Goal for 2019 is not to set goals.
OK I failed.
367 karma · joined May 26, 2017
OK I failed.
There is no "best" documentation system really, only what's best for your requirements. For example, in some cases DITA XML may be absolutely the best choice, in other cases LaTeX makes more sense, it just depends.
If you are documenting APIs take a look at OAS3.
Cross Word off your list unless you needs are very small scale - even Microsoft use Markdown/GitHub for their tech docs these days.
Personally, I would probably go for Markdown/GitHub/GitLab and use some third party tools for TOC generation. A static doc site generator like Docusaurus[1] might provide what you need. But as I say difficult to tell without knowing all the details. Good luck!
If so, try selling that and learn from the results. Then use incremental improvements on your process. You will probably find that even with a decent game developed, it will the marketing and sales that determines success or not - after all nobody will buy the game if they don't know about it.
The only other advice I can give is try piggy backing off something that's already a successful franchise - for example tools for WoW, Fortnite, even original Doom. For example, look at what Romero has just announced with Sigil.
Another option try to reboot a franchise like was done with Shadow Warrior and even ROTT - what classic game could do with an update? You need to make sure you square away the licensing deal of course.
You are setting yourself for a very tough challenge - good luck!
Do you have any hobbies? If so you might be able to spin up some spare coin from those.
A friend of mine recently bailed out of software and is now a qualified mountain leader.
One of the hardest things is not so much doing it (which can take some juggling) but other people's reactions. I remember when I didn't have a TV (I lived for about ten years without one - partner bought one eventually though). People were literally shocked. They would literally stand there mouth agape. "How can you live without a TV" was a question I got very used to. The trouble is people take it as a personal affront. They can get quite shirty about it. Getting rid of the car caused brains to explode! :o)
Slightly different wording but "What do you want your life to look like?" is worth asking too! :)
* Getting a good nights sleep.
* Becoming "minimalist by divorce" in 2003.
* Finally understanding true wealth is having enough.
* Learning how to ram down expenses while maximizing my Real Hourly Wage.
* Going for a 40 minute walk every day.
* Realizing for me happiness is strongly correlated with level of personal freedom (not the fake freedom you hear about in the "land of the free"). Read "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" by Harry Browne for more details.
* Learning to stop mulling on negative thoughts and either throwing them out forever or turning them into a positive action plan.
* Learning from "mistakes". For example, what I learned about money after going broke in 2006 resulted in financial freedom today.
* Traveling is like holding up a giant mirror on your lifestyle and beliefs. A fish in water doesn't notice water until it's yanked out of it.
* After being homeless I learnt to be more empathetic. People with no empathy have not yet suffered.
* Most people want love but don't give love freely first. If you want to be loved, love.
* Appreciate the little things. Until you can do this you will always be agitated.
* Understanding the Money Road is a dead end.
* I've driven a Cobra with a V12 Jag engine, a heavily customized Datsun 240Z, and a 1969 MGB GT, but the most fun I ever had was in my first car, a Singer Chamois, which I got for £30 from my Grandfather. Why? She was my first love and a temperamental bitch!
* If it's not fun and there are few other advantages to it, stop doing it!
For me, generally:
* Your Money or Your Life - Joe Dominguez (MUST READ)
* Is the American Dream Killing You? - Paul Stiles (MUST READ)
* Working Ourselves to Death - Diane Fassel
* Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame (esp. the chapter The Wayfarer)
* The Hobbit - Tolkien
* The Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy (amazing level of technical detail)
* 1984 - George Orwell (published in 1949 but never been more relevant)
Have fun!
Here's what really helped me: watching Tagalog movies. Here's what happens - you listen and over time you get to recognize certain words. You can then look up the words for meaning. Over time you can build up vocab and pick up phrases. Supplement with some book work. I've also found some language lessons on YouTube quite useful. It's a slow process though!
I have a similar process with music videos. Try this one for example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ascys0eBlqw
Tagalog with slight rap! If you can get some of the rap you are doing well. I got a lot of useful words/phrases from this! Also useful because it has the tagalog words displayed too.
Really fun way to learn...
Salamat!
I would possibly blame the hiring company more than UpWork, but there's no doubt UpWork's communication could have been better. Most of my freelancing has been done through umbrella companies in the past, but increasingly it seems a better option to use Ltd. company in the UK due to employer those massive NI contribs.
