Brian JohnsonChairman & Philosopher in Residence at Heroic

Easy Lives Don’t Make Great Stories

12 May 2026 · 1 min

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Brian Johnson argues that the best stories come from overcoming real obstacles, not from easy lives. He uses a gym metaphor about lifting Styrofoam weights to warn against avoiding challenge, and cites Steve Chandler on the value of demanding effort. Seek strength through hardship, not comfort.

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Have you read any good stories lately? Have you watched any movies that really inspired you? Well, in those stories, the best stories have the biggest challenges. The hero or heroine in the best stories face and overcome the biggest obstacles and challenges. We wish for the strength to overcome challenges, not for a life without challenges. That's how we want to hit life head on. And so remember, good stories have big challenges. You don't go to the gym to lift Styrofoam weights, as Steve Chandler says. Be grateful for life's challenges. They're making you stronger, and they make for a really good story.