5 lessons from Stoicism that made me rethink my definition of ‘success’

I used to think “success” was all about hitting certain milestones—titles, dollars in my bank account, and the occasional “I told you so” to people who doubted me. 

In my early 20s, in pursuit of this, I ran a couple of startups and poured all my energy into hustling, scaling, and chasing the next big win. 

And it worked….for a while. 

Eventually, I realized something was off. Even when I achieved what I thought I wanted, it felt strangely hollow.

That’s when I stumbled upon Stoicism. Like many personal development geeks, I’d heard of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus in passing. But I never truly engaged with their teachings until I was searching for something that money and hustle couldn’t buy: inner peace and a sense of purpose.

Flash forward a few years, and Stoicism has profoundly reshaped my view of what it means to be “successful.” It’s not that I gave up on ambition or goals—it’s that I learned to approach them from a place of grounded discipline, self-awareness, and acceptance. 

With this in mind, I dive into the five Stoic principles that turned my old concept of success on its head. 

If you’re curious about harnessing these timeless ideas—both in business and in life—read on.

01 Accept what you can and cannot control

One of the most famous lines from Epictetus is, “Some things are within our control and others are not…” 

This might seem obvious, but in practice, many of us spend a ton of energy fretting over stuff we can’t change—client feedback we can’t force, markets that fluctuate, or other people’s opinions (the big one!).

When I first started a tech startup, I stressed over every unfavorable comment, every competitor’s move, and every small shift in market trends. I felt that if I just worked harder or found the perfect strategy, I could prevent anything from going wrong. 

Spoiler alert: I couldn’t. And that led to unnecessary anxiety and burnout.

Embracing Epictetus’s advice taught me that genuine success involves mental clarity—knowing where your efforts can actually make a difference. Yes, you absolutely should try to influence what you can, whether that’s your product’s quality or your personal habits. 

But once you’ve done your part, you have to let the chips fall where they may. It doesn’t mean being passive or lazy. It means learning to distinguish between productive effort and anxious rumination.

02 Remember that it all ends (memento mori)

“Memento Mori” is Latin for “remember that you must die.” 

Morbid? Sure, a little. But it’s also one of the most liberating ideas I’ve ever come across.

The Stoics believed that constantly reflecting on our mortality helps us live more fully now. Think about it: When you’re aware that your time is finite, you tend not to waste it on petty arguments, meaningless pursuits, or chasing someone else’s definition of “success.” You become far more intentional.

I can’t count how many times I’ve gotten caught up in minor business dramas—like whether a collaborator was a bit late on a contract or a competitor copied some small feature from a product. In the grand scheme of life, that’s all pretty trivial. When you hold it up to the scale of “one day, I won’t be here,” it forces you to ask: Do I really want to spend my limited existence fussing over this?

This mindset shift doesn’t make me irresponsible. On the contrary, it pushes me to be more strategic and less emotional about setbacks. It’s also been a helpful reminder that relationships matter more than recognition or short-term wins. 

Life is short, so pay attention to what truly counts. That’s a more soulful kind of success than any bank balance can buy.

03 Define success through virtue, not wealth

This is a big one. 

Ask a Stoic what success looks like, and they’ll point to virtue—qualities like wisdom, courage, justice, and self-discipline. 

For a while, I thought “virtue” was an outdated term, something that belonged in ancient texts. But the deeper I went into Stoicism, the more I realized they’re spot-on: If your personal code is shaky, no amount of achievement or wealth will fill that void.

When I was younger, success was all about external wins. But I’ve mentioned this in a previous post—my perspective shifted once I started noticing how unfulfilled some high-earning, high-status people can be. Wealth can be nice, of course, but if you lie awake at night tormented by your conscience or hating what you do every day, is that really success?

The Stoics would say no. 

A “successful” life is one where you consistently practice good character. For me, that means dealing honestly with clients, even if it’s inconvenient. It means treating coworkers or employees fairly, even if it cuts into short-term profit. It also means acting ethically with competitors, resisting the urge to stoop to cheap shots or shady tactics.

Of course, it’s not always easy to hold onto your moral compass when you see corners being cut around you. But I’ve discovered that living by Stoic virtues not only cultivates inner peace, it often leads to long-term respect and trust. That’s the kind of legacy I’d rather build.

04 Train for discipline and resilience

Stoicism values discipline like it’s oxygen, and for good reason. 

Marcus Aurelius wrote extensively on the need to direct our minds and habits toward what truly matters. We can’t just rely on good intentions; we need consistent practice to remain grounded when challenges arise.

In the everyday business world, discipline shows up in how you manage your schedule, your commitments, and your emotions. 

If you’re an entrepreneur (or aspiring to be one), you probably know that discipline is crucial for everything from pitching investors to managing your personal finances. Yet many of us, myself included, learned the hard way that good intentions alone don’t cut it.

That’s why developing resilience is such a big part of Stoicism. The ancient Stoics believed adversity is not only inevitable but also useful—it’s a chance to train yourself. Every time life throws a curveball, it’s basically the Stoic gym—an opportunity to strengthen your mental game.

I used to take setbacks personally. If a client didn’t like a proposal or an important partnership fell through, I’d question my entire approach. Now I see these hiccups as part of the process, just like the Stoics did. They’re not the final word on my abilities or my value. 

And if I keep honing my discipline—showing up for my commitments, focusing on solutions, and staying calm under pressure—I’ll come out of each challenge a bit stronger.

05 Practice gratitude daily

Yes, gratitude is often associated with modern self-help culture. But guess what? The Stoics beat us to it thousands of years ago. 

Nowadays, I try to start each morning with a quick gratitude check. Nothing fancy—just a mental note of three things I’m thankful for. It might be my health, a supportive friend, or even the fact that I get to do work I find meaningful. 

This small habit makes a big difference in keeping me grounded and reminding me that success is as much about contentment as it is about ambition.

Wrapping things up

Stoicism taught me that success isn’t just a trophy or a bank balance—it’s a mindset. 

When I accepted that control is limited, remembered the brevity of life, shifted my focus to personal virtue, and started training my discipline muscles, my entire perspective on achievement changed. Add gratitude to the mix, and it’s a powerful recipe for a life that feels genuinely fulfilling.

Here at Small Biz Technology, we love to see entrepreneurs take these timeless philosophies and adapt them to modern life.

Because, let’s face it, being a founder or a business owner isn’t just about quarterly profits. It’s about navigating challenges, staying grounded under pressure, and maintaining a sense of purpose—values the Stoics wrote about centuries ago.

Until next time, friends.