Success Advice

5 Great Historical Figures That Every Entrepreneur Should Study

Published

6 years ago

May 14, 2013

We can learn much about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur by studying great figures from history.

Below are 5 that possessed attributes that made them great during their time. Attributes that will also help us find success today.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Acquiring Knowledge

Napolean Bonaparte Knowledge is power. No one demonstrated, or knew this better than Napoleon Bonaparte. At the time of his birth, a person’s future was practically laid out for them depending on what class they were born in to.

Napoleon wasn’t born into a family of wealth or prestige, actually the opposite. He was born on the conquered island of Corsica, to a family with no influence or power, yet he grew to become the most powerful man on the planet.

How did Napoleon do this?

While his classmates at college partied, Napoleon read. Books became his love, the object of his affection. His lust for knowledge eventually served him on the battlefield. Napoleon’s ability to size up a battle and determine the best way to defeat the enemy was uncanny because it was as if he’d seen every battle formation that ever existed in the books he’d read. Nothing could trick him, and no one could out maneuver him.

How does this help the entrepreneur?

We can’t simply do the work, we also need to learn and educate ourselves. We need to understand our message, our goal, and the best possible way to accomplish it.

A large portion of our hustle should be given to the acquiring of knowledge. The more we know, the better equipped we are to find success.

Thomas Edison

Perseverance

Thomas Edison failed more than 10,000 times in his attempt to create the light bulb. He, however, didn’t see those failures as failures, but rather as positive steps towards his goal.

Every entrepreneur will face failure and tribulation, those who succeed will be those who persist.

Winston Churchill

Sticking To Your Guns

Winston Churchill We need to know our core values; those things that we hold most important in life. We also have to follow our gut. When Churchill thought something to be true – whether it was or not – he stuck to his guns.

The leader of a company needs to do the same, as does the leader of a country, and an entrepreneur. We have a vision, we need to stick to that vision.

Does that mean we don’t listen to others? Of course not. Counsel is always welcome, and needed to get out of a rut, or to see things in a different light. But it’s our vision and dream we’re trying to create, and we need to be in line with our values. As a company grows, it’s easy to move away from our values, but it’s those values that led to growth. And it’s those values that will keep us true to our original vision and purpose.

Theodore Roosevelt

Embracing the Struggle

Theodore Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt accomplished more in his 60 years than many would accomplish in 160. He embraced the strenuous life, as he called it.

Hard work isn’t something Teddy feared, but actively pursued.

As an entrepreneur, hard work needs to be your best friend, and laziness your worst enemy. A life of ease isn’t what an entrepreneur will get, probably ever. They’re always creating, innovating and working. But what you will get is freedom.

William Wallace

Do What Others Think is Impossible

William Wallace Before the light bulb existed, no one could even comprehend that we could flip a switch that would light up a room. It’s the people that at least try the impossible, while others prefer to remain in comfort, that history treats kindly.

William Wallace, in his defiance of tyranny, fought an impossible battle against an enemy too great to defeat. Well, guess what? Wallace’s bravery and courage in the face of an impossible enemy, eventually led to the freedom of his nation.

No matter how great the obstacle, whether it even seems possible, or not, an entrepreneur will do his best to conquer it, and defeat it.

Impossible isn’t in an entrepreneur’s vocabulary. Keep that in mind. Whatever you’re doing right now, no matter how rough the road may seem, nothing is impossible. An entrepreneur is simply here to show the rest of us this universal truth.

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Chad Howse

Chad Howse is the creator of Be Legendary, a company dedicated to helping guys experience greatness in Fitness, Work, & Life. Chad has been featured in Men's Health, Men's Fitness, and Shape magazines, and is a contributor to the Art of Manliness, and Addicted2Success.

