Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom

by M. Andrew McConnell

Overview

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Are self-doubt and other negative feelings living rent free in your mind?

If so, you’re not alone. It’s common, even for the most accomplished among us, to let people, circumstances, and worries take up valuable headspace.

Get Out of My Head is a lifeline for overwhelmed professionals seeking direction and tranquility in turbulent times, whether navigating daily stressors or experiencing defining moments.

Author M. Andrew McConnell, CEO of RENTED, INC., shows you it’s possible to achieve clarity, make good decisions, and rise in your career, by illustrating that the human mind is not unlike real estate: adopting an owner’s mindset can make all the difference.

Drawing on ancient Stoic philosophy, modern science, and remarkable stories of contemporary innovators in business, sports, and more, Get Out of My Head demonstrates how to effectively allocate your mental resources, set mental boundaries, and overcome challenges by seizing ownership of your own mind and channeling adversity as a vehicle for growth.

The ancient Stoics recognized that the mind is a human’s most precious and finite resource—that it is the only thing of value anyone can truly possess. The Stoics also understood that the default human state is to waste our mind on trivial things. When we lend our mind to things that do not serve us, we are left with only remnants of our potential.

Throughout this book, you’ll find stories of high-achieving modern Stoics who have successfully reclaimed their headspace, as well as the tools you need to develop better resilience—a remedy to chronic stress—so that you, too, can transition from “mind rentership” to “mind ownership.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637740750
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	06/14/2022
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,127,081
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Andrew McConnell’s story is not your typical Silicon Valley fairytale. Born in Birmingham, AL, he was raised in a neighborhood built on a former tobacco field, population ~50,000. Through Stoicism and Southern grit, he managed to graduate Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and University of Cambridge with honors, all while becoming a member of the USA Open Water Swimming National Team, and earning an international Bronze Medal in the process. Entering the work world, Andrew took a while to find his footing, bouncing from banker (Merrill Lynch), to attorney (Eversheds Sutherland), to consultant (McKinsey & Co.), before finally striking out on his own.
By deploying the ancient philosophy of Stoicism, Andrew McConnell eventually took the company he founded, Rented.com, from less than $200,000 in revenue to nearly $10 million in under three years, a 50X increase. Today, Rented.com is a two-time Inc. 500 winner, with more than $25 million raised. Andrew has tracked this perilous journey as a regular contributor to Inc., Forbes, USA Today, Huffington Post, Betterment, Skift, and Curbed, where his writings on Stoicism, the access economy, and the highs and lows of contemporary work-life find an eager audience of thousands of readers. Still, in true Stoic fashion, Andrew’s commitment to making an impact has always extended beyond business. He’s a Board Member of Georgia’s oldest charity, Sheltering Arms, a founding Board Member of Atlanta Technology Leaders, and a TechStars Mentor for Social Impact Startups. He’s also an attendee of the invite-only Yale CEO Summit as well as the Renaissance Weekend conference attended by astronauts, past-presidents of the US, Supreme Court Justices, and other world-class thought leaders. His drive to share encouragement, resources, understanding, and techniques have led to the creation of this book.

Table of Contents

Prologue xi

Introduction 1

Part I Mind Renting and Other People

Chapter 1 They'll Never Buy the Cow If You Give Them the Milk for Free (Know Your Value) 15

Chapter 2 Surveying Your Boundaries (Embrace Your Limits) 33

Chapter 3 Thank You, Sir, May I Have Another? (The Gift of Criticism) 49

Part II Mind Renting and Circumstances and Events

Chapter 4 When It Is the Best of Times, Get Ready for the Worst of Times (Prepare Ahead of Time) 67

Chapter 5 A Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste (Every Catastrophe Creates Opportunity) 83

Chapter 6 Why Suffer More Than Once? (Limit the Downside) 101

Chapter 7 A Lannister Always Pays His Debts (Be Grateful for All That Occurs) 115

Chapter 8 Nonattachment to Results (Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome) 131

Part III Mind Renting and Ourselves

Chapter 9 Live Where You Are (Sow Your Own Seeds) 147

Chapter 10 Live When You Are (Be Present) 161

Chapter 11 Less Is Less, and Less Is Better (Appreciate What You Already Have) 173

Chapter 12 Lower Your Bar (Avoid the Perfection Trap) 187

Chapter 13 Action Isn't Everything-It's the Only Thing (Words Aren't Enough) 201

Conclusion 215

Epilogue 229

Acknowledgments 235

Notes 239

Additional Sources 243

Index 245

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“As a world-class distance swimmer turned successful entrepreneur, Andrew McConnell knows what it takes to keep your cool under pressure. As an author, he knows how to get you fired up about Stoic wisdom. Thanks to his engaging stories and practical advice, you won’t have any trouble getting out of your head and into this book.”
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife
 
“Get Out of My Head offers an authentic solution for those struggling to cut through the din of overly busy modern lives and accomplish more.” 
—Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
 
“Get Out of My Head will help you overcome stress and let you feel in control of your mind. If you follow the ideas in this book, your life will become substantially better. A fantastic read that will make you more focused and productive—I highly recommend it.” 
—Chris Bailey, international bestselling author of Hyperfocus and The Productivity Project