How to Make the Most of Shortform: A Guide to Using Shortform

Woman in yellow shirt smiling and looking at her phone

Thank you for being a Shortform subscriber! Whether you’re new to the app or have been using it for a while, this guide will walk you through the key features that make Shortform a powerful tool for learning and personal growth. Whether you use Shortform via the mobile app or in a web browser, all of the following features and functions apply. We hope this guide answers your questions—but, if you need more help, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach out to our support team in the app or by email.

Project Resources: Making the Most of Your People & Money

A drawing of a team meeting in an open workspace illustrates project resources

Do you ever worry about not having enough resources to complete an important project? How can you maximize the people and money available to you? In his book Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey explains that we typically have more project resources than we realize. Overcoming resource barriers involves finding the right supporters and spending your budget where it matters most. Read on to discover how to find four types of people who can help your project succeed and learn strategies for making every dollar count.

Opportunities for Success: Exploring the Snowball Effect

A teenage boy looking at a "HELP WANTED" sign in a store window illustrates opportunities for success

Are you being held back by a lack of opportunities? How can early access to opportunities create a snowball effect for your future success? In his book The Winner Effect, Ian Robertson writes that opportunities for success are events that provide potential for growth when we recognize and act on them. Early opportunities build confidence and connections, while limited access can hinder progress regardless of our abilities or motivation. Read more to understand why some people continue to receive opportunities while others face increasing challenges in recognizing and accessing them.

Be Excited About the Future (While Being Content With the Present)

A scale with "PRESENT" and "FUTURE" balanced illustrates how to be content with the present and excited about the future

Are you struggling to balance happiness now with anticipation for tomorrow? How can you create a life where contentment and excitement coexist? In his book The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, Vishen Lakhiani suggests that being happy in the present while remaining excited about the future is the ideal state of being. This balance requires separating your happiness from achievement of major goals. Read on to discover how you can maintain excitement about the future you’re creating while not losing sight of each moment.

5 Factors of Success: How the Winner Effect Sets You Apart

A sketch of silhouettes, with one woman standing apart from the crowd, illustrates the factors of success

What influences success? Why do some people find it easy to go after what they want while others struggle to act? When success finally comes, why do some people thrive while others falter? The journey to achievement involves complex elements that shape our potential. In his book The Winner Effect, Ian Robertson identifies five key factors of success: motivation type, parental influence, opportunity access, biological responses, and social standing. Read on to discover how these interconnected factors might be influencing your own path to success.

How to Plan a Project: Turn To-Do Lists Into Concrete Timelines

A team meeting around a table with laptops and documents illustrates how to plan a project

Are you struggling to turn your big ideas into actual accomplishments? Do you wonder how successful people map out their projects from start to finish? Planning a project doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey explains how to plan a project by breaking it down into manageable steps that anyone can follow. He shows you how to arrange tasks, create logical sequences, and build realistic timelines based on your actual capacity. Read more to learn Gilkey’s two-step approach that will help you finally start finishing what matters most.

Is Your Belief System Chosen—or Simply Inherited?

A man on a beach with his arms folded and a questioning expression depicts the importance of examining your belief system

Are you living by rules that don’t actually serve you? How much of your worldview comes from your culture rather than conscious choice? In his book The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, Vishen Lakhiani explains how your belief system is shaped by your upbringing and culture. He offers strategies for questioning these inherited beliefs and freeing yourself from what he calls “Brules”—the unwritten rules that hold you back from your ideal life. Read on to discover how to think like a scientist about your own assumptions and start building a life based on what truly matters to you.

3 Post-Project Steps: Tidy Up, Review, & Celebrate (Charlie Gilkey)

People in an open workspace celebrate completing a project illustrates post-project activities

Do you know how to properly wrap up your projects and prepare for future endeavors? What steps should you take after completing a significant project to ensure continued success? In his book Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey outlines three vital post-project activities: tidying your workspaces, reviewing your performance, and taking time to celebrate and rest. These actions help transform completed projects into stepping stones for personal and professional growth. Read on to discover how implementing these post-project practices can help you maintain peak performance and set yourself up for even greater success in your next endeavor.

Upgrade Your Mind: Vishen Lakhiani on Lifelong Personal Growth

A girl with clouds and colorful confetti around her head illustrates how to upgrade your mind

Does your mindset need a do-over? Does your worldview truly make you happy? Vishen Lakhiani helps people achieve their personal and spiritual development goals. In his book The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, he writes that—just as you can keep upgrading a computer—you can continuously upgrade your mind. Continue reading to get Lakhiani’s strategies for lifelong personal growth.

How to Evaluate a Business Model: 2 Tips From Jay Abraham

A woman looking at a document at a desk in an office illustrates how to evaluate a business model

What makes some businesses thrive while others struggle to survive? How can comparing your company to competitors reveal critical insights about your success? Evaluating your business model requires identifying your competitive advantages and weaknesses. In his book Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got, Jay Abraham explains that this critical assessment provides a clear picture of your market position. Read on to learn how to evaluate a business model and transform how you view your business operations and competitive landscape.