Forbes Magazine ran an excellent article this month by author and biographer Paul Johnson about the lessons learned from the lives of a handful of great men, and by great they mean well-known. Some of them made drastic mistakes that we can learn from. Others lived lives of nobility that we would do well to follow. I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t include any women in the article; I’ll draft that one shortly.
I highly encourage you to read Johnson’s full article – it’s articulate and very well-organized, exactly what a biography should be. In the mean time, here’s the condensed version listing the great men he includes in the article and the lesson we should take from each of their lives:
Napoleon: “The important thing about success is knowing when to stop.”
Washington: “A successful general should not seek political power; he should wait to be called by the unanimous voice of the people.” [Johnson adds here that business people who seek political power would be wise to follow Washington’s example. Donald Trump, I think he’s talking to you.]
Churchill: “Never give up.”
Jesus: “People are infinitely more important than things.”
Socrates: “Never think you know all the answers. Wisdom lies not in possessing knowledge – which quickly becomes outdated – but in perpetually seeking it.”
Darwin: “Nothing is so small as to be insignificant. Success in business is getting countless small things right. The big things then naturally follow.” [This is my favorite part of the article!]
Mozart: “Start early.”
We have much to learn from the lives of others. Noted.
Published by Christa Avampato
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
View all posts by Christa Avampato
Forbes Magazine ran an excellent article this month by author and biographer Paul Johnson about the lessons learned from the lives of a handful of great men, and by great they mean well-known. Some of them made drastic mistakes that we can learn from. Others lived lives of nobility that we would do well to follow. I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t include any women in the article; I’ll draft that one shortly.
Christa Avampato 
I agree that bios are an outstanding source of inspiration. In fact, one of my most returned to books is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals.
LikeLike
That’s one of my favorite biographies as well. She is a genius at bringing history to life!
LikeLike