Principles

Here are some things I believe:

• ABL: Always Be Learning.
• Every skill is a muscle to be exercised.
• Changing your mind based on new data is a superpower.
  • (Most people don’t ever change their minds)
• Speed is under-appreciated in almost every context.
• Tremendous outcomes require tremendous amounts of hard work.
  • (Smarts alone are not enough)
• Luck matters a lot, but you can help luck find you.
• Be deliberate, and comfortable with risk.
  • (Most people are impulsive, and risk-averse)
• Combine optimism about technology with realism about humanity.
• Life is too short to play zero-sum games.
• If you’re not curious, what’s the point?
  • (This is a good filtering function)
• Discipline doesn’t restrict your choices, it expands them.
• Excellence is a habit, and should be cultivated as such.
• Attention to detail separates the pros from the tourists.
• Action produces information.
• Compete with yourself.
• Do work that only you can do.
• Be unfailingly kind, even when – especially when! – it’s hard.
  • But recognize that kindness isn’t the same as niceness.
• Character is grace under pressure.
  • When the chips are down, who do you want to be?
• Arguments about means are often arguments about variances.
• Compassion, empathy and courtesy signal strength, not weakness.
• Take care of yourself in order to take care of others.
• Do less to do more.
• Knowing your own preferences is the key to happiness.
• No task is too small to do well.
• If you don’t blow your own trumpet, it shall remain unblown.
  • (I struggle with this)
• Individuals matter more than institutions.
• Technology is a force for good. Use it well.
• Markets are the best way we know to allocate resources.
• Big dreams, sincerity and enthusiasm are all good things.
• Be ambitious in the service of abundance, not insecurity.
• Cynics appear smart, but optimists change the world.

Have fun, be good, work hard, stay happy, make a difference!