{"id":46810,"date":"2019-09-04T08:54:18","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T12:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=46810"},"modified":"2019-09-04T08:54:18","modified_gmt":"2019-09-04T12:54:18","slug":"measure-great-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/measure-great-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Measure a Great Summer and Why You Shouldn’t"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that we\u2019re past Labor Day, you won\u2019t be hearing \u201cHow\u2019s your summer?\u201d anymore. Sorry. We\u2019re moving full steam ahead into the past tense now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, prep your answer: Did you have a great summer? You have a few options.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Try \u201cYes, thanks. How was yours?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Share a random anecdote about something that happened.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Offer a scientifically appropriate response based on measurable data.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You\u2019ve been hearing that we should all be measuring what matters<\/a>, keeping track of stats rather than relying on anecdotes. We talk about customer experience metrics, employee engagement scores — but can we do the same for summer?<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Define your terms<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Let\u2019s be scientific about this. When\u2019s summer?<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. K12 summer: The whole time school is closed.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Astronomical summer: From summer solstice to autumnal equinox — that\u2019s June 21 to September 23, 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Common summer: Memorial Day to Labor Day<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Marketing summer: From spring break to back-to-school\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      <\/h2>\n

      \"summer\"<\/h2>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Goals much?<\/b><\/h2>\n

      It\u2019s tricky to measure or analyze if you don\u2019t have anything to measure against. Maybe you dove into summer with a hope of swimming every day. Maybe you dreamed of sleeping more. While setting goals<\/a> might go against the carefree summer stereotype, they would definitely help with the measurement side of things.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Wait — are you saying that you didn\u2019t sit down and map out SMART goals<\/a> for your summer? Okay, maybe it\u2019s too late for this summer, but what about the next?<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      For example, to start with: I\u2019ll visit the farmers market twice a month.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Specific?<\/strong> Well, there are plenty of farmers markets around here. So, Reston? Still plenty. Lake Anne!<\/span><\/p>\n

      Measurable?<\/strong> One, two.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Achievable?<\/strong> Okay, now I\u2019m adding in \u201con average\u201d, just in case.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Relevant?<\/strong> I guess so. It\u2019s good exercise, good food, and\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Timely?<\/strong> May to November — let\u2019s narrow it down.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      During the 2019 Lake Anne Farmers Market season, I\u2019ll visit the market twice a month on average.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Not fun, but at least it\u2019s a goal, so it\u2019ll be easier to figure out if I succeed. \ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      How can we measure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Hash marks<\/strong>.<\/strong> No, not hashtags. Just those little lines turning into groups of five, like we see in movies on cave walls and prison cells. In other words, just count. Maybe it\u2019s a post-it on the page of each new recipe you tried. Maybe it\u2019s just miles on your odometer.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Analytics tools<\/strong>.<\/strong> Seriously? Sure. How many apps do you have on your phone that track your steps, your weight, your sleep, your every little detail — ? While I\u2019ve always enjoyed a good night\u2019s sleep, it\u2019s hard to say whether all of the tracking information my bed delivers to my phone changes my perception. Still, so interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Let\u2019s get visual<\/strong>.<\/strong> Make a checklist of everything you want to do. Make a map of all the places you want to visit — or a mind map of all the topics you want to write about. Post a calendar of daily workout goals on your fridge and cross them out as you get them done.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \"state<\/p>\n

      What\u2019s \u201cgreat\u201d?<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Achieving goals is great. Having fun is pretty good, too. Just like measuring is easier with goals, measuring success is easier when you define targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      If I tell you I went to 20 yoga classes, is that great?<\/span><\/p>\n

      If I tell you he hasn\u2019t smoked for 20 days, is that great?<\/span><\/p>\n

      If I say she went on 20 roller coasters, is that great?<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      It depends. What was the starting point? What was the goal? Does she like roller coasters? Tricky.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Measure what matters<\/b><\/h2>\n

      Is it important to have a scientifically valid and project-managed answer to questions about whether you had a great summer? It is absolutely not.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Is it interesting to observe that we consistently fail to set goals, metrics, and success measures while simultaneously expecting to make improvements? Absolutely.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Maybe measuring makes a huge difference in making improvements. Maybe setting goals has a clear impact on your continued growth. But that’s not what summer is about. Summer is about doing cool stuff. Summer is about friends and family and nature. S’more than you can measure.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Still, hey — I hope you had a great summer. I know I did. Just don\u2019t ask me how I know. \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \"summer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Now that we\u2019re past Labor Day, you won\u2019t be hearing \u201cHow\u2019s your summer?\u201d anymore. Sorry. We\u2019re moving full steam ahead into the past tense now.\u00a0   So, prep your answer: Did you have a great summer? You have a few options. Try \u201cYes, thanks. How was yours?\u201d Share a random anecdote about something that happened. Offer a scientifically appropriate response based on measurable data. You\u2019ve been hearing that we should all be measuring what matters, keeping track of stats rather than relying on anecdotes. We talk about customer experience metrics, employee engagement scores — but can we do the same for summer?   Define your terms Let\u2019s be scientific about this. When\u2019s summer?   K12 summer: The whole time school is closed. Astronomical summer: From summer solstice to autumnal equinox — that\u2019s June 21 to September 23, 2019. Common summer: Memorial Day to Labor Day Marketing summer: From spring break to back-to-school\u00a0   Goals much? It\u2019s tricky to measure or analyze if you don\u2019t have anything to measure against. Maybe you dove into summer with a hope of swimming every day. Maybe you dreamed of sleeping more. While setting goals might go against the carefree summer stereotype, they would definitely help with the measurement side of things.   Wait — are you saying that you didn\u2019t sit down and map out SMART goals for your summer? Okay, maybe it\u2019s too late for this summer, but what about the next?   For example, to start with: I\u2019ll visit the farmers market […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":5069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Measure a Great Summer and Why You Shouldn't - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How was your summer? You might not base your answer on anything measurable -- tt's summer! 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