"No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation."

– General Douglas MacArthur

Have you ever noticed…

The best leaders spend all their time doing things that showcase their leadership instead of just discussing how to be a good leader. These leaders range from your Team Leader, Battalion Commander, or even the Soldier you are pulling security with during a field problem. They lead by example. They use deeds, not words, to showcase who they are and what they stand for. These leaders do things with remarkable simplicity. Things such as remaining calm under pressure, taking their ego out of the equation, and treating all setbacks as opportunities. This aligns with an ancient philosophy known as stoicism that has existed for over 2,000 years.

Stoicism and Leadership

Stoicism has been actively practiced by military leaders such as George Washington, Admiral James Stockdale, and General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, as well as many more. It began during the Roman Empire and was then practiced by the emperor Marcus Aurelius in his book “Meditations” and other famous philosophers such as Seneca, Cato, and Epictetus. This philosophy is based on the concept that we must practice good virtues in order to lead better lives. These virtues are wisdom, temperance, justice, and courage. The philosophy encourages us to lead through our actions, not our words. We can overcome any obstacle and achieve something great by mastering our own mindset.

Perhaps that is why we are drawn to certain leaders. They have a certain ability that we can’t put our finger on. They solve problems and overcome setbacks that normally stop others in their tracks. But this is not something that they are born with. It is a skill. It is one that must be practiced daily, just like your physical training plans. Here are three easy steps to implement the fundamentals of Stoicism into your daily life at work or home.

1. Realize that your actions shape everything in your life. Take ownership of your environment and use that ownership to improve.

2. Refuse to complain, even to yourself.

3. Treat your perceived setbacks or failures as opportunities.

Try incorporating these three fundamentals into the next company or battalion meeting you sit in, the next long-slow-distance run during PT when everyone is complaining about upcoming training or even your next mandatory motorpool formation. After all, optimism is contagious; the more you do to show your team that you’re interested in solving problems instead of complaining about them, the sooner they will do the same.

Need a Good Book?

If you want to learn more about how Stoicism can help make you a better leader, follower, and person. Check out the books written by Ryan Holiday. His works include titles such as The Obstacle is the Way or Ego is the Enemy. He has written many books based on the ancient stoic teachings and how they can be applied to modern life.

Next Week: Can you row well enough to live? How to survive time on staff

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