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In his autobiography he showed the form of the pages:

TEMPERANCE

Finally, despite the project’s secular context, Ben did not discount the hand of providence or the effect of inspiration. Among several mottos, prayers, and credos that he would recite daily to get over the hurdles was one he composed himself:

O powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful Guide! increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual favors to me.

Oh, how I like the way that Ben’s mind worked. So practical and pragmatic; so focused on the goal. And yet for all his practicality he was a dreamer of the first order. This practical, yet wistful, approach to the program offered real opportunity for an acolyte such as me. I could copy the “tools” that Ben used in his quest. Thus, in preparation for stumbling after Ben, I created my own virtuous day planner and progress chart—a modern equivalent of Franklin’s little book. I call it the Virtue Tracker™. Maybe I’ll market it for those intrepid souls foolhardy enough to follow in the wake of both Franklin and me. (The Virtue Tracker™ is not really trademarked. This was just an attempt to be funny. Forgive me—I suppose it’s a bit of lawyer humor.)

So I had the book, its virtue-tracking pages clean and ready to record my transgressions. Within its pages were the very poems Ben used to inspire himself. But just buying a toolbox does not make you a carpenter. Or is that a tool belt?

If Franklin’s course is about changing and creating habits, replacing the bad with the good, then I next decided that I must know who I am. I must know from whence I am starting this particular journey. I call this section . . .

. . . The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It is difficult to be introspective. I am reminded every time I see a picture of myself or hear my voice on a recording that my own self-image is not consistent (even in superficial ways) with how others see me (or, more important, with reality). I decided, in preparing for this course, to begin by making things easy on myself and to let others begin the process. What do those around me think of me? I decided to take a survey.

That’s where the sloth thing came up. It was not a promising start.

I came up with some very unscientific questions as I sat on the couch and interviewed my wife (while watching TV, mind you). Immediately thereafter I lost both my questions and her answers. Make a mark under “Disorganized.” Maybe I was traumatized by the sloth comment. Perhaps it just hit too close to the bone. Or possibly as a male, I am unable to watch TV and carry on a conversation at the same time.

{ How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.}

I soon regrouped and re-created the survey from memory. Essentially I asked the participants to rate me relative to Franklin’s virtues and then list my good and bad qualities (I did pose the animal question to all—once I got sloth, I assumed it could get no worse). In order to lessen the blow to my ego, I’ll reproduce my email to my parents along with their responses (a good rule of thumb: If you are going to reveal your character to the world, start off with your mother’s assessment). Here it is:

1. Please make a list of my good and bad qualities (honesty is required).

2. If I were an animal, what animal would I be?

3. Please consider the 13 virtues (I listed them) as described by Benjamin Franklin, and rate me on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best.

That’s it. Thanks and don’t forget to be honest.

And now the answers (from, mind you, the two people who gave me life, raised me, and saw me off into the world. I should also acknowledge that I am their only child):

We were not too smart with the virtues, Benjamin was too sophisticated for us; not sure we understood them. Any way here goes.

Good Qualities—Honest, loyal, intelligent,