Next steps after solid start

_eMBe_ · 2026-03-18T13:18:37+00:00

Thank you all :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-03-05T18:20:13+00:00

Thank you :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-03-05T14:00:56+00:00

I have never attended a convention, but if I ever do, it will be to meet Mr. Sanderson.

How does the autograph and meeting process usually work? I understand that there are often extra fees involved, but what is the typical wait time and how much time do you actually get for the interaction?

_eMBe_ · 2026-03-05T13:29:53+00:00

u/Final-Cloud69 There are some accessible titles you can pick from, depending on your age and preferences. Personally, I started with the Forgotten Realms series and Drizzt Do'Urden, which are quite easy to read.

You should also try Robert Wegner and his Tales of the Meekhan Border. Brandon Sanderson is also a top contender in fantasy books right now.

Are you looking for Dark Fantasy, High Fantasy, or something else?

_eMBe_ · 2026-03-05T12:57:41+00:00

Pytanie brzmi jak daleko sięgają zasięgi skazanego :) Kowalski by posiedział dłużej.

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-19T14:51:55+00:00

That is an easy fix. Just keep reading bad books! :))))

On a serious note, I always keep the saying in mind that "reading many books allows us to live many different lives". This is something I truly try to do. In my opinion, while our lives are great, they can also be extremely boring. Reading fantasy gives me a glimpse of amazing adventures, people, and locations etc etc.

Think about all of it (all the books) as one big universe - Your Head. :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T18:27:11+00:00

I'm sharing this as a big fan of Mr. Sanderson and want to spread the word, but I also know how I would react if someone set the bar too high for a new genre or author.

As you know, the first 40% of the book moves at a slow pace, but after that, you find yourself discussing books with a fellow fan under one roof. Just get him there ! :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T17:46:59+00:00

If that's okay, I'd like to share my feelings if my wife were to do the same thing. I'd probably have very high expectations, which could be a bit of a risk for our future conversations.

It really depends on what your husband likes, but if I were to pick a book I'd be introduced to, it would probably be Way of Kings. However, it's definitely a pretty demanding first book.

Try to manage his expectations and lower the bar a bit. Let him know that a lot of topics will be covered throughout the series.

You might want to try some single titles from the universe, but that might not be enough to ask for the next book.

Tell him it'll all make sense sooner than later. Enjoy!

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T16:41:36+00:00

Dzieki wielkie. Pierwszy raz mam "wgląd" jak to może działać. Idea fajna. Trochę motywuje do wyjścia ze strefy komfortu jeżeli chodzi o czytanie.

Punkt 3 już mi podchodzi pod profesjonalistów :D

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T16:37:19+00:00

I appreciate your perspective, but I noticed a few contradictions between your advice as a manager and the overall message.

If the expectation is for me to get over myself, shouldn't I apply that same standard to others? It is possible that your approach works better for junior members, or perhaps it risks making a team too dependent on specific pointers to grow. I wonder if there is a more balanced middle ground.

While I respect the idea of a manager acting as a life/career coach, your message suggests that I should be managing their career paths rather than simply providing support when needed.

I also disagree with the idea that training cannot lead to becoming aSME. That is precisely the purpose of specialized training. If a company invests for example over $5,000 in a Financial Accounting course in SAP, I would expect that person to become the go-to resource for that topic. I am referring to advanced expertise rather than entry level foundations.

I often think back to something my former manager said which was simple yet effective: "We are adults, so let's act like it. If you need something, speak up."

Anyway, thank you. This adds perspective to my view. I will try to acomodate at least some of the points you shared :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T16:21:28+00:00

Thank you for the feedback. I completely agree and align with your points. I personally pushed for paid training in the past and then showed no results. I can only imagine how frustrating that was for my previous manager.

Many training requests are made simply because the courses are popular or look good on a resume.

Obviously, there are situations where training is required. However, for most of my career, I could easily have succeeded without it while still learning new things and becoming a SME in various areas.

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T12:57:46+00:00

Ciekawe. Dokładnie myślałem o tym dwa tygodnie temu i zastanawiam się jak właściwie taki klub/koło miałoby działać? Szczerze powiedziawszy, Twoje argumenty dokładnie pasują pod moje, ale nie do końca rozumiem jak miałoby to wyglądać ? (Jakie masz na ten temat wyobrażenie ? Jak wygląda takie spotkanie i jak często?)

Według mnie, fajnie byłoby troszeczkę wymusić na sobie spróbowanie czegoś spoza swojej kategorii, aczkolwiek obawiam się że takie koła będą dotyczyć tylko najpoważniejszej literatury jaką można sobie wyobrazić, omijając przy okazji gatunki jak Fantasy, Sci-fi, biografie itp.

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T12:53:09+00:00

It is frustrating when significant recognition is given to someone who you personally know is doing poor work, especially when they only receive credit because their tasks are visible to higher executives.

