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When I moved to the West Coast, I moved to Portland, Oregon–the multitool capital of the world. The city is home to two prominent multitool companies: Leatherman and Gerber .   As I settled into my new region, I noticed a handful of people who always carried multitools. At first, I thought they were strictly pocketknives carried in self-defense, but then I asked someone about it.  It was a risky move, I know.   The man I asked showed me some features of his multitool, including saws, screwdrivers, awls, knives, and more. Instantly, I knew I needed my pocket companion, which contained more than a dozen tools in a snug pocket device.   Naturally, most multitool carriers were passionate about the outdoors, which made sense since a vast wilderness surrounds Portland.  Mountains, beaches, and nearby forests are in every direction, making it easy to find recreational activities.   Both major manufacturers sold multitools at local markets and outlet stores, making it easy for me to acquire multiple multitools for my arsenal. Thus, my obsession began.   Multitools Are Great Investments   Let me begin by stating that multitools are like any other investment.   Cheap investments yield a low-quality multitool that could break early with regular use. However, higher-end investments are worth their weight in gold, and companies that produce them back them with excellent warranties.   Investing a bit more money in a multitool is wise for peace of mind. This doesn’t mean spending hundreds of dollars on something that fits in your pocket, but I highly recommend spending more than $20.   I’ve tested numerous multitools at home, at engineering job sites, and in the great outdoors. They have saved me multiple times in every environment. Because of their value, multitools are an essential component of my inventory.   I’ll explore a few of my favorite multitools below.   My Three Multitool Picks   While the perfect, ultimate multitool does not exist (yet), investing in different multitools with complementary functions can improve our adaptability to unusual situations.   It’s natural for multitools to have overlapping functions, as each unit includes the most common tools designed to tackle everyday scenarios. However, I believe it’s far better to have redundancies between tools if something happens.   Here are three multitools that have served me well since my obsession began:   Leatherman MUT   This multitool is rugged to the core. Its build is heavier than others, as it was made to clean guns and perform heavy-duty utility work.   Although I don’t use this on guns, it has been a reliable tool in my daily experiences for addressing minor issues that arise. The Leatherman MUT is equipped with the following:   Needlenose Pliers Regular Pliers Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters Premium Replacable Hard-wire Cutters Strandard-wire Cutters Electrical Crimper Combo Knife Saw Replaceable Cutting Hook Hammer Bolt Override Tool Replaceable Bronze Carbon Scraper Cleaning Rod Replaceable Firearm Assembly Carabiner/Bottle Opener Large Bit Driver   This multitool can be further enhanced by acquiring the drill bit pack and a drill bit extender, which provides additional torque when screwing and unscrewing different bolts.   Gerber Dime Don't be fooled by this thumb-sized multitool. Although an investment around $20, it is one of the most valuable tools in my arsenal. It is equipped with a dozen handy tools for emergencies.    Unlike the Leatherman MUT, the Gerber Dime has spring-loaded pliers, a critical feature in many cases where the grip on material needs to be reworked.    The features of this multitool include:   Needle Nose Pliers Spring-Loaded Pliers Wire Cutters Tweezers Bottle Opener Fine Edge Blade Retail Package Opener Scissors Medium Flathead Driver File Small Flat-Heat Driver Lanyard Ring   Victorinox Evolution S54 Tool Chest   Swiss army knives are famous multitools that have become the mainstay of survival in Swiss Culture. Standard tools that include the basics are great for curious people who wish to enter the field.   Additionally, Swiss produces much larger multitools with upwards of 100 tools built into them!   I have discovered that the larger Victorinox Evolution S54 Tool Chest Plus offers a high ROI due to its versatility. I must admit I bought this multitool before inflation, and its price has doubled over the past five years.   For the right user, that price remains an investment.    The tools on the S54 Tool Chest are as follows:   Key Ring Toothpick Tweezers Wood Saw Reamer (Awl) Metal Saw Magnifying Glass Can Opener Compass Serrated Edge Scissors Combination Pliers Fish Scaler Large Blade Corkscrew Nail File Universal Wrenches (M3, M4, M5) Phillips Screwdrivers (1, 2) Bottle Opener   Combining Multitools Is Key   Multitools are useful pocket-sized gadgets for handling life’s curve balls. While no one-size-fits-all multitool can do everything, thoughtfully choosing our multitool sets can prepare us for most circumstances.   Some multitools are made with care and require investment, while others are more generic. Based on your needs, it is beneficial to consider both options–budget versus luxury—and determine what is best for you.   Do you have a multitool you find helpful?  Leave a link in the comments section below!

