Entrepreneurship has a longer history than you may think. Derek Lidow, a Princeton University professor, has found evidence of entrepreneurship from 9,000 years ago—a mini workshop used by hunter-gatherers to produce beads and pendants for trade. In 4,000 BC, there was even a Silicon Valley-like village that produced copper tools.
This week, Lidow and Brilliant Thoughts host Tristan Ahumada discuss the fascinating history of entrepreneurship, as well as how entrepreneurs work collectively in swarms, simplifying control, building bedrock companies and taking responsibility for the negative consequences of innovation.
Lidow’s interest in the history of entrepreneurship began when he himself was an entrepreneur and felt as though the advice he got from others was based on personal experience rather than a true foundation. As such, when he was asked to create a class on entrepreneurship for Princeton, he began digging into history in order to learn how far back the practice of entrepreneurship extended. Now, he discusses the criteria by which he defines entrepreneurship, the concept of innovation and how it is separate from creativity, and why some entrepreneurs fail.
Learn more about Derek at dereklidow.com and follow him at linkedin.com/in/dereklidow. Check out his newly released book The Entrepreneurs: The Relentless Quest for Value, as well as Building on Bedrock.
Brilliant Thoughts with Tristan Ahumada is no longer releasing new episodes on the SUCCESS Podcast Network, but you can still listen to the full conversation below.
