- BDAILY PREMIUM -
Entrepreneurs, by their very nature, are notoriously passionate about the pursuit of knowledge and growth.
Those with an entrepreneurial mindset are often voracious readers and consumers of knowledge. From motivational TED Talks to self development literature to productivity podcasts, business people across a range of industries are some of the most passionate advocates of self-development.
Books like Lean-In by Cheryl Sandberg and 12 Rules To Life by Jordan Petersen have graced the New York Times Best Sellers List in recent years, echoing a growing demand for literature and content focused on personal and professional growth.
Stoicism is a branch of philosophy which originated in Athens in the early 3rd century BC. Far from indicating ‘emotionlessness’ (as the term is often understood), Stoicism is a code of personal ethics which follows the four virtues of courage, temperance, justice and wisdom.
Originally founded by Hellenistic philosopher Zeno of Citium, Stoicism has been followed by a great many leaders throughout history, most famously by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who wrote the book Meditations describing the philosophy.
Managing director of Plan Digital and founder of Newcastle Startup Week Paul Lancaster shared what attracted him to the philosophy: “One of the many things I like about Stoicism is it helps you develop the resilience and fortitude to cope with literally any situation, no matter what comes at you (which has obviously been very useful this year).
“Ultimately, you cannot control what happens in the world or what other people do or say to you but the one thing you can control is how you react or respond, if at all.” - Paul Lancaster, Founder, Newcastle Startup Week
“That ability to control your emotions and decide if, when and how you will use them is a real strength and asset to any business leader or growth-minded individual that wants to live a good and virtuous life.
While Paul’s discovery of Stoicism is fairly recent, he has credited it with enabling him to maintain his personal and professional well-being.
Paul explained: “Stoicism is something I have fully embraced since the end of last year which has put me in good stead for everything that has happened in 2020, and helped me maintain the balance and composure I needed to survive and thrive during the lockdown.”
Jason Ball, founder of B2B marketing agency Considered Content, found Stoicism to be such an influence on his life that he published a book on the subject, taking Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and rewriting them from a 21st Century perspective.
Jason explained: “While lots of people come in via Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, the first book that ignited my interest in Stoicism was Philosophy for Life: And Other Dangerous Situations by Jules Evans. This led me to the work of Epictetus and then Marcus and others (and ultimately to writing a modernised version of the Meditations, The Modern Marcus).
“I love the practicality and humanity of Stoicism. On one level it teaches us to separate what we can control from what we can’t and to focus on the former (a great antidote from pointless stress).
“But – and this is often lost in the discussion – Stoicism also deeply roots us in the world around us and emphasises we are part of the wider universe and have a duty to act to help others and the planet as a whole.
For Jason, business leadership and Stoicism go hand-in-hand: “As a business owner in a fast-moving field, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by deadlines and the competing demands of work and family.
“Stoicism helps me pause and regain perspective. It gives me tools to separate what matters from what doesn’t and focus on what I can do rather than worrying about what I can’t. And it helps me to avoid getting caught up with a business-growth-at-any-cost mindset and, instead, work on doing what I do to the best of my ability.”
Tony Robinson OBE, who wrote The Happipreneur about how he went from running a social enterprise to “enjoy living every hour again”, believes that the tenets of Stoicism are often inherent within the business community, regardless of their knowledge of the philosophy.
Tony commented: “The four pillars of Stoicism run through many famous entrepreneurs I’ve worked with. “They may not have read a book on any philosophy, indeed most of them are not great readers, but you can see their fulfilment and happiness comes from living a life where wisdom, justice, courage and temperance are at the forefront of their hourly thoughts and actions.
Tony added: “By the way, the last ‘pillar’ temperance has never quelled my chocolate and rioja habit but it can be interpreted as meaning self-control and modesty and you can see these traits in many of the most successful leaders in the world.”
Nick Paterno, managing partner at McBrides Chartered Accounts in Sidcup, emphasised the importance of Stoicism as a way to navigate the uncertain business landscape that the events of 2020 have created.
Nick stressed: “Stoicism has been practised for millennia but taking a practical, logical real-world view today is of ever increasing importance in business if we are to come through this pandemic intact.
For Nick, the View From Above - a thought exercise - is one of the best Stoic tools for the modern age: “There are many principles associated with stoicism but I think taking ‘Plato’s View’, or the view from above, is a good option at the moment.
“If you are unfamiliar with Plato or the ‘view from above’, consider the view Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins had of the earth from space in 1969. From their incredible vantage point they were about to take a step back and to see life from a much higher point than we are able to do here on earth.
“They would have been able to imagine the billions of people living on our planet, experiencing birth, death, wars, bounty and hunger and from this they would have achieved perspective.
“Perspective is essential if you are to navigate a successful path in business. Having the ability to take a step back, or imagine the whole scenario from above reorients us and helps solidify our value judgements. It helps us to forget the small stuff and to concentrate on navigating the bigger picture.”
While age alone does not guarantee enlightenment, it seems to me as though the ancient principles of Stoicism hold significant value in today’s uncertain and often chaotic world.
Those taking the reins of commercial ventures during the current climate almost definitely need to possess their fair share of courage, balanced by the wisdom to make the best decisions at the right times.
With ethical considerations increasingly influencing consumer behaviour and the modern business landscape, justice and commerce are beginning to go hand in hand.
As for temperance, knowing when to indulge and when to resist requires the same discipline as taking ideas from conception to fruition - although I’m sure not even Marcus Aurelius would begrudge the odd champagne toast to a hard-won success.
By Jane Imrie, Bdaily
