Hello 2021

I've been awfully quiet on this blog for a little while, and it's about time I say hello. So, Hello!

I'm hoping to spend more time blogging this year since I've just taken a decision that gave me more time. On December 30th 2020, I left my job. I was the first engineer hired in a start up called Abot (later renamed Thankful). We used AI and automation to improve customer service for a plethora of online shopping websites.

It was an interesting experience and after two years, I've done my fair share of work.

This year I will focus on personal projects. There are so many things that I have promised and didn't get the chance to complete them. Let's start with smallest to biggest.

Blog posts.

In the past year, I've only been able to write one post a month. It's been slow, but at least I managed to publish my first op-ed on BBC. The article immediately became viral. I've gotten hundreds of emails and connections. It gave me ideas for many projects, but there are only 24 hours in a day. But now that my 15 minutes of fame has passed, I want to finish a few articles that I think can be impactful:

• Uber and the gig economy.
• Sleep deprivation when working in a startup and being a new parent.
• Working as a programmer when you are the least smart person in the room.
• Skills that compliment programming.
• Work and Race

I've started these articles, but working in a start up and being a new parent is a challenge that consumed a lot of my time. Yes, I'm blaming my children for this.

New projects

The BBC article I wrote led me to meet interesting people. I've been involved in helping companies better cater to their employees. Especially when it comes to race. I've been talking about different ways we can reform HR but I've hit many roadblocks. Unlike technology, social challenges are harder to test and they affect people lives. I'll also be writing an article about my findings soon.

I'm working on creating a non-profit organization that provides resources to create an Employee First HR department.

Just Fired Book.

The book is still a work in progress. This is about work and the life we try to leave after work. There are so many stories and so much still happening in my life. There are only so many pages I can add to this book. I've been in the United States for 15 years now and I thought I had seen it all at this point. But I'm still surprised by the things I encounter in jobs. I have no choice but to include them in the book. Also, this is my very first publication so do excuse my amateurism here.

I don't want to give a publication date yet, but let's say that it will come out this year. Patience.

JavaScript book.

I haven't talked much about this book. One day I looked at the notes I have gathered over years of programming and realize that they can easily be turned into a book. This will not take priority over other projects but it is a work in progress.

Provolone?

Do you like cheese? Well, I do. In 2014, I've written a short story called Provolone and I personally think it is a great story. Last year (2019 that is), I printed a manuscript and left it at home. My wife saw it and promised that she would read it. She didn't. I don't blame her, I don't even tell her about this blog. I don't want to be that kind of husband that annoys everyone to read his work.

But in December of 2020, a whole year after, she picked up the manuscript. She read the first chapter. She texted me at work to tell me she liked it. When I came home that evening, she wouldn't talk to me. She was too busy reading the book. By the end of the evening, she had read the entire book. She says the book is amazing.

Well, I guess if she says that then, my dear reader, you deserve to read it too. The book is already written and edited. I'll make it available online for free this year. And of course you'll also have the option to buy a physical copy or kindle or epub, or whatever it is you use.

Film?

I'm going to say a lot here. But I've been talking to movie producers about turning one story I published here into a movie. I'll talk more about that in due time.

Start up

Well... I can't talk about that yet. But since I have to make a living, I have this little start up that is very niche. My family members have been working on it mostly. Now that I have more time in my hands, I'll get back to it.

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This year is going to be busy. I hope to create as much content and be as helpful as I can be.

Happy New Year 2021

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