Guessing won’t grow your business 🚀. In this video excerpt, Larry Fulton, Managing Principal of Fulton Equity, reveals why putting the right metrics in place helps leaders stay focused and make better choices.

Quick tips to help you move from numbers to action.

When it comes to running a business, tracking data is only the first step. The real value comes when you take those numbers and turn them into insights that shape smarter decisions. By making a habit of reviewing your metrics more often, you can spot trends early, adjust quickly, and keep your business moving in the right direction. Here are two ways to make it work:

Turning Numbers Into Insights

It’s easy to get caught up in spreadsheets, but numbers don’t tell the full story on their own. Look for patterns and context, and review your data regularly to really understand that the numbers mean for a long-term strategy.

• Compare current results with past weeks to identify improvement or decline.
• Ask why certain changes are happening—are they seasonal, market-driven, or tied to internal operations?
• Focus on a few key metrics, like cash flow or gross margin, instead of drowning in data.

Quick Tip: Don’t just track the numbers—interpret them. Trends matter more than one-off spikes. Pay attention to how those trends evolve over weeks, months, and quarters to give you a clearer picture of progress and help guide both short-term actions and long-term planning.

Make Adjustments in Real Time

A monthly or quarterly review may be too late to fix emerging issues. Weekly check-ins give you the chance to pivot faster, while monthly reviews highlight broader patterns, and quarterly reviews ensure alignment with long-term goals. To get the most out of these reviews, look for simple actions you can take right away when the data tells you something important.

• If sales dip one week, test a small promotion the next.
• If expenses spike, investigate right away instead of waiting until the quarter closes.
• Use weekly reviews as an accountability tool for your team, giving everyone visibility into progress, responsibilities, and areas that need attention.

Quick Tip: Small, consistent tweaks add up. Think of weekly reviews as your early-warning system, helping you catch small shifts before they become major problems. For your team, these check-ins encourage ownership, spark discussions about challenges, and keep goals front and center.

Takeaway:

Data isn’t just about keeping score—it’s about giving yourself the tools to adapt. By reading beyond the numbers and acting on weekly insights, you can stay proactive and confident in your decision-making. Fostering a culture of agility and responsiveness ensures you have the time and flexibility to make smart adjustments that support long-term growth.

This CuyEast Chamber post was written with AI assistance in part.