The best Human Resources & Personnel Management books: crowd reviews

From 3.5 billion comments

https://www.amazon.com/Managers-Path-Leaders-Navigating-Growth/dp/1491973897

Haven't read it myself yet, but heard it recommended a lot.

In my experience, the more experienced you are, the more an interview focuses on things like prior projects, architecture, teams, culture, etc. I just completed a job hunt where I interviewed with several major east/west-coast tech companies, and none of them asked LeetCode-style questions. I did get programming questions and take-home exercises, but they were practical ones (e.g., discussing a real-world problem the company has) or, surprisingly, lightweight bozo screens (e.g., traversing a tree and printing values).

But it really depends upon the company. My understanding is that Google's interviews still consist of multiple rounds of LeetCode-style questions, though I've also heard that's changing.

I've been involved in hiring at several companies now, and I think LeetCode-style interviews are on their way out. The more nimble a company is, the less-likely it is to ask you the traditional LeetCode-style whiteboarding question. It's the slower companies that are entrenched in their cargo-culted interview processes that still ask LeetCode-style questions, including some Big 4s and Unicorns. But that will change. No one asks "How would you move Mt. Fuji?" anymore. I imagine companies will continue asking programming questions, but I expect them to become more practical, typically covering the sort of problem you might encounter if given an offer.

In The E-myth Revisited, Michael Gerber paraphrased a quote from Gen. George Patton. It has stuck with me for many years after having read the book.

>The comfort zone makes cowards of us all.

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> I think the primary problem is that the business is "me" and I'm having a difficult time transitioning from a "freelancer" to a "business" in a way that still keeps me flush with reliable income.

Read The E-Myth Revisited.

The first chapter or so will resonate with you deeply as the whole book is about turning your business into an actual business that can function without you so you can get your life back.

OP.

You don't have to justify shit. Its your business, its your time, and its your life!

Tell them, look we both want your bookkeeping to be accurate. It is clear in the past there have been challenges, and we/I are no longer the right firm to support you.

XXXX will be our last invoice.

Thank you and good luck.

Do this by phone, and send the discussion points by email! You can walk away. They may not pay your last invoice, but consider that bad karma on them.

If you need a pep yourself up a bit more go read this: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-Second-ebook-dp-B005K0AYH4/dp/B005K0AYH4/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=

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Personally I like how /u/aphex732 worded his response, try that too.

I just read The E-Myth Revisited and I cannot recommend it enough for any entrepreneur. It talks about how to build a sustainable business.

You don't need a co-founder and you don't need investors.

Build an MVP in 3 months and see how it goes.

Do not make the mistake of wasting 3 years to build something no one wants. Do not give half to a co-founder for something you can handle in the beginning.

Also, subscribe to Valuetainment. It has phenomenal content on everything you'd need.

There's a good book on this called "The E Myth" that might help shed some light on this for you. It's not a huge long book, but it goes into the idea that running a business is entirely different than working in your field.

Also, try to keep in perspective your experience. If you fail, so what? You have a great opportunity here to try something. If it works then great! If not, you might go back to a 9-5 with a new appreciation for the simplicity of it all.

Let me introduce you to How would you move Mt Fuji?: Microsoft’s Cult of the Puzzle, from 2004. Puzzle interviews were their own craziness.

Not an affiliate link btw

E-myth Revisited

I don't understand all the support for Soh Rui Yang here. Yes, I acknowledged that he is damn good at what he is doing. But I would make the same decision as the gov to not select him for future competitons after several warnings/coaching. As a manager in company, I like to implement a "no asshole rule" - rather to have people working in harmony, & in respect of each other; instead of having an overachieving top performer that causes trouble for everyone else.

If you are interested to delve more into the topic: https://www.amazon.com/Asshole-Rule-Civilized-Workplace-Surviving/dp/1600245854

Do you have any management experience? Do you know how to read and create financial statements? Do you know how to do sales/marketing? Do you have relationships with vendors?

I recommend getting a copy of The E-Myth Revisited. It will help you understand the systems that you would need to setup to form the basis for your enterprise. Borrow a copy from your local library.

Read "The E Myth." It's probably the single best thing you can do for yourself, and I would not start a bakery until you've done so. It's a fast and easy read. I own a small food business, and I'm following the book's principles because it would be a waste of time not to.

Amazon link (it's less than $10)

Book suggestion for those who have to work with Butch Jones types.

Self-employment is a tough racket — I've been doing this both part- and full-time for the past twenty years. Getting paid is almost as difficult as selling work... I sure do wish I had read The E-Myth twenty years ago. tl;dr: being a good technician (i.e. skilled at what you technically do) is only a third of the battle in running your own company successfully.

"Creative types need to get a 'real job' so that they don't really starve to death."

Myself, I'm a [now retired from] electrician whom is looking to switch careers =|

There is an amazing book called e-myth: why small businesses don’t work and how to succeed. A best friend bought it for me when I tried to launch my own business and it really illuminated all the unknown unknowns for me. You might be able to rent it for free on your reading app from your public library. I really encourage you to check it out.

