Measuring the Right Things

You hear the terms "metrics" and "measurable success" a lot.

And metrics can be helpful. It keeps you from wondering whether you're succeeding. But it only works if you're measuring the right things.

When you practice a musical instrument, you might measure the amount of time you're practicing. But the number of minutes doesn't necessarily mean those minutes were productive.

If you're trying to lose weight, the number on the scale might be your measure of success. But, the scale can't tell you if you lived a healthier lifestyle or starved yourself to get that number.

In school, success is measured in terms of test scores and grades. But test scores aren't a measure of learning. They're a measure of memorizing.

In corporate America and even many nonprofits, success is measured in terms of the "bottom line." But when a board celebrates a hefty bottom line at the end of the fiscal year, they don't consider that half the employees may have been mistreated to get there.

If you're aiming to lose weight, try measuring the number of healthy meals you eat each week. If you're in school, measure the number of things that excited you about learning today. If you run a business, try measuring the number of smiles you brought to your employees this quarter.

You can measure anything as you work towards your goals. Just make sure you're measuring the things that matter.