Arrivederci to a friend

I've been putting off writing this, as it seems like it's putting the lid on our jar of friendship. But like the metaphorical jar, I hope that when you see this, it preserves our friendship and keeps it fresh and delicious.

Corny metaphors aside, we've known each other for more than 9 years now. You've been not so much a friend as a fixture in my life growing up. In school, I could always count on you to be there on Monday sitting on the Concourse; and after graduation, every weekend for a drink. It feels weird to know that we won't be able to do that for a while now haha.

As the British say, you'll be "Across the pond" but distance won't put any dent in our friendship, because our foundation is way too strong. I'll never forget the times we stayed in school and did weird things like breakdance or play stepmania, the hushed periods where we just sat and talked about life growing up. All those times where you stood up for me and had my back because you knew that I would have your's. All the good times, all the struggles, all the events and parties and casual outings on the weekends, all melt together into this wonderful collage of memories. I'm sure when I say I wouldn't be who I am without you.

I'm not saying goodbye, so I'll say Good luck! We're both going to have great adventures, awesome experiences never had before. And when it's all done, I know we'll sit down and have a drink and you'll tell me all about it, just as if you had never left :)

Continuous Narrative

It's strange that after not writing for a long time, you feel even more disinclined to write more. I guess it would be a consequence of the blog format. Even though I'm not writing for anyone but myself, I feel the compulsive need for it to be a continuous narrative about my life. Seeing from where I left off last time, I tell myself I have to fill you, the hypothetical reader, about the events of my life up to this point. From ORD to my many temp jobs where I've learned much, to my encounters with different people out there that have reshaped my perception of society. It's just too much, and with each day, the burden to document and dissect through narrative grows evermore. It comes to the point where I'm paralyzed whenever I want to write something. I go on to play whatever game I'm currently playing, free in the knowledge that I'll be experiencing somebody else's continuous narrative.

There are a lot of things weighing on my mind right now. First of all, the departure of many of my closest friends. And my subsequent departure of them. Moving on is a part of life, so they say. Looking back, I wouldn't have bonded with 403 if I had stayed in 203, or 605 if 403 had stayed together. I wouldn't have made new friends if I had roomed with Bernard. National Service is a good example that you can make friends anywhere, provided you go through enough shit together. And wow have I made friends in there. But looking back through my posts, this is an old bone to pick. At every fundamental shift in my life, moving on has generally always been for the better. Going to UK, I'm acutely aware that right now, only 5 other NUS High people are going. People that I can't say I know very well. The orientation camp is coming up though, so hopefully I'll make a few friends there. Not so concerned about the culture, or the food, or the cold in the UK. It's more on the academics and the people. I can't integrate to save my life now, and I'm pretty sure I've forgotten most of my chemistry. Gonna have to revise before I get there. There's also the question if I want to stay there for good. This is something that has been asked of my a few times. Probably due to my unplaceable accent and lack of Chinese persuasion. Much fun has been had asking me if I'm going to get an ang moh girlfriend. The answer, as everything, is still unclear. There will definitely be much I will miss here. Not going on a scholarship isn't only a financial burden, but also an existential one, as you don't have an institution to shelter you, to give you assurance and purpose. You have to give yourself a purpose, and that something that I have always struggled with. Singapore is nothing but it's institutions. Growing up here, they define you, shape you, both to yourself and to others. Nobody introduces themselves in Singapore without identifying which school they went to, which university, and where they're currently working now. So university will be no so much educating myself, but also, trying to find a purpose for the rest of my life. Whew.

So in conclusion, my life is basically on hold right now. Or to be more accurate, it is tensing itself in preparation for my next phase of life, and arguably, the more dramatic shift in my life to date.

Shower thought of the day: Advertising on video sites

The best thoughts come in the shower. So I'm starting a Shower thought of the day section. Because I shower once a day. At least.

Anyway, the first thought that popped in my head is the way we see advertisements on video streaming sites. I have only first hand experience of YouTube, not being subscribed to Netflix. Currently, the advertisements shown at the start of videos are completely unrelated to me. I have no interest in watching them. Which is a huge problem for both the advertisers and the video site. The advertisers aren't getting through to their target audience, and the video site is pissing off it's users with non relevant unskippable advertisements. This is a gaping flaw in a world where google adwords pretty much knows you inside and out and bombards you with ads that actually matter to you.

So what I thought of, in the shower, was a new system where users could choose which category of advertisements they want to watch, based on their needs and interests. They categories could go from things like property, to gaming, to movies, to cars, to upcoming events. The catch is that the user has to pick at least 3 categories, and no less. For example, I would probably pick gaming, upcoming concerts, and movies. A housewife could pick Tv shows, home appliances and food. A banker could chose Current Affairs, property and insurance. The possible categories are endless. And of course, random and most popular ads could be categories as well.

 There are obvious benefits to the user, the video site and the advertiser. First, the user has relevant, interesting ads that would add to their viewing experience. Secondly, the video site can track the number of subscribers each category has, and provide valuable data to companies. Thirdly, the advertiser can pay less money to advertise in a category with less subscribers, and yet effectively reach their target audience that has openly declared an interest in their products. I'm not sure if video sites already do this, but with some tweaking, this could be a great paradigm for websites to monetize themselves.

