What do Sun Tzu, Yogi Berra and Ray Dalio have in common?
Not much, it would seem. Each made their mark in a different field.
Sun Tzu was a legendary military general in ancient China. Yogi Berra was a Hall of Fame baseball player. And Ray Dalio is a billionaire hedge fund manager.
Yes, each of these figures achieve massive success and prominence. But so have thousands of others throughout the annals of history.
There is something else connecting these seemingly disparate figures. Namely, that they didn’t only achieve success. They also articulated it.
Sun Tzu’s modus operandi has evolved into The Art of War — a text used by business consultants and military generals alike in the modern day. Berra’s strangely phrased Yogi-isms — such as If you come to a fork in the road, take it — have also appeared in several works of literature. Dalio has outlined his structured approach to life in his bestselling book Principles.
All of these figures were prudent enough to share the guiding protocols behind their success — a system of brief sayings the Chinese have termed the Tao. They understood that if others could channel such wisdom, it would help make the world a better place.
So, they stripped down the barriers they’d formed around their life’s success. They drained the moat and put down the drawbridge.
They unveiled their Tao. And the world is better for it.
Don’t give away the farm.
This adage is common knowledge by now.
The rationale for this saying is straightforward. It is easier to copy others than to create our own success from scratch. So, if we’re going to offer others our playbook, we might as well get compensated for our efforts. After all, we’re effectively giving them a shortcut.
There is certainly some precedent for this philosophy with Sun Tzu, Yogi Berra and Ray Dalio. The literature each authored lies behind a financial barrier — namely, the price for a copy of their book.
Now, to be clear, none of them really demand this fee. Sun Tzu and Berra are no longer among the living. And Dalio has already made his life’s fortune in the financial markets. The prices charged to access their texts are mostly in place to cover the costs of their publishers.
Even so, their efforts to provide their Tao have become transactional. The entire process screams of Give us money, and we’ll give you advice.
This is a familiar arrangement for sharing. But it doesn’t have to be.
I am not famous.
I haven’t led an army into battle, led the New York Yankees to a world title, or led an investment fund through a financial recession.
But I have attained success in my life. And much like Sun Tzu, Yogi Berra and Ray Dalio, I see no value in keeping the Tao behind my success to myself.
So, I am sharing the guiding force behind my success here.
These words of wisdom are for you, my dear readers. I neither ask for nor desire anything in return. I only hope it can help you in some small way.
Without further ado, here is my Tao.
- Be present. Success starts with showing up every day, in mind, body and spirit. Do whatever you can to stay connected and engaged.
- Be informed. Take the time to prepare, to gather relevant information and to understand the nuance of context. It will all pay dividends later.
- Be better. Don’t bask in the glory of today’s achievements. Strive for continual improvement.
- Embrace sweat. Don’t let anyone outwork you. There is always another level you can take your productivity to.
- Earn everything. We are owed few things in life. Resolve to prove your worth, day in and day out.
- Remain deliberate. The world moves fast, and emotions can speed up the clock when it comes to critical decisions. Take the time to fully consider the options and implications before making your choice.
- Act decisively. Don’t mistake deliberation for inaction. When making your choice, commit fully to it.
- Deflect credit. We didn’t attain our successes alone, and tooting our own horn does no one any good. Pay homage to those who got you there.
- Accept responsibility. If things don’t go well, accept the blame. While others might have been complicit in the outcome, there was still something you have done better.
- Embrace imperfection. Mistakes are what make us human. Treat them as learning opportunities and iterate accordingly.
- Listen first. There will always be more wisdom in the collective than in our own mind. Pay attention to what others have to say before sharing your piece.
- Espouse empathy. Everyone has angles they’re playing in life. Still, consider the humanity behind those angles before casting judgment.
- Welcome vulnerability. Displaying unabashed confidence can be reckless. Embrace our flaws to find your true strength.
- Forget popularity. Likeability is fleeting, and beyond your control. Don’t expect everyone to like you, or stress when some refuse to.
- Demand respect. A basic modicum of respect should be a given, unless someone has done something egregious enough to void that right. Don’t let others walk all over you.
- Stay active. Little good comes from lethargy. Stay in motion to keep the blood flowing.
- Seek balance. Spend some time winding up, and some more time winding down. Counteract noise with silence.
- Encounter emotion. Our feelings bring us to life. Do what you can to remain connected with them.
- Maintain discipline. Good habits can be challenging to hold on to over time. Muster the mental fortitude to stick with them.
- Help others. In the long-run, what we accrue means little. But what we share with others can mean everything.
It is my hope that these guiding principles help you in life, regardless of the context you apply them to. And that as you see success — however you come about it — you share your Tao with others as well.
Here’s to finding your best.