I am on a 50 day writing streak. 🎉

My writing so far has been a continuous reflection on what it means to lead, navigate a career, and simply exist in a world defined by constant change. It boils down to a few fundamental philosophies centered around authenticity, communication, action, and adaptation.

Here is a summary of the guiding principles that shape my approach to work and life.

1. Authenticity is the Non-Negotiable

The first rule is the most crucial: don’t trade your identity to “play the game.”

I’ve learned the hard way to distinguish between influence (like helping someone feel ownership of a good idea) and inauthenticity (like losing yourself just to please others). When the seas are rough, a leader must hold the helm in a way that truly fits them. It takes courage to trust your gut and walk away from a “soft toxic” environment, the one that gives you positive feedback but keeps you in perpetual professional limbo. You must be prepared to leave if the organization demands you compromise your values.

2. Leadership is an Optimized Database

Effective leadership isn’t just about presence; it’s about preparation and strategic communication.

• The People Database: As a leader, you must treat your memory as an optimized “People Database.” Actively log observations, achievements, and challenges—the “data”—so that when it’s time for performance reviews, you can retrieve specific, performant feedback instead of relying on vague recollections.
• Overcommunicate: I believe people only listen to what they want to listen to, and often, they aren’t ready to listen the first time. Therefore, no communication is wasted. You must overcommunicate because what seems like the tenth time you’ve said something might be the first time it truly registers with someone else.
• Executive Storytelling: In high-stakes meetings, the goal is not to air grievances. It’s to demonstrate executive presence by shifting from complaining to “contributing.” Anchor your message in credibility, structure your narrative around What, So What, Now What, and always make a single, clear ask. Show them what you have to offer, not what you want.

3. Cultivate a Bias for Action

Our lives are a non-stop chain of decisions. Paralysis by analysis is the enemy of progress.

I have a strong bias for action and trust my instincts, which I know are simply a result of my brain quickly processing past experiences. Whether the decision is small (like waiting for a bus) or large (like hiring or firing), the power is in the reflection, not the outcome. Everything can be treated as if it happens for a reason. Don’t dwell on the past; instead, look back, learn what worked and what didn’t, and carry the wisdom forward.

4. Adaptation is the Only Constant

Finally, the rhythm of life, just like the cycle of the seasons, from the vibrancy of summer to the starkness of winter, demands constant adaptation.

Whether it’s the evolution from the pre-internet era to the AI era, or a simple shift in your work scope, change is the only constant. We must be prepared to blend, evolve, and move along with these advancements. If the non-human world understands how to adapt, humans must too. We must choose to be like the resilient tree, ready to shed and grow anew, ensuring that our experience isn’t just a record of the past, but a preparation for the next inevitable bloom.

This intentional cycle of Action and Reflection is how we grow, maintain our integrity, and find success, even if sometimes we just stop for a moment to reminisce about the pure community energy of a time gone by, like Hacktoberfest 2021.