Ask HN: What’s your plan in 2019?

133 points by sunasra ↗ HN
Learning, startup or anything.

146 comments

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An old-school, pay-for blogging platform in the indieweb vein.
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I like to call it 2FA - Fitness, Finance, Autonomy. All my activities will be around these themes, viz. Getting healthier, learning more about personal finance and planning around self-sufficiency in as many aspects of life as possible.
What would you like to learn more about personal finance? That’s something I’m well versed in and want to teach and write about in the coming year.
I am not the person to which you are asking, but I would be _very_ interested in more detailed ways on how to correctly diversify investments in the most safe way possibile.
Personal Money management and how to maximize it through informed investing.
I would add an additional F, Family. It might mean getting closer to your siblings and parents, or it might mean working on your relationship with your partner or kids, when everything is said and done this one probably is the thing that most people are happiest or saddest about when they look back on their life.
I agree. Fortunately I have been working on family bonding since beginning of 2018. It so happens that we take close family for granted and end up paying more attention to our work, colleagues and friends. But just like any relationship, family bonding needs work. Our cousins do it by grooming and eating lice off of each other. We should do something similar, appropriate to modern standards.

Vacations, however short, work pretty well.

Leave the shell of a company that sucks the happiness out of me, and move somewhere warmer.
Just curious, what about your current job sucks the happiness out of you?
My company used to have great employees, who I learned a lot from and to this day respect. I've been there 9 years now. At the first sign of trouble, the brightest left. At the next sign of trouble, the next brightest left, and so on and so forth. I don't necessarily think of myself as not bright, but being remote it was a great job compared to my city. Each iteration of trouble I watched the people I respect leave, and those I didn't latch on for power. Now it's in a freefall... I've had 5 managers in the last year, we were bought by PE, and my team was replaced with a new team who are quite honestly the least talented people I've ever worked with. I've never felt less productive, and moreso like I absolutely don't care about the product, and it's very depressing to me. I don't hide my identity online, and don't care that they inevitably see this message.
Definitely find a new job. Take the courage to face the uncertainty. That's what I did, and I'm happier than before.

Think of it is as the mental equivalent of all those physically risky activities people do (mountain climbing, etc.). It can actually be quite exciting.

Am in the same boat but you put the matter much more succinctly than I could. Thanks.
Finish the product I'm building with some friends and start selling it, so I can finally leave my current company.

Also, get more fit, since I'm starting to lose my ideal weight.

Same here. I have been living off my parents and building the product. Need to get it done. Good luck for your product and I wish you good health.
Health and Fitness needs to be number 1 - part of that is reducing alcohol intake which is difficult as I am part of a very active social group which has a lot of alcohol and drug abuse.

Financially - reducing my cost base and actually getting to a new highest "net worth" figure (I've spent a lot on self education which has been very fruitful but I need that "fuck you money")

Otherwise I need to diversify my income and move towards operating my own businesses - either contracting or a bootstrapping an info product. I think I need to bite the bullet and rebuild my income as 100% location independent because I hate the daily commute so much.

Jack, I was in a similar place regarding your H&F statement not long ago.

I have halved my standard drink intake to maybe ~20 a weekend now and I feel SO much better on a daily basis now (probably due to sleeping better on the weekends).

What helped me curb the rampant binge drinking/partying was a renewed focus on software projects I had been meaning to work on, and training for local races (10ks, half marathons).

I am sure you will succeed as you have already identified what you can divert the time and energy to.

I am on maybe 20 a week at the moment - main problem is the cost (which is probably $160 AUD a week) and how it makes the next morning/next few days useless while your body recovers.

Hope you continue succeeding!

It sounds like it's not too much of an issue for you yet, but you do see the affects drinking/drugs has on you. It's good that you are able to sense this before it has a chance to take hold of you. I was an alcoholic/addict for many many years and remember laughing it off when ex-addicts or recovering alcoholics would tell me that they were so much happier when they'd quit. Now I understand what they meant.

Though I'm wondering if there's ever a possibility for us obsessive-addicts type to be able to reach a comfortable and well-balanced place where we can enjoy a drink or two without everything spiraling out into madness. Probably not...

