Measure your way to Success

There’s a powerful principle that can transform any area of our lives: what gets measured, can't help but grow. Leila Hormozi, wife of entrepreneur Alex Hormozi and co-creator of $100M Leads, beautifully captures this idea in one of her YouTube videos. She explains how consistently tracking the your bank account will eventually lead to financial growth. Because it’s not just about watching numbers on a financial spreadsheet or money management app but about gaining an accurate, objective perspective of your current position in life. The more you set out to measure/quantify where you stand, the clearer the vision. And this vision is eventually what helps in making sound decisions. The simple act of keeping an accurate account applies not just to finances but to health, career growth, and personal development. Because ultimately, the vision is what steers us in the direction of improvement. The charts and numbers though dry is the mirror that helps us see ourselves with an unbiased filter.

The Power of Measurement: The Compass of Life

The concept of what gets measured, moves the needle can be compared to using a compass when navigating a long journey. Imagine wandering through a dense forest without a compass; you could easily walk in circles, feeling lost. But with a compass, you gain clarity purpose, and that is what becomes our guide post which leads us to the next check point in our lives. Similarly, the act of charting our progress in life is like having that compass—it offers clarity, shows your current standing, and informs you of the right adjustments needed to reach your goals. Because most people live on auto pilot, according to the dictates of the next job, or assignment.

Research strongly supports the power of keeping an account of our daily life, be it through journalling or keeping simple logs of our daily activities. Studies consistently show that tracking progress—whether in finances, health, or personal development—leads to higher success rates. Measuring what you do helps you stay accountable and motivated. Just as stepping on a scale helps you monitor your weight loss journey, regularly checking your bank balance or tracking daily habits allows you to see where you stand, prompting you to make informed changes. Measurement isn’t just about numbers—it’s about clarity, focus, and direction. What you see often enough and emulate, you become. It is so critical that our focus and attention is upon that which truly nourishes rather than mindless fastfood entertainment in the form of social media.

Financial Tracking: The Sunlight for growing our 'money tree'

Leila Hormozi’s example of tracking your finances serve as a powerful case study in the benefits of consistently measuring our progress. Many people avoid regularly checking their financial status out of fear. Whether it’s fear of seeing too much spending, not enough savings, or even debt, they prefer ignorance over honest self-confrontation. But avoiding the reality of your financial situation doesn’t make the situation go away—instead it delays the inevitable. Studies have shown that financial tracking leads to smarter money management. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that individuals who actively monitor their finances are more likely to increase their income. Simply keeping track of your financial standing encourages better decisions which can sometimes mean avoiding an impulse buy because you are building up a rainy day fund.

It’s similar to weighing yourself daily when trying to lose weight. Stepping on the scale doesn’t make you lighter, but it gives you feedback about whether your efforts are working. In the same way, tracking your bank account won’t instantly make you wealthy, but it gives you the insight to make smarter decisions that eliminate regret. Financial tracking offers clarity, helping you see your spending habits and prioritize saving or investing. The act of measurement is a constant reminder of your financial reality, pushing you to align your actions with your goals.

Health and Fitness: The Impact of Measuring Progress

The principle of measuring progress goes far beyond finances. In health and fitness, tracking progress is one of the most powerful tools available. You will be hard pressed to find anyone with a good physique who can't tell you their weight or the number of calories they take in their diet. Research consistently shows that individuals who monitor their weight, food intake, or exercise habits are more likely to reach their weight loss goals. For instance, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who kept daily food diaries lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t. The simple act of writing down what they ate helped participants become more mindful of their habits, leading them to make healthier choices.

Imagine trying to lose weight without ever checking your progress—no stepping on the scale, no monitoring calories, no tracking exercise. Losing weight without measuring your progress is like navigating through a maze with a blindfold. The fitness records provide the feedback you need to adjust and adapt the right strategies best suited to your fitness level. It’s like checking your fuel gauge while driving a car—so that you make the decisions that lead you to the destination. Just like with finances, health tracking helps you become more aware, and awareness is the first step toward taking action.

