Change Takes Courage! Thank You 2024, Get Ready for Me 2025

Image created by ChatGPT

2024 was one of the most unforgettable years of my life. I learned that every change requires courage, and this year, I tried to show that courage in every aspect of my life. Each new step, whether personal or professional, brought me both positive and negative experiences, helping me grow and transform. My love for challenges turned problems into learning opportunities, pushing me forward.

For me, 2024 wasn’t just about reaching new goals but also about feeling every moment of the journey more deeply. Now, I’d like to share this journey with you because “Change takes courage.” and I found that courage in many areas of my life this year. Maybe you’ve experienced such a change in your life too. Feel free to share — I’d love to read, listen, or learn from your story.

What I Gained from 2024

2024 taught me so many lessons. Now, I want to share what I learned, the challenges I faced, and the turning points I experienced this year.

Change is Hard but Worth It: A Career Turning Point

I keep talking about change. So, what was this big change? In January 2024, I decided to leave the Android development world, where I had worked for eight years, and move into web technologies. Have I ever taken such a big risk in my life? Definitely not. But the results? They’re meaningful enough to sit here today and write about them.

In these articles, I’ve explained why I wanted this big change and how I made the decision in detail:

DevDiscipline

From Android to Quasar and Vue.js: What an 8-Year Kotlin Developer Learned

An Android & Kotlin developer's burnout confession after 8 years: from building ING's banking app to cross-platform development with Vue.js & Quasar Framework.

DevDiscipline

Quasar vs Android XML: Which UI Technology is More Efficient?

Quasar vs Android XML development compared across performance, learning curve, tooling, and platform flexibility to help you choose the right UI technology for your project

DevDiscipline

From Android to Vue.js: VSCode, Challenges, and Solutions

I share how Android to Vue.js habits shaped IDE workflow, covering Device Mode limits, USB debugging, Capacitor setup, and running Quasar apps on real devices

To sum it up, this change pushed me far out of my comfort zone, just as I expected and wanted.
I got to work with new technologies like Vue.js, Quasar, PostgreSQL, GraphQL, Visual Studio Code, JavaScript, and Node.js… I started from scratch and, honestly, had to learn a lot quickly because there was no other option. Of course, it was challenging at first —changing habits you’ve built over years is never easy.

As I always do on Medium, let me be honest with you:

During the first few months, I couldn’t perform as well as I wanted or expected. I thought the transition would be much easier and underestimated how big a change it was. But now, as we reach the end of 2024, I feel confident in all these technologies. Looking back, I can see how much this challenge made me grow and even how good it was for me.

Oh, and I became a team leader for the first time! Leadership has taught me so much more than coding ever could. You know me, dear reader — I love sharing the challenges I face. So, let’s dive into them!

Challenges I Faced in 2024

Changing careers is never easy. As I mentioned in this and other posts, everything felt so new that it reminded me of when I was fresh out of university. I had always worked as an Android developer, but now I was expected to create GraphQL queries, build relationships between database tables, and even write database functions. Since the company was small, we were handling a bit of everything. I had officially entered a “full-stack” work environment.

The project I joined wasn’t easy either. It had a structure similar to e-commerce applications, with nested tabs within tabs. The app was already live and generating sales, but the codebase was overwhelmingly complex. Some classes had 4,000–5,000 lines of code, making it harder to understand and add new features. It didn’t align with SOLID principles at all. Still, my team had valid reasons for this and wasn’t happy with the code they had produced. To me, this showed their eagerness to improve, which was inspiring.

I said it felt like being a fresh graduate again, but there was one huge difference: I already knew Android development very well. This gave me a solid foundation to connect what I knew to Vue.js, making the learning process much smoother. For instance, I often asked myself, “Is there something similar to this Android feature in Vue.js?” That approach helped me discover many new things. I even customized Visual Studio Code shortcuts to mimic the Android Studio setup I was used to.

One example is the state management library I explored, which I wrote about in the following post:

DevDiscipline

What is Vuex and What Design Patterns Does It Use?

Vuex is the state management library for Vue.js. Learn why it is needed, the problems it solves, and the design patterns behind it

Enough About Work Challenges. Let’s Talk About Running.
I’ve always loved writing fun stories about running, but unfortunately, my motivation has been low since the injury I sustained during the Cappadocia Ultra race in October 2023. I still haven’t fully recovered, and it has negatively affected my mindset. I really want to heal quickly and return to running.

For now, I’m focusing on strength training at the gym, but honestly, nothing — not even bench pressing 70 kilograms — compares to the joy of running in the streets with my Runarchy crew. What can I say? I have one true hobby, and I love it.

