What if I tell you that physics, entrepreneurship,
and innovation might have a common denominator?
Ever thought of Mr. Newton (Yes, Isaac Newton) as a leadership Guru?
Well, let’s make him one.
The APPLE man deserves that for the knowledge he bestowed upon humanity!
I have always been fascinated by the world of science, physics, and math in particular.
As a kid,
I enjoyed reading the applications of physics in real life.
So much so that even today I can chalk out formulas for
gravitation, inertia, momentum, kinetic energy and others effortlessly.
It would not be wrong to say that our life is an inevitable consequence of physics.
Some days back,
I was reminiscing about my childhood and for some reason,
I started thinking about the problems I’d solve in our Physics class.
And for some reason,
the amazing similarities of Physics and Entrepreneurial life dawned upon me.
Don’t worry;
I will not make this blog post a Physics paper.
However, I will address three important areas of Physics.
There’s a reason why
Sir Isaac Newton is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time.
Not only was he a mathematician and a physicist,
but he was also an astronomer, theologian, and author.
So what can Physics and our beloved
Mr. Newton teach us about life and entrepreneurship?
What are the skills required to be a successful entrepreneur?
When you examine physics, entrepreneurship,
and innovation from a psychological perspective, you will find amazing insights.
Let’s find out.
Newton’s First Law: Break free from the Comfort Zone
Let’s start with the textbook definition of Newton’s first law.
An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion unless an external force is applied to them.
This law basically talks about Inertia.
Inertia is defined as the tendency of an object to resist its state of rest or motion.
Do you see where I am going with this?
As human beings, we enjoy living in our comfort zones.
Whether it is taking up a new habit or changing an existing bad habit, we often resist the change.
You will observe a majority of people fail to change their life for good, whether it is about losing weight or generating wealth.
And that is why we need an external force to shift our unproductive state.
Therefore, if you are looking to become more successful in business, entrepreneurship, or in life in general, you will have to overcome inertia.
The so-called comfort zone is a dangerous place that takes most of us in its strong tentacles.
You need a strong force to break free.
Leaders and achievers constantly reinvent themselves.
They challenge themselves every day to ensure they do not fall prey to their comfort zone.
Remember, the comfort zone is a perfect place for killing your dreams and ambition.
Newton’s Second Law: More stagnancy means more effort to break free
Let’s talk about another concept from our Physics textbooks- Momentum.
Momentum is mathematically the product of mass and velocity.
In other words, it is the impetus gained by a moving object.
Why is it important to gauge momentum?
Because it will help you determine how much force
it will take to change the direction of the object or even stop it.
And the force applies for a small period of time is known as Impulse.
The concept of momentum also suggests that an object
with more mass requires more force to move the same distance as a lighter object.
Application in entrepreneurship and life?
The longer you have stagnated in your comfort zone,
the larger force (or effort) you will have to apply to change the state.
That is why when people talk about not working hard,
but merely smart, I do not agree.
It depends on the state of the object, or in this case, our life.
You would need plenty of hard work, persistence,
and perseverance to change your life if you want to be successful in business or in life.
You will observe that the first step is often the most difficult.
Not to forget that it is also the most important step as it marks the beginning of your war against the comfort zone.
Once you have taken the first step,
the journey will not be easy or smooth.
It will be an uphill ride, requiring much energy and enthusiasm.
Momentum is the key here.
The most successful people in the world aren’t there because of their talent.
According to a Credit Suisse report,
the wealthiest 1% of the world’s population commands over 50% of the world’s wealth.
Had it been any other way, everyone would be successful.
The lesson here is to get out of your comfort zone as soon as possible.
Else, you would have to exert more force (momentum) to overcome the stagnancy.
Newton’s Third Law: Perseverance to handle the “equal and opposite” reaction
I am sure most of you know this law well- Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Quite easy to understand, right?
How does this law apply to our lives?
Put simply, when you try to change and grow in life, you will observe a greater resistance from the world.
Sad, isn’t it?
There will be a mounting pressure that will try to defeat you when you try to do better.
This is where you need to deploy persistence and perseverance to handle the difficulties.
Do you know it takes over 725,000 pounds per square inch pressure to form a diamond?
So when you are trying to achieve something good,
and you feel resistance and pressure from the world,
perhaps you should rejoice knowing that you are actually doing something productive.
An unstoppable leader persists and perseveres in the most difficult times- even when everyone is against him.
It’s an irony that successful people often invite more criticism than the average Joe.
As social creatures,
we often tend to shape our lives based on the opinions of others.
What’s even more interesting is that
most of the people who give you their FREE advice that something can’t be done have actually never tried doing it themselves.
So why waste your time paying attention to the resistance, criticism, and mockery of others when this is your life, your journey.
Learn to walk alone.
Empower others along the way,
but don’t be afraid of walking by yourself.
Like me, if you like Physics,
you would relate to the concepts mentioned in this post.
Introspect where you stand in your life.
Assess the “Inertia” in your life and
find the “momentum” to grow while having an unwavering will to achieve your goals.
What I have talked about in this post applies to
business startups, entrepreneurs, and life in general.
Remember, there is no formula for success.
It is a mindset.
What do you feel are the principles that bind physics, entrepreneurship, and innovation?
Leave your comments below.
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