Lessons From My Maths Teacher That Shaped My Career

When I was in the 9th standard we got a new Maths teacher – let’s call him SS sir. At that time we were at that stage in life when we didn’t think much of teachers, and new ones were prime targets for mischief. But back then, corporal punishment wasn’t frowned upon, and within his first few days, SS sir made it clear who was in charge. We quickly learned that staying disciplined in his class was in our best interest.

Once this order was established, we began to see that SS sir was different from the other Maths teachers we’d had. He taught Maths the way it should have been taught – with structure and logic. He focused not just on the final answer, but on the approach we used to get there. He deducted marks for flawed approaches, even if we somehow got the right answer. This was new for us. Until then, the final answer was all that mattered, the steps, not so much. It took some time to adjust, but once we did, those of us with an intuitive interest in Maths thrived under his guidance.

One day during class, he insisted that when expanding (a+b)² we should write it as a² + 2ab + b², and not as a² + b² + 2ab. He said that this was the right way to do it, as it followed a logical flow: the power of a decreases as the power of b increases. While both versions are mathematically correct, the latter disrupted the flow and didn’t feel as intuitive.

At the time, his insistence seemed like a quirk, but I later realized it was a lesson in structure, order, and clarity. When preparing for engineering entrance exams, this pattern made it easier to expand higher powers like (a+b)³ and (a+b)⁴. For e.g., (a+b)³ can be quickly expanded as a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³ by following the logical structure he taught:

• You start with the highest power of a (3) and the lowest power of b (0): a³
• You then decrease the power of a by 1 and increase the power of b by 1: a²b
• You continue this until a‘s power is 0 and b‘s power is 3: b³

Following the structured approach not only made the expansion easier and intuitive but also helped me grasp more complex concepts later on. (side note: even the coefficients follow a pattern – see Pascal’s Triangle).

—

There’s another incident that is etched in my mind. It was during my 10th grade half-yearly exams. My sister’s wedding took place the day before the exams began. While I managed to do well in most subjects, I flunked Biology. It was the first time I had a red mark on my report card, and though I expected it, it came as a shock to my parents, teachers, and friends.

SS sir asked me what went wrong. I told him I couldn’t study properly because of the wedding. His response hit me hard:

“Anshul, you knew months ago about your sister’s wedding. You could have planned better.”

I had been using the wedding as an excuse, passing the blame onto external circumstances. His comment made me realize the problem was within my control, and I had failed to plan accordingly.

This incident was a wake-up call. I created a proper study plan for my 10th boards and stuck to it. He also guided me strategically, encouraging me to focus on high-weightage topics and pay attention to details examiners would generally look for. That experience taught me an important lesson about accountability, planning, and preparation.

—

Years later, when I entered the workforce, I saw how SS sir’s lessons extended beyond the classroom. His emphasis on solving problems the right way for clarity and long-term understanding, and his focus on structured processes, applied directly to my work. Early on, when I was new to SQL at Facebook, I would leave comments at every step in my queries explaining the logic I had used. Over time, this not only helped me refine my skills but also made it easier for new joiners to understand the business logic later. The structure and order SS sir ingrained in us helped me build clarity in my work.

This lesson of structure and methodical order carried through my career. In my experience, bringing structure to work has a lasting impact on one’s career. You might not see immediate results, but it’s like a mutual fund—it compounds over time.

When you work in companies that hire top talent, simply doing your job isn’t a differentiator – everyone is doing that. What truly makes the difference is consistently doing things the right way: with structure, clarity, and reliability. These qualities help build trust and credibility over time.

The lessons I’m sharing today tie directly to what I learned from SS sir about these traits. I often share these lessons with my team, and by now, I’m sure they’ve heard them enough times that I probably sound like a broken record. But, just like I didn’t always see eye to eye with my managers early in my career (something I reflected on in this article about my career journey), and only later realized that many of their methods made perfect sense, I can only hope that my team, too, will eventually come to appreciate the true value of these principles.

Master the Basics

Small habits make a big difference. Basic things like replying to emails on time, acknowledging messages received on slack, or presenting your thoughts clearly and in a structured manner may seem minor, but they build the foundation of dependability. It may not get you immediate recognition, but when done consistently, it becomes second nature, and you build a reputation as someone reliable – opening doors down the line, often in ways you might not expect.

Create and Follow Good Processes

Similar to importance of structure in solving equations, processes in the workplace bring clarity. The idea of “process” can get a bad reputation, especially in fast-paced environments like tech. But the right processes streamline work, save time, and increase productivity. Take documentation – it seems tedious at first, but it’s a lifesaver when handing over a project to someone new. Similarly, using project management tools like Jira may feel unnecessary when the focus is on delivering tasks, but it ensures accountability and provides a clear record for future reference. The key is balance: follow processes that add value and avoid those that create unnecessary friction.

Leave a Lasting Impression When Moving On

It has been many years since I left school, yet when my friends and I catch up, SS sir’s name often comes up. We don’t remember all the topics he taught, but we remember how he shaped how we think and approach problems today.

When you move on from a job, what people (peers, managers, stakeholders) will remember is not the analysis you delivered, but if you were someone they could count on. It’s not your Python skills that will leave a void – it’s easy to hire and coach for that – it’s the reliability and trust you’ve built over time that will set you apart. It’s easy to forget, but as you climb the career ladder, your network becomes your strongest ally. You have one final chance to leave a lasting impression – don’t waste it. Make sure you have completed all your tasks, transitioned your responsibilities properly, and created documentation about your work for your manager to help them when you are gone. Do this and the reputation of reliability will stay with people long after you’re gone.

—

These small, simple actions do not require much effort but establish you as a dependable, reliable person. Surprisingly, not many people follow through with them.

Ultimately, SS sir’s insistence on expanding the binomial the right way wasn’t just a quirk – it was a lesson in the value of order and structure in life. He made me appreciate Maths beyond equations, helping me get organized and build a systematic approach to solving problems. His rebuke after I flunked my Biology exam taught me an important lesson in accountability. I realized that success lies in preparation and taking responsibility for our actions.

These principles – structure, process, and accountability – have been just as relevant in managing teams and projects as they were in solving Maths problems. They have shaped my approach throughout my career, and I continue to rely on them today.

Photo Credit:

1. Feature Image: Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash