In this episode we discuss how our perception of reality dramatically shifts what actions we take, why you should embrace 2000+ years of wisdom to be happier and more productive, how to stop judging yourself and others based on your achievements and root your identity in something within your control, we look at how we can cultivate a more humble and resilient world view, discuss strategies for connecting with top tier mentors, and much more with Ryan Holiday. 
    Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and writer. He is the bestselling author of over five books including The Obstacle is the Way, Ego is The Enemy, and most recently his upcoming book Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work That Lasts. Ryan previously worked as the director of marketing for American Apparel, working on several controversial campaigns,  before starting his own creative agency. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Forbes, and more!    Why you should understand the Stoic discipline of "perception" The way in which we see the world changes how we interact with it How to accept situations as they are, not as you want them to be Why you shouldn't waste time figuring out how things happened, who is to blame, etc - you should shift your focus to constructively determining the next thing to do “There’s no problem so bad (in space) that you can’t make it worse” The challenge of perception is not making the situations in your life worse with interpretations, resentments, anxieties  The story of Amelia Earhart and how you can use it to take action in the face of challenges When you’re offended, when you think something is beneath you, you are projecting onto that situation something that may not be there How do you react when people don’t think you have what it takes? How to make yourself the most important person in a room, not by posturing, but by what you can contribute How we can flip obstacles on their heads and view setbacks as opportunities “What stands in the way becomes the way” We have the ability with our minds to change how anything means  Setbacks make some people worse, some people tough it out, other people get even better What is “Stoic Optimism” and why stoicism is not a focus on the negative The distinction between Being and Doing and why its so critical Should you do the “right thing” even if it pisses people off, hurts your chances of being promoted, causes political infighting, and worse? Many people make the choice unknowingly between being and doing - and end up one day wondering where it all went wrong How do we untangle success from our identities? How do we avoid the trap of judging people based on their achievements? Focus on basing your identity on an internals scorecard that is within your control Decide what’s important to you, and root it within the things you control How do we anchor our identity and self worth on a more stable footing? The critical difference between stoicism vs pessimism and how to look at both sides of the coin and realizing there are no good or bad outcomes - just outcomes Everything is relative and subjective - someone in the third world would kill to live the life you may think of as failure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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