Okay, I’m a bit of a quote hound. I love reading the concise wisdom of how others saw life. And few provide more interested quotes than Benjamin Franklin.
If you remember, a few weeks back I wrote a post titled, What Benjamin Franklin Knew About Social Media. In it, I took a number of his quotes about people, life and relating with others, showing how he was a social media expert more than 200 years ago.
In his life, Ben Franklin also ran a number of businesses. So I’ve been interested in how he saw business. What were the principles he worked by. And, more interestingly, what wisdom could we learn from his perspectives. So let’s take a look:
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Absolutely, without a doubt this is one of the primary truths of business – and of life. If we’re unsatisfied with the results of our efforts, we shouldn’t continue doing the same thing and wonder why things aren’t changing. Yet, how many of us run our businesses just like this?
Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.
Now Ben Franklin wasn’t always forthright with his own business practices. Like many today, he schemed and tricked some of his employers. Yet that doesn’t mean that what he says about honesty isn’t true. Those who practice trickery in business believe they’re smarter than their customers. Yet it takes far more mindfulness and intelligence to always remain honest. And honesty, as he once said, is the best policy.
Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
This maybe the first law of business, really. We’re going to fail. We’re going to test the waters of what we know and find out what we don’t. And that’s fine. Not only fine – but necessary. If we don’t fail, in many instances, we haven’t tried. Yet how many of us stay moored to the dock fearing we might sink our boat? Boats, and businesses are made to be sailed.
Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.
Sometimes I’ve had clients want to work with me who aren’t actively engaged in their business. They’re struggling for one, main reason – lack of effort. If we want our businesses to be successful, shouldn’t we actively pursue success rather than just wish, dream or talk about it?
Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.
Very often missed by business owners is the idea that every part of their business needs nurturing; needs effort; needs time. Even the tasks you may not like, say accounting for instance, need to be given their proper attention and time. Otherwise you’ll find your business wasting away from beneath.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
In business, we can certainly be lucky. We create that perfect widget at just the right time and everything just flourishes. Yet most of the time, it’s through hard work, effort and diligence that we find success. I say find success because that how I see it. Success is waiting for you to discover it. But you have to find it. And sometimes it’s more illusive that others.
He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.
I put this one with the last statement. If we wait around for success, we should expect to have empty bellies. Success almost never finds us, remember. If we want success, we need to search for her.
He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
This may be my favorite quote. If you love what you do and what your about, than that love and passion will be on display with every business transaction you make. People will see that your business is alive and breathing – exciting and interesting. And they’ll want to participate. In these instances, there’s no competition with anyone else. There’s only you sharing what you love with the people who love what you do.
Sometimes we can reach into the past to find inspiration for what we’re doing today. Do any of these bits of wisdom inspire you in your business? Which ones….and how?
Hi Dawud- I think Ben Franklin was an amazing character… and I read an interesting article on him and his Poor Richard character.
A little-known fact about Mr. Franklin is that he was actually a great satirist, and that much of his writing, especially in the Poor Richard Almanac from whence come so many of his quotes, are tongue-in-cheek, and meant facetiously.
Gosh, where in the heck was that article? Hmmm… If I can find it, I’ll let you know.
Of course, that doesn’t take away from the wisdom in what you posted above- but it’s definitely an interesting take on some of his work.
@Mark Silver – that’s interesting, and squares with the merry prankster I’ve always seen Franklin as.
My should-be favorite maxim is the haste making waste. I paid asshole tax AGAIN just yesterday, pulling the trigger on something too fast. Grrr. Me so impatient!
What amazes me most about a lot of those old, smart cats is how much living they packed into such a short time. And with no high-speed internet!
Amazing…
Thanks for your thoughts, Dawud. I draw inspiration from quotes, too. In my business and personal life, I continue to be inspired by “If it is to be, it is up to me.” I don’t know who originally wrote it, but it’s one of my favorites.
Dawud, as usual a great post. Benjamin Franklin was an amazing character, true to his times. The last quotation”He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals”, I however think has been quoted out of context by you. This was more to criticize narcissistic people. As Mark Silver points out, he was quite a satirist.
Benjamin Franklin has always been a source of inspiration to everybody, his quotes and writings are just fantastic.
I love these quotes! Thanks for finding them and bringing them to our attention. Although my favorite quote, “He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals”, is wonderful…it isn’t that easy. Every smart business man, even if he loves what he does, needs to keep an eye on the competitors. Thanks again for these!
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This one is so true. So many of us need to stop being insane.
Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American in his day. Wherever he went, crowds formed. He certainly was an amazing character.
Very inspiring quotes! But I do love this one “He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.” Do things that you love and interests you..this will help you become successful.
so thats how big ben made it on to the $100 bill. ive always wondered about that, especially since he wasnt ever president of the U.S.
I actually bought a book on Ben Franklin’s management techniques over several years ago called “Ben Franklin’s 12 Rules of Management”. To be honest, nothing I learned from the book really stuck with me. I have to learn from experience and through trial and error.
dawud,thanks for your wonderful thoughts,that was quiet a good inspiration from benjamin franklin’s quotes.
