What inspired or motivated you to give this talk at WordCamp?
WordCamps are made up of doers. You know, people that ship. Or, at the very least, people who want to ship. They’re just looking for a little guidance about how to do it. It’s inspirational to rub shoulders with a creative class who want to execute on great ideas. People who want to leave the world a little bit better than how they found it.
How do you “create intention” in your job, career, or life?
Oof. That’s a great question. Can I say I try to intentionally create intention? If only to sound like I know what I’m talking about? Honestly, I ask myself these questions at the beginning of each month:
1. What do I love? What am I good at?
2. What do I suck at?
3. Who can I help while doing what I love?
4. Who can help me suck a little less?
And then I usually put on some headphones, crank up some kind of obscure post-rock, and free-write about those 4 questions. Sometimes I end up writing about something beautiful and life changing. I share it with my friends to try and impress them. Sometimes it devolves into haikus about tacos. Either way, it always helps me refocus. It reminds me of what’s important to me.
If you were a WordPress Plugin, what Plugin would you be and why?
Hello Dolly. I (want to) symbolize the hope and enthusiasm of an entire generation summed up in two words.
If you were not doing your current job, what profession would you be in and why?
Today? A travel writer. I read not too long ago about how you can get a grant from Amtrak to travel across the US by train and write about your experience. I’m obsessed with that idea. Think about it. Just you and a folding bike and the clickity clickity of the rails. We need a new On the Road American anthem. Something unique that takes us in and out of small town dancehalls, Elks’ Lodges, pubs where people glue quarters to the floor. It’s life-affirming stuff. Face-to-face dinners and local drinking rituals. That’s the way to build bridges with others and figure out what’s going on in the world.
So so legit.
OK. Look what you’ve done. Now I’m convincing myself to quit and start over. Thanks for that. It’s time to refocus…
What professional and/or research resource(s) can’t you live without?
Ulysses. Reeder. Spotify. That’s professional, right? I mean, depending on my playlist. I’m not going to crank up ELO while I’m working. I’ll stick to Godspeed You, Black Emperor or something without lyrics.