We talked to a few business owners this week, and one thing kept coming up:
“We’re drowning in data.”
And it’s true.
CRMs, dashboards, finance tools, operations reports, and spreadsheets stacked like a game of Tetris — one wrong move and it all collapses. The team doesn’t know what matters. Leadership meetings are full of noise. Everyone’s looking at data, but no one’s seeing anything.
So let’s talk about the fix — not a tool, not a new system, but a mindset:
The Real Problem Isn’t Data. It’s Clutter.
Let’s be honest — you don’t need more data. You need more meaningful data. And EOS teaches us this loud and clear through the Data Component:
✅ What gets measured gets done
✅ Everyone has a number
✅ A great Scorecard lets you see the health of your business in 5 seconds
So if your numbers aren’t making it clearer, faster, or easier to lead, the problem isn’t the data — it’s the system around it.
Step One: Ask the Question That Changes Everything
Here’s the magic question:
If your current data only shows rear-view results (last month’s sales, last quarter’s revenue), you’re reacting. Instead, get proactive.
Ask your leaders:
- What is the one number that tells us if we’re winning this week?
- If this number was red for 3 weeks in a row, would you lose sleep over it?
- If it was green for 3 weeks, would you feel confident about hitting our goals?
That number belongs on your Scorecard.
Step Two: Cut the Noise
I know this sounds drastic, but it works:
Yep. Wipe it. Clean slate. Invite your leadership team to add only the most predictive, weekly, actionable numbers — no more than 15 across all seats.
Here’s the criteria for what stays:
- Weekly measurable (not monthly)
- Owned by one person (with a name, not a department)
- Actionable when it’s off-track
If it doesn’t meet all three? It’s clutter.
Step Three: Turn Numbers Into Stories
Data isn’t about digits. It’s about direction.
When you simplify your data, you start telling a clear, compelling story about where your business is going. One that the whole team can see. One that helps you fix what’s broken, double down on what’s working, and lead with confidence.
In the book Data, we didn’t just give you tools. We gave you a way to shift your company from guessing to knowing. Because when you know your numbers, your entire team levels up.
If You’re Feeling the Overwhelm…
You’re not alone. But don’t wait.
Take one Clarity Break this week. Ask yourself:
- What numbers do I really need to make smarter decisions?
- Who on my team is hiding behind metrics that don’t matter?
- What’s one measurable we need to define and track starting now?
Then talk about it in your next Level 10 Meeting. Make it a To-Do. Turn it into action.
Remember: You don’t need to measure everything. You just need to measure the right things.
Let’s go from uncertain to unstoppable, together.
P.S. Want a free tool to help your team simplify your Scorecard? You can download the EOS Scorecard Tool and get back to the numbers that matter most.
