The Roman Empire didn’t fall because of a plague.
But it sure could have.
After a glorious military victory, smallpox ravaged Rome, killing millions and bringing the economy to its knees. It was almost the end of the empire.
But for Marcus Aurelius.
Instead of panicking, the philosopher king stayed true to his philosophy:
- Don’t get carried away by the highs.
- Don’t lose yourself in the lows.
- Decide from your center.
And it worked.
Despite the disaster, Rome grew during the plague.
And there’s a lesson here.
For two years AI was as hot as anything in tech history. But the market dip might mean we’ve entered a trough of disillusionment.
From our first issues, I’ve recommended calm during crazy hype. I suggest the same during downturns:
Knee-jerk decisions seldom work.
The best come from calm.
Until next time,
Andrew
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