Podcast Summary: The Daily Stoic
Episode: You're Wasting The One Thing You Can’t Get Back
Host: Ryan Holiday
Guest (excerpt): Robert Rosenkrans
Date: June 15, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Daily Stoic centers around the Stoic conception of wealth, time, and what it really means to live a rich, fulfilled life. Host Ryan Holiday introduces the topic by framing Stoicism’s relationship to capitalism, success, and the value of time, drawing on historical examples (like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus) and modern interpretations. The episode’s highlight is an excerpt from Robert Rosenkrans’ new book, “The Stoic Capitalist,” particularly the chapter “You Can Make More Money, You Can’t Make More Time,” where Rosenkrans shares practical Stoic-inspired principles for using time well. Throughout, the message is clear: while money can be earned and lost, time is the irreplaceable resource that must be fiercely guarded.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stoicism & Wealth: Compatible or Not?

Timestamps: 00:37 – 03:28

• Ryan Holiday explores whether being rich and being Stoic are compatible:
  • Seneca’s wealth and his views on fortune.
  • Zeno (Stoic founder) was a merchant who discovered philosophy after losing everything.
  • The perception that true Stoic wealth is internal rather than external (Epictetus being more “rich” than Seneca).
  • Stoicism isn’t inherently for or against capitalism; it emphasizes living according to nature and reason, regardless of material success.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Seneca is actually not the richest of the Stoics, but Epictetus is. That’s because one needed the money and the other sort of freed himself of the need for the money.” — Ryan Holiday (02:40)

2. The Value of Time Over Money

Timestamps: 03:28 – 06:44

• Robert Rosenkrans (book excerpt):
  • Emphasizes Seneca’s teaching: time, not money, is the true non-renewable resource.
  • Quotes Seneca:
    • “Life, if you know how to use it, is long. It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste so much of it. Life is long enough to accomplish even the greatest things if it is well invested.” (03:42)
  • Importance of a “consistent goal” as a principle for organizing life.
    • Not about living solely for the future but finding satisfaction in one's pursuit.
  • Personal anecdote: The most purposeful period of Rosenkrans’ life was launching his own company.
• Key principle:
  • “You can make more money, you cannot make more time.” — Robert Rosenkrans (03:28)

3. Precepts for Using Time Well

Timestamps: 05:15 – 06:44

• Prioritize
  • Focus on what’s most consequential.
  • “Being busy is the enemy of being thoughtful.”
  • Cites Marcus Aurelius:
    • “If you seek tranquility, do less. Or more precisely, do only what is essential and do it with greater concentration.” (06:15)
  • Eliminate low-value meetings, activities, and distractions.

4. The “Yellow Pad Day”: Re-Assessing Priorities

Timestamps: 08:20 – 10:34

• Robert Rosenkrans’ personal technique:
  • Take an uninterrupted day (“yellow pad day”) away from ordinary routines to think, reflect, and make notes about priorities, relationships, habits, opportunities, and risks.
  • Example activities:
    • Review which relationships need more/less attention.
    • Reflect on habits and areas for self-improvement.
    • Consider broader changes in the world and missed opportunities.
  • Result: clearer sense of what is truly essential.
• Memorable moment:
  • “By the end of the day, I often understand better what is essential to me. A more thoughtful basis to prioritize in life.” — Robert Rosenkrans (10:05)

5. The Art of Delegation & Freedom

Timestamps: 10:34 – 12:12

• Delegation as key to using time wisely:
  • Delegate tasks whenever possible; don’t fall into the “time trap” of doing things others can do (even if not perfectly).
  • Give both responsibility and authority to others—don't micromanage.
  • In personal life, seek to outsource tasks that don’t require your unique input—focus on life-enhancing experiences rather than possessions.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I want more life enhancing experiences, not a bigger inventory of stuff.” — Robert Rosenkrans (11:17)
• Stoic freedom defined:
  • True freedom is psychological: freedom from false, negative judgments and emotions.
  • “The Stoic concept of freedom is not license to do whatever you like, but self possession of learning how to value and experience the fullness of time.” (12:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If a meeting doesn’t have a clear and important purpose, try to avoid it. Being busy is the enemy of being thoughtful.” — Robert Rosenkrans (06:00)
• “Prioritize. It is easy to prioritize in business. Just count the zeros… Decide in your own situation what constitutes a meaningful building block of value and simply say no to anything beneath that threshold.” — Robert Rosenkrans (05:30)
• “Free yourself for yourself.” (attributed by Rosenkrans to Seneca, highlighted by Stephen Fidler) (11:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:37 – 03:28 | Introduction: Stoicism & the Modern Economy, Wealth and Happiness
• 03:28 – 06:44 | Book Excerpt: Time is Irreplaceable; Seneca and the Shortness of Life
• 06:44 – 08:20 | [Advertisement – Skipped]
• 08:20 – 12:12 | Book Excerpt Continues: Yellow Pad Day, Prioritization, Delegation, Stoic Freedom

Tone & Approach

• Ryan Holiday’s tone: Thoughtful, inquisitive, encouraging practicality and reflection on ancient philosophy in the modern context.
• Robert Rosenkrans’ segment: Direct, practical, grounded in real business and personal experience, and focused on actionable wisdom.

Takeaways

• Time is your most valuable, non-renewable asset; guard it fiercely.
• Prioritization, reflection, and delegation are crucial to living purposefully both in business and personal life.
• Stoic principles apply readily to modern issues of wealth, capitalism, and self-ownership.
• True wealth, for the Stoics, is freedom from unnecessary needs and mastery over one’s time and mind—not the size of one’s bank account.

For further exploration: Listeners are encouraged to check out Rosenkrans’ “The Stoic Capitalist” and the Daily Stoic’s “Wealthy Stoic” guide for deeper dives into these themes.