniel Gilbert)

Have you tried to talk about happiness but don’t know how to describe it? What two propositions did Daniel Gilbert give on how to discuss happiness? Daniel Gilbert is an award-winning writer, teacher, and researcher in social psychology. In his book Stumbling on Happiness, Gilbert points out why it’s difficult to talk about happiness. He proposes two methods for discussing happiness despite the difficulties. Here’s how to have a constructive talk about happiness.