In 'Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine,' Derren Brown delves into the concept of happiness from various angles, drawing on influences from Stoicism, philosophy, literature, and modern psychology. The book is divided into three sections: 'Beginnings,' which discusses the stories we tell ourselves and the problems with self-help; 'Solutions,' which explores living a considered life, dealing with emotions, and regaining control over our narratives; and 'Happy Endings,' which addresses the fear of death and how to live in the present. Brown argues that true happiness is not found in material goods or external events but in accepting the indifference of the universe and finding contentment in the present moment[2][4][5].
This book distinguishes between unconscious and conscious leadership, offering a roadmap to help leaders transition from fear-based to trust-based leadership. The 15 commitments outlined in the book aim to enhance self-awareness, accountability, and collaborative relationships. By practicing these commitments, leaders can achieve more energy, clarity, focus, and healthier relationships, both personally and within their teams. The commitments include ending blame and criticism, speaking candidly, finding unique genius, and creating win-for-all solutions, among others. The authors provide practical exercises and resources to help leaders implement these commitments effectively[2][3][4].
In this episode, I chat with Erick Cloward. Erick is an executive coach, based in Amsterdam, who helps leaders build more resilient teams and make better decisions. He is a former tech CTO and software developer. Erick started the Stoic Coffee Break podcast in 2018, to provide people with practical advice on applying Stoicism to their lives –- it now has more than 9 million downloads. He has his first book coming out on 4th February, from Adams Media, titled Stoicism 101: From Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus to the Role of Reason and Amor Fati, an Essential Primer on Stoic Philosophy.
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Highlights
* How did you first become interested in Stoicism?
* Misconceptions people have about Stoicism
* Why Stoicism is important today
* How did you get started doing your podcast and what have you learned from the experience?
* What’s your book, Stoicism 101, about?
* What aspects of Stoicism do you think are most relevant to executive coaching?
* What can Stoicism tell us about leadership?
* How Stoicism might help people to avoid getting so angry
Links
* Stoic Coffee Website
* Stoicism 101
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