I had one idea: a kind a meta-search engine that people would use to know who is talked about a story or a web site; a way to easily follow discussions that erupt in the Blogsphere.

I had a vision: discovering, following and participate to online discussions that go around some specific “root” online stories or web site.

I used one method: Ajax, an amalgam of already existing web technologies that enable developer to create web sites that act like real, standalone, applications. I had an idea of how I would like to see that system works and I used that method to make the idea a reality.

I worked: I spent near a month, full time, 7/7 to make the idea a reality. I had the time, I took it, and I used it to create something I think would be useful to me and the online community.

I had unexpected results: around 30 000 unique visitors in the last 2 weeks. Some people talk about a buzz around that “Talk Digger” system. I communicated with people that I had never thought to talk with; I had unexpected opportunities; I learn a bunch of new things unrelated to software development: the IT business world, the communication world, the public relation world, etc. Right now, if someone looks at me while I work, I would look like a jack-of-all-trades, someone that does a little bit of everything: definitely the more pleasant professional time I had in my carrier so far.

This summer I read three really interesting article by Paul Graham:

1. How to start a startup
2. Hiring is obsolete
3. Why smart people have bad ideas

A month ago, my life’s situation permitted me to take some time to work on a personal project. Then I remembered what I read in these three articles, and then asked me that question: Why not me? Why I could not try to start something of my own, for my own? Then I take one of my ideas, I developed a vision, I used a method, I took my time and I developed Talk Digger.

Least than one month after, I have understood many things I read in these three little articles. I experimented it and the conclusion is fantastic: I learned so many things. This is not a question of software development, this is a question of process: the whole process involved in such a project. What I learned in the last month, and what I enjoyed, is all the new things I learned by talking with people from many different backgrounds; the discussions of 30minutes, 1 or 2 hours with someone that want to know more about what I am working on, on what he is working on, the sharing of ideas, etc.

This entire buzz in the last month has been only possible by the work I put into developing my ideas, evolving my vision and talking with people, many people.

Why I write this post? To tell you that if I have been able to do it, any body can do it; it is just a question of will. Do not fool yourself, the only way to learn, the only way to succeed is by trying; how do you think that you can succeed in something if you do not try to do that thing? Physically, logically and semantically impossible.

“Action is the foundational key to all success.”

— Pablo Picasso

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