4 ms·

Its gotta be super difficult to get in. I wonder what criteria they use to pick people who can attend.

by zain 19y ago

dcurtis 19y ago
Well, intelligent programmers who happen to be poor!
- ALee 19y ago
  That's us!
brianmckenzie 19y ago
I applied anyway, now keeping my fingers crossed.
smackywentz 19y ago
The link is down, but I gather from the comments that Weebly is a website that offers itself as a testing ground for upcoming web apps?
edw519 19y ago
I applied and also bought my airline ticket before prices go up. Let's just call it "betting on myself".
- kirubakaran 19y ago
  I bought my tickets too.
  - edw519 19y ago
    Good. I look forward to meeting you there. Hopefully in the auditorium, and not in the parking lot ;)
    - kirubakaran 19y ago
      Great! Last time I felt like a loser roaming around - where everybody was talking to everybody else and I was looking in all possible general directions - like having a bad day at a night club.
      - wallflower 19y ago
        I know that feeling well. Like what am I doing here? Why does everyone know everyone here? Where the pain of going up to a group outweighs the possible benefit of networking.. I used to use the advanced wallflower technique - e.g. stand close but not too close to a group to make it seem like you belong - if the group moves on, go to the next group. Don't get it as much now. Practice. And there are several simple and/or silly techniques that make a huge difference. Silly or simple as they may be. Here's one: talk to people who are standing by themselves, chat and then (this is key) tell them 'i'd like to go meet that group over there. let's go"
        kirubakaran 19y ago
        Exactly! Please share the techniques. If you are uncomfortable mentioning them here, I am kirubakaran->gmail.
        wallflower 19y ago
        No problem. I've absorbed the following techniques from a wide range of sources (blogs to books to observing my savvy natural networking friends). Please share your own observations or techniques (i'm not an expert - I just paint myself as one in news.yc land) 1. On your way to the event, choose to smile and say hi to almost everyone you pass. The first ten may not even register a response but once you get to thirty or event twenty hellos, people start to sense your warmness (you're warmed up socially) 2. When you get to the event, pause in the entrance for at least 10 seconds. 3. Silly technique but don't diss it until you try it. When you walk into an unfamilar room, make friends with it. Say (silently) 'Hello wall, nice to meet you. Hello table. how are you" Later you can extend this to (silently) sending out 'Hello person - it's nice to meet you' as you walk around the room. 4. Do not walk around with a drink. Keep your hands free. Walking around with a drink or worse a plate and a drink is like a 'don't bother me. i'm busy feeding myself' Put down your drinks/food and be open. 5. Talk to single individuals and bring them into a group with you (Do not say: "Nice meeting you. Talk to you later" - that could make a temporary enemy, Say: "I'd like to go talk with that group over there." (if they don't want to, then you can gracefully leave the singleton) 6. Remember names. Google will show you that there are many memorization techniques to do this. Some are pretty outrageous. All require practice (especially the visual mnemonic ones). All require hearing the name in the first place. 7. Wear your nametag (if there is one) on the right. Wearing it on the right lets another person see the nametag easier, during a handshake (assuming right-to-right) 8. You're not there to chat 30 minutes with a stranger (unless you want to). Mingling is not standing by the bar talking with one or two people. You're not there to build relationships (that's not possible) - if you enjoy talking with someone - get their contact info at the peak of the conversation. 9. Here's an example for holiday parties. The whole idea is to transition from (something shared) the environment to (you and your conversation partner) personal. A: 'Nice food' B: 'How are you enjoying the party' C: 'I like Holiday parties because' D: 'I'm looking forward to visiting my family in X during' E: 'What are your holiday plans' 10. Don't use close-ended questions. 'Are you having a good time'. That's boring. That's lame. Instead try making statements 'I like how that buffet line is as packed as I-280' 11. Follow up within 24-48 hours. For real bonus points, hand-write and mail an actual note in the postal mail. (advanced) 12. You have to show initiative and commitment. If you walk up with a lame 'How are you?' you'll get a tepid response. However, if you walk up with a 'Nice to meet you. I'm wallflower' and the feeling like you already know them/they're good friends, then wow can happen (Super-advanced) 13. Work the room like you own the place. The most natural and savviest of my friends do this. Confidence and a smile are the best icebreaker, not alcohol.

