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What Marcus Aurelius Can Teach Us About Brand Resilience
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If Marcus Aurelius were alive today, he’d probably be a guest on a top-tier business podcast, sipping black coffee, dropping truth bombs about resilience, and reminding us that, no, we can’t control the algorithm.
This Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher spent his days navigating plagues, wars, political backstabbing, and, let’s face it, probably some truly terrible wine.
And yet, his Meditations — a collection of personal reflections — are filled with insights that humans (and brands) can still learn from today. I carry a copy in my bag with me everywhere I go. At each resting opportunity, I open it up and I read as many pages as I can. For me, it’s like a bible.
If there’s one thing more unpredictable than ancient Rome, it’s the modern marketplace and consumers. His teachings can be transferable to every situation you walk through in life. For this, I’ve flipped it to be relatable to brands, as it’s how I run my own business and live my life — I want to share that wisdom.
So, what can brands learn from one of history’s wisest minds? Let’s dive in.
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1. Control What You Can, Let Go of What You Can’t
Marcus was big on the Dichotomy of Control: the idea that some things are within our power, and some are not. A brand’s version of this? You can’t control external chaos, but you can control how you respond to it.
- You can’t stop a social media backlash, but you can respond with grace and transparency.
- You can’t predict a sudden market shift, but you can stay adaptable and agile.
- You can’t force people to love your brand, but you can consistently show up with value.
In short: control your messaging, your customer experience, and the way you handle setbacks. The rest? Just let it go.
