Amanda Penn, Author at Shortform Books

The Greatest Lesson From Chemotherapy Pioneer Jay Freireich

Who is Jay Freireich? And what can this doctor and researcher teach us about making use of so-called disadvantages? Emil “Jay” Freireich is a doctor who pioneered chemotherapy as a treatment for childhood leukemia. However, he may never have persevered in the face of criticism and threats of being fired if he hadn’t had such a traumatic childhood. We’ll cover how trauma can be an advantage and what you can learn from Jay Freireich’s success.

How to Negotiate: The Practical Guide

Negotiations at work are becoming more and more common, no matter what your role at your organization. We all need to learn to negotiate. What practicalities should you take into consideration when learning how to negotiate? We’ll cover all the basics of how to negotiate: where to meet, how to communicate, which protocols to be aware of, and how to prepare.

How to Get to Yes: 6 Critical Skills to Succeed

Negotiating is a skill you use daily. How can you get others to give you what you want and need? Everyone wants to know how to get to yes. We’ll cover the key skills and strategies to figure out how to get to yes at work and at home, every day.

The #1 Source of Issues in Negotiation

In our daily lives, we all negotiate with others for things we want, whether the context is business or personal. But we almost always run into issues in negotiation. What’s their cause? And how can we avoid them? We’ll cover the common issues in negotiation and the best strategies for negotiating effectively.

Separate the People From the Problem: The Key to Negotiation

In times of conflict, it’s natural to look for someone to blame. But are people really the problem? How can you separate the people from the problem? And why should you? In negotiation, or any conflict, it’s vital to separate the people from the problem. Use this guide to separate a person’s perceptions, emotions, and words from the real issue at hand, and learn how this can help you negotiate successfully.

Why Don’t More Teams Use the Full-Court Press?

A highly effective tactical move in basketball, the full-court press is rarely used. What are the advantages of the full-court press? And why don’t teams use it more often? The full-court press is a basketball tactic, involving the entire court, in which players aggressively surround those from the other team to keep them from getting the ball across midcourt. We’ll look at an example that demonstrates the power of the full-court press in action, while also revealing why it’s so underutilized.

Losing a Parent: The One Silver Lining

Losing a parent is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a child. But, once the initial, most acute grieving subsides, is it possible that losing a parent can make a child stronger? We’ll cover the theory of “desirable difficulties” and look at why it may not be a coincidence that some of the most successful people in history lost a parent when they were young.

The Ultimate Guide to Interest-Based Bargaining

What is interest-based bargaining? And how can it help you negotiate successfully? Interest-based bargaining is a negotiation strategy that focuses on the interests of the parties (what they really want) rather than their positions (what they think the solution is). Learn why interest-based negotiation is more effective than positional bargaining and how to use it for successful negotiations.

You’re Missing the Point of the David and Goliath Story: Here’s Why

For thousands of years, the Biblical David and Goliath story has given hope to underdogs inspired by David’s miraculous victory against the giant Goliath, with only a rock, sling, and stick at his disposal. The odds were against David…or were they? In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell argues that we misunderstand the David and Goliath story particularly and underdog victories in general. Keep reading to learn why you’ve been getting the moral of this story wrong, and what the real takeaways are.

Law 48: Assume Formlessness (48 Laws of Power)

Overview of Law #48: Assume Formlessness Be flexible, fluid, and unpredictable — formless — so your opponents can’t get a fix on you and figure out how to respond. When you look and behave in conventional ways that your enemy can grasp, you’re easy to attack. Assume formlessness and change constantly to suit ever-changing circumstances and needs.