Developers of Athens — Embrace the Suck

In order to grow as a designer, developer and a person we need to step out of our comfort zones more often. This talk will be about exploring the things we can do to push ourselves towards being even more awesome, even if you’re in a situation where that isn’t always possible. It’ll also be about embracing the things we hate and learning to love them.

+ Gallup's 2013 State of the American Workplace: http://bit.ly/workplace2013
+ Lil Vader's Adventures: http://lilvadersadventures.tumblr.com
+ ItemBrowser: http://itembrowser.com
+ JingleJam: http://jinglejam10k.com

Transcript

1. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Embrace the suck
2. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Make the best of whatever situation you’re in.
3. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Who am I?
4. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
5. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
6. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS WLS in 2011
7. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
8. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Started making websites in 1996
9. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Former Full-Time Freelancer
10. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Front-End Dev
11. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS GALLUP’S 2013 STATE OF THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE BIT.LY/WORKPLACE2013 2013 State of the Workplace
12. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS 30% of employees are engaged and inspired
13. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS 52% do just enough to not get fired
14. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS 18% are actively disengaged.
15. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Active disengagement costs the US $450-$550 Billion per year.
16. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS How do we fix this?
17. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
18. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS SUCK IT UP
19. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Consider the alternative.
20. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS STEVE JOBS “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to truly be satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
21. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Great doesn’t happen overnight.
22. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Great takes work.
23. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Spend your energy wisely
24. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Negativity is a cancer.
25. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Sometimes complaining takes more effort than just getting things done.
26. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Don’t fear new. New = Opportunity
27. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS THOMAS EDISON “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
28. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Opportunity opens doors.
29. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Help your team
30. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS The person you help today may be the person that helps you tomorrow.
31. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Small wins are still wins.
32. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Make learning a priority
33. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS “Sneak” new technology/ techniques into projects
34. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Find a creative outlet.
35. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
36. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Draw more.
37. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
38. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
39. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
40. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Take pictures.
41. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
42. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
43. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
44. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS lilvaderadventures.tumblr.com
45. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Scratch your own itch. (Side projects rock)
46. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS ItemBrowser Web App for WallaBee
47. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Use your powers for good…
48. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Design + Development Marketing
49. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Make your own awesomeness
50. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Nothing ever truly worth doing is ever easy.
51. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS ARISTOTLE “Happiness depends on ourselves.”
52. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS
53. @CDHARRISON DEVELOPERS OF ATHENS Chris Harrison chris@cdharrison.com @cdharrison ! speakerdeck.com/cd Thank You!