What Is Luck and What Is Not
The Daily Stoic3 Okt 2019

What Is Luck and What Is Not

The philosopher and writer Nassim Taleb once said that, “Hard work will get you a professorship or a BMW. You need both work and luck for a Booker, a Nobel, or a private jet.” His point was that certain accomplishments are within the reasonable grasp of someone making incremental gains each day. Outsized success and outlier accomplishments require that and extreme luck or timing.

This is worth considering for all of us who grew up being told the world was a meritocracy. Of course, it isn’t. Plenty of brilliant people fail to succeed for all sorts of reasons, and plenty of not-so-brilliant people find themselves successful beyond their wildest dreams. The world is a random, even cruel, place that does not always reward merit or hard work or skill. Sometimes it does, but not always.

Still, perhaps a more usable and practical distinction to make is not between hard work and luck, but between what is up to us and what is not up to us. This is the distinction that the Stoics tried to make and to think about always. Pioneering new research in science—that’s up to us. Being recognized for that work (e.g. winning a Nobel) is not. A committee decides that. The media decides that. Becoming an expert in a field, that’s up to us. We do that by reading, by studying, by going out and experiencing things. Being hired as a professor at Harvard to teach that expertise is not (think of all the people who weren’t hired there over the years because they were female, or Jewish, or Black). Writing a prize-worthy piece of literature—up to us. That’s time in front of the keyboard. That’s up to our genius. Being named as a finalist for the Booker Prize is not.

It’s not that luck, exactly, decides these things, but it is very clearly other people that make the decision. Marcus Aurelius said that the key to life was to tie our sanity—our sense of satisfaction—to our own actions. To tie it to what other people say or do (that was his definition of ambition) was to set ourselves up to be hurt and disappointed. It’s insanity. And it misses the point.

Do the work. Be happy with that. Everything else is irrelevant.

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Be An Everyday Person | Coach Buzz Williams

Be An Everyday Person | Coach Buzz Williams

Being consistent creates real, lasting change. It is the compound interest towards our future accomplishments and who we want to be. This is what Texas A&M Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Buzz Williams, calls “being an everyday guy”. Whether you’re practicing free throws in the gym every afternoon like Coach Buzz's players or you’re writing each morning like Ryan, the common denominator that leads each of us to where we want to go is consistently showing up and doing the work. Tune in to today’s episode to hear Coach Buzz and Ryan talk about being an everyday person, why all success is a lagging indicator, how Buzz thinks about winning and losing, coaching players in the age of social media fame, and more. Don’t forget to listen to part 1:🎙️ Part 1: Coach Buzz Williams’ Playbook for Mentorship and Motivation 🎥 Watch the full clip of Coach Buzz talking about “being an everyday guy” on YouTubeFollow Buzz Williams on Instagram: @TeamCoachBuzz and on X: @TeamCoachBuzz🔓 Unlock early access to Daily Stoic episodes by signing up for Wondery+!✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

17 Aug 202437min

Can You Do It With A Broken Heart? | Anything Can Be An Advantage

Can You Do It With A Broken Heart? | Anything Can Be An Advantage

The Stoics were people that felt, but they also understood that life, especially leadership, requires being able to balance these emotions with the responsibilities and duties each of us have. We have to process these emotions, to be sure. We may also have to put them aside for a second.📕 Our favorite translation of Seneca’s essays on grief and loss, Hardship and Happiness (The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca) is available at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/🎶 Lyrics mentioned are from I Can Do It With a Broken Heart by Taylor Swift🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets at ryanholiday.net/tour✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Aug 20247min

What Has It Stolen From You? | Ask DS

What Has It Stolen From You? | Ask DS

We are the creators of our anxiety. Which means we can also be the ones to do something about it. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius put it like this: “Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.” To serve as a reminder of this, we have created the Daily Stoic Anxiety Medallion. Grab your own at the Daily Stoic Store!✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Aug 202414min

This is What To Do With Joy

This is What To Do With Joy

It’s because life is unpredictable, it’s because nothing is certain that we must find joy and happiness where we can.🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Aug 20242min

Coach Buzz Williams’ Playbook for Mentorship and Motivation

Coach Buzz Williams’ Playbook for Mentorship and Motivation

As the Head Coach of Texas A&M Men’s Basketball team, Coach Buzz Williams is dedicated to setting his players up for success not only on the court, but with values that they will carry for the rest of their lives. During the off-season, Coach Buzz was able to come down to the Daily Stoic studio and share with Ryan what he’s learned about not just being a great coach, but also a great person, throughout his life and 30+ season coaching career. Buzz talks about how basketball legend George Raveling continues to be his mentor, the responsibility he feels as a coach, building trust with his players, the difference between discipline and justice, and more. Follow Buzz Williams on Instagram: @TeamCoachBuzz and on X: @TeamCoachBuzz📚 Want to learn more about the difference between discipline and justice? Check these out:Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday Right Thing, Right Now by Ryan Holiday ✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Aug 202441min

You Can’t Be Afraid To Get Up There | Marcus Aurelius' Life Story

You Can’t Be Afraid To Get Up There | Marcus Aurelius' Life Story

There’s a reason the Stoics held up courage as a key virtue. Because they believed that we were obligated to participate in public life and that this meant putting ourselves out there. Whatever it is that we want to do in life demands this courage. We can’t let our fears win.🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tourLondon — November 12Rotterdam — November 13Dublin — November 15Vancouver — November 18Toronto — November 20✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Aug 202413min

We Have To Give It Back | Always Ask Yourself This Question

We Have To Give It Back | Always Ask Yourself This Question

We’ve already lost many of our favorite guests and influences. Today, we must add another to that list, Jake Seliger. Jake was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year at age 39, and in the midst of that fight he gave a moving interview on the Daily Stoic podcast, despite having had his tongue removed.Please consider donating to Jake’s GoFundMe, his wife Bess announced that all future donations will now go to supporting their daughter Athena. 🎙️Listen to Jake’s interview | Spotify, Apple, Wondery📕Our favorite translation of Seneca’s essays on grief and loss, Hardship and Happiness (The Complete Works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca) is available at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/📓 Pick up a signed edition of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living: https://store.dailystoic.com/🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Aug 20249min

What Jimmy Carter Can Teach Us About Justice | Ryan Holiday Speaks at the Naval Academy

What Jimmy Carter Can Teach Us About Justice | Ryan Holiday Speaks at the Naval Academy

Back in April, Ryan went to the United States Naval Academy and spoke to over 1,000 Sophomore Cadets about Stoicism, the virtue of Justice, and the legacy of USNA alum and former President, Jimmy Carter. This was part of the Stutt Ethics Lecture Series at the Naval Academy, made possible by a gift from William C. Stutt and his wife Carolyn. 🎙️ Listen to the Q&A portion | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & Wondery📕 Learn more about Jimmy Carter's life and legacy in Right Thing, Right Now | https://store.dailystoic.com/✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Aug 202450min

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