I. If you say you're going to do something, you do it.
If you're not going to do it, don't say you will. We will take you at your word. Do not teach anyone to not trust what you say.
II. If you can't do something you said you would, update that person ASAP.
Obstacles are hard to predict. Reality happens. However, there is no excuse for poor communication.
III. It's fine to make mistakes. It's not fine to make the same mistake repeatedly.
Mistakes are a valuable opportunity for feedback and growth. If you can't learn from your mistakes, you can't grow. If you can't grow, that's a problem.
IV. Act like an adult.
If you don't understand something, ask. If you can't do something, say so. If you don't agree with an approach, don't say you do. You are expected to be clear and honest in your communication.
V. Do the work.
Nobody is here to do your work for you. Do not run to others for help at the first sign of difficulty. You are expected to put in a reasonable amount of effort before asking for help. When you ask for help, clearly communicate what you have done to solve the problem and what you have learned.
VI. Do not hide real problems.
If you put in a reasonable amount of effort and you are still having problems, you need to communicate this and ask for help. Do not disappear for days banging your head against the wall. Ask for clarification, additional resources, or help.
VII. Take ownership.
You are expected to do everything in your power to fulfill your commitments. If you are blocked, you are expected to clear the blockers. If your task depends on someone else, it does not become their problem. It is still your responsibility to do whatever you can to make sure they come through. You are not helpless, do not pretend you are just because it’s convenient.
VIII. Do not allow ego and emotion to cloud your judgment.
An idea is not better because it is yours. An idea is not better because you have already put a lot of work into it. An idea is not better because you will personally benefit from it. An idea is better if it delivers more value with fewer problematic tradeoffs for the situation.
IX. Make conscious decisions.
You will make decisions constantly. Do not sleepwalk through them. Consider multiple alternatives, not just the first one to come to mind. Make your choices actively, not passively. Good decisions need uninterrupted time. Set a timer, and eliminate all distractions during that time.
X. Make tangible, measurable progress every day.
Don’t let your day happen to you. Decide what you are going to accomplish ahead of time. Commit to create a quantifiable difference each day. Don’t commit to “research” anything. Commit to create a document that summarizes your research. Don’t commit to “work on” anything. Commit to finishing a part of a project. If the result of your work doesn’t live outside of your head, it didn’t happen. If you don’t succeed, just make a note, and try again. If you regularly fail, set smaller goals or eliminate the distractions or blockers first.
XI. Don’t multitask.
If it’s not shipped, it’s useless. A single task that is 100% done is valuable. 10 tasks that are 10% done are worthless. Don’t try to be efficient. Try to finish the next useful thing as soon as possible. It can be uncomfortable to work through blockers to finish a task. Do it anyway.
XII. You are responsible for your own future.
If you want or need something it is your responsibility to communicate that. Don’t expect others to read your mind or know what is best for you. If you want to work on a particular type of project or do not want to work on a particular type of project, do not hope that someone will figure that out. Be clear about what you want and need.
XIII. Do not be trapped in your own perspective.
Children assume everyone knows everything they do. For a child, it is inconceivable that another person has different knowledge or feelings about the world. Do not act like a child. You should be able to simulate another person’s perspective from what you know about them. If they disagree with you on a decision, don’t assume they’re wrong and you’re right. Do you have information they don’t? Do they have information that you don’t? Do you have different goals? Viewing the world from a fixed angle distorts the truth.
XIV. Write clearly to prevent poor thinking.
Your thinking should be clear, internally consistent, and based on reality. To ensure these things, you need to view your thoughts. Writing is the best way to do this. Writing gives poor thinking nowhere to hide, and it makes a lack of understanding visible. You should examine your thoughts before sharing them, do make others proofread your thoughts for you. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.