Running is not just a physical activity for me. It’s a way to clear my mind, deal with challenges, and find peace in my soul. If you haven’t already read my posts below — especially the last one, “Why I Run” — shame on you! Check them out:

DevDiscipline

Self-Discipline

Explore how rigorous training, goal-setting, and camaraderie fueled my 63km race success and personal growth.

DevDiscipline

Self-Discipline, Part 2: Staying Disciplined Through Months of Ultra Training

Discover how I tackled ultra races with strategic training, self-discipline, and the lessons learned along the way.

DevDiscipline

Why I Run: Freedom, Health and Inner Peace

Discover the exhilarating sense of freedom, mental clarity, and the importance of community. In this heartfelt piece, explore the impacts of running.

I’ve already visited a few doctors about this issue, but this time I’m determined to see someone new. I’ll pay whatever it takes, get a proper MRI, and finally put this behind me. Enough is enough!

The Joy of Building a Strong Team

2024 reminded me once again of the incredible power of teamwork. During the year, I held training sessions for my team members and saw the excitement in their eyes as they learned new technical skills. I’ve seen this kind of joy before, but this time it was different. Together, we successfully completed — thanks to a last-minute database update — a stressful but rewarding User Acceptance Test (UAT) and celebrated the success of a major project.

I truly believe I’ve built a strong team spirit. This year, I learned that leadership is not just about managing tasks but also about inspiring people. The sense of friendship within a team you are a part of is very different from the one you create as a leader.

During a recent job interview, I was asked about the biggest challenge I faced in leadership this year. My answer was simple:

Many people around me believed that a manager must be strict and perfectionist to earn respect. But from all the companies I’ve worked with or observed, the best leaders I’ve encountered were actually kind and understanding. Neither did their team’s respect for them decrease, nor did the environment get tense because of ego battles. Despite the pressure around me, I chose to be a compassionate leader.

Sometimes, I acted like an older brother to my team. I’d ask, “I’m really sorry your visa didn’t go through. How are you feeling? How’s your mood?” I also reassured them, saying, “You don’t need to provide any reason or long explanations to request annual leave. It’s your legal right.” I made it clear that no one should feel the need to lower their heads in front of anyone. The only order I ever gave was to drink plenty of water.

In short, with this softer approach, I believe I gave them a new perspective and a boost in confidence.

Do you know what happened as a result of being a soft leader? A team that worked much more efficiently and achieved far more in less time compared to the previous year. I never asked for overtime because I’m strongly against unpaid extra hours. Interestingly, despite my beloved team being overwhelmed with overtime last year when I wasn’t in this company, they couldn’t achieve the same productivity. That’s the power of workplace happiness!

2024 taught me that leadership isn’t just about managing but also about guiding. One of the most common mistakes new leaders make is not delegating tasks properly and often saying, “I’ll do it myself!” This not only complicates things but also makes the team feel like they aren’t trusted enough.

Fortunately, I believe I did well in this regard. Even though I found myself saying, “I’ll do it myself!” more often towards the end of the year, I learned how crucial it is to balance this approach as I grew my leadership skills. I’m confident that I managed to delegate tasks effectively, even during the brief period when we didn’t implement Scrum practices.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned this year was this:

Success becomes more meaningful when it’s shared.

I Realized Writing Is Like Talking to Myself

The articles I wrote on Medium were more than just sharing my thoughts. Through writing, I reflected on myself, reevaluated what I had learned, and came up with new ideas. Writing was like therapy for me, and this year, by writing 28 articles on Medium, I realized how much I needed to express to myself.

Balancing Sports and Health

I couldn’t run much in 2024. Except for the Zeytinburnu Republic Run, I didn’t join any races. In fact, I didn’t run at all for three months. During this time, I followed a functional hypertrophy program based on powerlifting fundamentals. I’ll share more about this in another article.

I also explored ways and supplements to speed up recovery after workouts and intense runs. Actually, I already knew about some of them, but hearing similar tips from three experienced coaches reassured me about the methods and products.

I improved my coffee habit too. I wasn’t a fan of the sour Ethiopian coffee made in the office coffee machine, so I continued buying my favorite Indonesian Sumatra coffee. I go to the office twice a week, and on those days, I started preparing my coffee at home and carrying it in a thermos. This way, I only had one coffee a day (since more can cause jitters), kept it warm in the thermos no matter when I drank it, stayed energized throughout the day, and enjoyed good-quality coffee. I used a French press before, but to elevate the quality, I recently bought a V60 set. It’s on the way, and I’m so excited! Once again, I realized how essential a healthy body is for a healthy mind.

