As the curtain falls on the stage of 2023, I find myself drawn into introspection, unraveling the rich tapestry of experiences that defined this transformative year. From personal milestones and professional triumphs to unexpected challenges and community engagement, join me in revisiting the chapters that shaped my journey.
Health and Personal Milestones:
- Celebrated 14 years of marriage with my wife, Amber.
- Successfully tackled the challenges of sciatica with spinal injections, significantly enhancing my quality of life.
- Achieved three months of sobriety and embraced a healthier lifestyle, shedding 29 pounds through the Carnivore Diet.
Professional Growth:
- Celebrated 11 years of expertise in Laravel, marking a journey of continuous learning and innovation.
- Began the exhilarating journey of prompt engineering with OpenAi and Claude.
Professional and Entrepreneurial Ventures:
Community Engagement and Acknowledgments:
- Began mentoring Laravel developers.
- Expanded my online presence through Twitter, YouTube, and blogging, fostering a global community of followers.
- Twitter: Grew from 650 followers to 3,300
- YouTube: Started fresh, grew to 1,290 subscribers
- Blog: Readers from over 100 countries.
HUGE thanks to the following people:
- Code With Dary: The comment you left really inspired me to begin putting out more content.
- Sarthak: Thank you so much for providing feedback, that, and always being such an all-around great guy!
- Povilas Korop: Thank you for super-kind tweets which sent so much traffic my way that I'm still at a loss for words.
Resilience and Transformation:
- Navigated the challenges of a sudden layoff, realizing the importance of mental health and discerning leadership.
- Found solace and support within the Laravel community, leading to a new opportunity as Head of Engineering for Financial Cents.
Looking Forward:
As I step into the new year, I carry with me the lessons learned, the strength gained, and the anticipation of new adventures. Here's to the unwritten chapters of 2024!