Launching the Experiment -- 13 months of character building

Benjamin Franklin is known for many things, but did you know that he went about trying to improve his character methodically, cultivating 13 specific values? This is laid out in his autobiography.

I came across this as a matter of chance, cited by Stephen Covey in his Seven Habit of Highly Effective People.

I've decided to spend the next 13 months cultivating specific values in my life, one each month for 13 months.

Here's Ben Franklin's list:

1. Temperance: Eat not to Dullness, drink not to elevation
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation
3. Order: Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste Nothing
6. Industry: Lose no Time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak; speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Clothes, or Habitation
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

I am disappointed the Generosity is not on this list, so I am going to work that in somewhere at some point.

So begins a 13 month experiment!