Clayton M. Christensen is a big deal when it comes to innovation. Steve Jobs credited him with life changing insights. Christensen gave a powerful speech to the Harvard Business School's graduating class of 2010. The speech was memorable because it came at a time of intense personal reflection. He had just overcome the same type of cancer that had taken his father's life. As he struggled with the disease, the question "How do you measure your life?" became more urgent and poignant. The speech morphed into a bestselling book, “How Will You Measure Your Life?”
How do you measure your life? What is your measure of success? Or progress? Are you hard on yourself? Are your expectations in line with what God wants for you?
To start the new year, I looked at seven familiar units of measure that can shape a measured perspective on life.
Inch
Inch is one of the few units of measure that we have turned into a verb, in this case meaning “to move or progress very slowly.”
When I feel overwhelmed by a major project, I remind myself that, “Inch by inch it’s a cinch.”
Ounce
When someone asks you if you have “an ounce of common sense,” the measurement system doesn’t matter. They are using the word simply to mean “a minimal amount.”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make space in 2024 to care for your wellbeing. Come apart before you come apart. Take a break. Go for a walk. Dance in your kitchen. Sing in the shower.
Fathom
In Old English, fæthm referred to the length of one’s outstretched arms. As a verb, to fathom originally meant to encircle something with the arms as if for measuring as well as to measure depth. Now the verb is used as a reference to this literal getting to the bottom of something.
Can you fathom the depth of God’s love for you? In this world, all we know is limited supply. Eventually, we will run to the end of everything: money, time, resources, energy, pleasure, satisfaction, peace, safety, health, life. We have this life and all eternity to plumb the depths of God’s love. You are loved.
Watt
Did you know the watt is named for James Watt (1736-1819), known for inventing the Watt steam engine? though his namesake unit of measure probably makes you think of light bulbs.
Is there a 100 watt light bulb over your head illuminating a breakthrough idea for 2024?
Meter
The base unit of measurement in the metric system, so basic that it derives from the Greek word for “measure” (metron). For a musician, the meter is the regular background rhythm, or 4/4 time.
What is your rhythm of writing? Of living?
Furlong
A furlong refers to a distance equal to 220 yards (or one-eighth of a mile), but in olden times it was defined less precisely as length of a furrow in a cultivated field. The furrow made up the long side of what we now call an acre, originally regarded as the amount of arable land that could be plowed by a yoke of oxen in a day.
Writers measure a day’s work in words. Some try for 500 words a day. Others lean into a 1000. What amount of words do you plow in a day?
Milestone
A milestone is a stone used to mark a milepost, which designates a point located a certain number of miles to or from another designated point. Metaphorically, it’s a significant point or accomplishment in any journey.
Carve out 45 minutes this month to reflect on significant milestones in your writing journey. You will no doubt be amazed at how far you have come.
How will you measure your life?
Thank you for reading. And for commenting.
You can follow Bob's writing at REVwords.com
What a wonderful post to read on a Monday morning. So inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI smiled as I read: "Come apart before you come apart. Take a break. Go for a walk. Dance in your kitchen. Sing in the shower."
Just before reading your post I sang a praise song aloud to myself while I did some tidying up. Yes, selfcare is vital for writers.
And the following words of yours truly bless us if we pause and reflect on them: "We have this life and all eternity to plumb the depths of God’s love. You are loved."
Thank you for encouraging us, Bob.
Thank you so much Wendy for your kind words and starting off these comments. They make my Monday morning feel a bit warmer in the midst of the freezing weather here in Alberta.
ReplyDeleteWow! I enjoyed this look at words for measurement that we also use to "measure" our progress etc. Great post!
ReplyDeleteKeep progressing, Tracy!
DeleteYou included so many nuggets of wisdom in your units of measurement. It was a delicious karat soup of thoughtful ways to measure, set goals and walk into the new year. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gail. All the best to you in 2024.
DeleteA wonderful post, Bob. Loved your exploration of words and their usage and how the meaning can change. English is a complex language isn’t it. Lots of nuggets to write in my quotation scribbler. Will have to think about these words and see how I measure up. Thanks, Bob.
ReplyDeleteYou measure up very well, Sharon! Humour becomes you.
DeleteThanks for your unique approach this month, Bob! I'll take your advice to "measure" my life and writing milestones!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandi. No doubt, you will measure up.
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