Leadership Library
Self-Improvement

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin · 1791

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About

The original self-improvement memoir — Franklin's method for building virtues and habits by design.

SK's perspective

His 13-virtues tracking is the ancestor of every habit system I recommend.

Key learnings

  • Track a habit and it improves.
  • Work on one virtue at a time.
  • Usefulness beats brilliance.
  • Reputation is built by consistent small acts.
  • Reflect nightly on the day's ledger.

Make it a ritual

Franklin literally invented the daily habit tracker — borrow it directly.

Professional life

  • Pick one professional 'virtue' (e.g. punctuality) and score it daily for a week.
  • Ask each morning: 'What good shall I do this day?'

Personal life

  • Keep a simple habit grid on the fridge; tick or cross each night.
  • Ask each evening: 'What good did I do this day?'

Project Gutenberg (text), public domain. — Public domain.

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