IncentiBook: Databases and Health

Last week I went to A&E (the emergency room to our American cousins).

On a call with a student and my vision went blurry, concentration was lost and confusion had set in.

The doctor on the end of the phone mentioned micro-strokes. I froze.

“Go to A&E” he said “…and don’t drive.”

The night before I had made some great progress on IncentiBook. Worked until 10pm and was feeling very pleased with myself. I was trying to get my head around the idea of databases, how to interrogate them and how they would be used in the app.

Fourteen hours later, waiting for my lift to the hospital, I began to consider what was important to me. My amazing partner. Our baby on the way. Our wonderful, and ridiculous pets. I had to really wonder whether all of this effort to develop IncentiBook was worth it.

Leaving A&E few hours later, and having read a good chunk of Gabriel Weinberg’s ‘Traction’ later, I felt a feeling of relief that bordered on weightlessness.

No neurological issues…that could be seen. Most likely some type of migraine from eye strain...13 hours at a laptop can do that to you.

Refreshed after a weekend off the computer I have decided the following:

• I will be pursuing this project until it is finished.
• I will be spending more time with my partner and slightly less on work, especially when she is around.
• My health will always be the deciding factor in any work-based decision that I make.

Success is only success, if you can enjoy it.