The Obstacle Is the Way - by Ryan Holiday

A book on stoicism for entrepreneurs, doers & creatives

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A book on stoicism for entrepreneurs, doers & creatives

3 followers

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Crate

AMA: Thanks for doing this Ryan! Q - Are you still working on a book with Cash Money?

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11yr ago

Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler

Maker

@thecoolestcool This is going to sound weird, but I don't know. I've spent a lot of time with Birdman and Slim and I've written the intro but obviously their world has been in a bit of a state of flux recently. I'm basically just waiting for word from them (and some other minor contract details) and haven't gotten any quite a while. I'm still excited about the book and their story. I think they are two of the most underrated entrepreneurs in the history of the music industry.

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11yr ago

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Hunter

@ryanholiday @thecoolestcool whoa. can you hint anymore about their story? been a ton of music entrepreneurs - why them?

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11yr ago

Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler

Maker

@eriktorenberg @thecoolestcool In 1997, Birdman had offers from every major label to buy Cash Money (basically the same thing that Russell Simmons and Puffy both got offered). Instead of selling, he and his brother signed a distribution deal with Universal--a $30M advance with a 85/15 royalty split in his favor. Cash Money has since sold something like 500M songs. Just think about the acts that have graced their roster: Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Kevin Rudolf, Big Tymers, Rich Gang, DJ Khaled, etc etc They are the most successful independent label in the history of music. When Jay Z rapped "own your masters, slaves!" he was talking about something that Cash Money has done from day one. Every other hip hop mogul has gotten rich from all the ancillary products--clothing, clubs, headphones, beverages etc. Birdman and his brother Slim (who is the quiet one) are worth about $500M almost entirely from music. And that's just what their worth now--Michael Jackson's estate (which was comprised mostly of copyrights to famous songs) has made something like $700M since his death. Same growth will happen for Cash Money...except the guys are in their 40s.

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11yr ago

Crate

@ryanholiday @thecoolestcool Crazy. Thanks Ryan - It would definitely be an awesome story to read and one I think a lot of folks would be interested in. I'm excited to learn more about the Cash Money story. It's cool watching the worlds of entrepreneurship, tech and Hip Hop crossing paths. If the book ever comes to life, you can be sure to count me in for a few copies.

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11yr ago

Origami

AMA #2: Why are your hands covering your face in you profile photo?

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11yr ago

Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler

Maker

@andrewwarner One of my favorite musicians Jackie Greene did it in a photo once and I've always liked the photo. A photographer at American Apparel took a version of it for the back cover of my first book, Trust Me I'm Lying and I use it for a lot of stuff now. My wife and I did a version at our wedding too. It's my favorite. https://instagram.com/p/zxIbemleQv/

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11yr ago

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Hunter

AMA: What has been most interesting/surprising thing you've learned since releasing the book?

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11yr ago

Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler

Maker

@eriktorenberg 1) Writing a book about stoicism is a bit inconvenient if you'd ever like to complain about anything ever again. People are always trying to make me 'live up to my own words' which is a total pain. 2) Just how many people have followed the precepts in their life but didn't know that there was a word or a philosophy for it. It's been really cool to connect with those people and reintroduce them to a philosophy they already KNEW but couldn't articulate. 3) Just last week I read a new passage in Marcus Aurelius's Meditations--one I have read dozens and dozens of times--that I never realized better articulates my own thesis better than I could have hoped. Funny how that works. "–But there are external obstacles… Not to behaving with justice, self-control, and good sense. –Well, but perhaps to some more concrete action. –But if you accept the obstacle and work with what you’re given, an alternative will present itself–another piece of what you’re trying to assemble. Action by action."

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11yr ago

Origami

AMA: Ryan how have you used these ideas in your work life?

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11yr ago

Rich Roll Podcast 197 - Jesse Itzler

Maker

@andrewwarner I would say there is not a day that goes by that I do NOT use them. From beginning to end, there is something in stoicism to think about. Starting with this line from Marcus: http://ryanholiday.net/motivation/ ending with this line from Epictetus: "As you kiss your son good night whisper to yourself, 'He may be dead in the morning.' (the point being to practice and anticipate misfortune instead of pretending that it could never happen to you. To enjoy the things you have as you have them)

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11yr ago

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Hunter

AMA: What has been most interesting/surprising thing you've learned since releasing the book?

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11yr ago