Circles

Why ride a bike in circles around a velodrome? It takes three laps to cover a kilometer, and if we intend to ride a long distance, it is a mentally challenging way to accumulate distance. Spending too much time riding laps can create a sense of vertigo. But the track offers a smooth service, with precise measurements, and eliminates several obstacles encountered on the open road. A session in the velodrome gets us closer to precision and gives us a chance to categorize the inputs and outputs.

What is equivalent to a velodrome experience for your team? Where do you assemble to practice performing at your highest level? What opportunities allow you to test your capabilities within a controlled environment?

Enduring Value

What is the value of a painting purchased directly from an artist? Does it appreciate or depreciate over time? Does a thousand dollars spent, divided over time, mean 10 years from the date of purchase, the painting is worth $100 per year? Does the painting’s value increase to us if the artist’s portfolio expands and the market rewards them with a higher sales price on future works? Does the price matter once purchased? Do we recall the purchase price after time recedes? If the art piece represents a significant moment or place, how does our perception change? What if the artist’s personal conduct deviates from what we thought was a shared belief?

Assigning value to customized pieces is challenging. How much is our time worth? Or our creativity? Or our presence? How might we calibrate enduring value versus real-time market value?

Mature Metrics

Our metrics may change as the organization matures. The number of days in business might be useful as the enterprise launches but becomes muted after a few years. The number of customers enrolled might change to the number of people on the waiting list. Total work accomplished might transition to workflow by category. As we scale and/or refine our approach we get better data and more options to generate metrics. Netflix is no longer going to share the total number of subscribers. They are going to focus on subscriber milestones.

What measurements need evolution in your enterprise? Which ones continue to provide value?

Care Committee

My father served on the vestry of an Episcopal church. He was commuting to the city for work and knew he had limited time outside of weekends to serve on the church committees so he joined the Cemetary Committee. Much to his surprise, he received frequent calls (landline days) regarding landscaping or other issues around the graves. My Dad’s perception was that general upkeep was the goal. To the relatives of the deceased, there was much to be done, most importantly attention to the details that honor the legacy of their loved one. My father’s initial view was the committee was a passive assignment. To the family members, it was an active site to observe memories.

How might we align our intentions with the intentions of those that we serve?