How Ben Franklin Built an Iconic Network

The unorthodox way of scaling your impact

“Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75,” said Ben Franklin. He was a true Renaissance man of early American history. Born in Boston as the 15th of 17 children, he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential figures in the founding of the United States. Franklin's diverse talents and interests led him to wear many hats throughout his life: he was a printer, writer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and statesman. Perhaps most famously, he conducted groundbreaking experiments with electricity, including his dangerous but pivotal kite experiment that proved lightning was a form of electricity. This work led to his invention of the lightning rod, which revolutionized building safety.

Beyond his scientific pursuits, Franklin was full of surprises. He was an avid swimmer and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his early advocacy of the sport. As a young man, he adopted a vegetarian diet to save money for books, showcasing his lifelong commitment to frugality and self-improvement. Franklin was also a chess enthusiast and was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. Interestingly, despite being one of America's founding fathers, Franklin spent nearly a third of his life living abroad in England and France, where he served as a diplomat and became wildly popular in European intellectual circles. He managed to build a massive social network. Keep reading to learn how.