Last week, we buried the False Hierarchy. We exposed the myth that presenting the story of our analytical journey is persuasive—our data sources, our methodology, our “kitchen tour.” It is not. It is a slow, dull, confusing narrative that quickly and inevitably kills our stakeholders’ attention. We replaced it with a simple framework: the SCQM—Situation, […]

The most dangerous assumption in data analytics is that rigor equals value. We’re taught that the more complex our model, the cleaner our data, and the more comprehensive our dashboard, the more valuable our work becomes. We’ve been trained to show our work meticulously as we build our unassailable case of proof. This is a […]

We have established a hard rule. You will no longer deliver a complex, interactive dashboard and expect your stakeholder to find their own insight. That approach is an abdication of your core responsibility. It makes you a tool provider, not a strategic partner. Your job is to deliver the story: a focused, opinionated narrative that […]

Last time, we outlined the strategy for reacting to rejection. We gave you a framework for decoding the “no” when a stakeholder dismisses your work. It is a critical skill for surviving in this field. But survival is not the goal. Leadership is the goal. The reactive strategy outlined last week is your defense. This […]

Your inbox is a trap. So is your ticketing system. They are comfortable, orderly prisons that define your job and limit your impact. A request arrives. “Can you pull the numbers on the Q3 campaign?” You execute the query. You build the dashboard. You deliver the report. You have done your job perfectly. And you […]