facts & feelings
@lessandbetter.bsky.social
We help businesses with the elegantly simple—but brutally hard—work of transforming people with data & software into teams with focus & insight. https://factsandfeelings.io
It’s hard to imagine NOT looking back on 2025 and seeing it as a period of dramatic uncertainty. In the hear and now, that can be panic-inducing. Is it possible to harness that panicked energy for good? We think so: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/being-eviden... youtu.be/U1sJdKb6IIM
Being Evidence-Driven in Uncertain Times
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtu.be
May 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM
It’s hard to imagine NOT looking back on 2025 and seeing it as a period of dramatic uncertainty. In the hear and now, that can be panic-inducing. Is it possible to harness that panicked energy for good? We think so: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/being-eviden... youtu.be/U1sJdKb6IIM
In his latest post, @tgwilson.bsky.social makes a case for navigating uncertainty by remaining evidence-driven by being simultaneously agile and focused. thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/being-eviden...
Being Evidence-Driven in Uncertain Times
In times of high uncertainty, historical data can be less useful. It’s still possible (critical, even!) to continue to be evidence-driven.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
April 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
In his latest post, @tgwilson.bsky.social makes a case for navigating uncertainty by remaining evidence-driven by being simultaneously agile and focused. thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/being-eviden...
What are the story points required to truly tell audience-centric and action-oriented data stories? Well we're sure glad you asked, because we love talking about it! 📣 storieshttps://youtu.be/FzFhW8z8iOA
What it takes to truly tell audience-centric and action-oriented data stories
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtu.be
March 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
What are the story points required to truly tell audience-centric and action-oriented data stories? Well we're sure glad you asked, because we love talking about it! 📣 storieshttps://youtu.be/FzFhW8z8iOA
When it comes to the data stories you share with your business partners, are you telling the story you want to tell or the story they need to hear? Read more from @valkroll.bsky.social in this recent article on The Focus!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/audience-cen...
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/audience-cen...
Audience-Centric Data Stories That Inspire Action
What does it really mean to put your audience first? A hypothesis-driven method for telling data stories that inspire action!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
March 26, 2025 at 11:16 AM
When it comes to the data stories you share with your business partners, are you telling the story you want to tell or the story they need to hear? Read more from @valkroll.bsky.social in this recent article on The Focus!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/audience-cen...
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/audience-cen...
IF🥚+🥛+🍚≠🎂
THEN 🧑💻+ 📊+ 🤖 ≠ 💡
BECAUSE it might be time for an Analytics Reset 🫸🚨
Is it time to smash that reset button? Read (and watch!) more to find out:
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/just-because...
THEN 🧑💻+ 📊+ 🤖 ≠ 💡
BECAUSE it might be time for an Analytics Reset 🫸🚨
Is it time to smash that reset button? Read (and watch!) more to find out:
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/just-because...
Just Because You Have Eggs, Milk, and Sugar Doesn’t Mean You Have a Cake
Having well intentioned people, software and data still doesn’t mean that you are effectively and consistently delivering business impact.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
March 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
IF🥚+🥛+🍚≠🎂
THEN 🧑💻+ 📊+ 🤖 ≠ 💡
BECAUSE it might be time for an Analytics Reset 🫸🚨
Is it time to smash that reset button? Read (and watch!) more to find out:
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/just-because...
THEN 🧑💻+ 📊+ 🤖 ≠ 💡
BECAUSE it might be time for an Analytics Reset 🫸🚨
Is it time to smash that reset button? Read (and watch!) more to find out:
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/just-because...
What do Sean Hayes and Debra Messing reenacting the one of the greatest scenes in sitcom history have to do with the inbound requests analytics teams deal with? If you've guessed it's the chocolate factory scene, you're right. See @tgwilson.bsky.social: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/scaling-the-...
Scaling the Impact of the Analytics Team in a Resource-Constrained World
Analytics teams struggle to keep up requests from their business partners. “More analysts” isn’t the answer. An analytics reset might be.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
March 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
What do Sean Hayes and Debra Messing reenacting the one of the greatest scenes in sitcom history have to do with the inbound requests analytics teams deal with? If you've guessed it's the chocolate factory scene, you're right. See @tgwilson.bsky.social: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/scaling-the-...
