Stoicism is an ancient school of thought that has recently gained popularity for a good reason. In … [+]
Stoicism is a philosophical thought movement that was founded by the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BCE and has influenced many thinkers throughout history, including the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. It places emphasis on the importance of living in accordance with reason and virtue.
The fact that Stoic philosophy has a rational core and doesn’t require belief in supernatural forces makes it very appealing to modern people. Combined with its emphasis on building character, it’s not a surprise that it has been growing in popularity in recent decades.
Here are three ways the principles of Stoicism can empower modern startup founders:
1. It Can Help You Stay Composed In Tumultuous Times
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
Stoics believe that we have little control over external events, but that we can control our own reactions to those events. This can be particularly valuable for tech startup founders, who may face a great deal of pressure and uncertainty as they try to build their businesses.
By adopting a Stoic mindset, tech startup founders can avoid getting overwhelmed by negative emotions of outside events and instead focus on what they can control and what they can do to overcome obstacles.
Moreover, Stoicism teaches that we should focus on what is within our control and let go of what is outside of our control. This can be useful for founders, who may be caught up in the details of running a business and lose sight of the bigger picture.
2. It Can Help Founders Build Character
“It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” – Seneca
“It is difficulties that show what men are.” – Epictetus
Building a successful startup is one of the hardest things you can set out to do. Unsurprisingly, vitality and resilience are some of the most important qualities startup founders need in order to succeed.
Stoicism can help founders cultivate resilience and perseverance. Stoics believe that we should strive to be indifferent to pleasure and pain, and instead focus on living a virtuous life. Adopting this mindset can help you to overcome short-term discomforts and failures emotionally and to adopt a principled way of acting that brings dividends in the long run.
So, instead of obsessing over the outcome of each situation, the main question that you’d focus on would be if you behaved in the right way given the situation or not.
3. It Helps Founders Find Meaning In Their Work
“Wealth is the slave of a wise man and the master of a fool.” – Seneca
Stoicism can help tech startup founders to develop a sense of purpose and meaning. Stoics believe that we should live a virtuous life and strive to contribute to the greater good.
This a small step to make for most startup founders who are usually driven not only by profit but by the notion that they are changing the world for the better and contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Of course, finding this sense of purpose makes it much easier for your startup team to stay motivated in hard times, which brings us back to the value of resilience in startups.
In conclusion, stoicism can be a useful school of thought for tech startup founders. By adopting a stoic mindset, founders can stay calm and focused, maintain a sense of perspective, cultivate resilience and perseverance, cultivate gratitude and contentment, and develop a sense of purpose and meaning in their work.
