Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ryan Holiday

Discover the career path of Ryan Holiday, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Ryan Holiday is a contemporary American author known for his accessible and practical interpretations of Stoic philosophy. He initially worked in marketing, learning under Robert Greene, and later transitioning to writing. Holiday's books, including "The Obstacle Is the Way," "Ego Is the Enemy," and "Stillness Is the Key," focus on resilience, self-discipline, and mindfulness. He's known for his innovative marketing strategies and popularizing Stoicism for a modern audience, presenting ancient wisdom in a way that appeals to a broad readership seeking self-improvement and success in various aspects of life.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2012: Publication of 'Trust Me, I'm Lying'

In 2012, Ryan Holiday debuted as an author with the publication of "Trust Me, I'm Lying", marking the start of his writing career.

September 2013: Publication of 'Growth Hacker Marketing'

In September 2013, Ryan Holiday's book "Growth Hacker Marketing" was first published by Profile Books, later expanded into a print edition in 2014.

May 2014: Publication of 'The Obstacle Is the Way'

In May 2014, Ryan Holiday published his third book, "The Obstacle Is the Way", through Penguin Publishing Group. It focuses on framing obstacles as opportunities, drawing from Stoic principles.

October 2014: Resignation from Company

In October 2014, Ryan Holiday resigned from his position at the company.

2014: Expansion of 'Growth Hacker Marketing' into Print Edition

In 2014, "Growth Hacker Marketing" was expanded into a print edition, after initially being published in September 2013. The book was also named one of Inc. magazine's top 10 marketing books of 2014.

2014: Publication of 'The Obstacle Is the Way'

In 2014, Ryan Holiday published "The Obstacle Is the Way", adding another book to his growing list of works.

December 2016: Sales Milestone for 'The Obstacle Is the Way'

By December 2016, Ryan Holiday's book "The Obstacle Is the Way", published in May 2014, had sold more than 230,000 copies.

2016: Publication of 'Ego is the Enemy'

In 2016, Ryan Holiday continued his writing career by publishing "Ego is the Enemy".

2016: Publication of 'Ego Is the Enemy' and 'The Daily Stoic'

In 2016, Ryan Holiday published two books: "Ego Is the Enemy" in June, and "The Daily Stoic" (co-authored with Stephen Hanselman) in October.

2017: Publication of 'The Daily Stoic Journal' and 'Perennial Seller'

In 2017, Ryan Holiday released "The Daily Stoic Journal" and "Perennial Seller", adding to his collection of published works.

February 2018: Publication of 'Conspiracy'

In February 2018, Ryan Holiday published "Conspiracy", a book about the lawsuit between Gawker Media and wrestler Hulk Hogan, and Peter Thiel's involvement.

October 2019: Publication of 'Stillness Is the Key'

In October 2019, Ryan Holiday published "Stillness Is the Key", which reportedly became his first book to reach No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in the Business category.

2019: 'The Daily Stoic' E-book Reaches Bestseller Status

By 2019, the e-book version of "The Daily Stoic", co-authored by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman and released in 2016, reached No. 7 in the Nonfiction category of the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

2019: 'The Obstacle Is the Way' Reaches No. 1 on WSJ Bestseller List

In 2019, five years after its initial release in May 2014, Ryan Holiday's book "The Obstacle Is the Way" reached No. 1 on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller List.

September 2020: Contribution to Confederate Monument Removal

In September 2020, Ryan Holiday contributed $10,000 towards the removal of two Confederate monuments from the Bastrop County Courthouse to an alternative site.

2020: Publication of 'Lives of the Stoics'

In 2020, Ryan Holiday, in collaboration with Stephen Hanselman, published "Lives of the Stoics". He also contributed a chapter to Tim Ferriss' book "Tools of Titans".

2021: Publication of 'Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave'

In 2021, Ryan Holiday published "Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave", which explores the virtue of courage and is suggested to be the first in a series.