2024 was a whirlwind of a year. Not as crazy as 2023 but still had it’s fair share of fun and excitement.
This post is a review of the learning goals I set at the start of 2024 with a few extras thrown in
I had committed to improving in four areas last year, React, Go, Web Design and Management. Let’s review!
React
I did not finish The Joy of React course this year. But I did start a project building a notetaking app for gamers called GAEMS which was built using Laravel Inertia and React.
That project did expose me to some interesting problems and I think I know more than I did this time last. So it’s something.
Go
I did zero Go learning last year. Instead I did some Laravel through the GAEMS project, which scratched the backend itch. The itch is still there but I have a few other goals this year that I want to go hard on.
Web Design
I got about halfway through SuperHi’s Visual Design and Branding Course before life got in the way. I want to keep designing and building my skills this year. I think I’ve done enough theory and it’s time for me to just keep making stuff.
Management
This has been a wild ride. I did finish reading Engineering Management for the rest of us and The Managers Path this year. They were amazing reads. I highly recommend any manager pick them up.
I still feel like I’m a long way from getting good at management. I love supporting the team and helping them grow. Where I fall is getting things done. It’s still hard for me to delegate tasks without feeling like a taskmaster whipping my team to get stuff done even if I know they are more than capable.
Then there’s also the idea of managing outside of my team, whether it’s higher up or vendors. Man…so much to learn.
But while I’m still employed as a manager I will keep working on my management skills. I owe the team that much.
Other things
A big reason for not completing a few of my learning goals was because so many other amazing things happened.
Freelance
I had one of my biggest and proudest freelance projects to date this year building the website for The Buddha Project, a not for profit organisation that teaches Buddhist principles through online courses, retreats and community.
This was a massive project and I am writing a case study for. But in short it had:
- A forum
- Video courses
- Students and enrolments
- Donations
The team at The Buddha Project was amazing to work with. Shoutout to Mircea Mocanu for the beautiful design.
Besides The Buddha Project, I also picked up a few other jobs from a blog post I wrote, which was cool. At one point I had three projects running at once. Which almost broke me. I know what my limits are now.
Writing
I signed up Jonathon Starks daily newsletter course and started a daily newsletter. I’ve never wrote this much in my life. It’s been a challenge but I’ve been enjoying writing more. I also missed a few days (ok…a whole month while I was on holiday).
I don’t have many subscribers but it’s very empowering to be able to send out my thoughts and know that at least one person will read it.
This has motivated to simply write more. And I will be carrying this into this year.
Life
Had an awesome holiday in Seoul, it was the first time I had visited a brand new country in ten years. It is great to be exposed to a new culture. Makes you realise how big, varied and wonderful the world is.
I’ve also started working out, thirty minutes a day for six days a week. I’m getting older and want to look after my health. Plus, since working out, my lower back pain is gone. Fancy that!
That’s it
That pretty much covers the big events of 2024. I’m hoping to take the learnings from last year and supercharge my way through 2025. Let’s get it y’all!