What problems do you solve for others? Who do you help?
Benjamin Franklin was our oldest and perhaps wisest of the Founding Fathers, at 70 years
of age, when he signed the “Declaration of Independence”.
Ben Franklin was one of 17 siblings. He was
the fifteenth and “youngest son” of Josiah
Franklin, soap and candle maker, and his second wife Abiah Folger
Franklin. Ben had 9 full siblings and 7 half siblings. At an early age Ben
became an excellent reader and did well at the “Boston Latin School”. When Ben
was 10, his father ran out of money to send him to school. So Ben came to work full time with his father
at the soap and candle store. When he was 12, Ben was apprenticed to his older
brother, James who taught him newspaper publishing.
When
Franklin was 20 years old, he developed his character by creating a system of
“Thirteen Virtues” to live by. “1. Temperance 2. Silence. 3. Order 4.
Resolution 5. Frugality 6.
Industry 7. Sincerity 8. Justice 9. Moderation
10.
Cleanliness 11. Tranquility
12. Chastity 13. Humility”
Franklin’s
“13 Virtues” are timeless. These are the virtues that molded Franklin into a
strong thinker and role model for the future. He worked on one virtue each
week. Benjamin Franklin said, “Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of
obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and a
happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”
We
all need “virtues” to live and strive for!
At twenty-two years of age, Franklin opened his printing shop
and his newspaper, the “Pennsylvania Gazette”. His newspaper was both well read
and profitable and later his book “Poor Richard’s Almanack” became a best
seller in the colonies. In Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey he
became the official printer, printing documents, laws, and money. He also
helped begin newspapers in Connecticut, New York, and in the West Indies.
Ben
Franklin everyday of his life wanted to make the lives around him better. He
asked himself two questions daily.
Every
morning he asked himself, “What good shall I do
this day?” Every evening he asked himself, “What good have I done today?”
Every day Franklin took
that first step to make someone else’s life better. When Franklin saw a
need he filled it. He built the “First Lending
Library in America”, the “First Fire Department in Pennsylvania,” establishing
the first hospital, “Pennsylvania Hospital”, and when he saw families suffering
from losing their homes to fire he helped establish the “Philadelphia Contribution
for Insurance Against Loss by Fire.”
When New Jersey had a problem with counterfeit money, he developed “a
currency with anti-counterfeiting techniques”. Ben Franklin enjoyed helping
others solve their problems. The legacies he created have lasted over 240 years.What legacy will you leave for the next generation?
So what
are the three questions you should ask your self each day?
1 1)
What virtue will I work on this week? Remember, it is never too
late to grow and change. http://www.thirteenvirtues.com
2)
Just as Benjamin Franklin asked himself each morning, ask
yourself, “What good shall I do this day?”
3 3) Every evening ask yourself Benjamin Franklin’s question, “What good have I done today?”
Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM is an
Amazon.com Best Selling Author, John Maxwell Team Member, Certified World Class
Speaking Coach, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and
concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their
Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints
necessary to improve and keep your business successful. She writes a monthly
newsletter "Madeline's Monthly article & Musical Tips Blog" and a
monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". Her
book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget" is available on Amazon or
Kindle. Contact Madeline Frank for your next speaking engagement at mfrankviola@gmail.com
