PRINCIPLES | LIFE LESSONS | RAY DALIO
Be Like Bamboo, Flexible, Light And Strong — Then No Storm Can Topple You.
A life with principles makes you stronger together with others but standing on your own deep roots.
I have been a great fan of Ray Dalio since I read his groundbreaking book Principles.
His lifelong experience, observations and insights are a remarkable collection of wisdom distilled in the forms of principles.
Based on Dalio’s work, I started thinking about a model encompassing the main themes of his thinking.
“To be principled means to consistently operate with principles that can be clearly explained.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
Openness, Transparency and Principles are interlinked in our daily work, words and thoughts.
Principles are the growth engine.
When you apply principles, you grow. Openness and transparency give you an upper hand in life. It is possible by learning all the time, which is one of the main themes of Dalio’s work. He has set a very practical example of what lifelong learning means.
“Watch out for people who think it’s embarrassing not to know. They’re likely to be more concerned with appearances than actually achieving the goal; this can lead to ruin over time.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
Another example of it is Steve Jobs. Tim Cook said it well in his birthday tweet on Job’s 68th birthday, the 25th of February.
People with the most to teach live like they have the most to learn — and Steve loved learning. He was the most curious person I’ve ever met, which made him the best teacher I’ve ever known. Happy birthday, my friend. — Tim Cook on Twitter.
Respect in action.
If you are transparent and apply principles, you become a respect magnet. People cannot help but recognise, respond and respect your integrity.
Because you don’t need any hidden agendas, your road is way smoother than those who cut corners and try to use shortcuts to succeed.
“Recognise that having an effective idea meritocracy requires that you understand the merit of each person’s ideas.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
And respect starts from you.
Transparent and principled people can show respect without compromising anything. Because of your principles, you can show respect through your values and mission. It is a consistent and conscious way to thrive.
Flexible structures are the strongest ones.
When you are open and apply principles, you must build structures that adapt and allow changes without breaking anything.
“Closed-minded people don’t want their ideas challenged.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
It’s like bamboo: it has a light and hollow structure that can take any storm. It is not structured for the sake of the system but to allow bamboo to grow taller together with the other bamboo in the grove.
Alone you are like a tree with shallow roots on a lonely hillside. Together with others, your structure becomes stronger.
“Evolve or die. This evolutionary cycle is not just for people but for countries, companies, economies — for everything. And it is naturally self-correcting as a whole, though not necessarily for its parts.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
The same goes for principled openness. Your structure becomes an ever-changing response mechanism to adapt to the changing circumstances, apply wisdom when knowledge is not enough and have the courage to take action because you have forged a solid foundation.
You are with others but on your own without sacrificing your identity.
It’s like karma: strict but not rigid and inflexible.
It is like the word karma from the Sanskrit language as the law of cause and effect and is created through thoughts, words and actions.
This “holy trinity” of karma is the springboard for our growth and respect for others and gives structure to our lives and building blocks for our success and happiness.
“Embrace Reality and Deal with It” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
The Buddhist teachings describe how cause and effect are simultaneous. In our western thinking, we often assume that you can get away from your negative karma (the causes you make) if nobody sees you or if you can fly under the radar.
However, karma does not work like that.
When you have a negative thought, you say something ill-intentioned or do something disrespectful, the consequences are already there. They wait for the right circumstances to bring you the effects, but they implant the failure or disaster in your life. And if your negativity is heavy enough, you pay a hefty price within your life.
And the same applies to positive thoughts, gratitude, generosity and kindness.
Like the principles, karma is strict. They don’t have fluffy emotions and soft corners. There is a saying: You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.
The old and wise understood the principles.
“It’s up to you to decide what you want to get out of life and what you want to give.” ― Ray Dalio, Principles: Life and Work.
In the age of false news and sycophants, there is an urgent need for ethical principles that are not self-serving buzzwords but yardsticks that can measure our humanity and values. Then we grow, respect each other and have a flourishing tree of our lives to give us fruits of happiness and success.
It is better to be like bamboo than an arrogant pine with shallow roots. You know which one will fall when the wind gets strong.
With principles, you use the energy and power of change and circumstances in your transformation for the better.
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