Hey everyone,

This is another update about what’s going on behind the scenes with the Dota Dojo.

Last week, I ran an experimental class that didn’t really land the way I hoped. A few students were disappointed and vocal about it, and honestly, it got me thinking about a bigger topic that’s been sitting in the back of my mind for a while now.

As we grow the community, try new things, and refine what we’re doing, the question becomes how much do we listen to feedback versus sticking to our vision.

The balance I’m working on.
It’s important to take feedback and hear what people think. But it’s also dangerous to try every idea at once and end up with something watered down.

It reminds me of being a streamer. There are two extremes: one where you shut out feedback and become stubborn, and the other where you become a pushover and let Twitch chat run your life.

I’ve hit both sides of that at different times in my career.

Early on, I gave in too much.
I slowly turned into what people wanted to see, the guy who raged for content. Eventually I realized, I don’t like that person.

There’s no such thing as “who you are on stream.”
If you act that way eight hours a day, six days a week, that’s just who you are.

So then I swung to the other extreme. For about a year I shut everyone out. I stopped catering to anyone. I think a lot of people saw me as defensive or closed off.

Over the last few years, I’ve been trying to find a healthier middle ground.

Now I’m facing the same challenge with the Dojo.
We’re experimenting, making changes, and adjusting based on what we learn. Sometimes we’ll try something that doesn’t work. Other times we’ll find something great.

But when you move that quickly, not everyone is going to love every change. Especially members on the paid side who are directly invested in what we’re building.

I read your feedback. I always do.
Sometimes I even jot down general sentiment over time. But I can’t promise we’ll act on every single piece of feedback.

All I can promise is that we’re doing our best to make as many people happy as possible while still moving forward with purpose.

What the Dojo is meant to be.
The Dojo isn’t meant to be some exclusive island.

I think of it as an oasis in the middle of a forest, not a desert.
It should be open and welcoming, something anyone can join and benefit from.

The goal is to create a space where Dota players can interact, learn, and talk about the game in a healthier way.

Every change we make is meant to move closer to that vision while keeping it sustainable long term.

Updates and progress.
We added another coach this week. He ran his first class on Friday, October 24th.

I’m really excited about him. He and I are going to be creating content together soon, and we already have some great ideas. We have very different strengths when it comes to teaching and approaching Dota, and I think that’s what makes it exciting.

Talking to different people, hearing different mindsets, that’s how I learn best. And it’s something I want to keep building into the community.

About feedback.
I know some people hold back because they don’t want to “rat out” others or make someone look bad.

Please don’t.
Everything we do is meant to make the community better.

Nothing ever gets scrapped instantly.
We start with conversation and dialogue.

We’re working on easier ways for members to share feedback, probably through surveys soon.
Until then, my DMs are open.

Where I’m at personally.
This process has been stressful, but also really rewarding.

I’m learning a lot about myself: how I handle conflict, how I work with others, and how I deal with self-doubt and uncertainty.

I gave up a lot of good things in my life to build something that felt more meaningful to me. That something is this.

It’s exhilarating. It’s terrifying. And I’m still figuring it out one step at a time.

That’s my update for October 26. See you guys around.

P.S. This was a transcript from the Brian Canavan channel. Join the Dota Dojo Discord for more