‘What’s the headlines you want for yourself by the end of this year, KV?’ asked my (now ex) boss in a conversation with me which was to set my KPIs for the year in the buzzing cafe at our office campus.
In my career, I have seen the Work KPIs being visited in so many different ways to engage the employee and eventually convince, from both sides of the table. And eventually we all agree and align on the KPIs which are usually tied to some or all of the 5 Ps – Profit, People, Process, Product and Profile. We are also constantly reminded to make it measurable to see how we have fared by the end of the review period. Once the Work KPIs are set, then starts the rigorous journey of delivering those measurable KPIs during the year. While doing so we try to find balance between work and life which seems on the horizon but eludes just like the horizon itself.
Take a moment to think, success at work has clear metrics in the form of Work KPIs, does your life have any? How can one achieve the required balance in Work KPIs without ‘Life KPIs’? Let’s be fair to our life side too. Let’s stop just going with the flow on that side. An organization can help you set work KPIs because they all tie into the goals for the year of the organization. So then who set’s the Life KPIs? Of Course it has to be us. Our life is our business and no one else’s. Before rushing to the organization to support on work life balance, kindly think if you have thought and worked enough at your end.
Recently, in the toughest of circumstances in life, I realized if I need a well-balanced life, I need to have life KPIs too. I asked myself the same question that my ex boss had asked me, ‘What’s the headlines you want for yourself by the end of this year, KV?’ Just to set a different set of KPIs this time around. That was a good starting point to list down my 5Ps of Life KPIs – Passion, Personality, Privilege, Pursuit and Purpose. I also ensured I make the success of these measurable in the time period I set it, exactly like the Work KPIs are set.
Passion is what comes directly from the heart, like food, travel, photography, music, art, gaming, sport, pets. Some plan this well, while most take this up for a few hours or days but don’t have a thorough plan around it. If you choose to learn an instrument like Piano, set a target of playing 3-5 of your favorite numbers by a certain time period, that becomes directional.
Pursuit is something that not necessarily comes from the heart but from probably the mind. Requires you to move out of your comfort zone to achieve progression and evolution in life like developing a skill, doing a professional course.
Personality here represents health. We leave no stones unturned towards delivering high brand health scores. But the ball drops when it comes to ourselves. Treat yourself as a brand and apply the same principles to achieve good health because you know what a good brand health score does to a brand.
Privilege – Ensuring financial stability for yourself and family with sustained growth. We grew in a culture where most of us commit to build stability on this front with financial investments, however investing the required amount to pursue the other 4 Ps of Life KPIs is also crucial. While these are not tangible assets, the potential of returns a healthy mind and body is capable of delivering is unmatched. Remember the cost centers in a company are for a reason, without a sound Finance team, Talent Management, the profit centers can collapse.
Purpose – A cycle of growth completes only with sharing, so find a purpose which aligns well with your life principles. Share knowledge, wealth whichever you feel you are blessed with to do
While passion is instinct led, others need us to push ourselves out of our comfort zones, hence it helps to blend the others with passion if possible for better results. A wonderful example is a friend and colleague of mine, passionate about cooking, found her purpose in providing cooked food to people in need during these tough times. The realization of Life KPIs didn’t happen overnight for me. Shifting to China just before the pandemic and being forced due to circumstances to stay away indefinitely from my family for almost 2 years now challenged my gut to a level I had never imagined. In the next segment, I would share my experience of setting the Life KPIs in the most challenging circumstances, discovering my passion, pursuit of learning and good health and finding the purpose in life. While I do so, take a moment to think, ‘What’s the headlines you want for yourself for the year?’ Try it, you don’t have much to lose.
This Article is Authored by Kartik Vishwanathan, Head of Investment Strategy, Mindshare China.