Leadership

Scholarship interviews are around the corner again.

Scholarship interviews are really actually job interviews, but even more serious. In a normal job interview, they trying to tell if you'll show up for work, contribute to the company and generally be worth the money they'll pay you. Scholarship interviews are much more intense. In addition to the above, they'll be investing hundreds of thousands of dollars on your education and comfort, and expect you to take up serious responsibilities at the end of it. Perhaps you'll even take up leadership of the company one day.

Leadership. Around April two years ago, I went for the final interview for the EDB scholarship. They asked me about my leadership style. And I fumbled the question horribly. At that point in time, I was halfway through SCS. I hadn't exactly much leadership experience under my belt, and at that point leadership to me came from the heart rather than the head, so it was rather hard to put into words.

After two years of perspective, I've had some time to think about my leadership style.
I've always operated on the principle "Lead by Example". That's the motto of Armour Training Institute. I've found its one of the most effective ways to motivate your guys. I've heard people who say "I don't care how you do it, just do it." When I hear that, two things come to my mind. Firstly, the guy who said it has no idea how to accomplish the task, and is just passing it on to us. Secondly, he probably wants us to do something illegal to accomplish it, and not dirty his own hands. Both do not inspire any confidence at all.
Even if I want to challenge my guys to come up with better options, I would at least tell them my plan first and invite feedback. More about feedback later. After the planning comes the execution, and during the execution, at least in the army, it's vital to take up the crowbar and push with your men. In office settings, it's as simple as working the same hours as them, working overtime together or minimally being up to date with the progress. No one likes a remote control manager. Participation is the best motivation.

Another great mark of leadership is Vision. Vision used to be this cheesy thing that self help workshops kept asking you to write down. After much experience in leading and being lead, I've realised that vision is only cheesy if it's not written properly. A properly written vision will ensure that everyone is working towards the same thing and everyone knows where they're going. Nothing will break down a group faster than everyone not knowing where they're going. If you're lost in the jungle and no one can decide which way to go, the group will splinter. In the army, this is known as intent. So if communications are cut, junior commanders can still make decisions based on the intent of higher HQ. When a leader can properly define and communicate a vision, the group will be motivated and effective. Now about feedback. Sometimes, when I give a plan, one of my guys will suggest another plan, but with a different result. If I understand my superior's intent, I can make an effective decision about whether the different result is still in line with the intent. That way, my men are happy because their plans are taken seriously, I'm happy because my credibility with my men is increased and my superior is happy because the mission is accomplished. BUT, if the intent is unclear, my men are angry because their plans are ignored, I'm unhappy because I couldn't make a clear decision, and my superior may be unhappy that the mission was botched. Don't blindly give people tasks. Make them understand what you're trying to achieve, and why they want to achieve it. So that when the situation changes, people can still achieve the desired result. Properly crafted vision is important.

The last facet of leadership is often overlooked. It's important to have the same Values as your organisation. Values can be considered an extension of Vision, but applied to the heart. There are many ways to complete a task: hard work, inspiration, or a just a touch of old fashioned dishonesty. But what seems a harmless, short term solution will have long term consequences. It is no wonder why most organisations have integrity as one of their key values. All companies are made up of people, people create systems. The strongest system in the world cannot survive if the people supporting it take shortcuts, or push work back and forth. Values are important because it affects almost everything you do. It governs your work ethics, you relationships with superiors and subordinates, even the ideas you suggest and implement. Aligning your values ensures everyone gets along and everyone knows what is expected of them. Vision tells you what should be done, Values tell you how it should be accomplished. Aligning values begets cohesion and harmony.

I'm leaving it at three because it's a good number. These are my observations and experience throughout my years, and may be different from yours. Participation, Vision and Values. These traits are what makes a good leader. Hopefully, I'll be prepared for that question this time around.

Wicked problems

Most problems plaguing us today are wicked problems.

Wicked problems are problems that do not have one simple solution. They usually sit across many fields and factors like the ugly fat blobs they are. They are interdisciplinary and solving one part usually affects another part of the problem, much like trying to solve one face of a rubics cube messes up the other sides.

After attending a few policy discussions in the evenings with Minister Chan Chun Sing (Extremely informative and completely informal, usually 8 - 10pm at Buona Vista CC. Like his Facebook page to get the next meeting date), I realised that most problems involving the confluence of politics and economics are wicked problems indeed.

People sometimes accuse the PAP of running Singapore like a company. This probably means applying economic logic to otherwise political problems. Take for example, public transport in Singapore today. Trains are overcrowded, yes. Having been on trains for so long, from personal experience they have certainly gotten more packed over the years. What is the obvious solution? Buy more trains. Increase the frequency. So easy, I could run the government. This is an example of an economic solution, but people often fail to follow the logic to the end after their point is made.

