It’s that time of the year where we get the opportunity to take a step back, reflect and be thankful for the year we’ve had. 2015 has been a challenging and rewarding year; and it’s my pleasure to share it with you.

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2015 Resolution – In Review:

 

 

Score: 0.71

Well Done! Pretty good score for a such a long-term project. Being flexible enabled me to swap in-out alternative key results throughout the year progressed.

Some conclusions:

• Being flexible allowed me to swap in-out alternatives throughout the year. 
• Some goals were poorly thought out and not in tune with the others. Would be better if the various goals contributed to a common theme.
• Tasks varied in effort and difficulty. (from 30 mins ~ 15+ days). Could be useful to break down tasks into similar unit sizes for better estimating/planning.

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Highlights of 2015

 

1. Getting out of the Building.

One of the best parts of this year was spending more time outdoors. I took advantage of weekends to get some fresh air and have some fun. Some of the best parts were going for a walk in the park, swimming, playing tennis, hiking, and relaxing in the Valley or away at the beach.

2. Setup Success!

This year was an incredible year for Victoria and I. Vickie was able to complete her first year as a 1st Grade English Teacher and was rehired for the upcoming year. She also started tutoring Japanese on the side. The toughest and most rewarding part was working together to collect and submit all of the Residency Visa requirements before the year end. All in all, great first year!

3. Travel: New Orleans + Dubai.

This year I experienced New Orleans and Dubai. New Orleans’ French Quarters was an incredible place to enjoy some old-fashioned creole food and classic jazz. The scene is simply full of life and good vibes. For Christmas and New Years, I travelled to Dubai to spend the holidays with Vickie’s family. Dubai is a paradisal oasis built in the middle of the middle-eastern desert, equipped with the newest beaches, plazas, skyscrapers and first-world infrastructure. Equally eye-opening is experiencing first-hand the nuances of the Arabian culture; evident in their values, cuisine and their traditions.

4. Career: Becoming a Team Lead.

During this year I made the transition from individual collaborator to team leader. This new role challenged me to extend beyond building myself and onto building a team. I interviewed, hired and trained my new team members and together we are working on scaling Ubiqua’s client operations. I’m still in the process of developing myself within this new area, and incredibly appreciative the trust (and patience) my team has put in me.

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Lessons of 2015

1. Make the Most.

Make the most of every opportunity you get. It’s first nature to get comfortable and routinize our lives such that they become predictable. It’s important to break these habits and create opportunities for growth and development. This year I challenged myself to do some outdoor activity every weekend, aiming to avoid the whole ‘watching tv all weekend’ syndrome. I also challenged myself to say ‘yes’ to new things; such as spearfishing, jazz festivals and running a 5k marathon. I’ve met and made conversations with new people in the most unexpected of situations; probably meeting the only tour guide in all of Dubai who spoke spanish. Looking back, I feel I’ve made the most of this past year. No regrets.

 

2. Limitless.

We’re capable of accomplishing so much more than we believe we are. Beginning this year I would have never thought I’d be able to do so much; across my personal and professional life. This is why it’s so important we keep stretching ourselves and challenging ourselves outside our comfort zones. A great part of this comes from identifying unexplored areas for personal growth. This might include learning a new language or trying out a new sport. The important thing is to recognize that our limits exist within our minds and only we have the ability and responsibility to transcend them.

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Time to Appreciate

First off, I’d like to appreciate my family and my mother for her incredible support this year. Starting a new career and getting settled in wouldn’t have been possible without her always being there to help me out. Second, I’d like to thank my colleagues at Ubiqua for another challenging year. You’ve trusted me to tackle meaningful problems and given me the opportunity to make mistakes, learn and contribute to the success of the team and the organization. Third, I’d like to thank my friends for all the fun times and great conversations we shared this year. Finally, I’d like to thank my girlfriend Victoria, whose bravery and patience resulted in an incredible first year together in Panama.

I’m very fortunate to have all of you amazing people in my life.

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And that’s a wrap to a 2015! Looking forward to more in 2016!