Finding the North Star
I hope you find a good North Star, and use actionable, measurable, and aligned indicators for a good, fulfilling life.
In Product…
In product management, North Star Metric (NSM) is used to define a single crucial metric that aligns all the efforts toward the primary goal. It is essentially a high-level key performance indicator or the most important, high-level objective. It reflects the core value the product delivers to its users.
North Start Metrics vary from organization to organization, but in general, they should be:
Actionable and measurable
Measuring customer value
Aligned with product strategy
A leading indicator of revenue
Some hypothetical NSMs for known companies could be:
Monthly active users (LinkedIn)
Weekly streamers (Spotify)
Watch time - a cumulative amount of time users spend watching videos (YouTube)
Hours streamed (Netflix)
Nights booked (Airbnb)
North Star in Life
Applying the concept of a North Star Metric (NSM) to personal well-being, health, and wellness can help you focus on key aspects of your life that contribute to overall happiness and fulfillment.
Drawing a parallel to how NSM should look like in product, in life it should be:
Actionable and measurable
Measuring value
Aligned with your best future self
A leading indicator of wellbeing
Here are some hypothetical NSM examples for life:
Quality time spent with loved ones
Healthy Active Days
Meditation and Mindfulness minutes/hours
Healthy Eating Choices
Acts of kindness and giving
Personal Well-Being Index
I hope you find a good North Star, and use actionable, measurable, and aligned indicators for a good, fulfilling life. One step at a time.