Year in review
If you work in tech or use the concept of sprints at work, you will probably understand what I am about to do. After completing a sprint, the team typically gathers to review how it went, using three main points. I will be using the same format to review some of my experiences throughout the year.
What went well
Ran a marathon
Last year, I took on the challenge of running a marathon for the first time. It turned out to be one of the toughest experiences of my life. I made the mistake of overtraining because I found out about the marathon late.
As a result, I ended up with a shin splint injury just two days before the race. Despite the pain, I was determined to finish what I had started. Running the marathon with the injury was incredibly difficult, every step was a battle.
Unfortunately, pushing through worsened the injury. It took me more than a month to fully recover and be able to walk and run properly again after the marathon. I was able to complete the entire 42km, It may not have been my best performance, but having that experience and being able to cross the finish line was incredibly rewarding. I am looking forward to running my second one this year, I already started some training and hoping to beat my last PR.
Grew Windframe to Ramen profitability
Last year, I experienced an unexpected layoff from the Silicon Valley-based company I used to work at in May. Despite the initial frustration, the generous severance package provided some relief. This setback allowed me to refocus my efforts on building Windframe, a project I had been working on for some time. Although it had been generating revenue, it was not yet profitable.
Determined to make Windframe succeed, I dedicated the next few months to resolving technical issues and improving the product. As I made progress, I started seeing significant growth. New customers were signing up regularly, and the numbers kept increasing. There are now over 6000+ signed-up users, and Windframe’s Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) exceeded $1,000.
I call it Ramen profitable because it’s still not enough to call it a full-blown business but big enough to pay the bills and have some little change afterward. Building a Software as a Service (SAAS) business like Windframe is extremely challenging but very rewarding. The ability to estimate monthly revenue and command high valuations makes it an exciting venture.
Overall, the layoff proved to be a pivotal moment that led me to pursue something meaningful. You can learn more about SAAS businesses and their potential here.
Started eating healthy and joined a CrossFit gym
I became very serious about my eating habits this year. Initially, it was just about trying to lose a few pounds, but then I started tracking and observing how different diets affected my mood and productivity throughout the day.
I delved into studying various diets and experimented with different ones to see how my body and mind responded.
Now, I mainly follow a mix of the Paleo diet and the Mediterranean diet, which consists of lean protein from meat and plants, and low carbs. This change has significantly increased my energy levels, and I rarely experience the tiredness I used to feel before.
In addition to changing my diet, I also joined a CrossFit gym. Previously, I had the misconception that the gym was not for me because I associated it with bulking up and looking huge, which wasn’t my goal. So, I stuck to running as my sole form of exercise. However, during a conversation with a friend, he mentioned that what I was actually looking for was a CrossFit gym, not a regular gym.
At the time, I didn’t know much about CrossFit or its benefits, but I decided to give it a try based on his recommendation. I was pleasantly surprised by what I had been missing out on!
CrossFit has allowed me to build more strength, and it feels amazing to train different parts of my body and witness the improvements even in my day-to-day activities. I can’t recommend CrossFit enough after experiencing its positive impact. It combines various exercises to target different areas of the body, not just focusing on lifting weights.
If you happen to be in Lagos, I highly recommend joining CrossFit Lagos. It’s the best gym with excellent coaches and a welcoming community atmosphere. You won’t regret it!
Moved to a new apartment
Sometime this year, I decided to move to a new apartment and embark on designing a new space. I had grown tired of my former apartment and wanted a fresh space to explore. Additionally, I was facing some underlying problems in my previous place, which became frustrating to deal with. After a couple of months of searching, I found a new apartment that met all my needs. It is located in a quiet area in Lagos and has all the amenities I was looking for. The place is hidden and doesn’t attract much attention, which is perfect for me.
Securing this apartment was a bit challenging as the landlord was initially hesitant, but thankfully, I was able to secure it in the end. Since then, I have taken my time to design the space exactly as I want, without many limitations. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of choosing furniture and decor items for the apartment. It involved multiple trips to the carpenter’s shop to select materials, extensive browsing on the internet for high-quality materials, and countless hours on Pinterest and Etsy. Without realizing it, I might have actually become an interior designer :)
I am incredibly pleased with how the space has come together. However, I am still not completely finished with the project. Dealing with artisans can be quite challenging, as they often deliver their work late. It is even worse in Lagos, where the skilled artisans can take forever to deliver an item.