Sometimes, All We Need Is A Few Seconds Life is filled with profound lessons, usually delivered as little, subtle reminders. Sometimes, we face significant events that deeply impact us and leave a lasting impression. These reminders often stem from falling short of expectations during major life milestones, such as a game, a relationship, or other important occurrences. Small lessons often accumulate in our memory banks. Initially, they may not seem significant, but as we navigate new experiences, the value of these brief yet impactful lessons becomes apparent. Here are some of life's quick reminders, presented in no particular order:   1 – People Come & Go It’s one of the most brutal truths to accept, but it must be repeated as long as we live. Generally, people come and go in our lives at intervals beyond our control. Some remain for our entire lives, some for a few seasons, and others only briefly. Everyone is the main character in their own story. Their aspirations take them to different destinations. Some are meant to settle down and live in a particular area, while others seek fulfillment by sailing the seven seas. Just think about what has happened to your friends since graduating from high school. Unfortunately, some people who enter and exit our lives are purely transactional. As long as they perceive some benefit to having us around, they will keep us. Once that benefit disappears, we are thrown out and never spoken to again.   We must value those we cherish in our lives. No one can predict what tomorrow may bring or if someone will choose to leave, pass away suddenly, or disappear completely.   2 – There's Always Something Better Than We Desire   It is admirable to have goals that motivate us to improve ourselves and achieve great results. Motivation is the cornerstone of progress, but without a reason to strive for continuous improvement, it simply doesn't happen.   However, there's a fine line between pursuing better and pursuing an ideality.   When we pursue an ideal, we aim to align our conditions with perfection. Any deviation from these conditions becomes a source of suffering; the greater the deviation, the greater the suffering.   Meanwhile, striving for improvement opens numerous possibilities. We may have some idea of what we wish to achieve, but we also have a variety of outcomes we would accept.  The results sometimes exceed our initial expectations, and nothing feels better.   3 – Better To Adapt Than Demand Perfection   Just as there is always something more desirable than what we currently have, it's wiser to adjust to our circumstances and improve them instead of insisting on perfection. We operate in the reality of incomplete information, which makes the definition of perfection arbitrary.   The old saying goes that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Therefore, the ability to adapt is much more important than demanding perfection. When we adapt, we learn from our current situation and adjust to its conditions to squeeze out a win.   Of course, there are exceptions. When inventing a new solution to a long-lasting problem, persistence is key to finding the path that brings the invention to reality. It may take longer than expected, but the rewards are tremendous.   4 – Don't Feed The Trolls   The Internet is an endless source of content. Some content is informational, some is entertaining, and some is collaborative among users.   Forums often attract individuals seeking solutions to their problems. However, these spaces also create opportunities for trolls to emerge, providing misguided advice that derails progress.   Naturally, some will seek to fight back against these trolls by attacking them verbally. However, trolls remain immune to keyboard warriors and will always find ways to sidestep their words. Furthermore, dealing with trolls can significantly damage a serious individual's credibility.   One universal best way to deal with trolls is to starve them out. A troll that receives no attention will become sad and leave to conduct their business elsewhere.   5 – Nothing Goes Up Forever   It’s thrilling to join a group, event, or business that’s on the rise. The view improves considerably over time when we hop on the roller coaster during its ascent. The stunning view along the ascent makes everyone feel optimistic about the future.   However, it is often naive to think that the roller coaster will continue to rise forever. Ultimately, what goes up must come down. Popular fads and brands from ten years ago have become obsolete relics today. Companies at the top of their game have fallen and serve as stark reminders that change is inevitable.   In nature, we know that a species' population growth cannot continue indefinitely. As the population increases, its members consume more resources, resulting in fewer resources available in the future. Consequently, those who cannot obtain the resources needed for survival will perish, leading to a decline in population.   The same reality of nature is reflected in businesses, organizations, and any long-term endeavors. Therefore, we should learn to enjoy the upswing when it occurs and embrace ourselves when things start going downhill.   6 – Calculated Risks Are Required For A Better Life   There's an unfortunate stigma passed down from generation to generation: risk leads to ruin. Everyone seems to be clamoring to uncover the easiest path to success. This misguided mindset is responsible for more regret than anything else.   