Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 17 to 32 of 55

Thread: Advice and truly useful help

  1. #17
    Token 'murican GuidoLS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    806
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    110 times in 78 posts
    • GuidoLS's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5Q Pro
      • CPU:
      • C2Q 9550 stock
      • Memory:
      • 8gb Corsair
      • Storage:
      • 2x1tb Hitachi 7200's, WD Velociraptor 320gb primary
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia 9800GT
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 750w
      • Case:
      • Antec 900
      • Operating System:
      • Win10/Slackware Linux dual box
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic 24" 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • AT&T U-Verse 12mb

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    I can think of more than a few, but

    If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is.

  2. #18
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,457
    Thanks
    613
    Thanked
    1,645 times in 1,307 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    The 80-20 rule.

    Applies in many many circumstances and in different ways. But in essence it's saying the first 80% of a task's progression takes 20% of the effort, while the last 20% takes 80% of the effort. Or 80% of the outcomes are caused by 20% of the effectors etc.

    It's useful when looking at all sorts of things, from forum responses (think 'vocal minority') to getting the most effective benefit when fixing bugs/addressing user requested features. I even apply it (slightly incorrectly) as a rule for mechanical sympathy - 80% of my driving/equipment use/whatever can be done at 20% effort (not quite the right word), and by saving the remaining 80% of effort for those times when the circumstances require it then the equipment will last longer and I'm more likely to have the energy/concentration to make most use of it.
    I've found this to be so true with projects at work.

    You can take any task, and spend an inordinate amount of time planning, developing, checking, refining and reviewing it. But actually, if you are given what seems like a ridiculous deadline, you can often get it done in 20% of the time you might think would be necessary.

    And whilst that might mean it's only 80% as good as it could be, you'll have completed another 4 tasks to the same standard compared to one at 100%. And most of the time, the difference will be negligible.

    I'm sure some people will say everything ought to be 99% perfect, but in reality that's not the way I've found things to be. The last 19% takes such an inordinate amount of time, the to-ing and fro-ing, the debating, the 'let's take this out' and then two days later 'actually I think it was better with it in' etc.

  3. #19
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    99
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    9 times in 9 posts

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    I have yet to meet anyone whose last words were "I wish I spent more time in the office"

  4. #20
    Senior Member SeriousSam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Anywhere Mental
    Posts
    788
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked
    169 times in 114 posts

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    “When people tell you that there are two sides to every argument, it is nonsense. There are three: your side, their side and the truth.”
    If Wisdom is the coordination of "knowledge and experience" and its deliberate use to improve well being then how come "Ignorance is bliss"

  5. #21
    RIP Peterb ik9000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,701
    Thanks
    1,839
    Thanked
    1,434 times in 1,057 posts
    • ik9000's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P7H55-M/USB3
      • CPU:
      • i7-870, Prolimatech Megahalems, 2x Akasa Apache 120mm
      • Memory:
      • 4x4GB Corsair Vengeance 2133 11-11-11-27
      • Storage:
      • 2x256GB Samsung 840-Pro, 1TB Seagate 7200.12, 1TB Seagate ES.2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB SuperOverClocked
      • PSU:
      • NZXT Hale 90 750w
      • Case:
      • BitFenix Survivor + Bitfenix spectre LED fans, LG BluRay R/W optical drive
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2414h, U2311h 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • 200Mb/s Fibre and 4G wifi

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Quote Originally Posted by SeriousSam View Post
    “When people tell you that there are two sides to every argument, it is nonsense. There are three: your side, their side and the truth.”
    But you seem to me counting my side twice...

  6. #22
    Mostly Me Lucio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Tring
    Posts
    5,163
    Thanks
    443
    Thanked
    448 times in 351 posts
    • Lucio's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX-6350 with Cooler Master Seldon 240
      • Memory:
      • 2x4GB Corsair DDR3 Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • 128GB Toshiba, 2.5" SSD, 1TB WD Blue WD10EZEX, 500GB Seagate Baracuda 7200.11
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire R9 270X 4GB
      • PSU:
      • 600W Silverstone Strider SST-ST60F
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF XB
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1 64Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 2032BW, 1680 x 1050
      • Internet:
      • 16Mb Plusnet

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Don't ignore your failures, accept them, learn from them and do better next time around.

    (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/)
    (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=)
    (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(")


    This is bunny and friends. He is fed up waiting for everyone to help him out, and decided to help himself instead!

  7. Received thanks from:

    Noxvayl (30-05-2015)

  8. #23
    Ninja Noxvayl's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    In the shadows
    Posts
    2,451
    Thanks
    748
    Thanked
    215 times in 173 posts
    • Noxvayl's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GigabyteZ87X-UD4H-CF
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 4770K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair Vengaence LPX + 8GB Kingston HyperX Beast
      • Storage:
      • 120GB Snadisk + 256GB Crucial SSDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire R9 380
      • PSU:
      • ENermax Platimax 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • ATMT + Dell 1024x1280
      • Internet:
      • Sky Fibre

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Something my Dad always made an effort to point out to me was that you can learn something from everyone, no matter how different they are from you.

