I’m one of the few people I know who actually reads newsletters. They’ve paid off big time: I once snagged a 2,000 PHP gift certificate from a software company’s giveaway, and another brand sent me stickers via snail mail just for completing their survey. But I’m meticulous, always scrutinizing links and keeping my inbox tidy to dodge spam.
One newsletter flipped the script on my career. From Tech Ladies, it hit home: Developers like us get so buried in client sites and products that we neglect our most important asset: our careers. Careers aren’t linear, they zigzag based on choices and timing. It prompted three game-changing questions:
- What’s working—and what isn’t?
- What skills will matter in 12-24 months?
- Where am I under-investing in myself?
These are gold for anyone feeling lost or overwhelmed in their professional path. Using them as my guide, here’s my 2026 action plan as a WordPress expert.
What’s Working—and What Isn’t?
Last year, I committed to building my own WordPress theme to showcase my skills. In December 2025, I dove in, naming it Syntheta. It’s a fusion of “synthetic” and the artistic suffix “-a.” It captures a futuristic blend of tech and creativity, perfect for innovative digital designs. I wrapped version 1 at the end of January 2026, right before the Chinese New Year. Currently for private use, with a public repo release coming soon.
What’s working? Syntheta mirrors who I am and who I’m becoming. My emerald-green color scheme nods to programming’s glow (think Matrix code raining down). It prioritizes speed and functionality. I optimized it for Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix, and proud to say, current scores are all green! I also beefed up server security as this was one of the areas I needed to improve based on last year’s constant server down.
What’s not? Chasing flashy 2026 web design trends. Articles hype pretty effects, but they guzzle resources and clash with my simple, performant brand. Instead, I added a subtle trend: dark mode with green-on-darkblue tones.
What Skills Matter in 12-24 Months?
I thrive on backend development, so I’ll sharpen my Laravel skills and integrate AI for smarter apps. (One project’s under wraps for now.) With rising global compliance demands, I’m prioritizing GDPR compliance and WCAG 2 accessibility as defaults in my WordPress theme development. SEO’s long been on my checklist; now these are non-negotiables for clients with international ops.
GDPR? I’ve implemented it on client sites for years. WCAG 2 is fresh territory for me, but I’m passionate about it. I want to build inclusive websites for everyone.
Where Am I Under-Investing in Myself?
I’m skimping on global web laws like data privacy regs and accessibility standards. As a software engineer who loves crafting websites, this is a no-brainer investment. It shields me and future clients from risks.
Conclusion
This reflection is firing me up for 2026 as a WordPress expert and full-stack dev: a super-fast personal site, AI-powered apps, and nailing compliance. I’m still young at heart enough to say, ‘When I grow up, this is who I want to be’, and that’s my big goal for 2026.