This is my contribution to the thread started over at Ray Camden’s site. If you’re a CF developer, be sure to share your thoughts too!

Like all good stories, this one begins with bourbon and cheap cigars.

Years ago, I was in a poker society with my best friends in the world. We were liturgically serious about our poker, going so far as to create the framework for member rules, organizational bylaws, and the like.

At some point, it became apparent that our group needed a website–just some place online where we could store information for our organization. Though I had no idea how to do it, I volunteered to create the website. A ridiculous number of hours–and a hacked together Photoshop-to-HTML export–later, our website was born.

It was hacky, impossible to maintain, and *not* secure (despite my lame attempt to create a login). Yet through the process, I discovered that I LOVED making websites.

Fast-forward a year and a half, and I landed my first job as a web designer. I was laughably under-qualified, but I got my shot and I threw all my energy into it. I had a lot of success, and felt good about my decision. Even after moving from a “hobby” to More >