Values & Principles
Words I (try to) live by
Values
Presence
Deliberate attention to the moment and the people in it.
Curiosity
A pull to explore, ask, and revise.
Integrity
I am honest with myself and others. A few things get my best attention.
Growth
My growth compounds through consistency.
Family
My pull is to raise happy kids - the sum of many things coming together.
Principles
Create the time, don't find it
Actively choose what to spend time on. It's easy to doom-scroll while feeling too busy to take time for the things that matter.
Ask boldly to revise beliefs quickly
The most effective way to learn is by asking questions and having opinions, loosely held.
Make it easy and safe for others to be candid with me
Giving honest feedback is hard so I want to make it as easy and safe as possible.
Rely on systems, not willpower
I design my environment so the right move is the easy move. I judge and iterate by what works repeatedly, not by what I meant to happen.
Make progress that makes future progress easier
Compounding is one of the greatest powers there is. I focus on getting 1% better every day, not on periodic pushes.
Surround yourself with people who actively seek feedback
Most of the people I look up to actively seek feedback to grow. I am the outcome of the people I surround myself with.
Guard each “yes”
I choose commitments I can and want to take on. I want fewer promises getting my best attention.
Find wealth in needing little
Hedonic adaptation is real. Wealth is fewer needs, not more stuff - I invest in what I use daily, ignore ad-made cravings, and choose quality over trends.
Give specific, sincere appreciation whenever merit appears
People will forget what you said, but not how you made them feel. If I have something positive to say, I say it — specifically, promptly, and sincerely.
Everything and everyone presents a learning opportunity
I picked this up from Jack Fuchs. My goal is to live every day ready to learn from others. Some of the best lessons often come from unlikely sources.
Special thanks to Jack Fuchs, who helped me define my personal and company principles during my time at Stanford (ENGR 148/248)