Ask HN: What was your greatest accomplishment in 2018?

I disconnected myself from social media, and smartphone. I am using feature phone, and laptop only for work.

Got rid of my business that I absolutely hated and started work as a game developer for a big AAA company.

I learned that I should try to be a better me instead of emulating somebody else's success story.

After abandoning drum playing for ten years, I picked it up again. It began by watching some random YouTube video about developing paradiddle speed (RLRR LRLL)[0]. I was intrigued by an approach to building speed I'd never considered. I began noodling around on a practice pad, fifteen minutes here and there. My speed increased.

Within a month, the practice pad felt limiting and I bought some V-Drums to rebuild my chops on a full kit. I soon subscribed to some excellent drum channels on YouTube and incorporated many of the lessons into my playing. Soon I was getting faster and more accurate in many areas and playing 6-8 hours a week became totally feasible. Anyone who's become disciplined at doing anything has discovered that feeling of loss when you miss a day.

A year later, I am working towards starting a band, as playing drums is one of the few consistent joys I have in life. Initially, this was not my goal, but now feels attainable. I (re)learned a lesson I must have forgotten, which is to make time in your schedule for something you've decided to master or greatly improve upon. It's amazing where fifteen minutes a day can take you.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1IQj83NCgI

I'm starting to get my life on track.

I learned how insanely important initiative in life is. Being the guy who not only comes up with idea but also says "I'll do it" has immense value. I started leading a small team while being underqualified for the job and there were two things that greatly helped me understand the value of initiative. First was showing my boss a CI/CD pipeline that I implemented that everyone was talking about. That made my boss believe that I can do what I was talking about and consequently I have a free reign in implementing new changes (it helps that we're small software house). Second thing was talking with developers. A lot of them have ideas what they would like to see changed that would help them in their daily work but they also claim that they do not have time to make those changes (which is sometimes fair point). So we're sitting at a lot of great ideas that need 'just' implementing.

Second thing I learned is the value of discipline and having a rhythm to your day. Wake up, eat breakfast, run your morning routine, go to work, go to gym, do evening stuff, run your before bed routine. Basically have a plan for your day. Like they say 'Failing to plan is planning to fail'.

One word of advice from someone who has seen little success with Saas businesses, you gotta keep at it for at least one year or more.

Once you're done with the development don't make the mistake of focusing more energy on your coding or product features but rather give everything to market.

Focus on SEO, content marketing, list building and forums (the niche the better). If you are able to show it this year then spend all 2019 promoting and building traffic. Then you really have a chance at making it.

I wish you all the best. Merry Christmas! :)