Book: Managing Oneself by Peter F. Drucker. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

This book is not life-changing but it’s small, straight to the point, and has many terrific bits of advice for your career and life.

I would totally recommend you to read it since it’s not expensive and quick to read/listen to (around 1 hour on Audible).

Here are my raw notes about the book:

  • Feedback analysis: whenever you take a crucial decision or action take note of the results you’re expecting. After 8 or 9 months, compare the expected results with the actual results
  • People think ideas move mountains, but bulldozers move mountains, ideas show where the bulldozers should work
  • Manners are like oil for a machine; they reduce friction between two bodies
  • We have to know ourselves and place ourselves where we can make the most significant contribution
  • Feedback also shows you what not to do. There is a vast number of areas where we don’t have the competence to even be mediocre. In this area, a person should not take a job or assignment. It takes much more effort and time to go from zero knowledge to mediocrity than from improving from first-grade performance to excellence
  • It’s important to know how you perform, so you can adjust yourself to perform better
  • Are you a reader or a listener? That changes a lot.
  • How do you learn? Is it by copying? Writing? Speaking?
  • Some people are great as subordinates, but they may be terrible when it’s time to take the decision
  • People in the first spot usually put people they trust in the second spot as their advisor. People who don’t like to make decisions are generally outstanding in this position
  • When do you work best? Under stress or a calm environment? When working for big companies or small ones? Don’t take jobs where you can perform your best
  • The mirror test: what kind of person do you want to see in the mirror in the morning? Choose what you wish for yourself
  • Values are the ultimate test. Make your values align with the company you’re working for, or you will not be satisfied in the long term.
  • You should find what you should do, not just execute what is given. Doing what you want to do make you better in life
  • Understand relationships. Your co-workers are people like you, with strengths and weaknesses. You have to learn how your co-workers work. Example: do not write a report to your boss if he is a listener
  • Plan the second half of your life. Most knowledge workers get bored after working in the same sector for many years but they usually still have a lot of productive years ahead. Start a second career or participate/build a non-profit organization