PODCAST · society
Stoic leadership
by Steven Di Pietro
The ones promoted are the cool heads.The deeply respected friends are those who remain calm.Stoicism is a 2,000 year old philosophy which you can adapt to your leadership at work, or in your personal life.If it was good enough for Emperor Marcus Aurelius of Rome, it may be good enough for us.To me, stoicism merges questions of meaning of life, consciousness and the practicalities of functioning as the best human you can be.This podcast is a diary which touches on a different topic of stoicism each post.
Episodes
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EP51 - On rewards
Why should we do the right thing, just because it's right? Or because we want to? Doing the right thing for the right reasons requires no balloons, pats on the back or acknowledgment from a loved one. Seneca says I must be just; without reward. The deed itself offers a greater return. It makes no...
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EP50 - What is some good I can get from myself today?
Bad habits and accidental habits are easy. They require no work, they just into our lives and remain, seemingly forever. The problem with habits (intentional habits) is that they initially require a lot of work, but the payback is enormous and they can be stacked indefinitely on top of each other.
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EP49 - Finding the hidden recesses of uncontrollable guilt
Personal development is a lifelong work. Stoicism is no different. Despite trying my best to be stoic, I found a hidden corner of failure. The COVID-19 virus exposed me to a litany of blind spots I didn't know I had. I was still in the vice grip of uncontrollable events lurking deep in my...
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EP48 - Getting thoughts out of your head
We all know the feeling of laying in bed with thoughts endlessly swirling around. How do we get those thoughts out of our head? You need to put them there. The answer is in the simplicity Cover photo Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pexels
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EP 47 - What would less look like?
Stoicism teaches us to look inward, and to do more with less. Prior to COVID-19 it was difficult to imagine how much I could trim. I delayed buying a new car, cut back going to dinner, had less exotic holidays. Braver people then I may have even abstained. But I couldn’t cut things back all the…
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EP46 - Counterfeit advice
We are wary of counterfeit money in certain circumstances but are less wary of counterfeit ideas from others or even ourselves. From my blog series here
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EP45 - A fisherman who can't fish
A fisherman who cannot go to sea prepares his nets. I grew up with kids who’s fathers were fisherman. I remember how on windy days they’d have fishing nets strewn along the length of their huge concrete driveway. The father and grandfather would stand over the nets with big needles and plastic...
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EP44 - It's never as bad as it gets
As we battle through this 2020 pandemic, it's easy to feel that things can't get much worse. They can get much worse but they probably won't. From my blog series here
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EP 43 - Dealing with stress with gratitude and journalling
I've had an extremely stressful time running my business through the 2020 Covid pandemic. Stoic practice has lots of ways of dealing with stress but in this podcast I've gone for a conscious stream of thought which focuses on two things gratitude and journaling. I know too many people it might...
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EP42 - Was COVID-19 meant to be?
Should I be fatalistic toward the future? I write this in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic. It’s easy to think, ‘oh it’s not fair’. If only that person in China who first contracted the disease didn’t go to that seafood market. If only I would have save more money. If only, if only, if only. There...
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EP41 - Never explain yourself
Throughout my life I’ve had to explain myself. Why won’t you eat your dinner? Why did you come home at 3 am? Why didn’t you study more? Why didn’t you train harder? As I get older, it seems, the more I stick my head up, the more I need to explain myself. Why did you do it like this, or that, or I...
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EP40 - Being a stoic leader in practice
I run a business and we are decimated by the stupid Covid-19 virus. Here's how I've used all the tools I've learnt to navigate with firing staff, shuttling the office and dealing with suppliers who have gone broke. It's never too late to get on board. From my blog series here
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EP39 - Stand in the sunshine
We can lean on ancient philosophies to get through these hard times. The philosophies have been around for over 2,000 years and multiple plagues and disasters. Here are 4 steps to get through tough times and find the sun. From my blog series here
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EP38 - What would it be like to focus on the present?
It feels natural to focus on the past and the future. We can get caught up with past decisions, regrets, or even reminiscing about the good times. Like everyone, I worry about the future and all it holds. “No one can lose either the past or the future, for how can someone be deprived of what’s…
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EP37 - Is arrogance good or bad?
Is arrogance good or bad? Sometimes it’s seen as a strength. We commonly refer to strong leaders with romantic notions of walking through a crowd with quiet arrogance. It’s seen as a sign of confidence, of someone on top of their game, provided it is not unjustified. But deep down, it’s not one…
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EP36 - On bad luck. Is it inevitable?
When something terrible happens, I’m quick to respond with “oh bad luck”. Similarly, during bad times I (like many people), am hopeful of good times ahead. I hope that eventually my luck will turn. This belief in a future positive circumstance is called hope. And we all believe in hope in one way...
