Chapter Five: In the Beginning It Was Socrates

By now you know thought leadership dates back to the ancient Greek scholars, and that the original, to the original, to the original, of the original was Socrates. But who were Socrates’ parents, or more aptly, the originals to the original? Well, his old man was a guy named Sophroniscus who was a stonemason and probably known by his bros as Sophro. Sox’s mother was named Phaenarate, who was a midwife, therefore I’m guessing she was known in some circles simply as Phincubate.

But that’s total speculation on my part. What’s not speculative is the importance of Socrates to today’s thought leaders. Even if they don’t know it.

There’s a lot about Socrates in my new book. And Plato. And Aristotle. And Aspasia, the world’s first feminist. But don’t start at Chapter Five. Do yourself a kindness and start at the beginning, which is the Foreword. After all, these people were the original forward thinkers and we all owe it to ourselves to start at the beginning, actually their beginning, so we can give the present the historical context it needs.

And the beginning is important because, in the end, the reveal (not a spoiler alert) is that us marketers and salespeople believe that latching on to what’s new is what makes us forward thinkers, too. It doesn’t. It just makes us a bunch of well-intentioned bandits who have no clue that we’re modifying, solidifying,verifying, and categorizing what we think is new, but is really as old as the seven hills that surround Athens.

What’s old is new again. It always was. And I’m damn glad it’s been that way.