“Growth isn’t for everybody. Some people want to stay the same forever.” – Anonymous
Benjamin Franklin dropped out of school when he was 10 years old to become an apprentice to his father. Other than his love of books, even as a teenager he showed no particular talent or skill.
But when he died over 50 years later, he was America’s most respected statesman, its most famous inventor, a prolific author and a successful entrepreneur.
What happened between these two points to transform Benjamin Franklin? The answer probably lies in what has been called “The Five Hour Rule of Benjamin Franklin.” Throughout Franklin’s adult life he consistently invested roughly one hour a day, five days a week to intentional learning.
Franklin’s learning time consisted of five components: 1) Waking up early to read and write; 2) Setting personal-growth goals (i.e., virtues list) and tracking the results; 3) Creating a club for “like-minded aspiring artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community; 4) Turning his ideas into experiments; and 5) Having morning and evening reflection questions.
I came across this insight in a blog written by Michael Simmons, co-founder of Empact with Ian Chew. Simmons and Chew said, “Every time that Franklin took time out of his busy day to follow his five-hour rule and spend at least an hour learning, he accomplished less on that day. However, in the long run, it was arguably the best investment of his time he could make.”
One of the first times I came across this methodical commitment to personal growth was over 25 years ago when I read Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” In many ways all seven habits directly or indirectly focus on “powerful lessons in personal change” but it is habit number seven which seems the closest to Franklin’s personal discipline. Covey calls it “Sharpen the Saw; Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal. (Physical; Mental; Spiritual; Social/Emotional).”
Earlier in his book, Covey referenced the value of a personal mission statement because it helps marshal one’s energies in a focused disciplined, intentional direction to keep growing in every area of one’s personal and professional life. It is why David O. McKay said, “The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul.”
Simmons and Chew simply say, ” … over time, the smartest and most successful people are the ones who are constant and deliberate learners. Warren Buffet spends five to six hours per day reading. … Bill Gates reads 50 books per year. Mark Zuckerberg reads at least one book every two weeks. Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, reads two hours a day. Dan Gilbert, self-made billionaire and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, reads one to two hours a day.”
Josh Waitzkin, chess grandmaster and world-champion martial artist recently said, “I have built a life around having empty space for the development of my ideas for the creative process.” Benjamin Franklin’s “Five Hour Rule” is all about finding and maximizing “empty space” in our lives to help us keep growing.
I like the list which Simmons and Chew suggest for how one can best use the “Five Hour Rule”: 1) Plan out the learning. Set goals for what you want to learn. 2) Deliberately practice. Set up a schedule, get feedback, and practice. 3) Ruminate. Take time to develop slow hunches. 4) Set aside time just for learning. Reading, taking classes, talking to mentors will help. 5) Solve problems as they arise. Never sweep them under the rug. 6) Do small experiments with big potential payoffs. Experiment to test your ideas.
What have you always wanted to learn or do but you never had the time? Perhaps Benjamin Franklin’s “Five Hour Rule” could help you achieve it.
As Andrea DeBell said, “Growth happens when we have the courage to stretch ourselves in new directions.”
Think about it.Dr. Don Meyer is president emeritus of the University of Valley Forge, Phoenixville. Connect via dgmeyer@valleyforge.edu, Facebook.com/DrDonMeyer, www.DrDonMeyer.com, Twitter and Instagram: @DrDonMeyer.
