Personal User Manual

What is this? See this article for an explainer.

Values

I value honesty, integrity, intrinsic motivation, bias for action, extreme ownership, logical reasoning, grit, and attention to detail.

Decisions

Data is good, but good decisions do not always require it.

Time is the most precious asset, so I default to saying no to new commitments.

One-way door decisions are made slowly and methodically. Two-way door decisions are made quickly and iteratively. See this shareholder letter for an explanation of difference.

When I make a decision, I communicate it clearly and concisely.

I must be presented with evidence more compelling than that I currently have to change course.

Work and Focus

I work best asynchronously and when given long, uninterrupted stretches to think deeply.

When collaborating, I prefer a video call with screen sharing to minimize miscommunication.

I am most productive when I can focus on a single task for an extended period of time.

I sometimes work in intense bursts of activity at odd hours.

I thrive in environments that value strategic thinking and embrace calculated risk-taking to drive meaningful change.

Collaboration

I strongly prefer a write-first culture where meetings are to agree upon a pre-existing document that all stakeholders have reviewed and contributed to.

When having a meeting, I prefer at least 48 hours of notice and a written document articulating the reason for the meeting, what questions we need answered, and what action items we want to decide on before the end of the call.