S2E48_Marcus Aurelius_ You Dont Control Outcomes—Only Standards
Mon Feb 02 2026
Jake and Michael unpack Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations—which weren’t meditations at all, but wartime journals written under pressure—to expose the Stoic principle most people miss:
👉 You don’t control outcomes. You only control standards.
From gym goals and sales quotas to New Year’s resolutions that die by February, this episode breaks down why most people fail: they chase results instead of enforcing non-negotiable inputs. Marcus didn’t write about winning wars—he wrote about how to show up when outcomes are uncertain. That lesson still applies to business, health, money, and leadership today.
This conversation reframes success as a function of discipline, execution, and refusal to tolerate mediocrity, not wishful thinking disguised as goals. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it.
If this episode hit home, here's how to take action:
🔥 Join The Conversation:
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight
you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps
other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most.
💡 Ready to Go Deeper?
This is just the beginning. If you're serious about transforming from
best-kept secret to industry authority, check out:
→ The Total Disruption Guild – Your network of entrepreneurs who
actually do the work
→ The KLT Formula – The framework that turns influence into revenue
→ Business Battleground: Boardroom Edition – Transform your company on a
national stage
Visit Total-Disruption.com to explore how we can help you dominate your
market.
📲 Connect With Us:
Follow Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci on LinkedIn and
Instagram [@TotalDisruption1] for daily insights, behind-the-scenes
moments, and the unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship.
🎙️ Never Miss an Episode:
New episodes drop every week. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen. Set it to
auto-download so you're first in line when we drop the next one.
💬 Got a Question? Challenge? Breakthrough?
DM us your wins, struggles, or topics you want us to tackle. We read
every message, and the best ones might just become a future episode.
Remember: Your competitors are either listening—or falling behind.
Don't be the latter.
This is Total Disruption. We'll see you next week.
Hosted by Dr. Jake Clendenning & Michael Libercci
Produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company
For advertising opportunities and sponsorship inquiries, visit
Total-Disruption.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
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Jake and Michael unpack Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations—which weren’t meditations at all, but wartime journals written under pressure—to expose the Stoic principle most people miss: 👉 You don’t control outcomes. You only control standards. From gym goals and sales quotas to New Year’s resolutions that die by February, this episode breaks down why most people fail: they chase results instead of enforcing non-negotiable inputs. Marcus didn’t write about winning wars—he wrote about how to show up when outcomes are uncertain. That lesson still applies to business, health, money, and leadership today. This conversation reframes success as a function of discipline, execution, and refusal to tolerate mediocrity, not wishful thinking disguised as goals. You just heard it. Now it's time to do something with it. If this episode hit home, here's how to take action: 🔥 Join The Conversation: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tell us which insight you're implementing first. Your feedback doesn't just help us—it helps other entrepreneurs find the show when they need it most. 💡 Ready to Go Deeper? This is just the beginning. If you're serious about transforming from best-kept secret to industry authority, check out: → The Total Disruption Guild – Your network of entrepreneurs who actually do the work → The KLT Formula – The framework that turns influence into revenue → Business Battleground: Boardroom Edition – Transform your company on a national stage Visit Total-Disruption.com to explore how we can help you dominate your market. 📲 Connect With Us: Follow Dr. Jake Clendenning and Michael Libercci on LinkedIn and Instagram [@TotalDisruption1] for daily insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and the unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship. 🎙️ Never Miss an Episode: New episodes drop every week. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen. Set it to auto-download so you're first in line when we drop the next one. 💬 Got a Question? Challenge? Breakthrough? DM us your wins, struggles, or topics you want us to tackle. We read every message, and the best ones might just become a future episode. Remember: Your competitors are either listening—or falling behind. Don't be the latter. This is Total Disruption. We'll see you next week. Hosted by Dr. Jake Clendenning & Michael Libercci Produced in partnership with the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company For advertising opportunities and sponsorship inquiries, visit Total-Disruption.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.