Pretend your time is worth $1000/hour and you'll become 100x more productive

• Don't spend time on pointless activities that don't help you reach your goal
• "Being busy is a form of mental laziness" - Tim Ferries
• "Busyness and exhaustion should be your enemy." - Cal Newport
• If you don't manage your time, it will manage you

How to think like a programmer -- lessons in problem solving

• The best way to solve problems involves a) having a framework and b) practicing it 1- Understand 2- Plan 3- Divide 4- Stuck? (Debug, Reassess, Sidenote, Caveat) 5- Practice

How to solve programming problems

• Breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts
• Identifying the problem, listing the sub-problems, analyzing and breaking down each sub-problem, and then putting the solutions back together to solve the original problem

5 Whys

The technique involves asking "why" five times in a row to get to the root cause of a problem. The author explains that the goal of the technique is to move beyond the surface-level symptoms of a problem and identify its underlying causes.

1. Define the problem: Clearly state the problem in a way that everyone involved can understand.
2. Ask why: Ask why the problem is occurring, and write down the answer.
3. Repeat the process: Continue asking "why" for each answer you come up with until you've asked "why" five times.
4. Identify the root cause: Once you've asked "why" five times, you should have a better understanding of the root cause of the problem.
5. Take action: Address the root cause of the problem by implementing solutions that address the underlying issue.

There are some tips for using The Five Whys effectively, such as involving a diverse group of people in the process, avoiding blaming individuals for problems, and being open to multiple perspectives.

The Super Mario Effect

The Super Mario Effect is a concept that was introduced by Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer and YouTuber. It refers to the idea that we learn better when we approach challenges with a "game-like" mindset, similar to the way players approach a video game like Super Mario Bros.

In Super Mario Bros, players learn through failure and repetition, and are rewarded for persistence and progress. The game is designed to encourage players to try again and again, and to learn from their mistakes in order to progress to higher levels.

This theory suggests that we can apply these same principles to real-life learning and problem-solving. By embracing failure as a natural part of the learning process, and by focusing on the small wins and progress that come with each attempt, we can improve our ability to learn and grow.

Overall, the Super Mario Effect encourages us to approach challenges with a playful, curious mindset, and to be open to the lessons and growth opportunities that come with each attempt.

Questions

What's the one thing I bring to this career (and potential employer) that nobody else can?

Acceptance. The ability to accept difference is not something that you are born with but taught. That's what I learned and that's what I have to offer. It opens many doors to find different solutions.

What are 3 things I'll start doing to "un-stick" myself whenever I get stuck on tough piece of code, logic, or feature?

I will use the lesson taught by Tim Ferries. Understand the problem, plan what I should solve, divide the problem into sub-problems, resolve each one of the sub-problems and finally put all together to solve the original problem.