Over the years, I had the privilege of laying the foundation stones for XDA's evergreen and commerce efforts, as well as expanding our coverage into Apple, Windows, Computing, Smart Home, and a few more verticals. It delights me to no end to see where we are right now!
Special shoutout to the present crew: @TheRichWoods @pranobmehrotra @karthik_iyer14 @kishanvyas_55 @AndItsTito @Mahmoudzitani @AdamConwayIE @indospot @Ricker666 @bencsin @timicant -- it has been an honor to work with you as colleagues, and I would love to do it all over again.
Each and every one of them has given their best, be it Techtember or Techtober or any other tech-month. We've been a team that always punches above its weight, and that has been possible only because each of us holds more than our own. Am I crying while I type this? Yes, I am.
Did I mention we're also remote-first since day 1? That's been one of the advantages we took into the unfortunate pandemic, as we didn't have to overthink our entire business when it hit. The lack of ground events did make the gig boring, but I am glad we've bounced back.
More shoutouts! @alexdobie for reviving the XDA YouTube; @Jaime_Rivera @antondnagy for all of PocketNow's support to XDA; Sophia for infusing our socials with personality and Bingo. And last but not the least, @journeydan for his distinct vision and support within @Valnetinc.
I am also grateful that I could lead XDA into its next chapter. The site redesign was a long time coming, and so were the CMS migration and the process overhauls preceding all of this. This sets the site up for further success in the longer term. x.com/xdadevelopers/…
I am also grateful that I could lead XDA into its next chapter. The site redesign was a long time coming, and so were the CMS migration and the process overhauls preceding all of this. This sets the site up for further success in the longer term. x.com/xdadevelopers/…
It is difficult for me to imagine life without XDA. It really is. The website has been my everything for the past 7 years. And my association with the xda brand goes back even further to the forums back in 2011, closer to when I was a Recognized Contributor and a Forum Moderator.
That's almost 11 years! I have goosebumps as I recount all of it and type this thread out. I have so many of my "firsts" that I can attribute squarely to these three letters, and I am so grateful that I could. If you told 15 yr old Aamir that he would one day use the fanciest of
phones and talk about them and make a living out of it, he would rightfully call you crazy. But if my younger self saw me now, saw what XDA has given to me and what I have given back, he would be really proud. We built this thing, article by article, word by word.
All said and done, I do recognize the need for a change for myself. As much as I hate parting with the site that gave me my all, I have to make room for something new. I am yet to turn 28, and there's a world out there that is still left to explore.
What's next for me? That is a very good question, and one that I don't have an answer for right now. Atm, I've earned myself a nice break. I'd like to travel around, touch some grass, sand, and snow, and just recharge my body and rest my head and heart.
If you have an opportunity for an experienced editor, manager, writer, or tech enthusiast (and a lawyer and accountant too), please let me know.