Trust is the only game worth playing - Lessons from Machiavelli

Entrepreneurship
No items found.

“It is far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses.”  - Niccolo Machiavelli
“There is such a gap between how one lives and how one should live that he who neglects what is being done for what should be done will learn his destruction rather than his preservation.” - Niccolo Machiavelli

There are a few specific books that capture human nature in its essence, summarizing important lessons on how people do deals, transact and find ways to evolve as a collective.

The Prince, by Machiavelli, is one of these books that I recommend every founder ought to read. If you are building a business that is bound to change the world, you will face the same levels of conflict and lessons that a prince in Italy would have faced in Machiavelli’s time.

This Yale professor has an interesting view, considering Machiavelli’s writings a diluted version of Aristotle/Plato’s republic concepts, but applied to northern Italy in the 14th century.

What I appreciate about his teachings is the sincerity around how dangerous it is to create a new business that challenges or improves the status quo. High-output leaders are adaptable, so they round themselves with better people and are resolute in their actions.

Other blog posts

A paradigm shift in valuations

After January’s correction over growth stocks, the normalization of prices in a COVID-endemic world, new pricing mechanisms and dynamics will take place. 

Read more
The perception of COVID and Media Manipulation

During the past 15 days, I have had many people around me contract COVID-19. Folks in multiple parts of the US, Europe, and Brazil.

Read more
Being at peace takes effort

There will not be a single day in which you won’t face regular adversities of living in the earth-plane, so teach yourself how to be at peace and in stillness.

Read more

Receive new essays as soon as they're published

You won't receive spam and you can unsubscribe at any time