What I’d Do Differently — And What I’ve Learned Along the Way

---

What Could I Do Differently?

Looking Back at My Choices

I could list a lot of things—choices I made, words I didn’t say, and paths I rushed down too quickly. I think about the people I dated, the grades I earned in public school, and moments at past jobs when I stayed quiet instead of speaking honestly. Reflection brings all of it forward at once.

Creativity and the Workplace

After more than ten years as a professional programmer, I’ve learned that being myself at work is harder than it should be. Many workplaces say they welcome creativity, but very few truly do. I experienced that difference firsthand when I worked at a company that genuinely valued creative thinking. Bosses like that are rare, and losing an environment like that stays with you.

Early Work and Missed Conversations

Right after high school, I worked for a small business run by a father and son. I wanted a raise, so I pushed myself quickly through school. Looking back, I rushed that process. I even trained the person who replaced me, and that hurt. Still, I miss that job. It was warehouse work, but I found a way to automate shipping using code and a database—calculating item weight, choosing the cheapest carrier, and recognizing how residential versus commercial rates mattered. That curiosity meant something, and I still wonder if they use that program today.

When I left, I sent an email thanking them and that i quit, but I wish I had said goodbye in person. I felt nervous. If I had spoken to them directly, maybe we would still be in touch today. I see that the company is still doing well and growing. Maybe someday I’ll call, catch up, and tell them about my app. In the ThoughtsBeCaught gratitude journal, they would be a positive entry because they taught me more than just a job.

My First Programming Job Out of College

My first programming job out of college came from pure desperation and excitement. I just wanted to be a programmer. The role was at a trucking company, where I worked on software that managed trucks and inventory and created SQL reports from the data. The environment was rough. My boss missed my first day entirely, and I later realized he was often drunk. That first day, I simply sat at my desk until it was time to go home. It ended up being the worst job I ever took, and I drove over an hour each way just to be there. Even so, that experience taught me something important about work environments, self-worth, and choosing growth over desperation.

Chasing Money and Learning the Cost

I also left a job I truly loved—the team and the work—because I chased more money and something new. That decision led me to a startup that constantly changed names, investors, and direction. Leadership felt outdated and disconnected from the product. For a SaaS company, that disconnect mattered. I saw an opportunity where residents could earn money through the software and supplement their retirement, but leadership didn’t share that vision.

A Job I Loved—and a Hard Lesson

After that, I worked briefly at another small but profitable company. I poured countless hours into that role and genuinely loved the work. I came in to research, code, and modernize an outdated system, and I enjoyed giving new life to something that had fallen behind. I regret how that job ended. I said the wrong thing to leadership, and it cost me the role. That experience taught me how much timing, tone, and word choice matter—especially when change feels uncomfortable to others.

The Path I Took—and the One I Wonder About

All of this pulled me down the C# path, and sometimes I wish I had stayed with what I originally learned in college: Java. Java is more widely used, and Java developers often earn more than C# developers. Don’t get me wrong—I genuinely love the C# framework and what it allows me to build—but I still wonder how things might have looked if I had focused on Java instead.

Starting My Own Path

Leaving those jobs eventually gave me the confidence to start my own company. That may be the biggest reflection of all: I wish I had started sooner. Still, every step taught me something. Today, I carry those lessons forward—more aware, more grounded, and more intentional than before. Fingers crossed the app will grow 🤞

---

ThoughtsBeCaught is built around one core promise: “Change is possible — and here’s the proof.” It embraces reflection.

ThoughtsBeCaught is designed as a utility app for the mind — a place to pause, notice your thoughts, and reflect in a way that feels natural, not overwhelming.

 Take a gentle step toward caring for your mind today, Download the ThoughtsBeCaught app today

 iOS App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/thoughtsbecaught/id6748546862

 Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.timtrueblood.thoughtsbecaught

 Visit Our Website:
https://thoughtsbecaught.com