My year of 2013, and what I want to do in 2014
Inspired by Kim's post, I, too, put together a list of my lessons learned from the past year, and my goals for the one that starts in just a few hours.
Without hesitation, I think 2013 has been my best year yet. Not as breakthrough as 2011 but with much more tangible results.
We managed to launch Kdyjedes.cz, now rebranded to KJ.cz. A pet project that I started more than four years ago was finally made into a public product (well, we technically launched in November 2012 but this year we started to turn it into a business). There is still a lot of work to be done but huge thanks to @jankolario and @vmokry who went to do this with me.
I also experienced what it is to hire your first employee. Sadly, it was mainly to replace myself, as I'd decided to step up the game and move to the U.S. to work full time on Chute. Nevertheless, I've got a feeling that both companies have a great year ahead.
Done is better than perfect.
I keep reminding this to myself all the time. It's so easy to start working on something because new things are exciting. Finishing them is much harder. Yet no prototype has any value unless it gets finished. Don't start working if you don't have the will/capacity to finish it. Plan to do less things but to finish more.
Leaving a project just when it starts to take off is hard. Moving to a new country where you don't know almost anyone is even harder. Leaving your family and friends behind is the hardest. It's the moment when you realize you won't see many of them again.
Yet with every loss comes a gain. I'm very excited about the new opportunities, and about the new friends I'll meet here. I know I couldn't achieve my long-term goals without making this change.
I already made a big change once in my life. In 2010, I decided to go to study abroad. It was very hard, and I often felt unhappy. Yet it changed my life. I discovered TED, and that lead me to startups. I've never regretted it.
If you're currently facing a big decision, go for it. You can always come back, and you'll always return stronger than you left. At the end of your life, you'll only regret things you didn't do.
Always have at least 2 MOOCs to work on (seriously, towards completion) at a time, but not more than 3 as it becomes unbearable. Focus on technology, business and history.
Meet with new people. SF is full of great people. Attend one new meetup every month, and bring at least two new friends into my life every month.
Practice public speaking.
80/20 rule. Don't spend time on nice-to-haves. Bring real value.
Step up. When there's a chance to do something I haven't done before, do it.
Contribute to open source projects every week (check on github).
One hackathon every month (public or personal) to build up a new thing from zero to prototype in 1-2 days. (Or to take a prototype and finish it in 1-2 days.)
Write one post a week on personal or dev blog.
travel through the U.S. - Hawaii, DC, NYC
start playing the guitar again
tennis a few times a month
read (or listen to) one book a month
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
jacobvanloon
stormborns
turnnoffyourmind
jbbartram-illu
kaledo-art