Chapter 1: The Intersection of Preparation and Success

In the realm of software development, excellence hinges on a blend of preparation, established processes, standards, and discipline to meet project requirements effectively.

During my time in Taekwondo, my instructor emphasized the significance of being proactive rather than merely reactive in combat. He pointed out that if your strategy relies solely on defense, your precision must be flawless each time you block. For instance, if an opponent aims a punch at you and you try to block it, your timing must be impeccable; otherwise, you risk getting hit.

When faced with multiple attempts from an attacker, your ability to block correctly each time becomes increasingly challenging. However, if you combine blocking with a counterattack, you diminish the attacker’s chances of landing a hit. By striking back, you shift the dynamic—while you engage them, they must focus on defense rather than offense. This approach not only reduces the need for blocking but also increases your chances of stopping the attack altogether.

The instructor encapsulated this lesson by stating that counterattacking lessens your dependency on sheer skill and luck.

Skill pertains to your blocking accuracy, while luck is the unpredictable element that can lead to missed timings and unfortunate outcomes. The more you rely on luck, the more exposed you become to unfavorable incidents.