“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” ― William Bruce Cameron
In today’s data-driven world, where metrics and dashboards reign supreme, there is a growing concern about the limitations of quantifying every aspect of our existence. In the quest for optimization, businesses and individuals alike rely heavily on numbers to guide decisions and actions. But as we become more dependent on these metrics, it’s essential to ask: What do we lose when we ignore the myth, meaning, and stories that transcend numbers?
The Lure of Quantification
The allure of metrics is undeniable. With the aid of digital dashboards, we can track progress, identify efficiencies, and make data-informed decisions. The business sector, in particular, reveres metrics as the ultimate tools for performance evaluation. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), return on investment (ROI), and engagement rates have become the new lingua franca.
However, this obsession with quantification often comes at the cost of ignoring the qualitative aspects that enrich our lives. The mythic dimension of human experience, laden with narratives and symbols, offers depth that can’t be reduced to a mere number.
The Power of Myth and Meaning
- Symbols Speak Volumes: Mythological symbols and stories provide a shared framework that transcends cultures and generations. Carl Jung noted the idea of the collective unconscious, which taps into the deeper meanings embedded in our psyche.
- The Narrative Imperative: Narratives give context and meaning to our actions. As anthropologist Clifford Geertz famously stated, “Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun.”
- Resilience through Storytelling: Stories have the power to transform adversity into resilience. Unlike metrics that can dehumanize, storytelling humanizes, providing a blueprint for navigating life’s complexities.
Living Beyond Dashboards
Embracing myth and meaning doesn’t mean abandoning metrics—rather, it requires integrating quantitative data with qualitative insights. This melding of worlds can produce a more holistic understanding of life’s complexities. For individuals and businesses alike, balancing these realms could mean reimagining what success looks like beyond the numbers.
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital dashboards, we must remind ourselves to look beyond them to the myths and narratives that define our humanity. Living fully means accepting the richness of life that can’t always be captured by metrics. In an age obsessed with numbers, let’s not forget the stories that continue to shape our reality.