Shortform Books

The 3 Reasons to Prioritize Short-Term Objectives

Why is it better to focus on short-term objectives rather than planning for the long term? Should you always have an end goal in mind when pursuing something? David Epstein, the author of Range, explains that it’s better to chase your current opportunities and passions than trying to create a long-term plan. There are three major reasons for this: you will change, you can’t predict the future, and you can’t know if a certain job would even fit you well. Here’s why you should shift your focus to your short-term objectives.

Three Keys to Making Better Decisions in Life

Why is making better decisions important? How do you make better choices? You will become better at human relations, investing, and leadership when you start making better decisions. The secrets to making good choices are discipline, learning from the mistakes of others, and curbing ideological bias in favor of objectivity. Read more about the secrets to making better decisions.

The Legacy of the United States Caste System

Is there still a caste system in the United States? What lasting effects did the caste system of the early United States have? Despite the fact that slavery was abolished in the 1800s, there are still many lasting effects of the racial caste system in the United States. Many Southerners still cling to Confederate symbols and consider the Old South a “Lost Cause,” healthcare has fallen behind because of racial agendas, and Confederate statues are still spread all over the country. In this article, we’ll discuss the ways the caste system has left a lasting impact on the United States.

Learning From Your Mistakes: Ask “What,” Not “Why”

Can you think of a life lesson you learned by making a mistake? Where did you go wrong? Did ever repeat the same mistake again? Learning from your mistakes is essential to living a happy, fulfilled, and successful life. Everyone eventually learns from their mistakes once they’ve repeated them several times. But it shouldn’t take many repetitions to learn to avoid suboptimal or self-sabotaging behaviors. If you consciously examine your life on a consistent basis, you will see patterns quickly. The key to learning from your mistakes is to think about them rationally, not emotionally.

Economies of Scale: Advantages and Flaws

The Advantages of Economies of Scale and Its Flaws

What are the advantages of economies of scale? Does scale come with its own disadvantages? The advantages of economies of scale include greater cost efficiency from increased product volume, competitive advantages due to size, and more sales because of brand ubiquity. Scale can also be disadvantageous because it can lead to bureaucracy and corruption. Read on to learn more about the advantages of economies of scale and its possible drawbacks.

How Peach and Coconut Cultures Approach Disclosure

What is the difference between a “peach” and a “coconut” culture? How do peach and coconut cultures approach personal disclosure? The peach/coconut model describes how different cultures indicate the depth of their relationship. People from peach cultures seem friendly on the outside but difficult to know on the inside. In contrast, people from coconut cultures may seem cold and unapproachable on the outside, but once you get to know them, you can build a deep, personal relationship with them really fast. Keep reading to learn more about peach and coconut cultures, according to cultural communication expert Erin Meyer.

Maxwell Maltz’s Psycho-Cybernetics—Book Overview

What is Maxwell Maltz’s Psycho-Cybernetics about? How can applying Maltz’s cybernetic principles help you reprogram your mind for success? In his book Psycho-Cybernetics, Maxwell Maltz explains how thinking of your mind as a machine can improve your self-image and dramatically increase your ability to feel successful and happy. Maltz argues that you can program your mind to achieve success and happiness in the same way that you’d program a machine to achieve certain goals. Below is a brief overview of his key ideas.

Tenets of Berkshire Hathaway’s Investment Strategy

How to Build the Next Trillion Dollar Business

What is Berkshire Hathaway’s investment strategy? Can the company perpetually maintain its impressive rate of return on investments? Berkshire Hathaway’s investment strategy involves using the cash collected from the conglomerate’s insurance subsidiaries and investing it in other businesses at a much higher rate of return. The strategy has helped the company to grow to be as large as it is today. However, even Charlie Munger notes that it will be difficult to maintain the company’s historical returns because it is harder to find underpriced investments when you have billions than when you have a few million. Read on to discover

“How” and “Why” Questions: Which Are More Valuable?

Are “how” or “why” questions more valuable? Which one is more often used in the education system? Although asking both “how” and “why” questions is necessary, “why” questions are more important because they get the recipient thinking. “Why” questions are slow and difficult and increase one’s critical thinking skills. Sadly, they’re not asked enough in schools. Here’s why “why” questions are such valuable learning tools.

Norman V. Peale: God Will Solve All of Your Problems

What does Bible have to say about problem-solving? How can the simple act of faith help you reveal solutions to your earthly problems? Problems are part of life—but with faith-based techniques, you can solve your problems in a manner that brings you the best outcome. According to pastor Norman Vincent Peale, God will solve all of your problems if you have the faith to put them in God’s hands. In this article, we’ll explore some of Peale’s suggestions for how to tackle personal problems.