Form A Junto
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most prolific innovators in history, with breakthroughs ranging from the literary (the U.S. Constitution, Poor Richard’s Almanack) to the scientific (the lightening rod, bifocals) to the geological (he charted the gulf stream) to the civic (America’s first public libraries and fire departments).
How did he conjure such wide-ranging insights?
One simple but profound weekly ritual spurred his thinking (inferred from Walter Isaacson’s excellent biography on Benjamin Franklin): early in his career, Franklin organized what he called the “Junto,” a “small club composed of enterprising tradesmen and artisans, rather than the social elite who had their own fancier gentlemen’s clubs. At first, the members went to a local tavern for their Friday evening meetings, but soon they were able to rent a house of their own…”
This was no mere passing phase — Franklin was involved in Junto gatherings for over thirty years! I couldn’t help but wonder how such conversations impacted his thinking over time. A man whose social schemes and scientific discoveries ranged far and wide, it’s no wonder he had so many breakthroughs!
He sought them out, and he sought company who might stimulate fresh thinking. Importantly, the collaborators he convened were from outside of his organization and his industry. He specifically sought to collide with folks coming from different fields, with perspectives that differed from his own.
How many meetings do you have specifically designed to get out of your bubble?
In light of the New Year dawning, I couldn’t help but you, my friends, to take it upon yourselves to form similarly-inspiring, regular meetings of the minds. I’ve been a member of a couple of Junto-like groups for more than a year, and I must say: they’re some of the most anticipated blocks on my calendar each month!
One note: it’s critical to get the rules right. I recommend science fiction writer Isaac Asimov’s guidelines for what he calls “cerebration sessions,” first reported in the lovely piece he wrote for the MIT Technology Review.
Related: Convene A Junto (where bits of this post previously appeared)
Related: Why A Junto Works
Related: Rules For A Junto
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The quality of our thinking is deeply influenced by the diversity of the inputs we collect. Implementing practices like Brian Grazer’s “Curiosity Conversations” ensures innovators are well-equipped with a variety of high-quality raw material for problem-solving.