Trains cost money, and if you read the yearly releases for SMRT, they are making less profit in their train service. The economic logic here is simple, increase the fares, remove concessions, or move investment away from trains and into other more lucrative services.

If this were London, or New York, you could bet your bottom dollar they would have gone with the economic solution. That's why you pay 6 to 8 dollars to sit on less comfortable trains in New York. Whereas, you pay 2 dollars to sit on ultramodern trains to anywhere in Singapore. This is because fare hikes, concessions and improvement in train infrastructure is a political problem, not an economic problem. Listening to the public's calls for improvements, the government is pressured to act on it. But the government does not run SMRT, it is a private company. The government wishes to be reelected, the company wishes to make profits. Thus, a wicked problem ensures.

Does this mean nothing can be done? Not quite. These are wicked problems, but not intractable problems. The only way to solve them, in my view, is to break them down into individual problems and solve them first. Much like fighting a flu, you have to start by treating the symptoms.

Sidebar: I'm a huge war history enthusiast, and this suddenly reminded me of the Blitzkrieg strategy the Germans used in World War 2. The Armoured Charge was a  game changer in WW2. Using a mass of Tanks and Mechanized Infantry, they could punch through traditional defense lines quickly and encircle opposing armies. But in the end, this tactic was defeated by orderly retreat with strategic depth, wearing out the attackers; or picking at the shoulders of the main column until it was vulnerable to flanking.

Much like the Blitzkrieg, these problems have to be slowly chipped away at, with trial and error solutions until it can be solved with a grand masterstroke. This will take years of small improvements in every avenue, such as transport networks, fare models, rush hour planning etc. As for orderly retreat with strategic depth, you can imagine our Reserves to be that strategic depth. If the current model eventually becomes non viable, the Reserves will provide the funds for some limited time for another solution to be found, so throwing our Reserves into every problem cannot be the solution.

So if there's some burning issue you have, some intractable problem, start picking at the shoulders, break it down into smaller, more solvable parts, and you'll find the problem will start to seem less wicked in time. As for the larger socio-economic problems Singapore faces, unfortunately they will not, and cannot be solved in a day. But in the years to come, the problems should improve. You may not even notice it when it's eventually solved.

Stream of Consciousness

Posts on this blog are like crocodiles.

No seriously wait for it.

Only 5% of them make it from the egg to adulthood.
I usually have all these stream of consciousness thoughts in the most inopportune moments. In the car, on the bus, in the shower. Basically places where I can't just write them down and upload them immediately. Besides, I don't like to write while I'm thinking. I prefer to have the whole idea form in my head, exploring every possible train of thought before I write them down. Combined with the unconscious routine everytime I switch on my computer, by the time I get to facebook, I've forgotten 90% of what I'm supposed to write.

Anyway. This blog has pretty much become obsolete. I remember I had the grand idea of writing one post a day, imitating some famous live bloggers I admire on Youtube. Unfortunately, my life just isn't interesting enough for that. Neither do I have feelings, political views or hateful rants to vent on this medium. Life events and the such are promptly recorded on Facebook, Twitter, and the plethora of social media that act as personal paparazzi.

Thus, I have decided to repurpose this space to my random thoughts and analysis on various things that interest me. Time will tell if I actually follow through.

Transitions

I realised that I tend to post during big transitions in my life. From high school graduation, entering BMT, graduating SCS, and now, finally, coming up to ORD.

Since the last post, much has changed. Germany most of all. Exercise Panzerstrike was the most fun I've had in a long time. Amazing memories were made in Bergen Belsen, bonding with my men, bonding with my fellow tank commanders and generally having a hell of a good time. Photos are up on Facebook. One of the best times of my life, I wish I could go back.

Being in a combat company is much like being in an office, a normal day job. There are periods of tear your hair out, frantic, sleepless running around, and there are days where you wake up at 10am and again at 12 noon. Every second spent in camp and even out of camp is spent glued to your phone, on edge for that call, sms or whatsapp that calls you into action.

Being the HQ Platoon Sergeant is an interesting place to be. For one, while the other platoons have 12 men, my platoon has 17 and all of them as combat ready as the rest. In a platoon, there are usually 2 officers and 2 sergeants. But for HQ, there's only me, and Isaac. Its a big challenge for the two of us to take care of 17 men and all their needs, the last thing you need is a call at night for help or with a dilemma. But in the end, its pretty worth it. Without officers, the load of command is certainly heavy, but it also gives one the freedom and flexibility to command as one sees fit. Part of my responsibilities is planning duties and keeping track of the leave and off of the company, allowing me to experiment with new ways to do stuff. Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the work I've been doing. My men always come to me straightaway with their problems, and I always help them in one way or another. That to me is the essence of command, taking care of your charges. The day they stop coming to me with their problems, there would be less work for me, but also means I would have lost their trust.

ORD is coming up, and I have to admit I'm quite stumped as to what to do for the next 9 months before I hop over to UK. I'm going to try for the EDB scholarship again, learn programming in Python and HTML, finally get my driving license. Other than that, I'm going to have to think about some sort of overarching purpose.