Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

How to Beat Your Competitors and Win the Market

Is your business part of a competitive market? How can you beat your competitors and become the market leader? There are two main strategies for winning your chosen market: cost leadership and differentiation. Different companies have different strengths that contribute to their ability to excel in unique ways. For instance, small companies can often provide a more targeted, boutique service (differentiation) while larger companies can often deliver quality products at a more competitive price point (cost leadership). Let’s take a look at each strategy in more detail.

Is Capitalism Ethical or Is It Corrupting Society?

Is capitalism ethical? In what ways can economic-based incentives become dangerous? Philosopher Michael Sandel believes that free-market societies cause corruption. In his book What Money Can’t Buy, Sandel argues that capitalist societies are unethical because they replace intrinsic motivations with economic incentives and cause the degradation of human virtue. Here’s why capitalism is inherently unethical, according to Sandel.

Business Capabilities: What Do You Need to Win?

What is a business capability? What capabilities does your company need in order to win? In simple terms, business capabilities are what a company does and is able to do. If you run a business, it’s important to determine and map your capabilities so you can figure out how to reach your goals. Here’s how to identify, map, and implement your business’ capabilities.

3 Leadership Capabilities You Need to Run a Company

Are you in charge of running a company? What three leadership capabilities do you need to ensure a business’s success? In their book Playing to Win, former CEO A.G. Lafley and consultant Roger Martin explain that a good leader must have these three capabilities: 1) a systems to review strategy, 2) a systems to communicate strategy, and 3) a system to measure progress. Furthermore, each of these three leadership capabilities requires a clear and specific structure to support it. Let’s take a look at what each entails.

Why TikTok Is Bad for Mental Health, Society, and Teens

Is TikTok really as bad as some people claim it is? How does the social media app affect mental health? What makes TikTok more dangerous than its social media predecessors? In the past few years, TikTok became the most popular website in the world—It grew to unprecedented numbers. However, the rise in these short-form videos also brought about the rise in mental health issues, addiction, bullying, and more. Here’s why you might want to think about deleting the TikTok app from your phone.

Shortform Reads: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and an Open Mind

What kind of book does Fabian believe is critically important for every person to read in their lifetime? Through what unconventional method did Fabian learn to read? Fabian is originally from Switzerland but now lives in the United States. He’s one of Shortform’s scriptwriters for the YouTube channel and enjoys the challenge of tailoring his writing to fit the host and writing in a casual and direct way.

How to Practice Clarity in Writing

Do you want to achieve clarity in your writing? What is the key to writing clearly? Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, politics or humor, sportswriting or essays, clarity in writing is extremely important. If your writing isn’t clear, you won’t be able to properly convey your point. Here’s how to write more clearly.

The 5-Step Guide to Simple Writing

Do people find your writing too complex or cluttered? Why is simplicity important in writing? Simple writing is easy for anybody to understand. There’s no need to use a thesaurus to find bigger words, to fluff up your language, or to beat around the bush. The best way to convey your message in writing is to use simple language. Here are some tips for writing simply and clearly.

How to Write a Critique: Keep These 5 Things in Mind

What makes a good critique? What things should avoid when criticizing a creative work? In his book On Writing Well, American writer, journalist, and teacher William Zinsser shares his tips on how to write a good critique. He lists five things you should keep in mind when criticizing someone’s work. Here are some tips on how to write a good critique.

Science Literacy: Why Stephen Hawking Said It’s Vital

What is science literacy? Why might the future of the human race depend on the next generation of scientists? Science literacy is the understanding and knowledge of science. Before he passed, Stephen Hawking wrote that the survival of the human species will depend on future scientists because he believed the only way humans will avoid extinction is by colonizing space. Here’s why science literacy is so important—and how politics get in the way.