Why I’m Reading One of the First Self-Help Books Ever Written

Sometimes the most powerful answers don’t come from today’s podcasts, business books, or coaching circles — they come from 2,000 years ago.

That’s why I’m diving into "Meditations: The Philosophy Classic" by Marcus Aurelius.

Put on my plate by Mateo Lee Fortune, this book is more than philosophy. It’s a timeless guide to self-mastery, emotional regulation, and personal leadership—written by a Roman emperor who led during one of the most chaotic times in history.

What blows my mind is this: Marcus didn’t even write this for an audience. He wrote it for himself. A personal journal of reminders to stay focused, kind, disciplined, and unshakeable.

In a way, it’s one of the earliest “self-help” books ever produced—raw, unfiltered, and built from lived experience, not theory.

If you’re in sales, business, or just trying to grow through what you go through… this one hits home. And it’s a reminder that greatness starts within.

Bookmark this one.

Read slowly.

Let it hit.