In our modern day world, we all have celebrities, idols, or entrepreneurs we look up to. For an engineer, that would be the likes of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates, among others. True enough, we can learn so many things from them, enough to fill an entire book or five. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from the people of the past as well. Remember, history is there so we can learn from it.
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An example would be from Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD). A Roman emperor devoted to the Greek philosophy of Stoicism, he had written a huge book that spans 12 different points in his life. It was never meant to be available to the public, but after he died, it had been posthumously published as the Meditations.
Here are simplified versions of passages from the book that are still relevant to this day, and that we can all learn from.
#1 “The longest-lived and the shortest-lived man, when they come to die, lose one and the same thing. (Book 2, Ch. 11)”
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We can say that this is a daily reminder to us that life is short, and we never know when it’s our time to go. In the end, we’re all made of the same atoms that will go back into the ever expanding universe. So don’t be afraid to take risks in life, and in your career. Remember, life is a journey. It’s not the destination that counts, but rather, the experiences that took us there. Win or lose, there’s always something you can get out of it, and life will continue to be a learning experience.
#2 “Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect. (Book 3, Ch. 7)”
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As a leader, it is important to be truthful to others, as well as yourself. A leader is built on trust and respect. Break that, and the foundation will crumble. If you’re taking an action just so that you can reap the benefits from it, ask yourself if by doing so, you’ll be breaking your own word, or losing someone’s trust. If you had to explain the decision to do so to the one who’s promise you had broken, would you feel ashamed in doing it? If the answer to both is “yes”, then it’s probably not worth it.
#3 “Remember that all is opinion. (Book 2, Ch. 15)”
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When it comes to politics, philosophy, and views, remember that there is no absolute truth. Everything is an opinion, and everyone has a different perspective on things. Expect to be proven wrong from time to time, and don’t let your ego get the best of you when you are. Always ask questions. Always open yourself to other people’s point of view. If your decisions don’t involve these, you’re likely going to fall.
#4“Very little is needed to make a happy life. (Book 7, Ch. 67)”
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Our world is a materialistic one, and in our growing society, everyone seems to crave for more. But remember, sometimes, we don’t need these things to truly be happy. Sometimes, the things that will truly make us happy are small, simple things. You don’t always have to play a huge role in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes, happiness finds you where you already are.
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