Month: May 2023

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Rules for Success

Recently a former Apple employee told me that they had a list of rules for success printed on the back of the company badge. This badge everyone is carrying around all the time, and hence you can’t even avoid getting reminded of those rules every now and then. I very much like that idea.

Here are the rules I would use in the future. They are based primarily on the Apple rules, and I made some minor modifications.

  • Let go of the old, make the most of the future
  • Always tell the truth, we want to hear the bad news sooner than later
  • The highest level of integrity is expected, when in doubt, ask
  • Learn to be a good businessperson, not just a good salesperson or engineer
  • Everyone sweeps the floor
  • Be professional in your style, speech, and follow-ups
  • Listen to the customer, they almost always get it
  • Create win/win relationships with customers, partners, employees
  • Look out for each other, sharing information is a good thing
  • Don’t take yourself too seriously
  • Have fun, otherwise, it’s not worth it

Having a set of rules for success, like the ones mentioned above, can be incredibly helpful. These guidelines help to remind us regularly of our goals and values as well as how we should interact with each other both professionally and personally. It is important that these rules are visible so they stay top-of-mind – whether it’s written on the back of your badge or posted around your office space. Ultimately, having clear expectations helps everyone work together more effectively towards common objectives.

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Metrics? KPIs? What the hell is the Difference?

Illustration for KPIs

Metrics and a Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are both used to measure and assess the performance of a business or organization, but they have distinct differences. Here’s an overview.

Metrics

Metric: A metric is a quantitative measurement used to track and analyze various aspects of a business. It provides objective data that helps monitor specific processes, activities, or outcomes. Metrics can be applied to different areas of a company, such as marketing, finance, sales, operations, or customer service. Examples of metrics include website traffic, revenue, customer satisfaction ratings, employee productivity, and social media followers.

KPIs

Key Performance Indicator (KPI): A KPI is a specific metric that is carefully selected to evaluate the performance of an organization in achieving its strategic objectives and goals. KPIs are derived from the overall business strategy and reflect the critical success factors for that particular organization. They are typically used to monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions. KPIs provide a clear focus on the most important aspects of performance. Examples of KPIs include sales growth rate, customer acquisition cost, customer retention rate, market share, or return on investment (ROI).

Summary

In summary, a metric is a general term referring to any measurable data point, while a KPI is a specific metric that is strategically chosen to gauge performance and success in achieving organizational objectives. KPIs are more closely aligned with the overall strategic goals and clearly indicate progress toward those goals.