You hear a lot of good things about Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. But usually you don’t equate him with being a good manager. Just look at his success with the printing business from which he retired in his fifties.

He was such a great manager that he not only succeeded and retired early, he helped others get started in the business. He told his followers to seek inspiration ahead of imitation. It worked for him!

Here’s what he said in his autobiography:

“Having emerg’d from the Poverty & Obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of Affluence & some degree of Reputation in the World (what an understatement—he was more well known that even George Washington throughout the world!), and having gone so far thro’ Life with a considerable Share of Felicity, the conducting Means I made use of, which, with the blessing of God, so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations, & therefore fit to be imitated.”

That is some of his reasoning for writing his own Autobiography. You may find this book to be a well spring of inspiration in your own business endeavors.