Inspired by Phildini’s Python Clock, I wanted to make a desktop version of a Python 2.7 countdown timer for the big event. My countdown timer matches my mood, with thirteen different themes to choose from 💅. In Action

Preparing for the big day — This is Part 7 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Don’t get thrown off by the unpredictable. Practice, accept constructive feedback and be prepared. Dress comfortably, breathe, embrace silence. Don’t let imposter syndrome shake your confidence. Leave the audience with actionable takeaways. Now that you’ve written your talk, it’s time to practice it and deliver it at the…

Writing an engaging talk and captivating slides — This is Part 6 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Find your style. If you don’t have a style, work on developing one over time. Don’t stray too far from your proposal submission. Consider your audience, especially if speaking internationally. Before you start writing your talk, try to find your style. I’ve like to think I have a…

Planning your preparation time before the conference. — This is Part 5 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Writing and practicing a talk will take longer than you think. Make time for it in your schedule. Break up talk-related tasks into small manageable chunks. Use time-tracking software to stay on track. Writing proposals and talks and having the time to practice them is a massively time-consuming…

Tools for brainstorming, backups, creating slides, time-management, and more — This is Part 4 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Find the tools that work for you. Many of the best tools are free to use. A markdown-based slide generator like Deckset, GitPitch, and reveal.js enables you to version control your presentation with git. Be prepared for disaster with two forms of backup and a local copy of…

A guide to writing and submitting conference talk proposals — This is Part 3 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Research the conference before submitting. Look for explicit guidelines or research past talks. Propose what you’re capable of delivering in a concise way. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Try again. First things first, you need to find a conference to submit to. There are resources for this such…

Selecting a conference you’d like to speak at, and a topic you’d like to speak about. — This is Part 2 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways Everyone, including you, has something interesting to say. Use everyday inspiration to pick a topic. Choose a topic that you’re passionate about. Your enthusiasm will show. Keep up to date on open Calls For Proposals at conferences you’re interested in. They typically end several months before the conference.

Highlights of my journey into technical public speaking — This is Part 1 of a multi-part Guide to Memorable Tech Talks. Visit the outline for more information. Key Takeaways About my journey into public speaking. Find supportive friends, co-workers, and allies to push you outside of your comfort zone. Once you get started, keep up momentum. Off the cuff, I asked Twitter a question to see if a few folks might be interested in learning about my…