Boost VC tracks a metric - How many companies raise more than $1m after our money, every 6 months. We don’t think it indicates success, but it points us in the right direction. It would be like having a compass that generally said “You are kind of going North.” It gives us a pulse on the venture market, and our portfolio.
Metrics reveal what people, businesses, society, etc. value. A good metric is like a compass: it allows you to veer off course but never lose sight of the destination.
But you're right; many key metrics are either non-existent or outdated. Take a high GPA: it shows a person is good at school, but says very little about their education.
As for touchstones, I'm a big believer in checklists. Companies have key metrics and milestones, as should individuals. Identify what you're seeking in your own life ("baseline") and develop activities ("touchstones") you can check off daily.
I have an Evernote with my a daily checklist:
"Baseline" = be a reliable and balanced human being
"Touchstones" (daily)
- Read (learn something)
- Write
- Spend time outside
- Meditate
- Eat healthy foods
- Social (stay connected)
Identify the "final picture", then spend the rest of your life developing the film. A great company is great insofar as it continues to pursue greatness in the day-to-day. Same with people; we are perpetual works-in-progress, and metrics and touchstones help illuminate the path we pursue.
Metrics reveal what people, businesses, society, etc. value. A good metric is like a compass: it allows you to veer off course but never lose sight of the destination.
But you're right; many key metrics are either non-existent or outdated. Take a high GPA: it shows a person is good at school, but says very little about their education.
As for touchstones, I'm a big believer in checklists. Companies have key metrics and milestones, as should individuals. Identify what you're seeking in your own life ("baseline") and develop activities ("touchstones") you can check off daily.
I have an Evernote with my a daily checklist:
"Baseline" = be a reliable and balanced human being
"Touchstones" (daily)
- Read (learn something)
- Write
- Spend time outside
- Meditate
- Eat healthy foods
- Social (stay connected)
Identify the "final picture", then spend the rest of your life developing the film. A great company is great insofar as it continues to pursue greatness in the day-to-day. Same with people; we are perpetual works-in-progress, and metrics and touchstones help illuminate the path we pursue.