Latest news with #MarcusAurelius
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Stoic Executive: Why Ancient Wisdom Still Rules Modern Leadership
Anna Jankowska, Executive VP of Global Partnerships at RTB House and Adlook, leads the way in building high-impact business partnerships. From time to time, my colleagues like to share the views of their favorite business and management gurus, and they recently asked me my opinion on authors writing about leadership. I mentioned some experts I thought highly of, but when it came to leadership philosophy, I could not hide my admiration for the Stoics, thinkers writing two thousand years ago. The reflections of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, a slave-turned-philosopher, among others, are still famous for their insights on living life well, but what can they tell us about business? Turns out, quite a lot. In this article, I'd like to share with you my thoughts on how the core principles of Stoicism have direct, daily applications to management and leadership. I'll demonstrate how self-control is essential to effective business, how reason enables clear thinking and how embracing the four pillars of ancient virtue fosters team loyalty and supports informed decision making. An Operating System For Uncertain Times In business, the practice of Stoicism works as a framework for resilient, values-driven leadership more than as a personal philosophy. Let's start with control. One of my favourite leisure time activities is extreme sports, and to enjoy these, you need, among many things, self-discipline and the mastery of fear. These qualities have a direct application in business because, as the Stoics observed, the only thing we can control with absolute certainty is ourselves. The control we have over our teams, clients or competitors is uncertain, but our minute-to-minute choices and the assumptions we base them on are ours and ours alone. That clarity is powerful. It's freeing. And it's where outstanding leadership begins. The Four Virtues In Business And Work For the Stoics, there were four cardinal virtues that arose from self-control: courage, wisdom, temperance and justice. In business today, a sense of justice can help us take a stand; wisdom will guide us on when to act, and courage enables us to do so without fear. Temperance empowers self-discipline and lightens the burden of work. Let's unpack these and see how they play out on a day-to-day basis. Wisdom at work isn't about accumulated knowledge or advanced degrees but about discerning—using big-picture thinking—what matters from what merely seems urgent. Some people call this the helicopter view—stepping back far enough to see beyond the crisis, noise or email chatter. While others chase the latest management fad, the Stoic executive builds understanding through reflection, enriched by experience, with one question in mind: "Is this the best use of my energy?" Not long ago, a colleague told me that they thought I had a courageous management style. It was a generous thing to say, but it caught me off guard and set me thinking. Management style is an extension of one's personality, developed through experience and habit. Executive responsibility gives it shape and forms it into a distinctive style. The Stoics were often very senior leaders with high public profiles, and they realized that with power came responsibility. In business, the more senior you are, the greater your responsibility to make decisions that stem from mature reflection and to execute them without fear, fully aware of the risks. For many, a precious virtue is spontaneity and a free-spirited embrace of impulsive, instinct-led choices. The accumulation of as much as possible is another popular goal—of fame, attention and, of course, money. Many businesses reflect these values, prioritizing maximum growth, recognition and market share as ultimate prizes. In this environment, temperance, restraint and modesty seem revolutionary, even subversive. However, in business leadership, temperance is the exercise of emotional discipline—choosing not to vent when frustrated, using measured words instead of intemperate ones, timing actions carefully and resisting the impulse to rush in. True strength, I've found, lies in delaying gratification, refusing to indulge emotion and not giving way to knee-jerk responses. The Stoic business leader knows that a cool head, unexciting as it looks, always delivers a better return. The fourth pillar of Stoic virtue, justice, can be the hardest to practice in a workplace where competitive egos, ambition and drive can distract from the quieter but no less essential values in a successful business: fairness, transparency and compassion. Stoic leaders, such as Marcus Aurelius and the great Roman orator Cicero, were intensely preoccupied with justice and the language used to administer it. But language can very often be subjective; words are shaped by culture, history and even trauma. And these can be intensely individual. Ask 10 people to define "respect," and you'll hear 10 versions. The same applies to terms like "loyalty," "feedback" and "teamwork." When discussing justice in the workplace, judgments must stem from a shared understanding of what words mean in different cultures, times and contexts. The just Stoic leader knows that every act of justice begins with an act of communication—honest and sometimes difficult, of course. And it is critical that this communication is reciprocal. By prioritizing mutual understanding through dialogue, clarity emerges, and that enables good decisions that everyone can buy into. Ultimately, what we do matters less than how we do it. Stoicism has taught me that to deliver good leadership and innovative business, character and the ancient virtues give business leaders the ultimate competitive advantage. And that's as true now as it was two thousand years ago. Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify?
The National
a day ago
- Sport
- The National
Union Bears unveil huge Rangers Champions League tifo
The supporter group arranged a tifo to span the entirety of the Copland Stand ahead of kick-off in the crucial Euro qualifier at Ibrox. The massive tifo read: "The Obstacles Become Our Way". "A new dawn at Ibrox Stadium!" 🏟️ [[Rangers]] fans are ready for the beginning of the Russell Martin era and the challenge of a Champions League qualifier 🔵 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) July 22, 2025 The quote appears to be inspired by a phrase used by former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. He had said: 'The impediment to action advances action. "What stands in the way becomes the way.' Read more: Russell Martin is leading Rangers into his first match as the Ibrox boss. On what his message to his players was in the dressing room before the tie, he said: "I think to trust the work they've done over the last four and a half weeks, to stick together no matter what happens, to run relentlessly, to fight for everything and to try and be the team we want to be. "So to get the crowd behind them quickly with energy, enthusiasm, and physicality. "So I'm really excited about it, and we'll learn so much about where we're at tonight and what we need to do. "But I believe the players are ready to win the game and to put in a performance that we're all happy with."
