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Be the Master: Achieve Success & Help Others
In the old days, trades were kept alive by Masters, who took on and trained apprentices into journeymen, who became Masters in their own right. We've lost that in most ways, but there's no reason you can't resurrect the approach for our modern times. Learn to achieve and recognize your own success, so that you can become a Master to someone else. This book covers my approach to Mastery, in a hope that it will inspire you to find your own path, and begin a generations-long tradition of helping others achieve their success. For ongoing support, inspiration, and to share your story, drop by BeTheMaster.com after reading the book!
- GenresLeadership
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2018
12 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Don Jones
121 books190 followersDon Jones has written dozens and dozens of books and ebooks on information technology topics, and is perhaps most well-known in that space for his "Month of Lunches" series, published by Manning. Don's recently branched out into topics like business management, instructional design, and self-improvement/motivational, along with launching books in science fiction and fantasy. Don lives in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, is a huge fan of Disney Parks, and loves Figment best of all.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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May 16, 2025*Be the Master: Realize Your Worth. Achieve Your Success. Help Others.* by Don Jones is a motivational and insightful guide that blends personal development with professional growth, particularly geared toward those in technical or service-oriented careers. The book draws from Jones’s own journey—from early struggles to success in the IT industry—to offer a broader, human-centered philosophy of achievement: mastery is not just about personal gain, but about using your growth to uplift others.
At the heart of the book is the concept of **“being the master”**—not in the authoritarian sense, but as someone who is in control of their path, confident in their value, and dedicated to continual improvement. Mastery, according to Jones, is a mindset. It means taking ownership of your life, career, and capabilities, and then using that position of strength to **help others grow** too.
The book is structured in a conversational, accessible style, combining storytelling with practical advice. Jones avoids buzzwords and abstract theory in favor of honest reflections, straightforward language, and direct challenges to the reader. The tone is encouraging but firm—urging people to stop waiting for permission, recognition, or the perfect opportunity, and instead to act with purpose and clarity.
Key themes and lessons include:
* **Realizing your worth** – Jones emphasizes that many people underestimate their value, especially in technical fields where imposter syndrome or a focus on “hard skills” can obscure broader contributions. He encourages readers to reflect on their experiences, talents, and potential impact in order to step into their full confidence.
* **Achieving success through responsibility** – Success, he argues, comes not just from skill or talent, but from accountability and intentional effort. “Being the master” means showing up, doing the work, and taking control of the direction you want to go.
* **Helping others as the highest form of mastery** – A defining message of the book is that mastery is not complete until you’ve lifted others. Mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership are seen not as optional extras but as central responsibilities of someone who has “figured it out.”
* **Getting past excuses and mental blocks** – Jones challenges readers to confront the self-imposed limitations that keep them stuck—fear, doubt, waiting for validation—and to move beyond passive thinking into action.
* **Creating legacy and meaning** – The book also reflects on deeper questions of purpose, fulfillment, and legacy. Mastery is framed not as a destination, but as a continual process of becoming someone whose work and influence matter to others.
Throughout, Jones’s background in IT adds a grounded realism to his advice, but the principles he shares are universal. Whether you're a developer, educator, leader, or someone just trying to find direction, the book speaks to anyone seeking clarity, confidence, and a greater sense of contribution.
In summary, *Be the Master* is a call to wake up to your potential, stop deferring your goals, and step boldly into a life of intentional impact. It’s about claiming your power—not to dominate others, but to serve them better by first becoming your best self.
At the heart of the book is the concept of **“being the master”**—not in the authoritarian sense, but as someone who is in control of their path, confident in their value, and dedicated to continual improvement. Mastery, according to Jones, is a mindset. It means taking ownership of your life, career, and capabilities, and then using that position of strength to **help others grow** too.
The book is structured in a conversational, accessible style, combining storytelling with practical advice. Jones avoids buzzwords and abstract theory in favor of honest reflections, straightforward language, and direct challenges to the reader. The tone is encouraging but firm—urging people to stop waiting for permission, recognition, or the perfect opportunity, and instead to act with purpose and clarity.
Key themes and lessons include:
* **Realizing your worth** – Jones emphasizes that many people underestimate their value, especially in technical fields where imposter syndrome or a focus on “hard skills” can obscure broader contributions. He encourages readers to reflect on their experiences, talents, and potential impact in order to step into their full confidence.
* **Achieving success through responsibility** – Success, he argues, comes not just from skill or talent, but from accountability and intentional effort. “Being the master” means showing up, doing the work, and taking control of the direction you want to go.
* **Helping others as the highest form of mastery** – A defining message of the book is that mastery is not complete until you’ve lifted others. Mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and leadership are seen not as optional extras but as central responsibilities of someone who has “figured it out.”
* **Getting past excuses and mental blocks** – Jones challenges readers to confront the self-imposed limitations that keep them stuck—fear, doubt, waiting for validation—and to move beyond passive thinking into action.
* **Creating legacy and meaning** – The book also reflects on deeper questions of purpose, fulfillment, and legacy. Mastery is framed not as a destination, but as a continual process of becoming someone whose work and influence matter to others.
Throughout, Jones’s background in IT adds a grounded realism to his advice, but the principles he shares are universal. Whether you're a developer, educator, leader, or someone just trying to find direction, the book speaks to anyone seeking clarity, confidence, and a greater sense of contribution.
In summary, *Be the Master* is a call to wake up to your potential, stop deferring your goals, and step boldly into a life of intentional impact. It’s about claiming your power—not to dominate others, but to serve them better by first becoming your best self.
April 21, 2018
Not bad. Short but to the point. Argues that the traditional Master and Apprentice way of teaching skills doesn't get enough attention. It's an idea I largely agree with hence why this caught my eye. Think it could have done with a little more detail but it terms of trying to influence thinking on topic it does enough.
December 30, 2018
to the point and provides some food for thought
The basic premise is that we owe it to our professions to share our knowledge with others. Don Jones provides some tips for being successful enough to teach and makes an interesting distinction between master and expert.
The success tips revolve around knowing yourself and structuring your daily tasks in meeting your goals and who you want to be. A nice take on Steven Covey's approach.
Keeping commitments, and cutting our losses are also major themes of the author's success, something I know I need to work on.
After the success section, we are given some tips for helping others grow, this mostly boils down to finding the right audience and helping the learning using a natural problem-solving method.
The basic premise is that we owe it to our professions to share our knowledge with others. Don Jones provides some tips for being successful enough to teach and makes an interesting distinction between master and expert.
The success tips revolve around knowing yourself and structuring your daily tasks in meeting your goals and who you want to be. A nice take on Steven Covey's approach.
Keeping commitments, and cutting our losses are also major themes of the author's success, something I know I need to work on.
After the success section, we are given some tips for helping others grow, this mostly boils down to finding the right audience and helping the learning using a natural problem-solving method.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews