Life Moves Fast
It’s been a while since I’ve talked tech and much longer since I’ve talked about anything personal. There's a lot of updates to share, so buckle up.
The last two years
In mid 2020 I was laid off from Mozilla along with the rest of the research division. I obviously thought this was a poor decision on senior managment's part, but that's a topic for another day. About 6 months later my wife and I separated and I moved to a nearby apartment where my son lives with me half time. About six months after that my division at Lyft was acquired by Toyota, and then shortly before Christmas of 2021 my mother passed away.
Needless to say, I've had a lot of change and turmoil in my personal life in the last two years. Fortunately I’ve been working with a good therapist and I have a very supportive family.
After my mother's memorial service in April I realized I need to quit my job and take some time off. I've been on a turbo jet treadmill for the past few years. I need time to really recover and refresh my brain and soul. If I keep going at this pace I'll wind up with a nervous breakdown or worse.
At the end of May I gave my notice at Toyota. While I'll miss my co-workers it was definitely the right decision. I've spent the last two months doing things with family, reading for pleasure, and taking a whole lot of naps. It's really amazing how fuzzy the human brain can be without enough sleep.
Right now I'm focusing on friends and family. With my mom gone my dad really needs me. My niece and nephew need me as well. I don’t know what my future holds but I know that this is what I should be doing right now. I am where I should be.
Two months probably wasn’t enough to fully heal but it’s been a good start. For the first time in years I’m feeling optimistic about the future. I got to reconnect with family I haven seen I years. I’ve been learning about topics over never had the time to study , like robotics and machine learning. And I’m actually feeling creative again.
New Job
Yesterday I started a new job. I am now a senior engineering manager at Markforged, the makers of some seriously amazing industrial 3D printers. Below is possibly the strongest Benchy ever, printed in nylon reinforced with carbon fiber.
I’m excited to be working for a non-California company for the first time. Markforged is based in Boston. In fact, I’m visiting there next week. If any of you are in the Boston area let me know. We can grab a drink.
I’m going to start blogging soon about my robotics and machine learning work, probably with some 3d printing thrown in. I might even start a YouTube channel. The focus will follow much of my previous personal research on how to enhance human intellect and cognition, but this time I’m gonna do it with some different tools it’s gonna be fun.
Next Steps
First: don’t forget your mental health. Even if you didn’t lose a family member recently, the last two years has been hard on all of us. It’s OK to not be 100%. We really can’t do everything. Take some time for yourself. Relax. Maximum productivity is not the right goal. Nothing matters more than friends and family. Life is made of people.
I hope you are keeping cool this summer.