Manifesto by a female open source contributor
I will not take the responsibility for other people’s insecurities, lack of time, energy, or passion for a project. This is about them, not about me.
I will not lower my drive or what I expect of my own performance because other people cannot keep up or follow. This is also about them, not about me.
I do apologize, sincerely and from the bottom of my heart, if I have actively put pressure on my teammates or colleagues for no reason.
I do not apologize for being efficient, reaching individual goals and goals set for the team, delivering excellent results and managing to respect deadlines. If this might make teammates feel bad about their own performance, again, this is about them and not about me.
I will never apologize for being more passionate about what I do than other people are. I stopped doing things I am not passionate about for a reason.
There is no such thing as being too passionate about what you do. But yes, there are teams you will fit in with this attitude and teams you won’t fit in. If my attitude makes me a bad fit for a team, then the best scenario, for myself in particular, is to not be a part of it.
I refuse to accept negative feedback about my performance or attitude after a long time project when not having heard a single word of constructive criticism in all that time or at the project’s end.
I will not stop speaking up and setting boundaries if this is necessary to make me feel safe and standing up for the moral values that are important to me.
I will not be suppressed to make others feel better!
featured image by 123rf.com, Eric Isselee
Keep roaring, Carole! The world needs to hear more from people like you!
Thank you, Yvette. You’re just wonderful! Having you in the audience is always great. A warm and friendly face to look at. Thanks! <3
Awesomeness personified. <3
Thank you, Barbara! Big hugs!
Everything here I can identify with. Sometimes all you need is for someone to put things into words this succinctly. Thank you! This found me just about at the time I was struggling with almost everything here!
It means a lot to me, that my words are helping you. It’s the best reward a speaker/author can ever get. <3
yes yes yes and did I say yes? Also, Me too
Thank you, Bridget! You should definitely keep roaring too! <3
I will shower you with compliments for this in person when I see you, but before that:
I get so many feels reading this and I have read it several times since your talk. I honestly wish I wrote this. haha! It is so important to take responsibility for our own behavior – and – to recognize when things are not our responsibility, but others. It is not your job to make others feel “enough” and it definitely is not okay to hold yourself back just so others can feel better about themselves. Keep roaring! This speech was…. wow!
Thank you, Christina! Your kind words mean a lot to me. I am so happy that my talk inspired some people, that’s what it was all about! <3
This is so inspiration in soo many ways.. these are few lines but motivates many people in many ways… I am truly motivated today..
Thank you Carol for writing it..
It is going to be my every day read…
Can’t wait to meet you in person..