How Will You Measure Your Life?

114 Pages·2012·9.17 MB·English

by  Karen Dillon, Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth

HOW WILL

YOU MEASURE

YOUR LIFE?

CLAYTON M.
CHRISTENSEN

JAMES ALLWORTH

KAREN DILLON
How Will You Measure Your Life?

Clayton M. CI

stensen, James Albvorth, and Karen Dillon

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vbonpeline ie
Contents
Cover
‘Lille Page

Dedication

Prologue
1 Just Because You Have Feathers ..
Section |
Finding Happiness in Your Carecr
2 What Makes Us Tick

3 The Balance of Calculation and Serendspaty

4 Vour Stategy Ts Not What You Say Tt Ts

Section {f
Finding Happiness in Your Retatianships
4 The Ticking Clack
6 What Job Did You Hire That Milkshake For?
7 Sailing Your Kids on Theseus’s Ship
& The Scloots of Experience

9 The Tnvisible Hand Inside Your Family
Section 1
Staying Out of Janl

14 Inst This Once

Epilogne
Acluowledgments
About the Authors

Also by Clayton M_ Christensen

Credits

Cops sient
About the Publisher
Os us esr dy of the vouse duet I tee a Thavind Business Scbeal I
Ispivally stort by telling my studanty shat [ obsaved mony my own busines sehoel
lusamates after we grudubled. Just Tike every ther school, our reunions every (ive yeame
provided a saies of Lienating suapsliots, The sshoul is supa al luring bik ie anu for
these events, which are key lind-raizers: the red oorpet gets rolled cut with un uy of ie!
profile spealters and svants. My ovwn fifth-yser ¢ennion was do exception aud ws heel a big
turnout. Tsoking around, everyone seemed go polished and prosperous we souldn’t helm but
fos that so rally avor9 part of comnoth ing apssia

We clearly had witch fo eolebrane. My elacamates
fey bd
spouset much helter-looking than they were. Their Hives seemed

ey ho

ed to he doing extremsty well,

(jobs, sowe very workiny in Cv Jocatiom, amd anes Il sage te ananny
lestined to be Camlstio

But by our teu reion, things thot we had moor wopeoled beeumy inervaeinaly
samman, A imumher oF nv slawanatsa whom Uae heen Inoking Risa to socine dit gon
Tek, sud Ltd no fea lay. Gradually. by salling dhe er pking oiler Lika. J pul Doe
pieoes logether. Among my clasmates were exevutives al renowned consulting and Gna
fine fiks Bokinsey & Ce. ancl Goldman Sacks; ethors wore ou thsir way te tep spats in
TFerlune SN) compunisy; some were alreucly suwversCil enfrenmeneure, and 2 Jew

anging amenuts of money

Despi ty

mdeappy

ach prafstsional acoimnplishmenns, hoorsver, atange of them

Behind the acude of roteasions sus
sing for living. "There eer also, 1 ‘ anhappy aarti |
onczalna ony cliente whe kink allel lo his cana in yen, who ws mow ving oa De
‘porte scar fram thom. Anosar season lor tite marriage siucorwe'd granted.

ss, there were many wha didnot enjay wha the
fae atari of aie

known, bul some of the

My clusamates were nel only so
mnsel deveat people, (oo. AL anaduntion they hind plan md sivivas for whet they would
sscsemplish, nol just in thei soreers, bul in Ihsir penvonal Fives as well, Vet xomelhing had

reruig for some of them alow the way: their porsanal rclionships had hewn 15

ofthe brightest people U

steleriorale, even as heir profesional prospects blossomed, L sensed thal they Gell embarrassed
to explain to tale frauds tho esunret. in the trajectories of their personal and profesional
lives

