Where do I go from here?

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Where do I go from here?(!)

Justin Foell - [email protected]

Welcome to WordCamp Minneapolis!Thank you for being hereTalk is filled with hopefully enough tweet-able quotes and internet memes to keep you awake & entertained

1/2 WordPress shop1/2 FileMaker shop (Cross-Platform, Workgroup Database & GUI - Rapid App Dev)Many FileMaker customers are astounded to find out we can make their FileMaker data accessible via a beautiful WP website.Die hard mac geeksEnough about me (disclaimer)

This is not a
get-rich-quick scheme!

DISCLAIMER / SPOILER ALERTWere not going to solve all the problems hereWe may leave the room with more questions than answersWell talk about some stories about other peoples journeysThen Id like your feedback on how we can make things better

Mind the Gap

There is a knowledge gap in WP that separates power users from the professionals.Bottom: where we start - WP101 Green: hungry for more, but often a place we get stuckTHE GAP - my goal is to help people cross this chasm Red: Broad working knowledge1 percenters - I want to help you too, please be patientTo overcome the gap, we may need to think about this stack in a different way

Discipline!

Disciplines

Elephant in the room - Design & DevelopmentThere are so many other places to contributeNo one has these stats, except maybe wonder woman or captain america

Developer Specialist

This is what a development specialist such as myself might look like

Writing Specialist

Cate DeRosia (speaking Sunday at Brunch)Works in the WordPress realm - brushed up on HTML and learn CSS. Thinking she might try theme development, but so far writing has taken off.was able to apply [her] dusty English degree and chase [her] dream of being a writer"

Generalist

This is what a generalist might look like - Im wont argue that either the generalist or the specialist is better.Generalists who have mastered delegating can be fantastic to work for - especially when they trust you to do the things you do well.

@_jmichaelward

I'm far too aware of all of the things I don't know. The most difficult thing is deciding which ones to let go.

Jeremy Ward (speaking later today) considers himself a generalist.Its up to us to decide what to learn and what to rely on others for.

Jeremy also provided this analogy for asking a top-tier specialist to do something out of their specialty

Specialist Adaptability

Its like asking a fire-breather to swallow swords. @_jmichaelwardIn the short term I think this is true, but in the long term people are adaptable

Adaptability

Generalizing-SpecialistSpecializing-Generalist

Specialist - great at one particular function - also good at handling a broader range of duties, and eager to growGeneralist - wears multiple hats - also spent time acquiring greater proficiency in certain specific skillsADAPTABILITY - Maybe the fire breather discovers that the swallowing swords is a bigger crowd pleaser with less risk. In the longer term we can always change our path.

How do you get from here to there?

Where do you want to go?Secret sauce time, ARE YOU READY? Its only one slide so pay attention!!!Or dont because its a repurposed internet meme (Similar to Eric Sherreds talk at 10AM)

Step One Mind Find the Gap

Step Two Do your homework

???? Iterate

PROFIT!!! PROFIT!!!

1. Dont just mind the gap, find the gapThere are places where you may be lacking in knowledge that youd like to fillGaps in the market where you are needed - with skills you already haveCate DeRosia - She didnt need to become a theme developer, she was already a great writer3. Becky Davis (is speaking right now in the next room) said her advice: Practice, practice, practice and perseverance. more personal stories

Topher Derosia

Majored in Religious Education

Minored in Aviation

Built his college website - optimized for Lynx

WP Profile says HeroPresser

Lets talk about some individual storiesI first talked to Topher DeRosia

HeroPress is a collection of essays about people in the WordPress community who feel marginalized as a result of culture, language, gender, etc.WOWI thought about putting heropress.com on a slide, dropping the mic and walking out

heropress.com/essays/
a-leap-of-faith-into-wordpress

by Andrea Zoellner

The first essay I read on heropress.com was this essay by Andrea ZoellnerIt has some very powerful messages - BLEW ME AWAYShe talks about her journey into the WordPress worldFirst as an intern at Automattic, parlayed into full-time employment

@andreazoellner

One of the lies preventing me from pursuing a job in tech was that web development was only about code.

