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- Regularly seek out the most intelligent people you can and talk with them – if they disagree with you, even better. You only get to be right if you’re willing to admit all the places you’re wrong.
- Get into the habit of testing your assumptions. Don’t just have an opinion, try it out in the real world. Ideology is great, but real-world results are better.
- Never take criticism personally. Keep your ego intact by adjusting yourself as necessary
- Be happy to disagree. Some of the best things happen when people have the guts to go against the grain.
- Don’t think of power as something static. There is always room for negotiation. When you get a “no” from someone in power, try to think of the question that will give you a “yes”.
- Fail early, and fail small. A lean startup gives you the most information about your product in your marketplace with the least investment. Don’t waste time building a big machine that fails big, too.
- Guard your reputation. In business, perceptions are everything. Find your code and stick to it, come hell or high water. More important than morality is consistency and coherence.
- Move. Nothing in life stays the same, so never stop looking for new vehicles to ride new waves. Whatever you do, make sure your actions can evolve with time.