[At the time, Tvgumned il as bli: a ind of midlife ssi. Tl al our vent
thing-yoar roanians, the probleme were ssa, One of ste elastmanse—leffray Skiling-—tasd
Tome in i Fr is ve in the Exaon veo
Ie Jeffisy Stilling.|kuow of Fo ou Yoars at HHS wens a gona min, Ho was smart, he
worked hand, he loved bis Kanily, He load boutons of the sonnet putas in MeKinwey
oct histery avd lator went on to sar more than ST million in a single yoar an Kuron's
poate IM was nob ay suvesslil: bie Hist meriage onde it
siivorse. [ sertuily did't resopnive the Gnonce shurk depicted in the media ns he hecur=
incavavingly praia, Aud yol when hie satire saver umsiecled wil Iie vomviction om
alliple Federal Celons charter relating & Tnnun’s Financial sella, i nol only shosked
that hs had gow asreng, but loxe spsctacularly hs had done 40. Something hal elsary sont him
off ia the wroag direction,

CKO, Bul siaulimnsously. i

Peso dissatisfiction, fomily Gailurss, professional struggles, oven criminal
Tehavior-—these problems weren't Tiled Lt my elusemates al TTBS. T sate the some thing
Ippon to any linemen the yoy afer we Coumpletad our stuns a8 Rhodes Sebo al
Ovid Cniversity. Ta by given that opportunity, my classmates hud to have demonstra
ssxtianndinary soademie sm rienlar sett

sports, polities, or siting, and significant contehuliens lo their sommumities. These 3
twollrmndsd, accomplished poop who clerTy had meh no affarthe wor

Bub ay te yeas went by. come of my lkiety-brw Rude clasts ako experiensed
imilor disoppeiniments, Gne played prominent role in w major insider tad

recounted in the book Dow af 4nes, Ancthor ese up in jail bocatae of a sexta relationship
with a teenager wha had worked on hie politcal sarypuign. Te wae manried with three shin
at the tims, On2 ahs 1 thought wae for groatncas in his profetsional and tamil
shots tae strnggled ia both ineluding moss than ons divorce,

‘aida ae

Tinow for surs tat mune of those poeple wraduatoa wilh 4 Ucliburats sleatsuy to go
slivorsed a Towe touch with thei ehildren—much let end up in jl, Vet thie ie the ea
suanagy that too many eas up implententing

[dew samt te mislead won, Abmuvide these dixappoinuaemts, Ubsre axe auemy of ay
‘who have led exemplary personal lives; they have truly been nn inepinuion i me

But ony lives ne not over aid thy lives of one ceva ane just nosy unten

whol caus

she hae

Unsdastindi
the problemas that rapped some of my classmates iv important net jus for tho
coms off ths path that thay hex! planned to foley but fr thioas evhoss liv ars still
fn the right path) us well a4 those whose joumeys are just beginning. We all are vulnerable 19
the torose and dosisions that have dora too: many

Tam among thoce sto fave hoan formats so far in many ways ane to my weoudsrtal
wilt. Chest, who bi helped sae in tay Lalas vill runazhable pression, TL would bs
Tally Far me to wrile Unis book, however, 10 proslaim thal everyone iho replicates t
dlecisiems we Ie msde willbe laypy aad steccssful to, kate, it itn tis huol, Cha
Fallewed the appvach th hog charaolerized my mangement research

have engaged my shidonfs in the quest. as wall In ory MIS coum, Huilding, me
Suvecrelul Laterprinw vo nbady thovaivr ceyanliny The various dinvzoions of De
atements of whal weseze hing: lo happen and

thearice, wo put them *
‘seaming a cave about sampang, We disawss whar sich of tho thoorise aw tall we ahs hry
find how the prubhans wel opponaitice eueryed in le sompons, We die wie Use Thoories to
edit what prohlon: and opportunitiss sts likely to nazar i rho fakars for that es pat, ate
vos ube the series to predic at ions de xem

ay will vedo aby to adds ta,

[By doing tin, the student Lev tat nobus! tcony i let espinal wt
will yeour auroie the hierarchy of husiness: in industry: in the corporations within those
iindnetres: in he husiness anits within those earporatinns: and in tho ans thar ars wen the

busines units

lst day of my slays aller Tye summarized whut ¥9
equals Ippon in tbe ives of ou graduates, we have abu te discussiom 3 stop luuter:
larwhing. to the movt fundamental element of orgonivations: individuals, Tor this dissuseion

tothe than 8.

