‘The Obstacle Is theWay’ Stoicism and Success in the Modern Era
Would you rather read an inspirational book favored by some of the biggest stars in the NFL, or a strategy guide found on the nightstands of some of the world's most powerful political figures? Well, thanks to Ryan Holiday’s latest work, you don’t have to choose. “The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph” has been championed by leaders in almost every field, from musicians to governors. To understand why this work is winning such high praise, you first have to understand the man who wrote it. In classic entrepreneurial fashion, Holiday dropped out of college when he was just 19 years old, choosing instead to get his education under the direct mentorship of author and strategist Robert Greene. Eventually, his focus on media manipulation and human nature would land him at the top of the American Apparel marketing team. Now the head of his own strategy firm, Brass Check, Holiday and his team have advised major brands like Google and TASER. “The Obstacle Is the Way” represents a distillation of Holiday’s personal philosophy for success.
“What stands in the way becomes the way.” From this principle, and the foundational tenets for stoicism developed by the ancient Greeks, Holiday presents a no- nonsense approach to problem- solving that is as old as time.
Packed with examples ranging from American Civil War generals to Amelia Earhart, “The Obstacle” paints a clear, compelling picture of what this ancient philosophy has to offer the leaders of the future. The book has a hardline stance: “It doesn't matter what happens to you. It matters what you do,” which removes factors of luck and talent from the equation. To Holiday, persistence trumps everything else. Those looking for feel-good quotes or self-affirming platitudes should probably skip this book. But for those who are serious about reaching their personal or professional goals, and who are willing to put in the work, “The Obstacle” is just the kind of kick in the pants you’ve been looking for.
The book gets its name from a modern rephrasing of a Marcus Aurelius quote. The philosopher turned Roman emperor once said,
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4 Steps to Spring-Clean Your Company Website
When was the last time you updated your website? Not a full overhaul with a new logo or a dynamic interface — when was the last time you checked for broken links or updated your blog? Your website is an important tool to help convert prospects and reach old and new clients, and it should be properly maintained. Here are some simple tips to keep your website fresh. UPDATE EVERYTHING Do you have a team members page on your website? Does everyone listed on that page still work for your company? It’s easy to overlook how often your company changes. Update your team members page, check that the contact information is accurate, and add any new products or services. Also, make sure your website matches today’s version of your company rather than the company it was when the website launched. CHECK FOR BROKEN LINKS There’s nothing as unprofessional as clicking a link on a website only to be brought to a page that doesn’t exist. Beyond being an annoyance for anyone visiting your site, broken links are also bad for your SEO. Depending on the size of your website, you could check all links manually or run Google Chrome’s Check My Links
extension. However, if you have a larger website, it’s wise to invest in a professional tool, like Semrush.
WHAT’S NEW? Blogs, social media widgets, and news pages make your website feel active. But if you aren’t updating these sections, it can make your site — and your company — look and feel abandoned. If you haven’t posted a new blog since 2016 or left your What’s New page totally blank, it’s time to make a plan to regularly update these sections or scrap them entirely. DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR DOMAIN Don’t let your website domain expire. At best, clients will be taken to some unclaimed page when they type in your website. At worst, someone can snag the domain out from under you. It can happen to anyone. Even Google has had problems with expired domains! Check the status of your domain, set reminders to renew your plan before it expires, or set up auto-renewal so the domain is paid for automatically. You don’t have to redesign your whole website to make it feel fresh. Taking the time to dust off the cobwebs and open the windows can make a world of difference.
6 • www.AdamLibman.com • Pay Less Taxes by Implementing Tax Reduction Strategies
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