25 Comments

njeru sam
Feb 5, 2019 at 1:05 am
what a splendid article.
Reply
Prashiddha Sharma
Mar 8, 2016 at 8:44 am
Howard Hughes
Reply
LudvigSunström
Jan 25, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Great post Chad. Keep up the good work!
Reply
Ashley DeGear
Jul 1, 2013 at 5:14 am
They should remove Thomas Edison -.- Edison was a thief
Reply
- Manuel Reyes
  Dec 3, 2013 at 6:03 am
  Ashley, that’s true. Why i’d replace Tesla with Edison.
  Reply
Gil
Jun 22, 2013 at 7:57 am
First we think we can do something then we believe we can do something yet once we know we can do something, it gets done. We all do what we know, their is almost zero separation between the two.
Reply
Dirk McKenzie (@LetMeBuildYou)
Jun 12, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I love the article, just partly dont agree with the statement of knowledge is power. Knowledge when correctly applied is power. Just mere knowledge means nothing. When you apply it, then you leverage that power.
Reply
- Joel
  Jun 13, 2013 at 3:52 am
  You got it Dirk, Knowledge with action is Power! And Napoleon proved that to the world.
  Reply
  - anthony
    Jun 17, 2013 at 7:51 pm
    but without the knowledge you would never know which action to take ergo knowledge is power, don’t make something simple complex, it ruins it
    Reply
    - E.G. Sebastian
      Jul 16, 2013 at 6:02 pm
      Knowledge in itself is NOT power! There are many people who Know, yet they do not take action – there’s no power in that… Knowledge is great! But without action is POWERLESS!
      (sorry, don’t mean to yell with the all caps – just trying to emphasize some basic “truth”)
      Reply
      - Raynier The Sensay (@RaynierMyers)
        Oct 3, 2013 at 2:05 am
        I must say I agree with Dirk, E.G. and Joel, I realized this at a very young age growing up a pioneer of the social media era how easily accessible knowledge was in the 21st century through our phones and laptops… you could KNOW a lot – there is a barrier between mental and physical reality and that is transfusing KNOW into DO. Knowledge is a seed… water and sunlight and tending to this seed is what makes it worthy.
        Reply
Avar
May 20, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Iwasaki Yatarō he is the one of greatest entrepreneur of all time. He never get’s any mention. Iwasaki was a master Samurai warrior. He changed a 1000 year old society and formed a company called Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi was the richest company on the planet at one time. Japan blew past the Americans and Europeans during the industrial revolution and to this day Tokyo is one of the world’s most advanced cities.
Reply
Rainee
May 18, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Great post! I like your insight and how you related current day points to a historical reference. Nicely done.
Reply
dejiu
May 18, 2013 at 11:47 am
Very Inspiring article there! Thanks
Reply
Abdul Qayyum Khan
May 18, 2013 at 6:55 am
A good article to study and try to implement on our day to day life for success.
Reply
mortsleam
May 17, 2013 at 2:17 am
Study Prophet Muhammad, the most influential person in history to this day and the man that has all these qualities, and the man Napoleon studied.
Reply
- Two Dogs (@TwoDogs_AMule)
  May 22, 2013 at 11:02 am
  I do not know if the man was a prophet and I do not wish to enter into any form of a theological debate, but Muhammad accomplished astounding feats in his life that is for sure. A lot of people, myself included, can learn a lot from studying his life. My curiosity was originally piqued about him after reading Think & Grow Rich. Chapter 9 has reference to Muhammad in regards to persistence.
  Reply
BOMBA
May 16, 2013 at 6:03 pm
goOD 1
Reply
ronald Hadrian
May 16, 2013 at 2:01 am
cool article. I loved it. Well I have been a great admirer of Winston and Teddy Roosevelt. Great leaders. I write about literature and motivation at my blog.. If you feeling a little down visit my site.
Reply
Andreas
May 15, 2013 at 6:32 pm
Great Article. Follow Chad on his own site. Always provides valuable insights.
BUT: for Entrepreneurs I’d pick less warmongers and more Innovators like Leonardo DaVinci, Archimedes, Columbus, Ford …
but still a great analysis.
Reply
Gabriel
May 15, 2013 at 2:04 am
Awesome article!!
Reply
WomenCEO
May 14, 2013 at 10:49 pm
It would have been nice to include at least one women.
Reply
- Derrick
  May 22, 2013 at 11:21 pm
  Great women gave birth to those leaders. There is always a great balance to a great life that includes great women!
  Reply
  - Tyson
    May 26, 2013 at 2:31 pm
    Due to, no great and successful women whom had a significance in history. Therfore, results with no female historical figures
    Reply
  - ab
    May 27, 2013 at 4:27 pm
    Nice
    Reply

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