How Will You Measure Your Life?

Author – Clayton M. Christensen

Date Started – 14 July 2021

Data Finished – 29 July 2021

The Book in 3 Sentences

  1. How to sustain motivation at work and in life to spend your time on earth happily and fulfilled, by focusing not just on money and your career, but on your family, relationships, and personal well-being.

  2. Many people fall into the trap of allocating their time to whoever screams loudest, and their talent to whatever offers them the fastest reward. (Reactive vs Proactive) whether in companies or in life – is created through hundreds of everyday decisions about how you spend your time, energy, and money. With every moment of your time, every decision about how you spend your energy and your money, you are making a statement about what really matters to you.

  3. Address questions and invokes reflections on topics like – How can I be sure that I will be successful and happy in my career? How can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse, my children, and my extended family and close friends become an enduring source of happiness? How can I be sure that I will live a life of integrity?

How the Book Changed Me

“Actually this book reaffirmed that I am on the right path”

Why I Say so:

I have always been very competitive, whether in education or sports. So when I started my entrepreneur journey at an age of 27 in a fairly new country Singapore, I wanted to make sure that I learn the game even before I start playing it (Entrepreneurship)

I started reading about super successful individuals with an idea to narrow down on

  1. Top 2 or 3 regrets after making it big and
  2. What they eventually did after they have made it.


My findings then were as below:

Regrets / Lost :

Number 1: Lost health in the process.

Number 2: Missed being there for the children when they were growing up.

Number 3: Were not able to build deep human relationships with immediate family and were lonely.

What they indulge in after making big and gave them Satisfaction:

Number 1: Giving back (In form of charity or other forms).

Number 2: Spirituality.

Number 3: Working on their health and relationships

I woe to myself (April 2003) that I will make it big without impacting my health, keep the conversation window open with my children and invest in deep human relationships while giving back to society and being spiritual.

My Top 3 Quotes

  • “Because if the decisions you make about where you invest your blood, sweat, and tears are not consistent with the person you aspire to be, you’ll never become that person.”
  • “The only metrics that will truly matter to my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help, one by one, to become better people.”
  • “The hot water that softens a carrot will harden an egg.”

Who should read it

I would suggest anyone getting out of college and getting into the rat race must read this book. Other working professionals and Entrepreneurs.