The "right" numbers count...

Funny how a few well placed words from someone you respect can get right up on your gonads and really squeeze! A friend and mentor of mine had the good fortune of finding an out of the way watering hole (with adult beverages) and caught up on life.

We spoke about the kids, family, the meaning of life – I think that was after our second, but then business got brought up as a topic.

Tom starting talking about key words to remember,” weigh, count and measure”.

We are in the same business, so I immediately put on my fitness hat and thought that he was talking about this new diet just launched where everything and I mean everything is measured… But no, he was actually being much deeper than that….

Now why weigh, count and measure? To see what your results are from your activity, your attitude and your philosophy. If you find that you results are not to your liking there are only THREE places to look. Your philosophy might need to be fine-tuned; your attitude could be adjusted or strengthened or your discipline(s) might need extra skill. But it really is that simple. Activity, attitude and philosophy create results.

Now on results, Both Tom and I come from the perspective that life/the universe/god/your spouse or boss (or however else you would like to fill in the blank) expects you to make measurable progress in reasonable time. But, you must be reasonable with time. For example, you can't say to someone every five minutes, how are you doing now? Or are you there yet? That's too soon to ask for a count or expect a major change. That person is going to say, "Hey, I haven't left the building yet, give me a break!" Nor can you wait for five years (seems to be my favorite) Too many things can go awry waiting so long to make a change. (That would be marriage number two.)

So in our easy going state we came up with some time frames to measure change.

Number one: At the end of the day.
You can't let more than a day go by without looking at something during the course of your day and make some measurable amount of progress. The “good book” says - if you are angry, try to solve it before the sun goes down. Don't carry anger for another day. It may be too heavy to carry. If you try to carry it for a week, it may drop you to your knees… So some things must get done all in a day.

Number two: A week.
In our society we ask for an accounting of your progress each pay period. Whatever you've got coming is what you get. Now in business there are two things to check in the course of the week. Your activity count and your productivity count. Because activity leads to productivity we need to count both to see how we're doing.

Early on Tom taught me that success is a numbers game and very early into my mentorship he started asking me my numbers. He asked, "How many books have you read in the last ninety days?" I said, "Zero"; he said, "Not a good number." He said, "How many classes have you attended in the last six months to improve your skills?" And I said, "Zero." He said, "Not a good number." Then he said, "In the last six years that you've been working, how much money have you saved and invested?" I said, "Zero" and he said, "Not a good number." That’s when things started to squeeze. Then he said, "Mr. Espinoodle, if these numbers don't change, your life won't change”. “But" he said, "If you'll start improving these numbers then perhaps you'll start to see everything change for you."

Success and results are a numbers game. Pretend that you joined this little sales company. When you are hired it is explained that you are supposed to make 10 calls the first week just to get acquainted with the territory.

So on Friday you boss calls you into his office and says "How many calls?"

You reply with a hesitant "Well."

The boss says, "A 'well' won't fit in the little box here. I need a number."
Now you back peddle and try to vamp with some sort of a story and your new boss tersely stops you and says “The reason I made this little box so small is so a story won't fit. All I need is a number because if you give us the number we're so brilliant around here we could guess the story." Numbers do count in helping you make measurable progress in reasonable time.

But here is the best accounting. The accounting you make of yourself. Don't wait for the government to do it. Don't wait for the company to do it. You Do It! Add up some of your own numbers and ask, "Am I making the progress I want and will it take me where I want to go now and in the future?" You be the judge! If not, start tweaking --- increase your activity, change your attitude (even if you have to pretend at the start), or deepen you pockets by adding to your skill set.

Results will be right around the corner.

Til next time….