> but I need that "fuck you money"

By definition you don't.

Lose another 100 pounds. Get an MVC of my web-based DBMS onto GitHub. Learn trumpet.
Improving diet and exercise habits.

Diet > more plant based

Exercise > more “zone 3” cardio training and maintenance level weightlifting.

Curious why more plant based is considered an improvement?
This is obviously subjective, but I feel like my meals are "cleaner" when I eat lots of greens/veggies along with meat. I don't do strict keto, but avoid carbs as much as possible, mostly because of that lazy slump feeling I get after eating them.
I’m not going full plant based but comparing how I’ve felt in various points in my life with various diet compositions, I felt a bit better overall with a bit higher vegetable content.
My plan is to show "Oh By"[1] to one million people.

The idea has always been that I have no idea what Oh By is good for and that someone (or many) will come up with surprising and interesting use-cases.

Recently on HN I was reinspired by the Tim May[2] interview[3] in which he said:

"... the street will find its own uses for technology ..."

Surprise me!

[1] https://0x.co

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18690492

[3] https://www.coindesk.com/enough-with-the-ico-me-so-horny-get...

Interesting project. How many "Oh by"s have been created so far?
I completed my family this month. I have my dream job. I officially have everything I want in life, and now I just have to enjoy it all. So my focus is on:

- improving living, eating, exercise habits

- working on how not to lose perspective. I've turned down more money for more time with my family. I hope into my 30s I don't accidentally lose perspective on what's important. So far I think the trick is to live a poorer lifestyle than your income suggests you ought to, which drastically reduces all financial and employment pressure. Figure out how to persist this into the future.

- sing with my toddler more

- clean up the basement

- grok C++

> So far I think the trick is to live a poorer lifestyle than your income suggests you ought to

Yes. At times it's a bit frustrating when everyone else drives a nicer car, but on the other hand not having to worry about money at all is pretty sweet.

We are obsessed with status. And we compare it in everything we do.

Though I don't entirely subscribe to Dave Ramsey, he does have a point about the status symbol being a BMW (and how maybe it shouldn't be).

If you want money and have money, then options are fun to play with. Just beat the stock market.
" I hope into my 30s I don't accidentally lose perspective on what's important". True that. I had my son when I was 30 and he turned out to be autistic. High functioning tho, but still very challenging as a parent when ur child just doesnt fit into the mold. That came with a sacrifice from my career. I took low paying jobs to trade in for less responsibilities and more time to spend with my time. Here I am 10 years later dreaming to start my SAAS, having ensured that my child will have a better shot at being able to function in the society.
This was a surprisingly fresh perspective of goals. Thanks! All I was thinking was of more time on open source stuff, research, writing etc.
Thanks for mentioning enjoying life. I've been making habit changes these last few months and things are stating to stick!

> - sing with my toddler more

I've got a 4 month old that babbles non stop. I find myself singing and being silly all the time. I feel you on this.

> - grok C++

25 years experience, e-mail in profile if you want to talk about anything c++.

It's funny to hear you say you've completed your family I have an 18 year old, and I feel like I'm just getting into the real parenting.
Oh yeah no, I'm not saying I'm done. Just that we have both our sons now and no plans for more. Parenting isn't always hard but it's constant.
> So far I think the trick is to live a poorer lifestyle than your income suggests you ought to, which drastically reduces all financial and employment pressure

Yes. And then if you can find a high-paying job that allows you to work less than the typical 40 hour work week (eg: 20 hour work week) it'd be perfect, don't you think?

