actualNoteContentPart: Victory Value is designed to quantify how quickly you're progressing toward your ideal life. It exists because "getting things done" is cool, but "being happy while you do it" is cooler.
  
  When you finish a week with high Victory Value, it suggests that you are happier, healthier, wealthier and overall better off than the week before. 
  
  The algorithm described on this page was heavily inspired by [Ep 361 of the Tim Ferriss podcast](https://tim.blog/2019/02/20/the-tim-ferriss-show-transcripts-jim-collins-361/)  with Jim Collins (Good to Great). Their conversation was so resonant that, 6 years later, productivity podcaster Cal Newport [still remembered exactly where he had been when he first heard it]()  ([Ep 342: The Good Life Algorithm](https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-342-the-good-life-algorithm/) ), like this was [the moon landing for productivity system tinkerers]() . We strongly recommend [listening to its entirety](https://open.spotify.com/episode/5DlEmtxuxhbM9nwOy4PxE7)  if you are a fan of Ferriss, Good to Great, Cal Newport, or evergreen productivity strategies in general.
  
  # The "Good Life Algorithm," featuring Victory Value
  The term "Good Life Algorithm" was coined by Cal Newport (who may or may not be aware Amplenote exists) in [episode 342 of his podcast](https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-342-the-good-life-algorithm/) . In his podcast's "Deep Dive" segment, Newport describes how author Jim Collins has designed his life to combine "greater happiness" with "greater productivity," in spite of the latter's tendency to drown out a vibrant life.
  
  Newport explains that, by following the "Good Life Algorithm" inspired by Collins, it's possible to leverage a personal record of daily "tasks completed" and "mood/energy level" into a better life. When you are measuring these data points [every day]() , the historical path you generate can inform the direction of future choices. Extrapolated over years, this approach leads its practitioner to iterate toward more time on the parts of life that have correlated with happiness. Less time on the rest.
  
  Enter Victory Value, [our complement to Task Score](https://www.amplenote.com/help/tasks_and_todos_task_score) , built to help you learn from tasks that are done. If you follow the advice of [most all productivity systems]()  to periodically stop and think about your past, Victory Value helps to synthesize: **among these 100+ finished tasks, which single choice did the most for my long-term well-being?**
  
  
  Do worry, be happy: tracking mood builds willpower to achieve satisfying goals
  
  
  If you'd like to learn more about what Ferriss, Collins and Newport have to say on this subject, check out the [Inspiration for Victory Value](#Inspiration_for_Victory_Value,_Continued_)  section below.
  
  # Victory Value Components
  What data sources does Amplenote use to calculate the Victory Value of a task? To start, every completed task earns one point of Victory Value. Then, look at the following specific factors.
  
  ## 1. Marked important
  Obviously, since "Victory Value" and "Marked Important" are both activated when working on tasks that align with your long-term goals, a task marked "Important" scores more Victory Value.  
  
  Specifically, being marked "Important" contributes 7 points to Victory Value.
processedNoteContent: ---
  title: Victory Value & the "Good Life Algorithm": Whic...
  tags: 
  ---
  Victory Value is designed to quantify how quickly you're progressing toward your ideal life. It exists because "getting things done" is cool, but "being happy while you do it" is cooler. When you finish a week with high Victory Value, it suggests that you are happier, healthier, wealthier and overall better off than the week before. The algorithm described on this page was heavily inspired by [Ep 361 of the Tim Ferriss podcast](https://tim.blog)`
    with Jim Collins (Good to Great). Their conversation was so resonant that, 6 years later, productivity podcaster Cal Newport [still remembered exactly where he had been when he first heard it]()
    ( [Ep 342: The Good Life Algorithm](https://www.thedeeplife.com)`
   ), like this was [the moon landing for productivity system tinkerers]()
   . We strongly recommend [listening to its entirety](https://open.spotify.com)`
    if you are a fan of Ferriss, Good to Great, Cal Newport, or evergreen productivity strategies in general. 
  The "Good Life Algorithm," featuring Victory Value
  The term "Good Life Algorithm" was coined by Cal Newport (who may or may not be aware Amplenote exists) in [episode 342 of his podcast](https://www.thedeeplife.com)`
   . In his podcast's "Deep Dive" segment, Newport describes how author Jim Collins has designed his life to combine "greater happiness" with "greater productivity," in spite of the latter's tendency to drown out a vibrant life. Newport explains that, by following the "Good Life Algorithm" inspired by Collins, it's possible to leverage a personal record of daily "tasks completed" and "mood/energy level" into a better life. When you are measuring these data points [every day]()
   , the historical path you generate can inform the direction of future choices. Extrapolated over years, this approach leads its practitioner to iterate toward more time on the parts of life that have correlated with happiness. Less time on the rest. Enter Victory Value, [our complement to Task Score](https://www.amplenote.com)`
   , built to help you learn from tasks that are done. If you follow the advice of [most all productivity systems]()
    to periodically stop and think about your past, Victory Value helps to synthesize: among these 100+ finished tasks, which single choice did the most for my long-term well-being?
  Do worry, be happy: tracking mood builds willpower to achieve satisfying goals If you'd like to learn more about what Ferriss, Collins and Newport have to say on this subject, check out the [Inspiration for Victory Value](#Inspiration_for_Victory_Value,_Continued_)
    section below. 
  Victory Value Components
  What data sources does Amplenote use to calculate the Victory Value of a task? To start, every completed task earns one point of Victory Value. Then, look at the following specific factors. 
  1. Marked important
  Obviously, since "Victory Value" and "Marked Important" are both activated when working on tasks that align with your long-term goals, a task marked "Important" scores more Victory Value. Specifically, being marked "Important" contributes 7 points to Victory Value.
noteTitle: Victory Value & the "Good Life Algorithm": Which tasks leave you better off?