Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

The Unfair Advantage: Book Overview

Why do some startups skyrocket to success and others fail? Better ideas? More money? Good timing? The Unfair Advantage (book by entrepreneurs Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba) explains that founders of successful startups exploit their unfair advantages, the qualities or conditions that give them an edge over competitors. There are many types of unfair advantages, and everyone has at least one, according to the authors. To achieve startup success, you just need to find and use your unfair advantages to fuel business growth. Keep reading for an overview of the book and see what you can apply to your own

How to Overcome Disappointment in Life

Are you struggling to recover from a setback? What can you do to help you move forward again? To regain a sense of control over your life, Eric Barker recommends that you tell yourself two “stories.” First, write your own eulogy. Second, look at your life as though it’s a game. He argues that these techniques give you a sense of purpose that can motivate you to tackle difficulties. Read more to learn Barker’s advice on how to overcome disappointment in life.

How to Create a Business Strategy (Tribal Leadership)

How should you go about creating a business strategy? How do you make sure that your strategy is worth committing time and money to? Tribal Leadership authors Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King contend that creating a values-aligned business strategy is vital as you work to unite your tribe. To develop your strategy, you must have three specific discussions with your tribe. Also, your strategy must pass three tests if it’s to be complete. Read more for Tribal Leadership advice on how to create a business strategy.

Tribal Leadership Stages: How Culture Develops

What are the five Tribal Leadership stages? How do you move your organization from one to the next? Any organization succeeds or fails on the culture of its tribes—groups of individuals that share ways of thinking, interacting, and working—and can improve their organization by upgrading the cultures of those tribes. To elevate a group’s culture, tribal leaders coach their people through five stages, progressing toward the inspired teamwork of Stages 4 and 5. Implement these leadership stages and strategies effectively, and you’ll improve both your bottom line and your employees’ happiness. Keep reading to learn more about these stages of cultural

How to Find Your Niche in Life

What should you stick with, and what should you quit? Are you barking up the wrong tree when it comes to your niche? Working hard is important. But, if you’re working hard on the wrong thing, you won’t find satisfaction and true success. To succeed, you must stick to some things but quit others. The key is figuring out what’s right for you. Read more to learn how to find your niche in life.

Why Did You Start Your Business? Know Your Purpose

Why did you start your business? Are you clear on your purpose? Business startups already have a ton of unknowns. Your business’s purpose shouldn’t be one of them. When you’re clear about the reason you started your business, you’ll be more fulfilled and motivated to stick with it—and your chances of success will go up. Keep reading to learn more about getting clarity on your business’s purpose.

Hard Work and Luck in Business: Do You Need Both?

When it comes to business success, do you need both hard work and luck? What mindset should you have toward these factors? In The Unfair Advantage, authors Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba discuss the role of hard work and luck in business. They contend that you must simultaneously believe that hard work pays off and acknowledge that luck can be the difference between success and failure. They offer advice on how to balance these two beliefs. Continue reading to learn Ali and Kubba’s views on hard work and luck in business.

How to Deal With Disengaged Employees

Do your employees lack ambition? How can you light a fire under them and get them motivated and engaged? Some employees just don’t care. They show up and do the bare minimum. As a result, the workplace mood and your bottom line suffer. This is what Stage 2 culture is like. The book Tribal Leadership helps you understand this stage and shows you how to cultivate individual ambition in your team so that it can progress to Stage 3 culture. Keep reading for Tribal Leadership advice on how to deal with disengaged employees.

How to Be Compassionate to Yourself at Work

Is confidence the key to success, or is it overrated? How should you treat yourself when you fail? In Barking Up the Wrong Tree, Eric Barker contends that confidence can cause you to attempt things beyond your ability, ultimately leading to failure. He believes you should trade confidence for self-compassion. Be realistic about your abilities, and be kind to yourself when achievements are beyond your grasp. Barker says that self-compassion is a superior way to get what confidence offers: a better mood and increased performance. Continue reading to learn how to be compassionate to yourself, especially in the workplace.

Kindness in the Workplace: How to Use It Wisely

Does kindness have a place in the office? How can you be kind without being taken advantage of? Conventional advice regarding success contradicts itself in its recommendations surrounding kindness. Some people argue that being nice is for chumps, while others argue that being nice will get you far. So who’s right? According to peak performance expert Eric Barker, they all are. You can be both kind and successful—but you have to be smart about it. Here’s how to practice kindness in the workplace while keeping people from walking all over you.