Benjamin Franklin was a man who accomplished a huge amount in his lifetime. He was one of the founding fathers of the United States, a renowned polymath, a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. To illustrate the extent of his achievements, consider the following list:
- Invented the lightning rod
- Invented bifocals
- Invented the Franklin stove
- Created one of the first maps of the Gulf Stream
- Made numerous discoveries in electricity
- Founded first fire insurance company in America
- Established first fire department in Philadelphia
- Founded the first public circulation library in America
- Served as the first Postmaster General of the United States
All this was accomplished while running a printing business! At this point, you may be asking, how did one person manage to accomplish so much? This is where we can take inspiration from Franklin’s life and the simple system and a few daily habits he used to build a productive life.
The challenge is how do you stay focused on what’s most important? Like many, Franklin found it difficult to maintain focus, especially amidst daily distractions, external pressures, and conflicting priorities. To address this, he developed a system and daily practice. A thirteen-week plan, supported by a scorecard and schedule, that helped him stay productive.
Start with Values, They Are Foundation of a Productive Life
The best productivity system and supporting habits are of little value without knowing who you are and who you’re aspiring to become. To live a productive life requires expressing yourself through your values. Your values that give your projects and tasks meaning and the source of inspiration.
Benjamin Franklin carefully considered the kind of man he wanted to become. To become productive means starting with a clear understanding of your personal values. Franklin’s overarching goal was to achieve moral perfection. At age 20, he listed thirteen virtues that defined the person he aspired to become.
- Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think more than they deserve.
- Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
- Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- 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.
- Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
This impressive list of virtues was not merely theoretical, Franklin developed a practical system to incorporate these virtues into his daily life.
Since Franklin knew he couldn’t work on all thirteen virtues simultaneously, he focused on one each week. He believed that concentrating on a single virtue, it would help it become a habit. The following week, he would move onto the next virtue, and so on completing one virtue, each week. Then, every evening he would review his day using a scorecard. He would record faults he committed for that placing a black mark scorecard. Over time, this practice enabled him to improve himself, making fewer mistakes each day, and growing better every year.
Next, Recognise That Time Is Your Scarcest Resource. Act Accordingly.
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Franklin understood the importance of time. While each person possesses different skills, talents, and resources, everyone has the same 24 hours daily. What matters is how effectively we use this time. Time is our scarcest resource, and managing it wisely requires careful effort.
Recognising that time is limited is a good starting point, but devising an effective system for using it is critical. Productive time management isn’t about working harder, it’s about working smarter, knowing how to invest your time effectively. Franklin pondered this deeply. In response he developed a system based on three daily habits that helped maximise his use of time.
Habit #1: Keep a Daily Schedule and Routine
“Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.” – Benjamin Franklin
Franklin emphasised the importance of doing the right things at the right times. To facilitate this, he created a detailed daily schedule. His structured allowed him to be productive whilst focusing on what was most important.
Below is Franklin’s actual daily schedule, how he lived each day.
A one-page schedule offers clarity and perspective, helping ensure you’re focused on the right tasks at the right times.
Notice how he balances the areas in his life, preparation, work, social, rest, meals, reading, learning and reflection to ensure that the urgent, doesn’t crowd out the important, such as rest, health, and reflection.
A consistent schedule provides the structure needed to accomplish the right things at the right times, in all aspects of life.
Habit #2: Make Your Mornings Count
Benjamin Franklin highly valued organisation.
“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” – Benjamin Franklin
How you start your day often determines its success. An unprepared, morning can lead to being caught up in trivial tasks, emergencies, and conflicting priorities, you lose focus and end up running distracted. Do this for too long, and soon, days run into weeks, weeks into months, and you’re not making progress.
To prevent this, Franklin’s solution was waking early, at 5 a.m., to prioritise his day.
Each morning , Franklin would ask himself, “What shall I do this day?”
This habit ensured that Franklin had a three-hour head start over everyone else.
Consider adopting a morning routine, wake early, and before diving into work, spend time organising and setting your priorities for the day.
Habit #3: End Your Day Well
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” ― Benjamin Franklin
The third habit is to conclude each day effectively. Franklin used this time for reflection, making notes, updating his scorecard, and assessing his progress.
His practice involved asking himself, “What good have I done today?” This aligned with his pursuit of moral perfection and virtuous living. Reflecting on positive actions reinforced his growth towards his ideals.
Benjamin Franklin exemplifies the benefits of living purposefully and productively.