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.”
As funny as it may seem, one of the questions that I asked the Senior Advanced Placement Government class when I was a guest instructor for an hour, was “When was the War of 1812?”
There’s an old Peanuts comic strip which shows Snoopy on the top of his dog house making several severe or angry looking faces—in one panel after the other. In the last panel I have changed some of Snoopy’s words in his thought bubble to say: “I would have made a good presidential nominee candidate!”
I know it’s a little bit early yet, but Easter is fast approaching. I have sometimes been asked why I have written my books on totally different subjects. Well, the short answer is my background is in law, therefore the Trial of Jesus Christ became a very real matter of interest to me.
George Washington could teach all our politicians a thing or two—of course they’d have to listen. George was taught penmanship by a mentor or tutor when he was still quite young. His teacher taught him how to write in beautiful script which was plain and easy to read. George had good penmanship throughout his life.
I would like to remind you of the acts of two of the other great American heroes of the Revolution who took part in that battle. The Battle of Trenton.
Many know of the miraculous march on the British stronghold at Trenton on Christmas night, 1776. You have most likely seen the beautiful painting by Emanuel Leutze in 1851, depicting the crossing of the Delaware River to stealthily approach the Hessian soldiers who were camped there.
John Adams doesn’t get the honor and acclaim he deserves! Even in his lifetime he saw this coming. He said: