Ben Wilson

And this is the kind of thing that is, you know, you'd expect that from land, right? He's working on polarization, polarized goggles, makes a lot of sense. But he's also working on stuff that you would not expect at all. He helps oversee the development of synthetic quinine, an important anti-malarial drug for troops fighting in tropical areas, and the development of heat homing bombs.

Okay, these are bombs that use heat to find their target and blow them up. So he's developing all this stuff. It's not just polarized goggles. They have lots of other polarized stuff and small inventions that they're producing manufacturing. World War II is a huge boon for Polaroid. They revenue more than 10Xs, but they don't make any more profit than they were before.

Okay, these are bombs that use heat to find their target and blow them up. So he's developing all this stuff. It's not just polarized goggles. They have lots of other polarized stuff and small inventions that they're producing manufacturing. World War II is a huge boon for Polaroid. They revenue more than 10Xs, but they don't make any more profit than they were before.

Land kept profit capped during World War II because he was a patriot. He wanted to help the allies win the war, and he recoiled at the idea of being a war profiteer. And for that same reason, he lets all their wartime contracts expire at the end of the war. Polaroid, if they had wanted to, could have become a major government contractor.

Land kept profit capped during World War II because he was a patriot. He wanted to help the allies win the war, and he recoiled at the idea of being a war profiteer. And for that same reason, he lets all their wartime contracts expire at the end of the war. Polaroid, if they had wanted to, could have become a major government contractor.

They could have kept the revenue going, you know, because the Cold War starts basically right after World War II. But he was personally opposed to making money off war during peacetime. And he didn't see that as part of his long-term vision for himself or for Polaroid.

They could have kept the revenue going, you know, because the Cold War starts basically right after World War II. But he was personally opposed to making money off war during peacetime. And he didn't see that as part of his long-term vision for himself or for Polaroid.

And look, Polaroid, I mean, they could have done this and stayed a very profitable company and been a very successful government contractor. It manufactured all sorts of things for the American military during the Cold War. But look, Polaroid would have missed its destiny as the instant photography giant that it eventually became if land had become a government contractor.

And look, Polaroid, I mean, they could have done this and stayed a very profitable company and been a very successful government contractor. It manufactured all sorts of things for the American military during the Cold War. But look, Polaroid would have missed its destiny as the instant photography giant that it eventually became if land had become a government contractor.

I think this speaks to the importance of consistency of vision. and not being distracted by other opportunities, even if they're good opportunities. It reminds me of Julius Caesar when he returns from Spain and has an opportunity to celebrate a triumph, which is a huge honor for any Roman.

I think this speaks to the importance of consistency of vision. and not being distracted by other opportunities, even if they're good opportunities. It reminds me of Julius Caesar when he returns from Spain and has an opportunity to celebrate a triumph, which is a huge honor for any Roman.

It's such a big deal that as you're celebrating this triumph, they have a slave who stands behind you in the chariot and just whispers in your ear, remember, you are mortal because Because it's such an amazing celebration that you could be tempted to forget that you're immortal and think that you're a god. Okay? This is the honor that anyone would aspire to as the pinnacle of their career.

It's such a big deal that as you're celebrating this triumph, they have a slave who stands behind you in the chariot and just whispers in your ear, remember, you are mortal because Because it's such an amazing celebration that you could be tempted to forget that you're immortal and think that you're a god. Okay? This is the honor that anyone would aspire to as the pinnacle of their career.

However, Julius Caesar wanted to be the greatest man in Rome. And part of that meant that he needed to be consul. It was the highest position you could hold in Roman government. And he had not been consul yet. And so he comes back from his military service in Spain. They have approved a triumph for him, but he also wants to run for consul.

However, Julius Caesar wanted to be the greatest man in Rome. And part of that meant that he needed to be consul. It was the highest position you could hold in Roman government. And he had not been consul yet. And so he comes back from his military service in Spain. They have approved a triumph for him, but he also wants to run for consul.

And there's a conflict there, which is if he wants to celebrate a triumph, he can't enter the city walls, can't come inside the city gates until the triumph is ready to be celebrated. As soon as you enter the city gates, you forfeit the ability to celebrate a triumph. At the same time, if he wants to run for consul, he has to actually physically stand for office inside the city. Okay.

And there's a conflict there, which is if he wants to celebrate a triumph, he can't enter the city walls, can't come inside the city gates until the triumph is ready to be celebrated. As soon as you enter the city gates, you forfeit the ability to celebrate a triumph. At the same time, if he wants to run for consul, he has to actually physically stand for office inside the city. Okay.

So if he goes in to run for consul, he's going to forfeit his triumph. If he waits to celebrate his triumph, he's not gonna be able to run for consul. And. He knows his vision, which is to be the greatest man in Rome. And if he's going to be the greatest man in Rome, his story does not end here with a celebration of this triumph. So he petitions the Roman Senate, can I do both?

So if he goes in to run for consul, he's going to forfeit his triumph. If he waits to celebrate his triumph, he's not gonna be able to run for consul. And. He knows his vision, which is to be the greatest man in Rome. And if he's going to be the greatest man in Rome, his story does not end here with a celebration of this triumph. So he petitions the Roman Senate, can I do both?

Can I run in absentia while I wait outside the city gates? And they vote on it and they say no. The second he hears that he can't do that, he marches through the city gates, forfeits his triumph, runs for consul, wins, and the rest is history. He becomes Julius Caesar.