How Will You Measure Your Life? Book Summary - How Will You Measure Your Life? Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

How Will You Measure Your Life? summary

Finding Fulfillment Using Lessons From Some of the World's Greatest Businesses

4.1 (288 ratings)
18 mins

Brief summary

How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon shares insightful advice from a Harvard Business School professor on how to lead a fulfilling life by focusing on what truly matters and making smart choices every day.

Table of Contents

    How Will You Measure Your Life?
    Summary of 7 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 7

    Motivation trumps money when it comes to job satisfaction.

    What do you think would make you happier at work? Perhaps a little more pay might be nice, or maybe some more admiration from fellow colleagues.

    Such assumptions are fairly common. In fact, the tangible aspects of your job, such as money and prestige, are not actually the things that will make you happy. If you think otherwise, go to a business school reunion where you’ll see just how often professional success is often tainted with personal dissatisfaction, family failures, professional struggles and even criminal behavior.

    Despite this, an unhealthy approach to the use of incentives in the workplace still prevails. Popularised by economist Michael Jensen and management theorist William Meckling, the incentive theory makes the straightforward statement that the more you are paid, the better you perform.

    In light of our business school reunion example, this theory seems too simplistic. What’s more, studies have shown that the hardest-working people are in fact those employed in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – people who do world-changing work, but earn very little.

    In fact, it turns out that professional satisfaction and motivation are derived from work that matches your needs and interests. Psychologist Frederick Herzberg proposed that our needs and interests can be divided into two different categories – hygiene factors and motivation factors. This forms the basis of his hygiene-motivation theory.

    Hygiene factors cover issues such as general conditions at work, company policies, supervisory practices and job security. If these issues are not satisfactory or are lacking, it’s a case of bad hygiene that then causes job dissatisfaction. However, would a job with great working conditions but no room for promotion or reward be satisfying? Probably not.

    Job satisfaction instead is achieved by combining hygiene factors with motivation factors. Motivation factors concern recognition, responsibility, challenges and personal growth.

    Consider a job that was intellectually stimulating but burdened with terrible management – would this give you satisfaction? Definitely not. It’s clear that the confluence of hygiene and motivation is crucial, and the next blink presents two strategies to attain this balance.

    Want to see all full key ideas from How Will You Measure Your Life??

    Key ideas in How Will You Measure Your Life?

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is How Will You Measure Your Life? about?

    As a leading business expert and cancer survivor, Clayton M. Christensen provides you with his unique insight on how to lead a life that brings both professional success and genuine happiness. In How Will You Measure Your Life?, Christensen touches on diverse topics such as motivation and how you can harness it, what career strategy is the best for you, how to strengthen relationships with loved ones, and how to build a strong family culture.

    How Will You Measure Your Life? Review

    How Will You Measure Your Life? (2012) provides valuable insight into leading a fulfilled and purposeful life. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It offers practical and actionable advice on navigating personal and professional challenges, helping readers make meaningful choices that align with their values.
    • Combining business theories, case studies, and the author's personal experiences, the book presents a unique perspective on finding happiness and success.
    • With its thought-provoking questions and reflective exercises, the book encourages deep self-reflection and sparks meaningful discussions about life's purpose.

    Best quote from How Will You Measure Your Life?

    As youre living your life from day to day, how do you make sure youre heading in the right direction?

    —Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon
    example alt text

    Who should read How Will You Measure Your Life??

    • Anyone struggling to create a balance between work and life demands
    • Anyone curious about how to achieve long-term happiness and meaning in life
    • Fans of Christensen’s critically acclaimed book, The Innovator’s Dilemma

    About the Author

    Clayton M. Christensen is a critically acclaimed author of several books and the Kim B. Clark Professor at the Harvard Business School.

    James Allworth is a graduate and Baker Scholar at the Harvard Business School.

    Karen Dillon is an American investigative journalist and former editor of the Harvard Business Review. She was named one of the world’s most influential and inspiring women in 2011.

    Categories with How Will You Measure Your Life?

    Book summaries like How Will You Measure Your Life?

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    36 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Get started

    How Will You Measure Your Life? FAQs 

    What is the main message of How Will You Measure Your Life??

    The main message of How Will You Measure Your Life? is to prioritize what truly matters and make choices that align with your values.

    How long does it take to read How Will You Measure Your Life??

    The reading time for How Will You Measure Your Life? varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in about 15 minutes.

    Is How Will You Measure Your Life? a good book? Is it worth reading?

    How Will You Measure Your Life? is worth reading as it provides insightful perspectives and practical advice on finding happiness and fulfillment.

    Who is the author of How Will You Measure Your Life??

    The authors of How Will You Measure Your Life? are Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth, and Karen Dillon.

    What to read after How Will You Measure Your Life??

    If you're wondering what to read next after How Will You Measure Your Life?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Finding Your Element by Ken Robinson
    • Less Doing, More Living by Ari Meisel
    • How to Decide by Annie Duke
    • Out of Our Minds by Ken Robinson
    • The Free-Time Formula by Jeff Sanders
    • Beyond Order by Jordan B. Peterson
    • The Job-Ready Guide by Anastasia de Waal
    • Maps of Meaning by Jordan B. Peterson
    • 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management by Kevin Kruse
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson