The Difference Between Simple and Easy

Painting landscapes is not one of my talents. It never has been. When I decided to head for the art department for a canvas, oil paint, and natural brushes, my college roommates looked at me as if I was crazy. “Don’t worry, it will be beautiful.” I promised, “Painting is easy.”

My information came from a very reliable source, an artist who painted landscapes at street fairs. The day before my conversion into an artist, he assured me that anyone could paint a sunset. “It is as easy as 1-2-3. First, you paint rings of orange, yellow, and red for the setting sun. Next, you blend them together with a sponge. Finally, you add some seagulls. And then, you sell it for $200. To prove his point, he painted one while I watched. It took him about thirty minutes to create an incredible sunset.

Since $200 was better spent on college necessities like food, I decided that I would just paint my own sunset. After all, it was “easy”. I began with a blank canvas and ended with a mess. My colors didn’t blend, they reacted. The harder I tried, the worse it became. It was a disaster that has provided years of entertainment for my friends and family.

The problem was that the artist interchanged the words, “simple” and “easy”. Painting is simple if you have skill, talent, and a vision. It is not easy.

Analytics are Similar...

They are simple if you know what data to capture, which formulas to use, and how to apply the results for the best business strategy. Creating the reports that provide valuable information is not easy. It requires the ability to see the big picture while accessing the minute details.

Unlike art, the best analytic reports are created internally. I wish that I could tell you that hiring a consultant with years of experience (like me) to create your reporting system would yield the highest return. Or, that there was a wonderful software package that magically converted data into money. I can’t.

Because you and your management team see things an outsider and software cannot. You know your business, your customers, and your products. You know why some things sell and others don’t. You remember glitches and challenges that affect the information. And you discover even more anomalies and opportunities when you dig through your data creating reports.

There is a place for consultants and software…

…but they can’t replace your knowledge. Your return on investment will be greater if you actively participate in building your analytics program.

It isn’t easy, but it is simple if you have someone leading the way. I’m sure that my painting would have been much better if I had the artist guiding my strokes. If he had said, “a little less orange, a little more red” it could have been the difference between a running joke and a nice wall hanging.

Whether you choose to participate in one of our workshops, hire another consulting firm (GASP!?!), or do it yourself, start your analytics program now. It provides a solid foundation for growth and profitability.

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