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EP35 - On ideas
On not implementing ideas and being jealous of those who steal, or actually implement your idea. I've neen through it. We all have. Here is aa way to deal with it. From my blog series here
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EP34 - On tough decisions, firing someone.
Today I was tested. I had to fire someone who was fast becoming a friend. The person was doing a good job, and I liked him, but the business conditions had changed so dramatically that it made it difficult to keep him employed. My stoic practice helped immensely with this process despite there...
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EP33 - What's the hidden cost?
What does it cost to buy something? Sure there is the monetary consideration. A croissant cost you a couple of dollars. A car might cost me tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. I know with a car there is the added cost of insurance, maintenance and fuel. But there are hidden costs like...
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EP32 - What distinguishes us as humans?
What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be uniquely human? Stoic philosophy dictates that we should live a virtuous life, that is, our most excellent life, being our most excellent self. This rumination looks at the question of what is at the core of being human. From my blog series here
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EP31 - Is satisfactory enough?
“How’s your day going?” “Yeah OK thanks.” Does this mean you’re happy? Happiness is the goal for many of us. We’d rather be happy than sad. Are you happy with your new job? Yeah, I’m happy with my new job. At what point do I become happy as opposed to unhappy? Is there a line? Of course not....
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EP30 - Is turbulence bad?
Sometimes we just have to switch off. Sitting on a plane, bus or car gives us a chance to stop. Despite going 900km an hour, a plane gives me solitude. A plane gives me a reason to stop. I can’t get up and walk around. I can’t go chat to a friend. I’m stuck there in seat 13F in a bubble made of...
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EP29 - How do you define success?
This longer podcast recording is from an interview I did with Warwick Merry from the Get More Success podcast. Unit we talk about what it's like to run a company with 50,000 contractors over multiple times zones, but more importantly it's about how we define success. We dig into specifics about…
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EP28 - Why be stoic?
What has the stoic way taught me? Calmness, strength, and a practical way to live my best life. My life philosophy is the same. It’s reading and doing. I respect wisdom which has survived thousands of years, but I need to do things myself. So far it’s taught me how to stay level. To enjoy more of...
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EP27 - am I certain I can’t leave things unsaid?
I want to impart my knowledge. I need to say something. I’m well read, clever, and can talk. What a dangerous combination. My brother used to ask me “why do you always have to fill silence with your voice”. When he first said it, I saw it as a badge of honour. I assumed the quiet had nothing to...
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EP26 - am I happy with my portions, and are they worth it?
We constantly want more more more. Often have that feeling that I haven't got my just desserts. Epictetus teaches us to loosen our hand in the goody jar. We need to recognise those costs of the costs don't need to deter from our enjoyment....
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EP25 - training against false impressions
How do I train against false impressions? Do I even need to? False impressions happen based on the emotion which comes from putting my lens on things. It comes from doing things and thinking things to suit my own agenda. ....... After the gut feel is made, I need the courage to question that gut...
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EP24 - How close is the next storm? And how to thrive in it.
That big payday seems a lifetime ago. I remember the day well. It was only three days ago. My business received some large outstanding payments which were crippling us. I celebrated. I even bought champagne. But I knew, I knew that it was only temporary. The good times don’t last long....
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EP23 - on quiet jealousy & how to avoid it
I recently found myself being jealous of my cousin.. I was jealous of their situation and angry with myself. Not them. But I know nothing of how long they’ll be semi-retired. I know nothing of their expected lifestyle. I don’t know if they’ve inherited money. I don’t know anything. .............
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EP22 - Having Hero's
When are we personally successful? When is our business a success? What should we measure ourselves against? I may want to learn from specific behaviours but not be the person I'm mimicking. I want to speak like Obama, but I'll never collect his speaking fee. We are all on different journeys. The...
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EP21 - Do without
I’ve got a little secret to tell. Yes I am the CEO of a company and founder, and a lot of people will see from my social media that I travel a lot. It would give the impression that I leave the rich at high life. But nothing could be further from the truth. I actually lead to very humble life and...
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EP20 - Which of my pleasures are really punishments?
The pleasures which take me from tranquillity other ones which are like a wolf in sheep‘s clothing. Is tranquility better than fun? Drinking has countless costs and punishes us with hangovers and bad decisions. But it’s fun for a short term. It releases stress. But we know the toll on our bodies...
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EP19 - For what have I sold my peace of mind?
In life and business all we want are a few moments of peace. Three things: distractions, diversions and avoidance. Rationally, they get me nowhere, and they certainly don't get me towards my goals. Distractions are an empty cost with no return. If these distractions got me closer to peace of…
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EP18 - The power to resist
I will go 24 hours without food at least once a week. Why would I do that? We know we have to do important, uncomfortable things in life. We know we need to do the uncomfortable. Do something uncomfortable every day they say. But doing the uncomfortable hurts. We avoid it. How can I get more...
