A review by manuelte
How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen
3.0
Summary: https://www.getabstract.com/en/summary/how-will-you-measure-your-life/16899
Take-Aways:
Consciously choose the kind of person you want to become. Commit to that path.
Causality is critical to making good business and life decisions. Beware the difference between causality and correlation (the coincidental closeness of two factors).
As you pick a direction for your career, distinguish between external “hygiene” factors, such as high pay, and internal “motivation” factors, like passion for your work.
The best way to be truly satisfied with your work is to let motivation factors guide you.
Use causal theory, written in “if-then” statements, to predict what will happen – not what you hope will happen.
You have three kinds of capabilities: “Resources,” what you use to do something; “processes,” how you do it; and “priorities,” why you do it.
Consciously build the capabilities you (and your children) will need in the future, not just the ones that matter right now.
Sacrificing for something meaningful will strengthen your commitment to it.
Defining and living your purpose requires creating an image of what success looks like. Make a commitment to that goal and measure your progress.
“Decide what you stand for. And then stand for it all the time.”
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While I don't disagree with any of the ideas, these are presented with little nuance or room to account for different circumstances. i.e.: the difference between hygiene and internal motivators is not as clear cut as presented - a good wage is not hygiene if it empowers the motivator of family wellness. If-Then statements are great when coding or making business decisions, but direct causality isn't clear to identify when dealing with human interactions and engagements. Similarly, "decide what you stand for and stand for it all the time" sounds great on paper, and feeds into the current culture of "personal branding", but it is important to remain flexible and grow alongside the culture to avoid becoming a dinosaur entrenched in values rooted in the past.
Overall, I consider this a good intentioned book that won't hurt to read and try to apply to your life, as long as you are aware that business logic doesn't directly apply to personal life events.
Take-Aways:
Consciously choose the kind of person you want to become. Commit to that path.
Causality is critical to making good business and life decisions. Beware the difference between causality and correlation (the coincidental closeness of two factors).
As you pick a direction for your career, distinguish between external “hygiene” factors, such as high pay, and internal “motivation” factors, like passion for your work.
The best way to be truly satisfied with your work is to let motivation factors guide you.
Use causal theory, written in “if-then” statements, to predict what will happen – not what you hope will happen.
You have three kinds of capabilities: “Resources,” what you use to do something; “processes,” how you do it; and “priorities,” why you do it.
Consciously build the capabilities you (and your children) will need in the future, not just the ones that matter right now.
Sacrificing for something meaningful will strengthen your commitment to it.
Defining and living your purpose requires creating an image of what success looks like. Make a commitment to that goal and measure your progress.
“Decide what you stand for. And then stand for it all the time.”
----------
While I don't disagree with any of the ideas, these are presented with little nuance or room to account for different circumstances. i.e.: the difference between hygiene and internal motivators is not as clear cut as presented - a good wage is not hygiene if it empowers the motivator of family wellness. If-Then statements are great when coding or making business decisions, but direct causality isn't clear to identify when dealing with human interactions and engagements. Similarly, "decide what you stand for and stand for it all the time" sounds great on paper, and feeds into the current culture of "personal branding", but it is important to remain flexible and grow alongside the culture to avoid becoming a dinosaur entrenched in values rooted in the past.
Overall, I consider this a good intentioned book that won't hurt to read and try to apply to your life, as long as you are aware that business logic doesn't directly apply to personal life events.