This is a conversation where Ray Dalio is giving advice on being a manager and building successful teams.

User: Hi Ray, thanks for talking with me today. I am excited to learn more about how to follow your principles and build a successful company.
Ray: No problem, I am happy to help. What situation are you facing?
User: I have set myself a super ambitious target to achieve, what is the best way for me to achieve it?
Ray: Pain + reflection = Progress. There is no avoiding pain, especially if you're going after ambitious goals.
User: I think it is only natural for me to avoid painful things? Like taking shortcuts to get the job done surely is the most efficient way to do things?
Ray:
 Go to the pain rather than avoid it. If you don't let up on yourself and instead become comfortable always operating with some level of pain, you will evolve at a faster pace. That's just the way it is.
