In talk, mark carefully what is being said, and when action is afoot, what is being done. In the latter case, look at once to see what is purposed; and in the other, make certain what is meant.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.4)
In his errors a man is true to type. Observe the errors and you will know the man.
Confucius (551-479 BC), The Analects, Book IV, para 7
You love your home-office, with its perfect desk and everything within reach of your perfect chair. But sometimes, you lean back in the perfect chair … and find you’ve been asleep for half an hour.
Or, maybe you just can’t focus, can’t find the way into the new project.
Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery.
Here are four alternatives to consider for a fresh perspective.
Continue reading “4 alternative places to work”
How is my soul’s helmsman going about his task? For in that lies everything. All else, within my control or beyond it, is dead bones and vapour.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (12.33)
Highly recommended!
This week, I finished Donald Robertson’s new book How To Think Like a Roman Emperor. And, what a remarkable book it is.
It succeeds in being a practical introduction to Stoicism whilst combining biography, history, psychotherapy and philosophy. Each chapter uses a period in Marcus’s life to illustrate an issue, for example, conquering desire or relinquishing fear. It describes Marcus’s situation, then demonstrates Stoic exercises that deal with the topic in question.
Continue reading “Now thinking like a Roman emperor – @DonJRobertson”
I never have time to write…
But, no longer with the power of the incremental, courtesy of Execupundit:
Continue reading “The incremental – @execupundit on book-making”
Freelancers and independents rely on their connections for their next project. After all, you stand or fall by your reputation. But how do you build your network of connections if you’re not naturally gregarious?
Here are some tips and links for making the most of your least favourite activity.
Continue reading “Connecting for quiet people”
What good will new countries do you? What use is touring cities and sites? All your dashing about is useless in the end. Do you ask why your flight is of no avail? You take yourself along.
You must shed the load that is on your mind: until you do that, no place will be pleasing to you.
Seneca (4 BC – AD 65), Moral Letters to Lucilius (28.2)
The Modern Stoicism site has just posted an expanded version of Freelancing, Stoicism and Stress. I am both grateful and humbled.
Hopefully, fellow independent professionals will find it informative and perhaps useful, too.
Many thanks to Modern Stoicism’s editor Greg Sadler for his support.
The Modern Stoicism article is here.
The shorter original, elsewhere on this site, is here.
Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash
Give it the whole of your attention, whether it be a material object, an action, a principle, or the meaning of what is being said.
This disappointment serves you right. You would rather hope for goodness tomorrow than practise it today.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (8.22)
