JBT Field Notes Podcast

FIELD NOTES // Episode 1

Field Notes on Measuring Success: What We Measure Shapes Us

DATE: July 16, 2026

LOCATION: Somewhere between comparison and contentment

OBSERVATIONS

• The things we measure have a way of shaping the lives we build.

• Lifestyle creep often starts as convenience before it becomes pressure.

• Comparison is easier than ever, and rarely makes us more whole.

DISCUSSION

Jarad, Brandon, and Travis explore a deceptively simple question: what are we measuring in life, and how is that shaping who we become?

The conversation moves from financial stress, lifestyle creep, and the pressure to keep up with others into bigger questions about social media, screen time, family habits, work, rest, and success. Along the way, the hosts wrestle with what happens when net worth becomes a scoreboard — and what better measures might look like instead.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

→ Many of the easiest things to measure are not the things that matter most.

→ Convenience, comfort, and status all come with emotional tradeoffs.

→ Social media can turn comparison into a daily habit.

→ A better life may require better metrics: connection, purpose, presence, and peace.

FOR FURTHER STUDY

Ask yourself: What am I measuring right now that may be shaping me more than I realize?

WHERE TO FIND US

Brandon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brmiddle/

Travis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlzimbelman/

Jarad - www.myoldnotebooks.com

END OF NOTES