It Doesn’t Matter What You Do, It Matters How You Do It

The Daily Stoic

Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

Education, 694393, Daily Stoic, Society & Culture, Stoic, Stoicism, Self-improvement, Business, Stoic Philosophy, Philosophy, Ryan Holiday

4.6 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 13 June 2019

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The occupations of the three most well-known Stoics could not be more different. Seneca was a playwright, a wealthy landowner, and a political advisor. Epictetus was a former slave who became a philosophy teacher. Marcus Aurelius would have loved to be a philosopher but instead found himself wearing the purple cloak of the emperor.

Zeno was a prosperous merchant. Cleanthes was a water carrier. Cato was a Senator. The modern Stoics include James Stockdale, a fighter pilot, and Tim Ferriss, a writer and a technology investor.

These jobs have very little in common. The lifestyles they support are vastly different as well—so are the opportunities, the temptations, the frustrations and the stresses that they produce.

But none of that matters. What matters is how you do your job and how you respond to the situations it creates for you. Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself that it was possible to live a good life anywhere—including in the complicated and intoxicating halls of power. He mostly proved that true. (Sadly, Seneca fell short in those same hallways).

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a janitor or a junior senator. It doesn’t matter whether you’re negotiating a multi-million dollar deal or negotiating traffic on the way to your unpaid internship. What matters is what you do with this time. What matters is how you manage it.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, it’s possible to live a good life and to be a good Stoic. It’s not easy, but it’s possible.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:13.6	Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life.
0:23.3	Each one of these passages is based on the 2000 year old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at DailyStoic.com.
0:35.3	It doesn't matter what you do. It matters how you do it. The occupations of the three most well-known still looks could not be more different.
0:43.3	Senaika was a playwright, a wealthy landowner, and a political adviser. Epic Titus was a former slave who became a philosophy teacher. Marcus Aurelius would have loved to be a philosopher, but instead found himself wearing the purple cloak of the Emperor.
0:59.3	Zeno was a prosperous merchant. Clientes was a water carrier. Cato was a senator. The modern still cooks include James Stockdale, a fighter pilot, and Tim Ferris, a writer and technology investor.
1:11.3	These jobs have very little in common. The lifestyles they support are vastly different as well. So are the opportunities, the temptations, the frustrations, and the stresses which they produce.
1:24.3	But none of that matters. Neither does your job or the lifestyle it provides. What matters is how you do that job and how you respond to the situations it puts you in.
1:35.3	Marcus Aurelius wrote himself that it was possible to live a good life anywhere, including in the complicated and intoxicating halls of power. He mostly proved that true. Sadly, Senaika often fell short in the same hallways.
1:50.3	It doesn't matter whether you're a janitor or a junior senator. It doesn't matter whether you're negotiating a multi-million dollar deal or negotiating traffic on the way to your unpaid internship.
2:00.3	What matters is what you do with this. What matters is how you do it. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, it's possible to live a good life. To be a good stoic. It's not easy, but it's possible.
2:13.3	If you're liking this podcast, we would love for you to subscribe. Please leave us a review on iTunes or any of your favorite podcast listening apps. It really helps and tell a friend.
2:30.3	Hey, prime members, you can listen to the daily stoic early and add free on Amazon music. Download the Amazon music app today or you can listen early and add free with Wondery Plus in Apple podcasts.

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