“You get what you measure. Measure the wrong thing and you get the wrong behaviors.”
― John H. Lingle

Modern managers often seem to be confused about how to measure performance. I like to say, they’re measuring attendance when they should be measuring results. Of course, everyone who wants their business to be successful wants to measure performance, so I’m going try try to clear up this confusion.

If you’re worried about how long it takes to get a response to your email, you’re measuring attendance.

If you make your salaried employees clock in and clock out, you’re measuring attendance.

If you care about what time of day your team members are working, you’re measuring attendance.

If you track computer usage, you’re measuring attendance.

However…

If you track sales, if you track retention, if you track customer satisfaction, you’re measuring results. These are metrics that truly reflect the success and productivity of your team.

It’s important to shift your focus from babysitting your employees to leading them. That’s how you drive overall performance and success in your organization.

Remember, it’s never about “butts in seats”.

“Acknowledge all of your small victories. They will eventually add up to something great.”
― Kara Goucher

The big wins are wonderful, but consistent, small wins are the foundation of success. Small wins are an investment in your life. Small wins build confidence and create momentum.

When you’re stuck, or confused, or overwhelmed, or afraid, look for a little win. Just get something. It’ll help you break through whatever challenge you’re facing. Get a small win, celebrate it, and look for the next win.

Small wins create the necessary platform for big wins. Don’t underestimate their impact. Acknowledge and appreciate each win, and let them propel you forward.

“Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
― Hanlon’s razor

“Man tends towards good, but he is also capable of evil.”
― John Paul II

Stupid: Rich people having money is the cause of poverty.
Bad: Tax the rich.
Evil: Eliminate money.

Stupid: AI will eliminate all human jobs.
Bad: Only approved companies should be allowed to develop AI.
Evil: The government must control AI.

Stupid: Words hurt people.
Bad: Censor speech.
Evil: Arrest everyone who refuses to say the correct words.

Stupid: All opinions are equally valid.
Bad: My opinion is always right.
Evil: Everyone should have the same opinions.

Stupid: Men have no right to have an opinion about life in the womb.
Bad: Unborn babies aren’t human beings.
Evil: You have a right to kill your unborn baby.

“Many times experts fail because they’re experts in the past version of the world.”
― Vinod Khosla

It doesn’t matter how you got here. Your next decision requires an understanding of the present and a vision of the future. The past is irrelevant to the next decision.

If you’re constantly looking over your shoulder, you can’t see where you’re going.

“Just Do It.”
― Nike slogan

Sometimes, you just need to go for it. But how do you start? How do get that first bit of momentum? How do you take that first step?

Well, like so many things, it’s simple, not easy.

You start.

That’s it. It’s not complicated, and it’s not going to magically make all the challenges disappear. But it’s a start. It’s momentum. It’s that first step.

Then, you adjust and keep going. And repeat the process again. And again. Before you know it, you’ll actually be getting somewhere. As you go, don’t stop, but keep your eyes open and adjust on the fly.

That’s how you go for it.

“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

Don’t seek fame. Seek success.

Don’t seek comfort. Seek growth.

Don’t seek quantity. Seek quality.

Don’t seek money. Seek strength.

Don’t seek perfection. Seek progress.

Don’t seek to fit in. Seek to stand out.

Don’t seek revenge. Seek forgiveness.

Don’t seek to impress. Seek to inspire.

Don’t seek approval. Seek authenticity.

Don’t seek applause. Seek accomplishment.

Don’t seek to be seen. Seek to make a difference.

Don’t seek followers. Seek meaningful relationships.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Is your current path a path to mediocrity? To average? To normal?

We’re all on a path. It could lead to fame or infamy, riches or poverty, success or failure. But it could also lead to nothing, to nowhere.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I rising above my peers?

• Do I elevate the people around me?

• Am I leaving a legacy for future generations?

• Do my actions inspire others to achieve greatness?

• Am I worthy to follow in the footsteps of the greats of the past?

• What do I need to change so I can answer yes to the questions above?

Everyone has areas of strength and areas of weakness, but hall of famers don’t accept losing. They fight through their weaknesses and maximize their strengths. They don’t settle for average. They treat normal like a disease.

Don’t settle for less than your potential. Be great.

Be great for yourself. Be great for your family and friends. Be great for the world.

“If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything.”
― Ronald Coase

Stop wasting time tracking metrics that don’t help you achieve success.

Every extraneous metric you analyze is a waste of precious time and energy. Not only could your time be better spent, but every additional metric leads to some amount of analysis paralysis. Before you know it, all your motivation is gone.

Don’t let the details drag you down. Identify what’s important and keep your eyes focused on those goals.

Remember, what gets measured gets managed. So measure what truly matters and watch your success sky-rocket.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
― Robert J. Collier

I think it’s helpful to see immediate success in everyday progress.

Woke up early. Success.

Did 100 pushups. That’s success.

Didn’t eat that donut. That’s success.

Finished your top three tasks before 10 AM. More success.

Read a book instead of watching TV. Success.

Played catch with your son. Success.

Every moment matters. Train your brain to identify the daily wins that lead to a successful life.

“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.”
― Brian Tracy

You want to be fit, but you don’t exercise.

You want to be smart, but you don’t study.

You want to be wealthy, but you don’t invest.

You want to be holy, but you don’t pray.

This is why you’re not happy. It’s why you feel so lousy all the time. It’s why you feel like a loser.

You need to align your actions with the person you want to become. Get on the path. Start making progress.