I like to measure things. What I realized when I started thinking about it is that I measure everything. My measurement is just different than most people’s. I am not all that structured of a person. So I measure things in a directional, not always quantitative way.
For example, I make myself do the things I have to do in the morning by giving myself credit for being an adult. I have to take the dogs out, feed the cat, give the dog’s their dingo bone, make coffee for my husband when I really want to selfishly get my own Keurig cup that takes 5 seconds, and then find comfortable places for all of the animals because they are wiener dogs with bad backs and shouldn’t jump up on things to get comfortable themselves.
After I have done all of these mundane chores just to get to sit down with my coffee and read something, I tell myself this is because I am a responsible adult.
I also go through a series of checking statistics on everything I have statistics for. I check the stock market several times a day. I immediately switch to the unrealized gain page because I want to know if the investment is profitable overall, not just today. I also look up and down at all of the holdings to make sure there is more green numbers than red numbers. And then I switch to Facebook or Instagram to see how many likes or shares or notifications I have, like it is just as important as the stock market performance that day.
These are tangible measurements, but then I realize that I am measuring all day:
- How many Fitbit steps do I have, how many hours did I sleep, or how many times did I wake up?
- How many words are in the blog post I am writing?
- How many new clients have we picked up this month?
- How many hours until I have to be at work?
- How many times I had to move an appointment for someone?
- How many times have my dogs made me get up to move them somewhere else or get them something?
- How long it has been since I spoke to my daughter in Birmingham?
- How many days left in the month to get revenues higher than last month?
- How many days in a row I have walked in the morning?
Wow, I am measuring everything I do. That is insane and now that I think about it, exhausting.
And it all misses the point, because none of this measures what is important. At least it isn’t important minute-to-minute or even day-to-day.
If I step back and look at what is important in my life and work and the results I am working toward, it would be things like:
- Feel healthy and energetic – Regardless of how many steps or how much sleep, did I feel healthy and energetic today or this week?
- Help people find God’s path for their life and business – Did I help someone move closer to God or see His perspective or plan for their life? Did they feel closer to God is really the main point, and did God somehow find a way to get me out of the way, and work through me as a tiny seed to that end?
- Maintain a healthy business – Are we getting new clients and referrals? Are people coming back again and feel our services are of value?
- Have a close family – Do we have positive relationships with each other? Are my kids thriving in their endeavors?
- Be a good steward of the resources God has bestowed on us
All of these are not single moment goals. Some of them are active in any given moment, but they are life. They are part of my journey.
It seems like it would be healthier to move toward these goals or values by doing many of the things I seem to mentally or tangibly track, without keeping an up-to-the-minute account of the actions. Maybe my tracking chart should be more subjective, like: Do I feel energetic today? Are we doing quality work that we feel glorifies God each day? Do we have long time customers that are achieving their goals?
I am 51 years old. Whether I do chores in the morning or not…….I am still an adult.
