Ever wondered what happens when a 19-year-old stumbles upon a 2,000-year-old book of an ancient Roman emperor’s private thoughts? Turns out, it can completely transform their life. (Plot twist: That 19-year-old was me.)

Hey, I’m Jon 👋

I’m the person behind Simply Stoicism, and for the past decade, I’ve been living and breathing this ancient philosophy that somehow manages to be more relevant today than ever.

The Short Version

• Practicing Stoicism for 10 years (and counting)

• Navigated life’s challenges using principles older than pizza

• Sharing what worked for me so others can find more clarity and less stress

The Longer Story

Imagine this: it’s 2013, and 19-year-old me has just picked up Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations—probably the only self-help book ever written by a Roman Emperor. I wasn’t looking for a life philosophy, just something interesting to read. But sometimes, the best things find you when you’re not looking.

In those pages, I didn’t find dusty old thoughts. I found a practical guide for navigating life’s chaos, with advice on staying calm when things go sideways, seeing challenges as opportunities, and finding happiness that doesn’t depend on anything outside myself. Over time, I began to use Stoicism to stay steady during storms, respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally, and focus on being a good person rather than just looking good.

A decade later, those principles have helped me build a life that’s genuinely happy, surprisingly calm, and deeply fulfilling—not because everything’s perfect (it never is), but because I’ve learned how to view events neutrally, respond thoughtfully, and keep my balance no matter what life throws my way.

My Day Job (Yes, I Have One of Those)

When I’m not geeking out about ancient philosophy, I’m a Senior Product Manager in tech. Think of it as the person who has to:

• Make decisions that affect thousands of users

• Balance the needs of engineers, designers, executives, and users

• Navigate endless ambiguity (it’s like building a ship while sailing it)

• Handle deadlines, shifting priorities, and the occasional production fire

This is exactly the kind of high-stress environment where Stoicism shines. These principles help me:

• Stay calm during critical incidents (Marcus Aurelius never faced server outages, but his wisdom still applies)

• Make better decisions under pressure

• Lead with empathy when tensions are high

• Keep perspective when everything feels urgent

• Navigate office politics without losing my soul

Many practical examples on Simply Stoicism come from my daily adventures in tech. If these principles can help me stay centered during a major product launch, they can probably help you with whatever challenges you’re facing.

Why Simply Stoicism Exists

Stoicism didn’t save my life in a dramatic, movie-moment way. Instead, it did so in quiet, everyday moments where we all struggle to stay calm, make good decisions, and find meaning in the middle of chaos. Over the years, I noticed how often Stoicism gets buried under academic jargon, intimidating terminology, and translations that feel like a struggle to read. That’s why I started Simply Stoicism—to clear away the complexity and share these life-changing principles in a way that fits with modern life.

What You’ll Find Here

• Weekly Emails: Bite-sized ancient wisdom for modern challenges

• Blog Posts: Deep dives into Stoic principles (minus the jargon)

• Practical Tools: Simple ways to apply Stoic wisdom to daily life

• Real Talk: No toxic positivity, no guru-speak, just practical wisdom that works

My Promise to You

I won’t:

• Overwhelm you with complex philosophy

• Pretend I have all the answers

• Try to turn you into an emotionless robot

I will:

• Break down ancient wisdom into practical tools

• Share what actually works in real life

• Keep it real, relatable, and slightly amusing

• Help you build mental resilience for modern challenges