Track four output dimensions
Build a personal output scorecard tracking four dimensions (reach, resonance, downstream action, personal growth) rather than any single metric, reviewing monthly to identify which output types score highest on the dimension that matters most to your goals.
When This Fires
- When evaluating which output types to produce more or fewer of
- When a single metric (usually views/reach) is driving all production decisions
- When your output portfolio feels successful by one measure but empty by others
- Complements Track workflow quality with tension-paired metrics… (tension-paired metrics) with the output-specific four-dimension framework
Common Failure Mode
Reach-only optimization: producing content that gets maximum views regardless of whether it creates understanding, changes behavior, or develops your own thinking. The view count climbs, the dashboard looks great, and the actual impact is zero. The three non-reach dimensions catch what reach alone misses.
The Protocol
(1) For each significant output, rate all four dimensions on a simple 1-5 scale after distribution: Reach (how many people saw it?), Resonance (how deeply did they engage?), Downstream action (what did they do because of it?), Personal growth (what did you learn producing it?). (2) Monthly, aggregate scores by output type. Identify which types perform best on which dimensions. (3) Based on your current goals, weight the dimensions: if building audience → prioritize reach. If building authority → prioritize resonance. If driving change → prioritize downstream action. If developing expertise → prioritize personal growth. (4) Produce more of the output types that score highest on your currently prioritized dimension. (5) Rotate the primary optimization dimension quarterly (per the variant phrasing) to prevent Goodhart's distortion on any single dimension.