You Change What You Measure

My career in business is backed by a compilation of many “wisdoms” from others.  I love being a sponge.

I met Al Crosson one day.  He was president of ConAgra Grocery Products and was one of my top executives’ previous bosses.  We were sitting together, and, in some context, he said he lived by the following: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO?  HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? HOW WILL YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? I adopted that concept from the day I heard it but added to it BY WHEN? —meaning the date and time by which success will be accomplished.

Pretty simple but used with rigor it makes things happen.  From the above came one of the sayings we used in our culture change movement at Alberto:  “You change what you measure. ͟ We started to measure the IMPORTANT goals. Don’t over-measure.  It will drive people crazy. But do measure the key things that move your business.  It works.