Goodbye to 2008

I don’t know about you, but this year has simply flown by for me!  It has been a year of challenges personally as well as professionally, I guess that means I’m “normal” after all

At the close of each year I truly like to take a look back at where I was at the start of the year, and where I am as the year closes.  At the close  of last year I posted A Developers New Year Resolutions  never thinking at the time that it would be useful a year later to look back at it, but it has been.  The year started off with a bang, and I was genuinely embracing each of the resolutions and taking them on with enthusiasm.

In May, however, my personal “life” had to take front and center as the result of a family medical issue.  The resulting detour was immense, taking its toll physically as well as emotionally.  Some residual effects linger as the year closes, although they have nowhere near the impact as that period from May through October had. 

As an independent developer and basically single person business such an event has significant consequences.  There is a hugh impact in ones ability to service customers well — an absolute priority to me.  I certainly wasn’t ready for the energy drain it would take on me.

As for my resolutions — for most I grade myself at a C or C+ for the year.  Not by nature being a planner, I grade myself as a “D” however.  My resolution list said “I Will Plan” — testing — my work.  Shortcuts were taken with my testing on agreement of my major client who themselves picked up on testing more thoroughly than usual, knowing that I was shortcutting.  That was a situation that we made work.

Goodbye 2008!  Thanks for the memories!  I’m looking ahead to 2009 embracing those same resolutions I posted a year ago!