Author: Seong Joon Oh
“What” and “how”. These are the two questions that shape my life. What do I want to do with my life? How do I get there?
The goals part answers the “what”. There are packages of projects that I wish to achieve in my lifetime. Life is short and limited, so I had to shortlist them carefully.
The principles part gives guidance on “how” I plan to achieve the goals. They are an assortment of personal rules that would help me and my organisation achieve the goals.
I don't talk about “why” because it is difficult to put the answer in words. It leads to a cascade of “but why” questions and misses the gist. I hope the goals are evident in themselves without justification. You agree, or you disagree.
This document serves three purposes.
- It lets people around me better understand the goals and principles for me and my organisation. I hope this expedites the collective work I do with others. I will still do my best to tell others about my goals and principles; this is a back-up document for those who wish to read about them in greater detail.
- It lets me organise my thoughts more clearly. When a document goes public, I feel greater pressure to elaborate on each item in depth. Elaboration is a good driver for forced imagination.
- I hope this document becomes useful to others who also wish to take a principled approach to make the best use of their lives.
I credit the idea of organising the principles to Ray Dalio and his book, Principles. Ray, likewise, has introduced a systematic approach to life: let principles be crystallised out of the myriads of trial and error in life. Huge respect for his scientific-minded approach to his own life and work. I have also inherited some of my principles from his.