When my name suddenly appeared in a presentation, I realized immediately:
This was beyond my control.
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
– Epictetus
Recently, I was offered a unique opportunity: to take on an overarching role in business analysis, working closely with colleagues from different teams across the organization.
I was grateful for the trust and recognition of my work so far. In that moment, I knew I wanted to seize this opportunity, not because it was easy, but because it allowed me to learn and take on responsibility.
The role was initially structured as a pilot phase – a period to explore how responsibilities could be best distributed, which structures worked, and what solutions were sustainable.
For my immediate team, this meant they were supposed to be informed first. At the same time, I knew some steps had to be coordinated with other colleagues. A classic case of uncertainty in complex organizational structures.
So I consciously chose a Stoic mindset and focused on what was truly within my control.
“Some things are in our control and others not.”
– Epictetus
Concretely, this meant:
- Planning and executing upcoming tasks reliably and to a high standard.
- Preparing handovers and internal coordination in the background.
- Informing colleagues as soon as organizationally feasible.
The first two points were fully within my control. The third was not – communication paths and timing are often unpredictable.
And that’s exactly what happened: During a cross-team presentation, my name appeared publicly – earlier than intended.
I felt my hands get clammy and my pulse quicken. Thoughts started racing. In the past, such a situation would have unsettled me deeply.
But this time, I remembered a core Stoic principle:
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
The incident was beyond my control. My response, however, was fully within it. So I focused on what I could do in that moment – and acted accordingly.
Epictetus once described life metaphorically as a performance:
We do not choose our role, but we decide how well we play it.
In practice, this meant:
- I spoke first with those directly affected and explained transparently why the information had become public earlier than planned.
- I facilitated the meeting professionally to the end and informed other colleagues so that everyone was on the same page.
- Immediately afterward, I gave everyone the opportunity to ask questions and address uncertainties.
With some distance, I was reminded how difficult it is in complex organizations to find the perfect moment to communicate. Often, that moment simply doesn’t exist.
Yet something positive emerged from the situation: We used the opportunity to structure handovers and collaboration more clearly, preparing for upcoming tasks efficiently.
The key takeaway – especially for business analysts – is simple but powerful:
We work daily in uncertainty. Decisions, dependencies, and information often lie beyond our direct control. Yet our mindset, actions, and clarity in the moment remain entirely within our responsibility.
Stoic principles do not prevent problems.
They help us remain capable of action when challenges arise.
Stay Stoic – even in the storm.
Anthony Smith