Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a famous printer, author, philosopher and one of the most renowned figures in American history. Whether creating the lightning rod or giving advice to people, Franklin was always focused and possessed many positive qualities and traits that he carried with him throughout his entire life. He had a very successful career built on important relationships and taking advantage of key opportunities. Benjamin Franklin's early career consisted of patron-client relationships, which then allowed him to pursue his life based on this idea of the "self-made man".

Patron-client relationships characterized by mutual dependence allowed Benjamin Franklin to start his career and make progress in his early life. At only twelve years old, Franklin served as an apprentice to his brother James, learning the printing business. He was exposed to labor and hard work and also had access to high-quality books (Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, p 37). Franklin thus deepened his knowledge and increased his understanding of issues in the world around him, which would lay the foundation upon which he would achieve his goals later in life. Furthermore, he developed his writing skills to the point where some of his writings were even published in the newspaper under the assumed name Mrs. Silence Dogood. This apprenticeship ultimately allowed Franklin to further his learning and advance his career.

A few years later Pennsylvania Governor Sir William Keith assisted Franklin in setting up a business. Franklin "appear'd a young Man of promising Parts" and as a result, Keith gave him an opportunity to travel to London for the equipment needed to start a newspaper in Philadelphia (Franklin, p 50). He worked in a printer's shop in London for a few years until he was offered a management position in Philadelphia. Throughout these years Franklin got a taste of the real world and gained experience through work and travel. Additionally, he formed valuable connections with important people in the printing business, which would promote his success later in life.

As Franklin grew older, there was a transformation from the "patron-client" relationships to his ideal of the "self-made man". A self-made man is an individual, who has achieved a favorable position in society not by birthright, but rather by means of his own accomplishments. With a foundation for success already established, Franklin could now focus on climbing the social ladder and achieving his goals. His entire life was based on hard work and a firm moral foundation. On his parents tombstone, for instance, he wrote, "Without an Estate or any gainful Employment, By constant Labour and Industry, With God's Blessing, They maintained a large Family Comfortably", showing the qualities and traits his parents had passed down to him (Franklin, 35). Franklin went about every task and every day with that kind of mentality. Everyday he would ask himself: "What good shall I do this day? and What good have I done this day?", showing that he intended to live each day to the fullest (Franklin, p 100). Franklin stressed the importance of education for one's own improvement. He imitated and rewrote the essays of Joseph Addison and Richard Steele in the Spectator in order to improve his writing skills. This perseverance and industry increased Franklin's success and broadened his achievements. He was a very focused and determined individual who takes pride in every activity in which he participates.

Benjamin Franklin was gifted in all faculties, and he used this to his advantage to further his progress. He was not wasteful and went great lengths to get ahead in life. At the Printing House, Franklin only drank water while his coworkers drink "strong beer", showing his ability to sacrifice drinking in order to maximize his savings (Franklin, p 64). His capability of staying focused was very impressive as well, since he was determined to achieve great things in his life. Franklin stated, "Reading was the only Amusement I allow'd my self. I spent no time in Taverns, Games, or Frolicks of any kind...I from thence consider'd Industry as a Means of obtaining Wealth and Distinction" (Franklin, p 92), illustrating that he was strong-minded and able to sacrifice fun and games now for a better tomorrow.

Franklin also stressed the importance of character development and a strong moral foundation. In the second part of his autobiography, he listed thirteen virtues he considered "necessary or desirable" in everyday life. He made a chart that monitored the progress in strengthening the habit of these virtues (Franklin, p 98). He believed that difficult tasks can be accomplished through hard work and perseverance and proclaimed, "Man of tolerable Abilities may work great Changes and accomplish great Affairs among Mankind if he first forms a good Plan, and...makes the Execution of that same Plan his sole Study and Business" (Franklin, p 106). He emphasized the quality of industry in order to obtain wealth and a high status in society.

In addition, Franklin moved from the bottom of society to the top as a result of his vast connections and increased networking. Throughout his life he created opportunities for himself by meeting new people and becoming acquainted with capable young men. Franklin expressed this idea in saying, "These Friends were afterwards of great Use to me, as I occasionally was to some of them-They all continued their Regard for me as long as they lived" (Franklin, p 73). Franklin knew many people, who were able to help him in many instances throughout his life. Networking was one of the many ways Franklin was able to increase his social standing in society.

As Franklin grew to become a distinguished gentleman, he began to help others as people once helped him, creating a cyclic pattern in American society. He was initially helped by fellow members of his society to start his life in the right direction. Once established himself, he felt the need to give back to society by helping others trying to get their own start. For example, Franklin helped preacher George Whitefield by printing his sermons and journals and allowing him to stay at his house. As Franklin's success continued, he lent out money and provided capital for some of his workers to start their own printing houses. He also helped to establish an academy to promote education in Pennsylvania. Franklin wanted to help fellow individuals of society, similar to how people helped him in starting his career.

Given the opportunity at a young age to develop valuable, life skills through work and travel, Franklin began his life and his career on the right path. As he gained more and more experience, he began to rely less on others and lived his life based on this idea of the "self-made man". With his life under his own control, he was now capable of making his own decisions concerning his career. He increased his knowledge, improved his writing skills, and developed his character in order to further promote his success. He moved up the social ladder, obtained more wealth, and could then help others as people had once helped him. There arose the pattern that is cyclic in nature, which showed that people are dependent on others until they gain experience and are able to move about freely in society. Benjamin Franklin had an impact on many people's lives throughout his lifetime, and he will go down in history as one of the most distinguished individuals in American history.

Bibliography

1) Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martin, 2003.