Mark McSpadden

Just wanted to post a quick note letting everyone know (all my 2 subscribers) that I’m back from the whirlwind that is SxSW. I had great time and heard a lot of great panelists…all leaving me inspired and fired up about what I do!

Over the next few days I hope to recap some of my thoughts from the conference…but right now I’m still letting it all soak in.

Special thanks to Brad Garland for invitig me to go, serving as my unofficial SxSW tour guide, and driving us to Austin and back.

Just confirmed today that I’ll be at SXSW in Austin! I’ll have more to say about the whole thing later…but I’m pretty stoked about going!

Maybe I’ll see you there….

I spent my Thursday evening in the company of about 30 other like-minded fellows (and one like-minded lady) at DemoCamp Dallas that was hosted by Sabre out in South Lake. Not gonna lie…little skeptical going in…but I had a great time and highly recommend you come with me to the next one!

There were six presentations of all-working-software-no-slides goodness that I just ate up. I just get stoked seeing people apply software technologies in ways that never have crossed my mind! Anyways…I’ll stop getting all nerd-giddy over here and just say the presentations were awesome.

As this was also my first “community” event, I also got to meet some really cool people. I am really looking forward to getting out from behind my desk more and becoming involved with people and events like this.

Bottom Line: If you like software, go to the next DemoCamp Dallas!

After spending the last few weeks buried in code, it felt great today to get out and connect face to face with the people that make small business….mom and pop business…keep on churning.

I’m setting up a Shopify account for a small business out in Garland that is looking to expand a piece of their printing business online. I feel like they have a good grasp on the expectation of a new online shop and that’s what I would expect, but what I can’t get over is their excitement. It’s contagious. It’s inspiring. It’s a good reminder of how rewarding small business can be for all parties involved.

Leading up to the game yesterday, I saw several restaurants offering “Big Game” specials. And the more I looked, the more I saw nobody using the words “Super Bowl” anywhere save on CBS.

I’m sure this is due to some trademark, but is this the first year things have been like this…or am I just emerging from a young consumer naivety?

Regardless of what you are allowed to call it, I was very pleased with the results last night. I feel like it was the closure I needed to to put my Peyton Manning man crush behind me. He doesn’t need my support anymore, he has a ring for that. Time to move on…