Career & Business, page 2
Jobs, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, companies. 216 links, newest first. Page 2 of 5.
Links 51 to 100
Engineers to lawyers ratio linked to growth
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #186
The paper compared how many engineers and lawyers each country had
Summary
A famous 1980s economics paper linked countries' engineer-to-lawyer ratios with their economic growth.
The speaker describes a well-known 1980s economics paper that asked why some countries grow and others do not. It compared the ratio of engineers to lawyers in each country, and the conclusion he cites is that more engineers goes with more growth, while more lawyers goes with less growth.
Key points- The paper compared how many engineers and lawyers each country had
- More engineers per country was linked to more growth, the speaker says
- More lawyers per country was linked to less growth
Preparation shapes how smart you seem
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #186
The work done before you sit down matters more than what you say
Summary
Preparation shapes how smart people think you are more than anything you say in the room.
The speaker argues that the fastest way to look smart when you walk into a room is to prepare thoroughly. He says the outcome of a meeting is decided by the work done before you sit down, not by what you say at the table. Quoting the idea that people rise to their expectations but fall to their level of preparation, he recommends preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Key points- The work done before you sit down matters more than what you say
- We rise or fall to the level of our preparation, per the speaker
- Prepare hard enough that even your worst case looks strong
Frame updates as what, so what, now what
Short · instagram.com · Issue #185
'What' is the information you are sharing, such as an update or feedback
Summary
Package any update, feedback or answer with three questions: what is it, so what does it mean, and now what.
The speaker shares a three-question framework for communicating clearly. The "what" is the information you are sharing, such as an update, feedback or an answer. The "so what" explains why it matters to the listener, and the "now what" names the next step. He says answering all three packages information so that others can use it easily.
Key points- 'What' is the information you are sharing, such as an update or feedback
- 'So what' explains why it matters to the people you are talking to
- 'Now what' covers what comes next after the information is shared
The Secret Behind Japanese Cities
Read · noahpinion.blog · 12 min · Issue #184
Noah Smith reviews Emergent Tokyo by Jorge Almazán and Studiolab and argues that Tokyo's walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods come from permissive zoning and small-business rules.
Summary
Noah Smith reviews Emergent Tokyo by Jorge Almazán and Studiolab and argues that Tokyo's walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods come from permissive zoning and small-business rules. He points to multi-tenant zakkyo buildings, pocket neighborhoods and looser sign and liquor rules, and suggests U.S. cities could adopt parts of this model. He cites about 160,000 restaurants in Greater Tokyo against 25,000 in the New York metro area.
Get paid for knowledge by serving a change
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #183
Combine your skills, struggles, hobbies, vocation and passions into a unique mix
Summary
Anyone can get paid for their knowledge by serving a specific desired change for other people.
The speaker says anyone can earn money from knowledge by finding the combination of their skills, struggles, hobbies, vocation and passions. Success depends on focusing on what others want, namely their desired transformation, frustrations and limiting beliefs. He says you must learn marketing, provide value in advance, and prove you can help people by helping them.
Key points- Combine your skills, struggles, hobbies, vocation and passions into a unique mix
- Map your audience's desire, frustrations and limiting beliefs
- Marketing is unavoidable, or you become the typical starving artist
HBR Idea Cast
Tool · hbr.org · Issue #183
A weekly Harvard Business Review podcast in which editors Alison Beard and Adi Ignatius talk with business and management thinkers about leadership, strategy and innovation.
Summary
A weekly Harvard Business Review podcast in which editors Alison Beard and Adi Ignatius talk with business and management thinkers about leadership, strategy and innovation. Episodes can be heard through Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.
Nerves before hard talks are a good sign
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #182
Nervousness shows you care about the other person and the result
Summary
Feeling nervous before a hard conversation is a good sign, and deciding the outcome beforehand helps most.
The speaker gives three tips for hard conversations. Nervousness shows you care about the other person's feelings. Decide the outcome in advance by writing down the goal and how you want both of you to feel, and open by saying it will be a hard conversation. Replace "but" with "and", as in "I think you're great, and I also need to take care of myself."
