Six Tenets of Measurements

1. Measurements are standards for evaluating progress and, perhaps, success. You can have measurements for every area of life -- spiritual, relational, financial, intellectual, physical, marital, parental, societal, organizational, etc.
2. Not all measurements are equally important. For my exercise I enjoy jogging. My one-mile time is important to me. Maintaining a healthy weight is important. Having bigger biceps (wishful thinking) is not.
3. Whenever you measure something, you make yourself uncomfortable. Measurement is accountability. There is no hiding, no slacking. If you do, the measurement doesn't lie.
4. What you measure you'll probably improve at. Sure, it will take time. Yes, it will take hard work. You and I have a built-in improvement system. Call it "sick and tired of being this way." After a while you're desperate. That's step one toward improvement.
5. Measurements are relative. There is no way I should measure my jogging success against a 16-year-old, 5-minute-mile runner. What's a decent time for a 42-year-old? That's my measurement.
6. It is pointless to measure but never act. For example, what good is it to know your blood pressure is getting higher? Get out there and exercise! Cut out the salt! Information is no substitute for implementation.