One problem with success is that if you get too much of it before you're ready, you'll never dare to try again. Having enjoyed the glory of success, it doesn't make sense to negate that glory through a subsequent attempt that might end with failure.
My thoughts on (sales) forecasting and predictive models
I need to have a data-dump on the sales forecasting process and forecasts. On optimistic and pessimistic forecasting: When forecasts are (consistently) too low: well-known issue that even has a name: sandbagging. You forecast lower to temper expectations. When you do get better results than the forecast you look like a hero. When forecasts are... Continue Reading →
Programming in Python
Did I mention that I am learning (and have learned) to program in Python at Codeacademy and am loving it? (Unbiased plug: if you want to learn to program, doesn't have to be Python, try Codeacademy!) Sometimes I think that I'm such a nerd: reading programming books in the train; programming for fun at night;... Continue Reading →
How I became an analyst
I just approved a comment on one of my earlier posts, a post about my possible foray into sales. A post that, as I re-read it, brought back plenty of memories. A post that reminded me how my career as it stands now, that of data science and analytics, is quite different from what I had once... Continue Reading →
The Teacher Being Surpassed by the Student
I was in class on Saturday thinking about how nice it would be if an article of mine on edonn.com was used as a piece of "teaching material" - i.e. quoted in class, or perhaps in the lecture notes. It was then that a recollection of "some saying" hit me, something about the aim of... Continue Reading →
The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals…
...is that amateurs practice till they get it right, but professionals practice till they can't get it wrong. I love that quote. Reminds me of how I push myself to obtain my IPPT golds. In the months leading up to it, I'd train like I was training for the Olympics. During the test days itself,... Continue Reading →
Making Measurement Count
There's a saying I've heard many times that goes something like this: what gets measured gets done. And though I completely agree with that saying, I think it misses a crucial point: that before measuring anything, we have to make sure that what's getting done is what you want to get done. After the army... Continue Reading →
On Public Speaking
Yesterday, I gave a presentation for a group assignment in my Master's class. It was exhilarating and a whole lot of fun, despite (or perhaps because) of the fact that we had overrun our stipulated time and I had to go really quick, determining what could be skipped and what could not on the fly.... Continue Reading →
Building a Vocabulary
I just found a new favourite pastime: playing the Vocabulary.com Challenge. A great example of gamification, it makes learning new words engaging and actually quite fun. I do wonder if such a similar thing exists for Chinese/Mandarin.
KFC and the Representative Survey
I had KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) for breakfast yesterday. Chicken rice porridge and a "breakfast" wrap (that oddly enough didn't seem to contain any chicken). It was decent, and I liked it. So when I was quite excited when I saw that the receipt had a link to an online customer satisfaction survey, for which... Continue Reading →
Donn, fragments 