05 May 07 General

Make Me

“I’m what’s next baby! I don’t need them to tell me that, and I sure as hell ain’t gonna pay them to tell me that.” – Chuck Olsen

Which would you choose;

  1. Paying money to site quietly in a chair while someone reads PowerPoint slides and makes your chosen profession sound lame, boring, pointless.
  2. Chasing soap bubbles in the yard.

I don’t go to many conferences. Hardly any. I’ve even dramatically scaled back on the paid, professional events I attend. Yes, it’s because a toddler is far more exciting than most conferences or other professional-type events.

The MinneBar and MinneDemo events are the exception here. They’re invaluable in seeing who’s doing what locally. Plus, they’re informal, free, and full of infectious excitement. Just like a toddler.

Less like a disciplinary action.

Elsewhere:

“…most things they call unconferences are not…Further, I don’t think the kind of unconferences I like are actually growing.”- Dave Winer

“…despite all the odds against it, we actually are growing up.” – Dave Winer

“My big point – 15 minute breaks are too short because I spent two days in a constant state of starting a conversation and then getting herded into a room.” – Dave Slusher

I’m reading J Wynia’s copy of Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide. While I’m only ~40 pages into it, the model for competing with a 2 year-old is already very clear.

One comment

  1. Leif Hansen
    5 May 2007 at 1:32 pm

    Amen brotha.
    Thats the spirit of my new biz –and the teaser site I just put up at http://www.playformation.com

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