It Started With Friendster
I first got into SEO around 2008, though I did not even know it was called SEO back then.
It started with something simple. I liked changing the CSS on my Friendster profile. At first I just used themes made by other people and tweaked small parts of them. Eventually I got curious and wanted to understand how everything actually worked instead of just copying code.
That curiosity led me to blogs. I started exploring how blogs were built, how layouts worked, and why some websites appeared on search engines while others did not. Slowly, I began learning the basics of SEO without realizing I was building a foundation for something bigger.
It was just a hobby. I joined communities, experimented, made mistakes, fixed things, and kept learning. I stayed active in blogging circles until around 2011 or 2012, though I honestly do not remember exactly when it faded.
Moving Into Operations
After finishing school, reality felt different. I needed income, so I focused on getting a job rather than following interests.
To be honest, the roles I took were not something I was passionate about. They were practical decisions. I worked as an admin and later moved deeper into inventory control and production planning.
At first, it felt far from the digital world I used to enjoy. Instead of layouts and search engines, my days were filled with stock reports, material requests, purchase orders, and production schedules.
But over time, I began to understand the value of that experience.
In inventory control and PPIC, I learned how to calculate stock movement, monitor volume usage, set safety stock levels, determine reorder timing, and align material availability with production targets. It required attention to detail and an understanding of how every number connected to real world consequences. Too much stock meant wasted space and cost. Too little stock meant production delays.
It taught me to think in systems.
It taught me to stay structured.
It taught me that small miscalculations can create bigger problems later.
It was not the path I originally imagined, but it shaped how I approach problems today.
Finding My Way Back
Even while working in operations, I never completely left the digital world. I still followed online communities, read updates, and stayed curious.
Then during covid, things shifted. I moved into the creative industry and worked in digital marketing and social media. From there, stepping back into SEO felt natural.
This time it was not just something I did for fun. It became my main focus. That was when my career as an SEO Specialist really began.
Always Curious About Systems
I have always liked understanding how things work behind the surface. That curiosity also led me to learn and occasionally work as a phone technician. Since years ago I enjoyed modifying Android software, flashing firmware, experimenting with custom kernels, and tweaking systems just to see what was possible.
Nothing extreme. Just curiosity and interest.
Looking back, everything connects in a simple way. Whether it was inventory flow, website structure, or device software, I have always been comfortable working with systems.
SEO just happens to be where all of those experiences come together today.