Becoming Useful: A Stoic Journey of Self-Improvement and Service
Episode #347
The Stoic philosophy, while often revered for its emphasis on self-discipline and resilience, also places great importance on being usefulto others.
As Marcus Aurelius reminds us in Meditations:
“If you have talents, do your work as a human being. Do it without fuss or hypocrisy and let your actions be guided by reason and a concern for the well-being of others.
At its heart, Stoicism advocates for service—to society, to our communities, and to the people around us. Yet, this process of being useful doesn’t happen overnight. Before one can be useful, one must become useful.
The Foundation of Utility: Becoming Useful
It is not enough to simply desire to contribute to the world. True contribution stems from competence, skill, and fortitude. Much like learning to speak before engaging in conversation, or training in the gym before attempting to lift heavy weights, the journey of usefulness begins with preparation and growth.
For example, imagine trying to support others with financial advice without first mastering your own finances. Or aspiring to be a coach without gaining enough experience in the field. In both cases, the lack of preparation undermines your ability to truly help others. The Stoic principle of justice, which calls for fairness and service, necessitates that we develop ourselves to serve others effectively.
Courage Through Competence
Consider the virtue of courage, often viewed as the ability to act in the face of fear. Stoicism broadens this definition to include fortitude, or strength. Fortitude arises from competence—the ability to act effectively.
Take the example of squatting in the gym. Lifting 300 pounds may be courageous, but without the necessary training and strength, it would also be reckless. The same principle applies to all areas of life: courage without competence is not true courage. It is only through developing our skills and understanding that we can face challenges meaningfully.
Practical Steps to Becoming Useful
1. Identify Areas for Growth:
Reflect on your skills and weaknesses. What areas need improvement to better serve others? Whether it’s communication, technical skills, or leadership, recognize where you can grow.
2. Commit to Learning:
Build competence through education, experience, and practice. If you aspire to teach, become a master of the subject first. If you want to lead, learn to manage yourself and your emotions effectively.
3. Start Small, but Start:
Even as you develop, there are ways to contribute right now. You can extend kindness, offer encouragement, or lend a helping hand in simple ways. These small acts build the foundation for greater impact in the future.
4. Balance Self-Care and Service:
Stoicism emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself before aiding others. As the Stoics teach, you must put your house in order before guiding others to do the same.
Serving with Integrity
Becoming useful is not merely about gaining skills; it’s about using them with integrity and wisdom. Avoid becoming the proverbial “snake oil salesman”—someone who claims expertise without true competence. Instead, strive to live by example.
Consider this analogy: a hammer is not useful until it is crafted. Raw materials like iron and rubber must be shaped with care. Similarly, we must refine ourselves before we can effectively “hammer the nails” in the service of others.
Balancing Growth and Action
While the journey of becoming useful is ongoing, it’s important not to fall into the trap of perfectionism. You don’t need to wait until every aspect of your life is flawless before contributing. Instead, focus on discerning when and how you can help, knowing that growth is a continuous process.
Conclusion
Stoicism calls us to serve the world, but it also asks us to prepare for that service through self-improvement. The journey begins with the commitment to become stronger, wiser, and more capable—not for self-glorification, but to lift others up.
As one Stoic-inspired reflection puts it:
“Become strong first to lift yourself up, and second to lift others up.”
By striving to become useful, we not only align ourselves with Stoic virtues but also create a life of meaning, impact, and purpose. The world needs more people willing to serve, but first, it needs people willing to prepare for that service.
Support the Show
You can expect one free episode of the podcast every single Tuesday. These episodes will either be a 20-minute (or so) solo episode diving deep into a single philosophical topic, or a guest episode, where I bring on incredible guests to chat philosophy.
For the full Strong Stoic experience, I encourage you to consider becoming a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to premium episodes of the Paradoxically Speaking podcast with Joshua Bertolotti, access to my Steps to Success interview series, a bi-weekly exclusive article analyzing a particular quote, and additional benefits from time to time.
***If you’d like to become a paid member but cannot afford it, feel free to contact me directly; I’ll happily provide a complimentary membership (no questions asked).
Stay Connected
Brandon Tumblin is most well-known for his podcast, The Strong Stoic Podcast, where he discusses philosophical ideas (solo and guest episodes).
Brandon is also a writer for THE STOIC, the official journal of The Stoic Gym.
The Strong Stoic Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.