Jeff Bezos is rich. Jeff Bezos is wise. Jeff Bezos is bald. 

Therefore, when Bezos drops pearls of wisdom, we shall string them together to form a necklace of nuance, the considerate capitalist’s manifesto, The Philosophy of Bezos.

From his most recent letters to shareholders, here are some of the tenets that Jeff Bezos lives and works by. (What’s the difference really, anyway?) Study and practice them as you track the package that is your life. 

All quotes taken from Jeff Bezos’ 2016 and 2017 letters to shareholders.

“If you take me on your basketball team, you can teach me many things, but you can’t teach me to be taller.” 

“There will be many elements, multiple paths, and many traps.”

“Most people think that if they work hard, they should be able to master a handstand in about two weeks. The reality is that it takes about six months of daily practice. If you think you should be able to do it in two weeks, you’re just going to end up quitting.”

“The standard is there, and it is real, even if it’s not easily describable.”

“The football coach doesn’t need to be able to throw, and a film director doesn’t need to be able to act.”

“Once you’ve tasted high standards, there’s no going back.”

“Do we own the process or does the process own us?”

“Experiment patiently, accept failures, plant seeds, protect saplings.”