12 Lessons from 12 Months of Owning a Bookstore

An admirer of the Stoic philosophers – who advocated having patience and succeeding by living an ethical life – Ryan Holiday believes you can find out what you’re capable of doing only when you challenge yourself. In this fast-moving video, Holiday lays out the most enduring lessons – his headlined 12 lessons boil down to four pivotal concepts – he and his wife Samantha Hoover learned while starting and running The Painted Porch bookstore in Bastrop, Texas. Holiday brings his love of books, knowledge of classical philosophy and savvy business sense to bear on start-up challenges. One note: a philosopher and best-selling author like Holiday may find it easier than most people to say his business goals don’t prioritize money.