Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

Crawl-Walk-Run Approach to Tech: In Business, Slow Is Better

What is the “crawl-walk-run” approach to business? Why is it especially important to take this approach when it comes to technology? Good-to-great companies engage with groundbreaking technologies in a very specific way: Rather than bet the house on the technology itself, they think deeply about how the technology can serve the company’s Hedgehog Concept. A good rule of thumb is to follow the “crawl, walk, run” approach—slow down and think about how a technology can help you realize your Hedgehog Concept, then move carefully toward a strategy. Once the strategy is in place and chugging along, however, don’t be afraid

Success Mindset: The Secret of Sports Stars and CEOs

What is the success mindset? How does the way you define success affect how successful you are? We’ll cover the elements of the success mindset and look at examples of the success mindset in school, sports, business, and relationships.

Building a Successful Team: The Complete Guide

What are the keys to building a successful team? Why should building a great team be the first thing you do when you’re starting or revamping a business? We’ll cover how to build a successful team and why it may be the most important thing you do for your company.

Are You a Fox or a Hedgehog? Why One’s the Better Leader

Are you a fox or a hedgehog? If you manage a business, you probably want to be a hedgehog (or at least act like one). People can be divided into foxes and hedgehogs: Foxes know many things and engage with a complex world on its own terms; hedgehogs know one big thing and subsume the world’s complexity to a single, simple, unifying idea. We’ll cover why hedgehogs make the best leaders, how to act like a hedgehog if it doesn’t come naturally to you, and how to answer the question, Are you a fox or a hedgehog?

Growth Mindset for Teachers: Educating Your Students

You know that your students need to have a growth mindset. But do you know how to instill a growth mindset in your students? And what about your own? How does your mindset as a teacher affect your students? A growth mindset for teachers is imperative for student achievement and mental health. We’ll cover the theory behind Carol Dweck’s growth mindset for teachers and discuss ways to inculcate a growth mindset in your students and yourself. Learn why teachers’ mindsets matter.

Hillbilly Fights: How to Defend Your Honor in Appalachia

How are hillbilly fights different than others? Do hillbillies fight by a different set of rules? How is fighting built into the hillbilly culture? We’ll cover some of the hillbilly fights in the life of JD Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy, and look at how the region’s culture of honor encourages them.

The 2 Most Important Growth Mindset Characteristics

What are the key growth mindset characteristics? How do they affect success in school, sports, business, and relationships? We’ll cover the core beliefs and growth mindset characteristics that set successful people apart.

Champion Mindset: The 3 Key Beliefs of the Best Athletes

What is the champion mindset? How does it help you meet your athletic potential? We’ll cover the elements of the champion mindset and how to adopt it to become the best athlete you can be.

9 Key Takeaways From Good to Great: In-Depth Guide

What are the key takeaways from Good to Great by Jim Collins? How does Collins believe good companies can become great ones? We’ll cover the most important key takeaways from Good to Great. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a manager, or just an individual looking to improve, the concepts in Good to Great provide food for thought—and spurs to action. You’ll learn what it takes to be a “Level 5” leader, why assembling the right team first is more important than having the right idea, and why you should be more like a hedgehog than a fox.

AK Steel Almost Ruined Middletown, Ohio

What is the history of AK Steel in Middletown, Ohio? How has AK Steel, and Armco before it, impacted Middletown’s economy? In Hillbilly Elegy, JD Vance tells the story of the impact of AK Steel on Middletown, Ohio. To fully tell his story, JD has to begin by telling his family’s story. Grandparents Mamaw and Papaw were raised in Jackson, Kentucky, which they left in the 1940s when Papaw found work in the Armco steelworks in Middletown, Ohio.