Don’t call yourself “a writer,” just write. Ryan Holiday on how the labels you give yourself can hold you back.

Who are you without the labels? What if you stopped defining yourself by what you do and simply focused on doing it? This episode dives deep into identity, ego, and the struggle of living on your own terms. From walking away from a career that didn’t fit to embracing the discomfort of uncertainty, it’s a raw reflection on the moments that humble us, shape us, and force us to grow. Whether it’s a bookstore built in the middle of a pandemic or the realization that success can cloud reality, this conversation will make you rethink what truly matters. How do you measure your life—by what you achieve or who you become?

Who would you be without all the labels and identities you’ve collected over the course of your life?Ego, titles, and societal expectations often shape who we think we are—or who we think we should be. Author, and for simplicity's sake, bookstore owner, Ryan Holiday explains the simple question “What do you do?” can turn into a trap, making us cling to roles that don’t really define us. But what happens when you let go of these labels? What if, instead of focusing on the identity of being a writer, you focused on the act of writing itself?As Holiday got older, he learned that being busy “doing the verb” is far more valuable than obsessing over the noun. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit into the “right” categories and titles, but that often means copying, comparing, and losing sight of what really matters.

About Ryan Holiday: Ryan Holiday is a bestselling author, marketer, and one of today’s leading voices in modern Stoicism. He’s known for taking ancient wisdom and making it relatable and practical for everyday life. Before becoming an author, he led marketing at American Apparel. Now, he writes about strategy, self-discipline, and leadership, weaving history into real-world advice.

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