How do we know if we are improving? It is like a trick question to most of us. Most of us try to adopt the feeling test. We want to make statements like “I feel I’m doing better than last month.” No reasoning. No metrics. No change in production. What has improved is our outlook. Outlook is not an indication of improvement. A better outlook is a prerequisite for improvement. If we want to lose weight, we set a workout regimen. We complete half for two weeks and make statements like “I can feel improvement.” We want to improve in our careers. We look up the certifications or degrees we can obtain to do so. Instead of completing them, we take the knowledge of what needs to be done for what we’ve done. That is big mistake. Work is needed here. Where is the action?
How do we know we are improving? We must have measurables. If it is weight, it is pretty easy. Hop on the scale and confirm the numbers are going down. If we want to improve our careers, we need to take two steps. Step one would be to equip ourselves with the resume and skills we need to qualify for what we want. This approach is actionable, unlike the simple outlook or mindset change. The second step is to attack the goal. We should do away with “working towards” goals. We need to attack. Each passing day should include a plan to charge a task that will propel us towards our goal. The measurables here are attributes that will help us in our journey and allow us to check off tasks that work toward what we want.
How else can we know we are improving? Our consistency with action. It will no longer be feeling like we are getting better. We’ll know we are better and prepared for attacking the next task. No more talking. No more false or self-limiting statements. This step is big because false and self-limiting statements keep us from improving. Lack of consistency causes us to over reward ourselves for the smallest of efforts. It may seem like a good thing, but only for people who accomplish goals and tend not to celebrate. Those who don’t fit that mold should be wary of celebrating inconsistent action. It allows us to believe we are making progress when it hasn’t been long enough to make such a declaration.
In closing, we can measure our improvement. Like everything on our journey, it takes work. Talking is too easy. Inconsistent action is also too easy. We have to build the skill of consistency. That is what will take us from wondering if we are improving to knowing we are. It is a major change we need to make in our lives. That will be one less question about ourselves we have trouble answering. Are we improving? Yes, because we accomplished prerequisites and aggressively completed tasks to confirm our stance. It is a wonderful feeling.
Food for Thought…You do the Dishes!
