Any businessman will tell you that transportation is fundamental

The words of John Hickenlooper carry the weight of a truth that has guided civilizations for millennia: “Any businessman will tell you that transportation is fundamental to success.” For in these words lies the recognition that no dream, no trade, no empire, no creation can flourish in isolation. Transportation—the movement of people, goods, and ideas—is the lifeblood of prosperity. Without it, even the richest soil withers, for abundance trapped in one place cannot serve the many.

The ancients knew this law well. The Roman Empire rose not only by sword and legion, but by the building of roads—vast networks of stone stretching across continents. “All roads lead to Rome” was no idle saying; it was the foundation of Rome’s power. Grain from Egypt, marble from Greece, knowledge from the East—all flowed along these paths, binding the empire together. Without transportation, Rome would have remained a city-state; with it, Rome became eternal.

History offers another example in the Silk Road. Across deserts, mountains, and rivers, caravans carried silk, spices, gems, and knowledge between East and West. It was not merely goods that traveled but ideas: mathematics, astronomy, philosophies, and religions. Entire cultures were enriched because transportation allowed exchange. Success was not in hoarding, but in connecting. Where the path was open, civilizations thrived; where it was blocked, they withered.

Even in modern times, the lesson holds. The American railroads of the nineteenth century transformed a scattered land into a united nation. Farmers could send their harvests to distant markets; factories could reach consumers across the continent. Towns that stood by the tracks blossomed into cities; towns without them withered into dust. Transportation was not merely convenience—it was destiny. It made possible the rise of industry, commerce, and opportunity.

Thus, when Hickenlooper says that transportation is fundamental to success, he is not speaking only of trucks and trains, ships and planes. He speaks of the deeper truth that movement—the ability to connect, to reach, to share—is the soul of progress. To build without transport is to create in a prison. To build with transport is to set creation free. Every businessman knows this, for the greatest product is worthless if it cannot reach the hands of those who need it.

O listener, take this lesson into your heart: your ideas, like goods, must have a path. If they remain locked within you, they serve no one. But if you find ways to move them—to share them, to bring them into the world—they become seeds that multiply. Success is not only in creating, but in carrying your creation to others. Just as Rome built roads, you too must build channels for your gifts to flow.

Practical wisdom follows: think of your own life as a marketplace. Ask yourself, What do I have to share, and how can I carry it to others? Build networks of friendship, communication, and trust. Use the tools of your age—whether roads, rails, or digital paths—to bring your talents where they are needed. And when you encounter obstacles, remember the merchants of the Silk Road and the engineers of Rome, who carved ways through deserts and mountains rather than surrender.

Thus, remember Hickenlooper’s truth: transportation is the foundation of success. For nations, for businesses, for individuals, the path matters as much as the destination. Build roads for your gifts, and success will follow; remain still and isolated, and even your greatest treasures will gather dust. Success belongs not only to those who create, but to those who can carry their creation to the world.