The World's Best Book Summaries
Are you well prepared for a negotiation? How do you make a good bargain that benefits both you and your opponent? When you’re face-to-face at the negotiating table, you want to strike the best possible deal. Experts have great advice on how to take advantage of new information and how to use the Ackerman model to craft your offer. Learn how to bargain by getting all the information you need to master the Ackerman model.
Why is relationship-building important in leadership? What type of qualities are required to build relationships in the workplace? Leaders who possess relationship-building skills are great at helping teams work together. They keep the environment positive by making people feel comfortable and respected. Discover more about the relationship-building leadership type, as read in Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie.
Why was Malcolm X in prison? How did his life change dramatically when he was incarcerated? Malcolm X’s childhood was steeped in adversity, and it didn’t take long for him to turn to crime. When he was just 20 years old, he was sent to prison after being convicted on burglary charges in Boston. Six years later, he emerged a different man than he was when he went in. Keep reading to learn about Malcolm X in prison, as presented in his autobiography.
Are you an educator when you engage in sales? When is having fewer customers a good thing? Paul Jarvis argues that it’s vital for a single-person company to foster strong connections with its customers. Since these companies aren’t receiving money from investors, they depend on customer relationships to sustain and grow their business. Here’s Jarvis’s advice on how to build strong customer relationships.
Is anything negative going on in your life right now? Is your body trying to tell you something? Are you holding on to any regret or resentment? Radical Acceptance is a practice in which we acknowledge what we’re experiencing—positive or negative—and welcome it. It’s a powerful tool that allows us to be fully present in each passing moment. It helps us avoid getting stuck in our own heads. Continue reading for eight Radical Acceptance exercises based on the book of the same name by Tara Brach as well as books by Eckhart Tolle and Ryan Holiday.
Do you have a reputation as a good listener? Does it feel like you have to repeat yourself a lot? Do you get easily triggered, or do you seem to set other people off emotionally? Communicating effectively with others is a crucial skill—it’s how we build and maintain relationships, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. However, James Williams explains that good communication skills don’t come naturally—instead, they’re built up over time through intentional practice. Keep reading to learn about four core communication skills and how to practice them in your everyday life.
Should you scale or sell your business? How do you sell a business, if that’s what you choose to do? Once your business reaches a point of immense success, you have a big decision to make. You can either continue to grow your business or sell it to another company that’ll do the work for you. Continue reading to decide if selling your business is the right move for you.
What’s the Ackerman Model for negotiating? Why is the Ackerman Model a good alternative to traditional negotiating? Created by ex-CIA operative Mike Ackerman, this model is based on the offer-counteroffer system. It uses a tapering system that brings the ultimate number (whether it’s the price you’ll be paying or the price you’ll be receiving) closer to your preference. Below, we’ll explore some of the key steps in the Ackerman Model.
What’s the strategic leadership style? How can you be a strategic thinker as a leader? Strategic thinkers help their teams grow by analyzing performances and suggesting possibilities for improvement. These types of leaders are open to learning and asking questions to uncover new information. Let’s look at what it takes to be a strategic leader.
How quickly can your company pivot when it needs to? Do you crave independence, not just for yourself but for your business? In Company of One, Paul Jarvis advocates for one-person companies. He argues that, by owning such a business, you can exercise more control over your work and create your own schedule. Also, your company is more likely to ride the waves of external changes better than larger businesses can. Keep reading to learn about these two significant benefits of a one-person company.