You’ve probably heard that you can’t manage what you’re not measuring, but the inverse is true as well. You can’t measure what you’re not managing. But I bet you’re still trying. You’re still trying to measure your impact on things that you have absolutely no control over.

The key is understanding what it is that you’re capable of managing. You can manage your own responses to events. You can manage your own daily contributions to success. You can measure your team’s contributions to success as well, and you can manage with the goal of maximizing your team’s contributions.

What you can’t manage is the cost that each team member is willing to pay to make those contributions. You often can’t manage corporate policy, you sometimes must simply abide by it and encourage your team to do the same.

You can’t manage the economy. You can’t manage unexpected events. And this is not to say that the current state of the economy or the unexpected event is an excuse. But there is a place where you have power, and you have the ability to manage that power.

Where is it? Where are you applying your management measurements? Are you applying them where they have the ability to make the most impact for you?

Seriously. Think about this personally. Are you measuring yourself, your contribution and your progress toward your goals in ways that will support you? Or are you slamming yourself daily for—to use terminology from my son’s generation—not leveling? Not being where you’re supposed to be/should be/need to be/ought to be—by now?

Are you sure you’re measuring the right stuff? Have you deeply considered what it is that is yours to manage and measure, and what you need to let go of?

Just asking.