station, wo uns ones

fmsinsssos a tha eae

T pastisiparsin iss discussions wim mane history han mr smdonr do, tnt alloee the
we niles, We ane there fo explore not wba we Aaj sll hare ba wD rls schot te
thes wil 9p ull of different decivions and selisms. Hesauve
Teen proven it lieve uivcussiome wver waumy yews, T've Fevaned mone ubuut Urcee vies tha,
sane one group of my sludents ever haw. 1a even the seore wilh them, however. Uhave shared
striae abot haw Mase theorise have played ur. inany Ti

lus, a6 a

‘Lo belp stntare this divwnsion, J waite the thootiee se hove studied alum
The challbourd. Then T rile three simple quzslions beside thove these:

lbs top of

Bene cam 90530

Dust he ot

fifi ak Happy a

‘hese questions might sound simple. be thay are qucstinns that se many of my
STassuiates no orashed, or td asked but Jost rock of wat Bey lesen,

“Your lley yer [have boon onaed a row lhe theuriee of the vounss iit ievice ja
four poruonal lisse as they doin the sompunise we've slusied, Jn this book, 1 will ry to
summarize come af de heer af the insighns my saweats etd [avs discnsssd on that Last day in
1 re same oF 210, Fea aed 4 acants in wy own lass ba the
cies spwlvuting student body. But at's wot Ge only 5 sr ile flere tht
slay: Standing atthe peatiura ith ill hair asthe result of chemotherapy. 1 explained thal |
Inud Deen Uinguoved sith Lolliilie Iywyphomn. a eater simile to dat oekicls ual billed xy
futher. 1 expresteu my gratitude that L could use this Lime with Uhem ly summarize whal my
sacle rid Thad loarnad from foensing diese thaorise on oursshess, | spoke about the things
in our Fives that sre rise imporlant—not just whem you are confronting a lifethrestening
iif. ae Hwa, at every day. Rr ovory ne of us, Shating my thawghte that dag with the

for jt th

suchas abuattomale Uniross sayin die werld wis a rauhable espcrieme,

James Allworth, who wats in ony clogs Chul semzsler and in the wudienee thol las, anst
1 Dillan, svho hed aso, wy avast in hee position a aditoe of tho Hareand sate

sora boll vatratcly moved by Ure tpie, 1 later asked Ure Wo Iedp aay con ey boa
hroader andicas tho fooling, psaple hae that day in Hurdan Hall on the Harvard Basins
Sebiool aus

sou fi
2 fabio and rancanh

ly halt faith. far into my third professional ar
aes into a carver us am edits $

the mat

of bs daughter, 6 U9

ut de te of us ae uni in the goul ef ping you understand thy Bteores we dee
in thic hook hecuse we belizve they cum shumpen the uouitysvlh which you cun examine and
improve your ifs. Wats vernen in ths Fist pornon, my voies. hesamse i's how [tall t9 ay
sudents and my cwsn children about thie thinking, Bul Tames und Karen have try been
‘smthare in ood

T dan'e promise this aol will offSr you any sary atemsre: working Avough ahece
svestions sequites nas! werk, Ithae tnheat we decides, BW it hae wae been tse of the moel
worlhwile endescons of my fle 1 hope the theories inthis baok can help you a you suntin
‘on yeni jonracy. ao that fn the ond. you ean definitively auawer for yours he question “Hoe
will you measure your Be!
dust Because You Have Feathers ...

von fife nate yous es
‘estion ap any ookseors

‘The Difference Between What to ‘Lhink and How to Think

1 tite challenges, Ths qmest to find happiness ave menaing in Te
is gol ne. Tine tar been pumslering dhe revwen for our caiveace fr Unveils af yours,

‘What iy new, hun in hows some mesern thinkers wddress the prublam. A bevy of
sallsd ospoits simply offer the answers. Ire nat a muaprine that hone anawars aro very
spoiling lo some, Lhisy tue band pucbhaus ones Quat people sim go Cowal nt eutiv Ile
without svar razalving—andl fora quik te.

