The Daily Stoic It Takes Much Longer Than You Think (Or Want)
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Mar 26, 2026 A meditation on why the best things in life take painfully long. Military career bottlenecks, Marcus Aurelius waiting for his turn, and the tension between ambition and reality all take center stage. It also explores how long delays can become a kind of apprenticeship.
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Worthwhile Things Take Longer Than You Want
- Ryan Holiday argues that nearly everything worthwhile takes longer than people expect or want, and frustration does not change that reality.
- He ties delay to wisdom, leadership, mastery, and opportunity, saying the timeline, apprenticeship, and climb are all longer.
James Stockdale Waited Through A Promotion Hump
- James Stockdale came up during a postwar promotion bottleneck when senior officers known as the Hump blocked advancement for younger ambitious officers.
- Ryan Holiday uses Stockdale to show how delay feels demoralizing even when you are ready to lead and hungry for your turn.
Marcus Aurelius Endured A 20 Year Wait
- Marcus Aurelius waited 20 years for Antoninus to pass the throne, showing that even the future emperor had to endure a long apprenticeship.
- Ryan Holiday pairs this with modern graduates blocked by older professors and executives who stay in their jobs longer.