Clearly, there are distinct skill
sets to master, which we'll
cover more in the "Self
Discovery" portion of this
series. But at a much higher
level, fulfillment and success (in life and in work) can be
found by pursuing a life of
virtue. Establishing virtues (core
competencies, core beliefs, or
values), and then pursuing
their mastery provides you
with a strong moral compass.
They give you a sense of direction when the path
before you is unclear. They
become the instruments by
which you can navigate when
visibility is limited. Conversely, a virtueless life
creates feelings of confusion,
isolation, complexity, and the
distinct feeling of being lost,
and not knowing where to
go. Each of these are tremendously taxing
emotions. Benjamin Franklin suggested
13 virtues one should pursue,
which he identified as follows: "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 employ'd 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
they deserve." "CLEANLINESS . Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths,
or habitation." "TRANQUILLITY . 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." Benjamin
Franklin's goal was
to imbue his life with meaning
and worth by allowing these
virtues to be the foundation
of all his actions. In order to facilitate the
pursuit of mastery of these
overarching virtues, he
created a book of 13 charts.
Each chart consisted of a
column for every day of the week, and 13 rows (one for
each virtue). At the end of every day, he
would measure himself ( see this post on the extreme
value of measurement ), by checking a box next to
each virtue he had violated,
with the goal being to have a
clean sheet at the end of each
day. He had 13 of these sheets, and
each day he would focus on a
single virtue, identifying it at
the top of the sheet, along
with a "short precept" to
explain it's meaning. By doing so, over the course
of 13 weeks he would have
devoted one full week
specifically to more fully
understanding (and living)
that particular virtue, and then he would repeat the
cycle all over again. If you're in the need of
something to master, I would
recommend trying out
Benjamin Franklin's approach.
After all, he was a pretty
bright guy. Let me know how it goes! Rusty Note: Thank you for being
here. Remember, you matter,
and you can make a
difference. If you know of
anyone else who is going
through a difficult time with their career, please share this
post series with them, and
invite them to join in the
journey.
sets to master, which we'll
cover more in the "Self
Discovery" portion of this
series. But at a much higher
level, fulfillment and success (in life and in work) can be
found by pursuing a life of
virtue. Establishing virtues (core
competencies, core beliefs, or
values), and then pursuing
their mastery provides you
with a strong moral compass.
They give you a sense of direction when the path
before you is unclear. They
become the instruments by
which you can navigate when
visibility is limited. Conversely, a virtueless life
creates feelings of confusion,
isolation, complexity, and the
distinct feeling of being lost,
and not knowing where to
go. Each of these are tremendously taxing
emotions. Benjamin Franklin suggested
13 virtues one should pursue,
which he identified as follows: "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 employ'd 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
they deserve." "CLEANLINESS . Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths,
or habitation." "TRANQUILLITY . 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." Benjamin
Franklin's goal was
to imbue his life with meaning
and worth by allowing these
virtues to be the foundation
of all his actions. In order to facilitate the
pursuit of mastery of these
overarching virtues, he
created a book of 13 charts.
Each chart consisted of a
column for every day of the week, and 13 rows (one for
each virtue). At the end of every day, he
would measure himself ( see this post on the extreme
value of measurement ), by checking a box next to
each virtue he had violated,
with the goal being to have a
clean sheet at the end of each
day. He had 13 of these sheets, and
each day he would focus on a
single virtue, identifying it at
the top of the sheet, along
with a "short precept" to
explain it's meaning. By doing so, over the course
of 13 weeks he would have
devoted one full week
specifically to more fully
understanding (and living)
that particular virtue, and then he would repeat the
cycle all over again. If you're in the need of
something to master, I would
recommend trying out
Benjamin Franklin's approach.
After all, he was a pretty
bright guy. Let me know how it goes! Rusty Note: Thank you for being
here. Remember, you matter,
and you can make a
difference. If you know of
anyone else who is going
through a difficult time with their career, please share this
post series with them, and
invite them to join in the
journey.
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