Principles for Second 10 Years at Work

Early career focuses on continuous learning, gaining specialized expertise, and building foundational leadership skills, while late career shifts toward creating strategic impact, mentoring the next generation, and leaving a meaningful legacy that shapes industries, communities, or personal networks.

1. Start with the customer

• 1.1 Surface yourself to internal and external buyers and sellers through online and offline platforms
• 1.2 Conduct customer interviews and gather feedback regularly
• 1.3 Empathize with customer pain points and act as a proxy for customers
• 1.4 Predicting and producing what the customer loves is hard, but we can always invent and simplify our product to a better state
• 1.5 Prioritize features and initiatives that provide the most customer value
• 1.6 Measure success with customer satisfaction metrics (e.g., NPS, CSAT)

2. Sharpen your communication skills

• 2.1 Be genuinely interested in people and actively wonder what they are doing/needing/feeling
• 2.2 Practice and rehearse clear, concise writing and speaking until you're fully prepared for interviews
• 2.3 Adapt your communication style to suit your audience
• 2.4 Continuously seek feedback to refine your communication skills
• 2.5 Leverage storytelling to make complex ideas more relatable and engaging
• 2.6 Use examples, metaphors, and narratives to simplify and humanize technical or abstract concepts
• 2.7 Apply communication frameworks like Thank/Reflect/Wish, PREP (Point/Reason/Example/Point), AIDA (Attention/Interest/Desire/Action), and STAR (Situation/Task/Action/Result)

3. Focus on high-leverage, prioritized activities

• 3.1 Score and identify tasks with the most significant impact on key objectives
• 3.2 Use frameworks like Eisenhower Matrix or OKRs to prioritize tasks
• 3.3 Automate or delegate low-impact tasks
• 3.4 Review priorities regularly to ensure alignment with goals
• 3.5 Build flexibility into your schedule by leaving space for unplanned activities, and compensate for intense periods with planned downtime

4. Accelerate learning through high-value channels, execution, and accumulation

• 4.1 Learn by doing, sharing, and documenting: Take on new projects, challenges, and record key lessons
• 4.2 Seek feedback from peers and mentors after each task, and incorporate it into a personal knowledge base
• 4.3 Engage in inter-person communication to uncover hidden, tacit knowledge that is often only discovered through direct interaction
• 4.4 Embrace failure as part of the learning process, fail fast, and capture insights to avoid repeating mistakes
• 4.5 Iterate and adapt: Build on past successes and failures while questioning assumptions, as what worked before may not hold true today

5. Ask high-value questions

• 5.1 Challenge assumptions and conventional wisdom with first principles
• 5.2 Guide strategic decisions by focusing on questions that reveal hidden insights and drive long-term impact
• 5.3 Search for who is asking what questions globally to identify the most important questions
• 5.4 Answers are cheap in the age of LLMs. Prioritize asking the right questions

6. Strategic thinking: from small wins to big wins

• 6.1 Understand the history, status quo, and predict the future with long-term vision
• 6.2 Break down large goals into smaller, actionable tasks
• 6.3 Do not shoot for a moving target – maintain focus on clear, stable goals
• 6.4 Collect data and establish benchmarks to evaluate success
• 6.5 Identify areas where short-term wins can unlock long-term success
• 6.6 Celebrate quick wins while keeping an eye on long-term goals
• 6.7 Regularly review progress and adjust strategies as needed

7. Build allies

• 7.1 Network widely to broaden your influence
• 7.2 Help others succeed to build trust and reciprocity
• 7.3 Collaborate across teams to expand your impact
• 7.4 Stay in touch and offer support consistently
• 7.5 Build trust through personal, in-person connections
• 7.6 Exchange value in every interaction
• 7.7 Stay active in key professional circles
• 7.8 Nurture relationships for long-term mutual benefit

8. Stay resilient, optimistic, and pragmatic

• 8.1 Focus on identifying the right problem and finding effective solutions when challenges arise
• 8.2 Maintain a positive mindset, especially during setbacks (Reframing, expressing gratitude, etc.)
• 8.3 Balance optimism with a realistic view of the situation by synthesizing

9. Influence without authority

• 9.1 Build credibility by demonstrating expertise and delivering results
• 9.2 Persuade through data and clear reasoning
• 9.3 Leverage relationships to gain support for your ideas
• 9.4 Be collaborative, listen to others, and align their goals with yours

10. Be assertive and open-minded

• 10.1 Speak up confidently in meetings and discussions
• 10.2 Seek feedback and adjust your approach if needed
• 10.3 Advocate for your ideas but be willing to change if presented with better information
• 10.4 Actively listen to others by mirroring, mentalizing, and showing genuine care
• 10.5 Recognize the role of emotions in interactions and continuously improve your emotional intelligence (EQ)

11. Compete with focus and advantages

• 11.1 Build a strategy based on specific market needs or niches you can dominate
• 11.2 Identify and leverage your unique advantages (skills, location, resources)
• 11.3 Focus on areas where you can outperform others with specialized knowledge or capabilities
• 11.4 Anticipate future trends and invest in building advantages ahead of time
• 11.5 Stay focused on your strengths and avoid unnecessary distractions
• 11.6 Realize people can be both allies and competitors at the same time

12. Mentor and grow others

• 12.1 Share your knowledge and expertise to help others succeed
• 12.2 Offer guidance and feedback to team members regularly
• 12.3 Create opportunities for others to take on new challenges
• 12.4 Foster a culture of learning and development in your teams
• 12.5 Leverage media and public platforms to inspire and educate others at scale

13. Stay approachable and flexible

• 13.1 Remain accessible and responsive to buyers and customers at all times
• 13.2 Be open to feedback and discussions with colleagues, buyers, and customers at all levels
• 13.3 Maintain a friendly, open demeanor that encourages collaboration
• 13.4 Adapt to changing situations without becoming rigid in your approach
• 13.5 Stay calm and open-minded when unexpected challenges arise
• 13.6 Be proactive so that the schedule is more favorable to the initiator

14. Lean in but avoid burnout

• 14.1 Take initiative, but know your limits and learn to manage expectations
• 14.2 Set boundaries to protect your personal time
• 14.3 Regularly evaluate your workload, delegate where possible, and schedule regular downtime

15. Physical and mental well-being fuel everything else

• 15.1 Make a checklist to monitor personal status regularly
• 15.2 Maintain a regular exercise routine for MIIT, HIIT, Strength, and Flexibility exercises
• 15.3 Prioritize sleep and proper nutrition
• 15.4 Practice mindfulness or meditation to manage stress
• 15.5 Take regular breaks to recharge, both mentally and physically
• 15.6 Foster an environment where people love to live and work
• 15.7 Learn to navigate your brain willfully through Relaxed, Focused, and Overheated states, and avoid Overheated states

16. Be creative and stand out

• 16.1 Seek inspiration from different fields and industries
• 16.2 Challenge assumptions and ask "what if" questions
• 16.3 Experiment with different methods and technologies