…is the title of a long-form essay by Ben Casnocha, Reid Hoffman’s Chief of Staff, and his co-author one a couple of books (one of which, I’ve already covered).

In which, Ben covers his Top 16 lessons learned from his time working with Reid. Here’s the cliff notes version:

1. People are complicated and flawed. Root for their better angels.
2. The best way to get a busy person’s attention: Help them.
3. Keep it simple and move fast when conceiving strategies and making decisions.
4. Every weakness has a corresponding strength.
5. The values that actually shape a culture have both upside and downside.
6. Understand someone’s “alpha” tendencies and how that drives them.
7. Self-deception watch: even those who say they don’t need or want flattery, sometimes still need it.
8. Be clear on your specific level of engagement on a project.
9. Sketch three possible outcomes for a project: the likely upside, likely ‘regular’, and likely downside scenarios.
10. A key to making good partnerships great: Identify and emphasize any misaligned incentives.
11. Reason is the steering wheel. Emotion is the gas pedal.
12. Trade up on trust even if it means you trade down on competency.
13. Tell the truth. Don’t reflexively kiss ass to powerful people.
14. Respect the shadow power.
15. Make people genuine partners and they’ll work harder.
16. Final: The people around you change you in myriad unconscious ways

They are a mixed bag, but 3, 5, 8, 13, 15 are well worth the read