Life Lessons Learnt From Heading a Hackathon

Flashback to four months ago when the commercial enterprise association I become volunteering for cited the concept of strolling a hackathon along their annual commercial enterprise forum, the "hackathon seed" became planted. Appointed to co-lead the hackathon phase with one of the member of the 6-team sturdy core committee, I had no idea what I changed into signing up for.

No one in the team had revel in organizing a hackathon; I become the simplest one that had participated in multiple it and that is all! All we knew became that it would be cool to arrange one. We challenged the traditional weekend hackathon version and settled for a hybrid hackathon-case mission that lasted for per week. We had 6 case sponsors from diverse enterprise crystalize their operational problems into problem statements for participants to project. Boy oh boy, it turned into one heck of a 4 months I had! I probable could have in no way agreed to it understanding how soul-destroying it became. But nevertheless, there are some lessons that I had learnt and wish to impart to you:

Life Lesson 1: Always Take Promise with a Pinch of Salt

People can promise you this and that however at the cease of the day, they very own you nothing. They aren't obliged to do what became promised, neither are you allowed to enforce it. It all boils down to the fact that business is enterprise, mutual benefit is mutual if he or she blessings it greater than you. Unless written in black and white, in no way take promises as a right. Always take things with a pinch of salt and do now not maintain grudges if promises don't actualize. This ends in my second existence lesson: Plan ahead of your planned plan

Life Lesson 2: Plan in advance of your Planned Plan

Plan plan plan. Period. I cannot pressure sufficient the importance of planning, for I even have failed extraordinarily for failing to devise out a contingency plan. When things move wrong, it'll snowball till you're capable of grab a keep of it or have someone experienced enough to bail you out (Trust me, I were there, completed that.)

Even when you have planned out properly enough to pass the eyes of the skilled, Murphy's Law (What goes incorrect, will go incorrect) by no means fails to foil your plan. Always take the time to draft out Plan B, or maybe Plan C for it is able to be your lifestyles savior in the event of a fallout.

Life Lesson three: Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

Organizing a hackathon is difficult sufficient. Opting out of the subculture hackathon version and doing some thing new is even tougher thinking about that each "How to Organize a Hackathon" or "Hackathon one hundred and one" manual have become a reference as opposed to a template. What's extra, our hackathon become divided into "Student" and "Open Category", including some other layer of complexity in a bid to appeal to a bigger audience. My unwillingness (or instead, incapability) to delegate work precipitated me infinite nights drafting letters and emails, making plans the program and corresponding with sponsors.

Hence, even if you feel guilty delegating paintings or opt to do it your self due to the fact you THINK you can do a better job, make the aware attempt to delegate to be had tasks on hand on your committee. They are there for a cause and delegating work will pass a long manner in maintaining you sane and properly rested.

Life Lesson four: Learn to Fight Alone

There could be moments while you do not get the help you have got anticipated (Linking again to lesson 1, do not take guarantees without any consideration). There were moments once I thought to myself: "What am I doing these kind of for? Why did I accept as true with him/her? Could I be doing some thing more significant?" While I changed into lucky to co-lead the hackthon with my mentor, he is no superman or hackathon guru. You will really come to some extent when burnout units in and also you feel helpless and hopeless. It's those moments that your moves define you. Push on and make it remember.

Life Lesson five: Be Prepared to be Disappointed Again and Again

Despite all the tough work which you installed, things will never go in accordance to devise. Remember the unyielding Murphy's Law? This is why you usually plan in advance of your deliberate plan. Empty promises, taking flight inside the final minute,, failure to supply; you name it, I've experienced it.

Other than disappointment in others, you'll be dissatisfied in your self. Zero revel in is often my "Get Out of Jail, Free" card for any mistakes I've made, however it is never an excuse for the entirety. Time after time I was disappointed in myself for failing to satisfy the demands and execute what became anticipated. It is as though fulfillment simply takes place to be newbie's good fortune. But agree with me, your success gets better after some rounds of screw ups.

"Let me let you know something . The international ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very imply and nasty location and I do not care how difficult you're it's going to beat you to your knees and maintain you there permanently in case you let it. You, me, or no one is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how tough you can get hit and preserve moving forward. How a great deal you could take and maintain moving ahead. That's how prevailing is done" -Rocky Balboa

Life Lesson 6: Don't Strive for Perfection. Instead, Strive for Completeness

When one has seemingly an countless listing of things to do, in no way attempt to do matters perfectly. Instead, aim to check it off and flow on. I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist, or even borderline OCD: I could proofread my drafts a pair times, ship it to others and proofread it once more! In the weeks leading up to the hackathon while time is of the essence, this kind of behavior is unwarranted.

Start with the cease intention in mind and purpose for practicality. Make a couple revisions, ensure that what you're doing achieves what you have got got down to do and move on; no point lingering around just to make it perfect.