The art of problem solving

Disclaimer: This post is for fun and fun only. Nothing seems to be making any sense these days, anyway! [Yet, Not Yet or Whatever]

The below method was not scientifically proven but, had been carefully implemented in multiple scenario and has the highest level of success rate!

Hypothesis # 1: Everyone can understand other's problem much better and more clearer than their own problem.

Hypothesis # 2: There is always a quick and very very simple solution for other's problem.

Applying the principles of common sense in a very uncommon proportion, we conclude that, the BEST solution for problem solving is: To delegate all our problems to the other person immediately next or close to us.

Since it is an ART [at least, that is what the title of this post claims!], it requires at least 10,000 hours of continuous practice before we can be an expert.

Good luck with problem solving. 

Sincerely,
bright

Indian way of appraisal

Disclaimer: The following post is for fun and fun only. Any accidental representation of a similar feeling, past or present or future, is purely coincidental. 

This is an imaginative illustration of how an associate in an Indian IT firm will be appraised - it does not matter if it is mid-year appraisal or year end appraisal - process is the same [duration may vary].

Step 1: Force the associate into water and let him/her to learn swimming, by himself. [aspiring for a challenging career].

Step 2: Evaluate the associate based on his/her ability to climb a tree [challenging for an aspiring career].

Step 3: Share the feedback that he/she had not learned anything in his/her job [with the ample opportunities thrown at his/her disposal] and hence he/she is not eligible and should not expect a pay rise or bonus or a promotion.

OK, now... 

Tough question: what if, in step 1, the associate was made to climb tree? good question - in such scenario, in step 2, the evaluation should be the swimming proficiency. 

Tougher question: what if the associate knows both swimming and climbing trees? no problem - how about horse riding or bungee jumping or witch hunting? there must be something that he/she is not proficient, isn't it? You have to find it. otherwise, why are you even doing the appraisal?

Toughest question: what if the associate is a super human? fire him - he is not a suitable candidate to be in your organization.

Kids at play - life lesson

It is always nice to watch kids at play. Their energy level, their continuous attempt till they get the result that they wanted to achieve ... it is all fun.

One of my best moments is to watch my kids play with their play-dohs or legos. Everytime, they get bored in their current role,in a snap of the finger, they will switch their role as a chef, engineer, scientist and will also turn their toys accordingly to meet their requirement. 

It is the same play-doh that they will mould into a car or spread into an omlette. Can a car turn into an omlette? Ofcourse not, Yet! It is possible if you start from the beginning. Make the car into the play doh again and mould / spread it as an omlette.  

Thinking about this, I realise that it has a lot of similarities or learnings in my life too. In any part of my personal or professional life, at a critical juncture when it starts to feel that I have lost the zing thing, I should be prepared to go back to the basics and start from scratch. Even if it means that I should start a new habit or a new talent from the beginning - I should be ready to unlearn to learn. It could be anything - a new language, a new skillset, a new approach, a new organization!

A little retrospect of a kid's play made me understand a life lesson. Didn't I say, in the beginning, that I love to watch my kids play?

The Brain Conspiracy

"you only see what your eyes want to see;
the eyes only see what the brain wants to believe;
the brain only believes what you see ... "

#frozen
#stumbling on happiness

huh! human brain seems to be the biggest conspirator of all times.

thinking about it, it is not just about the things we wanted to believe it is also true about how we conclude or perceive a solution. our brain is so complex that it always want a "satisfying" explanation for any situation - no matter how critical or complex the situation is. no matter if we can find a rational or irrational reason for a particular solution. we tend to lean towards a path of least resistance with our own way of justifying our conclusion. Depending on the level of reasoning we can dig through, our IQ or intelligence is quantified. Ultimately, every fact is a fact as long it was not proven otherwise!

OK - coming back to the topic, there is always a continuous conflict that goes in my brain about the "wants" and "needs". 

Step 1:

Everything starts as a want - i want an iPad, i want an e-book reader, i want a blue tooth head. i want this, i want that and list continues ...

Step 2:

the brain starts to build a conspiracy around the "wants". it starts building a story around the item that is still categorized as a "want". the imagination is built like a civil construction, castle in the air, brick by brick. the brain is very smart that it will deceive us from realizing that such a castle is built in our mind and we start believing that every act of lie the brain conspires us to believe.

Step 3:

the want is converted into a need.

Step 4:

we are taught to fulfill our needs [even a smart personal finance lesson teaches us to split 50% of our revenue to satisfy our needs].

Step 5:

after the need is fulfilled [i bought an iPad], the brain slowly withdraws itself from the imaginary world and also demolishes the castle built in the air there by making us slowly realize that, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, got changed because of the urge and I am who I was before this material came into  my life.

The brain functions like a joker - it does something to make us believe, and when we believe it, it withdraws itself and morphs itself to make us look in a different perception. in the end, the brain succeeds and is also left wondering what it is supposed to do.

Next time, when someone says that "it is all in the state of mind ..." may be there is some truth about it, who knows? at least not me, bright.