Operating Principles
These are the principles that guide how you lead, decide, and live. They are not aspirations — they are commitments. When faced with ambiguity, return here.
Review these quarterly. Edit them as you evolve. Principles that no longer serve you should be retired with gratitude.
How I Lead
1. Clarity is kindness
I communicate with directness and specificity. Vague expectations create anxiety. Clear expectations create safety. I say what I mean and mean what I say.
2. Energy before tactics
My state determines my effectiveness. When my energy is wrong, my decisions are wrong. I protect my physical, mental, and emotional reserves before optimizing anything else.
3. Fewer things, done completely
I resist the temptation to start many things. I commit to finishing what I start or explicitly choosing to stop. Half-done work creates drag.
4. Speed over perfection, except when it isn't
Most decisions are reversible. I move fast on those. Some decisions are permanent. I slow down for those. I know the difference.
5. People first, then problems
I invest in relationships before I need them. I assume good intent until proven otherwise. I address issues directly rather than letting resentment compound.
How I Decide
6. Regret minimization
When uncertain, I ask: "At 80 years old, will I regret not doing this?" I optimize for a life without major regrets, not a life without any failures.
7. Leverage vs. effort
Not all work creates equal value. I distinguish between:
- High leverage: Small inputs that create large, lasting outputs
- Low leverage: Large inputs that create small, temporary outputs
I ruthlessly protect my time for high-leverage work.
8. The 10/10/10 rule
For hard decisions, I consider: How will I feel about this in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years? This surfaces what actually matters.
9. Reversibility check
If a decision is easily reversible, I decide quickly and iterate. If it's hard to reverse (people, reputation, capital), I take more time. I don't treat all decisions the same.
10. Skin in the game
I don't ask others to do what I wouldn't do. I take responsibility for outcomes, not just intentions. I share in the downside of my decisions.
How I Live
11. Health is the foundation
Without physical and mental health, nothing else works. Sleep, movement, nutrition, and recovery are not optional — they are infrastructure.
12. Relationships compound
The people in my life are my greatest asset and my deepest responsibility. I invest time in relationships that matter. I let go of relationships that drain.
13. Time is the only scarce resource
I can make more money. I cannot make more time. I treat my calendar as a reflection of my values. If it's not on the calendar, it's not real.
14. Enough is a decision
I define "enough" in advance — enough money, enough success, enough recognition. Without a definition of enough, I will never feel it.
15. Growth requires discomfort
Comfort is the enemy of growth. I regularly place myself in positions where I might fail, look foolish, or feel uncertain. That's where the learning is.
My Non-Negotiables
These are the commitments you do not compromise, regardless of circumstance:
My Personal Board of Directors
These are the people whose judgment you trust to challenge your thinking. When facing a major decision, consult at least one.
| Name | Role in My Life | What They Challenge Me On |
|---|---|---|
Principles I'm Currently Testing
Not all principles are permanent. These are ideas you're experimenting with:
Experimental Principle 1:
Started:
Hypothesis:
Status:
- Keeping
- Discarding
- Still testing