Quick Fixes

Quickfix is a fast, dirty & temporary solution or workaround to a complicated problem. They’re generally easier, less costly to implement and faster to get results. Because of their short-term advantages especially in such fast-paced work environment nowadays, they’re often times favorable and the person who do those quick fixes is usually praised as “clever”.

Fix the root not the roof!

Unfortunately, these quick fixes have too many downsides. They’re temporary, create dependencies and don’t mean to last. Most importantly, they fail to address the underlying problems. It’s like giving fishers a life vest so that he doesn’t die at sea today without teaching him how to swim.

Update on Dec 31, 2014: In Vietnam, they want to have buses specifically for women to avoid sexual molest. Sure, it certainly would help a lot of women avoid sexual abuses. But the root problem is apparently not the men or the sexual abusing acts themselves; it’s the education, the laws, etc. These buses should only be used as simply a temporary solution while they popularize sexual education and increase the abuse penalties, etc. It could never be a real & permanent solution.

You can’t solve a problem by avoiding it. Face it instead!

Worst still, a quick fix might solve or offer a workaround to a (minor) problem but in return could cause potentially bigger problems to be solved.

Quick fixes are particularly popular in the world of programmers where they often have to write some quick fix codes to keep their programs working.

For example, MVC is a good old programming design which separates Model (database) from Controllers (does the name already tells it all?) and Views (display). It means you’ve gotta design your database on Model, do the logic on Controllers and display the results on View. However, sometimes some `clever` programmers want to fix a logic issue directly on the View. They may somehow manage to fix that problem but it will leaves its team mates facing serious consequences in the near future.

Quick fixes are a damaging approach. They are for cleverly lazy people.

Trang & Ngọc

Ngọc nào mà Ngọc chẳng sáng
Trăng nào mà Trăng* chẳng tự ngắm mình!
Đẹp là đẹp thế đó đấy,
như Trang như Ngọc như Hiền như Chi.

12.30am dec 02

Đẹp đến thế nào rồi nhìn hoài cũng chán, cũng biết là vậy, nhưng vẫn cứ phải nhìn!

* sun dec 01

December 2013 Highlight

“No Choice”

– But it’s a major change & would be time-consuming…
– No choice!

I hate it when someone tells me I have no choice. I do have choice. In fact, I have a lot of choices! Only slaves have no choice. Yea unless she meant I’m her slave… which I don’t. 2 quick lessons:

1. It’s not easy to be a great boss who’s able to manage & inspire real talents rather than obedient bozos.
2. Due to the unavoidable no.1, it’s crucial to be excellent & then have our own goals & decisions. Otherwise, we’d be literally “slaves” to some tyrants.

It’s for me

This site has changed dramatically over the years.

At first, it was a place purely for me to “blog” & express myself; to show off my portfolio then to experiment with new web technologies. Since then, it has become a great place for me to write, learn and keep track of my progress.

Tech-wise, the site has evolved from Yahoo 360° Plus to Blogger, then XYZ (built on CakePHP) and now Rexy.me (WordPress). It had also been revamped significantly twice. This is the 3rd major makeover.

Its design, purpose & technology may have changed completely but one thing remains unchanged: this site exists for me & is basically about me – my #pdev, my #career, my #travel, my #love & #relationship then #football, #health, #wealth and almost everything else
It may just be a personal, selfish & arrogant log but has surely helped me grow as both a h^cker & a person! If it happens to do the same for you, I’ll be so glad.

Millionaire Mind Intensive 2013

It’s the only second seminars that I’ve attended so far (the first one was the National Achiever Congress last year). It’s such a bless since I already missed 2 this year. I really hated myself; hated the law of average – committed but then never showed up, so much. I told myself, it’s enough. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to attend this seminar..

The law of average unsurprisingly occurred once again in this seminar. It’s said that over 10,000 people had registered (including a friend of mine) but only around 2,000 people showed up. 1/5 – not a bad ratio though.

This seminar’s content is developed by T. Harv Eker and was led by ROB RIOPEL. Apparently he was a great guy. I really love his voice & presentation and so admire his energy that he could keep his “level 10” energy throughout the day & probably the program (it’s 2-day seminar).

Nothing new to me, I have to confess since I’ve already watched the exact same seminar online (they called it webminar) and another on Youtube taught directly by Harv Eker. It’s interesting that Robbert was following almost exactly Harv’s content, mimicking even his examples – which were awesome though. Nevertheless, I tried not to be the “know-it-all” or “I-know-that” person. In fact, I did learned something interesting (the Play jar for example) that allows me to re-define my financial plan again on Sunday.

Unlike the National Achiever Congress, it’s relatively straightforward and sort of meant for starters (I did learn a lot lot when I first watched it though). It didn’t have as many as speakers either. But since it’s led by the most energetic guy I’ve ever met, everything seemed alright.

By the way, one big lesson I learn through this seminar is that we should NOT go with a friend, family or even partner or at least don’t sit beside them – which is hard though, in these kind of seminars. It’s such a great chance to meet new people & do some networking. However, if you go with your friends, chances are you end up sitting with them, talking with them, doing everything with them. Of course it’s not what’s supposed to be.. Go alone, abeit a bit uncomfortable, and try to talk, meet and make new friends! It’s the best place to find good friends, partners and even girl/boy friends for those who’s single.

In short, It’s always great to be in a seminar like this to keep up &/ change your energy.

ps: story of a special dad – son & think-big (ideal lifestyle)

November 13 Highlight

A fun month – good start for the most important month of the year!