Being An Entrepreneur Means Being Stoic

Back when I was a teenager and wanterpeneur, I used to look at motivational images with quotes about 'sacrifice', 'falling out with friends', being 'tough' and I'd laugh. I used to think 'I can do it and still live a normal life' and 'it can't be that hard'.

 How foolish was I...

The truth is, being an entrepreneur means you will:

• lose friends

• upset girlfriends

• experience failure

• have to handle big problems

• have to be more responsible than others

And to experience all of these downs, you need to be strong mentally. That's why I recommend that every entrepreneur studies the art of Stocisim (and everyone else, for that matter!).

 The Google definition of Stocisim is:

'the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.'

 It's an ancient Greek school of philosophy, and has been the mental foundations of almost all of the greatest leaders of all time.

A good place to start is by watching YouTube videos. You could simply type in 'Stocism' in the search bar and they'll be lots of options for you to explore. I'd recommend starting with the YouTube channel Einzelgänger. He provides insightful and practical content, while keeping videos to a short length.

Another brilliant entry into the topic is the book 'The Little Book Of Stoicism' by Jonas Salzberger. Being a nerd for taking big concepts and condensing them into practical tips (as you may have noticed), I was hooked after my first read. It's a book for beginners but also a wonderful refresher once you're further along on your stoic journey.

Once you're deeper into Stocism, an essential read is the book by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. It's the Roman emperors' personal notes to himself, that have become biblical in the world of Stoicism.