Sorry if I haven't been clear about my position. I'll try to clarify.

About my complaints with internships and career support -- I think the CSS Division could do more to support its students in finding internships.

I'm not saying that it's impossible for people to succeed at finding internships at UWB, but we have a lot of nontraditional students at UWB who don't know what to expect who could use the extra guidance.

I know there are people who are successful at finding internships. You may not have needed that support. I didn't need that support. Still, I'm more concerned about the many students who were not successful.

There are a concerning number of students who are completely clueless about what technical interviews are like, how many internship applications are realistic, and when are the right times to apply. Then they end up applying way, way too late.

There are also a concerning number of CSS faculty who are not well versed in the contents of technical interviews, and unintentionally spread misinformation about them. I know of at least one who still thinks companies ask brain teasers like what was popular in the early 2000s.

That's why events like the CSS Colloquium Internship Panel are helpful.

Read "The E Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Fail" https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0887307280/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_ES01N8ABZP33E20TFBEZ

You'll learn a lot about running the business part of it and the team of people you'll need. It's about a bakery so you'll find a lot of parallels. Short easy read, do this right now before your start anything else.

The E-Myth Revisited is another great read for somebody thinking that being a good technician will translate into being a good owner (hint: not often true). Personally, I would not leave IBEW to run my own residential shop (did that for a few years — residential is boring and most customers think you're ripping them off).

Do both. Take a small contract and manage your new business. Find out how much hands on you need to run the bakery. Can you be the manager ? or do you gotta be the janitor and baker too

Before you buy the bakery go read

The E-myth. It will teach you to avoid the pitfalls of being a small owner operator business

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0887307280/

Oh boy where to start? I can ramble for hours about my personal do’s & don’ts, but of course every situation is different. I would say my number one advice to someone going in business for themselves is to build a BUSINESS not a JOB. I made that mistake & had to correct it 5 years in. I’m still dealing with the pains of customers coming in and only wanting to talk to ME. I would advise reading The E Myth (link below), it changes my perspective and helped me transition my store from a “job” to a “business”.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It https://www.amazon.com/dp/0887307280/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_MGNCHJRBNPHTAB64QCVM

I’m not sure if this is directly relative to your question, but I found myself in a similar situation. I was chasing building a specific type of lifestyle in an industry. However, it took me some time to admit to myself that I wasn’t putting in the work, nor willing to do the work. I debated quitting for awhile.

Then, I read a book called The Dip by Seth Godin

It helped me put into perspective what was working, and helped me realize it’s okay to walk away and choose something else. It gave me clarity on making a decision.

Good luck on finding clarity.

Ok, as you think of features, put them on a list. Use something like Trello so you can organise them.

Once you have you list of features, start to make note of the things that take the most time for you. Those should be the things you outsource or automate first.

When I say automate, you may be able to look into "no code" solutions like IFTTT and different actions that trigger based on things you do. i.e. when I get a WhatsApp message, add a new line to spreadsheet a. etc

I can recommend this book for your stage of business:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0887307280

Welcome to the club — read "The E-Myth" (not for discouragement, but to be realistic about going beyond TECHNICIAN roles — you are now an accountant and salesman, too).

Carry "change order" forms right behind your invoices, and always have the client sign it for ANY change. Don't underbid yourself just to get work — if a scheduling conflict occurs, which prevents you from working productively, BILL THE G.C. for it.

Your first employee will be the most difficult decision you ever make — don't let it be a family member. Don't employ or work for family — or if you do, set realistic expectations and MAKE A CONTRACT.

PAY YOUR TAXES. Get insurance. Don't leave your tools on a jobsite EVER.

The Dip by Seth Godwin might be a good read for you. It’s about knowing when to quit.

If you own your own business, thinking about doing it, or if you work for a business that seems like it runs like shit… read this. https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280

Very good points. Sounds like you've read Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High b/c this comment outlines pretty much exactly how you should handle this situation.

For the reasons you just described, I think it's important to definitely have a "point of contact" [not yourself] for your company, the person that handles scheduling and billing and irate customers [perhaps a good marital partner might fulfill one or both or all of these roles].

At the end of the day, if you end up doing individual contracts with random clients, daily, you will get burnt out from "trying to wear too many hats." If you want to run your own trade company, or really any company, I always recommend getting at least a decade of experience (ideally in a junior role) and reading this book. tl;dr: if you the perfect technician, you are only a third of the way to running a successful business.

This book really helped me make the jump from IC to manager: The Manager’s Path. There’s also a lot of great content on YouTube, my favorite is from the Lead Developer conference. Some of the talks by Pat Kya, Lara Hogan and Poornima Vijayshanker speak directly to your journey.

Buy this book (The E-Myth Revisited): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0887307280?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Read it. Study it. If you want less stress and pressure, then starting a business is the opposite of what you want to do. UNLESS.... you start it with the right ideas and structure from the get go. Don't quit to build yourself another job for less pay and more responsibilities.

I had training called "crucial conversations" that very clearly lays out how to tactfully address situations like this.

I'm by no means suggesting that by reading this book you will solve ALL of your problems.