The Wisdom of Titans: Secrets of Success from Entrepreneurs Who Rose to the Top

Chapter Nine

Measure Your Progress at Every Step

We have what we call our balanced scorecard from which we measure and operate the company. It’s a tool we use, up and down the company.

—Paul J. Diaz, CEO, Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

Successful businesses run by metrics and measures, gauging their progress toward strategic goals and milestones. These targets do not exist for their own sake; rather, they create a framework of achievement and accountability within the company and, externally, among all stakeholders. In the health-care industry, measures and metrics are crucial to delivering high-quality, effective care. Indeed, as health-care reform is implemented by policymakers and regulators, the health-care industry is turning increasingly ...