Bookworms meet Computer Geeks: Hi, how are you?
January 24th, 2006 RachelFirst - apparently Typepad doesn’t keep drafts if you flick away from the posting page…well, not apparently, it just plain isn’t so. DOH!
Okay, so for the second time around, I would like to make a few comments on the dinner discussion that took place this past evening (bear with me if there are typos - I’m typin’ fast before the memory of what I had written seeps out of my head!). Court and I had been previously advised to keep the creative separate from the technical at least for the time being. But like lots of other interesting (and certainly very valuable in other contexts) nuggets of advice, we decided that since we know our ‘dev team’ (or rather dev and pm/dev) already why not just meet up and discuss?
So, Court, Adam, Slava and I headed to Williams for the second organized pow-wow regarding our business venture. We chatted, caught up and had a great time (I think it always helps to maintain an amiable mood by including a wee dog wearing a sweater in on the fun). When we got to talking about Globetrotrz, I was amazed at two things:
1) Court and I were able to bounce the ball back and forth quite well for only having been discussing this for a couple of weeks. The elevator pitch is on the tip of our tongues - with a little more finesse, we will be able to put together in two sentences what right now is about a five minute collaborative affair. We are also very much on the same page, which is a comforting place to be when you are trying to partner up with someone - but at the same time, we’re not afraid to challenge each other and question what the other is saying. (Of course now that I say this, I suppose I’m asking for a big blowout over whether or not to use the color "pink" anywhere in the UI).
2) Adam and Slava were incredibly helpful and worked through the vision extremely quickly. Not only did they understand where we were coming from, *already* they provided us with more of an idea for how to outline an appropriate foundation. Since neither Court or I have ever done this before, it was nice to be able to say "What do you need from us, to be able to do what you need to do?" and get some real answers - to which we will be responding in kind by Sunday at the latest. Both of them are not only easy to talk to, but they are admirably committed to ‘doing this right’. They have decided mutually that coding this website from scratch is the best thing to do - I’m both amazed and incredibly greatful.
Unlike the last meeting, I did not take notes because this was more about everyone getting into the same room, having a good time, and if it felt right talking ‘a li’l shop’. There was no pressure, no deadlines, no requirements - just free thinking and a relaying of ideas which helped to build other ideas and eventually led to a couple of very important conclusions. In the end, I think we walked away with some goals (get feature requirements by the weekend) and a sense of confidence that we’re on the same page and working in the same direction.
Oh look, Adam’s already added to our basecamp account with more ideas and things to think about. Must go…I have a lot to think about!
Highlight of the evening - it’s a tie between the fact that Court wasn’t carrying a lunch box, and the decision to code from scratch. Very amusing and exciting, respectively.
Lowpoint of the evening - noticing how gunky the cup was from Adam’s espresso…eewwww
