The Dru Guide: How to Work with Me

Core Operating Principles

My approach to life and work is built on honesty, accountability, ruthless prioritization and commitment to self-improvement.

Communication Preferences

What Works

I value communication that is:

  • Concise and well-thought-out
  • Intellectually honest (acknowledge what you know to be true – no wiggling away from it) and free from motivated reasoning (where ego, defensiveness or similar motives cloud judgment)
  • Probabilistic rather than absolute
  • Objective and evidence-based
  • Scheduled and structured
  • Direct and blunt, while maintaining respect – disrespect will be viewed as (and dealt with as) boundary-testing behavior

Feedback Settings

  • Professional relationships: Dedicated 1:1s, typically biweekly
  • Personal relationships: Scheduled relationship reviews
  • Clear spaces and times to “clear the queue” and maintain relationships
  • Use these sessions to surface all concerns, big or small – I prefer addressing issues early rather than letting them compound
  • Not a fan of festering problems – put everything on the floor during these sessions
  • Urgent feedback should be shared immediately – don’t wait for scheduled sessions

What Doesn’t Work

  • Over-framing or spinning information
  • Withholding relevant details (I consider this equivalent to lying)
  • Defensive responses or excuse-making
  • Long, rambling messages without clear points
  • Unscheduled calls (except for very close friends)

Working Style

I operate best in environments characterized by:

  • Deep, focused work with minimal context switching
  • Clear expectations and automated processes
  • Structured meeting schedules (all meetings on Mondays)
  • High trust and reliable commitments
  • Competent collaborators who share a growth mindset

My time is intentionally structured:

  • Two hours of morning meditation before any external engagement
  • Email checked only three times weekly
  • Internal chat apps checked daily (except Saturdays) at day’s end
  • Emergency exceptions are rare by design (1-2 times per year at most)
  • Project/process management tools checked 3-6 times weekly
  • For urgent matters, escalate to our internal chat app
  • I keep my phone free of push notifications and social media apps
  • I track and review every minute of my day
  • I consolidate my meetings to Mondays

Trust and Relationships

Building trust with me is a deliberate process:

  • I start with minimal trust and build slowly
  • Actions speak infinitely louder than words
  • Authentic relationships precede any business dealings
  • Once earned, trust runs deep
  • Punctuality is non-negotiable and viewed as a character indicator

Energy Management

What energizes me:

  • Witnessing genuine progress and growth
  • Deep conversations with thoughtful people
  • Continuous self-improvement
  • Meaningful, compounding work

What drains me:

  • Large crowds and noisy environments
  • Non-compounding, treadmill tasks
  • Unnecessary coordination costs
  • External commitments that interrupt flow states
  • Traditional conferences with limited interaction

Important Notes About My Style

  • My calm demeanor reflects peace, not anger or frustration – I’m usually calm and this is my natural state
  • I am inflexible with commitments unless we explicitly discuss and agree to changes
  • I maintain extremely high standards – this may be perceived as personal criticism
  • I don’t like chaos or unstable situations
  • I trust my gut feelings even while being analytical

Stress Indicators

When I’m stressed, you might notice:

  • Tunnel vision in decision-making
  • Faster than usual speech patterns
  • Apparent disengagement
  • Reserved conversation style

Engagement Topics

I’m always energized to discuss:

  • Mindfulness practices
  • Physical fitness and nutrition
  • Productivity systems
  • Personal development strategies

Working With Me Successfully

  1. Respect the structure:
    • Plan ahead for Monday meetings
    • Use asynchronous communication when possible
    • Honor time commitments religiously
  2. Communicate effectively:
    • Be direct and concise
    • Back statements with evidence
    • Avoid absolute statements
  3. Build trust through:
    • Consistent follow-through
    • Intellectual honesty
    • Proactive communication
    • Respect for boundaries

Guiding Philosophies

  • “Not perfect but good enough” and “Not perfect, but better” – Perfectionism is a disease; embrace iteration. 
  • Belief comes before ability – There’s power in thinking big; attitude is upstream of everything else.
  • The way to do great work is to love what you do.
  • Sleep is the best nootropic – Fix your state (sleep, nutrition, exercise, mental health) before other problems or risk digging the hole deeper.
  • Progress is happiness – My goals are progress-based, not destination-based. Hedonistic adaptation means happiness from discrete goals is fleeting. If you don’t enjoy the journey, reaching the end may feel empty. Understand it’s all a game – it changes how you play and your expectations from “winning.”
  • Go for freedom – Freedom lets you control what you work on. If you control what you work on, you can work on what you love. Love it, and you’ll do it long-term. Do it long-term, and you’ll excel. 
  • Life is an experiment – I embrace comfort challenges and new experiences. Your progress in life depends on how quickly you test your hypotheses. 

I value substance over form, results over excuses and growth over comfort. If we’re aligned on these principles, we’ll work well together.