Benjamin Franklin is remembered not only as a founding father, but also as a pioneer in personal growth and leadership. His famous 13 virtues formed the foundation of a unique 13-week self-improvement system that helped him strengthen character, build better habits, and achieve extraordinary results. This “success rhythm” shows how steady, intentional progress can create lasting leadership skills and personal growth—and the same principles Franklin used in the 1700s can still transform your life and leadership today.
If you could improve your life by just 1% each week, where would you be a year from now? The math is surprising—those small, steady gains add up to 68% growth in just 12 months.
Here’s the exciting part: you’ve already proven you can do it! Over the past 13 weeks, you’ve been practicing exactly that kind of steady improvement by following “the summer leadership series.” The question now is: how will you continue the momentum?
We’ll share with you Benjamin Franklin’s model for continuous growth. Let’s dive into it!
Case Study: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin’s Ingenious Program
The greatest leaders didn’t always start great. Benjamin Franklin discovered this truth when at a young age a friend candidly told him he often came across as arrogant and condescending. Instead of dismissing the feedback, Franklin chose to change. He committed himself to continuous and steady improvement.
He created a 13-week system of self-improvement—identifying 13 virtues and focusing on one each week. At the end of the 13 weeks, he’d start over with the first virtue and repeat the cycle. Because there are 13 weeks in each quarter (four quarters per year), he’d work on each virtue exactly four weeks per year. Week after week, quarter after quarter, and year after year.
We’ve come to call Benjamin Franklin’s system the “success rhythm.” Look at the impact it had on his life — and it can have the same impact on your life!
Case Study: YOU!
What You’ve Accomplished in 13 Weeks
If you followed our summer leadership series, you’ve already proven you can do this! Each week, you practiced one principle of highly successful leaders. Here are the 13 principles you’ve explored and improved in:
- Be True to Character
- Lead with a Vision
- Manage with a Plan (Set Roles and Goals)
- Pre-Week Plan
- Live the Golden Rule
- Build and Maintain Trust
- Effectively Communicate
- Innovate through Imagination
- Be Accountable
- Gain and Apply Knowledge
- Find Peace and Balance
- Never Give Up
- Reflect
Think back for a moment: what stood out most to you? Did you set a clearer vision? Set roles and goals? Practice reflection? Improve your listening skills? Show kindness or gratitude? Unlock your imagination? Experiment with pre-week planning? Every step, however small, added to your growth.
The Next Step: Sustain the Rhythm! Finishing this 13-week journey isn’t the finish line—it’s the start of a new cycle. The secret to lasting growth (68% per year) is repetition. Each time you run the 13-week rhythm again, your character strengthens, your habits deepen, and your leadership expands! And, we make it easy for you by sending you this weekly newsletter that highlights each weekly principle with ways to practice the principle.
So, in addition to following the next 13 weeks of this newsletter, you can try this:
- Write down your weekly principle. Write down the weekly value in your planner
- Focus weekly. Pick intentional actions you can take to exercise that value.
- Notice progress. Even small wins are signs of real growth. Celebrate every win.
- Pause and reset. At week 13, reflect on what you’ve learned, then begin again.
So, Now What?
You’ve proven the power of consistent effort: 1% better each week, leading to extraordinary growth over time. By continuing the 13-week Success Rhythm, you’ll not only sharpen your skills but also deepen your character and expand your impact as a leader. Use this weekly newsletter over the next 13 weeks as your guide of what to focus on.
So, pause again to celebrate this milestone—and then step confidently into your next 13 weeks. Growth is no longer a question of “if” for you, but of “how far.” That’s becoming your best!
Fall Planners
Where do you write your weekly virtue? Get a planner built around the success rhythm and the habits to Do What Matters Most! You have a dedicated place for a weekly virtue! Plus, a pre-week planning matrix to schedule priorities first. And a weekly and monthly reflection guide to boot! Grab yours and lead your life by design.
Want to learn more about our training solutions?
Leadership Development: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
Do What Matters Most: The #1 Time-Management and Productivity Solution
The Six-Step Process: Six-Steps to Solve Your Biggest Challenges
Free Resources