<div><p><b>Summary</b></p><p><i>Soft Skills: The software developer's life manual</i> is a unique guide, offering techniques and practices for a more satisfying life as a professional software developer. In it, developer and life coach John Sonmez addresses a wide range of important &quot;soft&quot; topics, from career and productivity to personal finance and investing, and even fitness and relationships, all from a developer-centric viewpoint.</p><p></p><p>Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.</p><p><b>About the Book</b></p><p>For most software developers, coding is the fun part. The hard bits are dealing with clients, peers, and managers, staying productive, achieving financial security, keeping yourself in shape, and finding true love. This book is here to help.</p><p><i>Soft Skills: The software developer's life manual</i> is a guide to a well-rounded, satisfying life as a technology professional. In it, developer and life coach John Sonmez offers advice to developers on important &quot;soft&quot; subjects like career and productivity, personal finance and investing, and even fitness and relationships. Arranged as a collection of 71 short chapters, this fun-to-read book invites you to dip in wherever you like. A Taking Action section at the end of each chapter shows you how to get quick results. Soft Skills will help make you a better programmer, a more valuable employee, and a happier, healthier person.</p><p><b>What's Inside</b></p><ul><li>Boost your career by building a personal brand</li><li>John's secret ten-step process for learning quickly</li><li>Fitness advice to turn your geekiness to your advantage</li><li>Unique strategies for investment and early retirement</li></ul><p><b>About the Author</b></p><p><b>John Sonmez</b> is a developer, teacher, and life coach who helps technical professionals boost their careers and live a more fulfilled life.</p><p><b>Table of Contents</b></p><ol><li>Why this book is unlike any book you've ever read<h5>SECTION 1: CAREER</h5></li><li>Getting started with a &quot;BANG!&quot;: Don't do what everyone else does</li><li>Thinking about the future: What are your goals?</li><li>People skills: You need them more than you think</li><li>Hacking the interview</li><li>Employment options: Enumerate your choices</li><li>What kind of software developer are you?</li><li>Not all companies are equal</li><li>Climbing the corporate ladder</li><li>Being a professional</li><li>Freedom: How to quit your job</li><li>Freelancing: Going out on your own</li><li>Creating your first product</li><li>Do you want to start a startup?</li><li>Working remotely survival strategies</li><li>Fake it till you make it</li><li>Resumes are BORING—Let's fix that</li><li>Don't get religious about technology<h5>SECTION 2: MARKETING YOURSELF</h5></li><li>Marketing basics for code monkeys</li><li>Building a brand that gets you noticed</li><li>Creating a wildly successful blog</li><li>Your primary goal: Add value to others</li><li>#UsingSocialNetworks</li><li>Speaking, presenting, and training: Speak geek</li><li>Writing books and articles that attract a following</li><li>Don't be afraid to look like an idiot<h5>SECTION 3: LEARNING</h5></li><li>Learning how to learn: How to teach yourself</li><li>My 10-step process</li><li>Steps 1-6: Do these once</li><li>Steps 7-10: Repeat these</li><li>Looking for mentors: Finding your Yoda</li><li>Taking on an apprentice: Being Yoda</li><li>Teaching: Learn you want? Teach you must.</li><li>Do you need a degree or can you &quot;wing it?&quot;</li><li>Finding gaps in your knowledge<h5>SECTION 4: PRODUCTIVITY</h5></li><li>It all starts with focus</li><li>My personal productivity plan</li><li>Pomodoro Technique</li><li>My quota system: How I get way more done than I should</li><li>Holding yourself accountable</li><li>Multitasking dos and don'ts</li><li>Burnout: I've got the cure!</li><li>How you're wasting your time</li><li>Th