Happy Groundhog Day!

While not as important as the Fourth of July, this date gives us Northerners hope for a mild six weeks to come. While thinking about this real tradition, Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac came to mind. You know his famous quotes. I reread this great series of magazines looking for advice from the year 1753 that will work in a glass company today.

• The early bird catches the worm.
• A stich in time saves nine.
• There are no gains without pains. (Yes, he wrote this in 1753)
• Diligence is the Mother of good luck.
• Plough deep while sluggards sleep and you shall have corn to sell and keep.
• One today is worth two tomorrows.
• Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep you.
• Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open.
• If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Then if you are your own master be ashamed to catch yourself idle.
• Lost time is never found again
• Love your enemies for they tell you your faults.
• Women and wine, game and deceit make the wealth small and the wants great.
• Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.
• To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.
• He that lives on hope will die fasting.
• The noblest question in the world is what good may I do in it.
• Having been poor is no shame; but being ashamed of it is.
• A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.
• A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.
• As pride increases fortune declines.
• Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.
• Better to slip with foot than tongue.
• Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.
• Don’t throw stones at your neighbor if your own windows are glass.
• Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
• He that cannot obey cannot command.
• Good sense is thing all need, few have, none think they want.

You can interpret these proverbs to fit your business and lifestyle.  Just think, 263 years ago a very wise man can be helping your business today.  I’m currently working with his agent to have Mr. Franklin join my consulting group.