Hajra Naz
“Principles” by Ray Dalio is the source of these principles.
The book “Principles” has been the best book for me. It profoundly influenced my personal life and shaped how I manage a tech company.
1. Failure is not a real thing.
Embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth is essential, while ignoring or covering them up is a recipe for stagnation.
When exploring new ideas, reassure others that setbacks and blunders are a natural stepping stone to progress.
A cycle of ambitious objectives, experimentation, and refinement is as an entrepreneur, one must be willing to challenge conventional wisdom, even if it means being wrong occasionally. And costly consequences, whereas fostering a culture of experimentation and learning can drive rapid innovation.
The ability to adapt quickly through trial and error is a valuable asset. If you’re not taking risks and facing setbacks, you’re not misstepping holds a lesson, and continuous learning is the only way to achieve true strength and resilience.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that don’t work.” — Thomas Edison
2. Never stop learning
You are entitled to inquire and seek answers at all times. Avoid individuals who are narrow-minded or lack experience.
Be cautious of those who view not knowing as shameful. Recognize that being able to handle uncertainty is more valuable than simply knowing.
Remain open to new ideas and perspectives. Empower yourself by asking: ‘What knowledge am I lacking, and how can I address it?’ Strive to avoid perfectionism. If you do not cringe at your past ignorance compared to your current self, then you have not grown much.
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“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” — Henry Ford
3. Don’t shy away from hard work
Challenge yourself and your team to tackle tough tasks. Your efforts will eventually yield that both you and your team members take responsibility for your actions.
Heroism is about achieving something extraordinary and dedicating oneself to a greater cause.
It is that to grow stronger, one must push past their limits, even if it causes discomfort.
The obstacles you encounter will serve to both assess and enhance your abilities.
Do not allow temporary discomfort to hinder your advancement. Prioritizing comfort over achievement leads to subpar outcomes for all involved.
“I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.” — Estée Lauder
4. Empower the people who work for you
Focus on ensuring that you are empowering your team members to achieve greatness rather than their approval. Show genuine concern for the individuals under your leadership.
Take the time to understand what motivates your team, as they are your most valuable asset. Recognize that both you and your team will experience personal growth over time.
Offer consistent feedback to provide context for their learning. When offering criticism, strive to include constructive suggestions.
While praise is preferred over critique by many, constructive feedback is ultimately more beneficial.
The ultimate achievement as a leader is the ability to guide others to success independently. Act kindly toward others and want the same in return.
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” — Bill Gates
5. Make a plan and stick to it
Understand your objectives and stay committed to them if you truly believe they are right, even try to sway you in a different direction.
Communicate your strategy, ensuring that everyone is aware of the agreed-upon goals and tasks. Focus on the most important 20% that makes the biggest difference. Successful people stick to key principles, whether things are going well or not.
Do not dwell on whether you enjoy your current circumstances or not, as life is indifferent to your preferences.
It is your responsibility to align your desires with the necessary actions to achieve them and then summon the courage to follow through.
Effective planners who fail to implement their plans will not progress.
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“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” — Yogi Berra
6. Be true to yourself
Being true to yourself is essential for real happiness. Don’t let what others think stop you from following your passions.
Authenticity breeds happiness and living in purpose. Rather than trying to present a perfect image, focus on staying true to yourself and your goals.
When your words, thoughts, and feelings are in harmony, you’ll experience a sense of freedom and integrity and doing what feels right rather than seeking external validation.
By being unapologetically yourself, you’ll avoid the to be someone you’re not.
“Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self.” — Queen Latifah
7. Seek the truth over being right
Strive to prioritize accuracy over personal ego by seeking differing perspectives from knowledgeable individuals.
Adapting your responses based on current information is crucial while recognizing that success often hinges on asking the right questions rather than having all the answers.
Maintain a sense of curiosity toward understanding differing viewpoints instead of being fixated on your own opinions.
Embrace the process of learning and discovering the truth rather than insisting on always being right.
Acknowledge that embracing the truth is liberating and fearlessly accepting it fosters personal growth and a constructive work environment.
“Face reality as it is … not as you wish it to be.” — Jack Welch
8. Spend time reflecting
Challenging experiences paired with thoughtful introspection can yield valuable insights and growth.
When adversity strikes, take a moment to look inward and learn from the experience, for it is in these moments of reflection that we can transform hardship forward with greater wisdom.
“Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action.” — Peter Drucker
9. Hire right
Additionally, consider whether you’d enjoy working alongside the candidate daily and be open to being interviewed by them as well.
Ultimately, the goal is to find a harmonious match between the individual’s skills and the job requirements based on their unique value proposition rather than just the position itself.
Read More: 6 Skills that will improve your chances of being hired
“People are not your most important asset. The right people are.” — Jim Collins
10. Pay attention to what you can control.
Success and happiness are more attainable when you take charge of your decisions and refrain from complaining about things you cannot change and what life throws at you.
Cultivate positive habits to ensure that healthy actions become automatic. Overcoming obstacles necessitates emotional self-control and deliberate decision-making.
The way you approach things will have a significant impact on how well your efforts go.
“I can only control my performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.” — Michael Phelps.
