17 Dec 2025 · 3 min
A short Optimize +1 podcast by Brian Johnson ("Facing a Challenge?") that uses a Stoic anecdote about Zeno to teach a practical exercise: when setbacks occur, pause between stimulus and response and ask which virtue (wisdom, self-mastery, courage, love) to apply to convert misfortune into growth. The episode closes with a brief promotion for an event called Optimize 2020.
You're listening to Optimize with Brian Johnson. More wisdom in less time. Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. In our last plus one, we left Zeno the leopard gecko in his terrarium and hung out with Zeno, the founder of Stoicism. As we discussed, Zeno was a wealthy merchant who arrived in Athens via shipwreck, discovered philosophy, and then told his students that he had come to value wisdom more than wealth or reputation. He valued wisdom so much that he used to say, my most profitable journey began on the day I was shipwrecked and lost my entire fortune. Today I want to talk about another Stoic practice we can use to get a firm grip on reality so we can alchemize our apparent misfortune into our greatest fortune. Now, stepping back for a moment, let's remind ourselves of the fact that the Stoics took the whole idea of living with wisdom very seriously. They were all in on playing the Eudaimonia game and believed that living with virtue was the means by which to win that game. Therefore, when a disaster struck, they step back right there in between stimulus and response and ask themselves, what virtue can I put to work on this challenge? Perhaps a little wisdom to remind myself that setbacks are an inherent part of life. Perhaps a little self mastery to actually practice my philosophy in the moment it matters. Perhaps a little courage to step forward into growth and and do what needs to get done, whether I feel like it or not. Or perhaps I can practice the ultimate virtue of love and bring kindness and presence and magnanimity to the moment. And that's today's plus one. Facing any challenges? What virtues can you apply to those challenges? Let's move from theory to practice enroute to mastery today. Plus one. Plus one. Plus one. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Optymyze with Brian Johnson. To find out more, go to Optimize Me. Hey guys, this is Brian with a quick little P.S. i'm really excited to let you know about an event we're working on. Plan is to make it the premier self optimizing event of 2020. We're calling it Optimize 2020. You the modern hero. Basic idea. Five days, 101 world class luminaries. One million people. You can learn more and get your tickets to the online and offline event at Optimize Me 2020. Again, that's Optimize Me 2020. Hope to see you there.