Here’s the reality of risk:   A life without risk is not worth living and tells no story.   Unfortunately, people continue to believe they will ultimately be better off if they avoid risks, as nothing will emerge from the woodshed to threaten them. While playing it safe may keep most obstacles and challenges at bay, it also eliminates opportunities to improve and position us more favorably.   Nearly every business, idea, and success story involves risk. However, these risks are not taken haphazardly. The key to most success stories lies in taking calculated risks, where failure is possible, but success is significantly more likely and rewarding.   When risks pay off, we reflect on them positively, expressing our gladness for taking them. However, not all risks are guaranteed to succeed. When they fail, we shouldn't simply give up – instead, we should consider what we can learn from the experience, adjust our strategy, and try again.   7 – More Connections Mean More Options   Nothing is sadder than a talented hermit who cannot connect. The stories of such individuals—homeless musicians, penniless intellectuals, and other masters who are so focused on their craft that they struggle to communicate with the world around them—are poignant.   Often, the reason these people are not successful is not that their skills are inadequate. Instead, they fail to connect with the world around them.   The good news is that if they can master some form of discipline at a deep level, they can also learn to connect with others. To broaden their social circle, they simply need to adopt the same skills and philosophies as everyone else.   Most people don't connect with the world around them because they believe they have nothing to offer.  On the contrary, people love pleasant surprises, so those with rich skills need to add value to others and expand their network.   The return on investment is not immediate. It’s a lagging metric that takes time to take effect fully. Connecting with others requires time and trust, as most people who forge new connections want to ensure their new connections are genuine.   The good news is that most people outside our current social circle don't have an opinion about us. This presents an enriching opportunity for us to connect with them and start new, fresh relationships that lead to a better outlook in life.   As our social circles grow, so do our opportunities.   8 – The Compounding Effect Works Everywhere   This is one of my favorite concepts to teach students in precalculus, finance, and any other skill or subject: The earlier you start, the better off you'll be. This advice is a cornerstone of the stock market, but it applies well beyond investing. Early investment in skills, people, knowledge, physical well-being, and every aspect of a person's life reaps great rewards.   What makes the compound effect genuinely remarkable is that it isn't always related to our active efforts. Our actions trigger our subconscious mind to work on and resolve issues without our awareness.   Ever struggled with a problem, slept on it, and suddenly a solution made sense? There’s a reason why sometimes sleeping on our problems is better than worrying about them.   The compounding effect relies more on our subconscious abilities than on our conscious ones. However, we must try to engage our subconscious mind with that specific avenue.   Unfortunately, most people don't start early because they want an immediate reward from their investments. Since most things in life don't offer immediate returns, most people miss far more opportunities than they realize.   The compounding effect works only when you play the long game, where momentum builds slowly at first and then gradually becomes overwhelming. Once this stage is reached, very few things can stop the wielder of such momentum from uncovering new opportunities.   9 – Nobody Wants To Be Told They're Wrong   This reminder stems from the fact that nobody wants to be perceived as an NPC. For those who aren't Gen Z, NPC stands for non-playable character. These characters are programmed to do a finite number of things, go through life's routines without realizing it, and break into a new routine.   As such, we all want to believe that our frame of mind and thoughts are fully justified. After all, we have left ourselves for our entire lives, so we've witnessed how everything has come together for ourselves.   When we receive feedback to correct ourselves, it's natural to search for flaws in the source of the criticism. The most stubborn individuals will dig in and defend their position, even if they are at fault. As a result, both sides accomplish far less while fuming and attacking each other instead of addressing the root problem.   We must recognize that we will always work with limited information. No one has a complete understanding of reality.  The more perspectives available, the closer we will get to the truth.   This insight offers further reasons for collaboration. When the right individuals come together, they can significantly boost their collective progress rather than tackle it like a solitary soldier.   Instead of telling someone they're wrong, offer a chance to hear their side. There may be some missing context that needs to be considered. Afterward, make a judgment call on collaborating toward a converging viewpoint.   