Made to measure: why we can’t stop quantifying our lives - Deepstash
How To Become a Better Decision-Maker

Learn more about personaldevelopment with this collection

Understanding the importance of decision-making

Identifying biases that affect decision-making

Analyzing the potential outcomes of a decision

How To Become a Better Decision-Maker

Discover 102 similar ideas in

It takes just

14 mins to read

Everything Is Getting Measured

Everything Is Getting Measured

From ancient Egyptian cubits to fitness tracker apps, humankind has long been seeking ever more ways to measure the world – and ourselves. But what is this doing to us?

Measures are both meaningful and arbitrary; iron guides in our lives that are malleable if we want them to be. If they don’t work – if they don’t measure up – then they too can be remade.

7

62 reads

The Start Of Modern Measurements

The Start Of Modern Measurements

Around 6,000 years ago, the first standardised units were deployed in river valley civilisations such as ancient Egypt, where the cubit was defined by the length of the human arm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, and used to measure out the dimensions of the pyramids. In the Middle Ages, the task of regulating measurement to facilitate trade was both privilege and a burden for rulers: a means of exercising power over their subjects, and a trigger for unrest.

5

42 reads

The Metric System

The Metric System

  • The metric system was created to simplify metrology and embody political ideals.
  • Today, international standards like those mandated by NIST and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are mostly invisible in our lives.
  • Where measurement does intrude is via bureaucracies of various stripes, particularly in education and the workplace
  • "Metric fixation" is a ubiquitous concept that pervades not only the private sector but also the less-quantifiable activities of the state, such as healthcare and policing

5

41 reads

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

We live in the age of measured accountability, of reward for measured performance, and belief in the virtues of publicizing those metrics through 'transparency".

Excessive measurement and inappropriate measurement will distort, distract, and destroy what we claim to value.

6

42 reads

CURATED BY

val_q

"Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1." ~ Warren Buffett

More like this

Why Isn't the U.S. on the Metric System?

6 ideas

The History of the Treadmill

2 ideas

The History of the Treadmill

blog.lifefitness.com

The mindfulness conspiracy

6 ideas

stash-superman-illustration

Explore the World’s

Best Ideas

200,000+ ideas on pretty much any topic. Created by the smartest people around & well-organized so you can explore at will.

An Idea for Everything

Explore the biggest library of insights. And we've infused it with powerful filtering tools so you can easily find what you need.

Knowledge Library

Powerful Saving & Organizational Tools

Save ideas for later reading, for personalized stashes, or for remembering it later.

# Personal Growth

Take Your Ideas

Anywhere

Organize your ideas & listen on the go. And with Pro, there are no limits.

Listen on the go

Just press play and we take care of the words.

Never worry about spotty connections

No Internet access? No problem. Within the mobile app, all your ideas are available, even when offline.

Get Organized with Stashes

Ideas for your next work project? Quotes that inspire you? Put them in the right place so you never lose them.

Join

2 Million Stashers

4.8

5,740 Reviews

App Store

4.7

72,690 Reviews

Google Play

samz905

Don’t look further if you love learning new things. A refreshing concept that provides quick ideas for busy thought leaders.

Sean Green

Great interesting short snippets of informative articles. Highly recommended to anyone who loves information and lacks patience.

Ashley Anthony

This app is LOADED with RELEVANT, HELPFUL, AND EDUCATIONAL material. It is creatively intellectual, yet minimal enough to not overstimulate and create a learning block. I am exceptionally impressed with this app!

Shankul Varada

Best app ever! You heard it right. This app has helped me get back on my quest to get things done while equipping myself with knowledge everyday.

Ghazala Begum

Even five minutes a day will improve your thinking. I've come across new ideas and learnt to improve existing ways to become more motivated, confident and happier.

Jamyson Haug

Great for quick bits of information and interesting ideas around whatever topics you are interested in. Visually, it looks great as well.

Giovanna Scalzone

Brilliant. It feels fresh and encouraging. So many interesting pieces of information that are just enough to absorb and apply. So happy I found this.

Laetitia Berton

I have only been using it for a few days now, but I have found answers to questions I had never consciously formulated, or to problems I face everyday at work or at home. I wish I had found this earlier, highly recommended!

Read & Learn

20x Faster

without
deepstash

with
deepstash

with

deepstash

Access to 200,000+ ideas

Access to the mobile app

Unlimited idea saving & library

Unlimited history

Unlimited listening to ideas

Downloading & offline access

Personalized recommendations

Supercharge your mind with one idea per day

Enter your email and spend 1 minute every day to learn something new.

Email

I agree to receive email updates