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Stoicism is an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. The philosophy has been popularized within entrepreneurship in the last ten years, and many prominent figures now use it as their personal operating system. Stoicism emphasizes personal virtue and wisdom, it teaches self-control and fortitude, it promotes rationality and restraint. These are not qualities ordinarily associated with entrepreneurs, who you probably know can be irrational, impulsive and hot-headed at times.

Channeling Stoicism could not only give an entrepreneur superpowers, it can help them navigate business challenges with grace and resilience, finding inner peace within external chaos. Use these prompts to apply Stoicism to your business. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Stoicism for entrepreneurs: 7 prompts for ChatGPT

View obstacles as opportunities

Notable stoic Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” Challenges, therefore, are not setbacks, but opportunities for growth and learning. The obstacle is the way. What obstacles are crossing your path and how can you see them as favourable? What growth do they hold, what opportunities could overcoming them unlock? Use this prompt to get ChatGPT’s help in finding their secrets.

“Assume the role of a business coach with a deep understanding of stoic philosophy and its application to modern business. In my current entrepreneurial endeavors, I’m facing specific obstacles such as [describe the immediate challenges or situations you’re dealing with]. Can you help me reframe these current challenges as opportunities for growth and learning? How can I leverage these situations to benefit both my business and personal development?”

Hold less emotional attachment

On any given day you’ll be taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. Huge joy from a big client win or a great bit of press, followed by feeling like all is lost after some adverse news, then apathy, impatience and frustration when results don’t happen as fast as you want. Stoicism teaches emotional resilience, which every entrepreneur could use. Don’t be swayed by fleeting emotions. Maintain a calm demeanour throughout the most intense business volatility with this simple prompt.

“During my business activities, I often face situations such as [describe specific events or