Bonus – Days Go Faster When We Get Older   As a middle-aged Millennial, this truly resonates with me.   I remember when five minutes felt like a long time in elementary school. We had five minutes for a snack, which was enjoyable. Then came the lengthy classes, which seemed to drag on endlessly. When can I go home and play in the park?   Then came five minutes in high school. They passed more quickly. I felt like I had to hustle to get from class to class, but it was manageable.   Now, I feel like I lose five minutes every time I blink my eyes. Okay, I just checked, and it doesn't seem to happen, but it sure feels that way.   As we grow older, we accumulate more time and experience. Life presents us with more opportunities, and boredom is not an option for the most ambitious among us. It is said that the more engaged you are in life, the faster time appears to fly by.   However, I feel fantastic about what I'm doing these days. It’s better to live a fast-paced life filled with fulfilling pursuits than a slow life of boredom.   It reminds me of a good song from high school: “ Don't Blink” by Kenny Chesney . Although I didn't listen to much country music growing up, I still enjoy this song. Enjoy!

With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, many of us were forced to stay home and forbidden from going out unless absolutely necessary. For me, this meant the end of my engineering career, as business dried up instantly due to the effects of the pandemic.   While there were good intentions behind the lockdowns, they created a void of time for many people, including myself.  For those of us who love being active and productive, we abhor these vacuums.   Instead of trying Netflix, I chose to learn coding after waiting in vain for about three weeks for the lockdown to end.  I had some prior programming experience from writing scripts to solve engineering problems, but I genuinely wanted to understand how coding worked once and for all.  I believed it would be a valuable skill upon my return to the industry, making me more competitive in the job market.   Coding evolved from a mere activity to a full-blown obsession for me. I recall spending days in my apartment, only venturing out to grab groceries or meet with my fiancée (now wife).  Given all the time I dedicated to learning to code, you'd think that, given all the time I dedicated to learning to code, the pandemic would have wrapped up sooner, but it dragged on and on and on.   I enjoyed it so much that I was ready to abandon traditional engineering and pursue software engineering. While I did not end up in software engineering, my critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities sharpened dramatically.   Still, there were some other skills that would have been more beneficial in the long term if I had invested more time in them.   What I Wish I Spent More Time On   Even though coding was a highly sought-after skill before the sudden tech bust of 2022, I really wish I had spent more time mastering photography.   During the pandemic, being indoors with others wasn't an option, so many people spent time outdoors. In hindsight, I should have taken more pictures and walked more, as it would have been a healthier use of my time.   As I plowed through one coding challenge after another, I noticed that my willingness to go outside had dwindled significantly.  My fiancée joked that I was becoming a shut-in as we planned to move to California after the wedding later that year.  However, I felt it was a better investment of my time to master this skill to increase my marketability when arriving in the new lands of sunny SoCal.   Maybe she had a good point.   Why I Wish I Spent More Time on Photography   Although coding remains a significantly more marketable skill than photography, there are several key reasons why I wish I had spent more time on photography, or at least balanced my day between the two:   Go Outdoors More   Learning to code required me to sit down and tackle problems methodically, step by step. While I enjoyed the process, it was quite time-consuming, and by the time I completed a major problem, the sun had usually set. This meant that engaging in photography with my entry-level camera equipment was not really feasible.   In hindsight, I would have spent my mornings taking photographs and going for hikes when the lighting was optimal. This would have kept me active and healthier by getting my steps in and allowed me to see more of the Pacific Northwest before my days were numbered.   Additionally, I would've gone less stir crazy being indoors all the time if I had balanced photography in the mornings against coding later in the day.   I Had The Equipment Ready   Even without the best equipment at my disposal, I still had enough to capture beautiful moments in nature. There's something wonderful about taking a camera with you and how it ignites conversations with other outdoor enthusiasts.   Mark Twain’s wisdom resonates here: It doesn't matter where you start. It's more important to start now and learn better tools than to wait for perfection.   If it's on the shelf, it collects dust. A camera should be used to capture beautiful moments!   Already Had Experience With Photography   While I wasn't a professional photographer then, I was quite seasoned and had mastered the basics. My fiancée and I loved taking photos together, so we already had a good amount of experience and were eager to improve further.   