I woke up today to a pleasant surprise. A girl from church commented about my post and included this:

: X

AFAIK, that’s the emoticon for a kiss right? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… I’m over the world.

Hmm, or maybe I could inteprete it wrongly. I always get wrong signals from girls. Maybe she’s sealing her mouth so tight cuz she’s disgusted at me. Or indirectly telling me, ÿou’re rubbish; thus I have nothing to say”.

Bah, I better not over-analyse. Takes too much time and as we know, time is money.

No surprise there – Barca won. But for the bookies, it wasn’t such a happy ending because the odds were even ball. By 15 May 2009, Manchester United will mathematically be the champions of England for a second successive season.

It tickles me to see great teams such as Chelsea blaming the ref for results and decisions that don’t go their way. Chelsea claims 4 penalties, despite having Barca playing with 10 men for 20+ minutes! If you’re a true winner, you would win it by a margin, no matter how close your teams are. Lets say: 3-1?

Point is, everything is a dice roll. Poker is definately depending on your luck; but the element of skill comes when you manage to disguise your hand and give your opponents the impression your hand is weak. It is not how many pots you win, it is how MUCH you win from each pot.

Lets say we have a problem

2x + 3y =14

5x + y  = 20

Average people follow instructions

The refer to a Math book, study the method, and apply it into a problem

y = 20 – 5x

2x + 3 (20  – 5x) = 14

2x – 15x + 60 = 14

13x = 46

x = 46/13

y = 20 – 5 (46/13)

Smart people use better methods to effectively solve this problem. Now, I’m no math genius, but AFAIK, simultaneous equations can be solved using a Formula x = b^2-4ac [bla bla bla]

So one shot, use calculator / MS excel, kaw tim, found answers for X and Y

Geniuses are people who come out with new methods of solving problems

You may think that existing methods are good enough for our needs. People studying University level Applied Mathematics would think it is insufficient for complex models. So they learn more advanced shit for curves and other 3-dimension equations, for example. At this level, they are forced to think of problem solving methods. We need a starting point, yes, so we refer to existing work. At some point, they would have to deduce their own methods and formulae to use.

Same with business. There are 3 ways to approach a problem.

A conventional way; an unconventional way; and a breakthrough innovative way.

They say that, “There is a solution to every problem”. Whenever we are faced with an impossible task, it is easier to give up rather than to look for a solution. In assignments, we can be feeling totally lost and confused on how to approach the task. Our mind goes *blank* and we start to panic.

Being a good team-player and leader involves the need to be calm and collected during this phase. We need to get over the initial fear of not being able to accomplish. We also need to put ideas on the table, so that our team mates can work on and improve the methods. In a good effective team, other members will debate and disagree (if necessary) on the ideas put on the table. As an individual idea contributor, you must be man enough to accept the fact that you’re NOT always right, and other peoples ideas might be better and more effective than yours. However, you can fight back and explain why your idea is better.

The above just happened in our Student Council “pre-meeting meeting”, I noticed some people were very good at debating and giving objections to ideas. I love people who presents a different point of view. But this particular person keeps throwing problems-after-problems when someone comes up with their ideas. On his own idea, he would protect it like mad, and follow-through kaw-kaw.

This person will be someone top, maybe Director of a Company, yes because of his ability to see problems and rectify it.

But to be of someone of Steve Job’s stature, you need to be open to crazy shit, putting aside perceived “practicality” and budget constrains. Come up with a big idea; let the angel investors come up with the fundings.

GREAT ideas don’t come overnight. Lets say you receive funding from a sponsor to come up with a cure for H1N1. You got a lab and equipment, you got a big intelligent team. The objective is to improve on Tamiflu to specifically target this strain of flu. You are given 72 hours, maximum 6 days to come up with results.

An average team of Scientists / Biologist will come up with some shit similar to the existing flu medicine. Improve this and there a bit, add a little salt and pepper [in Hokkien, they say : keh yam keh tau yeu] and come up with FluAway(tm).

Smart people will take ideas from other Scientists and work out new ways to make it more effective. They call it collaboration. I call it plagiarism.

Geniuses will tell the client: EH, sorry boss. I cannot deliver within your timeframe. But as soon as I come up with something, guarantee I give the rights to you cuz you funded us.

Bottom line is, as cliche (Gail for you Arsenal fans) as it sounds, we need think out of the box. Be an innovator and trendsetter, not a laggard, not a follower. IN a related issue, do not compromise your values, ethics and standards no matter what the rewards are.

God bless your weekend :) Be fruitful, cheerful and productive!

“My Ferrari costs more than your little S-Class.” – K-Fed, Lose Control