Where is the certainty in big data?

My thoughts on running a small data and communication business are vinified products rendered from insights from Seth Godin. The pomace has been removed from the maceration, filtering and aging has transpired and to bring the enology analogy full circle--the wine is ready for sipping.

Here are 3 that I access daily--maybe even hourly

1. You aren't making your products or offering your services for everyone. Stay true to yourself and in the face of rejection--whisper to yourself--"I didn't make this for you"

2. Don't bid on pricing. This has been useful in my work freelancing or working as an entrepreneur. Seth's thoughts (paraphrased by me) are it is a useless race to the bottom. I agree. I don't sell dollars. Clients need to value the tasks or questions they are trying to solve--and pay accordingly.

3. Now that you have your ducks in a row--what are you going to do with the duck--simply brilliant. I have even titled data talks with this exact phase. As a thank you I gifted Seth a bronze duck when I met him at the On Being Gathering. He actually teared up and gave me a hug.

​“I wish I had more data”

​Really?

More data is usually available. It takes time or money, but you can get more data.

But you’re probably not using all the data you’ve already got.

I’m guessing what you meant was, “I wish I had more certainty.”

And that, unfortunately, isn’t available.

If it’s worth the work you put into it and the change you seek to make, it’s worth dancing with the uncertainty. Reassurance isn’t going to come from more data–that’s a stall.
Forward motion is the best way to make things better.

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The theme of data gathering and sourcing was used by Cole in a podcast replay, Dataklubben, that I caught on my way to the gym. Think about our roles as data analysts. We gather/source data--lots of it. But what are we looking for? The single pearl of truth perhaps but in the process we shouldn't leave huge piles of oyster shells in our wake.

If certainty is truly the goal you will likely be disappointed.

Think how many oysters you would have to shuck or eat to potentially find a pearl.

Maybe what we really need is targeted well thought out questions--and well calculated probabilities.
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Where to connect?

Links to data conversations are typically here, data talks people mumble or on twitter @datamongerbonny

I will be presenting at the next Tableau Healthcare User Group on August 14th--follow along here for updates.

​Discounts for Women in Tech Summit (Southeast) expire July 31st so get your early bird registration soon!

Here is a link to my interview (presenter)