Looking at a decade and what I learned
At the end of 2009 it is worth a look back at a decade that just happens to be the first 10 years since I was a full-time student. I entered the naughties in a job based out of Thesselon Ontario working for the Community Development Corporation trying to get small business on the web and into our crazy new web site (which was updated only recently to a much better site). Now I am part of a small team of folks trying to get students at the University of Waterloo connected to people that will help build something awesome at VeloCity.
I would have never guessed the decade would close the way it has and I have to say I feel extremely lucky. While all the madness of the world was going on I met my wife, bought a house, experienced a part-time grad program, I have kids, and lots of other fun stuff.
What have I learned?
- I knew nothing in my 20s
- …and spent way too much time worrying about things
- …and I let that worry guide too many decisions
- experience is important, embrace every experience good or bad but don’t let experience limit you
- always take calculated risks and be ready for Plan B (because you are wrong about plan A most of the time)
- how not to take things personally instead of just saying that I don’t
I hope that the next 10 years are just as fun as the last 10. Just like in 1999 when I thought I would be old in 2009, I think I will really be old in 2019… hopefully wiser 
My Ignite Waterloo presentation: unconferences
Ignite Waterloo was a couple weeks ago and by all accounts it was a huge success. The eclectic mix of brilliant presentations and a great crowd made for a very fun evening. I had the opportunity to present as a fill in for Mark Kuznicki who was going to talk about Changecamp and the power of community. It was fun trying to pull together my thoughts into a 5 min presentation. Have a look!
Jesse Rogers: The unconference for fun and the goodness of community from Ignite Waterloo on Vimeo.
I find it very strange to watch myself present—makes me cringe at times. Who likes the sound of their own voice? Honestly
Have a look at the other presenters in the Ignite Vimeo channel and you get an idea of how great the event was. My favorite is probably Dave Estill on Solar Energy followed a close second with Simon Clark talking about Hacking the hood.
Presenting Baby steps in an Agile world at WatITis2009
As December sets in on campus the IT staff get a chance to huddle around Ron Coutts Hall (RCH) and get together to swap some stories along with learn new things at the WatITis conference. I have blogged loads about this in the past as I have enjoyed every single one since they started. It is a great way to find out what the heck is going on this large campus and put some faces to email addresses (not many on twitter, yet).
This year I am presenting on baby steps in an agile world (slides below). It is a slimmed down, more focused version of a presentation I did at Higher Education Web Conference in Milwaukee this past October. I took the feedback (thanks for the feedback folks) and slimed it down, focused on real practical tips for agile techniques, and I think I have a good 30 min presentation. Which leaves 15 minutes for discussion—something requested by the organizing committee.
Since no one will probably do it at the keynote I will set the hashtag now as the obvious #watitis09 (watitis without the 09 is a pretty funny hashtag to follow) and keep the realistic expectation that there will be a hand full of people tweeting Looking forward to the day.
VeloCity and a Centre for Student Innovation
Over on the VeloCity blog is a request for support from students at U of Waterloo for what we are calling a Centre for Student Innovation. The idea is to provide an office somewhere on campus that is more accessible to students that we could offer things like co-working, office hours for off campus entrepreneur resource/mentors, and find out more about the amazing entrepreneurial community here in Waterloo. Sorta like a VeloCity club office of sorts.
What we need are email from U of Waterloo students(to velocity at uwaterloo.ca) in support of this idea. It seems a bit crazy to think we need that but we really do as there are a lot of good groups on campus competing for very limited office space. I think VeloCity has the best idea but I am biased. It would be great (and easier) if a few really successful entrepreneurial UW Alumni wanted to maybe donate some resources to expand or build something for VeloCity, any out there reading my blog??
Until those investors arrive, we do need those emails to make that happen. Please spread the word, retweet, make a facebook group in support!