ENKR's Blog | Jing Hui PANG

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✨ Highlights of the Week

i completely forgot to mention something from the previous week—it slipped my mind while writing! 💀 i guess the gym story took the spotlight for me.

i had the honour of being a judge at the Ignition Beatbox Academy Event by the 555 Beatbox Initiative on 12th October 2024. the judging panel included Clarkceds, Varen, and myself, and it was such a privilege to be a part of it. we judged the level 2 students' showcases and the level 3 battle. watching them perform was a proud moment. i still remember seeing some of these students on their first day, and now, to witness how far they've come—it's honestly incredible.

okay, let's talk about this week!

this week was pretty chill overall. i had a few gym sessions with Inovity, and honestly, having someone push you to failure just hits different! 🔥

seeing my coworkers travelling for business trips did make me feel a little envious—i'd love to go on one soon. they've been travelling so often, and i'm really happy for them! i'm just waiting for my chance and feeling excited for whenever that happens, or maybe i will have to fight for it? idk, it is a mix of feelings 🥹🤞🏼 but at the end of the day, i know that everyone has their own timing. i will keep pushing myself and doing my best, knowing that my opportunity will come when it is meant to. turning that envy into motivation is what keeps me going—i have learned to celebrate others while still working towards my own goals. 🫶🏻

on the work front, i've been feeling more motivated and super productive. i made it a point to be proactive, asking more questions (not the dumb kind tho 😂). i always try things myself first before seeking help.

overall, this week was a productive one!

下周继续加油 竞辉！💪🏼

🥰 Memories

i was really touched when i saw this security guard helping a lady with her baby stroller on the escalator. she was holding a baby, with two other kids around, and this moment just felt so heartwarming. 🥺

Credits

• 555 Pictures by Kelvin Kek

Learn how to configure a subdomain on GitHub Pages, troubleshoot CNAME issues, and ensure smooth deployment with Hexo. This guide simplifies the process to get your site up and running with a custom domain.

✨ Highlights of the Week

this week, something really struck me during one of my workout sessions with toby. i had been casually "coaching" him, showing him my workout style and sharing techniques i've picked up over the years. but what came next hit me like a life metaphor that i didn't see coming.

"Work is like working out", toby said.

you can start off pushing hard—whether it's at work or in the gym. sometimes, you overdo it, like putting in long hours at work without the right strategy, or hitting the gym with bad form. the funny thing is, if no one points out that you're doing it wrong, you might not even realise it. that's where a personal trainer (PT) in the gym—or a mentor at work—comes in. they're there to guide you, correct your form, and show you the correct way, the better way, refine your technique, and show you a more effective path—one that not only helps you reach your goals but also gets you there faster and with greater precision. but here's the key difference: in work, people aren't going to proactively correct you, you have to be proactive yourself. ask the right questions, observe, listen, learn, and most importantly, be consistent. success comes down to consistently showing up and putting in the work, whether it's in the gym or in life.

ByteDance and the Gym

toby pointed out something else that really hit home for me. he said working at ByteDance is a lot like working out. there's a "7-2-1" approach there, where you dive into the deep end (the "7") without first mastering the basics (the "1"). it reminded me of when i first started gymming two years ago. i was clueless about proper form or technique, yet i still managed to get into shape by watching a few YouTube tutorials. but looking back, i wonder—was all the time i spent really worth it? would i have gotten there faster if i had invested in a PT early on? work is the same. you can't expect people to hold your hand. you have to seek out mentors, guidance, and constantly refine your "form." 💪

Life Lessons from the Gym

then toby dropped a truth bomb: "you've succeeded in the gym, going from a skinny guy to a 'buff load,' so why not apply the same concept to life?" 💡

that hit me hard. the way i push myself to the failure in the gym, the way i visualise each exercise to make sure it works—those same principles can be applied to life. and toby made me realise that i've actually been influencing others, showing them how to push themselves beyond their limits. now, it's my turn to find someone who can influence me and take me to the next level, just like i helped toby.

we also talked about how important it is to be specific in communication. vague feedback like "this is good" or "i think it's working" won't help anyone grow. you need to explain why something is good, and avoid phrases like "i feel like..." that leave things too open-ended. clarity and precision are what help people improve.