    Growing up in South Africa in the 90s meant I experienced some extreme prejudice thanks to the racist nature of the society. I don't mean I was a victim of it, I am a white male so was the benefactor of the prejudice, but having that maxim drummed into me from a young child meant I learnt things that many white South Africans ignored.

    It is something I find useful and can be applied no matter what societal structure you live in. Just because you earn more than someone else, do certain activities better than someone else or simply feel that groups of people are beneath you doesn't mean that those people aren't able to have redeeming qualities. I find it helps resist the urge to simplify things into a binary equation where there are only 2 possible options, something that is insane when it comes to the complexity of people.

  9. #24
    DR
    DR is offline
    on ye old ship HEXUS DR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    HEXUS HQ, Elstree
    Posts
    13,412
    Thanks
    1,060
    Thanked
    841 times in 373 posts

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Focus - whatever you are doing focus on it, don't waste your time not trying to achieve it. Focus on it, then move on to the next thing.

  10. #25
    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Northampton
    Posts
    6,776
    Thanks
    2,613
    Thanked
    1,704 times in 1,108 posts
    • g8ina's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock Z75 Pro3
      • CPU:
      • Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3570K CPU @ 3.40GHz 3.40 GHz
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair 1600MHz DDR3.
      • Storage:
      • 250GB SSD system, 250GB SSD Data + 2TB data, + 8TB NAS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX Radeon HD 6870
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Iiyama 22"
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 100MB unlimited

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    One from my old Boss John Oliver, radio ham and good friend :

    A man who never made a mistake never made anything.
    Cheers, David



  11. Received thanks from:

    Apex (04-06-2015),The Hand (31-05-2015)

  12. #26
    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    I'm a Jessie
    Posts
    35,176
    Thanks
    3,121
    Thanked
    3,173 times in 1,922 posts
    • Zak33's system
      • Storage:
      • Kingston HyperX SSD, Hitachi 1Tb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 1050
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 800w
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT01
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTC uber speedy

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    These are all really good :-) thankyou all.

    My grandfather told me this....many times when I'd gone overboard on a thing... Maybe eaten too much...or rode my bike a bit too fast and crashed. And later when I was older and I argued too long on a subject...

    It's very simple

    "There's a difference between scratching your arse....and tearing it to pieces"

  13. #27
    Spreadie
    Guest

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    This is a firm favourite of my mother..

    "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove any doubt"

  14. #28
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Newcastle Upon Tyne
    Posts
    936
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    105 times in 72 posts
    • Jowsey's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asrock H81M-ITX
      • CPU:
      • Intel Xeon E3-1230V3
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair XMS3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB Crucial MX100 & 2TB Seagate Barracuda
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus GTX 770 DCUII 2GB
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNova GS 550 watt
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Evolv ITX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 100Mb

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Bit of weird one but it's worked well for me.

    If you ever offer assistance, always help beyond the scope of necessity. (e.g helping someone carry boxes somewhere, offer to unpack them)

    If you've already took the time to help in the first place normally it doesn't take much longer for the second task and it will be remember by the person much more than just carrying the boxes.

    And the second is office specific. Keep any receptionists and secretaries in your good books. You don't realise how much they do for you until they stop doing it.

  15. Received thanks from:

    Apex (04-06-2015),Zak33 (31-05-2015)

  16. #29
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    2,129
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked
    189 times in 160 posts

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    When something is new - go with the idea
    The next time the same idea comes around - remind people why it didn't work
    The next time - retire.

    I'm in my 40's so I'm starting to see all the mistakes we all made 20 years ago, being made again.

    To add to the one above about secretaries. If anyone has a PA, make them your best friend. They have the boss's diary.

  17. Received thanks from:

    Apex (04-06-2015)

  18. #30
    ho! ho! ho! mofo santa claus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    2,898
    Thanks
    386
    Thanked
    446 times in 304 posts

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    I'm less keen on philosophical advice because I forget it quickly, so I have a practical tip that is fast, good and cheap and kinder to the environment: boiling water kills weeds as efficiently as chemicals. Try it.

  19. #31
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    2,900
    Thanks
    67
    Thanked
    182 times in 136 posts
    • Butcher's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 Gaming 3
      • CPU:
      • i7-4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8 GB Corsair 1866 MHz
      • Storage:
      • 120GB SSD, 240GB SSD, 2TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Antec 650W
      • Case:
      • Big Black Cube!
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Take care of your teeth. Dental problems are the worst.

  20. #32
    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    I'm a Jessie
    Posts
    35,176
    Thanks
    3,121
    Thanked
    3,173 times in 1,922 posts
    • Zak33's system
      • Storage:
      • Kingston HyperX SSD, Hitachi 1Tb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 1050
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 800w
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT01
      • Operating System:
      • Win10
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTC uber speedy

    Re: Advice and truly useful help

    Know your weaknesses

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •