Individual Contributor is a loosely used word in the corporate world and normally refers to people who have a unique skillset whether it is Technology or domain or process related and for some strange reason, are assumed to be working on their own without the need of having a team
While technically this person may not have anyone reporting to him/her, this role is a critical cog in the wheel for any organization and has to closely collaborate with everyone else in the team to achieve the final goal set for the group. The individual becomes a key performer and a star contributor only after he/she understands the broader team needs and also the rest of the team members rally around this person once they realize the value he/she brings to the table
This blog is dedicated to the technical architects, consultants, domain experts and many other individual contributors, whose potential is best leveraged when the ecosystem understands their expertise better and the individual also mentors/grooms every team members they get to work with
I need not go too far to find such a number and have chosen the Zip code of my Alma Mater, BITS Pilani, Rajasthan India - It is the magical 333031! I have written about this number in the past and thought this is the right opportunity to explore deeper
1. To start with, 333031 is somewhat unique like an individual contributor and it is a Prime Number
2. Now it doesn't stop there - 33331, 3331, 331, 31 which are subsets of 333031 are all prime! Such is the diversity this number brings in just like an individual contributor role is expected to have a breadth of skillsets!
3. Let's look at the number 65536 - very well know in the computer world and is a product of multiple factors. It could be written as multiples of 2, 4, 16, 64 and truly a number which is a conglomeration of multiple smaller factors or team members.
65536 x 5 is 327680 which is equivalent of a larger team, 5 times the original size working together on a transformational initiative. Now add a prime number 5351 to 327680 and you get the answer as 333031 which is our Star individual contributor to start with! This is a classic example of how someone with unique skillsets can be part of a larger team comprising of smart individuals and constantly enable them to deliver towards a common goal!
4. On similar lines, like we saw in one of the earlier blog post, 2520 is the lowest 4 digit number which has factors from 1 to 10. In essence, 2520 is a combination of diverse set of numbers (team members with varying skillsets) coming together
Let's look at the last 3 digits of 333031 in reverse order (130). Multiply 2520 and 130 and we get 327600. When we add another prime number 5431 to 327600 we get back 333031! Yet another example of how individual contributors (prime number equivalent) have to work hand in hand with the larger team to successfully deliver the tasks
5. 333031 itself brings lot of unique attributes to the table just like a Tech Arch or Tech Lead or Domain consultant or Network Engineer is expected to bring unique skillsets
5a. Product of its non-zero digits is 81 which is a perfect square.
5b Sum of all of its digits is 13 which is a prime number on its own
5c Sum of the squares of all of its gitis is 37 which is a prime number again and when multiplied with 9 it gives 333 which is the first 3 digit of the number!
5d Sum of the cubes of all of its digits is 109 which is again prime and 109 in turn is sum of two perfect squares - 100 and 9!
Truly 333031 turns out to be a very unique number, having multiple key attributes that are required in an ecosystem and at the same time delivers the best when it is in the company of a larger team (numbers like 65536, 2520 in this case as we saw above)
