Most of us think of an entrepreneur as someone who makes a lot of money for a lot of people very quickly.  Entrepreneurs are justifiably a much-studied group – they have influenced us more powerfully than even governments or organized religion.  The Entrepreneurs: The Relentless Quest for Value by Derek Lidow distinguishes itself from a crowded field by examining entrepreneurialism throughout recorded history, from Iceman Ötzi (c. 3250 BC) to the present.  Entrepreneurs succeed by challenging the status quo and testing the limits, and there are risks involved for everyone.  The historical record adds a completely new perspective to the relationship between entrepreneurs and our desire for a sustainable, equitable world. 

The history of entrepreneurs is basically the history of mankind – people have been pursuing some sort of profit ever since humans began forming permanent settlements.  In the Ötztal Alps in 1991, archaeologists discovered the mummified remains of what is now known as the Iceman (aka Ötzi).  With him were found tools, clothing, and various medicines whose sophistication suggested he had obtained them in trade from early entrepreneur specialists. 

People often took advantage of their environment – mineral deposits or other natural resources –  to produce specialized goods.  Balancing the self-benefit from these resources while exchanging goods to benefit others is basic to the nature of entrepreneurship.  Stories of the beautiful beads of the Wadi Jilad or the copper smelters of Cabezo Jure’ illustrate how these practices came about.  Before governments were sophisticated enough to take care of their citizens, people were forced to scramble and take responsibility for their own survival.  Entrepreneurs filled a gap that their rules could not. <continue reading>