Niccolo Machiavelli on Entrepreneurs and Ideas
Posted by Pierre de la Fortune on October 28, 2015 @ 12:01 a.m.
Written by Brett Duncan
“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them. Thus it happens that whenever those who are hostile have the opportunity to attack they do it like partisans, whilst the others defend lukewarmly, in such wise that the prince is endangered along with them.”
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”
“The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.”
“The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”
- Niccolo Machiavelli
My take: I recently came across the first quote here in some of my recent reading on social entrepreneurship. However, the more I started digging into Machiavelli quotes, the more gold I came across. I’ll admit, I’m not too up to speed on Machiavelli. I really couldn’t tell you his story. But these quotes ring at a pitch that reverberates for today’s entrepreneur.
As for the first quote here, it’s so important to remember that people naturally avoid change. I think we sometimes confuse that for simply not choosing change. But that’s not the case. People will vehemently oppose change. And so you can’t just think outside the box; you must move the box. You must make change seem like it’s not really change, but obvious. You must accept that progress is a process.
You can’t just have an idea; you must make it happen.
For more info please visit: http://www.marketinginprogress.com/2011/03/31/machiavelli-entrepreneurs-ideas/
“Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.”
“The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.”
“The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”
- Niccolo Machiavelli
My take: I recently came across the first quote here in some of my recent reading on social entrepreneurship. However, the more I started digging into Machiavelli quotes, the more gold I came across. I’ll admit, I’m not too up to speed on Machiavelli. I really couldn’t tell you his story. But these quotes ring at a pitch that reverberates for today’s entrepreneur.
As for the first quote here, it’s so important to remember that people naturally avoid change. I think we sometimes confuse that for simply not choosing change. But that’s not the case. People will vehemently oppose change. And so you can’t just think outside the box; you must move the box. You must make change seem like it’s not really change, but obvious. You must accept that progress is a process.
You can’t just have an idea; you must make it happen.
For more info please visit: http://www.marketinginprogress.com/2011/03/31/machiavelli-entrepreneurs-ideas/
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