Postcards From My Life

Dear Reader,

A common developer stereotype is that we sit, stare at a problem, and eventually say “What happens if I change this?”

Stereotypes exist for a reason, this one is no different. Yes, there are times when I am handed a problem and everything looks fine; the solution is elusive.  Being a developer means that I have to know which things I can change to see if something is going to make a difference.

If the login page on my website is broken, yes, I can change the color scheme on my IDE, but that isn’t going to solve anything.

Being a developer means being able to look at a problem and see the levers I can pull.

From the outside, it may look like I am randomly making changes, but I am really seeing all the different things I can change, changing one at a time, and evaluating the results.

This is how developers solve problems we don’t fully understand.

That is why we can say in one moment “I have no idea what is going on.” and in the next shout “FIXED IT!” and both be honest assessments.

Until next time,
I <3 |<

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Dear Reader,

Open Source project leaders and community conference organizers share one thing in common. EVERYBODY knows how to do what they do and do it better. I know because I’ve sat in both chairs.

It is amazing to me how many people understand the intricacies of complex problems enough to suggest new ideas or features that will solve their problem.

That’s the thing, though. In both cases – FOSS and conferences – the projects were setup to solve the problem that the founders saw. Your problem may not be their problem, and that’s ok.

If a project doesn’t solve your problem, fork it and make it solve your problem.

If the conference doesn’t do things the way you want it to, start your own conference.

OR

If both of those sound too difficult – because they are – instead of berating the founders for not solving your problem, offer to solve the problem for them.

Yes, that’s right, if you want your problem solved, you need to solve it. It is your problem, not theirs.

Stop dog-piling on people that are just trying to solve a problem, start helping them solve yours.

Until next time,
I <3 |<
=C=

Dear Reader,

“Lead, Follow, or get out of the way”. It’s been attributed to Gen. George S. Patton, Thomas Payne, and even Ted Turner.

This is the rallying cry for those who want to get things done.

Don’t be the one that people have to shout this at.

Be the person shouting this at others.

Find your goal.

Find your passion.

Find your 42.

Then don’t let anyone stand in your way of your pursuit.

Until next time,
I <3 |<
=C=

Dear Reader,

At Sunshine PHP 2019, I saw 1 speaker in a dress shirt and a tie. I ask this person – he is a friend of mine – why so formal? His response was priceless to me.

“I want to show respect for my audience.”

Contrast that with the fact that I saw two speakers deliver talks in T-Shirts and shorts.

I think sometimes those of us who speak at conferences a lot forget the fact that everyone else in the room paid money to be there.

Whether you are just getting into speaking, or you have been doing it for many years, take a moment before your next talk to reflect.

Respect your audience. Do your best to deliver value to every single person there. Present yourself it in a way that is not distracting to anyone.

Respect the fact that you are there only they because they paid to be there.

Until next time,
I <3 |<
=C=

Dear Reader,

I watched the talented Olivia Liddell deliver a general session talk at Sunshine PHP 19 titled “Think Like a Trainer: Strategies for Improving Your Communication Skills”.

One of my takeaways was “When trying to teach others, stop saying things like ‘As we all know’, ‘You JUST need to do this’, or ‘You SIMPLY need to do that'”.

I am going to add one more to this, ‘I think we can all agree’.

There are very few things in this world that we all agree on. It is great that you have strongly held beliefs, I do to. I’ve had mine mocked in a blog post by someone I considered a friend.

Stop assuming everyone agrees with you. Stop being insulting to those who do not.

If you want your message to be heard, you are better served by keeping those closely held beliefs that do not relate to the point you are teaching, to yourself.

It is great that we all want to teach each other.

We have to respect each other. We have to not go out of our way to insult each other.

I think we can all agree on that. :)

Until next time,
I <3 |<
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