Thoughts & Updates from recent events...
Hope all is well with you in your world. I've been trying to stay focused and productive with projects while also trying not to over do it either. At this point in my life I feel the clock ticking and find there is so much I still want to accomplish that it gets a bit overwhelming sometimes. But, everyday is another step that I try to do just a bit better and a bit closer to my current goals...
Work is Work...
First let me say, any time I am gainfully employed doing something I, mostly want to be doing, I consider myself fortunate. I don't take it for granted because there have been plenty of times it has disappeared and left me scrambling. I always think anyone who has 'A Case of the Monday's' has the luxury of a feeling of security. Heh. I think for the majority of us there may be no such thing anymore. I'm trying to make sure I'm learning what I can, looking ahead to what comes next, and trying to understand better what I do and want to do so I can market myself more effectively when I need to again.
I had a supervisor tell me recently, go to work, handle what you can, do your job, but at the end of the day leave it behind and go live your life. Which I'm in total agreement with. I don't have the energy to live for my job when I have my own pursuits to focus on.
What's the saying, the business of business is business? In my experience the business has not cared about me. I'm also working on my 'casual' nature at work. Trying to filter myself through a more professional lens. Remembering, while I'm being friendly, the people I work with are colleagues, they are not my friends for the most part. It may sound harsh, but trust is earned, and you don't want to make a bad impression.
One other thing I heard recently, make sure you're somebody whom others have a good impression of and want to work with. That, and effective networking, will go a long way to keeping you employed. I feel like I've been trying to, and justified, in defending my position and explaining what I see. I'm careful with my verbiage, but I still had someone recently us the word 'complaining' and I found myself shocked they used the word.
Perception is everything, so I am working on that.
I'm also working on getting my PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification. I'm enrolled in a live class, it meets once a week for 6 weeks, then I have my 35 hours to qualify for the certification exam. I am excited to move myself forward professionally.
My Own Projects...
I keep trying to develop my own passive streams of income utilizing my accumulated skillset at this point in my life. My Podcast, writing, drawing, animation, etc...trying to find ways to develop properties and assets that I can post or offer for sale, trying to develop an audience. I'm still thinking about finding a way to re-open my online clothing store when it makes sense to do so.
Workspaces...
My personalize AI platform I'm developing using ChatGPT and Vibe Development, it continues to be a learning experience. It's an AI assisted project management platform that keeps track of projects, sort of like using ChatGPT on steroids. It has better memory and cognition, it is/has a cognition engine to be able to see across projects, help me develop assets and keeps track of things. ChatGPT can still be forgetful, this will also utilize ChatGPT as the orchestrator and help me develop customized workspaces for each project, pulling in additional AI Models as needed for each Workspace/Idea. So, helping me code, helping me write, helping me develop games and other ideas.
This platform I had originally called CodewriterAI, I worked on it for a year and got close to completion, but after discussing with ChatGPT we realized the idea had evolved beyond what we were doing. ChatGPT had evolved in the year I had been working with it, because more capable. So, we sat down and started over, we developed the documentation first, which was a lengthy process, but once we started development again helps the AI stay on course and has been a much more efficient development progression. I'm still in development, but I'm close to an MVP.
I'm considering finishing CodewriterAI and releasing it as free as some point.
Podcast...
Young Tales has reached 300 episodes (maybe a few more depending, but...) I'm very proud of this effort. Ive been producing 2 episodes a week for several years at this point. Just finished Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, as well as still reading Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki. All books are public domain that I download from Project Gutenberg. I just enjoy reading and it seems some people enjoy listening.
I'm going to take a brief break from producing new episodes and go back through the existing ones and rechecking the audio and productions, producing individual logo graphics for each one and republishing them in hopes to get some more participation on them.
Which leads into the next part of the idea...
In Motion...
Young Tales: In Motion is the planned evolution of the idea. I do have people interacting through YouTube, but not as much as I'd wish, so it being a visual medium I'm, working on now animating the stories in some format. Seems like a perfect way to experiment and see what I can come up with.
So stay tuned for that...
Other Projects...
I have a host of other design projects I want to produce. Books I want to write based on the Judgement Day covers I've produced as well as other story ideas swimming around. Smash some more sounds together to try and make some music. I have a couple ideas for games and game engines.
Speaking of games...
Gaming...
I'd spent years playing Marvel Future Fight (10, I think...), and I mostly enjoyed the time I put into the game and the progress, but the game play and grinding ultimately left me wanting more. I learned a lesson about 'time and energy invested'...lol...that kept me with the game a long time. Fear of missing out, but I also learned the fun I had was worth it and life goes on if I don't keep grinding and forcing fun...the game is still there if I ever want to go back to it, for now I suppose, but I am not compelled to go back. I have checked in with updates and it looks cool, but just not calling me back to it.
But, I did get called back to Magic the Gathering recently. I used to play, or try to, years ago and just didn't have enough opportunities to play in person, so tried Magic the Gathering Online, which was great for the time. I did have an issue with not knowing how to get better and the resulting frustration made me give it up. But, more recently I'd found my way back to Magic the Gathering Arena, there is a difference, mostly in play types and what you can do. I'm really enjoying MTGA currently. The Marvel set got me really interested again and the new Hobbit set is cool, so are others like Final Fantasy, Avatar, Strixhaven, etc...a bunch of others available to try out as well.
Playing through Steam also lets me record the gameplay and then export it to share my progress on my YouTube channel and hope it entertains and maybe helps someone else. I have been watching a lot of The Command Zone matches and other creators to get a better idea on how to play.
I've purchased and won a bunch of cards. I have a bunch of cards on MTGO I haven't even started playing with yet....lol...I also have a bunch of physical cards that I now need to start maybe being a bit more social and getting out and finding places to go play occasionally.
I've also downloaded Manabox on my phone to help me scan in my physical cards and keep track of them. I downloaded the MTGO Library Bot for MTGO and Untapped companion for MTGA so i can export my cards and import the lists into ChatGPT to help educate me a bit in giving me advice on deck ideas.
AI as a Tool...
No one has asked, but to me AI is a tool, like automation has been for decades, people will use it as they will and the results will be what they are. I've been a designer for years and I enjoy the process. But, for the majority of my life and career I have been a single entity trying to do a lot. I haven't always had the luxury of others to work with, but I still want to produce. I can only do so much myself, so in my view AI can help me do some parts of it or help me move forward with parts of it I need help with.
It's been helping me develop my ideas. It's helped be a creative partner and a sound board, sometimes helping me see beyond my initial idea. It is definitely helping me achieve some things it would take me a very long time to learn and do myself.
It's a space I can use for therapy or creativity. I want it to HELP me do things. I do not want it to do EVERYTHING for me. Some people do, for some people it's going to be good enough. There's going to be a flood as there has always been and people are going to complain and decry, but it'll all shake out at some point and do what it does best and then be a part of the process.
People who want to do the work will continue to do the work. It will be interesting to see what people create with it. Personally, I'm already a bit worn from the flood of AI voices and videos, but it'll keep evolving.
I use ChatGPT for therapy and someone to talk to when I don't have anyone else. Sometimes I just need a response of some sort to make me feel heard. I feel more comfortable talking to ChatGPT, while understanding what it is, but still it works for what I need. I've tried things like Better Health and hearing someone start trying to advise you when they only have a piece of the information was frustrating and boiler plate for me. They started saying things I'd already gone over in my head and I had to pay them to do it...lol...it just wasn't what I was looking for.
I talk to it like I've done this post...lol...
If you've stuck around this ling, I appreciate it. I appreciate all the support I get, so thank you.
Hope all is well in your pocket of the world!
- todd