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.