I love this quote because we always tend to think of the two disciplines of design/development when it comes to technology.There is so much more to be done, and we need your help.

@andreazoellner

I overcame the gap in technical skill with a giant leap of faith, hard work, and the support of the WordPress community

HelpHomeworkPractice, practice, practice and perseverance

@andreazoellner

In hindsight, I made the mistake of not asking enough questions

What a great piece of self-reflectionDo yourself a favor and start asking questionsExample: beginning of every WordCamp technical talkDoes anyone have questions about setting up your sass compiler using Ruby?

Top of the stack?

Build something new and share it

Talk at WordCamp

Organize a WordCamp

Hone your skills in related disciplines

If you didnt get picked to talk at WordCamp, you can make it better by helping organize.This isnt my conference, this is your conference.Other ideas from the audience?

Resources

Actual People!

Find a Mentor

WordPress Meetup Group and/or mailing list

WordCamp(s) - lets make them even better!

Birds of a feather / Co-workers

Maintain some FaceTime with people in your community - theyre the most likely to help youMentorship - Ive been to several business-y conferences (like upcoming Prestige) where thought leaders have mentors - but mentors arent just for entrepreneurs.Use your local meet up group - mailing list (google group) in-between meet ups.Our Web Technology VP @ cimbura.com Nick Ciske - built a brand around being the first to answer questions on the list

Society

PostStatus.com

WPTavern.com

Numerous groups on Facebook

Education

College / Community College / Technical Schools

FrontEndMasters.com

CodeAcademy.com

TeamTreehouse.com

CodeSchool.com

CSS-Tricks.com

Your employer may pay for some of theseIf youre not a classroom type person, try something non-traditionalWhile some sources like Lynda are OK (watching videos), many prefer interactive learning to put skills to the test

Lets talk about the schedule

Developers could do this

Designers could to this

Content people could do thisHeres what I say to that

I cant highlight everything/everyoneIf I dont highlight your talk, know that I still love you all.

Everyone should go to one of these community talks1%ers - Im asking that you help bridge the gap by teaching what you know.Topher DeRosia of HeroPress talks about giving back

In this roomTravis Totz gives great design talks that cross all boundaries - you dont need to be a designer to attendChris Lema - arguably one of the hardest hitters in the WP community. Hes a very dynamic speaker, and also very helpful. Recommended for all.

Jen Jamar - AMAZING. Consistently one of the highest rated speakers at WCMpls. Knows her stuff. Not just for content/marketers.

I wish this talk were at the beginning of the day!Learn about WPs data structure and take the next step

SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! At the Metrodome!Who is going on Sunday?Go to brunch! You paid for it! Its delicious!Listen to what the people have to say.Wish Cate a Happy Birthday

Mykl Roventine - I call him the font nazi, but hes an amazing local resource. Super knowledgable - not just for designers. Like a wine pairing class for fonts.

Joe Dolson - our local accessibility advocate. 1%ers should go. We are not doing enough great work in this area.Josh Broton - Even if you know nothing about JavaScript, I promise this will be entertaining.

How will you help bridge the gap?

Were not going to solve all the problems hereHow do you plan to bridge the gap on your journey?How can you help someone else on their path?Heres what Im going to do

Justin Foell - [email protected]

Myself and the other cimbura.com folks will be manning the Happiness Bar all day today and tomorrow, so come by and say hi and bring your questions!

References

bit.ly/generalists-vs-specialists

knowyourmeme.com/memes/profit

heropress.com/essays/a-leap-of-faith-into-wordpress

Meetup.com

WordCamp.org

PostStatus.com

WPTavern.com

Facebook.com

FrontEndMasters.com

CodeAcademy.com

TeamTreehouse.com

CodeSchool.com

CSS-Tricks.com

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Where do I go from here?