8 Valuable Lessons from Stephen Hawking for an Entrepreneur

Stephen Hawking was more than just a theoretical physicist. His contribution to the world of science, and to those looking for life lessons, has been incredible. He personified “Achieving the impossible”. An inspiration that he will always be, to say that the life and work of Stephen Hawking was a success, would be a gross understatement. You can take life tips out of his notebook and even learn a lot about being a successful entrepreneur. Here are 8 valuable lessons from Stephen Hawking for an entrepreneur.

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change” – Stephen Hawking

His inability to speak did not stop him at any point in his life. He used technology not only to overcome barriers but achieve great, great things!

Adapting to the environment around you, and using it to reach your goal is the sign of intelligence. Minor hiccups at work should not stop you from moving ahead on your path. Adapt to the change around you, reroute and move towards your ultimate destination.

“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” – Stephen Hawking

After he had been diagnosed with just a few years of life, he made a family and threw himself into his research and work.

Let nothing stop you from doing what you can do. Obstacles are inevitable and uncontrollable. What you can control is your ability to use your strengths to the optimum, without focusing too much on the hurdles. This is an important tip to keep going as an entrepreneur. A few wrong decisions, some backfires, and a roadblock should not keep you from wanting to achieve something great.

“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” – Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking once said he has a childlike curiosity where he is constantly asking “how” and “why”.

Curiosity and asking questions can take you places, make you think outside the box, and achieve the impossible. Not venturing into the unknown makes one stagnant and keeps them from innovating, growing, and moving forward.

“It is no good getting furious if you get stuck. What I do is keep thinking about the problem but work on something else. Sometimes it is years before I see the way forward. In the case of information loss and black holes, it was 29 years.” – Stephen Hawking

Roadblocks and mental blocks are very common for an entrepreneur. Sometimes, the solution is pretty simple and straightforward, while other times finding that solution could be challenging and time-taking. The key in such cases is to never stop doing what you are already doing. Keep working on something, while you figure out a solution for your roadblock. Never, ever stop doing what you are doing.

I have so much that I want to do. I hate wasting time.” – Stephen Hawking

In Hawking’s research about time, he remarked that it is impossible to turn back the clock. Money comes and goes, whereas, time is something that never comes back. You must use it wisely.

Never waste your time doing things that do not take you forward. Never waste your time doing things that do not help you grow. As important as it is to make your business grow, it is equally important to make yourself grow. If you grow as a person, you will grow as an entrepreneur too.

“I hope I have helped to raise the profile of science and to show that physics is not a mystery but can be understood by ordinary people.” – Stephen Hawking

Hawking was a firm believer in sharing knowledge. He made his knowledge and theories on artificial intelligence and astrophysics accessible for everyone out there. He believed, that if you do not share your knowledge by communicating effectively, you are losing out on a golden opportunity.

You must not underestimate the power that give-and-take of knowledge holds in our lives. Exchanging know-how, ideas, insights, and beliefs, is one of the lesser-known but very effective ingredients to help an enterprise grow. As an entrepreneur, you should always be ready to teach and learn something new, not just from your partners, but your resources, your clients, and everyone who works around you.

Networking is of utmost importance for growth, and working out of a coworking space presents you with the opportunity to mingle and collaborate, without any extra effort on your end.

“The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities.” – Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking never took a day in his life, whether good or bad, for granted. He embraced life as it was and moved ahead, every single day. He advocated the mantra of “living in the now” and “embracing the uncertainty”.

Not all your days are going to be good, and not all of them are going to be bad. All you need to do is embrace the indefiniteness and uncertainty of things and keep doing what you can to do justice to the present with all you have, and hope for the best tomorrow.

“People who boast about their IQs are losers.” – Stephen Hawking

When you are the smartest in the crowd and do not go around smothering yourself and people with the fact, that is when you start to move in the direction of achieving something extraordinary.

Instead of rubbing people in the faces with your achievements and views, keep your eye on expanding your knowledge, growing, and using that knowledge to get somewhere. This is how you will be able to achieve your goals and reach your destination.

Also, read  5 Things to do when you’re bored at work.

For more interesting reads, click here.