Definitive Guide to Amazon's Leadership Principles

Introduction

This is a house wife version. I don't recommend it on an actual interview - true leaders use STAR format.

"An army marches on it's stomach"
- Napoleon Bonaparte.

16 Leadership Principles

When your dance teacher comes to your house, setup a water bottle and a cup, on a tray, every time.

It doesn't matter that he didn't ask for it; nor that he may not use it.

Earn your guest's trust.

Cleaning up crumbs my sister drops, or my dad's dishes, is a 2 minute job. I can finish it in the time I take to complain about it.

It's my job.

I was very annoyed that my mom would reach over my dish washing facility, to take washed utensils from the right of the sink. How else will she cook?

But I didn't want to stop every time she needed something.

I found a way to simplify - I moved the washed utensils to the left, and created more space to my right, free from cumbersome metal racks.

She now has quicker access (still o(1), though), and my dish washing is now Amma-hand free.

Amma didn't misunderstand me.

She wanted to add pineapple to cakes once, and I thought that was weird.

However, another guest confirmed that some bakeries in New York do that.

I still think it's weird.

She finds ways to reduce calorie content in Indian dishes, and keeps pushing the envelope on how tasty you can make something, when it's already healthy.

Do you like pooris with less oil, and more taste?

Everyone loves my mom's cooking.

I went from being a dish washer, to egg peeler (100 eggs in 100 minutes) to vegetable cutter.

I intend to progress further up the chain, starting with more onions, on demand.

My sister always said my mom's food was perfect.

Whenever I frowned, she redid the curry at least 3 times, even though nobody asked.

Now, thanks to her standards, paneer butter masala has Panera bread tomato soup as an ingredient, which is tastier than it sounds.

Likewise, on cooking day, wipe the counter once you are done peeling - don't leave the mess for another person.

My mom cooks for 12 hours a day sometimes, once a month.

When there is paneer, and potato-tomato, chapattis are also needed. Obviously!

Exactly.

When my mother wants a spoon, or a can opened, re-inventing metallurgy and physics is not required.

A little haste goes a long way.

Move like a mother in the kitchen.

And don't use a new spoon for every curry.

One day, my mom forgot salt, for one curry.

She criticized herself, and then questioned our lack of commitment to a 5-second fix that would make the taste much better.

There was a time when we didn't help our mom during cooking day; she did all the work and got done quicker.

Plus, when Amma trained us on cutting vegetables, she frequently audited the size and shape of the vegetables.

My mom doesn't have anyone to report to, to disagree with. Some leaders just commit all the time.

There is always food in the house.

Sharper knives reduce work, and more hands don't spoil the broth.

I can now cook for my future wife also, if needed.

Use water well, and reduce gas usage. Resources, and time, are money.