Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He is widely known as being a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. Such a level of achievement is rarely seen, but it is precisely this sort of person that shows everyone else what is truly possible.

Known for all these things, it is often overlooked that Franklin was also one of the first people to start writing in earnest about the principles of success. Chief among them are three solid philosophies that undoubtedly played a significant role in this great man’s journey through life.

Principle #1 – Happiness does not come from big pieces of great success, but from small advantages hammered out day by day.

We must be happy with what we have while in the pursuit of what we want. Don’t put off happiness as a condition. “I’ll be happy when this or that happens.” When what? We won’t be any happier when we reach our goals than we are right now. Remember, a person who is unhappy with what they have right now will be unhappy no matter what they get, even if they gain the whole world.

Abraham Lincoln said, “You’ll be as happy as you make up your mind to be.” Right now, whether you’re there or on your way, you’re only as happy as you think yourself to be. Now. Right now.

Big achievements come one small step of progress at a time. You’ve got to enjoy the journey, each little success, and the transformation into who your goals demand you to become. Every big success is a sum of many small parts put together throughout the passage of days and weeks and months. Enjoy the journey, and know that each day you stay the course you are laying bricks in the foundations of a cumulatively great success.

Principle #2 – Life is Plastic

What does that mean? Well, plastic is malleable–and so is life.

Within us is the power to mold–to mold ourselves. We can do this with a final product in mind. So mold your life each day, bit by bit, until you have created in reality what you have first fashioned in your mind. It all starts with thought.

Principle #3 – Success is a Pleasure

We are very oriented towards pleasure. That’s a universal desire.

If what you are doing today is not satisfying, gratifying, you’re not successful. If you are not fulfilled with what you are doing you cannot possible be! Yes, success is a relative term, “success,” but the one thing you will hear from everyone who is successful is that they are happy with who they are and what they are doing. Happy. Content. Satisfied. The world is filled with miserable millionaires, not because they have not achieved greatness in their fields, but because what they do is eating away at their very happiness.

What have you done today that made today successful? Write it down, and look for patterns.

When you can see a pattern of pleasure, you’ll know you are on the road to success.