Learning Publicly: Q3 2025 EDITION

Sharpening (Scissors) While Running (With Them)

“Eyy. Design me a URL shortener.” (It’ll make more sense later.)

This quarter, I learned what it's like to sharpen scissors while running with them.

Not literally — although given how I've been careening between side projects, interview prep, and last-minute polish jobs, the metaphor is alarmingly accurate. Q3 2025 was less about one grand “Aha!” moment and more about dozens of small, scattered “Oh… huh” moments. Some were triumphs, some were train wrecks, and some were me realizing I'd been holding the scissors upside down the whole time.

Here's the grab-bag: what I built, broke, learned, and laughed at — all while trying not to stab myself in the foot.