Principles I Have Learned

This is a short list of principles, or tips that I have learned over the years and have served me well. Some I picked up from others, and some I have just figured out on my own. Hopefully you will get something out of them. I find them very useful in my own life.

Lowest common denominators for skills and tools
The idea behind this is that if you learn to master basic skills and tools, you will be better off in the long run to handle adversity. This is one of the rules/principles I picked up unintentional. 

As a cook, (when I was young) I could not afford the latest gadgets. This meant that instead of using a food processor I used a knife. Instead of having all kinds of specialized knifes I had three. Instead of a mixer, I had a bowel and a spoon or whisk. 

Consequently I got good at using the basic tools. I could use the nice ones if need be for speed, when available. I found that when they failed, others around me had a hard time doing the job. I just got it done and did not worry about it. I also found that it helped to keep in better shape, as the older methods often require more physical work.

When I moved into the computer profession, I took the concept and applied it as well. I mastered the basics, and used the basic tools to do the job at hand. I found it served me in helping me get a better understanding of what was being done and needed. Once again when things did not go as planed, I was able to carry on when others were not able to.

Intelligent design ratio: Easy to use, complicated design = less efficiency
This is the basic idea that the easier something is to use, often the more complex it has to be ‘under the hood’ to make it easy for the user. This is very easily explained by looking a car transmission. In an automatic transmission, you have simple operation: D for drive, P for park, R for reverse, you get the idea. But look at the complexity of the device! It takes a specialized auto-mechanic just to work on one. They are also VERY costly to repair and replace. 

Now look at a manual transmission. You have to use the clutch peddle, with the gas and the sifter and know when to shift by speed and RPM’s. It takes a lot more skill for the user; on the other hand it is a simple device compared to an automatic. This you gives you a lower cost, better performance, cheaper to repair, and it will have better mileage. 

This principle applies to “smart phones”, computer operating systems, and just about anything you can think of. 

5/3 rule: focus on the top 3 or 5 items and you will get the most gain for the least effort
This one is a gem to learn. It is a real simple idea: for most things you can learn, you will get the most gain from a small sub-set. How do you apply this? Same examples:

Their are a lot of essential oils. Instead of buying all of them and trying to mater them, just get the top 3 or 5 (say Lavender, Tea Tree, Clove, Peppermint, and Lemon) and learn how to use them. This will save you money, make it easier to learn, and provide you will good safe medicine. 

How about teas? I choose Chamomile, Green, and Mint. I know what to take them for and all of the ways to use them.

You can even apply this to cooking. You don’t need to master every soup, pick three. Three kinds of casseroles, etc…  

Now if later on you develop an interest in say essential oils, by all means buy and learn how to use more. It just saves you resources and gives you benefits that you can obtain easily. 

Bonus: Never garden before? Just learn to grow tomatoes, potatoes, peppers. 

The more you know the less you need, consider your EDC (*everyday carry*)
Skills just about always trump tools. But you should put some real thought into your EDC. This is the tools/supplies that you carry with you at all times. I have always liked to carry the basics (wallet, comb, pocket knife), but then I stopped and put some thought into it. This really changed what I carrying and has helped me so many times, I would not leave the house without my EDC.

What you carry will depend on your skills, what you do for a living, where you live, etc… It is not a one size fits all. You should also be flexible, and review it from time to time. 
    • Flash light: Nighttime happens, power goes out, and working in poorly lit areas.
    • Lighter: For grills, cigarettes, repairs, and camp fires.
    • Multi-tool Knife:  Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman, so many uses.
    • Handkerchief: Blowing nose, perspiration, bandanna, tears, and more

You get the idea. I carry more then that, but you need to figure out what YOU need and when and how to carry it. If you use it all the time, spend some money on it. 

Remember this: “When you buy quality, you only cry once!”

Keep It Simple Solutions
Try not to over think problems and solutions. I use to teach a class on computer fault analysis computer, for a company called Sun Micro Systems. It was funny to me how the very experienced system administrators could be stumped with simple problems. Why? Because they would over analyze the problems. Looking for complex issues, verses a simple typo in a configuration file. Sometimes issues are complex, more often then not they are not.

The same thing applies to solutions, when trying to make something (verses fixing it). I once worked for a defence contractor and we had this big meeting on what was the best way to secure a network for a top secret project. 
    1. Use fiber optics (less ability to be taped into)
    2. Use encryption (make it harder to see the data if you did tap into it)
    3. Firewall (keep the data off of the normal production network)

Then I suggested a very simple and less costly solution. Don’t network them. Just move the data as needed by hand, it was not going to happen very often anyway. You can not hack, what does not exist. 

It is easy to fall into the trap of wanting all the ‘bells and whistles’. I still do it from time to time. However you will often find a simple approach cost less, is easy to do, and is the best overall solution.