Podcast episode '+1: #300 Play Well the Given Part' by Brian Johnson (Optymyze). Brian discusses Stoic-inspired wisdom—Epictetus, James Stockdale, Viktor Frankl, and Martin Luther King Jr.—about accepting and playing the roles life assigns, and promotes his Philosopher's Notes and Optimize Me membership. The episode advises choosing to act well in one’s given part and offers practical resources for personal optimization.
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another optimize +1. Epicteto's told us that we don't always get to pick the position we have in our lives. Our job is to make sure we play that role well. Specifically, he said, remember that thou art an actor in a play of such a kind as the teacher or author may choose if short of a short one, if long of a long one. If he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that you act the part naturally. If the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person, do the same, for this is your duty to act well the part that is given to you. But to select the part belongs to another. James Stockdale personified this wisdom when he found himself as a prisoner in a prisoner of war camp, as the clandestine commanding officer of what became hundreds of soldiers. He didn't choose that role, but he did choose to play that given part as well as he possibly could. Viktor Frankl echoed this wisdom as well. In the midst of his own experience and the horrors of a concentration camp, he chose to play his role well and told us the meaning of our existence is not invented by ourselves, but rather detected. Thankfully, most of us will never experience those types of extremes, yet we may perceive ourselves to be stuck in a life that's not entirely our choosing or or with responsibilities we may sometimes wish we didn't have. That's a very good time to bring this wisdom to mind and choose to act well. The given part so today's plus one. What part have you been asked to play by the ultimate director of life? Are you playing it well? What's one little way you can boost your performance? And today And a little P.S. martin Luther King Jr. Has some wisdom on the subject as well. He says, be an artist at whatever you do, even if you are a street sweeper. Be the Picasso of street sweepers.
Isn't it a bit odd that we went from math to science to history, but somehow missed the class on how to for some wacky reason, optimal living 101 never made the schedule. Of course, it's too late to go back and change that, and you're too busy to read full time to catch up. But if you're like us, you're all about optimizing your life and actualizing your potential. So imagine this. Imagine having someone read the best books on how to optimize your life and pull out the big ideas that can really change your life. You know those sections you underline and asterisks and mark all up? Then imagine that guy me connecting those awesome ideas to other great books and helping you actually apply the wisdom to your life today. Well that's what I do with something we call Philosopher's Notes where I've distilled hundreds of great books into 20 minute super practical summaries. Then imagine me taking the absolute best big ideas from those great books and sharing them with you in hour long Optimal Living 101 classes on everything from productivity, purpose and confidence to nutrition, goal setting and conquering procrastination. Helping you optimize every facet of your life so you can actualize your potential. You've got a personal trainer. I'm kind of like your personal philosopher. Ancient Wisdom plus Modern Science plus Practical tools. That's what our optimized membership program is all about. If you're feeling it, we'd love to have you join us.