It started with a casual discussion about the various symptoms we see in organizations that they might really need to do a “reset” on how they think about & approach analytics. One thing led to another, & tgwilson.bsky.social had grabbed a mic and was channeling Jeff Foxworthy. youtu.be/SWMm6eTyKQE
Some Signs That…You Might Need an Analytics Reset!
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtu.be
February 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
It started with a casual discussion about the various symptoms we see in organizations that they might really need to do a “reset” on how they think about & approach analytics. One thing led to another, & tgwilson.bsky.social had grabbed a mic and was channeling Jeff Foxworthy. youtu.be/SWMm6eTyKQE
Dashboards built that go unused. Monthly reports that grow until they collapse under their own weight. An analytics team burning out trying to handle the volume of inbound requests for data pulls and report updates. You *might* need an analytics reset! thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/the-signs-th...
The Signs That…You Might Need an Analytics Reset
Simply growing what data gets collected and what’s included in dashboards often isn’t enough. Sometimes, a full analytics reset is needed.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
February 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Dashboards built that go unused. Monthly reports that grow until they collapse under their own weight. An analytics team burning out trying to handle the volume of inbound requests for data pulls and report updates. You *might* need an analytics reset! thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/the-signs-th...
It takes the whole organization—data teams *and* their business partners—to break out of the "all data...few insights" malaise. Our Head of Solutions makes a solid case, though, that business leaders are the ones best equipped to tighten their grip on those reins.
Day 4 of Launch Week for "Analytics the Right Way" (analyticstrw.com). Today, we've got an explanation as to why we've written an analytics book targeting *business* leaders (TL;DR They're the ones who are actually on the hook to make decisions...supported by data). youtu.be/fkEvDIzPKRg
Analytics the Right Way: Why We Wrote the Book for Business Leaders
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtu.be
January 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
It takes the whole organization—data teams *and* their business partners—to break out of the "all data...few insights" malaise. Our Head of Solutions makes a solid case, though, that business leaders are the ones best equipped to tighten their grip on those reins.
Our Head of Solutions co-authored a book, which we think is great! We're so proud, and it's some great content.
That doesn't mean we're not going to push him outside of his comfort zone with some of the promotion of it.
That doesn't mean we're not going to push him outside of his comfort zone with some of the promotion of it.
So, hey, I wrote a book. And the print and eBook versions are available for order now (audiobook coming in early April)! My unboxing video of the author copies is… well… pretty much what you might expect from a middle-aged guy recording an unboxing of his book. youtu.be/eJGq-fL7HmU
Tim Unboxes the Author Copies of "Analytics the Right Way." Awkwardness Ensues.
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtu.be
January 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Our Head of Solutions co-authored a book, which we think is great! We're so proud, and it's some great content.
That doesn't mean we're not going to push him outside of his comfort zone with some of the promotion of it.
That doesn't mean we're not going to push him outside of his comfort zone with some of the promotion of it.
facts & feelings co-founder, @tgwilson.bsky.social co-authored a new book, Analytics The Right Way! He hopped on the mic with his co-hosts of the Analytics Power Hour to talk about the inspiration for the book as well as what he hopes readers will get out of it!
youtube.com/shorts/6Khud...
youtube.com/shorts/6Khud...
Analytics The Right Way co-authors on the Analytics Power Hour podcast! #analytics #bookrelease
YouTube video by facts & feelings
youtube.com
January 21, 2025 at 5:55 PM
facts & feelings co-founder, @tgwilson.bsky.social co-authored a new book, Analytics The Right Way! He hopped on the mic with his co-hosts of the Analytics Power Hour to talk about the inspiration for the book as well as what he hopes readers will get out of it!
youtube.com/shorts/6Khud...
youtube.com/shorts/6Khud...
It's launch week for @tgwilson.bsky.social's book, "Analytics the Right Way: A Business Leader's Guide to Putting Data to Productive Use." We're kicking it off with an overview of the book, including a taste of the ideas and illustrations it includes: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/analytics-th...
Analytics The Right Way: Is There A Book About Doing That?
