Stop Waiting To Be Chosen | Adam Skolnick - The Daily Stoic Recap
Podcast: The Daily Stoic
Published: 2026-01-17
Duration: 1 hr 16 min
Guests: Adam Skolnick
Summary
Adam Skolnick discusses his writing journey, including his battles with imposter syndrome and his new novel 'American Tiger', based on a true story of an escaped tiger in Simi Valley. Ryan Holiday and Skolnick explore themes of self-doubt, historical power dynamics, and the hero's journey.
What Happened
Adam Skolnick shares his path from writing underreported stories to collaborating with high-profile figures like David Goggins and Rich Roll. Despite his success, Skolnick admits that self-doubt continues to be a part of his writing journey, highlighting the persistent nature of imposter syndrome even among accomplished authors.
Skolnick's new novel, 'American Tiger', takes inspiration from a real event he covered about an escaped tiger in Simi Valley. He weaves his experiences visiting private zoos and sanctuaries into the narrative, creating a story that explores themes of freedom and captivity.
Ryan Holiday and Adam Skolnick discuss the impact of historical infrastructure projects, using Robert Moses as a case study. They delve into the unintended consequences of these projects, such as the diversion of water from Owens Lake, drawing parallels to contemporary political decisions.
The discussion includes the strategic use of power by historical figures like Eisenhower and Lincoln. Ryan Holiday emphasizes how these leaders leveraged their understanding of power dynamics to achieve their goals, often consulting historical works like those of Plutarch.
Adam Skolnick reflects on the importance of not waiting to be chosen and actively seeking out unique stories and opportunities. He advises aspiring writers to embrace all writing jobs, no matter how small, as a way to gain experience and improve their craft.
The concept of the hero's journey is explored, with an emphasis on the personal power each individual has to shape their narrative. The discussion suggests that assuming you know the ending of your own story limits the possibilities of growth and self-discovery.
Key Insights
- Imposter syndrome can persist even in successful careers, as evidenced by author Adam Skolnick's ongoing self-doubt despite his achievements in collaborating with high-profile figures.
- The novel 'American Tiger' draws from real events involving an escaped tiger in Simi Valley and incorporates experiences from visits to private zoos and sanctuaries, exploring themes of freedom and captivity.
- Historical infrastructure projects, such as those led by Robert Moses, often have unintended consequences, like the diversion of water from Owens Lake, which can serve as parallels to modern political decisions.
- Historical leaders like Eisenhower and Lincoln effectively used their understanding of power dynamics to achieve their goals, often consulting historical works such as those by Plutarch for strategic insights.