Learning from the life of

Benjamin Franklin
by George Ambler on Saturday, June 30, 2007

Learning from other great leaders is essential to our

personal leadership journey. In the article “Benjamin
Franklin’s Extraordinary Leadership” by Jack Uldrich, in Leader to Leader we have an example
of a leader who did walk the walk and left a good trail. Some of Benjamin Franklin’s
achievements include:

• As a businessman, Franklin built America’s first media conglomerate by setting up

printing and newspaper franchises throughout the American Colonies.
• As a citizen, he formed America’s first public library, its first fire department, and its
first nonsectarian university, the University of Pennsylvania.
• As a scientist, he discovered electricity–an achievement that made him world famous and
helped drive the Industrial Revolution. He also produced the Franklin stove, invented
bifocals, conceived of daylight savings time, and was the first person to chart the Gulf
Stream.
• As an author, he wrote America’s first best-seller–Poor Richard’s Almanac, and his
autobiography has been credited with influencing everything from the philanthropy of
Andrew Carnegie to Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.
• As a civil servant (postmaster general), he revolutionized the delivery of mail in America
by establishing one-day service and home delivery.
• As a politician, Franklin had an active hand in creating the major documents of the
Revolution–the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the alliance with France,
and the peace treaty with England–and was the only Founding Father to sign all four.
• As a diplomat, he negotiated and secured America’s strategic alliance with France
during the Revolutionary War–an act that arguably helped secure the eventual victory.

As can be seen from the above list, these are significant accomplishments for one man to have
achieved. Much of his success can be attributed to the principles that he used to guide his
leadership. These principles can help us to improve our own leadership capability. In the article
Jack Uldrich provides the following principles that formed the foundation for Benjamin
Franklin’s leadership….

The Importance of Continuous Education

“Ben Franklin had no formal education. Yet by age 11, he had taught himself English, French,
and Italian….. Franklin, however, did not simply limit himself to book knowledge. He was the
consummate student, always seeking out those who knew more than he did on a wide variety of
topics–everything from poetry to natural history. His approach is best reflected in two quotes:
‘Not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own’ and ‘More is to be learned with the ear than the
tongue.’… One of his principal methods for learning was to engage others in spirited debate.
When he was still just a printer, he wrote, ‘Printers are educated in the belief that when men
differ in opinion, both sides ought to equally have the advantage of being heard by the public;
and that when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter.’”

Entrepreneurial Risk Taking

“At the age of 16, Franklin left his hometown of Boston for Philadelphia. Within a year he had
established his own print shop, and after three years he had become one of Pennsylvania’s most
prominent printers. By the time he was just 26, he had established America’s first franchise
system of printing shops–with stores from Hartford to Charleston. He did it by doing his
homework, finding good employees, establishing key relationships, working hard, and taking
risks….. He also used his free time and other outside activities constructively to generate an
almost endless source of entrepreneurial opportunities. He was the consummate networker. Early
in life, he formed an organization called the Junto–a group of tradesmen and artisans who were
intent on self-improvement. In many ways, Franklin could be called the first Rotarian.”

Focusing on Goals Beyond the Self

“When still a young man, Franklin read Plutarch’s Lives–a book that is based on the premise that
‘individual endeavor can change the course of history for the better.’ Franklin absorbed the
message and it permeated every aspect of his life…. The philosophy is best reflected in his
decision, at the age of 42, to turn over his very successful printing business in order to
concentrate on science. As he wrote his mother of the decision, he said, “I would rather have it
said ‘He lived usefully,’ than ‘He died rich’.” And for the second half of his life, he did precisely
that, focusing on improving the world at large rather than his own finances….. Even in the field
of science, his view was focused on putting his work to ‘useful’ ends…. Franklin was constantly
converting his scientific curiosities to practical effect…..Franklin once wrote, ‘To pour forth
benefits for the common good is divine.’ He felt it was shortsighted to view business activities as
something separate and distinct from the community in which those businesses and their
employees work and live.”

Accommodating Divergent Needs–Quietly

“Falter Isaacson, in Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, notes, ‘Compromisers may not make
great heroes, but they do make democracies.’ His point was that the strength of a country–or, I
would argue, an organization–is not just derived from singleness of purpose. It is derived from
the recognition that the sum is greater than the parts and that compromise is often a necessary
ingredient in achieving success….. The subtle, behind-the-scenes style of the compromise
reflects another hallmark of his leadership: his humility. From his anonymous authorship of
Poor Richard’s Almanac and his quiet work in negotiating an alliance with France to his little
efforts in crafting the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution (Franklin was
responsible for suggesting the phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident” to Thomas
Jefferson), Ben Franklin was always willing to give others credit in order to achieve success.”

Building Strategic Partnerships

“Franklin was also a master at determining what was essential for success in negotiations and
what was merely advisable. He never confused the two. As a result, he always achieved the
former while often being able to secure a fair number of the latter. For instance, after the
Revolutionary War, Franklin insisted Great Britain accept America’s independence as a
precondition for talks. In this manner, he secured the most important goal before negotiations
even officially began.”

Embracing Change

“…By keeping an open mind, Franklin left himself open to see the changing political climate–
and to seize new opportunities–well before most of his countrymen. And even though he had
many friends in high places in the British Empire, including his own son, Franklin refused to be
beholden to the status quo….. Franklin once said: ‘Declarations of a fixed opinion, and of
determined resolution never to change, neither enlighten nor convince us.’ He held himself to
that standard as well as his countrymen. It is a principle that has–and continues to–serve this
country well.”

Think for the Long Term

“It has been said that the greatest disease of modern life is short-term thinking. From business
leaders incapable of looking beyond their next quarterly statement to political leaders seemingly
unaware of a host of growing societal problems, today’s leaders need to do a better job of
designing and shaping their actions for sustainable long-term growth.”

Shaping the American Character

“Ben Franklin was a paradox. He fiercely believed in the power of the individual, but he was a
relentless advocate for acting on behalf of the community. He believed in competition, but he
never hesitated to cooperate with competitors when it was in his interest. He could be the most
partisan of politicians–and the most accommodating of diplomats. Throughout his life Franklin
saw the world and its surroundings not in stark black-and-white contrast but rather in varying
shades of gray–and acted accordingly….. More important, Franklin believed that as a participant
in local and global affairs he could influence his world. And through his actions, he did.”

Certainly Ben Franklin is a role-model from whom we can learn. These principle provide a great
foundation which can be used to guide our leadership walk…..