New Year Same Plan!
2022…
…was a fabulous year for me! I started a new job with a fabulous stealth startup, moved to the bay area next to my college friends, got an apartment I’m happy with, and more! Reflecting on my 2021 year in review, I’m really satisfied with how far I’ve come and how many opportunities I have now. Here’s a few highlights:
Designed, assembled, tested, and open sourced a portable power supply ~
Made and released another open-source portable tool: a PCB reflow plate!
Learned how to solve a rubiks’ cube with CFOP (3LLL) in <30s, and 2x2, 4x4, and 5x5 slowly.
Moved to Sunnyvale and did a few cool DIYs while setting up the place.
Had friends over multiple times for board games or movies, including the housewarming party pictured above ~
Entered the world of automation startups! Bump caps, safety systems, and company benefits (don’t ask why I’m so happy for a vending machine)
Had a lot of fun at the new company!
Met my lovely girlfriend! Here’s a photo of us at the SF cherry blossom festival ~
Started learning Japanese with Genki and Anki (image courtesy of Tofugo)
Ordered the 5 axis CNC I promised in last year’s update… so excited to start machining!
2023 Preview
2022 was a year of exciting new opportunities, and 2023 will be a year of capitalizing on them and growth. I already have an awesome job, fun friends, a girlfriend I can’t get enough of, an exciting language to learn, CNC to make awesome projects with, games I want to play, and more.
The only thing I need to focus on most to make the best of these opportunities is time management and finding a good work life balance. If I can execute on these opportunities, I’ll be the happiest little engineer there is :)
Goals
Last year was my first year Reflecting on my 2022 goals. I made 5 SMART goals in 2022 that I want to revisit, and create some new goals based on.
2022 Goals
Contribute to at least 1 product that ships and delivers to customers:
I’ve designed and ordered a major subassembly of a new generation of automation hardware at work! Needs to get brought up and tested but it will hit production in 2023! 100%!!!
Release or contribute to at least 3 open-source mechanical designs:
Released 2x open-source projects: a compact PCB reflow hotplate, and a portable benchtop power supply. Didn’t finish a third. 66%
Compete and place in any sort of engineering challenge / tournament / robot combat event:
Did not happen in the slightest, totally fell off the personal project game once I got a job 0% :(
Bench, squat, and deadlift my bodyweight:
Max here was 170lb deadlift, 140lb squat, 135lb bench @ 165lb, still a big area of improvement, but feeling much better about my strength overall. I think I need to find a more motivating or social form of exercise. 33% :/
Make good money:
It’s a secret ;) 100%
2023 Goals
Successfully deploy next gen design at work
Make a custom 3+2 and 5 axis CNC part
I’ve been excited about having a CNC of my own to make really cool projects, getting mastery of that early will hugely upgrade my projects.
Compete a combat robot
I’ve designed a couple iterations of beetleweight combat robots in the past, but never polished one enough to compete. Combat robots are cool, and I think closing this out would be super satisfying.
Take JLPT N5 & Finish Genki 1
I’ve been working on learning Japanese, but having a goal of taking the easiest relevant language proficiency test seems like a great goal that I’m already in progress towards.
Have fun
Sometimes a gimme goal is nice :)
Teaser for things to come (since I’m writing this ex post facto):
See you with next year’s update!
Let’s work hard and grow together!
今年も頑張ります!