The Thing We Never Want To Do | Ask DS

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Jan 4, 2024

Explore the intriguing insights of Seneca and his reluctance to reflect on his own flaws. Delve into the modern resurgence of Stoicism, especially post-pandemic, and how ancient wisdom can inform contemporary challenges. Discover how Stoic virtues align with corporate ethics and the importance of recognizing incremental progress. Plus, find balance in life's ambitions using the Stoic principle of temperance, illustrated through boxing metaphors. A compelling journey through self-reflection, virtue, and resilience awaits!

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insights

INSIGHT

Self-Reflection vs. External Judgment

Seneca extensively criticized others but rarely reflected on his own flaws.
Most people avoid self-reflection, focusing on others' shortcomings instead of their own.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Marcus Aurelius and the Antonine Plague

Marcus Aurelius lived through a pandemic called the Antonine Plague, which lasted 15 years.
His "Meditations" offers timeless advice for navigating life's challenges, similar to what people face today.

insights

INSIGHT

Stoicism and the HP Way

The HP Way aligns with Stoic values, emphasizing virtue and excellence.
Stoicism's four virtues—courage, self-discipline, justice, and wisdom—are reflected in HP's corporate principles.

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The Timeless Relevance of Stoicism

04:14 • 7min

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Aligning Stoic Virtues with Corporate Values

11:15 • 4min

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Striking a Balance: The Stoic Virtue of Temperance

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.

Letters from a Stoic

Seneca

Seneca's "Letters from a Stoic" comprises a collection of personal letters offering practical advice on living a virtuous life according to Stoic principles. Written to Lucilius, a friend and student, the letters cover a wide range of topics, including dealing with adversity, managing emotions, and finding inner peace. Seneca's writing style is engaging and relatable, making complex philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience. The letters offer timeless wisdom on self-improvement and ethical living. They remain a valuable resource for anyone seeking guidance on navigating life's challenges.

Leadership In Turbulent Times

Doris Kearns Goodwin

In this book, Doris Kearns Goodwin examines the leadership skills of four U.S. presidents through their experiences during significant crises. The book is organized into three parts: the early days and ambitions of each president, their overcoming of significant early obstacles, and their leadership strategies during their presidencies. Goodwin delves into how each president—Lincoln during the Emancipation Proclamation, Theodore Roosevelt during the coal strike, Franklin Roosevelt during his first 100 days, and Lyndon Johnson during the Civil Rights Act—demonstrated unique leadership qualities that enabled them to surmount challenges and make significant impacts on the nation.

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

The Gap and The Gain

The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

This book introduces the concept of 'The Gap and The Gain', developed by Dan Sullivan, which helps high achievers understand why they are often unhappy despite their accomplishments. It explains that measuring oneself against an ideal (the Gap) leads to dissatisfaction, while measuring against past achievements (the Gain) fosters happiness, gratitude, and motivation. The book is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance, offering practical advice on how to shift focus to appreciate progress and achieve greater fulfillment and success.

What to expect when you're expecting

Constance Bannister

This book presents advice in a question-and-answer format, proceeding chronologically from the suspicion of pregnancy through each of the nine months and into the postpartum period. It includes sections such as 'Your Body This Month,' 'Your Baby This Month,' and 'What You May Be Concerned About,' as well as 'For Dads' boxes addressing fathers’ unique concerns.

Growth Hacker Marketing

Ryan Holiday

In this book, Ryan Holiday explains how the marketing landscape has changed and introduces the concept of growth hacking. He argues that traditional marketing methods are no longer effective and presents a new approach that emphasizes achieving product-market fit, targeting specific groups, and creating viral growth through scalable and trackable methods. The book includes case studies from companies like Dropbox, Instagram, and Airbnb, highlighting how these businesses achieved massive growth without traditional marketing. Holiday stresses the importance of continuous product optimization and user feedback to drive exponential growth.

Areté

Activate Your Heroic Potential

Brian Johnson

In *Areté*, Brian Johnson combines ancient philosophy, modern science, and practical tools to help readers activate their heroic potential and live a life of excellence. The book offers 451 short insights across seven disciplines, providing a roadmap for personal growth and transformation. It is designed to help individuals overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.

Same as Ever

A Guide to What Never Changes

Morgan Housel

In 'Same as Ever,' Morgan Housel presents a master class on optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living a fulfilling life by focusing on what remains constant in a changing world. Through engaging stories and examples, Housel shows how understanding permanent truths about human behavior can help readers make better decisions and navigate uncertainties. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and adapting to timeless principles in finance, business, and personal life, rather than trying to predict specific future events.

We know what Seneca thought of Alexander the Great. We know what he thought of Marius. We know what he thought of entitled and gluttonous Romans. We have his seething satire of Claudius.

His prolific writings condemn and judge—rightfully so—these hypocritical and often miserable folks. We have hundreds of his letters (a must read!), dozens of essays, volumes on natural history, multiple books that explore countless topics at incredible depth. But you know what we don’t know much about? What Seneca thought about himself and his job at Nero’s right hand.

It’s like that line from the Taylor Swift song “Anti-Hero”—Seneca would apparently rather stare directly at the sun than look in the mirror. He’s got volumes for other people. He’s got an eagle eye for elsewhere. But his own struggles, his own contradictions, his own flaws? Well, he never seems to touch on that.

In today's Ask Daily Stoic, Ryan talks stoics and growth hacking over virtual for HP. “Advance Compute and Solutions”. HP produces some the worlds most powerful PCs used by Creatives, Designers, Engineers, and Analytics teams. So we’re dealing with the leading edge technology and partner with the likes of companies like Intel, AMD and Nvidia.

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