Metrics provide a way to manage goals and progress as actual numbers. Metrics measure, display, and explain performance over a period of time.
A Metric is always some specific thing that's being tracked -- What we're tracking. When do we want to be tracking it, What target do we want to hit. With that in mind, a metric is made up of four parts:
- A graph of numbers plotted over time
- A target trend line that shows whether progress is above or below target
- Reminders, delivered by text or email, that notify you to input a number
- Annotations that go with each number entry
Your coach will assign you Metrics, or you can create your own. Metrics come with email or text reminders. If you opt for email reminders, simply reply with the number for that date plus an optional comment about the result. Leaving a comment is highly recommended, because it gives you and your coach additional qualitative insight that compliments raw numerical data nicely.
Reporting your numbers via text is very similar to replying to email reminders, save for one gotcha: you can only reply to the most recent text that was sent to you. So if you have 3 metrics and the reminders all fire off to you via text at, say, 7pm, the system will think that any reply you send applies only to the third one. To get around this you can stagger your reminders in time, sending at, say, 7pm, 7:10, and 7:20. If you have an email-enabled phone, your best option may be to simply choose email reminders, allowing you the freedom to reply to each at your own pace and in any order.