This is Stevea Robbins. Welcome to the Get It Done guys quick and dirty tips to work less and do more.

Measurement. I just love measurement. That's because it tells you how you're doing how much progress you've made.

Progress checks can motivate you. They can help you catch yourself when you're slacking and they can tell you when to change course. But without giving thought to how you define progress, you can measure

the wrong thing, or you can measure it the wrong way. You might end up demoralized for no reason,

or falling behind unknowingly on a project or missing opportunities, or lying in the gutter or

complete failure at the bright young age of whatever age you are now.

So no, don't do that. Don't. If you're going to measure progress, do it right. Turn off the autopilot gut checks and measure progress thoughtfully.

First, measure process goals. If you're type A like me, you probably overwork yourself under the assumption that

more work gives more progress. But does it? Have you ever measured? Just being stressed and busy

does not mean we're getting anything done. We need to track how far we are from our goals and whether

we're closing the gap. So first of all, determine the kind of goals you're chasing. Episode number

462,

Grow a Pair for your career outlines the difference between outcome goals and process goals.

Outcome goals, like getting a promotion, are something you strive for, not something you just do.

Process goals, on the other hand, are measurable actions that help you get closer to your outcome

goal, like making 10 more sales

calls each day. On a daily basis, measure your progress through movement around your process

goals. It doesn't matter how much you work, only whether that work takes you closer to finishing

that day's process goals. Then check that your process goals are doing what they should by

tracking overall movement towards an outcome goal. For example, if you work in sales that your process goals are doing what they should by tracking overall movement towards an outcome goal.

For example, if you work in sales, your process goal might be to make 50 cold calls a day.

If that's your goal, sending 200 emails should not count as progress.

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