America has long been fascinated with founding father Ben Franklin. Franklin earned the title “the First American” because of his early support for unifying the American colonies and he exemplified the ideas of the emerging nation.
Franklin’s list of accomplishments is long and his notable firsts are many. Franklin established America's first public library, its first fire department, and its first university, the University of Pennsylvania. As postmaster general, he transformed mail delivery in America by creating one-day service and home delivery. Ben Franklin discovered electricity, built America’s first media conglomerate, created daylight savings time, invented bifocals and penned America's first best-seller, Poor Richard's Almanac not to mention his authorship in the most important documents in the revolution and our nation’s history. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, an alliance with France and our peace treaty with England, Benjamin Franklin was the only Founding Father to sign each one. A talented businessman, scientist, statesman and diplomat, Ben Franklin succeeded in so many diverse areas of life due in part to his strong leadership skills.
What lessons and ideas can today's leaders and future leaders take from the life of Benjamin Franklin?
Education
Ben Franklin himself had no formal education but was self-taught on everything from science to Italian. Likewise Ben Franklin was famous for openly seeking out people who possess knowledge and engaging in active exchange of ideas.
Seize Opportunities
Before the age of twenty, Ben Franklin was counted among Pennsylvania’s most prominent printers. Before the age of 30, Franklin had established America's first franchise of printing shops. One of Franklin’s key philosophies was to focus on seizing opportunity over trying to defensively protect what you party established. Franklin also actively sought out new interests that generated in almost endless supply of entrepreneurial opportunities.
Individual Goals that Benefit Others
Ben Franklin is quoted as having written “I would rather have it said that I lived usefully and I died rich.” Much like the philosophy of Ubuntu, Franklin focused the latter half of his life on work that was focused on the common good and elevated overall human progress.
Strong Allies
Benjamin Franklin was such a successful diplomat because he grasped the idea that success depends a balance measure of good ideas and good friends. Even the best leaders rarely go it alone in Franklin understood that in order to be successful, our newly emerging nation needed the French alliance to secure victory.
Embrace Change
Before the American Revolution, Ben Franklin could be counted among Britain's biggest supporters. Though already in his 60s, Franklin witnessed Great Britain's unwillingness to compromise and the changing political climate and instinctively understood the need and benefit of changing his allegiance.
Embrace Your Contrasts
Ben Franklin believed in the power of the individual and yet he was a relentless supporter of community. He was a staunch advocate of competition but understood the usefulness of cooperation even with competitors. Franklin was one part practical and one part visionary.
By his words and his actions, Ben Franklin created and solidified so many of the ideas that shape America's national character. Franklin offers many lessons for today's leaders and future leaders.
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