If you get the right boss who gets it it may be possible. I'd posit that if you gave me every Friday off instead of a nice raise, you'd still get as much productivity out of me.
Do lots of projects which I'm yearning to do. It will consist of game engine, OS related stuff (probably some driver), databases etc
Find a new job before I'm outsourced/laid off at IBM's newest acquisition.
I wish IBM could turn itself around
Qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Awesome. What sport?
Qualify for Olympic trials? Or are you in a sport/nation that you just have to hit a target qualification?
Physical - Body fitness: 3 month: Increase reps to 2 per workout, experiment with 2 days and 3 days between to find out how to increase strength. Cardio once per week, 5-10 minutes 6 month: Increase strength to 3 sessions per workout day. Cardio 15-20 minutes. 1 year: Increase mass to 140 lbs 2 year: Increase mass to 150 lbs Body wellness: 1 month: Stop drinking coffee 6 month: Stop eating sugar Stop masturbating to porn. 1 year: Stop picking lips (and stop using balm) 2 year: Investigate ways to heal ‘permanent’ damage (left wrist, right hand, right foot, neck, back, breast, eyes) 3 year: Heal 2 ‘permanent’ damage

Intellectual: Learn to program: 6 month: Complete 2 to 3 courses on edx, create simple program. 1 year: Complete 5 to 6 courses, complete moderately complex program or contribute to same open source. 2 year: Complete 10 to 12 courses, contribute to complex program/large codebase. Right brain things: 2 month: Stop reading news. 6 month: Write weekly post, 3 paragraphs or more, about a topic of personal interest. Paint or craft 1 work of art. 1 year: Write 2 weekly posts or make two weekly videos 6 paragraphs or more on a topic of personal interest. Paint or craft 3 works of art.

Spiritual/emotional Job: 3 month: Work on expunging record 6 month: Work in a place that doesn't strain body, try out beekeeping to become more independent 1 year: Work for government or self in programming or computing. 2 year: Working prototype for $SECRET_VIDEO_GAME 5 year: Release $SECRET_VIDEO_GAME Family: 6 month: Have family dinner every Tuesday, join or create social group to foster encouraging socialization, became more vulnerable with wife and stop criticizing her. 1 year: Family dinner Tues, have weekly social meetings with diverse and encouraging groups, speak only integrously with wife and don't direct aggression at her. 2 year: Have healing conversations during weekly family dinner, try and integrate extended family and friends with the dinner and foster healthy relationships that contribute to growth, try to actively develop more intimacy with wife. Subjectivity and reality: Observe, relax more often, be in others' shoes, "educate" less. Discover highest life purpose.

* Officially launch byobudget.com - my first side project, hopefully on new years day.

* Continue at my day job.

* Have another child (crossed fingers)

* Being more kind, patient, understanding and towards my fellow man.

* Quantify myself - weight, food and sleep tracking, along with room temperature tracking

* Do a handstand for 60 seconds without support.

* Better manage my money

* Get good with the $20 dollar drone I got today :)

* Build stronger binds with my family.

How is your handstand now? Doing a decent handstand was one of my goals for this year that I didn't quite make, but I'm getting there. They're harder than I ever imagined!

Otherwise looks like an excellent set of goals :-)

* Finishing my degree.

* Weekly goals: 10KM in runs, writers pages, meditation, being more put together (varying uniform from T-shirt, jeans and trainers).

* Making money in the markets (should be a good time to short)

* Becoming a whiz at linear algebra and data structures.

I have two big goals:

- I want to complete my CS degree, get a post-graduation work permit (I am a US citizen going to school in Canada), and find a full time job

- I'd like to learn to deal with my anxiety better. I have a diagnosed disorder, and lately it has made it incredibly difficult to enjoy doing things outside of my comfort zone. I often have problems eating and socializing, and I would like to start seeing a therapist and develop coping skills to deal with the shit that goes on in my mind.

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Learn how to invest - it seems to be relatively simple (especially if you're a news nerd like most peple here) but emotionally deceptive. Not many people in Australia are doing it (past their regular Super/401k-equivalent).

I've started to read the 'classic' books (The Intelligent Investor for example), and will probably do some paper trading before I jump into the 'real' thing

I'd recommend reading "The Four Pillars of Investing" by William Bernstein (and making any adjustments for Australia).
I am taking my first step towards independence and also taking a big gamble. I will take a loan to do a masters in a field I have no previous experience in.
This is an interesting goal. I'm hoping that the field you are choosing to pursue is not arbitrary and that there is some sort of plan to this. If so I wish you luck.
My goals are : Learn how to invest Making $10,000 month Travel