The touch of the "master's" hand.. in a tough tech world!

#vuevixens #community #tech #foodforthought

Have you ever thought how much of an impact you may have on someone else's life?. If we were more aware of the positive influence we can have on others, perhaps things could be a bit different... what if we started paying more attention to those little things that matter in the end?

Recently, I gave a couple of talks on the OH SO REAL imposter syndrome. Oh did I share some tips based on my own personal experience and how I’ve managed to overcome to a certain extent such a struggle… but, thinking about it, there is something I always forget to mention.

Yes, I am sure we can all be victorious and overcome hurdles, I am sure there are plenty of ways for each and everyone of us to seriously improve personally and in our work… we can certainly improve our code but, what role are we playing as part of the ecosystem?. What is our role in our team?, how about our local community?.

Before I became part of the Vue Vixens awesome team, I had met people who had a strong and unforgettable impact in my life. May I mention one person in particular: Matias Blayer, my mentor and the person who got me interested on Vue. "Mati" (this is how we call him!) always encouraged me to engage in more activities, to take an active role in our community. He even made part of JavaScript 101 as a mentor and always stressed the importance of sharing the little or much we know and understand with others. He always stressed how important is to help others and the same way we help others do we receive from those who know different things, at different levels and bring a different perspective to what we do as developers. True support. True empathy.

I have to say that this was totally new to me and I found it admirable. It struck me like a zillion lightning bolts and pierced my heart deeply. All of a sudden, after being given so much, I wanted to give back too.

I am 35 years old. I am a woman. I am first of all a DevOps/SRE and then a full stack developer but i had no formal studies whatsoever. I started back in 1994 when geocities was the sh!t. So throughout my life as a developer i always felt less than those who had dedicated time of their lives to pursue formal education in computer science, programming, engineering… you name it. I did a few online courses and even a bootcamp but more than that… there was my experience “from the streets”. I never really thought i could give anything back to the community.

Then, after Mati, came many others who kept on adding to that seed.. I had the desire to do something but I didn’t know how to until I met Jen Looper. Then, Vue Vixens, its magic and our amazing community...you have no idea how much my life changed after all this.

Does any of you know “The Old Violin” Poem? (i will quote it at the end). I got in touch with Jen Looper after a Vuenos Aires meetup. I was in love with the meetup but we were luckily 3 women present. It worried me and I reached Nacho Anaya, one of the organisers who told me he’d heard about Vue Vixens and that I should get in touch, which I did. The rest is history and I certainly feel like things have happened in the blink of an eye.

One day I contacted Jen. Today I write these lines after enjoying an awesome event: our very own Vue Vixens day in Buenos Aires. It’s not even about me, or my efforts. It’s how simple yet miraculous the touch of “the master’s hand” makes a difference.

I love being a Vue Vixen. I love what we have. I love that we managed to do so much in such a short period of time and the reason why this keeps on expanding is because one thing Jen does very well: she always has a kind and encouraging word. Never have i met someone so patient and so kind yet with enough character to iron kinks with whomever she has to, politely and firmly.

Imagine if we applied the same principle to our entourage. Every person we meet has special qualities that make them unique. A kind word, some encouragement… some praise and positive reinforcement DO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

An honest compliment, a thank you, a “keep up the good work”. You have no idea how much of a big impact this can have in other people’s lives. The touch of the master is not being a “leader” and commanding others from a comfy seat behind a desk. A true leader is there with the team, shoulder to shoulder, overseeing, encouraging, participating.

We pulled a whole day mini conference with much help from many awesome people. My fellow vixens were there supporting us… but Jen, she was there in every step. I felt confident and safe, and somehow had that peaceful feeling that it was all going to go well. Even if it didn’t! (it went awesome).

Let us all make a difference. Let us all encourage if ONE person to give their best. Let us all try the benefit of the doubt and give a chance to those who were never taken into consideration for any “important” task. Let us share what we know, let us be the one with the master touch…

'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.

"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
"And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with hardship
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.

He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
-Myra Brooks Welch

Thanks to all of you who have made a huge difference in my life, directly and indirectly. I might not be able to list all of you but i'd like to shout out some kudos and appreciation for what you've done: - Jen Looper, Natalia Tepluhina, Sara Vieira, Sarah Drasner, Matias Blayer, Ignacio Anaya, Nico Quiroz, Eva Ferreira, Jorge Cano, Karen Serfaty, Leo Galante, Hugo Farji, Lupe Lazzo, Goncy Pozo, Sofia Kühne, my family and all those who have been present: Thank you. You have made a huge impact in my life.🌈