I Made a Huge Mistake

This is a little talk I gave for Full Sail University (my alma mater) and the Web Design & Development program's Guest Speaker Series on October 29th, 2015.

Video of the talk is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnqvGoOqtYM

Transcript

2. It’s been a while.
3. 1,610 days.
6. This guy made a huge mistake
7. (this guy is me)
8. I failed my intro to programming class.
9. Twice
10. BTW (I was at Full Sail to learn programming)
11. So, clearly, you should 
 take advice from me.
12. I made some decisions with bad consequences.
13. And yet.
15. Story Time
16. Miami, Florida February 2010
17. Intro to Programming final exam 2 days later.
18. What better time to go to a conference?
20. Steve Huffman Alex Payne John Resig Brian Lam Mark Dunkley
21. Who?
22. Reddit Twitter jQuery Gizmodo Shopify Steve Huffman Alex Payne John Resig Brian Lam Mark Dunkley
23. I was using his software but I had no idea who John Resig was.
25. Can you tell which one is John Resig?
26. Nope.
27. Learn about the people who make software.
28. Read from the people who make software.
29. Talk to the people who make software.
30. (please don’t ask them for an autograph)
31. It’s not about the big names.
33. “Hi, I believe you’re my nemesis on Gowalla.”
35. Gregg Pollack
36. Some decisions don’t make sense in the short term.
37. The initial payoff might seem small.
39. December 24th 12:26 AM
40. Subject: FYI
43. It wasn’t that easy.
44. Let’s talk about the tough parts.
45. Worked way too much.
46. Almost lost friends.
47. Neglected my health and personal life.
48. I didn’t need to risk that to get to where I am.
49. I could have done less, but better.
50. I could have asked for help.
51. Thankfully help found me.
52. Don’t keep to yourself.
53. Extrovert Introvert
54. Introvert & extrovert
56. Find your third place.
57. Firehouse
58. Downtown Credo.
59. Vespr
60. Meeting people is hard.
61. Let people to bump into you.
62. Find your dream space.
63. (It’s not inside your head.)
64. Reach out.
66. Alicia, Tyler & Anthony
67. “The best team money can’t buy.”
68. Find your mentors.
69. Several of mine are in this room.
70. Stay in touch with them.
72. June 3rd
73. Entering the Real World™
74. Feels like this…
75. (crickets)
76. So much Silence
77. JOB APPLICATIONS JOB APPLICATIONS, EVERYWHERE
78. I learned more in 2 years than in the previous 10.
79. hard rhythm That’s a to sustain.
80. Software doesn’t sell itself.
81. You don’t either.
82. You’re interviewing them, too.
83. A job is not a favor.
84. Always ask for more than what’s comfortable.
85. (that’s especially true for women and minorities)
86. Everything is so slow.
87. Please let me work.
88. Now
91. Learn by Doing
92. I’ve been there for 4 years.
93. I work remotely.
94. From France. From a train. From a plane.
95. As long you get stuff done.
96. I love it.
97. It’s possible.
98. Merci :-)
99. @olivierlacan
100. Ask Me Anything