One of the wisest and most practical men ever walked on earth, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) has formulated a success formula. He used it and succeeded.

He listed out the following thirteen virtues and annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressed the extend he gave to its meaning:
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 employed 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, 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 off-spring, never to dullness, weakness or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13) Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

In his Autobiography, he states: “I made a little book, in which I allotted a page for each of the virtues. I ruled each page with red ink, so as to have seven columns, one for each day of the week, marking each column with a letter for the day. I crossed these columns with thirteen red lines, marking the beginning of each line with the first letter of one of the virtues, on which line, and in its proper column. I might mark, by a little black spot, every fault I found upon examination to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day.”

In this way he was able to go through his entire list in thirteen weeks, and repeat the process for four times in a year. Needless to say that he has achieved his goal.

Frank Bettger one of the greatest salesmen of America read the book and formulated his own success plan. He wanted to apply this technique for selling. Hence he substituted seven new skills which he thought would be more helpful to him to develop his business replacing Franklin’s seven virtues.

Frank Bettger’s list:
1)Enthusiasm
2)Order: self-organization
3)Think in terms of others’interests
4)Questions
5)Key issue
6)Silence: listen
7)Sincerity: deserve confidence
8)Knowledge of my business
9)Appreciation and praise
10)Smile: happiness
11)Remember names and faces
12)Service and prospecting
13)Closing the sale: action

Mr.Bettger made up 5” x 3” card, a pocket reminder for each one of his subjects and carried it with him for a week The technique worked for him.

One may prepare his/her own list to suit his/her own needs. We may analyze ourselves, list out our weaknesses in order to eliminate them using the formula 13. Replace purposeless life with definite goals, laziness with enthusiasm, procrastination with immediate action, routine work with creativity and so on.

A list of 50 virtues/skills is given below for your ready reference.

1) Goals
2) Confidence
3) Public speaking
4) Exercises for health
5) Frugality
6) Praise others finding good qualities
7) Think
8) Enthusiasm
9) Have more friends
10) Service to others
11) Stop criticizing
12) Get tough emotionally
13) Positive thinking
14) Time management
15) Acquiring knowledge
16) Learn: to organize
17) Making the handicap as asset
18) Smile
19) Increasing energy
20) Relaxation
21) Finding new hobbies
22) Imagination
23) Auto suggestion
24) Live today
25) Creativity
26) Motivation
27) Faith
28) Forget and forgive
29) Working in rhythmic harmony
30) Planning
31) Be humble
32) Reading
33) Listen
34) Keeping journals
35) Physical discipline
36) Cleanliness
37) Temperance
38) Silence
39) Problem solving techniques
40) Using both sides of the brain
41) Mind development
42) Yoga
43) Job skills
44) Doing one thing at a time
45) Gathering ideas (brainstorming)
46) Finding new methods
47) Make personal slogans for improvement
48) Body language
49) Mind mapping
50) Give

The list is never ending one.

Make your own formula 13. One who follows formula 13 will definitely succeed!

S.Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 1300 articles in 16 magazines and published 18 books so far. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V.Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. His email address is : snagarajans@gmail.com.

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