Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Week Challenge
Today, May 1st, presents the opportunity for new beginnings. State governments have started to ease social distancing restrictions so that society can start returning to some semblance of normality - whatever that “new normal” may be. I’m using this reopening as an opportunity to replicate Benjamin Franklin’s secret of success.
In his autobiography, Franklin wrote of an experiment he conducted for one year. Franklin took 13 subjects he felt desirable to acquire, and then focused on each for one week. He then repeated the process four times during the year.
I first came across this experiment in Frank Bettger’s book How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling, as Frank adapted the process to improve his salesmanship skills. Both men described the process as one of the most, if not the most important actions for driving their respective success and happiness in life. So, if it worked for these men, why not give it a go myself?
Here are the skills I’ll be working on over the next 13 weeks, before repeating the process four times. The skills are ordered sequentially such that each one builds on the next:
1. Enthusiasm!
2. Focus
3. Organization
4. Discipline
5. Self-Confidence
6. Awareness
7. Gratitude
8. Humility
9. Empathetic Listening
10. Negotiation Tactics
11. Concise & Honest Writing
12. Hand-Eye Coordination
13. Remember Faces & Names
This is the third time I’ve officially attempted this challenge. The first time I told no one, the second time I told my colleagues, and now I’m telling my entire professional network. I’m strengthening my resolve to follow through on this commitment by writing it down and disseminating it widely. I plan to post updates after each cycle, and in the interim I ask that you challenge me to make sure I’m holding true to this commitment. And if you’re interested in joining me one this journey, shoot me a note as I’d love to have a partner(s) in this crazy endeavor. To be continued…
I’ve reproduced the relevant chapters from How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin if you’re interested in reading the source material.