Ever hear of the term “inchables?” I just heard someone use that term and I love it! Inchables are kind of a cross between “milestones” and “measurables.” You are probably familiar with the term “milestones” - these are (1) literally, stones set a specific distance in miles from 
a given point, and (2) significant events or people in a given area. For example, landing a man on the moon was a milestone in the history of space exploration.
Then, measurables. These are also significant things that can be measured. They are also indicators used at various stages of a project to predict potential scheduling delays
So what are inchables? Inchables are significant small steps that can be measured. Inchables are the day-to-day achievements of a business; they are the little “ah ha!” moments that tell us we are on the right track. For example:
- That moment when you get a positive reaction from a customer to something you are doing, and you didn’t even know they were looking.
- When you hear someone in line in the supermarket say, “I went to that new chiropractor last week. She was great! She really helped my lower back problem.”
- You get an email from a blog reader who says, “I appreciated your great blog posts. I feel I really got to know and like you. Thanks!” (This really happened to me.)
Moments like this are Inchables. They move you forward, give you encouragement, suggest course corrections, keep you on the right track.
Many paths to success. The path to your small business success is not linear. It is constantly changing, as things happen. If you are starting a business, keep your eyes and ears open for these markers; if you have an ongoing business, take the time to stop and pay attention to the inchables - they are the little measurables that tell you something about the success of your business. Ignore the inchables at your peril.
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