Owen Winkler

The dive was my first ever, never having even snorkeled before, so I didn’t even know what to expect. I did a short dive to 40 feet off the coast of Grand Turk, and saw all sorts of coral and tropical fish.

There are a couple of things that are difficult to do when you’re learning. I had particular difficulty coordinating breathing in through my mouth and out through my nose (used to clear your goggles if they get water in them), but eventually got it.

I think I’d like to try it again, although I’ll have to build my confidence up more before next time, since I wasn’t expecting it to be as physically (in terms of coordination) challenging.

These are two presentations I’ve done this year. Hopefully I’ll do a couple more. If I can keep the quality high, maybe they’ll keep having me back.

The two were a tad different. The PHP meetup was about writing test cases and using SimpleTest to test software. The Podcamp session was a session I led on software tools for podcasters and bloggers. The latter was at an unconference, so I basically led a discussion, whereas the former was a more traditional “stand in front and lecture” type arrangement.

I’ve never really had a fear of talking in front of people, but I do have a fear of being bad at it, and I really want to perfect my game. I see so many sales-y people talking the talk, and I think it would be really powerful to develop those skills as someone with the knowledge to also walk the walk.

I may try another meetup event later in the year, and will possibly sign up to lead a session at the Philly podcamp in September—something a little more focused, controversial, and in my own specific interest zone.

I’ve been interviewed at random before, just a “man on the street” kind of thing. But what I’d really like is to be interviewed on purpose because of some experience I have or expertise that I offer being recognized as valuable. I want someone to recognize me as an expert on something, so I can say, “Hey, look, these people asked for my opinion on a topic. Someone must think I’m useful.” That would be validating. I’m looking forward to when it does happen. Especially if I don’t have to ask someone to do it—no, that wouldn’t count.