There are many ways to assess if you had a good year. If you’re looking at money, it’s easy. Just check your bank balance compared to last year and see if you’ve made progress. But if you’re thinking about meaning, you need to ask different questions. Measuring meaning isn’t straightforward. You might ask about your contributions, fulfillment, and personal growth. These aren’t easy to measure, so you have to use approximations.

Here are nine starter metrics for you to consider:

1. Capacity for Positive Contribution:

Rate your ability to make a positive impact on the world from 1 to 10. Compare last year, this year, and plan for next year. Your capacity includes includes your power, resources, and the help you can get from others.

2. Impact on Others:

How many people have you helped enhance their capacity to make significant impacts? Options range from 0 to 100 or more. Think about last year, this year, and next year’s plan.

3. Lifetime Relationships:

Count the relationships that go beyond events and places. The three kinds of relationships for me are (a) long-term, (b) very long-term, and (c) lifetime relationships. Here we are refering to (c)

4. High-Quality Help Requests:

Track how many important requests for help you receive. These are significant requests where the stakes are high (eg: negotiating a large deal or help with a career/life decision.)

5. Cost to Make Someone’s Day :

As your influence grows, it should cost less to keep someone’s day. Compare this cost over the years.

6. Working” Days in a Year:

Count the days you’re passionately engaged in meaningful work. This isn’t just being busy but being productive and fulfilled. I hope and wish this number is low.

7. Days in Flow:

Measure the days you’re deeply engaged in your craft each year. To consider it a “Flow Day,” you have to choose your own metric on the number of hours in flow mode on that day. For me it is four hours.

8. Memorable Moments Created for Others:

Note how many people have you created “memorable moments” where you played an important role. A good way to count something as a memorable moment is that they can recollect this moment years later and cherish it.

9. People Who Miss You in Their Past:

Reflect on how many people think their lives would have been better if they’d met you earlier.

Feel free to add, modify, or delete these metrics to fit your own needs.

Printable PDF of Metrics That Matter

All the best for an amazing 2026