Key points- Nervousness shows you care about the other person and the result
- Write down the goal and how you want both of you to feel
- Open with: this is going to be a hard conversation
Three career-damaging moves at work
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #182
Step away to walk or take a break instead of showing anger at work
Summary
Three moves damage your career: showing anger at work, ignoring leadership biases, and copying in senior people.
The speaker lists three workplace mistakes. Showing anger or frustration in public is one, so step away and reset instead. Another is ignoring the unspoken biases senior leaders hold from past projects or people, and learning them before you join. The third is copying a senior person's boss on an email, which signals you cannot solve the problem yourself, so use it only as a last resort.
Key points- Step away to walk or take a break instead of showing anger at work
- Learn past projects that bias senior leaders and avoid them
- CCing someone's boss signals they cannot solve the problem themselves
The only lie to tell in an interview
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #181
A short TikTok on what it calls the only lie to tell in an interview.
Summary
A short TikTok on what it calls the only lie to tell in an interview.
Poor production can hide real expertise online
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #180
If communication is weak, people see you as weak even when your value is high
Summary
Poor production can hide real value online, because people judge experts by visible quality, not by their substance.
The speaker argues that value is hard to see when communication or production is weak. Using a 1 to 10 scale, he says someone with strong value but poor communication is read as a 3. Online, poor production quality can pull down how an expert is perceived even when their communication is excellent, and he says this happens to many online experts.
Key points- If communication is weak, people see you as weak even when your value is high
- Great communication does not rescue poor production, which the speaker rates as a 3
- The speaker says many online experts are seen as a 3 because their production sucks
Build buy-in in hallways before meetings
Short · instagram.com · Issue #179
Nemawashi means building coalitions outside the meeting room before presenting to leaders
Summary
Build buy-in in the hallways before meetings, and provide value to people rather than self-promoting.
The first part of a series on office politics introduces nemawashi, the practice of building consensus informally before a formal meeting. The speaker says to secure buy-in from people outside the meeting room so a proposal is already supported when it is presented. His second tip is to provide value rather than self-promote, for example by sharing documents or walking colleagues through a hard problem you solved.
Key points- Nemawashi means building coalitions outside the meeting room before presenting to leaders
- Self-promotion puts a target on your back, the speaker warns
- Share documents or walk teammates through the hard problems you have solved
The 8 Lesser-Known Secrets of High Performers
Read · untetheredmind.co · 27 min · Issue #179
Alex uncovers the lesser-known secrets behind the success of high-performing individuals.
Summary
Alex uncovers the lesser-known secrets behind the success of high-performing individuals. The article presents eight of them.
Handle questions you cannot answer
Short · instagram.com · Issue #178
Start with a transition phrase instead of a go-to filler line
Summary
When you don't know an answer, use a transition phrase, explain your thinking briefly, then suggest next steps.
The speaker offers a three-step formula for replying to a question you cannot answer. Begin with a transition phrase, explain your thought process in a few sentences, then suggest next steps. He argues that this approach builds a stronger personal brand at work than stock phrases such as a plain "I don't know".
Key points- Start with a transition phrase instead of a go-to filler line
- Explain your thought process in a few sentences
- End by suggesting next steps, which the speaker says builds your personal brand at work
AI can tailor a resume and LinkedIn message
Short · instagram.com · Issue #178
Upload the resume and job description, and ask whether you are ready to apply
Summary
An AI assistant can check your resume against a job, then draft a tailored LinkedIn message to the hiring manager.
The speaker outlines a resume workflow using an AI assistant called Genius Agent. Upload your resume and a job description, and it says whether you are ready to apply and which changes to make. Export the hiring manager's LinkedIn profile as a PDF to draft a connection message. He also recommends You.com for interview prep, which returns company research, practice questions and sample answers.
Key points- Upload the resume and job description, and ask whether you are ready to apply
- Export the hiring manager's profile to PDF and ask for a tailored LinkedIn message
- Ask for company research, practice questions and sample answers before interviews
TikTok Is Becoming a Job Board for Gen Z
Read · tubefilter.com · 18 min · Issue #177
James Hale of Tubefilter argues that TikTok is becoming a job board for Gen Z.
Summary
James Hale of Tubefilter argues that TikTok is becoming a job board for Gen Z. He cites a TikToker who applied for a media role and was later invited to interview after commenters vouched for her. Per Resume Genius, about one in five Gen Z workers say they have applied for jobs or landed interviews through TikTok. Hale speculates that the platform may add job-search features.
