How are you doing? What an excellent question
Last week, my friend greeted me with the question: "Hi, Chris, How are you doing?" The thought struck me "THAT is an important question":
"How are you doing?"
It is an excellent question
I decided to do an experiment and note the various answers to the question "How are you doing?"
Over the period of two days, I asked the question and made a mental note of the answers:
I got a variety:
First person answered,
"Oh, not bad, thanks."
The next said "Terrible"
Then came:
"Mustn't grumble"
"Okay, thanks"
"Struggling on"
"Can't complain
One says "Splendid"
The next said: "Great thanks"
But these aren't really well considered answers; they are merely, rather, verbal habits.
i.e. their answer were automatic: That is what each one always says.
I know one guy, called Mike, who always answers, to the question: "Mike, How are you doing?"
"If I was doing any better, it would be obscene!"
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But consider this:
"How are you doing?" is a legitimate question; and one you should occasionally ponder:
Really, How ARE you doing?
Are you doing well for yourself, or not?
You only have one shot at this life, so how well are you making out?
Let us investigate?
When trying to answer the question "How are you doing?", it is important to consider the standard of measurement.
The standard of measurement is the comparative standard, against which you measure your performance, and life results.
The question "how are you doing?" cannot be answered unless you are clear about what your comparative standard of measurement is.
How are you doing? Compared to WHAT?
There are various standards of measurement, as follows:
1. How are you doing? Compared to Last year
Are you doing better than you were this time last year?
Are you:
- Healthier than this time last year?
- More educated than last year?
- Happier than this time last year?
We believe that each year, you should have made progress.
Every year, you should be wiser, stronger and wealthier.
If not: have you messed up?
How are you doing? Compared to the goals that you set for yourself
Are you doing better than you thought you would be doing, when you set your current goals?
Are you:
- Ahead of your timetable, or
- Behind schedule?
We believe that you should be measuring yourself against an optimistic, self-set goal, or standard.
And every year, you should be upping your standards.
Ask more from yourself, in terms of quality of work (not volume of work).
If your work is of lesser quality than you intended, have you messed up?
How are you doing? Compared to the people around you?
Are you doing better than other people, similar to you, who operate in the same market, with the same constraints and limitations, as you?
Some of the people, who are operating in the same social and economic context as you, are doing much better than you!
AND.....
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You are doing much better than some others.
How come there are people, who are operating in the same context as you, but they are doing better than you?
What can we learn from people who are doing better than us?
How are you doing? Compared to Perfection
Are you anywhere near approaching perfection, yet?
Not many people are approaching perfection:
- Maybe some elite Olympic athletes are approaching perfection as they prepare for 2012
- Maybe some spiritual guru has achieved perfect enlightenment and is now living in bliss
But, Perfection is difficult to attain.
Believe me, I've tried.
Maybe nobody can ever reach perfection
But trying to get there, trying to get close to perfection, in your chosen field, is a valid and noble quest.
We believe that one should strive for perfection, trying to get as close to the ideal state as is humanly possible.
Why not?
What is there that is better, than striving for perfection?
What else is there better, to do with your time?
Ask more from yourself, than anyone else would ever expect
WARNING:
If you are not trying to up your game, and you are in a society where other people ARE trying to up THEIR game, eventually you will be left looking foolish.
Measure yourself against perfection and see how well you stack up?
How well are you doing?
- Compared to last year?
- Compared to your goals?
- Compared to your competitors?
- Compared to perfection?
Good questions for you to ponder......
Self assessment
Self assessment is a personal development process. You choose clear standards, look at your current results with full honesty, spot the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and turn those findings into a plan for improvement. Miss any of these steps and it stops being true self assessment.
CG4D Definition
Context: Personal development
Genus: Process
- Uses clear, pre-set standards to judge performance
- Demands honest, unbiased reflection on current state
- Reveals gaps between actual results and set goals
- Generates a specific action plan to improve future results
Article Summary
When you turn the casual greeting “How are you doing?” into a serious act of self-assessment, you gain a clear view of life: compare today with last year, your goals, your peers and the ideal, spot the gaps and plan how to raise your game.