2025-07-12 Gary Sheng - Tim Dort-Golts Principles & Mentorship Discussion

Date: July 12, 2025 Participants: Gary Sheng, Tim Dort-Golts Duration: Brief focused conversation Context: Follow-up mentorship discussion on spiritual principles and accountability

Overview

A concentrated philosophical discussion between Gary and Tim exploring the fundamental importance of living by principles rather than people-pleasing or being "fashionable" to current circumstances. The conversation revealed Tim's continued growth in understanding divine accountability, Gary's mentorship framework, and their shared approach to evaluating relationships and work opportunities based on spiritual principles.

Key Themes & Discussions

Core Principle: Living by Principles vs. People-Pleasing

Gary's fundamental teaching:

• "I think the key is basically to live life with principles."
• "Do you think that I need to be wedded to anyone or anything? Do you think I need to have any desires at all? They don't come from God."

Tim's understanding of the alternative:

• "When you don't have principles, I feel like you would just fit your your perception and your worldview around the people that make sense that point of time."
• "You're either fashionable to who is liked by other people or you're just people pleasing. And You're, like, never grounded in the truth. Never developing a spine or courage."

Gary's Mentorship Framework

The Three Core Principles Gary Instills:

1. Always Tell the Truth

2. Respect the True Hierarchy (Fear Only God)

   • "It's really only fear fear one thing. It's your god."
   • "Respect your parents for sure. Dear god."

3. Divine Accountability

   • "Never say something you're... Promise somebody you can't fulfill on."
   • "And as you know, people sometimes never learn that ever. Ever."

Tim's articulation of the fear of God principle:

• "If you fear God, you're gonna feel fearless. So to be fearless to everything except God. Do not be afraid to die. Do not be afraid to pursue what you know you should pursue."
• "If it's any other fear, fear of your boss, fear of losing your job, losing x y z, losing life, It's different. If you feel like it's what God calls you to do, do it."

Strategic Application: "Spiritually Poor" Requirement

Gary's approach to relationships and partnerships:

• "I said there's no point of me working with you guys. If there's not major changes. Why do you think I said that?"
• "If they don't become spiritually poor, I'm not saying... Same with Joe. Right? Joe is a way bigger project, way worse. Way worse. He's, like, hopeless, honestly."

Context revealed:

• Gary had a conversation with Lael's daughter about requiring major changes
• Applied same standard to Joe Liemandt: "Joe is a way bigger project, way worse"
• Gary's willingness to walk away demonstrates principle over attachment

Tim's Growth: The Nozomi Experience Reflection

Tim's analysis of his failed work arrangement:

• "Nozomi was just really an opposite of being divinely accountable."
• "I started working with him in August, I was putting my best foot forward... then they killed momentum first. By making me wait for three more months."
• "They made me extremely unmotivated. They made me extremely doubtful of whatever the fuck am I doing."

Tim's matured perspective:

• "Now thinking about whenever I have an interaction with those people, I'm just gonna treat it the same way. It's like as as as an interaction with somebody morally inferior, I'm just gonna get motivated to not be like that."

The Problem of Overpromising and Manipulation

Gary's insight on leadership dysfunction:

• "In fact, you may think that you're, like, dumb and not utilizing your ability to manipulate people. Because overpromising is a great way to manipulate people."
• "Can get into presidential offices. Still don't know that. Isn't crazy?"

Tim's understanding of the manipulation mechanism:

• "They wanna release something out of the interaction rate. When it's like a proof promise... In reality, from the beginning, you knew you're just gonna deliver half of it. So you slowly 5% by 5%, I'm just gonna decrease it."
• "And then the just have to stick with you because because sound called I think it really is a sunk coast. Fallacy."

Personal Application: Dating and Moral Standards

Tim's integration of principles into personal life:

• "I found this incredibly motivating whenever I rejected a girl was into me that I saw is like a hole or whatever... And I was just like, and then I think that way about everything."
• "If I get wrong by somebody who doesn't fear God, and, let's say, manipulates me, be the girl or a person I work with... oh, yeah. We're gonna start it in a week. Two weeks later, we're gonna get yeah. Start in two weeks."

Key Insights

Spiritual Maturity Development

• Tim demonstrates sophisticated integration of Gary's teaching into practical life decisions
• Shows ability to recognize and reject morally inferior people and situations
• Applies spiritual discernment to work relationships, dating, and strategic partnerships

Mentorship Effectiveness

• Gary's consistent framework creates replicable decision-making criteria
• Tim's ability to articulate principles shows deep internalization
• Both demonstrate alignment on character-based evaluation over circumstantial benefits

Strategic Partnership Standards

• Both operate from position of spiritual abundance rather than scarcity
• Willingness to walk away from prestigious opportunities if they compromise principles
• Recognition that "spiritually poor" (humble) leadership is non-negotiable requirement

Notable Quotes

On Principles vs. People-Pleasing:

• Gary: "I think the key is basically to live life with principles."
• Tim: "When you don't have principles, I feel like you would just fit your your perception and your worldview around the people that make sense that point of time."

On Fear of God:

• Tim: "If you fear God, you're gonna feel fearless. So to be fearless to everything except God."
• Gary: "It's really only fear fear one thing. It's your god."

On Divine Accountability:

• Gary: "Never say something you're... Promise somebody you can't fulfill on."
• Tim: "Nozomi was just really an opposite of being divinely accountable."

On Moral Superiority Recognition:

• Tim: "Now thinking about whenever I have an interaction with those people, I'm just gonna treat it the same way. It's like as as as an interaction with somebody morally inferior, I'm just gonna get motivated to not be like that."

On Leadership Manipulation:

• Gary: "Overpromising is a great way to manipulate people."
• Tim: "In reality, from the beginning, you knew you're just gonna deliver half of it."

Context & Follow-up

• Tim mentioned visiting a church and planned to catch up with Gary later that day
• Conversation occurred while Tim was in transition period (referenced his mother calling)
• Both expressed mutual love and appreciation ("Love you too")
• Discussion represents continued evolution of their spiritual brotherhood and mentorship relationship

Strategic Implications

• Gary's approach creates leaders who can operate independently with consistent principles
• Tim's growth demonstrates the effectiveness of character-based rather than skill-based mentorship
• Their shared framework enables rapid assessment of partnership opportunities
• Both prioritize spiritual alignment over conventional success metrics
• Framework provides protection against manipulation and time-wasting relationships