I'm unqualified to be the CEO of anything

AND SO CAN YOU

Travis Webb, CEO at Balderdash, Inc.

github.com/tjwebb

@traviswebbusa

Outline

1. my credentials and history

2. open-source economy

3. ???

4. profit

1.

my credentials and history

My Resume

taught myself C++ at age 13 or so, then got a computer science degree

left college 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 Balderdash

Testimonials

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

 -- my mom

2.

open-source economy

Consulting Economy

paid precisely for what you do.


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.

zoom out, FOSS appears as communism. zoom in, and it resolves into a form of ruthless capitalism.

3.

???

???

figure out what you're bad at. do not do those things.

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

???

avoid the superhero fallacy.

earth would wayyy
better off if superman would just fucking leave.

avoid the imposter vortex.

no one has any idea
what they're doing. including me. and you.

Marketing Terms

"expert"

"CEO"

"computer science degree"

"self-starter"
"good initiative"
"go-getter"

Ignore These

4.

profit

Commit Everything
 

contributing to open-source will cultivate your personal network.

do not toil in obscurity. opportunities come from people. commit everything.

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.
 

Flip a Table

you are underpaid, by design.

seeking other offers can unlock latent, unrealized value.

so can quitting.

 

Go Forth

Go Forth

do something you don't know how to do