The perils of quantifying growth.

It’s too easy to get addicted to measuring progress — to see growth in increasing numbers, while smiling and nodding in satisfaction.

I mean, it absolutely makes sense at work.

You see many frameworks around quantifiable goals — OKRs, KPIs, the acronym-filled list goes on. The work week is broken down into units of time; 8 hour days, 5 days a week. Deadlines, milestones, promotions, goals, they all run on measured blocks of time, profit and progress.

I found that this perspective of measuring growth has often unconsciously and waaay too easily influenced how I viewed my growth in life.

Today has been a good example.

Over the last few years, I’ve gotten into the habit of scribbling up little life notes for myself. Putting my thoughts on paper made them feel less fleeting and intangible. Almost all never see the light of day again.

Over the last week, I’ve written up a few while on a roadtrip, driving around the majestic Mt Taranaki in New Zealand.

I wondered what to post next on here — this unstructured newsletter that was started on a whim to kick off 2023 (thanks for reading!). As I started to write down ideas, I found myself trying to figure out what would get the best response.

What would others enjoy reading the most? And how would I measure that metric? After all, feedback is important, isn’t it?

Then I realised this habit of quantifying my progress diminished the growth found in the discarded notes, fleeting thoughts and curious observations. Before my pen could touch paper, I axed the ideas that came to me.

That day, the notepad remained untouched.

I thought about how I’d describe the rodtrip to friends and family — would I talk about the kilometers covered? The number of towns we travelled through? Rating the campsites from best to worst?

Or would I talk about the little things I learned about the people I travelled with? Perhaps mention the contented sighs and slack-jawed awe at the sights? Or maybe I’d speak of the little nuggets of self-awareness I gleaned from hours of quiet thinking while watching oceans and hills roll by?

Undoubtedly there is an ideal balance to be struck. Both have their place.

But today has been a really nice reminder that amongst the number of likes and subscribes, days travelling, photos snapped or miles covered, there’s beauty in the intangible moments and growth that just can’t be quantified.