Meeting Niq, the PT

later in the week, we met niq, a PT at Fitness First, and he was just different. there was no ego, no attitude—just genuine passion for working out. he was sharing machines with us and offering small tips, like we were all gym buddies. at first, i didn't even know he was a PT. but when he dropped a tip on how to engage our triceps better during pushdowns, it clicked for me. it was one of those moments where you think you know something, but you're not applying it properly. it made me realise how important these small adjustments are. 💪

what really set niq apart from other PTs i've met was how freely and passionately he shared his knowledge, expecting nothing in return. it reminded me of how i approach things—i genuinely love helping people, without expecting anything back. seeing that same energy in niq made me realise that's the vibe i want to continue spreading in my life too.

Reflections

this week really opened my eyes to how the lessons we learn in one area—whether it's the gym, work, or relationships—can apply to others. consistency, communication, and the willingness to learn are the keys to success, no matter what you're striving for. just like in the gym, in life, you need the right form, the right guidance, and the right mindset to reach your goals.

life and work are like a gym session—it's all about finding the right balance, asking the right questions, and putting in the effort every day, even when it's tough. 🧠

📝 Reading Insights

"Being selective about how you spend your time, and who you spend your time with, is the greatest sign of self-respect."

🥰 Memories

A Fulfilling Week

on the 2nd of october, my siblings and i jumped on a call with my mom, right at midnight sg time, to wish her a happy birthday! it was special because this year, we were all in different countries, but we still made the time to connect, no matter the distance. we promised to celebrate properly with dinner when my sis gets back on saturday, can't wait! ❤️

toby invited me for a 3-day free trial session at Fitness First. he mentioned our gym sessions were even more valuable than his private ones 🥺.

AND daidai whipped up 刀削面 for me at his place, it was so good-who knew instant noodles could taste that scrumptious!? have you ever had instant noodles so good you wouldn't believe they came from a packet?! that's what he cooked up for me! the view from his condo and the comfort of those noodles-it was all just what i needed. OH, and let me not forget—he has the cutest cat! 😭

unfortunately, our plan to celebrate my mom's birthday got delayed because of my sis' flight being rescheduled 😔. but i am really looking forward to when she is back and we can have that family moment together.

📝 Reading Insights: Negative Manifestation

1. "Failure tempts people to lose focus as motivation and belief decrease, but success tempts people to lose focus even more, as opportunities, offers, and capabilities increase." this made me think—sometimes, when things are going well, it's easier to get distracted by new offers and ideas, and you lose sight of the core goal.
   1. Failure and Loss of Focus: when people experience failure, their motivation and self-belief often diminish. this leads to a loss of focus because their confidence in achieving their goals has been shaken. in other words, failure makes it harder to stay on track due to the discouragement it creates.
   2. Success and Loss of Focus: the surprising insight here is that success can be an even bigger challenge to focus. When people experience success, it can open up many new opportunities, offers, and capabilities. while this sounds like a positive situation, it can also lead to a dilution of focus. success brings distractions in the form of new projects, side ventures, or alternative paths. the challenge here is to maintain the same level of discipline and singular focus that helped achieve success in the first place.

while failure demotivates, success overwhelms with possibilities, both of which can cause a loss of focus. the key takeaway is the importance of staying focused no matter the external circumstances—whether in the face of failure or success.

2. "You can predict someone's success in any area of their life by observing how willing and capable they are at dealing with uncomfortable conversations. Your personal progression is trapped behind an uncomfortable conversation." it's a reminder for me that the path to growth often comes through discomfort, especially when it comes to communication.

3. "Embracing this duality of thought – balancing positivity with negativity – equips us with the wisdom, fortitude and foresight to forge a more successful path forward."

🥰 Memories

References

1. Octobox
2. Pressure is a Privilege

Notion Database

🗣️ How to Be a Strong Hire - Interview Insights

🎯 Problem: Odd-Even Linked List

How to explain it in an interview to show you’re a strong hire:

"To solve this, I used a two-pointer strategy — one for odd-indexed nodes and one for even-indexed nodes. I conceptually treat the linked list like two interleaved sublists — one for all odd nodes and one for even ones.

