Tech - Doin it Right

I recently participated in a Hackathon organized at my company. While, I am not at liberty to tell what the hack was, I can share the experience though.

We all usually have ideas brimming about how we could improve or change things. A lot of times, one does not get the time to act on those ideas. Sometimes, these ideas require time, people, resources, money etc. 

Our Hackathon got off to a great start with music by Daft Punk - 'Doin it Right'. It certainly set the tempo.

Focus
It is easy to get carried away with the ideas. Learn to focus on the idea. Once, you have something in mind, explore it in more detail and flesh it out. Bounce the idea around with different people to get various perspectives. Perhaps, you may fall in love with the it or just drop it. If you must, fail quickly and learn from it.

Team
Unless, you are planning to go it solo, get a great team. Ensure that there are diverse skills, experiences, even temperaments. The most fun you will have is in building the hack. While doing that there will be differences and much consternation. Trust me, that is the fun part. I had a great time with four other guys in our team. I was surprised that we had the stamina to work continuously for 24 hours!

Tenacity
Now, comes the hard part. Don't give up even if things don't work or you are behind schedule. I am reminded of the honey badger in 'Gods Must Be Crazy' movie, it wouldn't let go even after being dragged across the desert! If you have a great team, you will be amazed at what you can create. Keep an eye on the clock though and ensure you have something working by the end.

If you ever get a chance to participate in a Hackathon, don't lose the opportunity. It is about bringing ideas to life.

One last thing. Our team won the Hackathon! I suppose we did it right!
Left to Right - Me, Amar, Shyam, Raghavendra & Ashoka

Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

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