PHP has one of the best communities in all of tech. … but it won't stay that way forever unless more people start giving back. Controversial opinion time
New to #phpworld? × Join us at 10:30am in Luray II (right after the second keynote) for a "Birds of a Feather" session. × Look for community sherpas like myself throughout the conference.
Are you introverted or shy? × So am I! It's okay! We can do this! × Take care of yourself first & foremost. Take breaks! You don't have to go to every single session. × You can sit with me.
The "Hallway Track" is a real thing × It may sound cliché, but this is the best value of the whole conference. × Shy? Set a goal, e.g. 1-2 new friends. × Talk to the speakers! They enjoy it. × No hero worship.
Tonight's social × php[world]'s game night is one of the best conference socials × alcohol optional × structured activities (board games) make it easier for introverts to participate × Don't skip it!
Give feedback on joind.in × joind.in - a platform nearly all PHP confs use to collect talk feedback × Let speakers know what worked well and what didn't × Also useful for conference organizers
The feedback sandwich 1. Something you appreciated about the talk or the idea. Must be true; no lying. 2. Something you think can be improved. 3. Something else you appreciate, proving that if #2 is addressed, they're headed in the right direction.
Other tips for good feedback × Try to avoid saying "I liked" or "I didn't like" because it's not about you. × Mention what changes you're planning to make based on the talk. × Consider emailing the speaker instead.
Connect with your local PHP community × Try to make it out to your local PHP usergroup (meetup) at least once. Get to know the organizers. × If you're from the DMV, join the "DC Area Developers" BoF @ 11:30am in Luray II × Talk to Andy Cassell
Keep the conversation going on Twitter × For better or worse, Twitter is a key component in most tech communities. × Follow the people you met and the speakers whose talks you enjoyed. × Keep in touch after November 15, 2018.
Help your local PHP Usergroup × Bring friends/co-workers to a meeting × Take some load off the organizers × Reach out to potential speakers × Help with buying food/drinks × Give a lightning talk at a meeting
Join other organizations in the php Community × NomadPHP: an online usergroup that values continuous learning × PHP Mentoring: a formal, personal, long-term, peer-to-peer mentorship organization
Start adding thorough tickets to OSs projects × When you encounter a bug in an open source project, create a GitHub issue and be thorough. Include: × What you were trying to do × Sample code demonstrating the bug × System specs
Start answering questions on StackOverflow × Remember all those times you found a post by someone with the same issue as you but no one replied with the solution? Once you find the solution, remind yourself to go back and add it to that SO post.
Go to all the conferences × php[world] is great, but there are hundreds of other excellent tech conferences throughout the year. × You'll truly feel part of the community once you start seeing familiar faces.
Volunteer at the next #phpworld × Volunteering is a great way to get to know the pillars of the community! × Mark this timeframe (mid-November) in your calendar for next year × Get in touch with Heather & Eli
33 making it easier to do a thing that used to be hard demystifying complex topics & introducing new ideas explaining how to do a thing Blog posts Open-source projects Conference talks
× Setting up a technical blog is easier than ever. Use Medium or Wordpress.com × Write about gnarly problems you've solved × Talk to Oscar Merida about writing for php[architect] Blogging and writing
Speaking at conferences × Your viewpoint is unique. Your ideas matter. You matter. × Be a visible role model for others. × As an introvert, it actually makes socializing with others easier!
My challenges with public speaking × Introverted × Shy × Not a natural public speaker × Don't like the sound of my own voice × Don't like attention × Stage fright
My challenges with public speaking × Introverted × Shy × Not a natural public speaker × Don't like the sound of my own voice × Don't like attention × Stage fright × Not a morning person at all
My challenges with public speaking × Introverted × Shy × Not a natural public speaker × Don't like the sound of my own voice × Don't like attention × Stage fright × Not a morning person at all × Flight anxiety
Getting started with public speaking × Speak at your local meetup × Speak more at work × Talk to Joe Ferguson × helpmeabstract.com × Open CfPs: Longhorn PHP, Midwest PHP, PHP Yorkshire
Contributing to open source × Creating a new library is great… but also consider what's out there already. × Many maintainers are burning out and looking for co-maintainers to help. × Contributions are not just code!
Contributing to PHP × Not as scary as it sounds! × Come to the "Contributing to PHP" BoF tomorrow @ 2:30pm in Luray II × Talk to Sammy Kaye Powers & Sara Golemon
Help run your local PHP usergroup × One of the most underappreciated roles in the community × Many current organizers are on the verge of burnout × Sign up to be a co-organizer!
Mental health matters × Open Sourcing Mental Illness (OSMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit trying to change how we talk about mental health in tech × Visit us in the sponsor hall × Join our "Mental Health" BoF tomorrow @ 1:30pm in Luray II
53 by blogging, speaking at conferences, and building OSS with #phpworld and your local community to your local community and the web Level 1: Engage Level 3: Give back Level 2: Contribute