Alexander the Great: 4 Things Smart People Never Do (So You Shouldn’t Either!)

You don’t need to make mistakes to learn from them — this way, you’ll waste your lives.

Alexander the Great, a 32-year-old boy, conquered over 22,000 miles.

Genuineness was in Alexander’s blood, as he was the son of King Philips II of Macedonia and Queen Olympia. Growing up, young Alexander learned various subjects from Aristotle, which made him a qualified explorer at such a young age.

At 19, Alexander had his first expansion. Despite his short life, he gained extensive knowledge in military strategies, politics, and bold tactics that many empires did not discover until much later in history.

Alexander the Great’s conquests and achievements continue to inspire people today. His legacy is a testament to his remarkable abilities, intelligence, and determination.

Alexander believed that we don’t need to make mistakes to learn from them — this way, we’ll waste all of our lives.

Alexander the Great believed that making mistakes is a waste of our lives and that smart people should avoid inevitable mistakes to be successful. To that end, he identified four things that smart people never do, which are mentioned below.

1. Losing hope

Young Alexander faced many challenges and setbacks during conquests but was known for his resilience.

At one point, when Alex’s father, King Philip II, was assassinated, Alexander seized power and consolidated his position as a king despite facing opposition.

Alex never gave up!

How to improve?

Alexander says: “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.”

It’s all about making the right decision at the right time. If Alex had waited and rethought his approaches, he would have never succeeded as a King, yet no one would believe him afterward.

You always have chances, but losing hope is never the one.

Hopelessness causes many of us to die before our deathbeds. If you ever feel like throwing in the towel, remember why you started in the first place. Take a break, rethink your approach, and start again.

2. Forget the right path

During Alexander’s invasion of Persia, he faced resistance from some generals who were all set to oppose Alex’s plan to marry Persian women and promote cultural exchange.

However, Alexander refused to back down. As a leader, Alexander was determined to follow the right path.

For him, going astray was not an acceptable task.

How to improve?

Rapid prototyping started in the 1980s.

Before that, all ideas were either physically demonstrated or painfully explained. There is a vision behind everything that (only) a leader and (only) a leader understands.

We’re too small or weak to argue. It takes intelligence to be at the stage where Alexander was. However, Alex never wanted to get astray and endanger his empire.

It doesn’t matter if people can’t see your idea and vision. If you’re right, all it needs is one chance for people to trust you completely.

3. Waste time and get tired

In 333 BCE, Alexander and his army were outnumbered during the battle with King Darius III.

Through his speech and words, Alexander led his men into the battlefield and fought for hours without taking a break, eventually defeating the Persians and capturing Darius’s family as well.

Getting tired and quitting is just the state of mind.

How to improve?

Like all humans, Alexander faced times when he could have been more efficient and productive than others. Ultimately, Alexander understands that his laziness is not a de-stressor but a consequence of his extra work.

For example, taking a 30-minute break after working for 4 hours straight is acceptable. Otherwise, frequent breaks without any deep work can diminish your concentration levels.

Deep work is essential. Take small breaks, then return to your original work at all costs. Keeping up with these business trends is essential, as living in 2023’s competitive job market is no easy feat.

One whisk of sleep and you can miss soo much!

4. Take someone else’s spotlight

Alexander was a great man of honor — he’d acknowledge and appreciate people for their efforts.

Before conquering Asia, Alexander consulted the famous philosopher “Diogenes of Sinope.” The encounter left such an impression on Alex that he declared, “If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.”

Diogenes, a wise man of his time, was famously known for rejecting material possessions.

How to improve?

Not everybody’s life aligns with who you are.

Therefore, it shouldn’t stop you from acknowledging anyone.

You can almost look at someone and realize the effort they put into what they do, for example, the effort I put into this article. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s not right to steal someone’s spotlight.

Appreciate it when it’s due.

Praiseworthy comments don’t make you a small person — they make you kind-hearted!

Final thoughts:

I always recall Alexander the Great’s quote:

“There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered even one.”

You and I have yet to know so much! We’re alike. Small ball or yarn, and with every spoonful of wisdom, we are getting heavier and onto our remarks to fly in the sky.

Knowledge never harmed anyone.

It didn’t do to Alexander or Marcus Aurelius — why would it harm you?

Join 1,260+ writers and get your next writing inspiration right now.

Or join Medium with my referral link.