Ryan Holiday, an author and media strategist renowned for his work on Stoicism, shares insights on achieving sustainable contentment. He discusses how the pursuit of fame can become addictive and detracts from enjoying the work you love. Holiday emphasizes that many justify sacrificing family time for ambition, but ultimately, even the most renowned fade from memory. By focusing on intrinsic satisfaction rather than external validation, individuals can cultivate a more fulfilling life and maintain creative control, leading to personal and professional growth.
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Son's Book Critique
Ryan Holiday's son jokingly asked what the worst book in the bookstore was.
He quipped, "Besides yours," showing a surprisingly advanced sense of humor.
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Playful Teasing
Ryan Holiday's children enjoy playfully teasing him.
They test his boundaries and reactions, demonstrating social intelligence.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Book-Filled Studio
Ryan Holiday built a studio at the Painted Porch and decorated it with books.
He used a mix of his own books, foreign translations, and books from "Book by the Foot."
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Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
Good Inside
A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
Becky Kennedy
In 'Good Inside,' Dr. Becky Kennedy shares her parenting philosophy, which focuses on building strong relationships with children rather than merely shaping their behavior. The book critiques traditional parenting methods like reward charts and time-outs, which fail to address children's complex emotional needs. Dr. Kennedy provides actionable strategies and troubleshooting for various parenting challenges, such as sibling rivalry, separation anxiety, and tantrums. Her approach helps parents move from uncertainty and self-blame to confidence and sturdy leadership, emphasizing the importance of compassion and understanding in parenting.
Seeking fame and success can become an addiction that ruins what matters most. Stoic Ryan Holiday explains how to find sustainable contentment instead!
What We Discuss with Ryan Holiday:
The hunt for fame and success can become addictive and create an insatiable desire for more, leading people to rationalize pursuing them at the expense of family time and personal well-being.
The constant pursuit of growth and comparison metrics (book sales, download numbers, rankings) often detracts from the joy of doing work you love.
Many successful people rationalize sacrificing time with their children by claiming it's "for the kids," when in reality it's often driven by their own ambition, ego, or insecurity.
Historical perspective shows that even the most famous or successful people eventually fade from memory, suggesting that pursuing fame or status for its own sake is ultimately hollow.
You can create a more fulfilling personal and professional life by focusing on doing what you love for its own sake rather than external validation. This means setting up your work to be as independent as possible from outside institutions and metrics, allowing you to maintain creative control and do things on your own terms. This approach leads to more sustainable success and greater personal satisfaction.
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