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Franklin's Virtues
pooks | Apr 11 2006
I find references to "Franklin's 13 Virtues" and the re-created form he used in various places on GTD sites. What surprises me is that everyone seems to be copying his list of virtues. When I read Hyrum Smith's book (10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management) on the Franklin Planner (before Franklin and Covey joined) he related the story that as a young man Franklin came up with his list of virtues, showed it to a Quaker friend who told him he left one off -- Humility. At the end of his life Franklin said that the only one he didn't make much progress on was Humility, and came to the conclusion that people couldn't impose virtues on you, that you had to determine them for yourself. Part of Smith's program was to write your own "constitution" where you state those things that are important to YOU, that would guide your life. I found that to be an interesting and energizing project when I undertook it. So here's my question -- did Smith relate Franklin's story accurately? If so, why all the interest in Franklin's virtues rather than his process of determining your own? 12 Comments
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 I read Smith's book as...Submitted by emuelle1 on April 12, 2006 - 8:25am.
I read Smith's book as well, and I once bought the tapes of the Franklin Planner seminar. I keep bouncing back and forth between Franklin and GTD. I'm not sure that Covey added much to the Franklin system that works for me, but I've never actually read his book. As far as I can tell, Smith relayed Franklin's story accurately. Ben Franklin was a fascinating man who did so much it can be hard to keep track of it all. The part of the Franklin system that was always hardest to me was to draft the personal constitution. In his book, Hyrum Smith says it should take up to 8 hours to do properly. I was a 22 year old sailor when I first got into the Franklin system, so that was a bit much for me. Even ten years later, I still sit and stare blankly when I try to do something similar. I once did take Franklin's 13 virtues and define my own based on them. It was easier than trying to do 8 hours worth of personal constitution. I did get to thinking recently that Franklin is a good system for high level planning. GTD is great to help you manage 1000 emails an hour and 5 projects at the same time, but most will not stop to ask themselves why exactly they are in a job with 1000 emails an hour and 5 projects at the same time. Defining high level values can be important to setting good goals. At least, that's the conclusion I've come to this week. » POSTED IN:
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