How Vast Is Knowledge?

You know, the more we grow up, the more we realized how much we don't know.

I have this feeling in my workplace recently. This heavy 'burden' on how little I know. Is it because my knowledge have grown too little over the past 3 years?

Perhaps, but even more so is just how much my 'observable universe' have expanded.

Let's not even go THAT FAR. Let's just take my field for instance - Information Technology.

Do you know how VAST AND MASSIVE it encompasses?

There's hardware/software architecture, security, operating systems, databases, networks, web-stack, authentication and encryption, programming...

More recently, there's cloud computing, big data, analytics, mobile development, etc...

And I'm just really talking about high level stuff here. Everyone of these can take a lifetime to master.

A degree in computer science is really like primary school in each of these topics. It's just to get you started.

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Take me for example.

I have been working mostly on databases and business intelligence products for the past 3 years. And still I feel I know very little.

There are new technologies like NOSQL Databases, R Programming, Hadoop (which contains like dozens of different platforms and add-ons), etc...

I have been thrown into a couple of new projects lately, and there:

I heard people talk about LDAP, active directory (authentication-related stuff).
I heard people talk about geospatial data and statistical models.
I heard people talk about Solaris OS, Oracle RAC (OS and DB installations stuff)
I heard people talking about push/pull through servers and their security implications.
I came across new standards like JSON, MongoDB, etc...

Man.

How could one ever learn them all?

And in times like this, is it better to be a "jack of all trades", or "master in one"?

There are SOOOO many things I wanted to learn!

Unfortunately, things aren't so simple now that we are out of school. There's no luxury of time or "structured course" for you to learn each topic step by step now. You're on your own. 


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I really felt that I have become quite stagnant in this area, especially when you browse the net and come across so many new technological terms.

I know I can't master them all, but at least I must be committed to grow.

Hence, I hereby make this resolution that I MUST at least become moderately proficient in these 2 areas within 6 months. (mostly related to my area of work, and the area I want to grow in)


Business Analytics

I know I am no maths expert, but I really want to expand myself in this area. At least know the basics.

For this, I have a schedule SPSS course.

I will pick up R-Programming from Code School and apply them in an upcoming project.


Databases and Data Warehouse

I have scheduled a course in SQL administrator and their integration product.

More importantly, I want to move beyond traditional relational DB.

This is gonna be tough: Pick up on NOSQL DB. For this, I choose MongoDB.


Future

Hopefully, I can find some time to also pick up mobile programming (as a side interest). IOS or Android?

Maybe not to great proficiency like Java, but at least be able to write simple programs on mobile platform.

Disconnection Between Top And Bottom

This is something I have known all along, and I have further confirmed this recently.
People at the top management will likely never understand what the ground level people goes through.

The top thinks they know everything. They make 'idealistic', 'kaki-song' goals and think they are very 'kiang'. They think they know what the people on the ground wants, so they raise the cash and find the experts to come up with 'technologically advanced systems' that will help 'raise the bar and push them to the next level'.

When the product is finally delivered and tested on the ground users, that's when you will realize a giant mismatch of expectations. Ground people feel the product is redundant, extra-work, replications, even nonsensical. And yet the product have to the go through the acceptance of the ground.

WTF?

It's a BIG PROBLEM.

Why not get the ACTUAL people who will be using the product involved right from the start?

Why get the bosses (people who don't actually use the product, but THINKS they know what their subordinates want) just because they are the 'management'?

And then you find out all along you are building something nobody uses, you scrap it?

Is that a good use of resources?

I always thought there's a limit to human stupidity, then once again they exceed my expectations.

To infinity and beyond.

Golden Opportunity

Back in 2013, I fought a very important battle.

But alas, it was not to be.

I was not prepared. I was not experienced enough yet.

...

Now...

Coming to the end of 2014, another has come knocking on my door.

This is probably the first invitation that I am TRULY interested in.

All the training these 2 years.

All my knowledge, my skills, my enlightenment - It's time to organize and consolidate them.

This is a very very important battle.

I MUST give it my best shot.

Meditation

Sometimes, there's no point in wasting too much energy trying to meditate the relations between 2 person who already has a conflict with each other.

At best, you're wasting your time and effort. At worst, you may even damage your relations.

Ha.

That's how it is.

Sometimes it's A fault, sometimes it's B fault.

It's all a matter of perspective and position.

Pride In Your Work

Do you take pride in the work you do?

I know I do. I want to feel like what I do matters. That it has a significance.

No matter how boring, how tiresome, how frustrating it is - I still do. I put in effort and even if it turns out sucky, it's still "mine". It's my responsibility, my pride or disgrace.

