Review of The Art of Serving Two Masters
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Kigen Valarie
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Review of The Art of Serving Two Masters
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Art of Serving Two Masters" by Bruce Decaster MBA, Spencer Green PhD.]
You have constantly been thinking about the security your job offers, the need to make more money, the desire to increase your skill set, etc., and have concluded that you need a second job. This is only a dream until you write it down as a goal and start working on it, as said by Emmitt Smith. However, how do you know what to consider for the second job? How should you work around it while keeping your first job? I thought The Art of Serving Two Masters was a timely arrival to address such issues, and you should too.
The author started his own business after being furloughed when COVID-19 struck. Among the many reasons people seek second jobs, he needed money. His search for a job and the hurdles he experienced made him the best tool to present this story. Working with HR and different companies helped him uncover the correct way to maneuver employers, personal interests, legalities, and everything associated with getting a second job.
"Your principal income needs to be your first priority." This statement by Michael Davis, one of the people whose stories are built on in the book, clearly describes the book's intention in a nutshell. The authors clearly state that the only way you can have two jobs is by ensuring that you keep the first one. This means that you have to make your primary employer aware of your intentions. This is also an important aspect of ensuring that you avoid any conflicts of interest and consider any non-compete clauses that your company may have. Employers are different, and they explain how this will impact the decisions and communications you want to make. The last section of the book describes the actual art of serving the two masters, the hurdles you may fall into, and how you will have to tackle them.
Getting started is a big issue among many who would love to get a second job for various reasons. The breakdown of how different policies work and the implications of signed contracts, along with employers' interests, sheds light on how one should be able to talk to their employers, with open communication and establishing trust being the most important aspects. Going into further detail about the difficulties associated with having a second job—such as potential effects on relationships, personal health, the pressure to determine if the second job is worthwhile, and strategies for overcoming these difficulties—helped me identify the factors I will take into account when choosing a new position. The to-do list at the end of the book is a comprehensive summary that helps in decision-making.
There is nothing that is more often underrated than organized work. Going through Bruce Decaster's and Spencer Green's work is a proper example of a well-planned process. It is easy for the reader to understand from the three sections the priority given to each aspect and in what order to tackle it. They ensure that they protect your first job in the process of ensuring that you get a second job that will fit your requirements. Coming from people with prior knowledge of the ins and outs of company processes, the book is written in a friendly tone, giving advice and putting forth ideas that are meant to point the reader in the proper direction. With the in-text citations and references drawn globally, the reader is bound to make decisions based on their individual needs. Personal experiences from individuals around the world on why they chose more than one job and how it has influenced them are also narrated, all about the relevant topic being discussed.
However, despite the educational content provided, the details in the book mainly offer advice for U.S. residents. This involves taxes and health insurance. Additionally, most of the working hours referenced are those of the U.S. and the U.K. There is a heads-up on this, but it still poses a disadvantage to other readers outside of these areas. The authors also reference personal experiences before the story of that particular person is told, causing confusion and a loss of interest in the person's story when it is finally told at the end of the discussed topic.
I rate The Art of Serving Two Masters: A Simple Guide to Maximizing Your Performance While Working Two Jobs by Bruce Decaster, MBA, and Spencer Green, PhD, 4 out of 5 stars. In a world with a lot of uncertainty, people need to understand how to increase income streams, and the book addresses more of this. The editing is professionally done. I only came across a couple of errors. I have deducted a star as I believe it would be more appropriate to have the experiences at the beginning of any topic referencing the story. I would also recommend that the to-do list at the end of the book be made accessible in a downloadable format. There is a lot of new information to learn from the book, including about different work cultures around the world, for example, the 996 culture in China.
The Art of Serving Two Masters: A Simple Guide to Maximizing Your Performance While Working Two Jobs by Bruce Decaster, MBA, and Spencer Green, PhD, addresses a lot of questions regarding primary and secondary jobs and is a great recommendation to all who would love to find out if getting a second job is worth it, how to go about it, and how to ensure this prospect works for them. Given that KPIs are major performance indicators, this is a great resource to learn how they ensure the security or risk of your position at work.
******
The Art of Serving Two Masters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
You have constantly been thinking about the security your job offers, the need to make more money, the desire to increase your skill set, etc., and have concluded that you need a second job. This is only a dream until you write it down as a goal and start working on it, as said by Emmitt Smith. However, how do you know what to consider for the second job? How should you work around it while keeping your first job? I thought The Art of Serving Two Masters was a timely arrival to address such issues, and you should too.
