Hey, I’m Ryan MacTaggart
I am obsessed with our obsession with better. I’m not a guru and often challenge the guru culture that we’ve built. I’m not a New York Times bestselling author (yet) or a Top 50 speaker. I haven’t made it on Forbes 40 Under 40 list or been given a key to my city. Chances are, you haven’t either. And I pursue those big things in all aspects of my life and find strengthening in the processes.
Here’s what you might see on paper or social media about me. I have a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resources, a degree in Sport Psychology, and another in History. I created a community to combat the dangers of loneliness among American men called the LIFE council. I am a writer by passion. I am a licensed teacher and learning designer by day. I am an Ironman finisher and love the pursuit of difficult challenges. I am a husband, brother, son, nephew, and friend.
Here’s what you wouldn’t see. Much of my life has been lived from the origin of fear. Fear of failure and success, risk and security, not being enough and being too much, not fitting in, and giving in to peer pressure. I have experienced deep loss, felt the anger and sadness of it, and seen the beauty that can come as time passes.
Now, I am in pursuit of understanding the nuances of living well. I’m not looking for a memorable quote or a simplified approach to life. I want to explore the depth of what it means to live “better.” I hope to share that journey with you.
How my work might contribute to your life
The central question of my obsession is, “How can we live well on the journey to better?”
I believe the answer exists only in the spaces between life-hacks that promise betterment with no work and meditation retreats that most of us aren’t going to. Somewhere, amidst the noise, is a worthy pursuit of deep wisdom to help us be our best.
Some topics I tend to explore that might help you are:
- The importance of relationships and ways to create meaningful ones
- How to wade through the ocean of information surrounding us to find what matters
- The need to learn and unlearn constantly throughout life
- How to lead others in the pursuit of living well at home and work
- The exploration of our limits and how to find yourself in the process
Most of the things I write about are not my own. They are the ideas of those who came before me in antiquity – stoics, philosophers, and tinkerers – and in modern life – speakers, podcasters, and writers. My favorite pieces always come when I find overlap between my interests, combining two seemingly unrelated ideas into practical wisdom.
I don’t have the answers to everything. In fact, everything I write is a reminder to myself or an exploration of something I’m thinking about. My way of living isn’t for everyone and that’s okay with me. I do hope that you can find some of it useful as you pursue who you want to be.