Principles
These are the principles I try to live by. How I strive to build relationships, make decisions, and move through life.
They are also the operating principles at Ona.
Choose connection
Connect with myself and the people around me. Understanding myself and others is the foundation for everything that follows.
It is
Trust. Authenticity. Active listening. Being present. Sincere care. Upholding boundaries and agreements.
It is not
Conflict avoidance. Being too agreeable. Caretaking. Power games, politics, or toxic manipulation.
Student of the game
Learn continuously, even as a master of the game. Build and grow, always with wonder.
It is
A beginner's mind. Being awestruck. Learning through experiments. Submerging into great works. Making decisions with intellect and logic. Cultivating feedback. Building resilience in setbacks. Challenging assumptions and limiting beliefs.
It is not
Sacrificing focus. Analysis paralysis. Confusing reflection with stagnation. Chasing perfection at a standstill. Ignoring intuitive or creative insights.
Open the drawer
Embrace intensity and transparency. Avoidance kills growth. Lean into tension and bring clarity to messy drawers.
It is
Candor with compassion. Communicating openly. Facing uncomfortable truths. Encouraging productive debate. Asking tough questions. Acknowledging bias. Translating chaos into clarity. Going direct. Willingness to disagree and commit.
It is not
Creating unnecessary drama. Crossing personal boundaries. Dominating others. Gossiping. Acting like a jerk.
Raise the bar
Quality matters. Stay dedicated to the craft and deliver results worth being proud of. Never settle.
It is
Driving to success. A pursuit of excellence. Compounding improvements. Care and precision. End-to-end ownership. Discipline and attention to detail. Never settling.
It is not
Treating quality and speed as opposites. Judging myself and others for mistakes. Getting attached to what was built.
Climb the next hill
Take one clarifying step at a time. Defer non-essentials. Reach the next hill, reflect, recalibrate, repeat. High pace, high energy.
It is
Experimenting with agency. Deciding quickly. Failing forward. Prototyping the path. Pivoting when necessary. Solving hard problems first. Unblocking others. Saying no to things that are not a priority.
It is not
Ignoring the big picture. Being short sighted. Skipping research. Running poorly thought out experiments. Justifying sloppiness. Repeating mistakes. Evading accountability.
Ask what's wunderbar
Choose to shift perspectives in any situation. Seek joy and flow in work and life. The less effort it takes, the more efficient.
It is
Being empowered. Refusing to be oppressed by circumstances. Celebrating wins. Laughing together. Not taking myself too seriously. Chopping wood, carrying water.
It is not
Avoiding challenges. Seeking only comfort. Sugarcoating reality. Dismissing people's feelings and experiences.