A pitch works like a plot diagram
Short · instagram.com · Issue #176
Follow the order: big problem, the pain it causes, failed solutions, then your solution
Summary
A pitch works like a plot diagram: problem, pain, failed fixes, solution, success, then next steps.
The speaker adapts the plot diagram from high school into a pitch structure. The introduction states the big problem, the inflection point the pain it causes, and the rising action the failed solutions. The climax presents your solution, the falling action your early successes, and the resolution your next steps. The speaker illustrates this with a company that raised $1.7 billion.
Key points- Follow the order: big problem, the pain it causes, failed solutions, then your solution
- After the solution, show the successes, then close with the next steps
- The speaker illustrates this with a company that raised $1.7 billion from 2007
How to Find Your Niche
Read · experimental-history.com · 50 min · Issue #176
Adam Mastroianni argues that everyone has a valuable place in the world, because humans occupy a cognitive niche they can customize in countless ways.
Summary
Adam Mastroianni argues that everyone has a valuable place in the world, because humans occupy a cognitive niche they can customize in countless ways. He names three reasons people fail to find theirs: local roles go unfilled as attention globalizes, finding a fit is treated as purely personal, and some believe a fit is impossible. The essay uses examples such as a professional bridesmaid and underwater pizza delivery.
How Generational Stereotypes Hold Us Back at Work
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #175
Leah Georges, a social psychologist, argues that assumptions people make about other generations, from the Silent Generation to Gen Z, can hinder work and communication.
Summary
Leah Georges, a social psychologist, argues that assumptions people make about other generations, from the Silent Generation to Gen Z, can hinder work and communication. The 11-minute talk, from May 2019, holds that people across generations are more alike than different. The description says she offers tactics for multigenerational workplaces. The talk is free to watch on YouTube.
Taski: Decision-Making and Planning Tool
Tool · usetaski.com · Issue #175
Taski is a planning tool that helps users prioritize tasks and make personal or business decisions with built-in frameworks.
Summary
Taski is a planning tool that helps users prioritize tasks and make personal or business decisions with built-in frameworks. Its to-do lists work as checklists, and progress can be exported as an image, Markdown or a document for sharing. More features are planned. It is free for a limited time, and support is requested through donation links.
Say I understand, then ask an open question
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #174
Repeat their point in your words, like 'money is an important factor for you'
Summary
Answering an objection with an answer shuts down learning, so say 'I understand' and ask an open question back.
The speaker says the habit of answering questions, drilled in at school, undermines persuasion, since objections such as "it's too expensive" rarely reveal the real issue. Their method, which they call Aikido, is to say "I understand," reflect the point back in your words, and ask an open question like "What other criteria will be used in taking this decision?" They say this takes practice, because emotion shuts down thinking.
Key points- Repeat their point in your words, like 'money is an important factor for you'
- Aikido means moving toward the objection to see the real need behind it
- The habit takes repeated practice, since years of school trained us to answer questions
Affinity maps get a whole room aligned
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #173
Spotify's design team starts with user talks, market research and written notes, the speaker says
Summary
An affinity map sorts messy research into buckets, getting a whole room on the same page.
The speaker describes affinity mapping, a design method for sorting messy input such as pain points, feature ideas, and feedback into buckets. They credit Spotify's design team with a similar process, starting with user conversations and market research. The speaker uses affinity maps to get a room on the same page, and mentions a free resource on eight sense-making tools.
Key points- Spotify's design team starts with user talks, market research and written notes, the speaker says
- Affinity maps group pain points and feature ideas into organized buckets
- The speaker credits this kind of process with Spotify reaching over 100 million subscribers
Justify work with outcomes, not plans or tools
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #171
Leaders who think strategically often slide into their team's plans and schedules
Summary
To sound strategic, justify your work with outcomes and business impact, not with plans, schedules and tools.
The speaker advises leaders who are told they lack strategic thinking to stay at the outcome level. Justify work by its results, impact on the business, and effect on the bottom line, and avoid tactical detail such as tools, plans, and schedules unless pressed. Discussing details invites second-guessing and weakens credibility. Bosses usually want to know the project will be handled, not how.
