My Principles

Inspired and intimidated by Ray Dalio’s, “Principles,” I am capturing my own, over time, on this page and in my blog.

Here they are in all their glory:

• Don’t let the rain stop you. Unless the rain poses an objective hazard, go. Show up.
• If serendipity brings you something more than once, pay attention. The world provides limitless opportunity when you remain open and inquisitive. Things that strike a chord multiple times require follow up.
• Write or draw to understand. If you cannot produce a narrative or drawing that a reasonable person can understand, you are missing something (based on the Feynman Technique).
• Keep trying even when it entails failure or not being good at something. Opportunity and greatness comes from discovering new connections—there’s a lot of failure in there too but greatness is not a zero-sum game.
• Never skimp on little luxuries that make you feel rich. For me, that’s coffee and bacon.
• Listen with an open mind. Shut up. Listen. Ask questions. Learn more.
• Brilliant people have questions, morons have answers. Accept the fact that your unvarnished opinion may suck. Not everyone is required to know where you stand on any issue. You close down a lot of conversation by staking a position you haven’t thought through.
• Everyone has different frameworks for assessing right and wrong. Assume good intentions and seek to understand, even if agreement may be impossible.
• Wear nice shoes. Life is too short to walk around on a shitty foundation.