Lessons Learned: My Thoughts and Reflections on Richard Hamming’s “You and Your Research”.

Like the last one, this will be short.

My last post was about making a commitment to contribute actively to open-source and also to proactively make conscious efforts to document my progress and write about things I find of interest.

Well, here is one. What I failed to mention was that I joined a program/group to help with that endeavor as well as help me stick with that commitment. My Mentor gave me a series of papers and videos to consume and first on the list was a video by Richard Hamming, titled “You and Your Research”. There is also a transcript of the entire talk here.

If you are unfamiliar with who Richard Hamming was, he was quite simply, a “Man of Science”. He was a renowned mathematician, computer scientist and engineer, having made significant contributions he made to various fields, including coding and information theory. He is best known for his work on Hamming codes, which are widely used in error detection and correction in digital communication systems.

His talk, "You and Your Research," is a classic piece of advice for anyone involved in research or intellectual pursuits. Delivered in 1986, the talk offers valuable insights into the mindset and strategies necessary to produce significant and impactful work.

In it, he discusses various factors that contribute to success in research, such as setting high goals, working on important problems, being willing to take risks, being persistent, and learning from others. He also emphasizes the importance of luck, but notes that "luck favors the prepared mind." This means that those who are well-prepared, curious, and dedicated are more likely to capitalize on opportunities when they arise.

Having watched the video, I found his insights valuable, providing me with a fresh perspective on the strategies and mindset necessary if I am to succeed in my endeavors.

One of the most profound among those lessons being the importance of setting high goals. We should not be afraid to aim for the stars, as Hamming emphasized. Through setting ambitious goals, we (well me in this case) challenge ourselves to reach for new heights and continuously push the boundaries of our knowledge.

Work on important problems. I guess this is self-evident even without having to have been told.

As Hamming argued, focusing on problems that can potentially make a significant impact is important if achieving meaningful results is the end goal. Through identifying and addressing problems, we (I 😅) can contribute towards things that aid in the advancement of society.

While luck plays a role in research as Hamming himself acknowledges, he does emphasize that “luck favors the prepared mind”. What I think this means is that those who are more well-prepared and dedicated are more than likely to capitalize on opportunities as and when they arise. Essentially, while luck is and can be a factor, as Hamming implies, it is often as a result of being in the right place, at the right time, and with due prior effort and preparation.

Getting to the good stuff.

Hamming makes mention of Persistence. Research is oftentimes filled with lots of challenges and setbacks, making it seem extremely long and difficult. In such instances, it is crucial to maintain perseverance and dedication towards the end goal. Overcoming obstacles and ultimately, achieving success, comes as a result of staying persistent.

Quality over quantity. This is what Hamming strongly advocates for. He argues that it is important to place more emphasis on quality of work instead of quantity, or in other words high-quality rather than large volume mediocrity. The quality, characterized by depth is more than likely to have a lasting impact.

This seems like it should be common knowledge at this point in human society, but Hamming talks about learning from others. Seeking support and guidance from mentors and collaborators can provide very valuable insights and strategically accelerate our progress. By actively learning from others, we are not only able to avoid setbacks, but also make well informed decisions.

The importance of enjoying the work you do is very much emphasized by Hamming. It is unlikely for you to be successful if you are not passionate about what you do. Through finding joy and fulfillment in the work we do, we are able to stay motivated and maintain a positive outlook on things.

To put things to perspective, Hamming’s “You and Your Research” offers a wealth of valuable insights for not just people aspiring to be researchers, but everyone else in general. The lessons he offers can be applied across a wide array of areas, and by applying them to our own work, whatever it may be, we can increase our chances of making significant contributions to whichever field we find ourselves in, as well as achieving our goals.