Josiah practiced the art, which his son would perfect, of marrying public virtue with private profit: he made money by selling candles to the night watchmen he oversaw.
In Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin, the author highlights the entrepreneurial approach of Josiah Franklin, Benjamin's father. Josiah skillfully combined the notion of public service with personal gain, demonstrating a pragmatic understanding of business. His role as an overseer of night watchmen provided him the opportunity to sell candles to them, thus generating income while also serving a community need.
This ability to intertwine civic duty with profit would later be refined by his son, Benjamin Franklin. Josiah's example set a foundation for Franklin's future endeavors, where he would consistently find ways to align his economic activities with contributions to society, embodying a model of success that benefits both the individual and the community.
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