Franklin was hoping to attain moral perfection.  He states, "I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into." This is keeping with Franklin's nature of self-improvement.  However, he soon realizes that as soon as he believes he has mastered one fault, another arises to confound him.  Ultimately, his plan is to create a chart whereby he can begin to monitor his progress from one virtue to another.  Franklin surmised that it wasn't simply enough to want to master a virtue, he had to make the virtues habits.