I remember sometime in the past I have played an interesting game called 'Super Selector'. This game is still being played with some different names on different websites. The game is quite simple and straight forward. The participant has to play the role of 'Team Manager' and has to select his/her dream team. This team can be across the borders and countries. Each participant has to choose the team subject to specified rules and regulations. Typically one has to choose a cricket team of 11 players. And there should be minimum 3 batsman, 3 bowlers, 1 keeper and 2 All rounders etc etc.
The tricky part of the game is that we have to select great combination within a given budget. Apparently it appears to be an optimization problem to be solved for maximum / best performance. That's all ! But wait, on a closer look, don't you think this is not much different than our day to day life?
In most of the situations we have to take decisions. These decisions have to satisfy certain rules. And still we have to get best out of that situation. Besides rules there are several minimum requirements that are to be met (just like Minimum 3 batsman etc.). We can not really bypass these requirements. Just take an example : While selecting our life partner we consider certain parameters like the partner should be good looking, smart, intelligent, at least a graduate, must be employed, should have a minimum height of 5'3'' but not more than 5'6'' etc etc. We know, we are not going to marry someone who is satisfying everything except the fact that the height is way beyond the set limits :). But rather we try to optimize on the other parameters so that the factors are within our limits.
Same thing which is true about marriage, is also true about the other challenges in life. Then be it job selection, college selection or anything else for that matter. The bottom line is we have to optimize our choices and select the combination that we think will is the best. Each and everyone of us has to make these choices. The questions are almost similar, but the difference in solving lies in the individuals art of optimization. This art is unique to each person. Everyone has their own way of assigning importance to the parameters and selecting the combination of solutions. We have to simply register our choice and face the test of TIME. The TIME will prove someone right and someone wrong. But the one whose choices withstand on the playground of the TIME, is ultimately the 'SUPER SELECTOR'.
