The Ben Franklin Solution

The Problem
One of the many things I've noticed since I joined WA is the constant inner battles going on in the minds of many our fellow colleagues. Should I quit? Is it worth it? Can I afford it? Am I capable of doing this? Am I savvy enough? Do I have the skills?

The truth is--and this is not just my opinion--that anyone with a sound mind and reasonable health can make it through this program and earn money. Will we all become rich? Who knows? One man's rich is another man's comfortable. But don't we determine our success? Could it be that anything less is just an excuse?

I have met folks here with pacemakers, missing limbs, some with awful health and financial problems. Single moms with multiple children working two jobs. I salute you all.
You are the ones who make this world a better place; who make it all work.

A Problem Solver
A gentleman by the name of Ben Franklin, was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Americans. He lived from 1706 to1790 which put him right in the middle of the battle for independence.

Franklin's resume is huge, but I'll be brief. He was a Founding Father, a leading author and printer. A scientist, an inventor and America's first ambassador to France. He was also America's first millionaire. That was when a million meant something. I tell you all this to impress upon you--and me--that Mr. Franllin's advice is worth the taking.

Franklin's solution
It's said that the most powerful solutions to problems are almost always the simplist. This is certainly no exception. So what did the master do to solve his problems? I'm not going to tell you.................... Just kidding.

Ol' Ben, whenever he was confronted with a vexing problem--and that was an age of lots of problems--would pull out a blank sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle. At the top, on the left, he wrote the word,"PRO". On the right, he wrote the word "CON". He then proceeded to list all the pro's and con's regarding his problem.

Some of these issues were weighted more heavily than others. In those cases he would enter them two or three times, as seemed fit. Then he would add up all the pro's and con's. And the solution to his problem was there before him.

You can play games with this technique, but if you are honest with it and with yourself, it can make decision making a lot easier. So......to stay or not to stay? If that is the question, why not submit it to the test designed by one of the brightest and wealthiest men who ever lived?

Love you guys. Hope this helps,

Dick :-)))