HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE?
By; Clayton Christensen
The question the title approaches is amusing itself because it is an actual question that people ask too many of times. Only because it is human to be soul searching, to find purpose and to know the where, how, what, why and when. In this case the question is ‘how’ and Clayton Christensen along with the assistance of James Allworth and Karen Dillon does an amazing job in answering the question with theories and ideas that not only can work but applies so well to the individual that it is quite inspiring. Everything this book I believe centers on finding happiness and finding happiness is a pursuit that each individual yearns for. However, the definition of happiness can be different with each individual and sometimes there needs to be a specific definition for the term. Christensen applies the importance of paying attention to the smaller things. Something that he pointed out was his assistance in helping Andy Grove who had inquiries of him and wanted to know what he can do within his business to be successful. The author teaches the difference between telling someone what to think and teaching that someone how to think. This is exactly what he did with Grove by teaching him principles that was applicable to him through showing him the way and how to get there and at the end, launched the Celeron processor and made a great difference in the world of computers.
It is sad to think of how many of his classmates that either had broken and painful relationships, or were in jail and were just utterly unhappy but seemed to have been so successful and happy at their school reunions. Other form recognizing the small things that matter most, it is important to know where your priorities lay and how you can find happiness in achieving them. Many are too focused on finding one grand idea that will bring millions of dollars and then once that plan does not work they feel absorbed into failure and do not lean on any other options of pursuit. Christensen teaches that as long as we have a plan that can at least give us some direction it is always useful to expect the unexpected and adapt to changes as they come along. We should not close ourselves to ignore any other way or any other window of opportunity because we already have our lives mapped out. Hence it is important to make the time for yourself and your loved ones and family members. The three questions he posed though they may have seemed meaningless and not of use, it makes total sense when you understand how basic goals can be. Christensen says how one can be sure that “I will be successful and happy in my career? My relationships with my spouse, my children, and my extended family and close friends become an enduring source of happiness? And I live a life of integrity – and stay out of jail?’ These questions can keep the striving person to deal with the hardships and steer away from the troubles and bad things of this world that can get one off track from where they started.
One other concept I learnt so much from is how he and his wife decided to build a playhouse for their kids when they moved into a new home. They got the attention of their children and before they knew it they began the project already and started building the playhouse. Their children helped out in hitting the nails down and doing all sorts of work around the project. But when the project was completed, they hardly played it in. That is one thing to understand and learn that sometimes having the house wasn’t what really motivated the children, but rather, it was the building of it. It was not their though of the destination it was the journey. The journey can thoroughly be enjoyed that many of us can find that motivation. This is why it is important to understand that whatever career path any individual choses to indulge themselves in, it is as long as they love doing what they do. There can be so many distractions and one can deter from what their goals were. Christensen, encourages taking one step at a time and going on your own pace. Because at the end of the day, one must decide what you stand for. And then stand for it all the time. This book gives great insights that it should be taught everywhere and each professor gets a thank you card. This can be successfully done if we do not get caught at what is on the side and in front of us. This is why it is important to prioritize and make the smallest things matter because Christensen does a great job in explaining it.