Measuring progress : displacement over distance

What’s the best way to measure progress?

Traditionally, educational institutions and workplaces have used tests and performance reviews designed to measure progress over a fixed time period. This is a prerequisite for progression to the next level, whatever that may be.

Job descriptions and promotions rely on “minimum years of experience” for qualifying. Schools and colleges have fixed terms, numbers of years, degrees, and certificates that you need to wade through to be deemed as “qualified”.

When at the same time, a few outlier startups can turn into unicorns in 6 months, where many others struggle for years with little progress. Some creators go viral instantly with the right niche, often with just one great piece of work that turns years of struggle into overnight success.

On a similar note - you could be friends or in a relationship with a person for years and they may still struggle to know the real you, when a new person may understand you better than anyone you’ve known for years.

What then, is a true measure of progress? Maybe not how much time has been invested.

Because not all time is measured equal, at least not linearly. 

To get better at a craft for example, it’s better to follow your inspirations and heroes. Be it practicing an instrument, writing songs or words, or designing an app. This leads to authentic progress more quickly. And lets you create your best work, one that’s created out of genuine passion and interest and represents an amalgamation of your authentic inspirations.

Whereas, a generic curriculum may not always be relevant for your strengths and interests. 

Deliberate practice, and doing the right things right will serve you better than “husting / working hard”, which is what most people recommend. 

Because not all hours are measured equally for progress. The ones that count the most feel frictionless. They make you lose all sense of time and space. You tunnel through a tough rite of passage without resistance, quickly and effortlessly -  and can skate quickly without resistance and displace yourself to a destination quicker than paddling through twisted turns and over roadblocks, that may have been avoidable.

Yoga practitioners understand this concept well. The optimal way for progress in yoga , counterintuitively, is to not make any extra effort. Just relax, breathe and listen to your body and follow the coded instructions. An attitude of surrender eliminates internal friction and helps energy flow freely through the body. No need to push and pull, as that can only cause more damage than progress, sometimes also so in life.

This approach contradicts the usual paradigm for achieving success or mastery, where hustling for long hours or pushing to get more reps in might make you feel like you’re moving forward, only to reach an end that might not be your end in mind at all. 

This can culminate for example - in a life crisis, wrong career choices, disease or feelings of emptiness born of hedonism.

A few months of optimal effort in the right direction can take you where many years in a regimented institution or following an “established” paradigm might not. And you may realise later that’s where you’ve always wanted to go.

I’ll add that it also might serve you well to seek solutions in hidden nooks and corners in the online and offline world instead of institutions popular with the masses. You can often find treasure chests if you look long and hard enough, and trust opening them.

I know I have. 

From the gym to yoga and traditional physical culture. From pills and supplements to nature’s food and ayurveda. From cognitive behavioural therapy and psychoanalysis to stories, music, movement and poetry.

Let authentic curiosity drive your motivation, and you’ll never need forced discipline. Progress can then happen how and where it’s supposed to. Intentional practice habits that emerge from following your true creative instincts will give you the key to unlock the gates to your personal magic garden. You don’t have to be compelled to cross thorny forests or wade through angry rivers - ones you might realise you never really wanted or needed to suffer through anyway. 

You choose.