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Why Everything You Know About Success Is Wrong: Insights from the Stoic Philosophy
Embracing Stoic wisdom for the modern hustle.
The Stoics harbored a view of “success” that’s different from how most of us think of success.
For them, success wasn’t attached to outcomes but was deeply rooted in the process, which meant that success was always within their control. In today’s fast-paced world, we often hinge our self-worth on outcomes we can’t control, setting ourselves up for inevitable disappointment.
Here’s how you can use the Stoic definition of success to improve your odds of being successful.
The Stoic Archer: A Metaphor for Success
Consider the Stoic archer metaphor, which highlights the Stoic perspective on success.
An archer, having diligently practiced, can control his aim and the release of the arrow. But, once the arrow is in flight, he no longer has control over it. Factors beyond his control can influence its path.
This parable illustrates that while we can strive for excellence, the ultimate outcome may still elude our grasp due to unforeseeable variables.