Martial Arts

Discipline, focus, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Martial arts training has shaped not just my physical resilience but how I approach complex technical problems — with patience and precision.

Skydiving

There is nothing like stepping out of a plane to reset your perspective. Skydiving demands complete presence and absolute trust in your preparation — not unlike deploying to production.

10,000+ jumps and counting
Motorcycling

Two wheels, open road, and full attention. Motorcycling is equal parts freedom and focus — a reminder that the best experiences come when you are fully engaged with the present moment.

Woodworking

Building tangible things from raw material. Woodworking satisfies the same creative instinct as software — starting with a vision, working through constraints, and crafting something that will last.

Horology

The art and science of timekeeping. Mechanical watches are miniature marvels of engineering — hundreds of precision components working in concert, much like a well-architected software system.

DJing & Music

Reading a room, mixing in real time, and creating energy through sound. DJing is live performance engineering — blending tracks, managing transitions, and keeping the audience engaged through the entire set.

"The best engineers I know have intense interests outside of technology. Those pursuits teach patience, precision, and the humility of being a beginner — skills that make you better at everything you do."
— Fred Lackey