Key points- Leaders who think strategically often slide into their team's plans and schedules
- Going into tactical detail invites second-guessing and hurts your credibility
- Give details only when pressed, because bosses mostly want the project handled
Private equity deal preceded Red Lobster bankruptcy
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #169
Golden Gate Capital bought Red Lobster in 2014 for $2.1 billion through a leveraged buyout
Summary
Private equity bought Red Lobster with debt, sold its land and leased it back, and the chain later went bankrupt.
The speaker describes how Golden Gate Capital bought Red Lobster in 2014 for $2.1 billion using a leveraged buyout, which put the debt on the company. Red Lobster then sold nearly all its land for $1.5 billion and leased it back, paying rent that rose 2% a year. Ownership later shifted to Thai Union, and the company posted a $76 million loss in 2023 before filing for bankruptcy.
Key points- Golden Gate Capital bought Red Lobster in 2014 for $2.1 billion through a leveraged buyout
- Red Lobster sold most of its land for $1.5 billion, then paid rent rising 2% yearly
- The chain posted a $76 million loss in 2023, then filed for bankruptcy
How Companies Can End a Culture of Overwork
Read · hbr.org · 12 min · Issue #169
Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed and Over Work, argues that personal factors drive workaholism, but workplaces can make overwork worse.
Summary
Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed and Over Work, argues that personal factors drive workaholism, but workplaces can make overwork worse. Long hours and constant work preoccupation, she says, do not improve results. She recommends that leaders stop rewarding visible presence, fix processes that create extra work, staff teams so people can take breaks, and set clear boundaries. Published in HBR's September 2024 Overcoming Overwork series.
How to be a great leader
Short · instagram.com · Issue #168
A short Instagram post on how to be a great leader.
Summary
A short Instagram post on how to be a great leader.
A question to ask when hiring
Short · instagram.com · Issue #168
A short Instagram post on a question to ask when hiring.
Summary
A short Instagram post on a question to ask when hiring.
Strategy pitch flows from problem to investment
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #167
Open with the goal, the problem in the way, and new information that shows a way around it
Summary
A four-part strategy presentation moves from the problem to the idea, then the success measures and the investment.
The speaker presents a four-part strategy presentation formula called RIKI. It starts with the role, covering the goal, the problem in the way, and new information that suggests a way around it. The idea comes next, with the proposed actions and steps. The presentation then covers KPIs, the metrics for measuring success, and finally the investment in time and money required.
Key points- Open with the goal, the problem in the way, and new information that shows a way around it
- Then present the proposed idea and the steps needed to reach it
- Close with the KPIs that measure success and the time and money required
A 24-hour rule closes the thinking-doing gap
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #167
Bill Perkins says he succeeds because he is faster, making mistakes before others start
Summary
Speed wins: cutting the gap between thinking and doing, through a 24-hour rule, is how the speaker's companies act.
The speaker describes mentor Bill Perkins, who attributes his success to moving faster than others and correcting mistakes sooner. The speaker says the 24-hour rule their companies adopted comes from this approach: a bias toward action that shrinks the time between thinking about something and doing it. They dislike replies such as "I'll get back to you next week."
Key points- Bill Perkins says he succeeds because he is faster, making mistakes before others start
- The company's 24-hour rule pushes for a bias toward action, the speaker says
- He dislikes the reply 'I'll get back to you on that next week'
The Hidden Crowd Engineering Behind Event Venues
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #165
A Wall Street Journal video in which an expert explains how major event venues are laid out to balance safety and revenue, from entry lines at festivals to concession stands at stadiums.
Summary
A Wall Street Journal video in which an expert explains how major event venues are laid out to balance safety and revenue, from entry lines at festivals to concession stands at stadiums. The video covers the arrivals curve, crowd psychology, the art of the queue and departures, and how to move tens of thousands of people through an event.
Plan around what won't change in ten years
Short · youtube.com · Issue #165
Customers at Amazon will always want low prices, fast delivery and big selection
Summary
Plan around what will not change in ten years, such as low prices, fast delivery and large selection, the speaker says.
Jeff Bezos argues that the most useful strategic question is what will not change over the next 10 years, since plans can be built around those things. At Amazon he cites low prices, fast delivery, and a large selection as lasting customer wants. He says energy spent on these stable needs keeps paying off.
