Book Review: Measure What Matters by John Doerr

Alright, folks, here it is—Gabe’s squeaky-clean take on the book Measure What Matters by John Doerr. Now, I may be the Michelangelo of window cleaning, but even I know that getting things done in life and business ain’t just about elbow grease; it’s about focus, clarity, and smashing through the right milestones. That’s where John Doerr steps in with his concept of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). The premise? If you don’t measure what matters, you’ll never know if you’re truly killing it or just spinning your wheels.

Now, don’t get me wrong. This book is like looking at a window that’s 90% spotless but still has a streak or two. There’s brilliance in here, but man, it can get a bit repetitive. Kind of like wiping down the same window over and over when the sun won’t cooperate and show you the smudges. But hang tight! Before I get lost in my window analogies, let’s break it down.

The Sparkle of OKRs

Here’s the “aha” moment of the book (and trust me, it’ll hit you like the first time you discover the magic of a microfiber cloth): to hit your big goals, you need clear objectives (your “what”) and measurable key results (your “how”). No more vague resolutions like, “I want my business to grow,” or “I’m gonna crush it this year.” Nope. Think specific, measurable, and time-bound metrics that hold your feet to the fire—like, “I’m gonna grow my client base by 20% in the next quarter.” John Doerr lays it out clean and simple, almost wiping away excuses for not improving in business or life.

I mean, as a window cleaner, “making homes shine” is a fine goal, but if I don’t yardstick that by X-number of happy customers or streak-free panes cleaned per day, who’s to say I’m not just standing around admiring my squeegee? That’s what OKRs bring to the table—accountability, action, and clarity.

The Good, the Bad, and the Meh

The book shares some superstar business examples. I’m talking Google, Bono, Bill Gates-level anecdotes. You read how tech giants and world-changers used OKRs to crush their targets, and it really makes you sit up. Even I, Gabe the Gleaming Gladiator of Glass, started thinking of ways to apply OKRs to my business after reading these.

But here’s where it starts to fog up a little—the book’s tone can get monotonous. Don’t get me wrong, Doerr’s an accomplished guy, but a little pizzazz wouldn’t hurt. Some chapters felt like being stuck scrubbing a tiny corner of a store window while life moves on behind you. You’ll get the point, but John sure takes his sweet time getting there.

Gabe’s Verdict

All in all, Measure What Matters isn’t a perfect pane of glass, but it’s solid. It hands you a foolproof method to stay on track and annihilate your goals, which I can get behind. The stories of real-life businesses using OKRs? Total gold. The parts that drag on? Well, call them the bird droppings on the windshield—you just have to work a little harder to get past them.

I’m giving this book 3.75 out of 5 stars. Or, in window-cleaner terms, that’s four squeegees… but one of them’s missing the rubber. It’ll get the job done, just not perfectly. If you’re tired of vague goal-setting or endless to-do lists, grab this book, and start measuring what actually matters. And hey, if you figure out how to OKR your way to streak-proof windows, I’m all ears!

Keep shining!
-Gabe Salinas