On the other hand, my coding knowledge was still relatively new. Despite my previous experience in engineering and numerical analysis, coding presented its own challenges because I was not familiar with all the languages, syntaxes, and technologies available for building software. This made it difficult to persuade potential employers that I could continue making progress.   Additionally, there were times when I was stuck on certain concepts for a few days. Tools such as ChatGPT weren't available to bail me out. Instead, I sought answers on Stack Overflow.   Back then, I didn't believe that one could thrive in the arts without a lucky break.  Now, I see many others doing what I wish I had the courage to attempt.  However, I'm glad that I pursued photography more consistently rather than giving it up entirely.   How Programming Improved My Photography   At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive that my photography skills had somehow improved after spending days and weeks indoors on coding projects.   These seemingly small projects taught me how software operates on a larger scale and how most operations can be entirely reversed. This piqued my curiosity about other software used in other pursuits, such as Sibelius for music notation, Logic Pro for music production, Microsoft Word for writing, and Excel for data analysis.   Though I wish I had spent more time outside at the end of the day, I'm glad I invested as much time as I did into coding.  Here's how it poured back into my photography to make it better today:   I Played Around With Lightroom/ Photoshop A Lot More   While this may seem disheartening, I no longer assumed that software was somehow magical.  Instead, I understood there was a logical flow of tasks performed under the hood when editing photos.  Because of that, I became more curious about all the knobs and menu items in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom than ever before.   I suddenly questioned my usual routines by experimenting with different filters, lighting, color schemes, textures, and effects. It became easier to identify the steps and processes needed to create the desired final product. Even with some training on the software, certain operations remained unclear until I envisioned how computers were transforming data structures.   Consequently, my photos appeared more professional, despite using entry-level equipment.  It was gratifying to realize that my limited results were due to my efforts rather than the equipment itself.  Furthermore, I sensed that I had significantly more creative opportunities with photography and graphic design than I had ever experienced before.   I Realized The Immediate Applications of Object-Oriented Programming   Have you ever looked at a piece of software and realized that it's just a master application? This application is divided into objects, enabling you to tinker and build something new. When I understood this, it helped me think about editing my photos more concretely.   All I had to do was highlight which objects needed adjustment and go through each one step by step.  The magic was no longer in the potential possibilities of hoping for the right result.  Instead, the magic lay in the consistent results produced because I knew how to reach my end goal.   I Became More Explicitly Strategic In My Photoshoots & Edits   Code requires logical thinking to direct the computer to execute instructions to complete a task. Because code is the language of computational instruction, it became more natural for me to think strategically when using software.   I realized the value of developing systematic methods for editing photos to ensure even brightness, color correction, and detail enhancement. Suddenly, the seven years of random photography had finally clicked, and I could confidently produce consistent results.   Now, as long as my camera functions properly, I feel very confident editing everything captured. I expect little hiccups here and there, but these are more of an exception than the rule. More importantly, I enjoy sharing my photos with clients on my personal website and on social media.   It All Worked Out, Anyways   Learning to code was a great experience that benefited all my pursuits. Nowadays, I use code to build my own micro-AI, but as I continue my journey as a photographer, I feel more confident that I'll be able to quickly master new software implementations in Lightroom and Photoshop.   It's easy for me to criticize myself for not balancing coding and photography, but nobody knew how long the COVID-19 pandemic would last.  We all thought it would be over by Easter, but it lasted much longer.  That's why it's more important for me to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances.   Reflecting on my experiences, I realize that coding was the missing piece of the puzzle to balancing creative and logical thinking. Coding has opened many doors for me, enabling me to work faster, at a higher caliber, and with more enjoyment.    Hindsight is 20/20 (literally, in this case), but I'm glad I invested upfront in learning the craft of coding. I continue to reap the benefits of deep, balanced, creative, and logical thinking.

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