Mark Tuitert on an interview: How Stoic thinking could help you play to win

For twenty years, Mark Tuitert has used the principles of Stoic philosophy to become an Olympic gold winner, successful entrepreneur, and deal with the challenges in his work and home life.

In 2004, he won the European Allround Championships, having placed third a year earlier. With the years, he started to focus more on his best distance, the 1500 m, and abandoned allround in favour of sprinting after the 2007 season. In the 1500 m, Tuitert has won the World Cup in the 2004 and 2005 seasons, placing second at the World Single Distance Championships in that distance those same years. He nevertheless failed to qualify for the Dutch Olympic team at the distance, having to contend with a spot on the pursuit team that won a bronze medal. During his career, Tuitert never won a Dutch distance title (finishing second in the 1500 m three times), but he did win the Dutch allround championships in 2006. He has also set one World Record, that for allround points in 2004.

It's best to start with the initial principles that aren't focused on making money or becoming happy. Instead, those principles ask, "What does it mean to lead a good life?"

We can control your inner mindset even though the world may feel chaotic.

"It's up to us to live with purpose and meaning. If we don't make that conscious decision, we are led by externals such as social media,  other people, and other situations."

It helps to separate your mindset from external factors. Stoicism calls this "the Dichotomy Of Control"

It's understanding what you can and can't control in your life, and that conclusion creates peace and calmness. 

Some things happen outside our control, but we have the power of our internal state of mind and can lead from our principles. 

Ask yourself what's important to you and what character you want to develop. Those are things you can control.

We all think like athletes or businesspeople; we'll be happy if we have great results. I learned that isn't how Stoics think about happiness. I read, specially Seneca's writings, before the games, and he discussed showing courage, the internal state of mind, character-drivenness, showing up, and giving everything you have. 

Don't worry about the outcome of this race; instead, consider how you show your character and courage.

Put effort into whatever you do, whether an entrepreneur or an employee. When you give effort, it becomes personal. When you feel fear, still give everything that you have. 

For me, learning that opened space in my mind and heart. Before the race, I told myself, "When that gun goes off, give everything you have." I gave everything because I've trained hard and want to be courageous as I go into battle. Winning wasn't up to me. The only thing that I controlled was my effort.