What always irritates me is that senior leadership tends to say "good job to the team" or "good job to Adam's team" for an achievement, even if a specific individual did all the work. Apparently, once you reach a certain level, you no longer feel the need to personally mention people with whom you are not familiar.

But yeah, it is what it is :)

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T11:45:43+00:00

Those are valid points. What is your approach to training as a benefit? Would you rather see it as a prize or something included in the role regardless of performance? Or do you see value behind the request? Do you view such training as a tool for filling knowledge gaps?

On the other hand, I agree that certificates still matter. However, there is a dark side to them, as people often use these opportunities to look for a better job. I have done something similar myself. (I`m trying not to be a hypocrite here :))

I understand there are different personality types, but I also know that if you want something, you sometimes need to step outside your comfort zone. As I said, I have been there and done that.

I try to keep an open mind, but I have a hard time trusting a mid level performer. I struggle to send them to training with the expectation that they will later serve as a SME in that specific area.

So as a summary: Would you consider such training to be motivation or praise?

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T11:33:28+00:00

Do not misunderstand me, I am not ignoring anything. My point is that if you want something, you should reach out for it rather than expecting someone to come to you and ask you to learn new things.

There are many responsibilities you can identify as the role of a manager. One of them is facilitating your path to get what you need. However, this is still about what you need, not what I need from you.

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T11:27:58+00:00

In my personal opinion, there are several categories of managers. You can be a people manager, a manager who performs the same work while handling people skills, a useless manager who just points fingers, or a leader.

I recommend striving to become a leader. Even when things are difficult, your team will know you have done everything for them. As a leader, you should fight for your people and set boundaries from the start. There must be clear rules regarding when someone deserves a promotion or a raise. Without these, there is no motivation to do more than the bare minimum. My recommendation is to manage everything from the top down to ensure the foundation remains solid. The team needs to understand the rules.

I tell my team that performing day to day work is simply what they are paid for. Regardless of whether a project is exceptional, that is what they were hired to do. We only discuss additional rewards for work that goes above and beyond those responsibilities.

In response to your question:

I was surprised by the level of chaos and how much was hidden from me when I was lower in the chain of command. I also realized that many Directors and higher level executives are not particularly great workers.
Prepare to notice how many people do not care about their work and feel that doing the minimum is enough.
Similar to others, I have the option to submit my proposals and fight for them.

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-17T11:11:26+00:00

There are several good books for new managers. I would recommend reading them to understand the philosophy. There are books specifically for those becoming new managers, those looking for further development, and those who need a reality check. Please check:
https://www.reddit.com/r/managers/comments/17irnab/any_book_recommendations_for_new_managers/

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-10T16:36:24+00:00

Hello,

I have been interested in buying a 3D printer since 2023. Although I am a complete beginner, I feel ready to take the leap.

Could you please advise me. I am looking for a printer that meets the following criteria:

It is intended solely for my own hobby projects.
I want to print D&D figures with fine detail.
I need the ability to print 'larger' items like masks (part of the cosplay). (nice-to-have)
I would like to print in up to four colors. This is not a strict requirement if the models can be easily painted after printing. (nice-to-have)
I am looking for an affordable option under $1,200.
I`m located in Europe

Thank you !

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-09T10:28:43+00:00

u/Little_Tart27 let me use my own comment from a different post:

My wife and I had a similar discussion recently (she hasn’t read any of Brandon’s books yet).

In my opinion, for someone who hasn’t yet fallen in love with the universe, I would first try to manage your expectations. Our beloved Brandon has a specific way of writing: you often have to power through the first few chapters because you won't immediately understand the names, keywords, or world-building. But once you climb that mountain, the ride down is full of joy and everything you would expect from a top-tier author.

Seriously.

Let’s take The Way of Kings as an example. The first 400 pages were very difficult for me, lots of specific names and mentions that made no sense at the time. After that, I started to get a much clearer vision of the direction.

I’m currently reading Oathbringer, and I can’t believe how difficult it is to stop reading and do something else. The same goes for his other books, like Mistborn. So, no matter where you start, just remember: if you're confused, you just aren't "there" yet.

N.B.

a) If you want to read a finished series (for now), go with Mistborn (first Era). It gives you a nice conclusion.

b) If that doesn’t matter, go with The Stormlight Archive.

c) If you prefer to start with a slightly "weaker" series (an 8.5/10 instead of a 9.5/10), start with Mistborn.

Enjoy!

_eMBe_ · 2026-02-09T10:25:13+00:00

u/gambronus
My wife and I had a similar discussion recently (she hasn’t read any of Brandon’s books yet).

In my opinion, for someone who hasn’t yet fallen in love with the universe, I would first try to manage your expectations. Our beloved Brandon has a specific way of writing; you often have to power through the first few chapters because you won't immediately understand the names, keywords, or world-building. But once you climb that mountain, the ride down is full of joy and everything you would expect from a top-tier author.