Still writing the docs.

As I am writing this post, I am working on a few projects here at XYO. My priority is in getting our SDK guides fully updated before the World Crypto Convention (WCC) Hackathon, which will allow developers to work with XYO software in an inclusive environment.

This post is not a post meant to market anything, nor is it a post intended to paint a rosy picture of our company. This is a heart-to-heart from a technical writer and developer that wants to see XYO grow and be a stalwart technology for location data. In case we haven’t met, my name is Phillip Lorenzo and I am the Technical Writer at XYO. You may also recognize me from our YouTube how-to guides.

I’m writing as to why I am staying here. I still believe in what this company can do with location data and blockchain implementation to solve real world problems. I am staying because I get to work alongside smart, creative, hard-working people. I still learn something new everyday about development, starting up a company, and blockchain while I’m here.

These past few months have been a challenge. Seeing the frustration of our community along with the company as a whole reflecting on next steps has been tough for me. There was a time when I thought that it could end, that this amazing journey I just started in January would end sooner than I thought. Seeing a company grow so fast and try to do so much and then feel the negative effects of the quick growth has been difficult. I have talked with colleagues in start ups as a reminder that this does happen.

This is a challenging time. There has been a lot of doubt raised about what we are doing. There is also a lot of support. Times like these make decisions difficult and necessary, and these decisions are lessons that are necessary to learn and grow. In this case, what I have seen here is a realignment of values and goals. What I experienced was a company in deep reflection and one willing to focus on the fundamentals of our core product.

Then I saw all of the hard work from this team. I saw my smart, thoughtful, and passionate founder Arie remake the roadmap, adjust how we deliver software, and work tirelessly on a new XYO app experience. Carter, our lead developer created a new paradigm on how we view our bound witness location data, and its context. I saw and worked alongside a diverse group of workers led by Jordan and Maryann, who teamed up to reduce wait times for our customers and improve the customer experience. I saw quick thinking by our operations department to clean up sales funnels, improve the purchasing experience, and focus on quality.

This work is far from done, but because of the new focus on perfecting our XYO Software Suite and honing in on the fundamentals I feel that this voyage can continue. Yes, it will be bumpy, which is no different than any other start-up. There are peaks and valleys to this journey. As we are exiting this valley our focus is on the core software which will fuel apps using our technology. This also means that our communication to our customers needs to be impactful and not just constant social media posts. Focusing on our core SDKs, our new apps, and improving features require us to thoughtfully design and craft software with minimal distraction.

I am excited about this clear direction. We are coming up on Vegas Blockchain Week which is anchored by the World Crypto Conference. During this conference there will be a hackathon. I’m definitely looking forward to work with hackers on developing solutions using XYO technology. These solutions will be at the core of the growth of XYO and more importantly, effective real world solutions for location data.

We are also starting an XYO Open Source Initiative to encourage more outside developers to contribute code and ideas to XYO. While our SDKs and Smart Contract code is open source, we are working on an initiative to improve the onboarding experience for developers to immediately contribute.

Whether it is the customer experience or the developer experience, the important thing is that our software works great for all. That has meant removing distractions, staying focused, exhibiting consistent professionalism, practicing effective communication, and fostering integrity. I see a company that wants to create solutions for its customers, investors, and for all who will need it for their use cases. I see a company that will take the time needed to perfect an amazing idea, and not rush into new projects or try to do too much.

This post is not about promises. This is about a company that I believe in and that is learning from mistakes. I am writing this post so that I can finally tell you how I feel about being here and what we are doing to make great products. The work I get to do here everyday is challenging, engaging, scary, and wonderful. This is true of many difficult endeavors in life. This is why I’m still here.