Why I do things, what drives me, and how I try to show up.

How I define success 

• My family feels seen, supported, and curious

• I’m building things I’m proud of

• My body is regularly tired in a good way

• I’m learning faster than I’m aging

• I have increasing freedom to choose what’s next

5 principles

1. Family before everything: Presence, stability, or growth for my family come first

2. Create more than I consume: I’m at my best when I’m building, contributing, or improving something real.

3. Growth through challenge: Hard things - physical, mental, creative - are how I stay sharp and honest

4. Stay curious: Stagnation is the fastest way to lose energy and perspective

5. Earn optionality: Money, skills, and reputation are tools for choice - not status

Default behaviors

• Energy: Protect mornings for personal time and evenings & weekends for family. Bias toward deep work. Use physical challenge to reset and calibrate.

• Craft: Building, fixing, or clarifying over reacting. Solve worthwhile problems for real people and real tangible utility.

• Curiosity: Always have a skill, idea, or place I’m exploring. Read and learn with intent, not volume. Translate learning into output quickly.

• Optionality: Spend intentionally. Avoid lifestyle drift. Invest in skills, leverage, and durability. Optimize for freedom of choice, not status.

Tradeoffs I accept 

• Fewer late nights and “hero” moments at work

• Saying no to opportunities that look impressive but cost presence

• Being less “up to date” on everything

• Temporary fatigue and frustration

• Being a beginner more often

• Investing time without immediate payoff

• Turning down roles or paths that lock me in