Its gotta be super difficult to get in. I wonder what criteria they use to pick people who can attend.

by zain 19y ago

Its gotta be super difficult to get in. I wonder what criteria they use to pick people who can attend.

dcurtis 19y ago

Well, intelligent programmers who happen to be poor!

ALee 19y ago
That's us!

brianmckenzie 19y ago

I applied anyway, now keeping my fingers crossed.

smackywentz 19y ago

The link is down, but I gather from the comments that Weebly is a website that offers itself as a testing ground for upcoming web apps?

edw519 19y ago

I applied and also bought my airline ticket before prices go up. Let's just call it "betting on myself".

kirubakaran 19y ago
I bought my tickets too.
- edw519 19y ago
  Good. I look forward to meeting you there. Hopefully in the auditorium, and not in the parking lot ;)
  - kirubakaran 19y ago
    Great! Last time I felt like a loser roaming around - where everybody was talking to everybody else and I was looking in all possible general directions - like having a bad day at a night club.
    - wallflower 19y ago
      I know that feeling well. Like what am I doing here? Why does everyone know everyone here? Where the pain of going up to a group outweighs the possible benefit of networking.. I used to use the advanced wallflower technique - e.g. stand close but not too close to a group to make it seem like you belong - if the group moves on, go to the next group. Don't get it as much now. Practice. And there are several simple and/or silly techniques that make a huge difference. Silly or simple as they may be. Here's one: talk to people who are standing by themselves, chat and then (this is key) tell them 'i'd like to go meet that group over there. let's go"
      - kirubakaran 19y ago
        Exactly! Please share the techniques. If you are uncomfortable mentioning them here, I am kirubakaran->gmail.
        wallflower 19y ago
        No problem. I've absorbed the following techniques from a wide range of sources (blogs to books to observing my savvy natural networking friends). Please share your own observations or techniques (i'm not an expert - I just paint myself as one in news.yc land) 1. On your way to the event, choose to smile and say hi to almost everyone you pass. The first ten may not even register a response but once you get to thirty or event twenty hellos, people start to sense your warmness (you're warmed up socially) 2. When you get to the event, pause in the entrance for at least 10 seconds. 3. Silly technique but don't diss it until you try it. When you walk into an unfamilar room, make friends with it. Say (silently) 'Hello wall, nice to meet you. Hello table. how are you" Later you can extend this to (silently) sending out 'Hello person - it's nice to meet you' as you walk around the room. 4. Do not walk around with a drink. Keep your hands free. Walking around with a drink or worse a plate and a drink is like a 'don't bother me. i'm busy feeding myself' Put down your drinks/food and be open. 5. Talk to single individuals and bring them into a group with you (Do not say: "Nice meeting you. Talk to you later" - that could make a temporary enemy, Say: "I'd like to go talk with that group over there." (if they don't want to, then you can gracefully leave the singleton) 6. Remember names. Google will show you that there are many memorization techniques to do this. Some are pretty outrageous. All require practice (especially the visual mnemonic ones). All require hearing the name in the first place. 7. Wear your nametag (if there is one) on the right. Wearing it on the right lets another person see the nametag easier, during a handshake (assuming right-to-right) 8. You're not there to chat 30 minutes with a stranger (unless you want to). Mingling is not standing by the bar talking with one or two people. You're not there to build relationships (that's not possible) - if you enjoy talking with someone - get their contact info at the peak of the conversation. 9. Here's an example for holiday parties. The whole idea is to transition from (something shared) the environment to (you and your conversation partner) personal. A: 'Nice food' B: 'How are you enjoying the party' C: 'I like Holiday parties because' D: 'I'm looking forward to visiting my family in X during' E: 'What are your holiday plans' 10. Don't use close-ended questions. 'Are you having a good time'. That's boring. That's lame. Instead try making statements 'I like how that buffet line is as packed as I-280' 11. Follow up within 24-48 hours. For real bonus points, hand-write and mail an actual note in the postal mail. (advanced) 12. You have to show initiative and commitment. If you walk up with a lame 'How are you?' you'll get a tepid response. However, if you walk up with a 'Nice to meet you. I'm wallflower' and the feeling like you already know them/they're good friends, then wow can happen (Super-advanced) 13. Work the room like you own the place. The most natural and savviest of my friends do this. Confidence and a smile are the best icebreaker, not alcohol.