Key points- Customers at Amazon will always want low prices, fast delivery and big selection
- No customer will say they wish delivery were slower or prices higher
- Energy spent on stable needs keeps paying dividends over the years
Corporate jargon hides a leaner-company plan
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #164
The translator reads Q1 as a weak quarter that management is upset about
Summary
Corporate jargon hides a plan to become a leaner organization, in a satirical all-hands meeting.
A comedy sketch shows an all-hands meeting where a presenter's "corporate translator" explains the jargon. The presenter says Q1 was strong with some process gaps, while the translator says management is upset. When asked about layoffs, the presenter denies it and says the organization will become much leaner, with a figure of 25% of the organization mentioned.
Key points- The translator reads Q1 as a weak quarter that management is upset about
- Gaps in processes are being fixed to make the company leaner, the speaker jokes
- A line claims the cut will be 25% of the organization, delivered as jargon
Confidence comes from what you tell yourself
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #163
Daily recovery deserves as much attention as hard work, the speaker says
Summary
Confidence comes only from what you say to yourself, so coach and back yourself every day.
The speaker says confidence comes from one place: what you say to yourself. To be great, he argues, you have to take risks, while peers wait for a mistake to get their chance. He describes a daily recovery program built on speaking to, backing, and coaching yourself. This weakens an identity built around constant performing, so you perform to contribute to something meaningful rather than the bottom line.
Key points- Daily recovery deserves as much attention as hard work, the speaker says
- Peers waiting for your mistake make risk-taking necessary to be great
- Coaching yourself lets the need to perform to prove identity fade away
Open posture frees your voice and face
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #161
Say the opening line with arms folded, then again with arms stretched open
Summary
Opening with a closed posture locks your voice and face, so open your arms and let the gesture carry your delivery.
The speaker demonstrates body language by saying the same greeting with folded arms and then with a relaxed, open posture. A volunteer's smile, pace, and emphasis changed without being asked, which the speaker attributes to gestures amplifying voice and facial expression. The speaker argues many presenters lock their body language at the start, which affects their face and voice.
Key points- Say the opening line with arms folded, then again with arms stretched open
- The open gesture made the speaker smile and change pace without being asked
- Presenters who lock their body language at the start limit voice and expression
A designer's sunglasses Levi's once rejected
Short · youtube.com · Issue #161
A Levi's executive said the design execution was not good enough for a collaboration
Summary
A designer's sunglasses were turned down by Levi's years ago, and he has since refined every detail of the design.
A designer recalls showing sunglasses to an executive at Levi's, pitching a collaboration in which jeans would be hardened with resin. The executive said the execution was not good enough, and the designer agrees. Eight years later, the design has changed, with brass hexagon dots, a five-prong hinge, and a brass zigzag in place of a large logo, and every detail has been improved repeatedly.
Key points- A Levi's executive said the design execution was not good enough for a collaboration
- Eight years later he changed the brass hexagon dots, five-prong hinge and zigzag
- The speaker says almost everything has been improved again and again
Kickresume: AI Resume and Cover Letter Builder
Tool · kickresume.com · Issue #160
Kickresume is an online resume and cover letter builder with recruiter-approved templates, AI writing tools for work experience bullets and cover letters, an ATS resume checker, and job-tailoring features.
Summary
Kickresume is an online resume and cover letter builder with recruiter-approved templates, AI writing tools for work experience bullets and cover letters, an ATS resume checker, and job-tailoring features. The free plan includes basic templates and unlimited downloads, and the paid plan costs 18 euros a month, or 54 euros billed every three months, for more templates and unlimited AI features.
The very rich earn mainly from business interest
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #158
A 10K net worth is mostly personal belongings, per the chart
Summary
Wealth groups show that the very rich get their money mainly from business interest, not from investing.
The speaker shows a chart of asset mixes by wealth group. For people with around 10,000 in net worth, most is personal belongings. In the 100,000 and early-millionaire groups, most comes from home equity and retirement. For the ten-million, hundred-million, and billionaire groups, business interest dominates, with small retirement holdings and less real estate. The speaker concludes that reaching the top usually requires building a valuable business.
