The entry below is classified as a LEGACY post, meaning that it was written (well) before the current version of Avalonstar was released. Although these posts have survived the numerous moves over years, there is no guarantee that they've survived the trip unscathed (especially the links).

LEGACY–

July 28, 2006

Feelin' Automattic

Conferences and connections spawn everything. I've come to that conclusion.

South by Southwest spawned Revyver.
WebVisions spawned what I'm about to tell you.

What started out as an email tip from a friend, turned into an opportunity I could not miss. I stared at that email when I got it, for a long while actually. About this time, the company was preparing to hit it's first low streak - you know, trying to find clients, telling clients to get moving, etc. Still staring at that email, I thought: WordPress. Woah.

So I replied. Then I sent my LinkedIn link and my CarbonMade portfolio. After two "interviews", one in Portland and the other in San Francisco, and a quick test - the [very sharp] Matt Mullenweg, along with Ryan Boren, his wife and their lovely dog Anya, welcomed me as the eighth member of Automattic.

So, why? Well. WordPress. Akismet. bbPress. Etc. Do you blame me? This was an opportunity I could not miss, to take a pro-active position as a designer and developer of the only blogging software I would ever use. As Will Pate said to me, "it was a match made in heaven." Revyver isn't dead, not by a long shot. Only difference being that I won't be trying to get 3-5 clients a month to keep myself afloat. TutorialMonitor is still happening, nothing's really changed on that end. I just couldn't miss this, and I would have sincerely regretted it if I did.

So what's next? Who knows? I can hear the whispers people wanting to see pieces of sheet metal being launched, but there's still a lot to be done on that end. All I have to say is that the journey starts once again. It's going to be an awesome ride, ~~and yes, I'll see you at WordCamp.~~