Benjamin Franklin was a man who understood the value of getting better each day. He called it:
“The means of improvement by constant study…”
Imagine how much better you could become with the mindset of improving yourself through constant study. Information is everywhere in our modern age. What does not change with time?
Consistency. Hard Work. Daily Actions.
Franklin knew that constant study required work. In fact, he details in his own words the length of time each day he dedicated to self-improvement:
“…for which I set apart an hour or two each day…”
It is amazing how often we underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade and overestimate what we can do in a year. Think about your life.
When was the last time you planned in decades and acted in years?
What are you working on each week to improve how you perform at work or at home?
During his life, Benjamin Franklin created a detailed program to improve areas of his life that he thought needed work.
These virtues were chosen based on his study of great people throughout history. He listed and defined 13 virtues that he believed would make him an even better man:
- Temperance
- Silence
- Order
- Resolution
- Frugality
- Industry
- Sincerity
- Justice
- Moderation
- Cleanliness
- Tranquility
- Chastity
- Humility
Instead of trying to multitask or worry about his productivity, he decided to focus.
“I judg’d it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro’ the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang’d them with that view as they stand above.”
Franklin realized focus and sequence were just as important as the virtues themselves..
The program included diligent study of one virtue a week.
“I determined to give a week’s strict attention to each of the virtues successively.”
The mastery of each virtue contributed to the learning of the next. Ironically after 13 weeks, he would reflect on his progress and start the program again. Repeating the 13 week program a quarter at a time, he completed the program four times in a single year.
What are thirteen virtues that you can practice each week? How much did you learn and study this year a quarter at a time?
While the last quarter of the year is almost at a close, now is a great time to plan your weeks and quarters of next year.
Where do you want to be in 10 years? How do you plan to get there?
Don’t forget it takes consistent focus and hard work.
The Real Con 055