As I traverse, I rewire the .next pointers to separate these two sequences. The critical insight is understanding that in a linked list, updating .next alone is not enough — I also need to move the tail pointer forward. I call this the 'tail follows head' principle: once I update odd.next, I must move odd = odd.next so that the tail pointer remains accurate for future rewiring.

After separation, I stitch the end of the odd list to the head of the even list, which I preserved before modification. This keeps the operation in-place with O(1) space and O(n) time."

🔁 Bonus phrasing:

“I reused the existing node structure instead of allocating new nodes.”

“The key is safe pointer progression — modifying .next and moving the active pointer in tandem.”

“It’s a pointer-surgery problem with clear sequencing logic.”

Binary Tree

topics...

Problems

909. Snakes and Ladders

1

[ 0, -1, 15, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, 35, -1, -1, 13, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1, -1 ]

Reflections

this week, i went back to malaysia to celebrate 79th birthday (华人生日) of my grandpa (爷爷) 👴🏽. it was such a priceless moment seeing him so happy that night 🥺❤️. time really does fly—it feels like just yesterday he was still the strong, sharp grandpa, but now, he's aged. seeing him now, young at heart but older in body, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. it reminds me how fragile time is, how every moment we spend together is precious. seeing my grandparents, my parents, my nieces, everyone age... it's hard to accept... and i don't want to face that reality, but, seeing how well they are all doing, seeing the love we share, somehow makes it easier. it's like a wave of bittersweet emotions all at once, it's complex.

i've been thinking a lot about time lately, how quickly it passes, and how i spent it. i want to be more present, to focus on what really matters—family, love, connection. i've started small, hiding most of my social media apps, and honestly, it's helping. it's a little step, but it feels like the right one. i don't want to look back and realise i've missed out on the important things because i was too busy staring at a screen. i want to really know my family, understand them better, and love them even more. ❤️

time, please don't fly so fast... 🥺🥲😭 let me soak in these moments just a little longer.

📝 Reading Insights from The Diary of a CEO:

1. Be a Plan-A thinker: while i don't entirely agree with this mindset, it does make sense in some situations. being a Plan-A thinker forces you to focus on your goal with no distractions—there's no backup plan to fall back on. like the book says, "Having a backup plan, or even considering one, has been shown to potentially hinder your performance by making you less driven to hit your primary goal." without plan B, u have no choice but to work harder.
2. Perseverance & consistency: "Pain in every walk of life is unavoidable, but the pain that we create by trying to avoid pain is avoidable." this really resonated with me. it's a reminder that trying to avoid discomfort or pain often creates more problems than facing it head-on.
3. Pressure is a Privilege: stress and pressure aren't the same thing. while pressure can lead to stress, it can also be a driving force for growth when handled well. "Comfortable and Easy are short-term friends but long-term enemies. If you're looking for growth, choose the challenge." choosing challenges over comfort is what leads to real growth.

🥰 Memories

In this note, I walk through how I reverse a singly linked list using a dummy node in JavaScript. Sharing my thought process and a step-by-step breakdown, this guide is for anyone looking to understand the logic behind linked list reversal with clear, visual examples.

✨ Highlights of the Week

this past week felt pretty normal, but not in a bad way. it was mid-autumn festival, and i had a quick gathering with my relatives. the weather, though, wasn't having it—it rained so heavily, felt like i could see things flying around! despite that, it was a good time with the family.

Little Lesson

one little lesson that i relearned this week is how "If you don't care about tiny details you'll produce bad work because good work is the culmination of hundreds of tiny details. The world's most successful people sweat the small stuff". this really hit home for me, especially when i think about beatboxing—something i know well. i've realised that the key to becoming great in any area, especially in beatboxing, is focusing on the smallest details. the moments when i step back and refine those tiny things are what push my skills to the next level.

🥰 Memories

An in-depth guide to solving LeetCode 139 with Dynamic Programming. Understand the problem, approach, and implementation step by step with detailed explanations and examples.

An in-depth guide to solving LeetCode 97 with 2D Dynamic Programming. Understand the key concepts, step-by-step implementation, and analogies to master the problem.