But not all people feel the same. They are contented with their own ways of doing things.

It's one thing to slack. But I don't understand how can you do it without limits. Can you really live with yourself?

Today, another part of me died towards this place.

Is a job solely for the monetary benefits?

First Post-Grad Certification!

It wasn't easy.

For weeks we've been told over and over how tough it is.

How it is "normal to fail".

How the passing rate is abysmal. 

...

Probably 1 of the most stressful moments I can remember for a long long time - when I had to click on the "End Test" button...

BUT WE DID IT!!!

Hours and hours of hard work for days and days...

Sob...sob...

It's been a tough journey.

And it's all coming to an end soon.

The final phase.

The time has come for the chicks to leave the nest.

1 Month After Enlistment

1/3 done with my "BMT"!

4 weeks of endless e-learning, classes, case studies......

Things are finally starting to brighten up, now that I've moved on from the "bare-bone environment" to the "drag and drop" environment.

It's like, is there any reason to know HTML when there's already the all powerful Dreamweaver?

Looking forward to Week 6 and 7, which I think is really the essence of this course.


...


In other areas, I've been missing out on some of my favourite activities since "enlistment".

:(

Before, I thought I could still play after booking out everyday, but I just feel so drained when I reach home.

And I know it's never a good idea to play when you can't concentrate.


...


Still, I think I'm extremely lucky.

Like what my OC say, no company is going to pay you full time salary to go for 3 months of training (even 3 days would be a luxury).

While the course is tough, my biggest fear is not actually getting through BMT, but the unit that I'll be posted to after POP.

Hah...


是福不是祸，是祸躲不过。


还是顺其自然吧~

The Best Employer

My favourite part of this video is from 4 min - 5 min.


We would have a lot less problems in this world if more businesses are like this.


Orz Boss's Boss's Boss's Boss's...

Isn't it time to spread such awesome culture to their smaller international offices as well?

#_#

Another Semester?!

Ahhh... It's only the first weekend and I'm already feeling the after-effects of the past 5 days.

I never thought I'll get to experience being a student again. What's more, so soon after graduation.

In fact, I've never felt more like a student than now!

=.=





I don't think I've ever consistently study 6, 7, 8 hours a day, every day, during ANY PERIOD of my life.

Not through my toughest uni-semesters.

Not even during the exam periods.

And yet here I am, clearing "modules" at such intensive pace - putting in such long hours.

I don't have a choice - There is just way too much things to clear.



...



Imagine a university module that you normally take for a semester. Maybe 3 hours of lecture a week?

Now, imagine packing all that content into 3, 4 or 5 days.

You have "8am to 5pm" everyday to finish that module.

It's near impossible unless you put in extra time to clear the chapters.

Looks like I'll be burning my weekends for a while now...

:'(



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That being said, I've really learnt a lot - So I'm not complaining.

It's only been a week, but I felt that I already know so much more about this field.

The challenges faced by this industry and where it's heading, the rate of adoption and considerations by different sectors, the effort to bring such knowledge into our education system, strengths of different competitors, etc...

I've also seen real life examples and applications of this technology across different sectors and industries.

It truly is limitless - definitely not just restricted to certain specialized domains only.



...



Anyway, rant too long liao.

I'll stop here and start doing my e-learning.

Tomorrow.

9 Months

Ahhh...

快乐的时光总是特别的短暂。。。



Sometimes, things could have been radically different due to a small action.

Like "what if you took the effort to click the button one more time?"

Like "what if you prepared fully before venturing into the Monstrous Horrific Asylum?"

So many what ifs, so many possibilities.


...


But all these are in hindsight now.

It's time to get those rusty engines starting again.

The decision was really nerve-wrecking.


...


Truthfully speaking, I feel doubtful, yet hopeful at the same time.

I guess it's what you can call a "Leap of Faith".

It's something I have interest in, yet also something I am unsure of.

It's like descending into the dark unexplored mines. Without a map. Without navigation.

You never know what you'll find.

You might uncover precious gems.

You might get yourself killed.

You might find gold, or you might find coal.


...


I'm really placing my trust and faith in what little information I could find online, because this is something that's so new.

On events happening in faraway lands, which might not reflect local conditions.

Placing my trust on what the experts say.

On little pieces of evidence that support my decision.

On the kind of new courses they're introducing in schools.

Believing in my past experiences,

Placing my faith on something which might be a sign of higher power interference, or maybe complete coincidence.


...


All these factors led me to believe that I'm making the right choice.

And since I've already decided, I'm going to give my best!


让我们一起加油吧！