5 lessons of Benjamin Franklin, who will help you succeed in life

Many people die in 25 years, and fall into the pit only 75.
Benjamin Franklin

Almost all of us have heard something about the famous politician, scientist and inventor Benjamin Franklin.

In order to better illustrate his invaluable contribution to the history, we turn to his achievements. Benjamin Franklin:

• He invented the lightning rod;
• Invented bifocals;
• He invented the Franklin stove;
• I made many remarkable discoveries in the field of electricity;
• He created the first detailed map of the Gulf Stream;
• He founded the first public library in the United States;
• He founded the Philadelphia Academy;
• He participated in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution;
• And at the same time actively engaged in publishing activities.

An impressive list of achievements, is not it?

Now you're probably asking yourself how one man could achieve so much? The thing is the right attitude. Benjamin Franklin knew how important self-organization and discipline, and thus largely succeeded.

He showed by his example that the person is able to independently develop habits that will help him to achieve great success. When you read about his life, what comes to mind a quote legendary thinker:

- We are what we repeatedly do. Perfection therefore does not act as a habit.

Aristotle

Here are some of the most valuable lessons we can learn from the life of Benjamin Franklin. They will be useful to all of us.

1. Time - the most scarce resource

Lost time is never found again.

Benjamin Franklin was well aware how important time. We all have different skills, talents and abilities. But as we all have the same amount of time - 24 hours a day. It does not matter how much time we have, but how effectively we distribute. Time - is our most scarce resource, and we must learn to use it efficiently.

Do you love life? Then do not waste time; because the time - the fabric that makes up life.

Benjamin Franklin

When people realize that the time they have little, they start to appreciate it and to spend rationally - to achieve the most important goals.

I realize that the time is really small - it's a good start. Come up with a way in which it will be possible to effectively use their time - is another question. Franklin was well aware of it. So he developed a system that helped him to use his time with the greatest efficiency.

2. thirteen virtues

Benjamin Franklin was always thinking about what kind of person he wants to be. In the end, he was able to formulate a clear goal: he wanted to become a "moral perfection". This thought came to Benjamin the age of 20 years. To achieve his goal, he has created a list of 13 virtues.

1. forbearance. Eat not to satiety, and drink not to elevation.
2. taciturnity. Speak only what can benefit you or the other; avoid empty talk.
3. Love of order. Let each of your items will be its place; let each of your business will be the time.
4. Determination. Decide to do something that should; but the fact that he decided, perform steadily.
5. Thrift. Allow yourself to only those costs that will benefit others, or you yourself; Do not waste anything.
6. industry. Do not waste time; always be busy with something useful; cancels all unnecessary things.
7. Sincerity. Do not resort to deceit pernicious: let thy thoughts are innocent and true; and if you say, let the same will and word.
8. Justice. Never offend people, causing them evil or doing good as tells debt.
9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; do not hold grudges for the evil caused to you, even if you think it deserves.
10. Cleanliness. Do not let even the slightest dirt neither myself nor the clothes nor the house.
11. calmness. Do not worry about trifles, because of small incidents or imminent.
12. Chastity. Lust over much rare, only for health or for the extension of the kind; Do not let it lead to numbness or weakness, or deprived of peace of mind and cast a shadow on the good name of your or someone's else.
13. Meekness. Follow the example of Jesus and Socrates.

An impressive list of virtues, is not it? But Franklin did not stop there.

He developed a system that helped him make these virtues a part of their daily lives. At its core was a 13-week plan that helped him stay focused on what is important now.

Since the main purpose of Franklin was to make these virtues usual, he decided to each of them is one week. And only after this time to move to the next virtues.

A daily struggle - constantly stay focused on what's really important.

Like many of us, Benjamin Franklin was very hard to concentrate.

It is in fact difficult, especially when we go to sleep with the thought before going to sleep that tomorrow we will have to perform many tasks that would distract us from the main goal. Nobody also canceled pressure from other people and our own conflicting priorities.

To stay focused, Benjamin Franklin started the notebook of 13 pages - one for each virtue. Every page he lined so that happened seven columns (seven days a week). He then spent 13 horizontal lines (13 virtues).

Franklin knew that he was not master all cmozhete 13th virtues immediately. As mentioned above, he decided to dedicate each of them for one week. Franklin believed that if will focus on one virtue, it quickly enters into the habit. After that, he planned to move to the other virtues, the next week to the next, and so on until he had mastered all.

In the first week the focus of Franklin was focused on a single virtue; others virtues were left to chance, he just pointed out every night black circle mistakes made during the day.

There are three things to make that extremely difficult: to break the steel, diamond and crumbled to know himself.

Benjamin Franklin

Thus, he was able to work on yourself, improve yourself and do it every day less and less mistakes, getting better every year.

3. Plan your day each

Franklin knew how important this is - do the right thing at the right time. To succeed in this, it is always clearly plan your day.

Thanks to the daily schedule, he has structured all his affairs, and this has allowed him to focus on what is really important.

Let all things are in place; let each case be the time.

Benjamin Franklin

Below is an example schedule Benjamin Franklin ↓

If you plan your every day, then you can focus on what really matters to you. And do the right thing at the right time.

This schedule will help you plan your entire day: you will be sure not to forget anything and everything in time.

All that was important to him, Benjamin included in his schedule. When you prepare your own schedule, remember that you need to include not only workers, but also your personal affairs.

4. Wake up early

Every minute spent on the organization of its activities, saves you an hour.

Benjamin Franklin

Franklin knew how important it is - to be organized person.

It's no secret that when we come to work and not before this structuring all tasks that we are facing, we quickly uvyaznem in numerous little things that piled on a daily basis us.

We will be nervous and rush between different tasks, not knowing what to prefer. While in this mode every day, we get lost, we forget that, what really matters and, as a consequence, we do not fulfill that need. If we do nothing to get rid of their disorganization, then soon we will seize the days, weeks, months and even years without progress.

Whoever gets up late, must run all day to the night barely finish all their affairs.

Benjamin Franklin

Franklin got up every day at 5 am in order to determine their plans for the day. Every morning he asked himself the same question: "What should I do today?«.

He woke up, had breakfast, plan your day, and at 8 am was ready to proceed with the cases.

That was his morning habit. In many ways, perhaps routine. But it was very important, because it allowed him to focus on the main goal.

Because of this habit, Franklin was a 3:00 head start over the others. What do you do with the moment and woke up to the moment they started to work, it is of great importance. May depend on the outcome of your entire day.

5. What good I have done in a day?

Early to bed and early to rise - that's what makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Benjamin Franklin

End of the day - this is the time when you can appreciate everything you did today. You can see your progress and pat yourself for successes, or, conversely, to understand that you still have to work hard to achieve the goal.

Benjamin Franklin every night asking myself: "What good I have done today?". This is an important step towards its goal, which, as we recall, was to achieve moral perfection.

Life of Benjamin Franklin - is a vivid example of what you can achieve the desired, if you constantly and consistently strive to it. This man has managed to change not only their lives but also the lives of many people.