I have a philosophy that we do things out of habits. Thinking and acting habits. Most of them are unconscious and automatic and if we want to get different results in life, and in our businesses, we need to consciously create new habits of thinking and acting.

Yesterday, I was talking with a brilliant man, Jim Banks, of Shadetree Technoogy and ShelfBucks. Jim was sharing with me about the biography of Benjamin Franklin and his development of his character with practicing 13 virtues. I thought it might be great to take Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues, modernize them and create some new habits. Apparently, Mr. Franklin practiced each of these virtues for one week each and repeated it three times through the year. That worked for him. We know, through research, that it takes repetition,( the magic number is reportedly around 21 times), to create a new habit. So, instead of practicing these new habits for a week, I suggest practicing for 3 weeks at a time to integrate them into your natural way of thinking and acting.

I will post a new one every 3 weeks and you can practice the new one, if that serves you well.

Benjamin Franklin’s original virtues are:

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 uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11. Tranquillity. 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.

Let’s take his first virtue: Temperance

Mr. Franklin started with temperance as he felt it would help him develop self control. To modernize this, I suggest looking in your habits.

Where do you indulge? What do you do that you know is ‘to excess’? It could be in consumption- too much food, too much sugar, too much alcohol, too much TV, too much shopping, too much time researching and not acting, too much avoiding. Whatever your habit is that is in the way of your productivity, take on Temperance.

Moderation is the key– cut down. Consciously and deliberately. And at the end of every day, acknowledge the progress you made. And where you failed to practice temperance- forgive yourself and make a new commitment. Tomorrow is a new day. Make it count!