--:-- Ryan Hanley: Last week, I was being interviewed on a podcast, and the host asked me, "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?" While being able to fly, run fast, walk through walls, or be invisible might be super cool, none of those are incredibly practical for the life I want to live. Fighting crime as a caped crusader isn't high on my priority list right now.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: The answer I gave the host was that I would love to be able to read 100x faster than any human being—read incredibly fast and retain that information. If I could read at high speed and retain what I read, that would be the superpower I would want.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: As I've matured in my life and career, I've dove into some greater works—books and podcasts that engage in meaty conversations. These include essays like "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jordan Peterson's "12 Rules for Life," and Mark Manson's "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck." These are just three of the last books I've read, but I've probably read 20 or 30 books over the last few years.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: These books focus on how we can become more confident and secure in our thoughts and work, better understand the trials ahead, find meaning in our work, and capture happiness as a derivative of that meaning. They help us be more at peace while still focused on growth.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: I become unhappy if I'm not focused on growth—whether it's personal growth, learning, creating, or building something. A stagnant Ryan is an unhappy Ryan. This desire for growth is more mental than physical, and it drives me to read and listen to podcasts as much as I can.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: That's why I wanted to take this third episode to talk directly to you, the listener, instead of interviewing someone. I hope you'll find tremendous value in this podcast and feel comfortable engaging with me—whether through email, social media, or comments.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: This podcast is as much yours as it is mine. I respect my responsibility to provide value consistently. While I want to grow this podcast, I promise never to compromise on value. Sometimes episodes might not hit the mark, but my goal is always to add value.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: I've learned from doing nearly 300 interviews that sometimes conversations don't go as planned. But I'm committed to bringing interesting guests and having conversations that make you think deeper about your life.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: I recently read Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance" for the third time. It's marked up with underlines and comments. One quote that stood out is, "God will not have his work made manifest by cowards." This idea is central to personal and professional growth.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: Jordan Peterson's "12 Rules for Life" is another book that has deeply impacted me. Peterson's willingness to change his mind and work through ideas publicly is something I admire. It's a process I've adopted—talking through things to understand them better.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: Peterson's idea that "hard is the point" resonates with me. Life is supposed to be hard, and overcoming that hardship gives life meaning. Meaning brings happiness, which is a derivative of finding purpose.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: I'm proud of how I've matured in my ability to embrace challenges and avoid making excuses. This podcast is part of that journey, and I'm glad you're here with me.
--:-- Ryan Hanley: Another powerful quote from Emerson is, "It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion. It is easy in solitude to live after our own. But the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."
--:-- Ryan Hanley: I hope this podcast helps you find meaning and purpose. Thank you for being here. I'm out. Peace.
