EP19 - For what have I sold my peace of mind?

Stoic leadership

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 mind, then they would make sense. But they don't. The cost is enormous because the return is less than zero; it is negative. I equate these distractions, diversions and avoidance to gambling. The more you undertake the activity, the more you lose. You may have a momentary hit of dopamine with a short term win, but ultimately you lose. Even if I get all these things impediments under control, will I ever feel like the business (or my life) is going well. Will I ever feel at peace? Probably not. Going well? What does that mean? When does that happen? Expect leadership and life to be hard. You will never keep riding the crest of a wave because it eventually crashes onto the sand. Even the wins are small. Business and work are hard. Expect it to be. Stoics know this, stoics practice this. As a leader, I have one job: to think of what's controllable, then taking ‘actions' on those things which I can control. So whenever my peace is endangered, I simply take a step, regardless of how big it is. But I only make those steps are for things I control, not for things that make me happy. Ultimately, this brings tranquility. Long-term tranquility or a spurt of happiness. I decide.

https://www.stevendipietro.com/blog/2020/2/13/diary-19-for-what-have-i-sold-my-peace-of-mind-keynote-speaker

--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/steven-di-pietro/message