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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How to Measure Anything summary
Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business
16 mins
Brief summary
How to Measure Anything by Douglas W. Hubbard is a book that challenges the notion that some things cannot be measured. It provides practical methods for quantifying and managing uncertainty in decision-making processes.
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How to Measure Anything
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Estimating with intelligence
Picture yourself at the historic Trinity Test site, the birthplace of the atomic age. Amid the suspenseful countdown to the first atomic bomb detonation in 1945, you notice Enrico Fermi, Nobel laureate in physics, casually tearing a notebook paper into confetti. As the initial shockwave rushes past, he releases the confetti and observes how far the blast scatters it, predicting the yield of the atomic explosion with a margin of error that would make many sophisticated instruments blush. Fermi showed that simple observations, if used in the right way, can have great informative value.
Here’s another example. Imagine Fermi in a classroom, challenging his students to estimate the number of piano tuners in Chicago. Sound like an impossible task? That’s what his students thought too. But Fermi encouraged them to approach the problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable questions. How many people live in Chicago? How often do pianos need tuning? How many pianos can a tuner service in a day? By combining these approximations, students could calculate an estimate that was often closer to the actual number than they ever thought possible.
Here’s the good news: you can do this with your business challenges too.
Consider Chuck McKay, a consultant with Wizard of Ads. At one point he was approached by an insurance agent considering the idea of opening a new office in Wichita Falls, Texas. The town was already saturated with insurance carriers and the newcomer wasn't certain about the potential profitability. To tackle this uncertainty, McKay decided to employ Fermi’s method, breaking down the task of estimating market size into a series of manageable questions.
McKay began by identifying the total number of cars in Wichita Falls and the average annual car insurance premium in Texas. By multiplying these figures, he calculated a rough estimate of the gross insurance revenue in town. Considering the average commission rate, he then determined the total commission pool. After finding out the number of existing insurance agencies in town, he divided the total commission by this number to estimate the average annual commission per agency.
However, the declining population and potential market dominance by larger firms suggested the actual revenue per agency could be lower than anticipated. Armed with these insights, McKay advised the insurance agent against the venture.
This real-life example shows how Fermi’s method can effectively tackle seemingly immeasurable business challenges. Next, we’re going to drill deeper into how to break down so-called intangibles into much-more-tangible numbers.
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What is How to Measure Anything about?
How to Measure Anything (2007) challenges the notion that certain things can’t be measured, arguing instead that with the right tools and perspectives, everything is quantifiable. It provides insightful methodologies and real-world examples to guide readers on how to turn seemingly immeasurable concepts into tangible data, ultimately helping to make more informed decisions.
How to Measure Anything Review
How to Measure Anything (2010) is a valuable resource that emphasizes the importance of measurement in decision-making processes. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers practical techniques and frameworks to effectively measure and manage uncertainty, allowing readers to make informed decisions.
- Presents real-world case studies that demonstrate the significant impact accurate measurement can have on solving complex problems.
- Engages readers by challenging traditional notions of what can and cannot be measured, sparking curiosity and opening new possibilities for improvement.
Who should read How to Measure Anything?
- Business executives and entrepreneurs looking to better quantify their company’s intangibles
- Students studying business or economics
- Anyone searching for insights on how to enhance their risk assessment techniques
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How to Measure Anything FAQs
What is the main message of How to Measure Anything?
The main message of How to Measure Anything is that anything can be measured, even if it seems impossible at first.
How long does it take to read How to Measure Anything?
The reading time for How to Measure Anything varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How to Measure Anything a good book? Is it worth reading?
How to Measure Anything is a valuable read for anyone interested in making better decisions. It provides practical techniques to measure uncertainty and improve decision-making.
Who is the author of How to Measure Anything?
The author of How to Measure Anything is Douglas W. Hubbard.
What to read after How to Measure Anything?
If you're wondering what to read next after How to Measure Anything, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Size by Vaclav Smil
- Measure What Matters by John Doerr
- The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Beyond Getting By by Holly Trantham
- The Fine Art Of Small Talk by Debra Fine
- Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
- Building Your Money Machine with ChatGPT by Larry Wheeler
- Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
- Think Again by Adam Grant