“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Albert Einstein

I can be guilty of it. Relying on numbers too much and analyzing something to death. I studied math in college. I enjoy it. But it can quickly be deceiving if all we’re doing is relying on the numbers to tell us a story we’ve already created. Take for example the initial reaction you have to the following chart:

Now look at the chart below and consider your reaction:

Both charts have the same 4 data points, yet I have a feeling you’re like most and have different reactions to each chart. The first chart used numbers on the vertical axis to emphasize big growth each year whereas chart 2 uses a different vertical axis range and shows minimal growth. Same dataset yet visually it shows very different stories.

I promise this won’t be a mathematical lesson. It’s more of a warning when we come to analyze growth, in whatever area of our life we’re analyzing, numbers can be very helpful, but they are far from the complete story. Data can be helpful, but it also can be deceptive if we don’t use it the right way or if we choose to solely rely on numerical perspective.

If you rely on number of promotions or how much you make as the sole determinant for growth in your career, you’re missing a huge part of what true growth is. Experiences, impact you’ve made on others, connections you’ve made, ways you’ve grown your own skillsets, and so much more is extremely difficult to measure, but is such a meaningful part of our career growth journey.

Weight lost is a far cry from your complete story of your health and wellness journey. While getting to a weight goal you’ve set can be one perspective you use, also consider other priorities data can’t readily tell you. Energy level, lean muscle, building good habits for longevity, and confidence gained from all your hard work are just a few of the many indicators of growth in our health and wellness.

Data is extremely valuable but there’s balance. There’s perspective outside of numbers that mean a great deal in each of our unique growth journeys. While I love analytics in many aspects of my life, Einstein’s quote is a great reminder that not everything that counts can be counted. Don’t just anchor to what we can count. Anchor to the idea that our growth is made up of a variety of perspectives, some we can count and some we can’t quite find the numbers for. And that’s okay.

We don’t have to prove our worth and growth just through numbers. There’s a big world of growth way beyond numbers so make sure we’re taking the time to check internally on what really counts and matters to us.

Take your step: pick one area of your life you’re prioritizing growing in. Within this area of your life, how are you analyzing your growth? Take time to reflect on how you define your growth in this area and assess if you’re using a balanced approach to numbers and non-numerical ideas. Make sure not just one side is overwhelming your view of growth and work to invite in both what can be counted along with what matters to you that can’t be counted.