Why Studying History Will Give You The Edge You Need In Business & Life
The Two Powerful Lessons I Learned From The past 3,000 years
Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. — George Santayana. Writer. Philosopher. One-Hit Wonder.
History allows you to study the past and uncover our true human nature.
As humans, our DNA changes only 1% every 10,000 years. While society and the way we live shifts drastically throughout the years, our core human nature is something that will never go away.
There’s a lot of hidden treasure you can take with you from the past thousands of years that can translate into your business acumen and personal development.
Here’s how they’re all related.
Stoic vs. Epicurian: Which One Are You?
Founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens, the Stoic philosophy has been around since the 3rd century BC.
Stoicism is anyone who endures the pain and hardship of what we call life and does not complain.
Right around the same time period, our good friend Epicurus founded the Epicurean way of life.
Epicureans pursue the pleasure of life. Their life motto can be summarized in one phrase: YOLO
If you want any success in the business world, I got some bad news for all you epicureans: you’re in for a rough ride.
Stoicism’s framework where the person is willing to delay the gratification for future pleasure is the single quality that can make you millions in the business world.
When you decide to get a sales job or open your own business, stoics understand that this is all part of the process, and five years from now, it will all click when you’re financially free chilling on a yacht.
Power & Politics
There’s plenty of examples throughout history of hero’s and villains. Hitler. Stallion. Mother Theresa. Gandhi. King Louis XIII.
The business world definitely has a similar landscape. There’s the right way to get power — hard work, promotion, experience, risk.
And there’s the wrong way — betrayal, politics, narcissism.
It’s important to steer away from the latter and gain the trust of your colleagues through the former.
When you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity… you cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others — Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power
History’s most celebrated figures were life long educators.
Alexander the Great was tutored for Aristotle before beginning his quest to conquer the Persian Empire at 19. Even after leaving his mentorship, he carried a chariot full of books at all times during his campaigns.
I encourage you all to have the same chariot in your arsenal.