‘Thal is wot what | intend with this hook. There are no quick Fier Gr the Cmeoments
pooblens of BI, But Lom offer yous Wooly tal TIL gall shuores in Une book, shel will help
you make goed ehoiges. appropriate lo the eirsumalanses af your life

Hoard ahnutahs poorer of this approach in 107 hefore | published my fier ek, fs
Ieovoior’y Dedeana L gota ell Kom Andy Gaur, thon Ue atsinaym of late, Ue bad heard
ff one of my early academic pupers about disuptive innovation, und asked te t some Lo
Samu Clans to esha ay scseanel nd lL ssn is top ton wel i ugplied Low Kal, A
oung professor, Teciledly Men lo Sificen Valley andl showed up at thy appsinted time, oly
fev havs Analy say, “Isak, suc has happonsd. We have only ten winatss Far ya. "Tol me shat
sour research means Jor Tle, so wy oom get on with Things.

Trcepombet, “Andy. Toul, bene Haver very lie ant Tate, Th ealy tig Tam
ds iets explain dhe theory fst thon wo aa Toa: atthe company theewgh the leas dha ie
theury ollery.” T thea showed ki # diagnan of my Uhcury of dbsruption, T exphsined that

sfsruplion happens slien a eompeitarontara « marksl with «lese-prived product or service thal
established incuatry pla aid

its Unsiness wodel to voalinvally naprove ih olfeiany until i ix good exeugh to satis wha

ssnstomers ncod, Ton minntes ints ary explanatinn, Andy intsrmaprsd impaticnrly: “Leak, |e
yl your mrdel, Just ell ws vl tascam Tor Intl

at 94 inferine. Hut the news nmptitor uso

vid “aul, [ni cam. Teed to desriby how thir process world it soy through a
very dllferent industry, 49 you ean visualize how it works.” Luold the alery al the sleel-mill
indntry. in whieh Sear ad other stesl minimis dlsmpnsd tho integrated stzet-nvil glans,
‘The mini-milly began by: auicking al the foweet end of the mar

shar and thon aap by sop moved mp toward the high eu, tom
living al one of the uation stl ally alo Vabawp

\—sleelreintoreing bar. a
fs seet steal ovonmally

‘When [niche the mini-mill sory, Andy suid. °T get iL. What i meone fer Intel ie
andl than want on 10 arfiaulate what wend become the company’s statsey for
Dolton of Ube msn to loutel the loser-priead Celaoa prove

ping ta the

Pee thy

a slow ht caskige w milion Giuey save, ITunes to tell Andy Gore

what he should think shout the microprocessor husiness. he would have evinverated my

mgungent, Ty's lrgette gore that T will wer knw bw rs busines,

But inslend of telling him ora! Lo Unik. Tuuughl him Jw to think, Tle then reushed a
hol lainiow aso shart do his ome

Don’t Have an Opinion, the Zheor Has an Opinion

hat

ing with Andy’ chan ged fhe way Fanewver splations, Wem penple ass me something,
now razeky ms wer diet, ten, Tr Uke queen Mhnousd Unvory iu way own mid, 19 T
news what the Unsory aye i fkely be he thy raaull of ome cours ut astion, sompared to
‘mmotber, FIL thew esplsia howe it plce Gs thsi setton, To be sure Ukey vnersiad t, TIL
letnom hows thy pracets in the modol worked its wa through st incur er slusion
Sli¥rem, fiom their oor, to help them wisnaize hows it works. Pogo, yp
Soo, T cinestion with mone invight Unit T woul possibly
a.

ste

i They I then, ser

| good thaery doesn’t changs its mind: it dacsa't apply uly t9 some companies oF
reople, and nal lo others. Iisa general sitement of whal causes what, and why. To illustrate,
shout a yaae star macting with Audy Grnve. | rsosived a aall fom williat Cohen, rhea

seuvtiny of eeu in the Cintun administration, Le told ae le" eed ihe deeder
vo. “Cala you sanks a Washinggan an tal ts me and my staff hon yor search?

‘akod. "Lo ms, this wis + onevein-a-lietime eppentunity

ny Cole land sil “ny oof" sougelow Thal eaived yesen Few tenamns
orotare"s sonferonce room tho Joint Chiat
‘of Seat¥ wore in fhe front sow, Flawed hy the sesrotaries ot che Army Navy. and Ale He