By Ashley Sanders, Ph.D
Data is one of the most powerful tools business owners have today—but too often, it feels overwhelming, technical, or out of reach. The good news? You don’t need to be a data scientist to start making smarter decisions. You just need a few simple, confidence-building wins.
Last month, I shared how to get started by using the data you already have to answer important business questions. (If you missed it, you can catch up in “Stop Guessing, Start Growing: How to Use Your Business Data with Confidence”.)
In this month’s article, I’ll show you how to continue building your data savvy—in less time than it takes to finish your morning coffee.
Learning Plan (30 minutes)
In just 30 minutes this month, you can start building your data analysis skills and uncover insights that will make a real difference in your business. First, you’ll connect your data to your goals and picture how powerful it will feel to make evidence-based decision. Then, you’ll dive into your data with a quick, hands-on activity to spot opportunities, celebrate wins, and uncover patterns you might have missed before. It’s easier—and more rewarding—than you might think!
Activity 1
Have you set aside 15 minutes to explore one question yet? If not, pause here. Set a timer and jot down a business question you want or need to answer. Perhaps you’re wondering how satisfied your employees or customers are. Or, maybe you have questions about which regions or customers are most profitable so you can build on your strengths and identify underperformers to nurture.
Not sure where to start? I’ve created a 2-minute questionnaire that highlights key business questions you can answer with data. It’s a quick, confidence-building first step toward using your data more effectively. (https://sandersanalytics.org/build-data-strategy/)
Now, write down:
- One question you want to answer.
- The data you already have (or can quickly access) to explore it.
If you’re not ready for full analysis yet, reflect instead:
- How would answering this help your business?
- How will you feel after finding an answer backed by evidence?
Even without analyzing yet, you’re building momentum for your next step.
Activity 2
Once you’ve picked your question and found the right data, it’s time to do a simple analysis.
Goal: Quickly uncover your best and worst performers based on one important business metric. Time Required: About 15 minutes.
Why this method? Sorting and filtering is intuitive, low-risk, and often leads to immediate “aha” moments—no complex analysis needed.
Instructions for Activity 2:
Step 1: Choose One Metric to Explore (2 minutes)
- Select a numeric or date-based column in your data that directly relates to your business question or goal. Examples include:
- Sales revenue
- Order size
- Days since last purchase
- Number of website visits
- Customer satisfaction rating
Step 2: Make a Copy of Your Data (1 minute)
- Before doing any manipulation, duplicate your spreadsheet tab to preserve your original data.
Step 3: Sort Your Data to Quickly See Top and Bottom Performers (3 minutes)
- Highlight your entire dataset by clicking the top-left corner of the spreadsheet (the area above row numbers and left of column letters).
- Click on Data → Sort range → Advanced range sorting options.
- Select the column you chose in Step 1.
- Choose “Z→A” for descending order (to see top performers first), or “A→Z” for ascending order (to see lowest performers first), and click “Sort.”
Step 4: Take a Quick Look at Your Top and Bottom Records (3 minutes)
- Quickly review the top 5–10 rows:
- What stands out?
- Are there common characteristics?
- Any surprises?
- Now, scroll down and look at the bottom 5–10 rows:
- What do you notice?
- How are these entries different from your top performers?
Step 5: Filter to Focus Your Insights (4 minutes)
- Select your data again.
- Click Data → Create a filter.
- Click the filter dropdown arrow in your selected metric column.
- Experiment by filtering:
- Numeric metrics: Filter by values above or below a certain threshold.
- Dates: Show records from recent periods, like the last month or quarter.
- Categories (if relevant): Show or hide specific categories (e.g., product type, region, customer segment).
Step 6: Reflect and Decide on Next Steps (2 minutes)
- Jot down what you learned:
- Have you identified strengths and/or weaknesses?
- Did any insights emerge that suggest immediate actions you can take?
- Are there questions or insights that require further exploration?
Tips for Success:
- Stay focused—answer one question at a time.
- Don’t worry about imperfect data—you’re aiming for quick wins.
- Celebrate small discoveries! They’re your building blocks.
Optional Next Steps:
- Try visualizing your findings with a simple bar chart.
- Save key insights to revisit when planning your next steps.
Congratulations! By investing just 30 minutes in simple, focused activities, you’re already building a strong foundation for data-driven decision-making. Imagine what you’ll uncover with just a few more of these small steps.
In next month’s article, we’ll explore how to spot hidden trends in your business data—and how to turn those trends into strategic advantages. Stay tuned!
