How to measure progress?

When you were in school, your mark sheets reflected your progress. If you got a ‘C’ last year and a ‘B’ this year, that meant that you were improving and making progress. Most of you might have left academic schooling now. Do you wonder how to measure your progress? What is the simplest way to measure it?

Just like mark sheets were a yearly affair, the method I will describe is also a yearly affair. It takes place every year on your birthday. Suppose today is your birthday and you will start this method from today! The first step is to think about the problem that hijacks your mind. To elaborate, what is that one problem or issue in your life which takes hold of your brain for a long time. You cannot think about anything else when you start thinking about that problem. And the second step is to resolve that when I think about the problem that hijacks my brain on my next birthday, the problem will be more challenging than this year’s problem.

For example, if this year your hijacking problem is that your housekeeper took an unannounced leave, next year it could be ‘how can I involve in my child’s life more productively?’ Or, if this year’s hijacking problem is that ‘how to satisfy all needs of my family members?’, the following year it could be ‘whether to take a holiday in Europe or the US?’

Why does this method work? A peon in a company might face the hijacking problem of saving rupees 20 every day. But, the CEO of that company might face the hijacking problem of whether acquiring the company will negatively affect the share prices or if the management will overpower the CEO’s authority. The CEO indeed will not be worrying about saving rupees 20 every day. As you make progress, the gravity of the hijacking problems increases. Hence, if your hijacking problems are more challenging, you are making progress!

The simple question, ‘at any point of time, what is the problem that hijacks my mind?’ can answer how much progress you have made.