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The Art of the Quiet Response: How to Master the Pause and Win the Argument

  Let’s talk about that moment. You know the one: someone sends you a ridiculous email, your boss says something wildly unfair, or a family member presses your absolute last button. Your blood boils, your fingers fly to the keyboard, and you feel that rush—the desperate need to fire back immediately with a perfect, devastating counterargument. We’ve all been there. We are trained by modern life—by social media, by nonstop notifications—to react instantly. But here's the secret: the moment you choose to react is the moment you hand over your power.  True strength isn't about the fastest comeback. It’s about the quiet response. It’s about learning to master the pause. The Stoic Pause: Stealing Back Your Control Think about this idea, which the ancient Stoics hammered home: "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will gain strength." (Marcus Aurelius) When a situation is stressful, what are you trying to control? Are you trying to contr...
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Why Your Feed Is Dominated by Negative Content: Aesop's Algorithm

Have you ever pondered why your social media feed appears to be inundated with outrage, scandals, and "fake news," while meaningful stories and profound insights appear to arrive in small, infrequent drops?  Surprisingly, an ancient Greek storyteller named Aesop predicted this digital dilemma over 2,500 years ago in his fable "The Goods and the Evils." The Ancient Fable In the story, the "Evils" were so aggressive that they drove the "Goods" off the earth and up to the heavens. When the Goods asked Zeus how they should return to humanity, he told them they must not go all at once but  one by one . As a result, the Evils—being close at hand—constantly swarm over us. But the Goods reach us slowly, descending from the sky only occasionally. The Modern Digital Parallel If we look at platforms like X (Twitter) and Facebook , we can see that their algorithms act exactly like the world Aesop described. 1. The Speed of "Evil" (Clickbait and O...

"The Great Human Irony: You Talk About What You Miss".

Ever notice something weird about human conversations? It is as though we all carry a vast, invisible void within our lives, and the sole thing that ever escapes from our mouths is a depiction of that void. Think about it. We often talk about what we miss , what we don’t have , or what we crave . It’s the ultimate human deflection, a bizarre reverse psychology where we try to summon what we need by constantly giving voice to its absence. It’s simple, right? The basic human condition is to seek equilibrium. When we’re out of balance, that absence becomes the loudest thing in the room—in our head and eventually, in our conversations. Can you relate to someone who has been desperately searching for a job for six months? Every conversation somehow steers back to the job market, the useless interviews, or the "passion economy." They’re not just talking about work; they are mourning the lack of purpose, structure, and income . Can you identify the individual who skipped lunch? He’s...

Understanding the past is the best way to navigate the future.

Bill Gates himself, who called it "the best business book I've ever read."   First off, what is "Business Adventures"? It’s not a how-to guide with bullet points and actionable checklists. Instead, Brooks, a brilliant journalist and storyteller, addresses some of the most dramatic and fascinating moments in American business history during the mid-20th century. We talk about the ascent and decline of Texas Gulf Sulphur, the turbulent journey of Fairchild Camera, the internal conflicts at General Electric, and even the enduring tale of McDonald's. Brooks doesn't just report; he dissects, analyzes, and humanizes these complex events, revealing the personalities, the pressures, and the often-unforeseen consequences that shaped them.  So, why should you and I, sitting here in the age of AI and venture capital, care about stories from the 1960s and 70s? It turns out that human nature and the fundamental dynamics of business haven't changed significantly. ...

HUGE NEWS! 🎉 My e-books are FREE on Smashwords this December

My e-books are FREE on Smashwords this December. 🥳 Dive in or gift it to a friend. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer! 📚 👇 https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Sezgin_Ismailov /   👇 You can find it in stores as a hardcover, softcover, or e-book. The titles include Manners in the Great Kingdom, The Wealth of the Great Kingdom, The Heir of the Dynasty,  369 Hours of Punishment, and Unforgettable Personalities of History. Amazon, eBay, Adlibris, Powells, Rakuten, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Kinokuniya, Thalia, JPC, Abebooks.com, Takealot.com, Booklooker, Alibris, Morawa, Booktopia, Thriftbooks, WOM, Google Play, Flipkart, Hugendubel, Bücher, Michaelsbund, Dumocks, Kitapavrupa, Pandora, BOL, Orellfüssli, Lehmanns, Walmart, Eurobuch, Tredition, Biblio, Faltershop, Helikon, Legimi, Bokus, D§R, Imge, Cinius, Indigo, Imusic, Athenaeum, Kaufland, Mondadoristore, Paagman, Weltbild, Betterworldbooks, Blackwells, Ebook, Exlibris, Lesen, Libroworld, Lesejury, Kitapsepeti, ...

The Most Dangerous Advisor: How Doubt Can Ruin Your Dreams and Relationships

 In the midst of Prince Max's ambitious project, "THE WEALTH OF THE GREAT KINGDOM" abruptly changes direction to convey to us one of the book's most profound lessons: the battle for success is not only against external obstacles but also against internal demons. The chapter "Doubts are the most dangerous, harmful advisers" tells of the personal crisis of Mary, Max's fiancée. She witnesses a scene that she interprets as terrifying: Max and other men attack an elderly man, and later she hears words that make her suspect infidelity. Mary allows the incomplete picture to consume her. Within two days, the doubt has paralyzed her—she can’t eat, she can’t study, and she’s considering ending the engagement. The doubt acts as a toxic, active counselor, guiding her toward a self-destructive decision. This episode is a lesson for every reader: Incomplete information is poison. Max has neglected to disclose his secret martial arts training, a crucial piece of inform...

Prince Max's Strategy: How to Turn Critics into Your Strongest Allies

 THE WEALTH OF THE GREAT KINGDOM is not just a tale of royalty; it is a guide for anyone who aspires to achieve a monumental, world-changing goal. Through the story of young Prince Max and his vision of building schools in foreign kingdoms, the author imparts to us invaluable lessons about how to turn an ambitious dream into a strategic plan. One of the most impressive lessons is right at the beginning of the chapter: "Correct information shortens the distance and time to the target." Max receives a counterintuitive piece of advice when choosing his team: don't just choose supporters. His teacher advises him to invite those who pose the "most uncomfortable questions" and are likely to challenge him. Why? Because, as the book says, "If you can convince them, it will be a basic process to convince everyone." This principle is the formula for success: "The success formula is the result of multiple perspectives." By including merchants, farmers, ...