By Atiq Raja
Few names in ancient history carry the weight of wisdom quite like King Solomon. The son of King David and ruler of ancient Israel, Solomon is remembered not only as a judge and a builder of temples, but as a philosopher king whose writings continue to echo across cultures and centuries. His words, preserved most notably in the Biblical books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, have shaped spiritual and moral teachings for generations. But perhaps more unexpectedly, his insights offer enduring guidance for those navigating the modern world of business, leadership and enterprise. It is tempting to see Solomon only as a religious figure, a relic of the past whose concerns might seem far removed from boardrooms and balance sheets.
But to read him with fresh eyes is to uncover a philosophy of leadership that speaks directly to today’s executives and entrepreneurs. At a time when industries are under pressure to grow faster, pivot quicker and respond to an ever-demanding marketplace, Solomon’s counsel feels almost countercultural. His wisdom is rooted not in ambition or accumulation, but in understanding, timing and ethical clarity. What sets Solomon apart is the simplicity of his starting point. When offered the chance by God to ask for anything—riches, victory, or long life—he chose none of these. He asked instead for wisdom. This choice is more than a personal anecdote from antiquity; it is a quiet rejection of the transactional mindset that dominates much of today’s economic thinking.
In business terms, Solomon reminds us that success is not something to be seized hastily, but something to be cultivated thoughtfully. A wise entrepreneur, in this view, does not chase every opportunity, nor does she measure progress solely by revenue charts or quarterly performance. She invests in knowledge. She seeks understanding before action. Solomon understood that the right decision, made at the right time, grounded in the right values, is far more valuable than a dozen clever tricks or shortcuts. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon speaks again and again of diligence. His warning is direct: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” He does not glorify endless toil or sleepless ambition, but he is clear that consistent, mindful effort is indispensable.
Success, in his world, is not won overnight but built up through habits, discipline and responsibility. It is easy to romanticize the entrepreneur as a lone genius or visionary. Solomon offers a gentler, more grounded portrait: of someone who wakes up, shows up, and keeps going—even when results don’t come quickly. He also reminds us that leadership is not a solo act. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” For all his legendary wisdom, Solomon did not believe in self-sufficiency. He valued conversation, counsel and the strength of collective insight. The lesson here is especially pressing in today’s executive circles, where leadership is often confused with certainty and control. Solomon tells us it is wiser to be teachable than to be always right.
To seek guidance, to admit limits, to welcome a challenge—these are not signs of weakness, but of maturity. What runs like a thread through all of Solomon’s teaching is an insistence on integrity. He has little patience for dishonesty. “The Lord detests dishonest scales,” he writes, “but accurate weights find favor with Him.” Ethical business, to him, is not just good policy—it is the only policy. In a world where reputations can collapse in a tweet and where consumers demand transparency, Solomon’s clarity is worth revisiting. Business that lasts must be business that is fair. Trust is not a marketing asset—it is the foundation of everything. He also had a keen eye for timing. “To everything there is a season,” he wrote in Ecclesiastes, a line that has been quoted by statesmen and poets alike.
Solomon knew that markets rise and fall that even the best ideas must sometimes wait. He encourages patience, even when urgency feels more natural. In a start-up culture that idolises speed and disruption, his wisdom is a steady voice telling us to pace ourselves, to respect cycles, and to trust that not everything must happen all at once. Perhaps most astonishing of all is his ancient advice on diversification. “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come.” It reads like a line from a modern investment seminar, and yet it is thousands of years old. Solomon understood risk, and more importantly, he understood how to spread it. He did not call for blind optimism, but for preparedness—the quiet kind of courage that keeps options open. And then there is humility. For all his power, Solomon often reflects with a sobering awareness of human limits.
(The writer is a rights activist and CEO of AR Trainings and Consultancy, with degrees in Political Science and English Literature, can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
