On Wednesday night Renee Beere and I went to the 20th year celebration and opening of Beckman Institute’s Rotunda Exhibits.  We had the opportunity to work with the University of Illinois in creating an exhibit about Arnold Beckman.  The central theme for the exhibit is:  Dr. Arnold Beckman’s personal integrity and deep love of science guided his extraordinary life as an educator, inventor, and philanthropist – and it all began right here in central Illinois.   It is an extraordinary story to tell.  Beckman grew up in the small rural town of Collum, IL.  Through creativity and persistence he became a leading inventor of scientific instruments.  His name can be found in the National Inventors Hall of Fame and he won numerous awards including the National Medal of Science, Presidential Citizens Medal and the National Medal of Technology.  Beckman was also a great philanthropist.  He made possible the Beckman Institute 313,000 square-foot building on the U of I campus with his generous $40 million gift.

Many of us at Taylor Studios’ liked Beckman’s rules that govern his life:

• Maintain absolute integrity at all times.

• Always do your best: Never do anything half-heartedly. (Either get into it, or get out of it.)

• Never do anything to harm others.

• Never do anything for which you’ll be ashamed later. (This is an important one!)

• Always strive for Excellence-there’s no substitute for it.

• Practice moderation in all things – including moderation. (There’s nothing wrong with a little excess once in a while.)

• Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Visitors to the exhibit can take away a flyer with these rules.  They are worth noting.

You can learn more about Dr. Beckman here.

What rules govern your life?