I'm unqualified to be the CEO of anything

 

AND SO CAN YOU

 

 

Travis Webb, CEO at Langa

github.com/tjwebb

@tjwebbOnGithub

Outline

1. my credentials and history

2. open-source economy

3. ???

4. profit

1.

my credentials and history

Resume (~5 years ago)

Resume (now)

Reality

Career Highlights

 

- taught myself C++ at age 13 or so

 

- got CS degree from Pretty Good University

- graduated with a bunch of debt from failed businesses, in addition to student loans

- terrible employee

- contributes to open-source software

Testimonials

 

 

"you really are bad at this. can we hire a real project manager?"

 -- Ryan Quinn, Senior Developer at Langa

Testimonials

 

 

"that's nice. as long as you're happy."

 -- my mom

2.

open-source economy

Consulting Economy

- paid for what you deliver


- you can fire your boss whenever you want.

- instead of working overtime, you hire people to work for you.

Open Source Economy

- based on results. results forge trust.


- everything you do is provably enshrined in the foreverness of the internet.

- projects grow when a community forms around them

3.

???

???

figure out what you don't like. do not do those things.

 

figure out what you care about. become good at those things.

???

avoid the superhero fallacy. 

avoid the imposter vortex.
 

Marketing Terms

 

"expert"

"CEO"

"computer science degree"

"Software Engineer Level III"

 

 

4.

profit

Commit Everything
 

contributing to open-source will cultivate your personal network.

do not toil in obscurity. opportunities come from people.

the scrutiny of your peers improves the project, and your own skills.

 

Commit Everything

 

 

you'll meet other people who care about the same things you do.

 

you'll meet people who are good at things you're bad at.

 

specialization of labor is, like, the best

--Adam Smith
 

Flip a Table

all employees are underpaid, by design.

seeking other offers can unlock latent, unrealized value.

so can quitting.

 

Go Forth

 

Go Forth

build something you don't know how to build yet

and then publish it

Go Forth

do something you're unqualified for