#208 Ryan Holiday: How to Win the War with Yourself

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

Farnam Street

Business, Investing, Entrepreneurship

4.7 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 26 November 2024

⏱️ 102 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ryan Holiday unpacks the subtle and not-so-subtle messages life sends us—and what happens when we ignore them. From mismatched tattoos and injured ankles, Ryan reflects on the lessons he’s learned about preparation, awareness, and humility. Using examples ranging from personal missteps to famous entrepreneurial gambles, this episode is a deep dive into the art of learning from experience, knowing when to listen, and the cost of stubbornness. Plus, Holiday revisits his roots to discuss how Stoic principles can guide you in navigating feedback, balancing ambition with self-awareness, and understanding the fine line between determination and delusion.

Holiday is a New York Times bestselling author. He has written over 10 books, covering both the fundamentals of Stoicism as well as key elements of modern-day marketing and media. His most recent release is Right Thing, Right Now. Holiday has been a guest on the podcast twice before.

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(00:00) Intro

(02:20) When to Ignore Advice

(04:49) The Importance of Reflection and Journaling

(07:26) Balancing Emotions and Stoic Practices

(24:34) Misconceptions and Historical Context of Stoicism

(29:53) The Pursuit of Excellence and Its Trade-offs

(40:58) The Power of Saying No and Opportunity Costs

(49:09) The Role of Anger and Emotional Control

(52:58) Defining Self-Discipline

(53:43) The Essence of Self-Discipline

(54:29) Balancing Discipline and Life

(55:09) Consistency and Overcoming Setbacks

(56:09) The Struggle with Compulsive Tendencies

(58:33) Navigating Competition and Personal Goals

(01:01:22) Cultivating Discipline Through Physical Practice

(01:02:15) Instilling Discipline in Children

(01:04:22) Understanding Character and Virtue

(01:23:32) The Impact of Modern Technology on Writing

(01:35:04) Defining Success and Managing Expectations

Transcript

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0:00.0	You've said before that life is always whispering at you, and if you're not paying attention,
0:05.0	it'll eventually scream at you.
0:07.0	In sobriety circles, they talk about like two cars in the garage attics.
0:11.0	What rock bottom is for you is a choice that you kind of get to make?
0:16.0	So do you realize that you're heading down a bad path after you've had to sell your house and your cars and you've lost literally everything?
0:23.6	Or is it that embarrassing evening at the company Christmas party that serves to send the message?
0:31.6	How are you hearing what the world is trying to tell you?
0:35.6	Or are you very much not hearing it and at some point
0:39.9	is it going to have to hold you down and scream it into your ear.
0:53.5	Welcome to the Knowledge Project podcast. I'm your host, Shane Parrish. In a world where knowledge is power, this podcast is your toolkit for mastering the best what other people have already figured out. Can you do me a quick favor? Most people who listen to the show are not subscribers. Go ahead and hit that follow button right now. Thank you. My guest
1:12.4	today is the modern day philosopher king Ryan Holiday. His books on helping people live better
1:17.9	and more meaningful lives have sold millions of copies. Building a meaningful life isn't just about
1:23.3	inspiration. It's about action. And today, Ryan shares the practical ancient strategies that
1:28.9	have helped the world-class athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs transform their lives. It's time
1:34.1	to listen and learn. There are too many podcasts and not enough time. What if you could skip
1:43.4	the noise and get just the insightful moments, even from shows
1:46.7	you didn't know existed?
1:48.8	That's what Overlap does.
1:50.2	Overlap is an AI-driven podcast app that uses large language models to curate the best
1:55.1	moments from episodes.
1:57.3	Imagine having a smart assistant who reads through every transcript,
2:06.0	finds just the best parts, and serves them up based on whatever topic you're interested in.
	...

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