What Matters
The world needs leaders. We’re here to help.
Our mission is to galvanize leaders to set and achieve audacious goals—through inspiration, education, and application.
Get Started With OKRs
Learn how a simple goal setting technique called OKRs—objectives and key results— propelled Google, The Gates Foundation, and Bono to exceed all expectations.
Stories
See All-
How OKRs Guided Syracuse's Emergency Response Plan
OKRs offer guidance to Syracuse's local government.
Government
Jul 05, 2021
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Driving Outcomes & Measuring Impact with OKRs
OKRs help Stitch Fix to focus attention on outcomes and impact, rather than tasks.
Retail / E-Commerce
Jun 24, 2021
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Leading Teams and Lighting the Way with OKRs
How a global nonprofit uses goal-setting to scale impact.
Non-Profit
May 26, 2021
Execution is everything.
Learn about the OKR movement and its origins from our founder, John Doerr. Learn more about OKRs
Your reading list.
From legendary investor John Doerr comes the case for ambitious goal setting and meticulous execution. Order the Book
OKRs 101
Getting started with OKRs? Our video series helps take your OKR practice from good to great.
Get Started With OKRs
OKRs 101
Getting started with OKRs? Our video series helps take your OKR practice from good to great.
Check your OKRs.
Get detailed feedback from Coach Ryan and the rest of the What Matters team via email, or sign up for one of our live streams. Learn More
Join the community.
Get exclusive guidance from John, Ryan, Lisa and the rest of the What Matters team by signing up for our weekly newsletter, Audacious.
What is an OKR? Definition and examples
OKR examples and how to write them
What are some free OKR tools to help with goal setting?
How to grade your OKRs
OKRs for software engineers: What are some examples?
Cascading top-down OKRs: What are some examples?
Committed vs. aspirational OKRs: What’s the difference?
OKRs for personal or life goals: How do they work?
Customer service OKRs: What are some examples?
What are the benefits of OKRs?
What are some paid OKR tools to help with goal setting?
What are OKRs? Explanation and examples
I read over 100 books a year. Between being an author and podcast host, books are kind of my world. This was hands down one of the most useful books I’ve read in 2018. It forced me to take a look at how I was spending my time and what the people on my team were prioritizing. Even though I couldn’t directly relate to all of the interviews, there was a nugget in each one that I found valuable. Considering how many successful companies and individuals use this process, it’s worth learning about.
Srinivas Rao, CEO Unmistakable Creative Podcast
I love this book. It’s well written and interesting. John Doerr has both the experience and the ability to communicate this in a way that is understandable and motivating. It is now required reading for all of my team at Project CURE.
Dr. Douglas Jackson, CEO Project C.U.R.E.
What People Are Saying
Don’t take our word for it.
This book should be a staple for both future and established business leaders. OKRs and CFRs provide a clear path to setting and achieving the most inspired to the most trivial goals businesses and teams pursue. John’s storytelling and experience made this book tough to put down
Amanda Haworth
”Measure What Matters” by @johndoerr is by far the best book on strategic planning I have ever read as an entrepreneur. OKR is a simple yet powerful tool for startups to stay focused on what really matters while keeping the team aligned to maximize results and excel on execution.
David Ocumarez
OMG, buy this book if you need help getting your stuff together with a business. I had such clarity which I desperately needed even after the first couple chapters. It makes you empowered to make decisions and create plans to actually move your work forward, not drowning in endless busy work that doesn’t get you anywhere closer to meeting your goals. It’s relatable, entertaining and applicable to pretty much any organization size.
Melissa Kennedy
Recently finished Measure What Matters by @johndoerr. Fantastic read and highly recommend it. #OKRs are a fantastic approach to getting an organization moving in the same direction. I rolled out several OKRs at work and to my surprise, my team jumped on board immediately.
Sean Miler
What People Are Saying
Don’t take our word for it.
I read over 100 books a year. Between being an author and podcast host, books are kind of my world. This was hands down one of the most useful books I’ve read in 2018. It forced me to take a look at how I was spending my time and what the people on my team were prioritizing. Even though I couldn’t directly relate to all of the interviews, there was a nugget in each one that I found valuable. Considering how many successful companies and individuals use this process, it’s worth learning about.
Srinivas Rao, CEO Unmistakable Creative Podcast
I love this book. It’s well written and interesting. John Doerr has both the experience and the ability to communicate this in a way that is understandable and motivating. It is now required reading for all of my team at Project CURE.
Dr. Douglas Jackson, CEO Project C.U.R.E.
This book should be a staple for both future and established business leaders. OKRs and CFRs provide a clear path to setting and achieving the most inspired to the most trivial goals businesses and teams pursue. John’s storytelling and experience made this book tough to put down
Amanda Haworth
OMG, buy this book if you need help getting your stuff together with a business. I had such clarity which I desperately needed even after the first couple chapters. It makes you empowered to make decisions and create plans to actually move your work forward, not drowning in endless busy work that doesn’t get you anywhere closer to meeting your goals. It’s relatable, entertaining and applicable to pretty much any organization size.
Melissa Kennedy
”Measure What Matters” by @johndoerr is by far the best book on strategic planning I have ever read as an entrepreneur. OKR is a simple yet powerful tool for startups to stay focused on what really matters while keeping the team aligned to maximize results and excel on execution.
David Ocumarez
Recently finished Measure What Matters by @johndoerr. Fantastic read and highly recommend it. #OKRs are a fantastic approach to getting an organization moving in the same direction. I rolled out several OKRs at work and to my surprise, my team jumped on board immediately.
Sean Miler
I’d recommend John’s book for anyone interested in becoming a better manager.
Bill Gates
Founder of Microsoft
Measure What Matters shows how any organization or team can aim high, move fast, and excel.
Sheryl Sandberg
Facebook COO and Founder of LeanIn.org
Measure What Matters deserves to be fully embraced by every person responsible for performance, in any walk of life.
Jim Collins
Author of Good to Great
I wish we had this book 19 years ago, when we founded Google.
Larry Page
Co-Founder of Google