Cover image for Ben Franklin : America's original entrepreneur : Franklin's autobiography adapted for modern times
Ben Franklin : America's original entrepreneur : Franklin's autobiography adapted for modern times
Title:
Ben Franklin : America's original entrepreneur : Franklin's autobiography adapted for modern times
Author:
McCormick, Blaine.
Personal Author:
Edition:
[Tricentennial commemorative ed.].
Physical Description:
xix, 266 pages, 4 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 25 cm
Summary:
"The most versatile Founding Father was a husband, a father, a writer, an inventor, a statesman, a fundraiser and a military leader. But in his mind, he was first and foremost a businessman. Franklin's captivating adventures include his almost single-handed responsibility for establishing the first media empire, the first public library, the first fire brigade, the University of Pennsylvania, the first book club and the first franchise - all of which are detailed within these pages with Franklin's characteristic mix of humility and pride."

"Franklin chronicles his own story, from his early days growing up in colonial Boston to his retirement from printing and growing involvement in national politics. It was during these years that he honed his management and leadership skills, acquired a fervent distaste for tyranny of all types, embraced a strong set of morals and developed an uncompromising work ethic. From the moment he fled his tyrannical master and set himself up as a printer in Philadelphia, all who came into contact with Franklin recognized his destiny."--Jacket.
General Note:
Map on lining papers.

Includes index.
Language:
English
Contents:
The making of an entrepreneur -- The rise of an entrepreneur -- The legacy of an entrepreneur.

Foreword / Introduction : The founding father of American business -- The making of an entrepreneur -- Why bother writing your own story? -- Franklin means freedom -- Credit to whom credit is due -- The enduring legacy of moral instruction -- Early employments and my introduction to various trades -- First attempts at self-improvement -- Experimenting with vegetarianism -- Where we learned to "Win Friends and Influence People" -- The yearning for independence -- Breaking loose to freedom -- Testing my determination -- My unlikely beginning in Philadelphia -- My first job -- Big promises from a fancy politician -- Returning home to Boston -- More mistakes and bigger promises -- The art of upward influence -- My friends and pastimes -- Departing for London -- Making the best of it in London -- Another friendship ends -- Beer and productivity -- More tales of my frugality -- The end of the London adventure.

The rise of an entrepreneur -- Setting a course and staying flexible -- The Junto -- A club for self-improvement -- Breaking with Keimer and making his own plans -- Reflecting on my morals -- Getting started -- A strategic response to a competitive betrayal -- Setting up my own shop at last -- The power of a good reputation -- Getting married -- Founding the first library in Philadelphia -- Proverbs and productivity -- Thoughts on religion -- My plan to achieve moral perfection -- Reflections on the pursuit of moral perfection -- Additional thoughts on humility -- Some counsel on grand undertakings -- Poor Richard's Almanac introduced -- Franchising across the continent -- Learning languages -- Fighting the good fight -- Family matters -- Update on the Junto -- Advice on changing someone's opinion of you.

How to displease your superiors -- Building a better community -- Founding the first fire department -- The Reverend George Whitefield -- Franklin the inventor -- On partnerships -- Proposing a college, establishing a militia -- The politics of fortification -- On managing dilemmas -- Founding the University of Pennsylvania -- Retiring from my business -- The legacy of an entrepreneur -- The power of contingent contracts -- Good advice for fundraising -- Negotiating peace with the American Indians -- It's the little things -- The reluctant revolutionary -- How to get off to a bad start -- Death and taxes -- How to gain cooperation -- How to get off to a great start -- Guarding against overconfidence -- Sizing up the British -- Calling in debts, old and new -- Negotiating with coalitions -- Benjamin Franklin, soldier -- Managing morale -- Reward or punish? -- A hero's return -- Enemies accumulate.

My life as a scientist -- Holding fast to principle -- The impact of indecisive leadership -- More on poor leadership -- The slowest ship -- No substitute for integrity -- Afterword : The rest of the story -- Acknowledgments -- Index.
ISBN:
9781932531688

9781932531794
Format :
Book