How Marcus Aurelius Can Change the Way You Think About Entrepreneurship
Rome wasn’t anymore the unchallenged empire, which under the Pax Augusta (Augustan Peace), had enjoyed a relative quiet period that lasted for almost two hundreds years. The fortified frontiers of the Roman Empire, the so-called Limes, were slowly collapsing under the pressure of the bordering barbarian populations.
In the second century BC the Pannonian Limes, also known as Danubian Limes, although protected by the Danube River, where under threats from some Germanic populations. The most feared were the Quadi and Marcomanni.
Those same Germanic tribes had been defeated almost two centuries before, by the Roman troops led by the general Nero Claudius Drusus. In some way the same populations had managed to survive and become stronger throughout the centuries. We are in the year 162 AD, Marcus Aurelius, together with his brother Lucius Verus had to defend Rome from the barbarian attacks; at the same time, if Rome wanted to safeguard its empire, it had to show its strength.
It wasn’t an easy time, both inside and outside the borders of the Empire. The initial military campaigns were successful and kept the German populations away from the borders of the empire. Yet, the attacks by Marcomanni didn’t stop there. Additionally, few years later, in 169 AD the co-emperor Verus died, living Marcus Aurelious as the only emperor to lead the Roman Empire; in the most extreme situation Rome had faced in the last centuries.
In those years of wars, Marcus Aurelius didn’t give up and made it through the hard times. The only thing that kept him motivated throughout those years, were the meditations; a set of diaries, that helped him reconcile the stoic soul, with that of a man who had to carry the weight of millions of people on his shoulders.
Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher, but most of all a man of action. Why is Marcus Aurelius a great example for modern entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs Are the New Emperors
Ever since the launch of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, wars have become a taboo. In fact, humanity has learned through a hard lesson that due to those new weapons, wars cannot be fought anymore, at global level. But humans are biologically the same that they were less than a century before.
It is our tendency to fight against each other; it is a biological need to show that we are right; explorations, conquest and many individual sacrifices have been driven by this desire of conflict. Yet wars are not fought anymore on the military field but on the economic playground.
The lives of billions of individuals nowadays depend upon new empires: Corporations. Each day, billions of workers wake up, recruited by huge conglomerates to fight the “profit war.” Corporations organize fierce fights against each other to keep their employees motivated.
Apple’s employees’, under the command of their former general, Steve Jobs, were incited to fight against the rival, Microsoft, by the motto, “let’s kill the tasteless giant!” in this fierce fight, new kingdoms, like “Google Empire” form and dominate the world.
In this scenario of bloody economic struggle and conflicts the new Emperors, the so-called Entrepreneurs have to keep their main goal in mind, “Bringing humanity forward.” In fact, while decades ago, “The Art of War,” by Sun Tzu was the main manual for shrewd manager and entrepreneur; the world is now taking a new turn.
The new “Emperors,” seem to have grasped the necessity to create real value, beside sheer profits. In this state, modern tycoons resemble more enlightened emperors, like Marcus Aurelius, rather than Hitlerian tyrants.
Therefore, Marcus Aurelius’ “meditations” has become the new source of inspiration for wannabe entrepreneurs. The “Aurelian Mindset” is based on few basic but powerful principles. I am going to cite the three foundational ones.
Learn from Others
“Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion…” Verse I, Book I, Meditations.
In his first book, Marcus Aurelius goes on to list all the things he learned from all the people he encountered throughout his life. Not only he does not carry anger against anyone, but also he recollects all the lessons learned from others. Entrepreneurs, often learn this lesson the hard way, through many failures.
In fact any great entrepreneur will tell you how important is to learn as quickly as possible from the people around you. Entrepreneurs, like scientists, have learned the “principle of ignorance,” for which, “the more you think you now about a subject the less you really know.” In other words, the great entrepreneur has to push his understanding of a subject to the point of reaching “ignorance.”
In fact, only at that point innovations happen. People like, Tesla, Musk and Bezos pushed their understanding of a certain fields to the limit. Progress, therefore isn’t based anymore on the past.
It Is Not About Fame
“…Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage. Fame after life is no better than oblivion…” Verse XV, Book II, Meditations.
For a successful entrepreneur, fame comes as a side effect. The “Aurelian Entrepreneur” knows that fame itself is worth nothing. On the other hand, this is a tool that the successful entrepreneur can use to deliver the message of his/her mission.
Entrepreneurs, like Leila Janah and Blake Mycoskie know that and use their popularity to deliver the message about the mission of their organizations. Creating a valuable enterprise is not about fame, vanity or personal enrichment. Instead, it is about social impact.
Internal Antenna
“Our life is what our thoughts make it,” Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.
Modern society has become increasingly noisy. News and rumors are generated at each blink of an eye. With one finger-tap we can reach the other side of world; we can listen to a podcaster in California, while driving our car in a small town of South Africa; we can monitor the trend of our stocks, while sipping a nice Martini, on Red Beach, in the beautiful Santorini.
While, this may seem an advantage at first, entrepreneurs have to know how to manage the chaotically modern world at their advantage. Entrepreneurs usually have a long-term vision that often sees decades forward, compared to the nearsighted masses.
Therefore, the “Aurelian Entrepreneur” has to know when and how to listen to other people’s opinions. In other words, they are internally oriented. In fact, their antennae are focused inwardly. Only seldom they turn outward, when the moment is right to listen and see what happens in the external environment.
Conclusions
In conclusions, Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations” has become a powerful tool for the modern entrepreneur that has to manage adversity, in an increasingly complex environment. The economic playground has become a continuous struggle for the conquest of the world; the progress of humanity depends upon enlightened entrepreneurs, now more than ever!
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