Benjamin Franklin knew how to make things happen.

He founded the first post office in the (future) United States, its first subscription library, and even established the first fire departments and police force.

He created what eventually became the University of Pennsylvania and the nation’s first learned society (The American Philosophical Society) to promote useful knowledge for the good of the citizenry.

He was able to do this by constantly asking, “What does this community need?”

It might seem like this question is harder than ever to answer. So many of the things we need have already been created.

But even in the digital age, humans need new creations.

Maybe the community isn’t the one you live in, like it was for Franklin. Maybe it’s one you can create online.

Maybe the needs are less tangible than they were for Franklin. We have fire departments and schools, so what do we need now?

Perhaps it’s connection. Or understanding. Or a group. Perhaps it’s a new tool or process.

The needs may be less obvious than they were, but they still exist. And remember, the needs Franklin solved were probably not obvious in his time either, even if they are now in hindsight.