“Did you know that you can measure that mental horsepower by measuring the Time Span embedded in each of the goals?” I repeated. “You see, each of us has an innate ability to handle a measured amount of uncertainty in the world. For some, that Time Span is short. It is impossible for that person to think out beyond a week, or a month. Impossible to plan and execute goals, business or personal, beyond that measured capability. It makes that person uncomfortable to consider what life might be like in a year or two years.”

Jonas was listening.

“There are just a handful of critical factors that determine success in any role on your team. Measuring a person’s Time Span Capability is an intuitive judgment. Every manager keeps this running assessment going about each team member. This is a judgment you have been making about each person from the minute they joined your team.”

“But isn’t that subjective?” Jonas interjected.

“It might feel subjective, but when you realize that this intuitive judgment can be measured, using Time Span as the metric, this judgment becomes scientific.”

Jonas tilted his head, puzzled.

“Jonas, the temperature in this room, does it feel warm or cold to you?”

“Warm, I guess,” he replied.

“For me, it feels chilly. Those observations are subjective. But if we look at the thermostat on the wall, here, can we both agree that the temperature is 73 degrees?”

The light came on for Jonas. “Warm for me, chilly for you, but 73 degrees is an objective observation. Measuring capability, and agreeing on the Time Span,” Jonas was thinking out loud. “That measurement is an objective observation.”