You've heard it said a thousand times that example is the best teacher. Benjamin Franklin was one person who believed that old axiom. He felt that philadelphia needed street lights,but knew that example would be more persuasive than argument. With this in mind,he devised a unique method of convincing his neighbors that philadelphia should have those street lights. He hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket outside his own doors. He kept the lantern glass beautifully polished and the wick carefully trimmed. Before long,Franklin'sneighbors began placing lanterns outside their own doors. Soon the citizens of philadelphia were ready to light their streets. Even Benjamin Franklin's most eloquent speeches were no match for the power or persuasiveness of his example. That brings me to this question. How do youtry to influence people? By intimidation? By steamrollering them into seeing your way? If so,you probably don't succeed too often. Eventhose times when you do,wreckage and hard feelings are probably left behind the successes. I agree with Edgar A. Guest, who proclaimed, "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one anyday." In short,doing and showing are more powerful than telling.