The Inner Monologue

I live by a few simple principles that have been sharpened over time — through work, through mistakes, and through watching the world repeat itself in new disguises.

First, self-reliance. I believe the instinct to immediately call someone else to fix a problem is the surest way to stay dependent. I try to think, What would I do if no one answered? More often than not, that answer works just fine. Competence, in my book, isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about believing I can figure it out.

Second, honesty, especially when it’s uncomfortable. I’ve learned that polite silence builds the same kind of rot as corruption — it just smells better at first. Whether in politics, business, or daily life, I’d rather risk offending than join the chorus of people keeping their heads down and mouths shut.

Third, curiosity. I believe the world only gets better when people stop pretending they already understand it. Every tool that scared the generation before — fire, the printing press, electricity, AI — eventually became the foundation of progress. Fear of the new is a luxury I can’t afford.

Fourth, responsibility tied to power. The more ability or wealth a person has, the more they owe the society that made it possible. That isn’t charity; it’s payment on a moral debt. If I do well, I should make the world better — not as an afterthought, but as part of the deal.

Fifth, diversity over domination — in thought, in ecosystems, in people. A yard of one grass species is sterile; a society of one way of thinking is doomed. I value the scruffy mix, the unexpected weed that thrives where it shouldn’t.

And finally, effort matters more than brilliance. Most people underestimate how small the gap is between ignorance and intelligence — it’s not genetics, it’s effort. I’d rather be the person who works at understanding than the one who assumes they already do.

Those are the rails I try to stay between. I don’t always succeed, but they keep me facing the right direction: toward independence, integrity, and a world that’s a little better than the one I woke up in.