Aditya Kothadiya's Blog

Given a problem, you can always find numbers of solutions to the same problem. Some of them are easy to implement but are merely ‘fixes’, and some of them are complex to implement but are conceptually right. Both solutions solve the problem for the time being but fixes are short term solutions while conceptual solutions are long term. You cannot predict what new problems these fixes may create both in direct and indirect ways in near future.

Conceptual solutions are always associated with more cost than usual ‘fixing’ approach. More hours, more pressure, more complexity, more stress, and more challenges are inevitable parameters of the conceptual solution process. But the end results are always worthy, satisfactory and reliable. With fixes, the thought of “will it fail or not” always keeps nagging you.

My manager always strives for solving the problems from its roots. He also takes “urgency” factor very well into account while deciding between one of the approaches but never compromises on doing right thing just to avoid late night or weekend hours. He will only ‘fix’ the problem instead of solving it right when it is very time critical and not because it is easy to implement.

Beyond the corporate usage:

Now apply this same philosophy to our daily routine. We encounter many problems/practices in a day and we also know the right ways to deal with those things, but we still prefer the shortcuts and seek for some immediate or comfortable solution. I will not get into complex problems, but let me highlight very trivial things in our day-to-day routine.

1. It might solve your problem if you refer (read copy) someone’s assignment solution and tweak a little bit to submit it as yours without slogging days and nights in its preparation. That serves your purpose, but the right way to do it is – to discuss the ways to solve the assignment and giving your best shot to solve it on your own till the end.
2. It might be acceptable to keep piling the utensils (clothes) in the wash basin (on the bed) and washing it on the weekend. It cleans your home on the weekend, but the right way to follow is – to wash the utensils (fold the clothes) as soon as you are done with using it.
3. It is not a big deal if you park your car with 40 degree angle in a parking slot as other drivers can take care of parking their car according to your alignment. But the right way to adopt is – to take that extra effort while parking the car and park it straight in the available slot.

The list can go on and on, but you got the point! Doing things a right way can eventually help us a lot to become more honest and straightforward as a person. You don’t learn to manipulate the things when you strive for solving the problem in a right way.

But please do not forget the “always” aspect of this philosophy. Consistency is a mother of all solutions.

Getting reward isn’t about making only right choice; it’s about practicing it consistently. –Aditya Kothadiya