Every early January, I enjoy reading year-end reflection posts from developers I admire. I find them inspiring and often look to them for motivation to write, grow, and learn more.
As a self-taught learner, I’ve benefited from their tutorials and from their willingness to write candidly about mistakes and challenges. That honesty has often helped me push through difficult moments and successfully complete my learning projects.
Recently, I came across a quote by Shane Parrish in a post by Chris Coyier, a developer I’ve followed for many years.
Short-term results come from intensity. Long-term results come from consistency.
Ninety percent of success can be boiled down to consistently doing the obvious thing for an uncommonly long period of time without convincing yourself that you’re smarter than you are.
Working smart isn’t the opposite of working hard. It’s the result of working hard.
– Shane Parrish in Presence (via Chris Coyier)
- You have to put in the hours before you can see the shortcuts. You have to learn the details before you can know which ones matter.
- You have to do the work wrong many times before you discover how to do it right.
As 2025 wound down and our attention shifted toward 2026, I read several articles on New Year’s resolutions. Most of them focused on health and wellness, weight loss, fitness, and staying active.
Throughout January, as part of my daily writing routine, I’ll be sharing reading notes centered on resolutions, fitness, decluttering, habit building, and insights from my recent reads.