As a result, there are a few items that have been a work in progress for a long time due to delays. Despite this, I am overall satisfied with what the space looks like currently. It’s been a major productivity boost to be in a space where things just work and have been set up exactly to my needs.
Traveled more
Sometime in 2019, I came across a captivating clip of someone living in a hut on a mountain in Rwanda. It sparked a fascination in me, and I made a promise to myself that I would visit Rwanda and experience that unique lifestyle. However, I kept finding reasons to postpone this trip. Then, in 2021, I made a deal with myself that if I could grow a profitable business, I would allow myself to start traveling.
I believed that once I started traveling, it would be difficult to maintain productivity as I would want to fully immerse myself in the experience. To counter this, I set a goal to establish a successful business, preferably a Software as a Service (SAAS) business, before embarking on my travels.
Thankfully, I was able to achieve this goal this year. I had the opportunity to visit Kenya and Rwanda in 2023, and I am currently writing this from a cozy wooden Lodge with a breathtaking view of Lake Kivu and the Islands. Finally being able to travel without guilt feels so good.
What did not go so well
Still unemployed
I am still unemployed, despite my passion for building products independently. I also value the opportunities and personal growth that come from working with a talented team. Towards the end of the year, I actively began seeking new job opportunities. Unfortunately, the current job market is just brutal, especially considering the Nigerian context. I have interviewed for several positions, only to be turned down due to my location.
The combination of my previous role being so good and my project doing well on the side has also made me more selective in the opportunities I pursue. I want to find a company where I can bring my full experience to the table and continue to grow. I have also focused my search on US-based companies, as they tend to attract top talent and offer competitive compensation, so that narrows it more. Well, hopefully, my employment status will change soon.
Still lacking in marketing and writing
One of my goals for last year was to improve my skills in writing and marketing. Unfortunately, I didn’t dedicate as much time and effort to this area as I had hoped. Towards the end of the year, I made some attempts to work on my writing skills, but I still have a long way to go.
I believe that being able to write effectively and express my thoughts clearly will unlock another level of growth for me with regard to work. However, I ended up focusing more on writing more code this year. Hoping to find a better balance this year with this.
Missed going to Canada for a work trip
Ya, this one really hurt. The formal company I was working at planned a meet for the tech team in Canada sometime last year, but I got laid off right before the meetup was supposed to take place. I was looking forward to this because I was going to be meeting the team members I had been working with for almost a year in person.
We were already booking Airbnbs and planning different locations to explore during our meetup. Well, my visa did end up coming out late, so the layoff was not the only factor, but it’s definitely one of those things I wished had gone according to plan last year.
What to improve on
Doing headstands
I have recently been watching a lot of calisthenics videos, and I am fascinated by how they are able to move their bodies. One particular skill that I have been trying to master is doing a headstand. But I am still not able to do it properly :(
This year, I plan to dedicate more time to practicing calisthenics and hope to be able to report back next year that I can now do headstands and other cool calisthenics moves.
Growing Windframe to 10k+ monthly recurring revenue
Ya, this is basically what is driving my other goals for the year. I want to grow Windframe’s Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) to at least $10,000 by the end of the year.
It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I am really looking forward to implementing all the interesting strategies I have planned for both the product and marketing side. If I can reach this milestone, I can confidently say that Windframe has become a full-fledged business.
Showing up Everyday
So this year, my mantra is “Showing up Everyday.” Last year, I pushed myself to do difficult things, and I will continue to do so. However, I have now established systems that I am satisfied with, and I know that a significant part of achieving my goals is consistently showing up every day, regardless of how I feel, and getting the job done. Therefore, I have decided to make this my mantra for the year. Let’s see how it goes!
Obviously, this is a highlight reel. What I wrote about mainly focused on the good stuff and didn’t mention all the crappy things that happened. There were personal lows that I chose not to mention because I consider them to be personal. But, trust me when I say that there were plenty of lows and some really awful events too. So, take everything mentioned here with a grain of salt. All in all grateful and happy with how the year went.
Till next year I hope :)