The Cause-and-Effect Mindset Every Engineer (and Human) Needs

Here’s a little mindset shift that has truly simplified my decision-making process.

Let's start with what we already know.

As a Software Engineer, we input data, commands, and configurations into our embedded systems. Whether it's designing device drivers, coding kernel modules, or configuring system parameters, we carefully feed our systems with the information they need to function effectively.

Our software, takes these inputs, processes them, and translates our instructions into action.

The culmination of our efforts manifests as output. It could be an LED lighting up, a sensor reading, or a communication protocol conveying critical data.

These outputs are the tangible results of our inputs.

When we step back and look at what’s happening around, we can observe a similar pattern.

Some people might call it as “The Law of Karma” or “The Law of Cause and Effect”.

Newton, with his legendary apple story, went deep into this law, and what happened? Kids in high school are still struggling with the complexities of academics!

Let’s break it down:

Every effect has a specific and predictable cause.

Every cause or action has a specific and predictable effect.

For example:

Eat junk food, and you become less healthy.

Choose clean eating and daily workouts, and you become healthier.

Those are irrefutable facts.

You can’t cheat the system.

You can’t eat junk food and expect to magically become healthier than you are today.

You think you are capable of cheating the system?

I know I did.

I used to sit rigidly in front of my laptop for hours on end, whether it was coding, gaming, or reading. I was in my "flow state," and I thought I could just "cancel out" the effects. Gym sessions seemed like the perfect antidote.

But then, I was gifted with a not-so-pleasant back pain. It forced me to confront the truth - I had been cheating myself all along. My inputs were wrong. I wasn't giving my body the movement it needed to stay healthy.

Now, I'm starting over my workout routine. I'm lifting lower weights and taking more breaks between sets. I'm also making sure to get up and move around every 20-30 minutes.

You need to feed reality with the right input to make your dream a reality.

I made it a habit to observe my day to day activities with this model. Say, if I grab a pack of Lays, I couldn't see a justifiable output, so I won't buy it.

Evaluate possible outputs. Don't get obsessed over the results.

We often focus on the results, which is why people often quit the gym after a month. They don't see any visible results, so they give up.

But what if we changed our perspective? What if we focused on the inputs instead?

When we go to the gym, we are feeding our bodies with exercise, which is a great input for better health. We don't need to worry about the results right away. Eventually, the results will come.

The bottom line is, next time you reach for that remote, consider Popeye over Chhota Bheem.

Because spinach is way healthier than laddu!

Originally shared on LinkedIn