Substack
96 posts tagged “Substack”.
2025
- Back to the Page: Finding My Way Into the ICQ Sequel
A writer’s journey back to the page - discovering forgotten work on an ICQ sequel and committing to daily writing practice despite a busy work schedule
- Why I’m Trading SMART Goals for HEART Goals
A leadership reflection on trading SMART goals for HEART goals - exploring how purpose-driven, transformative goal-setting can create more meaningful professional and personal growth
- From LAMP Stacks to Large Language Models
A journey from self-hosted LAMP stacks to using AI for blog migration - exploring the balance between automation and technical understanding
- All Things Open, Except My Calendar
Missing the All Things Open 2025 conference to prioritize team deliverables and end-of-year responsibilities
- Murder Hornet: Chapter Two
Chapter Two of Murder Hornet - Tommy learns about Allison Engelhardt’s dark past and faces an unexpected challenge
- Week in Review — Week 41 of 2025
A week of meetings, milestones, and moments that mattered - reconnecting with family and finding balance
- How a Thumb Drive Saved My Sanity
How portable apps on a thumb drive helped me survive working at a government agency with no internet access
- Too Much Spanglish, Not Enough Story
Thoughts on excessive code-switching in fiction and when multilingual writing crosses from enriching to distracting
- My Google Calendar Tried to Kill Me Today
Reflections on back-to-back meetings, remote work culture, and the struggle to maintain work-life boundaries
- The Night I Became a Man (Musically Speaking)
A personal story about discovering music’s power and how it shaped a lifetime of memories and self-expression
- Because Reading Counts as Self-Care
A brief celebration of buying new books as a form of stress relief and self-care
- Introducing Murder Hornet: Prelude + Chapter One
First chapter of an unfinished fiction project about a new student in Chapel Hill and his encounter with a mysterious girl on a yellow Vespa
- Week in Review — Week 40 of 2025
A reflection on an intense work week balanced with intentional family time, maintaining fitness routines, and a 2,134-day reading streak.
- Do They Need Advice — or Just a Hug?
A reflection on the importance of listening and empathy, and learning to discern when someone needs advice versus just someone to listen to their struggles.
- Nods, Lightbulbs, and Why I Still Love Being a Builder
Reflections on the joy of being a builder and problem-solver, inspired by experiences giving AI tool presentations and watching engineers’ curiosity spark.
- The Books That Carried Me Through September 2025
A journey through the books that filled September 2025, from Shakespeare to science fiction, with unexpected detours and delightful discoveries.
- Oops… Did I Really Say That?
A humbling experience of miscommunicating a deadline by eight days and the importance of having the right people around you when mistakes happen.
- Rainy Day
Embracing the beauty of cloudy, gloomy fall days with comfortable sweaters, hot tea, and the timeless music of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
- I Should Have Known That!
Discovering a trivia game that might finally create the cherished family game night tradition, reminiscent of childhood memories playing board games.
- The “Don’t Break the Chain” App?
Exploring apps for tracking the “Don’t Break the Chain” productivity method, while contemplating building a custom solution as a learning opportunity.
- Don’t Break the Chain
How the “Don’t Break the Chain” productivity method helped achieve remarkable life transformations, from losing 50 pounds to maintaining a 2,100+ day reading streak.