Don Quixote: the Right Role Model for the Wrong Economy
Ranked #15,220 in Culture & Society, #306,907 overall
The tale of Don Quixote, and the features of his personality are more poignant now than ever when it comes to aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages. The economic collapse of recent times has pushed people of all backgrounds to explore nonstandard opportunities for wealth generation.
The formulaic method of getting good marks in school, followed by years of college, and graduate school result in being shuffled between high stress/low value jobs. It is quickly becoming an idealized lifepath of the past. We need dreamers more now than ever, and Don Quixote set the bar high for dignified madness, precisely the sort of trait needed by adventuresome entrepreneurs!
We need individuals who aren't afraid of taking risks to pursue the realization of their internal dreams.
The formulaic method of getting good marks in school, followed by years of college, and graduate school result in being shuffled between high stress/low value jobs. It is quickly becoming an idealized lifepath of the past. We need dreamers more now than ever, and Don Quixote set the bar high for dignified madness, precisely the sort of trait needed by adventuresome entrepreneurs!
We need individuals who aren't afraid of taking risks to pursue the realization of their internal dreams.
What's inside?
- Who is Don Quixote?
- 7 Entrepreneurial Qualities of Don Quixote
- Debate: Did you love this book or loathe it?
- Add your own Reasons Don Quixote is a Role Model to Entrepreneurs
- Don Quixote Videos
- Don Quixote Books
- Google Grapevine (blogs)
- Victus Spiritus (my blog)
- The Man of La Mancha
- YouTube vids
- Flickr Pics
- Reader Feedback
Who is Don Quixote?
This fictional character is a retired gentlemen in his fifties, living in La Mancha. He becomes obsessed with chivalric books taking them all literally and eventually goes out doing battle with windmills, perceiving them as dragons. Later in the second book malicious tricks are played on Alonso Quixano and he eventually perishes sane and broken.
Sad ending, but if you dig deeper you can see how vibrant Don Quixote's world was when he believed and pursued his vision. Not many of us are bold enough to follow a path that may end in our financial and spiritual ruin. Even fewer are willing to realize how much they are giving up by never pursuing a dream. Every living creature will perish, but how we choose to live is entirely up to us.
Sad ending, but if you dig deeper you can see how vibrant Don Quixote's world was when he believed and pursued his vision. Not many of us are bold enough to follow a path that may end in our financial and spiritual ruin. Even fewer are willing to realize how much they are giving up by never pursuing a dream. Every living creature will perish, but how we choose to live is entirely up to us.
7 Entrepreneurial Qualities of Don Quixote
- Imaginative: To the point of madness Don Quixote believes in his internal vision
- Motivated: In the years where most men in his position would retire and enjoy life, Don Quixote lives an energetic and inspirational adventure.
- Courageous: In the face of insurmountable odds, and even his very reason Don Quixote struggles to do what he feels is just
- Dedicated: He tirelessly pursues what he perceives are injustices and monsters
- Leadership: Quixote finds a squire in Sancho Panza. Although Sancho himself is under none of the illusions of Don Quixote, he still feels compelled to journey alongside him. He's also promised a govern ship of an island.
- Romantic: He envisions the damsel in distress as a neighboring farm girl Aldonza Lorenzo, giving her the name Dulcinea del Toboso. She never appears in the story, and is unaware of her motivational power on Don Quixote. Nonetheless his dedication to a romanticized fictional love is valid.
- Madness: In order to envision, and make real a potential world changing new business may require just a little looser reign on reason than most of us have. The boldness of entrepreneurs is akin to madness, but they are seen as sane by their peers because they succeed.
Debate: Did you love this book or loathe it?
Is Don Quixote a role model for entrepreneurs?
Yes, he's bizarre and charismatic
artillerist says:
Don Quixote was what we need, you've got to be willing to go where noone else has to do what noone else has done.
No, he's unable to see reality
Don Quixote Videos
Don Quixote Books
Google Grapevine (blogs)
- Ballet tells tale of Don Quixote in Spring Performance
- Katie Scott of Barrington and her peers dance to the classic story of Don Quixote in Ballet Prestige's annual spring concert at St. Andrew's School on Sunday, June 3 at 4 pm Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children under 12.
- Ballet school puts on 'Don Quixote'
- Travel back to 17th-century Spain in "Don Quixote," produced by the Encinitas Ballet Saturday at Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. Choreographeby Sayat Asatryan and Olga Tchekachova, it is a full-length ...
- Review: Don Quixote
- Miguel Cervantes' tale of Don Quixote has been numerously interpreted through ballet since the sixteenth century. The latest staging by Queensland Ballet deviates from tradition in a unique re-telling of Don Quixote which is interesting in concept if ...
- The dazzling Bolshoi sweeps into NAC with Don Quixote
- The world-famous Bolshoi Ballet performed its classic Don Quixote at the National Arts Centre Wednesday night. It was the opening performance of a four-night run that promised to be one of the highlights of the dance season.
Victus Spiritus (my blog)
The Man of La Mancha
YouTube vids
Flickr Pics
Reader Feedback
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susannaduffy
Aug 22, 2009 @ 8:13 am | delete
- An interesting concept and a great read
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by messel
Howdy, Victus Spiritus is my default soapbox and communication hub, please stop by and say hi.
I'm Mark Essel a long time systems engineer gone web author/entrepreneur....
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