A Year of Growth and Grit: My 2023 Journey & 2024 Vision
My review for the last year and a look forward
A video with more details about my journey will be published soon on my YouTube channel. So stay tuned đ
Once upon a time, the mere thought of turning on my webcam felt like stepping onto a stage for a solo performance, with a sea of expectant eyesâââexhilarating, yet bone-chillingly nerve-wracking.
My digital presence? Well, it was like that one friend who says theyâll show up to your party and then⌠radio silence.
My comfort zone used to be more like a fortressâââthink dragons and moats included.
Weird, you say? Absolutely. We are all a blend of unique quirks and fears, after all.
So, how did I break out of this self-made castle?
It started not with a bang, but with a good old grumbleâââfrustration at lifeâs curveballs and a little bit of self-scolding for staying in a spot that no longer served me.
Taking the first step was like deciding to dance in publicâââawkward and scary. More like a toddlerâs first stepsâââa mix of wobbles, falls, and the occasional cry for help.
But, as it turns out, being stubborn can sometimes be your best friend.
Fast forward, and here I am, ready to share with you some of those âDid that really just happen?â moments from my journey.
So, letâs dive into the tale of me stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
2023: A Year in Review
The GDE Milestone
Early 2023, a regular day, and then BAM! An email pops up, making it anything but ordinary. Iâd just been crowned a Google Developer Expert (GDE) in Angular!
This wasnât just a pat on the back. It was a high-five from the big G itself. All those nights spent tinkering with code, those endless hours of sharing knowledge with fellow tech enthusiastsâââthey all led to this moment.
Becoming a GDE wasnât just a title; it was a nod to my passion for tech and my eagerness to share it with the world.
Teaching
In December 2023, my Udemy video course on web performance hit about 30K students.
It felt like Iâd just filled a stadium with eager learners from every corner of the planet. Every studentâs success feels like my own.
The Ripple Effect of My Words
Now, letâs talk about my writing adventures. Last year, I churned out 40 more articles on Medium, clocking in a whopping 455 hours at the keyboard.
Thatâs like spending 19 days straight, no sleep, just typing away!
But hereâs the kicker: I didnât just write. I connected. By the end of the year, I had a tribe of over 6K followers on Medium.
Each of my over 160 articles was a pebble thrown into the vast ocean, creating ripples that reached far and wide. It was like watching my little universe expand.
Every like, comment, and share was proof that my words didnât just echo in the digital void. The support of my audience has been the wind beneath my wings.
The Stage Is My Playground
2023 was the year I turned stages and microphones into my playground.
I transformed from a âplease-donât-look-at-meâ person to a âcanât wait to meet my audience.â I gave six public talks and guest-starred in three podcasts.
Each time I stepped up to the mic, it was a mix of jitters and pure adrenaline. It was a game-changer for my mood and motivation.
In 2023, I spent 102 hours crafting my talks.
It was intense, with a side of stress and a dash of âWhat have I gotten myself into?â
But, as I grew more confident, the stress became more like an old friendâââslightly annoying but familiar. Yet I decided to be selective about my speaking gigs in 2024 because Iâve got other playgrounds to conquer.
So, what did I learn?
The stage might be daunting, but once you find your groove, itâs the most exhilarating playground youâll ever set foot on.
Embracing the Camera, One Click at a Time
Remember how I used to say recording myself was as daunting as skydiving?
Well, 2023 changed all that. I published 22 more videos on my YouTube channel, and hit a milestone of 53 videos!
Each video was a step out of my comfort zone. And now, the camera that once felt like a glaring spotlight in an interrogation room had turned into a welcoming beacon on a stage.
Letâs talk numbers:
In 2023, I spent 407 hours producing videos.
But oh, the learning curve! I became:
a maestro of After Effects,
a wizard of iMovie,
and a keynote animator extraordinaire.
My thumbnails went from âmehâ to âwow.â
New gear, new vibes
And my studio setup? Letâs just say itâs got more tweaks and gadgets.
November 2023 rolled around, and my YouTube studio got the ultimate glow-up. I went all in, aiming to bring my content to your screens with crystal-clear sound and eye-popping 4K visuals.
Hereâs what I bagged:
A Shure SM7dB microphone, a game-changer for audio quality,
A brand-new camcorder camera,
A trusty tripod to keep everything steady.
But there was a plot twist waiting for me!
It turns out, my shiny new gear needed more accessories than I thought. XLR cables, a Røde PSA1 stand, a Shure Desk Stand Extension Tube, and a Focusrite Scarlett audio interface. My wallet didnât see that coming.
But the story didnât end there. I couldnât use the camera out-of-the-box as I used to with my webcam, which was frustrating for me. So, I waved goodbye to the camcorder, and welcomed a Sony a7c into my life. It was a decision both thrilling and, as I would soon discover, a bit ambitious.
Diving into the world of professional cameras was like learning a new language. Auto modes, manual modes, ISO, zebra settings⌠I was in over my head, trying to juggle all these new terms while also figuring out how to use the camera as a webcam, and how to transfer data from it to my MacBook Pro.
And then, the 4K revelationâââturns out, the camera doesnât save the recorded videos per default as 4K! You have to change the default setting to get a 4K video.
I spent long hours poring over tutorials and trying by myself. I even made mistakes, like in this video where I didnât adjust the ISO setting correctly, which negatively influenced the brightness of the videoâââthough there was a lot of light in the room.
But slowly, I got to grips with my new setup. There were moments of frustration, sure, but also moments of triumph that made it all worthwhile. Iâm glad I feel quite confident in my video production skills now.
On December 30, 2023, I published my first short on YouTube after days of wrestling till I figured out how to create a vertical video with iMovie and correctly upload it to YouTube.
And there it wasâââmy hard work, out in the world for everyone to see.
In the grand tale of 2023, I clocked nearly 1000 hours in the content creation coliseum.
Most of my videos required dozens of hours to mature into the delightful experiences you see on screen. When I hear whispers of YouTubers crafting their masterpieces in a mere 6 hours, it looks like a dream for me.
2024: Looking Forward
Dreaming Big
The ultimate goal?
Achieving a lifestyle fueled by passive income, content creation, and making a great impact. Iâm eyeing a new house and maybe setting up an even cooler YouTube studio.
Thought Leadership
I want to be a beacon for the community. With a goal of 100K YouTube subscribers, Iâm not just chasing numbers, but building a movement.
Iâm also preparing a new video course on software architecture, in which Iâll package my 17 years of experience in the software engineering industry.
Personal Growth & Making an Impact
Great fitness, enriching my mind, and sharing learning adventures with my loved ones and the community.
These are not just goals; theyâre my commitments to a fulfilled life.
Iâll continue to provide insights, inspiration, and leadership. Itâs not just about raising awareness. Itâs about fostering improvement and growing together.
Final Thought
2023 was amazing, but I have a feeling 2024 will be even better. Iâm ready to take on new challenges, embrace more learning opportunities, and share more insightful content with you all.
So, as you navigate your own path, remember that your moments of transformation may be unexpected. Embrace them, savor the sense of accomplishment, revel in positive interactions, and let the energy flow.
Before I leave you, I want to ask you to think of one skill you want to master this year and share it with us in the comment section.
Letâs make 2024 the year we grow together!
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