Key points- A 10K net worth is mostly personal belongings, per the chart
- The 100K to early millionaire groups hold mostly home equity and retirement savings
- Ten million and up groups have small retirements and most wealth from business interest
Joining script lines with and, but, therefore
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #155
Replace chains of 'and this and that' with 'and', 'but' and 'therefore'
Summary
Connecting every sentence of a script with 'and', 'but' and 'therefore' keeps viewers from losing interest.
The speaker recommends the "and, but, therefore" method for scripting videos. Instead of linking every idea with "and," connecting sentences with these three words keeps viewers from losing interest. The speaker says they used the framework throughout this video.
Key points- Replace chains of 'and this and that' with 'and', 'but' and 'therefore'
- Use the structure while scripting so the audience keeps listening
- The speaker says this video itself follows the same framework
How a Former City Trader Made Millions and Left the Job
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #154
Former City of London trader Gary Stevenson tells his life story, from leaving school at 16 to winning a trading job through a card game he says was rigged against him.
Summary
Former City of London trader Gary Stevenson tells his life story, from leaving school at 16 to winning a trading job through a card game he says was rigged against him. He covers large wins and losses, including a roughly $35 million bet on an economic downturn, and explains why he left a $2 million job to speak about economic inequality.
Companies keep prices high as inflation falls
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #154
Pepsi cited higher costs in 2021 while reporting $11 billion in profit
Summary
The speaker argues corporations keep prices high even as inflation falls, pointing to Pepsi and Coca-Cola price rises.
Robert Reich argues that inflation can fall while prices stay high, because large companies have monopoly power. He cites PepsiCo and Coca-Cola keeping prices up despite lower cost pressure, and four firms controlling most meat processing. He points to Biden administration antitrust actions, including a suit against Amazon and a blocked JetBlue and Spirit merger, and urges viewers to pressure the government.
Key points- Pepsi cited higher costs in 2021 while reporting $11 billion in profit
- In 2023 Pepsi's finance chief said prices would stay high as inflation dropped
- Coca-Cola announced similar hikes, so rival pricing shows no real competition
Real passive income is slow to build
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #154
He says 97% of passive income offers are scams and 3% are real
Summary
Real passive income is slow: you build a business on the side while keeping a job you can stand.
Gary Vaynerchuk answers a question about passive income by arguing that most offers sold under that name are scams. He says the only real sources are public markets you can leave alone and real estate. His advice is to keep a job that pays the bills, spend nights building an online business that costs almost nothing to start, and move to it over seven years.
Key points- He says 97% of passive income offers are scams and 3% are real
- Put only money you can afford to lose into public markets or real estate
- Build something online at night for about seven years, then move to your own business
Steady video ideas need weekly proactive research
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #154
Search TikTok hashtags and questions, then check each creator's most popular videos
Summary
Steady video ideas come from a few hours of weekly proactive research across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
A creator who grew from 10,000 to 350,000 TikTok followers describes proactive research: spending 2 to 3 hours a week finding video ideas that perform well in a niche. On TikTok they search hashtags and terms and filter for top videos. On Instagram they use the Explore page or a dedicated research account. On YouTube a free Chrome extension shows how each video performs against its channel's average.
Key points- Search TikTok hashtags and questions, then check each creator's most popular videos
- On Instagram, use the explore page, or build research accounts following 50 to 100 niche creators
- Use a Chrome extension to spot YouTube videos performing well above their channel's average
Simple production is enough to start
Short · youtube.com · Issue #154
The speaker spent about 10 minutes making noodles for the video
Summary
A 10-minute noodle video drew 200,000 subscribers, so the speaker says content needs no elaborate production to start.
A creator says one 10-minute video about making noodles brought in about 200,000 new subscribers. They argue that many people who want to start creating content assume they need expensive or elaborate productions, and that this belief keeps them from starting. Their point is that simple content is enough to begin.
Key points- The speaker spent about 10 minutes making noodles for the video
- Says many creators spend months on masterpieces and get little back
- Argues the belief that content must be complicated stops many from posting
How to Stop Saying Um, Ah and You Know
Read · hbr.org · 10 min · Issue #154
Noah Zandan's 2018 Harvard Business Review article argues that filler words weaken a speaker's credibility and distract from the message.
