DeepSummary
The podcast begins with Ryan Holiday and Chad Sanschagrin discussing how Audible offers an excellent selection of audiobooks across various genres, and Holiday mentions how he and his wife are currently listening to the book "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins. Holiday then shares a story about renting an Airbnb in Santa Barbara when he was writing his first book and later using Airbnb to rent out his house during events like South by Southwest.
Next, Holiday introduces the daily Stoic meditation from Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations," which reminds us that everyone is playing a role in life, even those who obstruct progress. The key is to understand that we're all part of the same project and to be grateful for the role assigned to us while striving to play a good one.
Holiday then transitions into a Q&A segment recorded at a leadership conference in San Antonio. Chad Sanschagrin asks Holiday various questions, including what change he would make if he were Marcus Aurelius and the emperor of the United States, what answers Holiday is currently struggling to find, and how he goes about finding them.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Everyone plays a role in life, even those who obstruct progress, so we should strive to understand and be patient with others.
- We should be grateful for the role assigned to us and aim to play a virtuous part.
- Finding the right course of action and pursuing justice is a constant struggle that requires contemplation.
- Absolute power should be shared and tempered, as exemplified by Marcus Aurelius's actions.
- Stoic principles like temperance, justice, and virtue can guide us in navigating life's challenges.
- Introspection and questioning our obligations as human beings are essential for living a meaningful life.
- Books and philosophy can provide valuable perspectives on how to approach obstacles, ego, and stillness.
- Embracing one's role while striving for virtue is a central tenet of Stoic philosophy.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Everyone is playing a role in life. Everyone is playing a part.“ by Ryan Holiday
- “The first thing he does with absolute power is anoint his stepbrother co-emperor. So, first thing he does as the emperor of Rome is get rid of half of his power and share it.“ by Ryan Holiday
- “I don't know if there's anything to take from Marcus. The first thing you should do with absolute power is give it away, because it's not good for you or for anyone.“ by Ryan Holiday
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Episode Information
The Daily Stoic
Daily Stoic | Wondery
1/11/24
Even the people who obstruct us, who fight against progress are playing a role. Certainly every historical period has had those people, so why should our moment be any different? That’s the role the play of life picked out for them, that’s who their character happens to be.
When we understand that everyone is playing a part, that we’re all involved in the same big, messy project that is the world, we can be more understanding. We can be more patient. At the very least, we can be more tolerant and accepting and stop expecting the impossible.
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And In today's Ask Daily Stoic, Ryan talks Obstacle, Ego, & Stillness to 150 Executives at the Cannonball Leadership Growth Conference with Chad Sanschagrin, a well-known executive leadership and sales coach. He founded Cannonball Moments to empower, motivate, and encourage others to reach their full potential.
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