Founders
Episode 62 #62 Benjamin Franklin (Autobiography)
Founders

Episode 62: #62 Benjamin Franklin (Autobiography)

Founders

Episode 62

#62 Benjamin Franklin (Autobiography)

David Senra is the host of Founders, where he studies history's greatest entrepreneurs. This is what he learned from reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.

What I learned from reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. 

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[0:01] Why Ben Franklin wrote an autobiography

[4:50] Ben Franklin's early education and first job 

[7:30] starting out in the printing business 

[11:00] Writing had been of great use to me in the course of my life, and was a principal means of my advancement 

[16:45] his humble arrival in Philadelphia 

[25:00] Ben Franklin's time in London 

[29:00] how the mind of Benjamin Franklin worked 

[34:30] the opportunity to start your his own business

[41:15] industry is virtuous 

[46:20] Ben understood branding 

[48:15] Ben Franklin creates the first subscription library 

[54:30] Ben Franklin's 13 virtues

I have listened to every episode released and look forward to every episode that comes out. The only criticism I would have is that after each podcast I usually want to buy the book because I am interested so my poor wallet suffers. ” — Gareth

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#62 Benjamin Franklin (Autobiography)

Introduction

Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to know the circumstances of my life, many of which you are yet unacquainted with, I sit down to write them for you. Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity – actually I had to look that word up, felicity means happiness. The conducing means I made use of my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated.

Okay. So that's the beginning of the book that I want to talk to you about today, which is the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. And the part I just read you is actually a letter that he is writing to his son William. At the time, Ben is in his 60s. And he's kind of explicitly stating the goal of his autobiography, which is in parallel, the goal of this podcast. He's saying, hey, I've had a lot of fortunate experiences in my life. I've learned some things, and I'm going to tell you the things I learned, so that if you like them, if you find them agreeable, you can actually imitate and adapt into your own life.

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