This post relates to my recent submission DRADIS for the Code Master Challenge.
I just got the Email I’ve been waiting for and it turns out I’m not in the top four. I have to admit I feel really let down - the prize money would have been a huge boost for my business. However on the bright side I’m still proud that I gunned for it and I delivered on every milestone. I had a good submission, good follow-up and I think I did well in my presentation. Not bad for a 26 year old in his spare time!
Was the whole experience worth it? Yes — I got some really amazing international traffic, I was blogged about by someone on the Vista Team and I got to give a speech/demonstration to some important people, not to mention $500 in the bank. If anything I will chalk this up as experience to prepare me for the next opportunity that comes along.
I’m not sure if I will ever enter another competition like this again. The waiting period was killer — I couldn’t stop thinking about my chances and what would happen if I won! Anyway, a big congratulations to the top four finalists, your kung-fu is strong!
Brandon
November 16th, 2006
Bummer man … Are you still going to post your presentation? I’d really like to see it!
Matt Brett
November 17th, 2006
Sorry to hear that, man. With the combination of such a solid concept, awesome proof of concept and the amount of time and effort you put into this over the past few months (I know it’s been longer than that, but with the presentation and every lately…), I really thought you had a shot at the gold, errr, 50 grand.
But still, I know you hold the MS folks in high esteem (most of the time, anyway) and I’m sure it feels good to have been recognized by them none the less.
I’d like to see that presentation too!
Daniel Crenna
November 17th, 2006
What you get out of earnest effort through all obstacles, and *not* winning the prize is, in *all* cases, the best thing that could have happened in this situation. Winning is a direct signal to your brain to stop growing, that you have arrived. Now that you’re still hungry, and you’re armed with proof that you can and do in fact produce real results that get noticed, the best part is yet to come.
Matt Brett
November 19th, 2006
BTW, you should revise the title of this post…
“I’m not the code master”
I’ve worked with you on a couple projects now and I can’t believe the shit you can do. You are definitely a master of the code.
BPAndrew
November 19th, 2006
Thanks for the comments guys. I know its not the end of the world.. just the end of my dreams of Stage 2 tuning my Subaru:)
If anything this lets me focus on the two websites that should be out by the end of the month.