What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Roman Empire

After the Trojan War, one lone warrior, Aeneas started on a journey and established one of the strongest empires in the world, The Roman Empire. The Romans conquered the Greeks first and slowly expanded their empire through Egypt. Their tales of various victories have been recounted through the ages. A nomadic clan grew to become the greatest military power in world history, whose engineering feats are considered advanced even in the 21st century. The Roman Legions fought against armies twice their size, built siege towers and catapults, established civil society and introduced the Senate system of governing.

There are a lot of lessons aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from the Roman Empire. Here are a few.

1. Strategy is Everything
The Roman army was not over powerful neither did they have specialized weapons. They won wars because of their advanced strategies and planning. They had specific formations and the entire army was trained in them. Make up a strategy for your company and get your team to stick to it. Through thick and thin, a well planned strategy will help you face the most adverse situations. The Roman leaders were not popular because of their friendly nature. But they were admired for their discipline, discretion and focus.

2. Adaptability
The Romans were able to conquer different empires because, they observed key elements of their opponent’s battlefield innovations, adapted them to suit their style and improvised those same methods to become deadly killing machines. They deployed land battle tactics on the high seas by adapting the Greek ship designs to also include a boarding device called a ‘corvus’ that pierced the enemy ship’s dock. While we don’t propagate violence, adaptability is something all startups should develop. Adapting to the market, improving the product to match rival standards will place your company a notch above the rest.

3. Senate System (SPQR.)
Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, The Roman Senate and the People. One of the superpowers of the world today, the USA, follows the senate system invented by the Roman Empire.  A hierarchical governing system, with an elected leader and designated committees for decision making and implementation of the same. For any new protocol or new innovation that needs to be adapted in the company, get the approval of all the members involved. You probably won’t be assassinated like Julius Caesar, but you will improve team work and encourage unity. The Senate system will allow you to look at an idea from multiple point of views, listen to the pros and cons and then come to a conclusion that satisfies everybody.

4. Prove your worth!
The Roman Empire didn’t just come to be. It was established over a period of time by proving their worth on the various fields. What started off as a small community called the ‘Aeneads‘ became the progenitors of Rome. So as the owner of a company, don’t just proclaim yourself to be the best, show it through your work and your product and that will help you build an empire. Lead by example and ask your team do the same. Prove your worth, establish credibility and an empire will rise on its own.

5. Fall of Roman Empire
While the Roman Empire flourished and conquered Europe, they also had a quick and dramatic fall eventually crumbling into nothing. As an entrepreneur, it is also important to remember why the Roman Empire fell and what you must avoid at all costs. The empire became unstable due to over expansion. The Romans conquered one kingdom and moved on to the next in their thirst to become the best and therefore faced administrative and logistic problems. They became over confident and lazy because, at the height of their power, the Roman Empire stretched from the Atlantic Ocean in the West to Mesopotamia in the East. The empire struggled to marshal troops and resources to defend attacks, both external and internal leading to the demise of the greatest empire.

The Roman Empire was an effective well oiled machine that was over used, misused and then sold for scraps. The rise and fall of this empire is a lesson that all entrepreneurs can learn to grow as a company.