As architects working in the technology space we have a tendency to look forward at the ever changing world of tech. However the ancients spent much time thinking about the nature of reality and our position in the world. In this talk we’ll explore this relationship and what we can learn about the practice of architecture.

1. What can Architects
learn from the Stoics?
An Association for All IT Architects

2. dealing with reality

3. What the hell is
going on?
Why are we here?
BUT FIRST

4. ME

5. HOW DID WE GET HERE?

6. THE BIG ADVENTURE STARTED IN 2014

7. 12 MONTHS HOT & CONFUSED IN THE DESERT

8. 2015 GOODBYE DUBAI

9. I WAITED & WAITED
BUT THE PHONE DIDN’T RING

10. & THEN THE MONEY DIDN’T APPEAR

11. I HAD BEEN ABANDONED IN THE DESERT

12. THERE WERE DARK DAYS

13. I KNEW I NEEDED SOME NEW KNOWLEDGE

14. I READ BOOKS

15. I TALKEDbut not enough

16. I SAT

17. AND THEN I STUMBLED OVER THE STOICS
MARCUS AURELIUS EPICTETUS SENECA ZENO

18. THE HIGHLIGHTS….4 VIRTUES

19. WISDOM
Practical wisdom to navigate
complex situations in a logical
& calm manner

20. “Only people who cultivate
self control in themselves
can bring positive change
in others”
Marcus Aurelius

21. TEMPERANCE
Exercise self-restraint
& moderation in all aspects of
life

22. “If you don’t wish to be a hot-head, don’t
feed your habit. Try as a first step to
remain calm and count the days you
haven’t been angry. I used to be angry
every day, now every other day, then
every third or fourth … if you make it as
far as 30 days, thank God! For habit is first
weakened and then obliterated. When
you can say ‘I didn’t lose my temper
today, or the next day, or for three or four
months, but kept my cool under
provocation,’ you will know you are in
better health.”
Epictetus

23. JUSTICE
Treating others with fairness
even when they have done
wrong

24. “As Plato said, every soul is
deprived of truth against its will.
The same holds true for justice, self-
control, goodwill to others, and
every similar virtue. It’s essential to
constantly keep this in your mind,
for it will make you more gentle to
all.”
Marcus Aurelius

25. COURAGE
Facing daily challenges
with courage

26. “Sometimes even to live is
an act of courage”
“Limiting one’s desires
actually helps to cure one of
fear . ‘ Cease to hope , ’ he
says , ‘ and you will cease
to fear .”
Seneca

27. ATARAXIA
We end up with
tranquillity of mind

28. 3 KEY DISCIPLINES

29. DISIPLINES
The Discipline of Perception
▪how we see and perceive the world around us
The Discipline of Action
▪the decisions and actions we take—and to what end
The Discipline of Will
▪how we deal with the things we cannot change, attain clear and convincing judgment,
and come to a true understanding of our place in the world

30. KEY LEARNINGS

31. DEALING WITH REALITY
Take the world as it is
not as you want it to be

32. “We suffer not from the
events in our lives but from
our judgement of them”
HARNESS OBJECTIVITY
THROUGH ANOTHER PAIR
OF EYES
Marcus Aurelius

33. “When you wake up in the
morning, tell yourself: The
people I will deal with
today will be meddling,
ungrateful, arrogant,
dishonest, jealous and
surly”
Marcus Aurelius

34. REASONED CHOICE
All we have is our
reasoned choice

35. “For there are two rules to
keep at the ready—that
there is nothing good or
bad outside my own
reasoned choice, and that
we shouldn’t try to lead
events but to follow them.”
Epictetus

36. “The proper work of the mind is the
exercise of choice, refusal,
yearning, repulsion, preparation,
purpose, and assent. What then can
pollute and clog the mind’s proper
functioning? Nothing but its own
corrupt decisions.”
Epictetus

37. FAILURE
Failure is natural
regret is foolish

38. “If you are defeated once and tell
yourself you will overcome, but
carry on as before, know in the end
you’ll be so ill and weakened that
eventually you won’t even notice
your mistake and will begin to
rationalize your behaviour.”
HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY!!!
Epictetus

39. “We don’t abandon our pursuits
because we despair of ever
perfecting them.”
PERFECTION IS THE ENEMY OF
ACTION!!!
Epictetus

40. FIGHT THE LOOP
Fight your autonomous
& efficient brain

41. KNOWLEDGE
Know that you
Know nothing

42. “Today I escaped anxiety.
Or no, I discarded it,
because it was within me, in
my own perceptions, not
outside.”
Marcus Aurelius

43. MASTERY & PATIENCE
Take the time to master your craft
Keep learning & developing your skills

44. “A plant that is
frequently moved,
never grows
strong.” Seneca

45. CONTROL
We can….
We can’t….

46. “The chief task in life is simply this:
to identify and separate matters so
that I can say clearly to myself
which are externals not under my
control, and which have to do with
the choices I actually control.
Where then do I look for good and
evil? Not to uncontrollable
externals, but within myself to the
choices that are my own …”
Epictetus

47. STORIES
Don’t get involved in your
own narratives, we tell ourselves
stories that we choose to believe
we give them energy and make them
come true

48. “Listen and connect with
people, don’t perform for
them.”
DON’T INDULGE IN
NARRATIVE FALLACY UNKNOWN

49. OBSTACLES
The obstacle is the way

50. “The impediment to
action advances
action. What stands in
the way becomes the
way” Marcus Aurelius

51. TIME
TIME IS A PERISHABLE RESOURCE

52. “How many have laid waste to your
life when you weren’t aware of what
you were losing, how much was
wasted in pointless grief, foolish
joy, greedy desire, and social
amusements—how little of your own
was left to you. You will realize you
are dying before your time!” Seneca

53. VIA NEGATIVA
It’s not what you add
it’s what you take away

54. “All philosophy lies
in two words, sustain
and abstain.”
Seneca

55. PEOPLE
It never hurts to be nice,
to forgive and to have
patience

56. “As Plato said, every soul is
deprived of truth against its will.
The same holds true for justice, self-
control, goodwill to others, and
every similar virtue. It’s essential to
constantly keep this in your mind,
for it will make you more gentle to
all.”
Marcus Aurelius

57. KEY TAKEAWAYS

58. KEY TAKEAWAYS
▪See the world as it is
▪Know that you don’t know
▪Remember all you have is your reasoned choice
▪Understand what’s in your control and what’s not
▪Get comfortable with uncertainty
▪Stop chasing the new new thing
▪Remember the obstacle is the way
▪Be prepared not surprised
▪All you have is your reasoned choice

59. “Between stimulus and response
there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose our response. In
our response lies our growth and
our freedom.”
Victor Frankl

60. ATARAXIA
If we’re lucky we end up here

61. gar@businessmodeladventures.com
gar.maccriosta@iasaoffice.org
@aspiringarc
http://ie.linkedin.com/in/garmaccriosta
www.businessmodeladventures.com
Hello, my name is Gar
and I help with

62. SAPER VEDERE – LEARN HOW TO SEE