Ray Dalio — Principles Over Everything

“Truth — more precisely, an accurate understanding of reality — is the essential foundation for producing good outcomes.”- Ray Dalio

Here is a sneak peek at a chapter from my new book, Take a Genius to Lunch — 10 Minute Lessons in Winning at Business, Life, and Leadership

If you took Ray Dalio to lunch, he’d likely pull out a notepad before the first course and start sketching diagrams of cause-and-effect relationships. Born in 1949 in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates — once the world’s largest hedge fund — and a man who treats both life and investing as a continuous experiment. His empire wasn’t built solely on financial brilliance; it was forged on an obsessive dedication to uncovering reality, no matter how uncomfortable, and making decisions based on that truth.

His food choices would be practical and health-conscious — perhaps grilled fish with vegetables or a simple salad, paired with sparkling water or green tea. Dalio approaches meals the way he approaches investing: with discipline, balance, and a focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term indulgence.

Dalio’s belief in radical transparency and radical truth often startled employees and competitors alike. At Bridgewater, meetings could be recorded, performance openly graded, and…