Five Life Lessons From Ben Franklin
A few years ago, I became fascinated with Ben Franklin. Obsessed, really. I was approaching a major life milestone, a birthday where the number six features prominently. I was feeling adrift, looking for a lifeguard. Why not Ben Franklin? Like most Americans, I thought I knew him, or at least the basics. Founding father. Electrical experimenter. Unrepentant flirt. It turns out I didn’t know Jack about Ben. He was much funnier, wiser, and more three-dimensional than I imagined.
More relevant too. Franklin is the least dead of America’s founders, a tonic for our troubled times. His life supplies much-needed lessons about aging, altruism, political compromise, fresh air, anger management, music, and much more. He was no saint, but I’m convinced the world would be a better place — and we’d all be a bit happier — if we imbibed the wisdom of Ben Franklin. It’s a conviction I explain fully in my new book, Ben & Me.
Here are five Franklinian life strategies.
1. Bracket Your Day With Two Essential Questions
Ever since he was a young printer’s apprentice, Franklin began and ended his day with two vital questions. In the morning, he’d ask, “What good shall I do this day?” and in the evening, “What good have I done today?” Simple questions, yet few of us bother asking them.
