4 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Take From The Silk Road

The Silk Road is a network of ancient trading routes that connected the Eastern parts of the world to the West. These trade routes were established by the ancient Han Dynasty and lasted for more than 1500 years. According to historians, the discovery of the Silk Road is credited to a man named Zhang Qian who was a Chinese envoy.

While on official duty, Qian was arrested and imprisoned in Central Asia and remained in captivity for 10 years before he finally regained his freedom. But his sacrifice paid off when Qian returned to China with information that soon opened up trading between China and Central Asia. The Silk Road has long been closed, yet it left behind a rich history that entrepreneurs can learn from to this day.

#1. Always be on the lookout for new opportunities

Despite its name, the Silk Road was not a single “road”, but several trading routes. The popularity of the Silk Road is clear in the fact that it lasted for several years (130 BCE-1453 CE). It would seem unlikely that all that would one day end, but like everything else, it did. The once thriving Silk Road soon became a Tourist attraction and where did the merchants and their merchandise go? Well, they found new ways to carry on with their business. New trade routes opened up on the sea, hence the introduction of the Age of Discovery.

#2. Variety is the spice of business

The name Silk Road may be a bit misleading since it gives off the idea that Silk may have been the only goods exchanged there. But one reason why the Silk Road was so popular is because you could get whatever you wanted. Merchants exchanged anything worthwhile including Silk. But it wasn’t only goods that were exchanged, other non-tangible items including; culture. Art, religion, philosophy, technology, language, science, architecture, and even diseases were traded as well.

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#3. Adapt and Thrive

In nature as in business, learning to adapt is the key to survival. Darwin may not have thought about the survival and evolution of a business when he postulated his theories. But they do apply all the same. A business that fails to adapt will soon find itself under. Adaptation in business is all about looking out for the latest technology that can help your business level up.

#4. Persistence

Navigating and discovering the Silk Road wasn’t easy. Qian spent several years in prison but didn’t let this set him back or deter him from his mission. Apart from Qian’s sacrifices, many other merchants who traded the Silk Road had to brave the elements, the rugged landscape, diseases, and criminals. These made the Silk Road, not a place where everybody dared to transverse. But the few traders who were brave enough to go there and survive the odds raked in a fortune.

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That’s all for now folks.

Until next time, stay inspired and keep chasing your dreams!

Cheers,

Alex