One of the most striking aspects of small business literature is that so much of it is comprised of stories. One finds only a limited amount of basic research, partly because so much of what we do is a seat-of-your pants, discover-as-you-go-along venture. There is no right path for any individual in any venture. Instead, starting and operating a small business is more a culture where stories are handed down, passing on wisdom from generation to generation. And these stories can serve as a guideposts as well as being an inspiration.
Small business entrepreneurs have been breaking new ground for many centuries. From the earliest inventors and explorers, entrepreneurs have been seeking new paths and new solutions for the world of business. Entrepreneurism was espoused as early as by Horace in ancient Rome and was certainly practiced by the Italian traders in late medieval Italy. The real rise of the commercial entrepreneur began, however, with the industrial revolution.
In the history of business there have been many people who have made an impact on the world of business as it is today. Not all have been corporate giants, but they have exhibited leadership in their field in some significant way. These are our real business heroes - our role models - our mentors indirectly through their stories.
Here are words of wisdom from historical figures. Reading their advice can give us inspiration and help us face our enterprises more creatively.
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Francis Bacon Bernard M. Baruch L.L. Bean William F. Buckley, Jr. Andrew Carnegie Dale Carnegie Peter Drucker Thomas Edison Marshall Field B.C. Forbes Henry Ford Benjamin Franklin John Kenneth Galbraith |
Eric Hoffer Lee Iacocca Thomas Jefferson Henry J. Kaiser Joseph P. Kennedy Charles F. Kettering Ray Kroc Stanley Marcus John Stuart Mill Ken Olsen Laurence J. Peter Adam Smith Studs Terkel Thomas J. Watson |