I stayed away from the oily rice and main dishes served at work. Even their soups were sometimes too greasy — kudos to the catering company! On some days, I only ate their salads. For about a year now, I’ve been preparing my own meals the evening before and taking them to work. If there’s leftover bread, I make meatballs; if not, I go for olive oil dishes, or on some days, I indulge and bake chicken. I’ve long since given up warm meals and certain flavors for the sake of my health. Speaking of evenings, would you like to sleep a bit longer in the mornings? If so, don’t forget to check out this article:

DevDiscipline

Sleep In and Still Get to Work on Time: 10 Lazy Morning Hacks

Ten lazy ways to wake up late and still leave the house on time. Move your morning routine to the night before and sleep in 20 to 30 minutes longer.

My Goals for 2025

2024 taught me the value of courage and change. Now, I have even bigger goals and dreams for 2025. This year, I want to learn more, grow deeper, and evolve both personally and professionally.

Investing in Myself

In 2024, I sometimes neglected myself due to work pressure. In 2025, I plan to read more books, expand my sci-fi writing, and definitely write more. I don’t want to set a strict yearly goal, but I aim to publish a new piece every three days. Additionally, once I recover from my injury, I hope to participate in more running events to push myself both physically and mentally.

I also want to progress in financial investments. Sure, food and drinks are great, but I’ve been dreaming of buying a car for years. It’s not just about owning a car — it’s about gaining freedom and having more time for my hobbies. I don’t want to keep asking for rides to the forest, saying, “Hey, can you pick me up from Levent on your way?” I want to drive myself there. I can’t even begin to explain how much I miss the forest and running in it. And of course, the car is part of the “family” plans too. When my wife is pregnant, chasing down taxis won’t be an option.

Just tonight we found out that the minimum wage is getting a 30% raise. What a joke… Anyway, if millions of people are fine with it, it’s not my place to say anything. Let them be crushed… My company will probably add another 5% or 10% on top of that raise. Last year they drove a hard bargain, and I started at a lower salary than I deserved. So I’m expecting a much higher rate than that, but as always, they won’t give it. Looks like “brother İsmail” will be hitting the road again.

2025 will probably see me changing jobs again. By the way, the real reason behind traffic jams on bridges is people switching lanes — just like companies trying to save money by underpaying employees. They don’t understand that cheap labor isn’t sustainable in the long run, and honestly, I don’t think they ever will.

Diving Deeper and Specializing:

2024 was a year where I learned a lot but stayed on the surface in some areas. In 2025, I want to dive deeper into Vue.js and Quasar technologies, write more optimized code, and develop user-friendly applications. Another key goal is to expand the blog project I started with Next.js and produce SEO-friendly content for my own blog.

One of the goals I couldn’t achieve in 2024 but aim for in 2025 is learning DevOps. If I get a decent salary raise and stay at this company, I’ll probably dive into it. But let’s be honest, a good paycheck is a must. No training can convince me otherwise. 😎

New Horizons in Leadership:

Leadership is a skill you learn every day. In 2025, I plan to focus more on the development of my team members, find better ways to support them, and organize more effective training sessions. After earning my PSM I certification, I want to implement agile practices more effectively and improve team communication and productivity. I aim to make events like Sprint Review and Retrospectives more consistent and build a solid backlog.

Enhancing my empathy-driven leadership style and witnessing the individual successes of my team members will be my biggest motivation this year.

Expanding My Blog’s Reach:

I want to take the experiences I’ve gained from Medium to my own platform and grow my blog. By optimizing for SEO, I aim to reach a broader audience, inspire readers, and earn income through Google AdSense. This will be a crucial step toward becoming a professional writer.

Taking My Sci-Fi Passion Further:

In 2024, I started MySci-Fi Madness series, a project I truly enjoyed working on. In 2025, I plan to turn this into a more detailed writing series, drawing inspiration from legends like Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Hugh Howey (Wool series), and Richard K. Morgan (Altered Carbon series).

This year, I might also take my passion to the next level by creating a podcast or a YouTube series, especially for works like Silo, Shift, and Dust (Wool series).

2024 was a year of courage, change, and growth for me. Every challenge was a lesson, and every success was a reward. This year, I rediscovered my confidence, the power of teamwork, and the transformative magic of change. Now, I feel stronger, more determined, and full of hope.

2025 marks the beginning of new goals, adventures, and even bigger dreams.I’m eager to learn more, create more, and take another step closer to my aspirations. Sharing this journey with you has been incredibly meaningful to me.

Thank you, 2024, for everything you’ve taught me. Watch out, 2025 — now it’s your turn!