“He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.” This is true of not just wealth but of anything in life! Nothing is free so you need to be pro-active in everything you do!
I have seen the ‘insanity’ quote also attributed to Albert Einstein. Which is correct?
I love these quotes! Thanks for finding them and bringing them to our attention.
I think from all of these quotes, my favorite from Franklin has to be “Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
Great write-up!
It is amazing to me that people actually do continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Insanity. That is one of my favorite quotes and I refer to it on a regular basis for myself, for people that I talk to, work with and my kids too. It is right out there for all to see and yet the action never changes but the results are expected too? Change is important although sometimes it is tough. Thank you for your insight and insiration.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” is a quote I’ve always liked. Didn’t know it was made by Ben.
Thanks for the quotes.
Great post, and an amazing message. I’ve always been interested in how Ben Franklin achieved success. He did it through the most basic principle: deliver something worthwhile.
Those are some great quotes and do point out some essential business practices.
Impressive quotes! One should really not fear failures. In fact, behind every success first comes failures. I’m really impressed by his determination.
thanks for the article. Some of the quotes are truly inspirational. My personal favourite quote: always go the extra mile
“He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner” Nothing could be more true. If you expect your boss to walk up and just give you enought money to retire on, your nuts 🙂 To truly get ahead you have to want it and go get it.
Those are some wonderful wuotes. Thanks for posting them.
“Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out. ”
This one is my favorite and it was always my motto as I never feared failure very much.
But it’s good to know when to quit too. 🙂
It is not really an understanding of social media that is required, merely (though it is no small matter!!) an understanding of human nature.
People tend to forget that the internet is essentially human powered… concentrating on search engines… code… algorithms etc, but essentially, what works offline, and has done throughout history should work online…
These quotes are great…
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Great quote… applies well to the internet business. You can repeat your link building process over and over again with all your different sites, but because the internet (especially google) is so unpredictable, you can never expect the same results. Thats why it’s always good if you fail to try again.
Im printing this and hanging it on my wall. By the way he also didnt eat a big lunch, just chewed on some bread and watched his workers stuff them selves.
He wanted to keep his energy going.
The article is amazing! There are great points and notes. I love this article! 🙂
I think you do not have to be an expert on marketing to be success in your business. Just a bit of imagination, originality and functionality are required, like Mr. Franklin.
Investing money to start your business is not good enough but abilities and strategies could be hopeful.
Many thanks.
Ben was the pimp of social media of his time. A very amazing man.
My favorite quote you listed is- He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.
:O)
George
Some very interesting points in this article. There is no doubting the fact that he was a true revoltionary.
Thanks for the read
I also love hearing quotes from other successfully people. I can’t remember who said the line about not giving up but I use it every day.
When you look at all the things Ben Franklin said and did, it becomes clear he was ahead of his time and very intelligent (and probably a little crazy).
He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
This is a quote about confidence. Those that live their life or run their business emersed in insecurity will inevitably fail.
Big Ben must know business if he was able to make it on the biggest dollar bill, the $100 😮
~Mike
Good stuff… although you were way off on the real meaning behind “He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.”
I think the quote was trying to make a point of the importance of remaining humble. If you fall in love with yourself (for example, to the point that you don’t listen to others opinions), people will despise you for it… so you’ll be the ONLY person loving yourself. You will always have competition(rivals) in business, and loving yourself isn’t going to drive them away…. otherwise your rivals could just love themselves too… then who would win??
Ben Franklin was one of the most witty and quote-worthy Americans ever, and I love the way you used his quotes to make a point about a topic that is relevant today.
My favorite is “He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.” So many people sit around waiting for their ship to come in. But you have to take action and go out and get it.
Wow, you know a lot about Ben Franklin! If you or anyone in the forum would be interested in discussing Ben Franklin or meeting other fans, check out this site:
http://www.sampa.com/ben-franklin/
Hi all!
And thx to Dawud for the quotes.
Some things are so simple, you may feel them somehow, but you cant really get a grip on them.
And then there are people like Franklin, that can form the right words.
Great.
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Ben Franklin was a genius in any time. I have re-quoted him to myself countless times.
The article is amazing! There are great points and notes. I love this article!
From such great people like Ben Franklin we can learn a lot of great things.
Ben is just big man by thoughts… but when I try to implement it just give me courage.. and never I got proper solution.. Only solution I got when I Help myself.. Still a COURAGE is not less important.. so do I like to say it…
great article, business is an every day job. love it and you will see no bound beyond it.
i love this words: Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
very interesting post
thanks
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here
I have never heard of the Ben Franklin guide to running a business but it ooks pretty straight forward. I might have to apply some of these ideas to our buisness model at appspy.
Just stumbled acoss this really nice article. I knew the qoute about insanity but I always assumed it was Albert Einstein who said that. Thanks for this information!