Good Operators Focus On Inputs, Not Outputs

Looking at data can be incredibly illuminating. You see how things are performing, how much revenue you’re bringing in, and how well the business is doing. I do it all the time. I open up Stripe, see the subscription revenue coming in, see how it is ahead of where it was last year, and give the old back a pat.

The problem is that none of this helps the business. Yes, it keeps me informed and helps me understand the business’s health. But it doesn’t actually make the company more successful. Instead, it simply tells me something that has already happened.