In interest of keeping things short though I would just say this:
1) You are young, so young. You are much younger than you think you are. When you hit 56 like me you'll realize that.
2) Keep a positive, problem-solver mindset. In the words (roughly) of Henry Ford "If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't".
3) Go for a walk daily (30 to 60 minutes) and get 8 hours sleep a night - not negotiable.
4) Keep reading, keep learning.
5) Travel. Pick somewhere that will surprise you and try and live there for a while. I lived in Thailand in 2003 and it changed my life.
6) Worry less. You won't get out alive anyway.
7) Stay frugal (read Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin).
8) Watch "The Sunscreen Song - 10 Year Tribute (Everybody's Free)" on YouTube! Great advice!
In many respects my 40s were the best years of my life. Good luck!
What really matters is this: do you have a strategy in place should things go south? Have you learned the lessons of 2008?
1) Do you have decent liquidity? 2) Do you have a diversified portfolio? 3) Have you been continually improving your skills and knowledge and expanding your types of skills? 4) Have you created multiple streams of income (both active and passive)? 5) Have you minimized your ongoing costs and developed a frugal lifestyle, or do you have an excessively high "burn rate"? 6) Have you kept debt to a reasonable and manageable level (i.e. you pay off your full balance on credit cards, you have a manageable fixed interest low interest rate mortgage). 7) Do you have an emergency fund in place?
You can't control the global economy. There will be wars including trade wars and corrupt politicians etc etc What you CAN predict is your own strategies, behaviours and preparedness.
Small personal site. Interesting bits of python code, JavaScript and even some technical memoir. I try to post twice a month but doesn't always work out. Site is built using a little python and bash.
I think there's a trick here though - get really good at something and then use that to make someone else's life better - now that is something you can probably get passionate about.
This whole passion debate will run and run though - I don't think anyone really has the definitive solution - it will be different for different people.
It really depends on your age and what your life objectives are. I paid off my mortgage in my early 40s and ended up regretting it to certain extent - should have paid into my pension pot and got the tax benefits and growth.
On the other hand it's nice to have zero debt!
Just recently bought a bigger house after renting. Mortgage is same as rent was, but house has a self contained room for renting out. It's a new build and energy efficient. I have no plans to pay down mortgage right now as fixed on 1.44%. I love the freedom having lots of cash gives you.
> You aren't good enough to land a job in one of the cool companies you admire.
Cool companies are often overrated. Working there can be a grind just like everywhere else.
> You look back to all the money spent helping your family (who is poor and live in a developing country).
I understand this very well. But you will be of no use to them if you are dangling from the end of a rope or living under a hedge. Own oxygen mask first. I see this a lot in the filipino community here in UK. I believe the solution to this is you have a set amount each month that goes to you savings - that money just doesn't exist - not even to you. It has to be like you never earned it. That becomes your critical savings. You then have another fixed amount each month that goes to the family slush fund. I don't know of any other way. You have to drawn the line somewhere.
First things first.
1) You have to make the best of your current job. Talk to the other engineers and find out what they love about the job. Make new friends at work. Talk to people about cool tech or outside of work activities. Put yourself out there a bit more. Find a new tool that gets you enthusiastic again. Watch a few videos that inspire you.
2) Plan your weekends. You mention family. See your family on the weekends. Take up a new hobby that will get you out in the fresh air - long distance walking is an awesome hobby (for example https://www.ldwa.org.uk) and you can do it alone or preferably with some guys from work, or other friends.
3) You are probably a bit depressed. Maybe discuss with your doctor.
4) These depressive cycles tend to be self-reinforcing. You need to break out of the negative thought patterns - CBT is very, very useful for helping with that. I use CBT all the time now - even though I'm not depressed as such. It's actually fun.
5) I wouldn't worry about side projects if you are pushed for time. Side projects can add a bit of stress - oh I really need to write that blog post. Just let it go and, for now, focus on getting your job back on track as that's what pays the bills. It seems like you are putting quite a bit of pressure on yourself.
6) Easier said than done but a quick mental list before you sleep of the things you are grateful for can help.
Good luck!
Agree.
> I work at Google and of the coworkers I've discussed this with, their motivation is to retire or support their family.
My plan is to retire early pure and simple.
Told you I was a cynical whatnot! :D
The interesting question is why does some work feel so much more meaningful than other, similar, work?
If you can figure that out bottle it please and send me some!
Even if you can't RE you can go contracting and reduce hours dramatically, or do some other work outside of the industry.