Table of Contents Why this book is unlike any book you've ever read SECTION 1: CAREER Getting started with a "BANG!": Don't do what everyone else does Thinking about the future: What are your goals? People skills: You need them more than you think Hacking the interview Employment options: Enumerate your choices What kind of software developer are you? Not all companies are equal Climbing the corporate ladder Being a professional Freedom: How to quit your job Freelancing: Going out on your own Creating your first product Do you want to start a startup? Working remotely survival strategies Fake it till you make it Resumes are BORING—Let's fix that Don't get religious about technology SECTION 2: MARKETING YOURSELF Marketing basics for code monkeys Building a brand that gets you noticed Creating a wildly successful blog Your primary goal: Add value to others #UsingSocialNetworks Speaking, presenting, and training: Speak geek Writing books and articles that attract a following Don't be afraid to look like an idiot SECTION 3: LEARNING Learning how to learn: How to teach yourself My 10-step process Steps 1-6: Do these once Steps 7-10: Repeat these Looking for mentors: Finding your Yoda Taking on an apprentice: Being Yoda Teaching: Learn you want? Teach you must. Do you need a degree or can you "wing it?" Finding gaps in your knowledge SECTION 4: PRODUCTIVITY It all starts with focus My personal productivity plan Pomodoro Technique My quota system: How I get way more done than I should Holding yourself accountable Multitasking dos and don'ts Burnout: I've got the cure! How you're wasting your time The importance of having a routine Developing habits: Brushing your code Breaking things down: How to eat an elephant The value of hard work and why you keep avoiding it Any action is better than no action SECTION 5: FINANCIAL What are you going to do with your paycheck? How to negotiate your salary Options: Where all the fun is Bits and bytes of real estate investing Do you really understand your retirement plan? The danger of debt: SSDs are expensive Bonus: How I retired at 33 SECTION 6: FITNESS Why you need to hack your health Setting your fitness criteria Thermodynamics, calories, and you Motivation: Getting your butt out of the chair How to gain muscle: Nerds can have bulging biceps How to get hash-table abs Starting RunningProgram.exe Standing desks and other hacks Tech gear for fitness: Geeking out SECTION 7: SPIRIT How the mind influences the body Having the right mental attitude: Rebooting Building a positive self-image: Programming your brain Love and relationships: Computers can't hold your hand My personal success book list Facing failure head-on Parting words