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Union Bears unveil huge Rangers Champions League tifo
The massive tifo read: "The Obstacles Become Our Way". "A new dawn at Ibrox Stadium!" 🏟️ [[Rangers]] fans are ready for the beginning of the Russell Martin era and the challenge of a Champions League qualifier 🔵 — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) July 22, 2025 The quote appears to be inspired by a phrase used by former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. He had said: 'The impediment to action advances action. "What stands in the way becomes the way.' Read more: Russell Martin is leading Rangers into his first match as the Ibrox boss. On what his message to his players was in the dressing room before the tie, he said: "I think to trust the work they've done over the last four and a half weeks, to stick together no matter what happens, to run relentlessly, to fight for everything and to try and be the team we want to be. "So to get the crowd behind them quickly with energy, enthusiasm, and physicality. "So I'm really excited about it, and we'll learn so much about where we're at tonight and what we need to do. "But I believe the players are ready to win the game and to put in a performance that we're all happy with."
IOL News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Right Thing, Right Now: Practicing Justice in the Small Moments That Shape Us
Doing what is right even when it is inconvenient or unpopular is the foundation of true character. Let principle lead the way, not comfort. Ryan Holiday's tone is neither forceful nor preachy. He is gentle but persistent. Justice is not a one time performance. It is a steady practice built through the choices we make when no one else is watching. And in a world fixated on surface image and curated perfection, that reminder felt surprisingly grounding. I wasn't expecting Right Thing Right Now to resonate so deeply. Not in an overwhelming way, but in that quiet soul tapping way that makes you stop mid sentence and ask when was the last time I truly chose what was right, especially when it was inconvenient or invisible. The book challenges the idea that justice is a distant ideal meant only for philosophers or historical icons. Instead, it brings justice into the messy reality of daily life, into the small decisions that reveal who we really are. Fairness, kindness, and integrity take root in moments that rarely get noticed. Would you still choose what is right if it cost you your comfort, your silence, your applause? What Makes It Work One of the book's most powerful strengths is how it reframes justice—not as a distant ideal reserved for heroes or historical icons—but as a daily commitment to doing what is right, even when it is inconvenient. Through stories of people like Marcus Aurelius, Gandhi, Florence Nightingale, and Frederick Douglass, the narrative does not elevate them to unreachable status. Instead, it humanises their courage, showing how principles endure through ordinary choices made with conviction. What landed most deeply were the everyday examples. Speaking up for someone whose voice is overlooked in a meeting. Owning up to a mistake rather than deflecting blame. Stepping away from gossip even when silence feels awkward. Staying loyal to a friend even when there is pressure to walk away. These quiet acts do not earn applause, but they shape us—and influence the culture around us. Where many Stoic inspired works focus inward, encouraging emotional control or mental clarity, this one pivots outward. It asks a vital question: what is the value of inner peace if we do not use it to treat others justly. Room for More At times the book leaned heavily on historical icons, which created some emotional distance. I found myself wishing for more stories of justice in the everyday struggles many of us face. Think of a teacher who speaks up against unfair grading policies, even if it draws criticism from colleagues. A nurse who quietly advocates for a patient whose voice is overlooked. A single parent who sacrifices comfort to stand firm on a value they are trying to instil in their child. A community leader who resists corruption despite pressure from influential voices. These are the moments where justice breathes—not in grand speeches, but in the quiet decisions that shape our lives. What Stayed With Me Justice is the foundation that gives other virtues meaning. It anchors courage, wisdom, and discipline with purpose. Integrity is invisible and does not require an audience. Doing right should never depend on being seen. A personal moral code matters most when it is inconvenient. True character shows when it would be easier to compromise. Justice lives in small, often uncomfortable choices. Refusing to gossip, sharing credit, owning up to mistakes—each one is a chance to shape culture through action. Compared to Other Works If you are familiar with Stoic philosophy, this book brings something different. While others focus on mastering the self, this one asks how we bring that mastery into our relationships and communities. It shows that fairness is not just about personal morality, it is about how we treat those around us. Character is revealed not only in solitude but in how we show up for others when it counts. That shift from inward reflection to outward action makes the message feel both refreshing and urgent. Final Thought It may not be flawless. It could offer more contemporary voices and stories that feel closer to our everyday lives. But the core message is undeniable. Justice is not a rare event or dramatic performance. It is a daily choice. A habit. A way of walking through the world without waiting for applause. Justice does not just appear. It is made, decision by decision, moment by moment. * Right Thing Right Now is available at Exclusive Books.
Observer
3 days ago
- Politics
- Observer
Ancient statue returns to Turkey 65 years later
Turkey has repatriated an ancient statue believed to depict Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius from the United States as part of efforts to recover antiquities illegally removed from the country, the government announced on Saturday. The bronze statue, smuggled from the ancient city of Boubon -- now the province of Burdur in southwest Turkey -- in the 1960s, was returned to Turkey after 65 years, according to Turkish officials. "It was a long struggle. We were right, we were determined, we were patient, and we won," Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said. "We brought the 'Philosopher Emperor' Marcus Aurelius back to the land where he belongs," he added. This unique artefact, once exhibited in the United States, was repatriated to Turkey based on scientific analyses, archival documents and witness statements, added the minister. "Through the combined power of diplomacy, law, and science, the process we conducted with the New York Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the US Homeland Security Investigations Unit is more than just a repatriation; it is a historical achievement," Ersoy said. "Marcus Aurelius's return to our country is a concrete result of our years-long pursuit of justice." The headless statue had been on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art from April to July, before its return to Turkey. Ersoy said Turkey was determined to protect all its cultural heritage that has been smuggled out. "We will soon present the Philosopher Emperor to the people of (Turkey's capital) Ankara in a surprise exhibition," he announced. —AFP
