Shortform Books

Index vs. Mutual Funds: What Is the Difference?

What are the benefits of investing in a fund? What is the difference between index vs. mutual funds? Both index funds and mutual funds allow you to invest in a diverse group of investments. The main difference is that index funds invest in a specific group of assets (e.g. S&P 500 stocks), while mutual funds invest a changing list of assets, selected by a fund manager. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between index funds and mutual funds: how they work, their benefits, and their disadvantages.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Bank

What makes a “good” bank? What are some things you need to consider when choosing where to do your banking? Taking a little bit of time to choose a good bank now will save you time, money, and frustration down the line. There are many things to consider when choosing a bank, fees and reputation being the most reliable indicators of a bank’s trustworthiness. In this article, you’ll learn how banks make money off their customers and how to tell the difference between trustworthy banks and predatory banks.

Yellow Hat Thinking: Positive and Concrete

What is yellow hat thinking from Six Thinking Hats? What mode of thinking does the yellow hat represent? The yellow hat is the constructive hat. This means the wearer’s job is to provide proposals and suggestions to the rest of the team while staying grounded and focusing on improvement. Keep reading to learn how to use the yellow hat in your decision-making process.

The 6 Signs You Should Quit Your Job Immediately

What are the signs you should quit your job immediately? How do you know if your work environment is toxic? It’s easy to get stuck in a toxic work environment, especially if your job has perks like a good salary and title. However, if you’re noticing some of the warning signs below, it might be time for you to move on. Keep reading for six signs you should quit your job immediately.

Your Life Designing Team: The Power of Collaboration

How can a team contribute to your life designing endeavors? How do you put such a team together? Life design is an ongoing process—you shouldn’t go it alone. Teamwork is part of design thinking. You live your life in a community, so it makes sense to design your life in collaboration with others. Keep reading to learn how to put together a life designing team.

The 3 Benefits of Coaching for You and Your Team

What are the benefits of coaching for your team? How does it benefit you as the coach? Many organizations are shifting to a coaching model of leadership. That’s because there are benefits of coaching that you can’t get with traditional management. It holds advantages for both the coach and the team. Keep reading to learn three benefits of coaching.

3 Active Learning Methods to Accelerate Your Growth

What are some effective active learning methods? How is this style of learning better than rote memorization? With active learning, you don’t just receive new information. Rather, you actively participate in the learning experience. Active learning methods are not only more effective, but they’re also more enjoyable. Keep reading to learn about three different active learning methods.

The 1997 Financial Crisis in Asia: Causes and Results

What was the 1997 Financial Crisis? Which countries were affected? The 1997 Financial Crisis that hit many Asian countries significantly affected their economies given the momentum, extent, and vitality under which the meltdown occurred. The crisis greatly affected various nations including South Korea and other Asian Tigers. In this article, you’ll learn how the 1997 Financial Crisis started, and what happened in its aftermath.

The Secrets to Effective Time Management in Sales

Why is time management in sales important? How do productive salespeople manage their time? Time management in sales is important because it increases productivity and helps you better manage the many surprises that happen in the sales profession. Productive salespeople strive to spend more time with customers instead of their co-workers, and they follow a strict daily sales schedule. Read on to discover how to master time management in sales.

The Power of Thinking: How Thoughts Shape Reality

How do your thoughts shape your reality? How can you benefit from the power of thinking? Your mindset strongly impacts your perceptions, efforts, and actions, and you can leverage it to achieve happiness and success. Your brain filters your awareness through a positive or negative lens. This choice dictates your perception of the world, and perception defines your reality. Learn about the power of thinking below.