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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 don't necessarily think you...Submitted by pooks on April 12, 2006 - 12:06pm.
I don't necessarily think you have to write a constitution, but I do think it's rewarding to figure out, what are MY values? (I like the term values more than virtues.) Writing is one of my values. Ecology is one of my values. Being able to list them along with others is a strong statement about who I am and what tiny but important role my existance can play here on planet Earth. I'll let somebody else value the math and science! At this point I'm combining the two systems by listing my "next actions" for the day in my planner. I haven't weaned myself from it, and am not sure I need to. I am playing around with the hPDA but am still very happy with my small purse/planner I bought at Christmas and don't want to ditch it. » POSTED IN:
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