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EP17 - Why do we fear death?
Why do we fear death? If you look at it rationally, apart from the mode of death, once you are dead you have nothing to worry about. In fact, many existentialists would say that the moment before death is the most peaceful because it is the moment when all of your worries and all of your earthly...
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EP16 - Diary: What if I didn’t have an opinion? Bad bosses and politics.
Opinion is the sister of judgement. I should only give my opinion when asked, and even then, I should not overreach. My opinion will not change the outcome, it will only create my own stress because the world surely isn’t conforming to my opinions. Politics is a classic example. We all seem to…
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EP15 - What needless conflict can I avoid?
Needless conflict. We'll know that a lot of conflict is needless, but which conflict? And how can I avoid just that conflict? Isn't some conflict helpful and productive? The conflict I am thinking about is the conflict which comes from judgement and opinion. Conflict can only come from a…
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EP14 - Am I thinking before I act?
This question has both applications in the minutia and in the esoteric. In the minutia of my morning routine I've learnt to think before I act by taking first time. When I get to my desk, and before I open my laptop, I have a new habit of journaling before I do anything. Usually it's a question...
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EP13 - Cultivating the invincibility of my power to choose
Invincibility is a powerful word. It has connotations of Superman, of the ancient gods. To equate me with invincibility, or anything I do with invincibility seems ridiculous. And yet I feel like I am indeed cultivating invincibility of my power to choose. I noticed this through actions and...
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EP12 - Defining sucess
How do you define success? Is success and external event or situation, or is it something dripping from within? I used to think that success was all about status and money and position and awards, but that didn’t work with me. Success comes from within. But I’m not talking about naval…
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EP11 - Being clueless about things that don't matter
My Diary In colloquial language, to be clueless is to be ignorant, stupid, and have no idea about things. In colloquial language, to be clueless is to be ignorant, stupid, and have no idea about things. To be clueless about things that don't matter is to be stoic. It means I shouldn’t engage in...
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EP10 - What ruler do you measure yourself against?
Part (machine) transcription... Today’s question or today’s diary question is what rulers do I measure myself against.The word ruler can have two meanings it could mean the king - what ruler do I measure myself against? What aspirational person do a measure myself again but when I first thought...
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EP9 - Which of my possessions own me?
In this diary entry I’ll examine how physical things such as houses and other positions can owners and drive out actions. But I’ll also look at how emotions can onus and drive our actions
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EP8 - Bad habits
Breaking bad habits reveals the deepest parts of my existence #stoicism #stoic #stoicleadersip Read the full blog article here
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EP7 - Rekindling principles
If we break this sentence down, the first two things to tackle are what it means to live today and also to understand my principles. To start living today implies that I'm not living today. I think the stoic argument for this is to say that whatever takes us off our path of virtue distracts us…
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EP6 - Unquestioned assumptions
What do we automatically hold true, and how to deal with unquestioned truths. Here’s a simple way you can identify them. #stoic #stoicleadershio #stoicism Dear Diary Today I was confronted with an interesting question. What assumptions have I left unquestioned? This sentence needs some deep...
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EP5 - Combatting frivolities and paranoias.
In business and in life we are constantly distracted by frivolities and paranoia. He is a practical way Stoicism can teach leaders to combat these vices and get more productive. #stoicleadership #stoicism #leadership
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EP4 - Putting things outside your control - intentionally
We always talk about "gaining control", but has anyone ever posed the question about whether we should put more things 'out of our control?" Putting things outside our control in both our personal and business life can have huge benefits. Stoic leadership #stoicism #stoic #stoicleadership
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Ep3 -The Funeral
Funerals are a fantastic way to practice momento mori (to remember that you will die). They jolt you into thinking about death. This funeral made me grateful.
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Ep2 - The bored leader. Kill your boredom.
Leaders are always on the run. But sometimes when we stop we get frustrated, it’s like boredom enveloped us. Here’s how to deal with it.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The ones promoted are the cool heads.The deeply respected friends are those who remain calm.Stoicism is a 2,000 year old philosophy which you can adapt to your leadership at work, or in your personal life.If it was good enough for Emperor Marcus Aurelius of Rome, it may be good enough for us.To me, stoicism merges questions of meaning of life, consciousness and the practicalities of functioning as the best human you can be.This podcast is a diary which touches on a different topic of stoicism each post.
HOSTED BY
Steven Di Pietro
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Stoic leadership currently has 88 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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The ones promoted are the cool heads.The deeply respected friends are those who remain calm.Stoicism is a 2,000 year old philosophy which you can adapt to your leadership at work, or in your personal life.If it was good enough for Emperor Marcus Aurelius of Rome, it may be good enough for us.To me,...
How often does Stoic leadership release new episodes?
Stoic leadership has 88 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Stoic leadership is created and hosted by Steven Di Pietro.
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