As I sat down in front of my computer to begin writing this essay,
the phone rang. It was my friend Chris, asking me if I wanted to go jet
skiing with his family. I noticed that it was a beautiful day as I looked
through the kitchen window. I pressed the phone tight against my ear as I
contemplated weather a stress free day, an escape from the tedious
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, was worth 400 points. I thought to
myself, "Not doing a 400 point assignment means an F for the semester,
which means hopes for good college opportunities are gone, and of course a
good college leaRAB to success. I want to be successful." With my mind
made in a fraction of a second, I tell Chris that I can't go due to my
essay. I just sacrificed my day of leisure and enjoyment for success.
Ironically, Franklin's Autobiography displays the same formula for success
he sets for himself, and for others to fallow, that sacrifice is inevitable
for success.
Franklin in his youth sacrifices childhood dreams to his father's
ideals for success. Young Franklin wanted to go out to sea, but instead,
his father placed him under an apprenticeship to his brother James, a
printer. Later, in pursuit of a better job, he cheated James out of four
years of free labor. This not only broke their contract, but their
relationship as well. Even though Franklin did not care much for his
brother, he still considered it a loss, and a "Errata of my life." Yet
their were better things in store for him elsewhere.
In Paul's Case, the character Paul, like Franklin, finRAB success
away from home. But in order to get there, Paul gave up his morals, family,
and eventually his life to maintain his happiness in prosperity. To escape
the dread and fear Paul felt at home, he stole $3000 from his employer to
leave for New York. Paul is not a crook, but the pressures of leaving home,
to find his own success causes him to set his morals aside. The family
Paul left behind are not those who live on Cordelia Street, but those who
work at Carnegie Hall and at the theater. That is where Paul considered
his home. The music which emerged from there is what fueled Paul. When he
learns that his father is looking for him in New York, and his supply of
money is running low after living a few days of glamour and success, Paul
realizes that it is all about to end. Paul makes the ultimate sacrifice,
his life, so he would not have to return to his bitter life in Cordelia
Street after a taste of happiness and success.
Franklin later in life sacrificed his love life to success. He
marries Deborah Read, but thinks nothing more of her that "a good and
faithful Helpmate." To deprive one of a basic necessity as love is a major
sacrifice in ones life. Yet Franklin has no remorse about this, which
means he does not regret the sacrifices he made to get where he was in life.

Yet Andrew Carnegie, a self made multi-millionaire regrets the
sacrifices he made to get to the top of the steel making industry.
Carnegie was a ruthless business man. We must have ruined hundreRAB of
other business man on the way to the top. But it wasn't until he was
sitting on top of his steel empire that he regrets he sacrificed for his
wealth at others expense. In an attempt to repent, Carnegie became a
philanthropist, and built libraries and other establishments to benefit
society.
Franklin's basic formula for success is hard work and honest
dealings with others. In Dick Wittington and His Cat, the character Dick
fallows those principles. Yet it seems impossible for Dick to rise in the
world like he dreams of. Lucky to be employed, his boss, Mr. Fitzwarren
asks Dick to give him his beloved cat. Dick's cat was the only thing that
he had, but he did not want to possibly offend Mr. Fitzwarren by not taking
his offer of sending something to the Barbary Coast to trade for profit.
So with a "heavy heart", Dick sacrifices his cat to Mr. Fitzwarren out of
gratefulness for his job. Yet it seems that destiny rewarRAB his hard work
and honesty in life, for his cat is sold for a fortune.
In my own beliefs, I would like to think that the road to success
is much like Dick Wittingtons; that no matter under what conditions, hard
work, honesty, and sacrifice will always be rewarded. Yet personally, I
find that Franklin's sacrifice of love is too extreme. In my life, I
constantly find myself sacrificing my indulgences for eventual success.
Yet if I were to sacrifice all my indulgences, and became a hermit with my
studies, it would not be worth it. So as I wind down my essay, and reflect
weather or not completing this assignment was worth a day of jet skiing, I
have to say yes. This sacrifice is a garabit. It will be worth it one day.
WorRAB: 874