The recently popular new word "slash" comes from the best-selling book "One Person/Multiple Careers" by New York Times columnist Marci Alboher. It refers to a group of people who are not satisfied with a single career and can have multiple careers. identity person. In their self-introduction, they often use slashes to distinguish their multiple professions, such as: Li Lei, journalist/actor/car driver.
Three hundred years ago, there were already people who lived their lives as slashes.
He is the founder of the United States, the leader of the American independence movement, the founder of the democratic spirit, the drafter of the "Declaration of Independence" and the "U.S. Constitution"; he is an outstanding scientist, diplomat, publisher Home, writer and social industrialist. He was called "the second Prometheus who stole fire from the sky" by Tang De. He is recognized as the father of modern civilization and a symbol of the American spirit.
His epitaph simply reads: Franklin, a printer.
In 1964, director Michael Apted selected 14 children from different walks of life from all over the UK to follow them every seven years. This is the famous BBC documentary "Seven Years in the Life". Michael Apted's original intention was to test whether a person's fate is determined by his birth in Britain, where class is solidified.
My biggest feeling after reading this book is: only knowledge can change the destiny of ordinary people.
Franklin was born into a poor family and did not receive a good family and school education. He loved reading since he was a child. Although he lived a hard life for a long time after dropping out of school, he never stopped reading. He saved his food money to buy books and spent all his spare time reading. I often borrow some books from the apprentices in the bookstore and stay up all night reading them before returning them. One of his favorite books is "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, which describes the story of a man named "Christian" who went through hardships and finally found the kingdom of heaven. The central idea of ??this book is consistent with Franklin's life: everyone, and even all mankind, acquires knowledge and wisdom through practice, keeps moving forward, and improves themselves. ”
Franklin not only loved reading, but was also good at reading. In order to improve his writing skills, Franklin deliberately copied the content in his own language after reading "The Spectator", and compared it with the original text to correct himself. Wrong place. By using this "imitation" method to learn from first-class writers, and constantly summarizing and reflecting, his writing ability has improved day by day.
The most essential gap between people is cognition. The habit of lifelong reading affects Franklin's life, because he likes writing; because of reading, he makes good friends; because of reading, he educates himself to become a better person.
Don't worry about who you are. Think, think about who you can become.
Franklin started out in the printing industry. He came to Philadelphia alone at the age of 17, penniless and poor, but he was not afraid. In his 30s, he became the most successful printer in Philadelphia and achieved financial freedom.
What enlightenment does he bring to us?
* Facts No matter how many labels a slash has on him, he must first have an expertise in solving survival problems. Franklin's expertise was in printing. He first learned it from his brother and later worked in several printing factories to continuously practice and polish this skill. Unlike ordinary people, Franklin loves to ponder and think very much. He invented a variety of printing technologies while constantly improving, and becoming an expert in the printing industry has many benefits. In his subsequent printing career, Franklin was only an employee. , but became a teacher and leader for other employees. At the same time, his superb skills also laid the foundation for him to start his own printing house, enter the newspaper industry through the printing industry, publish "Poor Richard's Almanac", and get to know people of insight.
Diligence is the passport to wealth and freedom for ordinary people.
When Franklin founded his printing office, many businessmen were not optimistic about it because there were already two in Philadelphia. However, Franklin eventually came from behind and won, which was inseparable from his diligence.
In his series of articles on Busters, Franklin made fun of treasure hunters who dug around in the forest with dowsing sticks in hand, searching for treasures left behind by pirates. He wrote: "Once people are too eager to get rich overnight, they will lose their minds. Diligence and frugality, the real way to get rich, have been forgotten by them." This story satirized the gold mining craze at the time and promoted Franklin. Favorite theme: Diligent and down-to-earth work is the only way to get rich. In fact, when making money comes too easily, people often forget to be diligent and greed is the original sin. The craziness of digital currency ICO some time ago saw assets expand 10 times overnight, attracting countless investors. In fact, most of them do not have the ability to distinguish good and bad blockchain applications, are not worthy of the money, and eventually become leeks harvested by the market.
Freedom of wealth is essentially freedom of time. We no longer have to sell our time because of the needs of life. What allowed Franklin to achieve financial freedom was "Poor Richard's Almanac": selling the same copy of time multiple times. In the 25 years since the almanac was published, around 10,000 copies were sold every year, even more than the Bible.
Virtually everyone is selling their time. For ordinary people, how to "sell the same time multiple times"? In fact, this model can essentially be applied to all content production. For example, a book, a record, an animation, a patent, as long as it can meet the "rigid needs" of consumers, it will be sold. Through early accumulation, he became a person capable of manufacturing such things, and eventually "sold the same time many times."
What should you do after achieving financial freedom? Franklin gave his own answer. After achieving financial freedom at the age of 42, the first thing he did was study science. He bought all the experimental equipment that a British scholar brought when he gave lectures in the United States, and then started electrical experiments. Because he proved that thunder and lightning are the same thing and invented the lightning rod, he was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society, becoming the first scientist in the New World to be recognized "worldwide". Later, Franklin also devoted himself to social welfare undertakings, serving as a board member of the Philadelphia College (now the predecessor of the University of Pennsylvania), publishing "Electrical Experiments and Observations", publishing "The Road to Wealth", drafting the "Declaration of Independence", serving as ambassador to France, and participating in the formulation of the "Declaration of Independence". Constitution of the United States", writing "The Autobiography of Franklin", etc. If you think about it carefully, the meaning of wealth freedom is to allow him to carry out free activities following his inner drive.
The most well-known thing in "Franklin's Autobiography" should be his "Plan for Moral Improvement":
Franklin began to practice the above virtues when he was 22 years old. His success does not depend on playing tricks, but on hard work, intelligence and good conduct. Whether three hundred years ago or today, there were many capable people, but those who were capable and had good character were scarce.
How can we possess these thirteen virtues?
Franklin's secret is to check in: by doing many simple things in daily life, you can develop good habits and finally develop good character.
In Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results, Stephen Gass reveals why people fail to stick with most mainstream growth strategies over the long term.
Compare yourself with the 13 virtues. You do pretty well in temperance, perseverance, diligence, moderation, and cleanliness. What you do poorly in is caution, orderliness, and sincerity. My current strategy is to give great meaning to character development and make a little progress every day. As Franklin said: There are many opportunities, but few people who can be trusted and of good character.
After work, I re-read "The Autobiography of Franklin" and "The Biography of Franklin", and rethink the path to take after becoming independent from parents: How to make choices? How to achieve financial freedom? How to gain a foothold in society? How to prevent yourself from being confused by worldly utilitarianism and pursue long-term goals.
As Teacher Wu Jun said in Letter from Silicon Valley: Everyone should have a spiritual teacher. I may have never met him, but I follow his teachings, thoughts and way of life.
Let me encourage you all.
Franklin Book Club: At least one non-fiction book every month. This month’s book list is "Principles", "The Crowd", "Real Estate Cycle" and "Conversations in the Cloud". We look forward to your joining.
Everything in the world is fair, but stupid people can only see the display in front of them, not the scale beams above the sky, nor the weights hanging above all things.