Book Review : Career 2.0 take control of your life
I stumbled across some blog via twitter and read an article about the book. I had never heard of Jared Richardson before.
I watched career 2.0 video recorded at the Minnesota code camp. I decided to buy the book and read it. Career 2.0 book delivers what it promises. The book was in the market at the right time for developers. The book targets technical people, clearly motivates you to learn, talk and emphasis and shows you should invest in your career.
Notes from the book :
"You're not a victim of anyone but yourself"
The book first explains why is it that you should invest in your career. It brings out some good examples from the telecom bust. The technology has a shelf-life of a banana, New languages and frameworks are spawning out each day. Start learning the technology of the year (LOTY) or a new language each year.
The author refers to the "Pragmatic Programmer" about learning a new language each year. He compares learning new language to running or picking up a new or old sport that you never played or left playing a long time.
Goals
"Mt Everest and you".
This book lays out options and strategies on how to go about making the start. Plan, prepare and climb. We spend most of your awake hours at work. How can we prioritize, learn and achieve our goals. The author explains the Maslow's Pyramid ( hierarchy of needs) with 5 levels, when you should focus on creativity and growth, definitely not when you don't have a job. Climb the pyramid to acheive your goals. The author keeps his language really simple , easy to read and it helps assimilate the wealth of the book immediately.
Share & learn:
"Your knowledge grows as you give ".
Start a blog, document what you learn each day. Read a book and review it in your blog. This would help the learning process also improve your writing skills, if it sucked badly like mine.
Present a topic that you learnt at a users group, workplace or a code camp. Jared puts these different ideas with anecdotes, which shows the benefits really well.
With the power of Search Engines, your blog could help someone in some country. Write a page everyday, about something, that would improve your writing.
Verdict:
The book is a must buy for all technical folks who would want to grow and climb the ladder. This book is a real motivator, when can you say that ? when you immediately get of your couch and do what the book says.