WORDCAMP PORTLAND
OK… so let’s talk about what I learned this weekend at Wordcamp Portland.
1. Aaron Hockley and the OurPDX crew know how to put on a conference. They all worked really hard and hosted a stellar event. My wholehearted thanks goes out to them for putting this together in their spare time, and for allowing me to speak.
2. Writing a conference presentation takes longer than you think. A LOT LONGER than you think. Next time I speak I will not procrastinate so heavily. I spent most of the day in the back trying to finish my presentation.
3. When out in the world… always keep your eyes on your sunglasses. I lost+found them at least twice throughout the day.
4. I’ve got to get better at “networking.” These events are sort of excruciating for me, because – I’m just no good and meeting and talking to people, in fact I picked a career in software specifically because of the low amounts of human to human interaction.
5. Take a pack of gum. You’re going to by away from home all day dummy, gum is an absolute must.
6. Klonopin.
7. Must get involved with the planning for next year, in terms of content for the serious Wordpress developer there was nothing. I would like to see something of a traditional track-based conference agenda representing different needs.
8. There is no need to evangelize something that people have paid money and gotten out of bed early on a Saturday morning for.
9. Code will fail when you are on stage. Don’t freak out.
10. There is, by and large, less snark in the Portland tech-scene than anywhere else in the world. This may be it’s biggest asset, or it’s greatest weakness.
11. Sometimes bloggers freak me out.
