Measure Twice, Cut Once
Because what you measure shapes what you build
The phrase “measure twice, cut once” comes from carpenters who knew that rushing the early steps could waste valuable material, time, and effort.
The best builders I know (my dad and my husband) use it like a mantra. Take your time when it counts. Double-check before you commit. That way of thinking is timeless and applies to more than just slicing wood.
As a society, we’re always measuring, just not with pencil marks. Grades, promotions, productivity, wellness stats, follower counts, multi-year plans. These are all units of progress and things we’re taught to want.
The catch is, most of them aren’t chosen. They’re handed to us by institutions and systems much larger than us.
If you don’t carefully choose what’s worth measuring in your life, someone else will choose for you.
And over time, that dissonance can add up. You build a life that checks all of the boxes, but it doesn’t quite feel like home.
So pause. Be thoughtful. Make sure you’re making a mark that’s yours to believe in.
- Name one thing you’ve been measuring. Is it helping you focus on what truly matters? If not, practice letting it go.
- Now name one thing you care about that isn’t being measured. Write it down. Let it guide a decision this week.