The author started his own business after being furloughed when COVID-19 struck. Among the many reasons people seek second jobs, he needed money. His search for a job and the hurdles he experienced made him the best tool to present this story. Working with HR and different companies helped him uncover the correct way to maneuver employers, personal interests, legalities, and everything associated with getting a second job.
"Your principal income needs to be your first priority." This statement by Michael Davis, one of the people whose stories are built on in the book, clearly describes the book's intention in a nutshell. The authors clearly state that the only way you can have two jobs is by ensuring that you keep the first one. This means that you have to make your primary employer aware of your intentions. This is also an important aspect of ensuring that you avoid any conflicts of interest and consider any non-compete clauses that your company may have. Employers are different, and they explain how this will impact the decisions and communications you want to make. The last section of the book describes the actual art of serving the two masters, the hurdles you may fall into, and how you will have to tackle them.
Getting started is a big issue among many who would love to get a second job for various reasons. The breakdown of how different policies work and the implications of signed contracts, along with employers' interests, sheds light on how one should be able to talk to their employers, with open communication and establishing trust being the most important aspects. Going into further detail about the difficulties associated with having a second job—such as potential effects on relationships, personal health, the pressure to determine if the second job is worthwhile, and strategies for overcoming these difficulties—helped me identify the factors I will take into account when choosing a new position. The to-do list at the end of the book is a comprehensive summary that helps in decision-making.
There is nothing that is more often underrated than organized work. Going through Bruce Decaster's and Spencer Green's work is a proper example of a well-planned process. It is easy for the reader to understand from the three sections the priority given to each aspect and in what order to tackle it. They ensure that they protect your first job in the process of ensuring that you get a second job that will fit your requirements. Coming from people with prior knowledge of the ins and outs of company processes, the book is written in a friendly tone, giving advice and putting forth ideas that are meant to point the reader in the proper direction. With the in-text citations and references drawn globally, the reader is bound to make decisions based on their individual needs. Personal experiences from individuals around the world on why they chose more than one job and how it has influenced them are also narrated, all about the relevant topic being discussed.
However, despite the educational content provided, the details in the book mainly offer advice for U.S. residents. This involves taxes and health insurance. Additionally, most of the working hours referenced are those of the U.S. and the U.K. There is a heads-up on this, but it still poses a disadvantage to other readers outside of these areas. The authors also reference personal experiences before the story of that particular person is told, causing confusion and a loss of interest in the person's story when it is finally told at the end of the discussed topic.
I rate The Art of Serving Two Masters: A Simple Guide to Maximizing Your Performance While Working Two Jobs by Bruce Decaster, MBA, and Spencer Green, PhD, 4 out of 5 stars. In a world with a lot of uncertainty, people need to understand how to increase income streams, and the book addresses more of this. The editing is professionally done. I only came across a couple of errors. I have deducted a star as I believe it would be more appropriate to have the experiences at the beginning of any topic referencing the story. I would also recommend that the to-do list at the end of the book be made accessible in a downloadable format. There is a lot of new information to learn from the book, including about different work cultures around the world, for example, the 996 culture in China.
The Art of Serving Two Masters: A Simple Guide to Maximizing Your Performance While Working Two Jobs by Bruce Decaster, MBA, and Spencer Green, PhD, addresses a lot of questions regarding primary and secondary jobs and is a great recommendation to all who would love to find out if getting a second job is worth it, how to go about it, and how to ensure this prospect works for them. Given that KPIs are major performance indicators, this is a great resource to learn how they ensure the security or risk of your position at work.
******
The Art of Serving Two Masters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Life will go whichever way. Changing it is up to a very powerful force 
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Anozie Stephanie
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I have always thought of this, but never knew this can be written down as a book. So glad I can have a guide to instruct me on having two jobs and to be efficient on both.
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Liam Patel
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As an Appalachian, I reckon The Art of Serving Two Masters is a mighty fine read. It provides valuable guidance on balancing two jobs while keeping your primary one. The authors' real-life experiences and practical advice make it relatable and helpful. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Y'all should consider giving it a go! Mesmerizing prose, swept me away completely.
Latest Review: Reconfigurement by E. Alan Fleischauer
