"Nothing great comes into being all at once,
but everything is formed little by little,
through time and effort."
Zeno of Citium - Stoic Philosopher
(300 BC)
I first discovered the ancient philosophy of stoicism over 40 years ago when, as a young hitch-hiker I found myself in the beautiful Loire Valley in central France, working for a retired American former classics professor, Vicki Starr who owned a wonderful house in the french market town of Chinon.
I had always been an avid reader but Vicki Starr would completely change my taste in books and my whole way of thinking about life and its challenges. Vicki introduced me to the philosophy of stoicism when she gave me a book called "Meditations" a collection of writings by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who was also a stoic philosopher.
"Meditations" was the most profound book I had ever read. Within it Marcus Aurelius offers a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises he had developed as he, as an emperor, struggled to understand himself and make sense of the world around him. That one book would change my life forever. It inspired me to delve deep into the ancient philosophy of stoicism.
Over the past 40 years I have read and studied the books and writings of many stoic philosophers and experts on the subject. From Zeno of Citium the original Greek founder of stoic philosophy, to Seneca, Epictetus, Diogenese, Cleanthes, the list goes on. More importantly, from a personal perspective I learned that adhering to the teachings of the various stoic philosophers would guide me throughout my career and my business life.
I had a very successful career in sales & marketing and in business. I ran a successful wholesale office furniture company, I founded the British Business Club and the World Business Fair. I also worked with Chambers of Commerce throughout the UK advising and helping hundreds of small businesses successfully establish themselves. All of this was achieved by following the tenets of stoic philosophy.
Now, in semi retirement, I am enjoying the fruits of my labours living peacefully in the warm sunshine of the Valencian east coast of Spain. I am now able to take the time to write and share my experiences with you so that you may grasp and benefit from the wisdom that is stoic philosophy.
There are no expensive courses to buy, simply subscribe to me and I will happily share the stoic wisdom with you for free. My sole ambition is to help you become the most successful business person and leader that you can be.
Michael Sloyan
"How long are you going to wait before you demand the very best for yourself."
Epictetus - Stoic Philosopher
(135 AD)
