Pursue a life of purpose over comfort, guided by duty, curiosity, and a strong sense of mission.

Remain adaptable: a serious life requires changing methods without abandoning core principles.

Write honestly and vividly about what you see, using language to clarify the world rather than obscure it.

Recognize the importance of place, landscape, and local identity in shaping political life.

Accept that public service may require sacrifice, ambiguity, and responsibility for difficult outcomes.

Hold yourself to high standards of discipline, competence, and self-reliance.