In the book Modern CTO Joel covers what he learned in his role as a CTO from ground floor, as a single developer building “something cool”, to the CTO of a multi-million dollar company. The book covers topics from Joel’s experience:
Strategy – Should I hire, buy or outbuild my competitor?
Rewriting Systems – Abandon ship and build a better one.
Deadlines – How you keep from missing deadlines.
Managing – People do not work for money, people work for momentum.
Poor Code – Spaghetti code MVP Epidemic
Speaking Up – Take a risk and sound dumb
Product – Getting lost in the product: UX mistakes to watch out for.
This is the first “business/tech” book I’ve read. I ended up pre-ordering it since I always listen to Joel’s (Modern CTO) podcast. If you think his podcast is fun and engaging, you won’t be disappointed in his book! He comes across the same way – as if you were a guest on his show. He tells it like it is – from the mistakes he’s made to how he overcame things in his life and how he used these experiences to grow and succeed. I can’t wait for his 2nd book! Lauren M. *5 stars
The book is a great place to start in shifting your mindset from being your typical developer to becoming a CTO. This is a great aspiration! The author is straightforward and he provides realistic advice. He may have different approaches than most of us, but I like his attitude towards situations. His practicality and the steps he takes to finding solutions is key. Tim M. *5 stars
I love Joel’s concrete and practical skills! I’m just starting out as a developer and already I’m learning from a CTO directly!! Ben H. *5 stars
100k+ Developers and CTOs have liked and shared Joel’s content that shaped this book.
Everyone knows becoming a CTO requires hard work and dedication. This book will both inspire you and equip you to move forward on your career path. By listening to most of Joel’s podcasts, I was already familiar with most of the concepts outlined in the book – but he breaks down the principles that emphasize that to be successful in the tech field requires work. I recommend this book to all of my friends who want to go from developer to CTO! ~ Jon M.
What’s truly inspiring in this book are Joel’s stories. This is REAL LIFE. Love it when I can learn from someone else’s mistakes. Joel keeps it real. Now I’m catching up on his podcasts! ~ Andrew H.
Great read and to the point with information you can put to use right away. It’s full of practical information that the everyday developer can learn from and grow. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking of becoming a modern CTO. ~ Charles W.
Inspiration & Participation from the best
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Joel began writing code at age 13 selling his first technology by age 18 for a seven figure exit. In his first three transactions, he developed key relationships and began working with Investors and Chief Technology Officers collaborating and building products in Real Estate, Law, Finance, and Fitness. Today, Joel is a Chief Technologist with clients from Startups up to Billion dollar companies. Joel maintains majority ownership of a highly selective App Development Firm Logic17. Joel has a clear vision and passion for modern technology, placing him as one of the most exciting Chief Technology Officers to watch out for.
Joel Beasley