Measuring is the Beginning and the End for Managing Your Life.

You can't control what you don't measure.

Here's how prudent managers measure events, activities and people for success.

In the beginning, they measure situations to determine the planning required for successful outcomes. During and after any actions they measure results and adjust with improvements. Their final evaluations form the bases for continually revising plans for greater success. Less competent managers often neglect this measuring habit.

One tool quality managers use to measure outcomes is a Corrective Action Report or CAR. Whenever something goes wrong a CAR is created.

The Corrective Action section of the report describes What happened, When it occurred, Where the consequences manifested, Who was responsible for the episode and the possible reasons Why it was caused.
Conclusions include solutions by answering the same "5W's." It outlines How the problem is to be resolved as well as the steps for preventing similar incidents in the future.

As with many such exercises, you may continue a strict regimen only until you have established the new discipline as a permanent habit. Expect the need for refresher returns to the regimen should other interests cause your habit to weaken.

You can live a happier and more successful life when you manage your daily life by managing your life as wise managers do.

Do any of these cause you to feel dissatisfied with your daily life?

• Moments of unhappiness.
• Things don't turn out the way you intend.
• All too frequent accidents or failures.
• Projects remain uncompleted.
• Falling behind your colleagues or friends.
• Earnings are inadequate.

Do what successful managers do.

• Compose your very own Corrective Action Report.
• Invoke the CAR at the slightest provocation.
• Be creative with your corrective actions.
• Be brutally honest with facts.
• Be fastidious on your followups.
• Make the measuring and correcting process your habit for life.
• Examine alternative solutions that did or did NOT work.
• Change your actions accordingly.
• When your list of improvements equal zero? Consider a plan for correcting that?

If business ventures fail because an executive failed to measure results, why should you manage you own personal life for failure?

You can achieve a better life when you make a Corrective Action Report on all the events and activities in your personal life.