Building Software, Companies, and Communities

Few people seem to address the personal, emotional, and ethical dance of building companies and communities. By developing a philosophy of work self, with your own unique principles and priorities, you can understand how and why you work well with others and build a stronger company and community.

Transcript

1. Building Software, Companies, and Communities Paul Burdick, mild mannered developer
2. I. The Introduction
3. Hello, I'm Paul Burdick • Former CTO of EllisLab • Former Lead Developer at Solspace • Currently...well, that's complicated.
4. Not Talking About • Finding a lawyer, accountant, investor • Programming/Development • Deep, obtuse philosophical debates • Gossip • Standing Desks
5. Focus of Talk • The Voice in Your Head • Having a Work Philosophy • Personal Sense of Accomplishment • Responsibility • Community
6. Take Away (hopefully...) • The Importance of Knowing Yourself • Passion, Responsibility, Fun • Knowing When Each is Needed • Thinking about more than code and money
7. II. A Philosophy of “Work Self ”
8. Our work is critical in many respects to how we define ourselves. 40+ hours a week devoted to it.
9. How do I develop this sense of “work self ”?
10. Principles: The fundamental propositions or rules from which all others follow
11. We each have a foundation • Military Family • Eagle Scout • Philosophy Degree • Adventure/High Pressure Junkie • Problem Solver / Diagnostician
12. Question Yourself • What defines you? • What do you want to be seen as? • Artist • Businessman • Man in the Trenches • Übermensch
13. • What guides your actions? • At your core, what do you strive for? • What is the basis for your company or community ethos? • When things go really well or really bad, these can help you. Even save you. Ask Yourself & Ask Others
14. Priorities
15. Be honest about your needs/wants
16. What sacrifices are you willing to make? • Family • Socializing • Health/Sleep • Increased Stress • Responsibility
17. We're human and sometimes we do our greatest, most profound work under the most difficult circumstances.
18. Balance
19. • Expect imbalance and prepare for it. • Take a step back, breath, and then respond • Change priorities • Reward yourself • Never get to burnout
20. Expect/Accept Change
21. • Question yourself • Question your decisions • Think, Don’t React • Take the time, do the working • Figure out what's "right" and do it.
22. Internal discord will happen. It's an important part of growth.
23. Write It Down
24. III. Work, Work, Work
25. All Nighters
26. Questions: • How do you work? • How do you work with others? • What gets you working? • What keeps you working?
28. IV. Building a Company
29. Find Partners
30. • Businessmen, Developers, Server Admins • Find people you trust • Talk to them • Listen to them • Bounce Ideas • Solid Communication • The quickest path to problems is not communicating
31. Choose Employees
32. • We hire blindly based on skills/experience • Find people you can work with. • Who argue and disagree constructively • Not take criticism personally • Resolve Conflicts but Don't Forbid Them • On the same team. Your opposition is the misunderstanding—not each other.
33. Dangers & Pitfalls (of Business)
34. Poor Leadership
35. • Unwanted or Improper Responsibility • People Overstepping Bounds (Marketing!!) • No Direction • No Way to Achieve that Direction
37. Lack of Direction • The Inability to Say No • The Inability to Say Yes • Not convincing people
38. Money, Power, and No Purpose • Success clouds one's mind • The Lord on High Syndrome • Which leads us back to your Principles, Priorities, and Trusted Partners • ( Almost Shakespearean )
39. One Hit Wonder • Not expanding or trying new things. • Always Focused on the Cash Cow • Windows/Office • ExpressionEngine
40. V. Building a Community
41. Responsibility and Passion • Show Up. Engage • Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. • Passionate but dispassionate (thick skin, reasonable, firm)
42. Responsibility and Passion • Kill the Trolls • The one strike rule. • Sensitivity to Situation, not to The Words • Promote the Wizards
43. Criticism • Never be afraid of criticism • Never ever swear them off • Never tune out • Ignore the Source, Focus on the Arguments
44. Fun & Personality
45. The Age of Social Media
46. • Communicate Your Thoughts • Let your personality come through. • Be yourself. A cliche but true. • Stay Connected • Allow yourself the chance to be personal. Reply to an email, help someone directly. Build a rapport, help a dream
47. Question Everything...
48. Fin