Shortform Books

When Should You Start Drawing Social Security?

What is the earliest age you can collect social security? What factors should you take into account when deciding when to receive your social security payouts? Choosing when to start drawing social security is an important decision. You can claim Social Security starting at age 62, but the sooner you start, the smaller your checks will be. The longer you hold off up to age 70, the larger they’ll be, but you’ll have fewer years to collect them. Here is what financial blogger J. L. Collins has to say on drawing your social security.

Adam 1 and Adam 2: Re-Balance Your Two Worldviews

What’s the problem with living a me-focused life? Why is it important to balance the two Adams that live inside of you? In his book The Road to Character, David Brooks discusses the shift in the societal focus from “we” to “me.” To demonstrate that shift, Brooks talks about the idea that there are two Adams that live inside you, Adam 1 and Adam 2. Brooks says that you don’t need to choose sides, rather, you need to find a healthy balance between the two Adams. Keep reading to learn about the problems with a me-focused attitude and how to

Childhood & Self-Esteem: How to Raise a Confident Kid

How do children develop self-esteem? What can you do to help your child develop a healthy sense of self-esteem? There are many factors that shape self-esteem in childhood. Genetics plays a part, but upbringing and experience (risk, failure, and so on) are also critical. Failure, in particular, builds resilience—the more you experience it, especially when you’re young, the less you fear it. Below are some techniques for helping children develop self-esteem.

Behavioral Investing: Are You An Irrational Investor?

What is behavioral investing? What behavioral traits can cause problems for investors? Behavioral investing theories point out that people are generally not rational decision-makers. This is important for investing because a lot of people are actually irrational investors. Understanding (and avoiding) the common traits of an irrational investor will allow you to make better investment decisions. Keep reading for more about behavioral investing.

Safe Alternatives to Savings Accounts: 5 Strong Options

What are some safe alternatives to savings accounts? Which is the best choice you for? Keeping a robust cash reserve is essential for emergencies, but it can also be a losing proposition if your savings account interest rate is lower than the inflation rate. There are a number of safe alternatives to savings accounts that will allow your cash to keep pace with inflation. Keep reading for a list of safe alternatives to savings accounts.

Evaluate Results to Make Better Future Decisions

Do you evaluate results after you make decisions? What can you learn by doing so? Learning from experience is a powerful way to grow. Whether it’s a decision you made—or a decision someone else made—you should evaluate results and use them as learning opportunities. Read more to learn why and how to evaluate the results of decisions.

Are Self-Serving Attributions Holding You Back?

What are self-serving attributions? How do they keep us from learning and growing? Self-serving attributions are a form of bias that we’re all guilty of at times. If our decision turns out well, we attribute it to our skill. If it doesn’t, we call it bad luck. When we think this way, we fail to learn from experience because we’ve mischaracterized the experience. To learn and grow, we should look honestly at ourselves—and at others. Continue reading to learn how self-serving attributions might be getting in the way of growth.

The Ability to Adapt and the Power of Letting Go

How is the ability to adapt important for personal growth and mental health? How does this ability relate to the power of letting go? Healthy navigation of life requires an ability to adapt. In The Road Less Traveled, psychiatrist M. Scott Peck calls this balance, which is a component of discipline. It allows us to remain flexible, moderating our behaviors when beneficial. It also requires sacrifices, and we would do well to embrace the power of letting go in order to grow. Keep reading to learn how the ability to adapt is an important part of mental well-being.

P&G Case Study: Strategic Choice Cascade in Practice

What is this P&G case study about? Why was P&G so successful in implementing the strategic choice cascade model? This P&G case study showcases how the authors of Playing to Win implemented the five steps of the strategic choice cascade to transform the company’s Olay brand into a hugely profitable product. The implementation was successful because the management was the key driving force behind the strategy. Read on to discover how this P&G case study showcases the successful implementation of the strategic choice cascade model.

Encouraging Advice for Depressed Christians

What advice can help depressed Christians? What does the bible say about negative thinking? A negative mindset can create a destructive chain of thinking that impacts your behavior, self-esteem, and personal relationships. Depressed Christians can turn to the bible for support and advice when times are tough. Here is some of the best biblical advice for depressed Christians.