Ben Franklin, Communicator; Build Bridges: His ability to network helped put our nation on its feet.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: DAN MOREAU

It was 1776, and Ben Franklin had a lot riding on his journey to France that year.

Helping represent his country during a three-man mission to Paris, Franklin knew their success would mean the difference between the creation of an independent country and the uncertain continuation of a group of disloyal colonies.

And France had the money to help.

That country could be the critical source of funds to finance the fledgling colonies and soldiers in their war with Britain. The French aristocracy saw Franklin as the epitome of enlightenment in the New World. In the years he spent in Paris, he befriended scores of French political and aristocratic leaders.

So on this trip he took out his address book and planned to call on as many as humanly possible to ensure the future of a new country.

In his journal and in letters to others, Franklin wrote that his social schedule was so packed that he "need not consider eating dinner, or any other meal," at his rented home.