The Ostrich Effect: Avoiding Measurement Due to Fear

Despite the clear benefits of measurement, there is still a fear of handling the truth. This avoidance is often driven by fear of not measuring up to expectations. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as the ostrich effect. It’s the tendency to bury our heads in the sand when faced with uncomfortable information. In finances, health, and even personal development, the ostrich effect keeps people from facing reality.

But as uncomfortable as it may be, facing the truth is necessary for progress. Imagine being slowly cooked like a frog in a pot of boiling water. A frog dropped into boiling water will immediately jump out immediately to save itself. But when it is placed it in cool water and the heat slowly turned up, the frog doesn’t notice the danger until it’s too late. Avoiding looking at the mirror has a similar effect. You might not realize the gradual decline in your health, finances, or habits until it becomes too serious an issue. It’s far better to be rudely awakened by reality than to remain ignorant until it's too late. The measuring rod brings clarity and gives you the breathing room to make course corrections before problems spiral out of control. When we have a measuring rod or a yardstick, we are able to identify constraints—whether financial, physical, or time-related—that force us to think outside the box. These constraints are the breeding ground for creativity as new solutions arise out of things we are lacking that prevent us from reaching our goals. A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that individuals who regularly tracked their goals were more likely to devise creative solutions when faced with challenges.

Take budgeting, for example. When you start tracking your expenses and see you’re overspending, could help you to think creatively to find additional sources of income. In business, companies that regularly measure performance metrics innovate and grow when a healthy stock take reveals inefficiencies and areas for improvement. Measurement exposes gaps, and once those gaps are identified, thats when the creative spark evolves into a disruption to the norm.

The Power of Delayed Dividends: Progress Takes Time

One of the key points to remember about measurement is that the rewards aren’t always immediate, but they are certain as long as you remain persistent. Just like planting a seed, you won’t see the fruit of your labor overnight. Measuring your progress in any area of life requires patience. It’s easy to feel discouraged when you don’t see instant results, but the dividends of consistent tracking are cumulative. The more you measure, the more you learn, and the more you improve.

Think about the people who track their fitness progress over months or years. The weight loss is no noticable in a week or even a moneth, but over time, consistent effort and tracking result in healthier habits and significant long-term results. The same principle applies to finances or any other area of life. It’s important to recognize that while the payoff may not come immediately, the act of measurement is building momentum toward success. Persistent effort, guided by regular feedback from measurement, ensures that you’re moving steadily in the right direction.

Embracing Measurement Across Life’s Dimensions

Measuring for success isn’t just for finances or health—it applies to every aspect of life. Whether you’re aiming to grow spiritually, improve relationships, or master a new skill, tracking your progress is the key to success. For instance, if you want to grow spiritually, track the time you spend meditating or reflecting. If you’re working on improving relationships, measure the quality of your communication or the amount of time spent with loved ones.

A study conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that people who track personal goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. The act of measuring forces accountability, helping you stay on course and adapt as necessary. It’s like using a GPS in your car—without knowing your location, you can’t adjust your route to reach your destination. By regularly measuring progress, you ensure that you’re making steady advancements toward your goals.

Measurement Brings Clarity, Action, and Growth

Ultimately, measurement is about clarity. It forces you to face the reality of your current standing and empowers you to make actionable decisions that drive improvement. Whether you’re measuring finances, health, or personal development, tracking your progress ensures that you’re moving toward success.

It’s better to be rudely awakened by the truth than to be slowly cooked like a frog, unaware of the growing problem until it’s too late. Measurement allows you to confront challenges early on, giving you the opportunity to adjust course and grow. The simple act of measurement provides the insight needed to act decisively and improve steadily.

Final Thoughts: Measure What Matters

At its core, the principle is simple: what gets measured, improves. Whether you’re striving for financial stability, better health, or personal growth, the act of measurement keeps you on track. Measurement brings clarity, clarity leads to action, and action creates progress.

Remember, the dividends of measurement may not be immediate, but they are certain when you remain persistent. By consistently measuring what matters, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success. The little drops of success gather still a stream grows into a mighty river with unstoppable momentum.