In what ways can a virtual mastermind group benefit you?
Experts have always known that they need to rely on the wisdom and experience of others to solve problems and reach new heights of success.
Benjamin Franklin is a great example of drawing on the wisdom of others.
Only Benjamin Franklin, one of the country’s four original founding fathers, signed all four of the country’s founding documents. Other than that, his talents ranged from printer to philosopher to politician to statesman to diplomat to scientist to economist.
Background:
Unlike many of us today, Benjamin Franklin was not born the oldest child with the characteristics of an overachiever. After 17 children, he was the 15th. A soap and candle maker by trade, Ben’s father didn’t attend college. He worked in construction.
He passed on his love of reading to his children in the most fundamental way possible. Despite the fact that their home was crowded and noisy, Benjamin’s mother realised she was dedicated to creating a healthy and happy environment for her sons.
While attending South Grammar School (later known as Boston Latin School), Benjamin’s father prepared him to be a minister by sending him there at the age of eight. Josiah ran out of money two years later, so he brought Benjamin back to work in the candle-making business with him.
As a 12-year-old printing apprentice, I
His favourite pastime was reading and learning. The books he needed to read he’d get from his peers. He learned grammar, philosophy, and arithmetic from these books. His favourite pastime was buying books to read and learn from whenever there was any spare cash. His friends were also bookworms, and they spent a lot of time reading and discussing the books they were reading.
As a young boy, Benjamin was apprenticed to his father’s older son, James, a printer. The contract was for seven years. (Yep… at the tender age of twelve!)
The New England Courant:
Benjamin Franklin was just 15 years old when his brother James Franklin started the “New England Courant” newspaper in Boston in 1721. There were three papers in Boston at the time. Articles, opinions, news of the day, advertisements, and other information were written by James and his friends.
Benjamin’s First Published Work:
The younger Benjamin began writing for a local newspaper and asked his older brother James to publish his articles. James was adamant in his defiance! Benjamin, a 16-year-old under the pseudonym Silence Dogood, wrote the story (wrote as the Widow Dogood, a 40-year-old widow). Every two weeks, Benjamin left a letter for James under the door.
The “New -England Courant,” published by his brother, was printed and published by 16-year-old Benjamin Franklin. James was arrested and imprisoned after penning an article critical of the government. When Benjamin Franklin turned 17 years old the following year, he became the newspaper’s printer and publisher for the second time. “Mocking religion” was the topic of James’ latest article. He was once again sentenced to prison by a court. James managed to flee the city.
Benjamin Franklin was fed up with his brother’s “abuse and strict control” by September 1723. To get away from the situation, he went to New York and then Philadelphia, where he sought a new printing job. At this time, he had a number of jobs to his name.
It was in Philadelphia that the Junto Club of Benjamin Franklin was born.
He founded the Junto Club, a weekly discussion group for the intellectually curious, at the age of 21. His “Junto Club” was also known as the “Leather Apron Club” at some point.
Benjamin decided that tradesmen should have the same educational opportunities as the wealthy people who could afford to send their children to college/university.
Reading books, learning from them, and sharing what he learned with others who shared his passion for reading, learning, improving themselves, and sharing what he learned made all the difference to him. He envisioned this as a great leveller. These days, the term “think tank, mastermind” is used to describe such a group.)
Do you know what questions you should ask prospective members of your Master Mind or Junto?
In order to “qualify” a potential Junto Club member, what four questions did Benjamin Franklin ask them?
Stand up and put your hand on your heart while answering the following questions for each person who was asked to do so. (Revised to reflect the current state of the language in the twenty-first century)
There is no “respect” for any of our members. Answer. That’s not my experience.
What is the extent to which you “sincerely declare” to love everyone without regard to their profession or religion? Answer. I do, too.
Is it acceptable to harm someone in any way because of their beliefs? Answer. No.
The question is, “Do you love the truth, and will you do everything you can to get your hands on and spread it around?” Answer. Yes.