Andrew Shell's Weblog

Strategies for thinking, learning, and productivity.

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Written by Andrew Shell, a Senior Web Engineer from Madison, WI.

  1. An eccentric and whimsical conceptual image representing the interplay of goals and systems for achieving success. The image includes a large, colorful architectural blueprint spread across a table, symbolizing 'goals'. Intertwined with the blueprint are various gears and mechanical parts, now depicted with surreal features like eyes and limbs, representing 'systems', which together form an animated, almost creature-like machine. This quirky setup illustrates how goals and systems creatively support each other. The background shows a vibrant, eclectic office environment with odd decorations.

    Many have told us that to achieve our goals, we should focus more on building effective systems rather than setting specific objectives. But this advice skips a crucial first step: setting goals is essential because it guides how we create those systems. Let's look closer at why...

  2. This post is the first of several articles about the technology around Understanding ActivityPub. The first question I had while reading the ActivityPub specification was, "How do I find the different feeds and documents defined by the spec?" One of the first things...

  3. Today I created my first NFT. I'm not really sure how useful it is, but what the heck. The general idea is that it's in my best interest to become knowledgeable about blockchain and related tech because there are starting to be some interesting use cases and I'm better off being...

  4. I've spent most of my adult life studying personal development, and a big part of personal development is goal setting and task management. It's the end of the year, and everyone is talking about setting your goals for next year and what your "New Years Resolutions"...