output over time

Measure work done rather than hours worked. That’s what Francis Bacon warned us for in 1612. “Affected dispatch is one of the most dangerous things to business that can be… Therefore measure not dispatch by the times of sitting, but by the advancement of the business.”

Combining this visionary statement with Parkinson’s law from 1955, which claims: “The amount of work will always expand as to the amount of time available.” Meaning, if you have one year to complete your thesis, somehow it takes one year to complete. If you have six months to complete your thesis, magically, it takes but six months to wrap it up.

Spending more time working is only interesting if the output remains high. Favor output over time.

business grand prix – tweaking

From pre-season practice to race weekend practice squeezing the last drop of performance out of the vehicle is what sets excellent racers apart.

Going out on the track, shifting brake balance, dampening suspension differently, adjusting gear ratio… All in an attempt to have the ultimate set-up for a particular track.

The same is true of entrepreneurs. Even though laziness isn’t all bad, the periods where business leaders can rest on their laurels are mostly short-lived.

The eagerness to constantly improve. Tweak a process, measure the outcomes. The critical mindset unwilling to accept the status quo. That’s what’s required.

Do better. Time and time again.