Contentment: The Art of Recognizing Fortune

Harvest

Looking back at 2024, the word "harvest" resonates deeply—and not just metaphorically. It's been a year where seeds planted in previous seasons have finally come to fruition.

The Birth of a New Life

Around the winter solstice, when the days were at their shortest and the world seemed to pause in anticipation, my second child entered this world.

We've chosen to have two children. My partner and I believe deeply that siblings create a richer childhood experience, fostering unique bonds and memories that only shared upbringing can provide.

Childbirth remains a profound challenge, even with modern medicine. Time spent in a delivery room reveals what a blessing it is when everything goes smoothly. The toll on mothers is extraordinary—from physical trauma to hormonal changes, bringing new life demands tremendous sacrifice. This selfless act embodies the purest form of love.

A Toddler's Journey

Our little boy just turned two, and this year has been remarkable. Each week brings fresh surprises—from his growing vocabulary to his uniquely endearing ways of communicating. Witnessing these milestones firsthand fills us with wonder.

Weekends highlight how swiftly he's changing. Watching him grow reminds us how precious and fleeting these moments truly are—that's the magic of childhood development.

Digital Creation

Then there's Hive—my digital offspring, if you will. This is my first solo dev project, and honestly, it feels a lot like parenting. Building something from scratch comes with its own set of challenges, from late-night debugging sessions to those magical moments when everything just clicks.

Since launching in October, Hive has evolved through 20 versions in just three months. Every update feels like watching your child hit a new milestone. Even without any major social media push, we've built up a solid early adopter community. I'm excited to see this tool mature into something really special.

Turns out raising kids and building apps share a common thread—both require patience, dedication, and the wisdom to learn from your mistakes.

Lessons from the Journey

Looking back at challenges brings a certain poignancy—those moments when reality diverged from our hopes.

This year presented several such turning points, each offering profound lessons.

Exping's End

The closure of Exping continues to resonate deeply. After investing two years of passion into this project, I find myself pondering alternative paths. Questions linger—would earlier monetization have made a difference? Could a revenue-first approach have sustained it? Did my strategic choices seal its fate?

Social media responses since Exping's shutdown have revealed its true impact. It had evolved beyond a mere mapping tool into a companion for people's memorable journeys.

Its unique value remains unmatched. Despite the abundance of comprehensive travel guides available, none capture Exping's essence—its elegantly simple approach to mapping and sharing locations.

Though travel was one application, the core innovation lay in our approach to maps themselves. This distinctive niche remains vacant in today's market.

The Long-Forgotten Foodtodo

This year's surge of AI-powered calorie tracking apps has taught me valuable lessons. These newcomers have demonstrated impressive product development and marketing skills—areas where I fell short. Their success exemplifies how top-tier teams execute their vision.

Yet if I had a do-over, I still wouldn't join the AI calorie-counting trend. Foodtodo's essence wasn't about precise nutrition tracking—it was about celebrating food and capturing moments of culinary joy.

My favorite feature was the daily and weekly meal photo summaries—simple snapshots that showed your family, especially parents, that you're eating well and taking care of yourself. That was Foodtodo's true purpose.

These setbacks aren't just about missed opportunities—they're reminders to keep learning and growing while staying true to your core mission.

Life Lessons Learned

True happiness isn't just about what we have—it's about recognizing how fortunate we've been on our journey.

I can say without doubt that I've been incredibly blessed.

Recognizing Your Good Fortune

I'm blessed with an ideal family setup—no traditional pressures, no complicated social obligations, just a simple focus on living well. We spend time on what matters and what brings us joy. This kind of relaxed family environment is truly something special.

I often see others struggling with complex family dynamics. It's hard to give advice in these situations because there's rarely a perfect solution. Most people can only adjust their perspective to cope.

In my work life, I know many people who are more talented and dedicated than I am. I've been fortunate to receive great opportunities and work on amazing projects. While I continue growing, I don't pretend it's all about hard work. I see it as good fortune, which deepens my appreciation for these moments of success.

During tough times, don't criticize yourself for not working hard enough or being smart enough—sometimes you're just going through an unlucky phase. Individual effort often plays a smaller role in life's big picture than we imagine. Check out "The Tyranny of Merit"—it offers great insights on how to view success realistically.

Gratitude doesn't diminish our achievements—it keeps us humble and understanding. It reminds us that while we should celebrate our wins, luck plays a more significant role than we often acknowledge.

Remember, no matter what life throws at you, you'll never face a challenge you can't handle.

Making the Most of the Economic Slowdown

While I've always gone with the flow, recent years have taught me the crucial role of timing in economic cycles.

I've leveraged this economic downturn for personal growth and skill-building. The past four years since COVID have transformed my life—I've become a parent of two, taught myself to code from scratch, and gained deeper insights into product development.

When external opportunities are limited, it's the perfect time to focus inward. These four years aren't merely about surviving tough times—they're golden years for building tomorrow's success.

Though the economy may not bounce back dramatically anytime soon, that's okay.

I'm focusing on two key areas:

Personal Growth

▪ Maintaining a steep learning curve

▪ Staying adaptable in our fast-changing tech world

Family Development

▪ Nurturing my kids' growth

▪ Building their foundation for future success

My strategy is clear: use this slowdown to enhance skills and build a stronger foundation. When the next economic wave comes, I'll be ready—equipped with the right skills and experience to seize new opportunities.

Those who make the most of this downtime will be perfectly positioned to ride the next economic upswing.

Looking Forward

Prioritizing Family

Family comes above everything else.

This past year, work consumed most of my time—from office hours to late-night coding sessions. I didn't spend enough time with my wife and family. I'm fortunate they've been so supportive, helping me achieve so much this year.

For the new year, I'm committed to striking a better balance and dedicating more quality time to my family.

Never Stop Learning

Exping taught me a crucial lesson—the best way to grow is to learn from those who've gone before us. Surrounding yourself with talented people accelerates growth. The right environment shapes you in powerful ways.

In the coming year, I'm optimistic about finding the perfect team—one that values learning and growth at its core. The right environment can transform your development in unexpected ways.

Keep Shipping

My favorite quote lately is "Can't be leadership if not leading and shipping." While Hive reached a functional state this year, next year's mission is to make it exceptional, maintaining clear direction and consistently shipping improvements.

With my blog now back up, I plan to share more of my thoughts and insights, hoping to add value to others in small but meaningful ways.

Lastly, thank you for everything, 2024, and thank you to my family. Here's to the new year ahead.