This list of principles is a living document that reflects the values, lessons, and habits I want to pass on to my child. It’s ever-evolving but rooted in timeless truths about relationships, health, purpose, and wealth.
No one is going to save you but you—take Extreme Ownership of your life.
Do not avoid problems; address them head-on and find the root cause.
You are responsible for your thoughts, actions, and outcomes.
“Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.”
Think in decades when making decisions.
Discipline = Freedom.
Start your day with 50 grams of protein at breakfast.
It is best to avoid alcohol. If drinking alcohol, limit to two drinks max.
Sauna for 15-20 minutes daily @ 170 to 190 degF. Wear a sauna hat and keep your testicles cold.
Procrastination is a sin—do it now if it takes less than two minutes.
Plan your day the night before.
Protect your calendar and schedule time for deep work.
Use checklists to avoid mistakes and reduce anxiety.
Review your goals every night and morning.
Choose your habits wisely—they shape your future.
Excellence requires far more work than you think.
Knowledge is potential power; execution is what matters. Take action.
Successful people think on longer time horizons—delayed gratification pays off.
Reading is the ultimate meta-skill—study deeply rather than chasing newness.
All benefits in life come from compound interest—apply this to relationships, learning and finances.
Environment - both people and places - is very important. Take time to cultivate your environment.
Compliment people more—help them see the best in themselves.
If you wouldn’t work with someone for life, don’t work with them for a day.
Praise specifically and criticize generally.
Invent family rituals—small, consistent routines create lasting memories.
Avoid scheduling flights that negatively impact your sleep (i.e. depart before 8 a.m. or arrive after 8 p.m).
Things you use a significant fraction of your life (bed, chair, shoes) are worth investing in.
Address health problems at their root cause - first place to check is your gut.
Perseverance, grit, and hope are essential for mental resilience.
WHO is more important than HOW—get the right people in the right roles.
Simplify everything, but understand the details.
Always feed decisions through the funnel: Eliminate, Simplify, Automate, Delegate, Procrastinate, or Concentrate.
The quality of your questions will dictate the quality of your life. Ask better questions.
Say “no” often; never say “yes” during a phone call.
Committees don’t make decisions; people do.
Leaders must repeat themselves constantly.
Train, set guardrails, or remove people—don’t rehabilitate them.
Be extremely selective when hiring—great teams are built on the right people in the right roles.
Managing people (and raising kids) is challenging but rewarding.
“Memento mori”—remember death and live with purpose.
Anger is like holding a hot coal, waiting to throw it—it only burns you.
Challenges make you stronger—embrace the obstacles as the way forward.
Rejection is God’s protection—trust the process.
Be brutally honest and kind at the same time.
Love is given, not received.
To be happy, you need a mission, a team, and a scorecard.
Start with the end goal in mind.
Spend money on experiences, not possessions.
Volume negates luck—keep showing up and taking action.
Moving fast is a competitive advantage.
Produce more than you consume.
The key to negotiations is to have multiple options.
Positive self-talk is powerful:
I am willing.
I am wired to win.
I embrace uncertainty.
I am not my thoughts; I am what I do.
I expect nothing and accept everything.
Be confident, optimistic, and aggressive with equanimity.
Persevere through failure—there is power in “one more” effort.
Event + Reaction = Outcome. The space between stimulus and response is your superpower—choose your reaction wisely.
Pray every morning.
Meditate regularly.
Life’s purpose is to grow and contribute—fulfill the six human needs: certainty, variety, importance, love, growth, and contribution.