My Journey in a Nutshell:
- Worked through four internships.
- Participated in 4+ hackathons.
- Graduated from Purdue with a B.S. in Computer Science.
- Lead a team of 3 to build and implement a Database backed file system using Material Paths.
- Became a Senior Software Engineer.
- Endured healthy stints at 3 startups.
- Latest startup was acquired by Microsoft.
- Earned my first dollar on the internet.
- Launched a lot of projects.
False Beliefs I Once Held:
- You should have everything figured out.
- Success follows a linear path.
- You'll stop making mistakes.
- Money solves all problems.
- Confidence comes from having all the answers.
- "Fake it till you make it" is a reliable strategy.
- Saying “No” is bad and can close doors.
Life Lessons I Learned Along the Way:
- Big software rewrites are usually a waste of energy, time, and money.
- Solving business problems should take priority over pursuing technical perfection.
- Being nice costs nothing and often pays off in unexpected ways.
- Helping others achieve their goals is as rewarding as fulfilling your own.
- Rules are often created without foresight; following them blindly is a mistake.
- Software isn't always the solution, but it can be a powerful tool.
- Ideas are plentiful; the ones who execute them are rare.
- Perfection is the enemy of progress.
- IMHO quality beats quantity.
- Learn to say “Yes” to opportunities that push you out of your comfort zone.
- Traveling the world isn’t as scary as it seems — it’s incredibly fun.
- Enjoy the Journey because the destination isn't always that interesting.
- Take care of your teeth.
- Spend time thinking about your career, not just what you need to accomplish today.
- Life style changes are more important than diets when adjust ones body composition.
- Best part(code) is no part(code).
- Setting ambitious goals is a good idea.
- Write
- Keep a second brain. Currently, I use obsidian to store notes and day to day journey activies.
- Physical work is a great type of therapy.
- Craft and tell good stories.
- A rising tide lifts all boats.
- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
- Confidence - Is self-trust in your skills, choices, and values. An inner knowing of your strengths and weaknesses while intentionally thinking positively about oneself.
Farewell to my twenties, and a warm welcome to my thirties!
- Taylor Brazelton