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Rebooting Work: Transform How You Work in the Age of Entrepreneurship

Maynard Webb (Goodreads Author)

3.49 · Rating details · 95 ratings · 15 reviews

From Silicon Valley leader Maynard Webb, how we can leverage technology to change how we work
Maynard Webb has always been the go-to guy when Silicon Valley companies have thorny problems. Whether revamping eBay's crashing servers (transforming their technology weaknesses into a competitive strength) or investing in emerging technology start-ups, Webb brings strategic and o ...more

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Hardcover, 1 edition, 224 pages

Published January 29th 2013 by Jossey-Bass (first published January 17th 2013)

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May 28, 2019 Danielius (Debesyla) rated it it was ok

Great ideas, but writing style isn't easy to read and the topics don't really go into any depth. It's an okay-ish book on modern freelancing but not really anything more. ...more

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Mar 31, 2018 Ting Ting rated it really liked it

Interesting peeking into the mind of long-time tech executive who had started as a physical security guard at IBM.

In Maynard Webb’s Rebooting Work, he describes 4 types of people. People who believe in meritocracy in the paternalistic work era (Company Man or Woman), meritocracy in the entrepreneurial age (CEO of his or her Destiny), and people who feel entitlement in the paternalistic era (disenchanted employee) or feeling entitlement in the entrepreneurial age (aspiring entrepreneur).

How do ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Tim rated it liked it · review of another edition

The four frames discussed in the book were interesting. I found myself thinking back to previous jobs (as well as thinking about my position currently) and determining which frame best represented my situation. I liked the thoughts on how to escape certain undesirable frames and land in the ones designed to give the employee more happiness and satisfaction in his job. While this book could be valuable for many different types of employees, I found it slanted heavily toward the entrepreneurial ty ...more

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Jan 04, 2018 Kevin Gorski rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Skip this and find something with substance

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Mar 18, 2017 Carson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The author is on the board of a company that supports freelance workers. This book mostly raves about how technology is enabling a massive freelance revolution while reminding you that most freelancers won't succeed people don't succeed. Also, a bit of life story/self-promotion sparkled throughout. ...more

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May 06, 2013 Bojan Tunguz rated it it was amazing

I have to admit: when I first got this book I thought it was yet another vanity book project by a powerful egomaniacal Silicon Valley bigshot promising to solve all of the World’s problems by recasting them in the mold of his own special insight. I’ve read several such books and have even bought into the hype of some of them. They were full of grand proclamations and even grander visions of the future, but most of them left any crucial nitty-gritty steps out and did not really connect with the m I have to admit: when I first got this book I thought it was yet another vanity book project by a powerful egomaniacal Silicon Valley bigshot promising to solve all of the World’s problems by recasting them in the mold of his own special insight. I’ve read several such books and have even bought into the hype of some of them. They were full of grand proclamations and even grander visions of the future, but most of them left any crucial nitty-gritty steps out and did not really connect with the majority of the ordinary workers hoping to further their own careers. However, I was in for a big pleasant surprise. “Rebooting Work” is a succinct and to-the-point case for the emerging world of entrepreneurial approach to the individual careers.

Maynard Webb is a well-known figure in Silicon Valley circles. He has helped reinvigorate eBay’s technological backbone and push it into the stable and sophisticated online trading platform that it has become. In “Rebooting Work” he tries to distill decades of experience working in the high-tech sector, mentoring workers and colleagues, and helping launch a new online working platform in LiveOps. The book tries to instill the entrepreneurial mentality in all workers; regardless of what work environment you might find yourself in right now. The goal, in the words of this book, is to become a “CEO of your own career.” The book presents a simple four-square grid of four different types of career situations, and tries to help you to the successful entrepreneurial square.

One of the big points of the book is that the recent developments in technology, especially the wide penetration of fast internet, are finally making it possible for a vast majority of workers to work virtually from anywhere. I am afraid that this is still more of a desideratum than an actual reflection of the state of marketplace for work. However, just a few years ago I would have also thought that a book like this one is unrealistic in its expectations. Today I am much more cautiously optimistic. “Rebooting Work” presents the reader with the vision of work in the 21st century as it should be. I sincerely hope that it does become a fully functioning reality before too long.

**** What could have made this book even better. ****

I would have like more concrete examples of various careers options and steps in building them from scratch online. This would also include a proper assessment of various career tools and skills, and ways of acquiring them. In particular I would have liked a better advice of how marketable various skills are and will be in the upcoming years.

This book is a great resource, motivator, and a mindset builder for the kind of work world that will (hopefully) emerge in the upcoming years. It’s very to the point and largely devoid of hype and overselling of the case that it’s making. However, you should still be prepared to do most of the footwork on your own and be able to avail of various online and offline resources that are out there.
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Jul 28, 2015 Julian Dunn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Maynard Webb spoke recently at my company's all-hands meeting, so I was excited to read his book. It's a very quick read, perhaps 150 pages long, which should strike you as somewhat surprising for a topic as weighty as "rebooting work". Unfortunately, this is because Webb sings a one-note song: the somewhat reductionist proposal that everyone should become a freelancer in order to be "CEO of their own destiny" (paraphrasing his expression).

Reality, however, isn't so simple. And being CEO of one' ...more

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May 26, 2013 Jeff Wilsbacher rated it it was ok

yawn. Maynard doesn't cover anything that hasn't been rehashed before and he doesn't do it more eloquently. If you're unfamiliar with the subject matter this could be an interesting book, but if you've already read a half dozen books, you won't find much value here. What I was hoping for was more of a "how to" for employees to start moving things in the (obvious) directions that Maynard and others have noted. ...more

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Jul 01, 2013 Teri Temme rated it really liked it

Some great tips and things to think about concerning the future of work. I have had a lot of time to consider all of the aspects and it is a fascinating time we live in. I don't think outside of Silicon Valley (where I currently live) companies are as progressive, but they will get there. I enjoyed reading this book - it confirmed a lot of what I had "assumed" and it also gave me a few questions to answer about where I want my career to go. Here's to being the CEO of your own career destiny! ...more

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Jun 23, 2013 Elizabeth Smith rated it it was amazing

Loved this book's central premise, which is that the entire corporate behemoth structure we exist in is not only outdated and bad for workers, but also bad for the environment. And that there are ways for us as workers to renounce it. Particularly enjoyed the portions on the gamification of performance evaluations. ...more

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Nov 30, 2015 D R MOHANTY rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Very shallow coverage

The book was not up to my expectations, particularly considering the high credentials of the author. It presents a very shallow treatment of the topic. It actually seems more like a book advocating work from home or remote working models than anything more 'strategic'. ...more

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Sep 04, 2013 Andrew Harrison rated it it was ok

Doesn't really break any new ground, but useful enough information to hear again, with a few (though inconsistently used) examples sprinkled in. Main issue is that it has the content of a nice newspaper article or blog, stretched out into a book. ...more

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May 10, 2013 Jonathan Crabb rated it really liked it

Important analysis of the current work culture, especially the last couple chapters.

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May 11, 2013 Ian rated it liked it

I like his objective approach to work and career. Its up to each of us to make the work we want. Some good ideas, like building your own community of work, outside work.

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