Summary
Noah Zandan's 2018 Harvard Business Review article argues that filler words weaken a speaker's credibility and distract from the message. Its remedy is to replace them with pauses, in three steps: pair each crutch word with a physical action, practice staying silent when one is coming, and rehearse more than you think you need. It suggests about one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation.
End a pitch with one more thing
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #151
The peak-end theory says memory is shaped by the peak and the ending
Summary
End a pitch with a one-more-thing idea, since people remember an experience by its peak moment and its ending.
The speaker says people remember an experience by its peak moment and how it ends, citing the peak-end principle with a movie example. The speaker recommends ending a pitch with a one more thing idea, a fresh suggestion for the client, so the proposal stands out after the meeting.
Key points- The peak-end theory says memory is shaped by the peak and the ending
- Save an innovative one-more-thing idea for the close of the meeting
- A memorable hook helps you stand out when clients review all proposals
Not earning often signals a small problem
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #151
The problem must be big enough that people will pay to fix it
Summary
Not making money usually means your problem is too small or your solution is not clearly tied to it.
The speaker says a business is not making money for one of two reasons. Either it is not solving a problem big enough that people will pay to fix, or the customer does not see how the solution fixes their problem. The speaker presents this as the core of business basics.
Key points- The problem must be big enough that people will pay to fix it
- Customers must clearly see that your solution fixes their specific problem
Map real power centres to rise in companies
Short · tiktok.com · Issue #150
Old org charts hide where decisions and influence actually sit
Summary
To rise in a large company, map the real power centres and the incentivised behaviours, not just the org chart.
The speaker explains how to advance in a large company: find the real power centers, which often do not appear on the org chart, and identify the behaviors actually rewarded rather than those stated. Next, find trusted advocates to advance together, then stay long term and detach emotionally, since the speaker says the politics come at an emotional cost.
Key points- Old org charts hide where decisions and influence actually sit
- Find who has senior leaders' ear and what behaviours get rewarded
- Keep your strengths, but bend communication toward incentivised outcomes
People care more about earning above peers
Short · youtu.be · Issue #149
Most pick 90k with peers at 80k over 100k with peers at 110k
Summary
The speaker says people care more about earning above their peers than about earning more in absolute terms.
The speaker poses two choices. Most people would rather earn 90,000 when colleagues earn 80,000 than earn 100,000 when colleagues earn 110,000. Most also prefer six weeks of vacation when colleagues get nine over three weeks when colleagues get one. The speaker says people care about status when it comes to money, but not when it comes to time off.
Key points- Most pick 90k with peers at 80k over 100k with peers at 110k
- Most pick six vacation weeks when peers get nine, since vacation carries no status
- The speaker says humans are weird because status matters more than money
Ortto Free AI Subject Line Tester
Tool · ortto.com · Issue #147
Ortto's AI Labs offers a free subject line tester.
Summary
Ortto's AI Labs offers a free subject line tester. You enter a subject line, your name and email, and it predicts the open rate for your line and for AI-generated alternatives. The example shown scores the entered line at 0% and the suggestions at 22% to 32%. Ortto is a customer data, messaging and analytics platform.
Crash Course Business Soft Skills: Influence
Watch · youtube.com · Issue #146
CrashCourse's second Business Soft Skills episode explains what influence is, how to use it respectfully and how to protect yourself from its manipulative uses.
Summary
CrashCourse's second Business Soft Skills episode explains what influence is, how to use it respectfully and how to protect yourself from its manipulative uses. It opens with how con artists scam people, why people follow good or bad leaders, and how CEOs win better deals in the boardroom. The host is Evelyn, and the video is free to watch.
The Struggle: Ben Horowitz on Hard Times at Companies
Read · fs.blog · 4 min · Issue #145
Shane Parrish of Farnam Street summarizes Ben Horowitz's book The Hard Thing About Hard Things, which covers the low point founders reach when a company goes wrong, the Struggle.
Summary
Shane Parrish of Farnam Street summarizes Ben Horowitz's book The Hard Thing About Hard Things, which covers the low point founders reach when a company goes wrong, the Struggle. The article argues hardship is a normal part of building a company and where greatness comes from. It offers six coping ideas, including sharing the burden, keeping focus on the goal and avoiding harsh self-judgment.
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