Organizations are awash in data, but leaders are often frustrated with the lack of value they’re getting from it. Can a book fix that?
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
January 20, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It's launch week for @tgwilson.bsky.social's book, "Analytics the Right Way: A Business Leader's Guide to Putting Data to Productive Use." We're kicking it off with an overview of the book, including a taste of the ideas and illustrations it includes: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/analytics-th...
Have you already put your annual plan on a shelf, or is it actively guiding your team's work? @tgwilson.bsky.social has some thoughts on ensuring it's the latter: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/theres-gold-...
There’s Gold to Be Mined from That Thar’ Annual Plan!
The annual planning process can be exhauting, which leads to considering its value being realized when the plan is “done.” That’s a miss!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
January 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Have you already put your annual plan on a shelf, or is it actively guiding your team's work? @tgwilson.bsky.social has some thoughts on ensuring it's the latter: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/theres-gold-...
Reposted by facts & feelings
Me: "What are your thoughts on posting a teaser video on BlueSky to promote links in to a video on LinkedIn & a post on Medium?"
Claude (for real): "The 1-minute video on BlueSky could work well as a hook if you structure it strategically."
We'll see.
Medium: bit.ly/3Db4bFy & LI: bit.ly/4a6BKF1
Claude (for real): "The 1-minute video on BlueSky could work well as a hook if you structure it strategically."
We'll see.
Medium: bit.ly/3Db4bFy & LI: bit.ly/4a6BKF1
January 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Me: "What are your thoughts on posting a teaser video on BlueSky to promote links in to a video on LinkedIn & a post on Medium?"
Claude (for real): "The 1-minute video on BlueSky could work well as a hook if you structure it strategically."
We'll see.
Medium: bit.ly/3Db4bFy & LI: bit.ly/4a6BKF1
Claude (for real): "The 1-minute video on BlueSky could work well as a hook if you structure it strategically."
We'll see.
Medium: bit.ly/3Db4bFy & LI: bit.ly/4a6BKF1
📅 2025 is just around the corner. Now is an excellent time to for a little collaborative reflection, and we’d love to be your sounding board! If you’d like to make yourself a cup of cocoa, get cozy in front of Zoom, and have a no-obligation chat, we’d love to do that! Book here: bit.ly/3VEpl5n
December 13, 2024 at 2:44 PM
📅 2025 is just around the corner. Now is an excellent time to for a little collaborative reflection, and we’d love to be your sounding board! If you’d like to make yourself a cup of cocoa, get cozy in front of Zoom, and have a no-obligation chat, we’d love to do that! Book here: bit.ly/3VEpl5n
Reposted by facts & feelings
On the one hand, generative AI is completely new and different. On the other hand, it's "just" technology that organizations (should) employ as a means of delivering meaningful business outcomes. I have some thoughts about that: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/back-to-basi...
Back to Basics: Measuring the Impact of AI
Every idea for implementing AI can be treated as a hypothesized (validatable) solution to a business problem and should be treated as such.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
December 11, 2024 at 9:12 PM
On the one hand, generative AI is completely new and different. On the other hand, it's "just" technology that organizations (should) employ as a means of delivering meaningful business outcomes. I have some thoughts about that: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/back-to-basi...
Reposted by facts & feelings
I’ve had a small epiphany (an insight‽) about…insights. The term is overused, but that overuse came from two different sources: 1) analytics, 2) market research. Here’s the 60-second version of me making that case. For the extended cut (still under 4 minutes), see www.linkedin.com/posts/tgwils...
December 3, 2024 at 2:35 PM
I’ve had a small epiphany (an insight‽) about…insights. The term is overused, but that overuse came from two different sources: 1) analytics, 2) market research. Here’s the 60-second version of me making that case. For the extended cut (still under 4 minutes), see www.linkedin.com/posts/tgwils...
Reposted by facts & feelings
Hey folks, Bennett Brauer here. And boy, am I "grateful" that it's annual planning season again! Can't wait for more meetings where we "strategize our vision" and "drown in spreadsheets" only to have it ripped to pieces during the "streamlining phase." 🦃📊 #SoThankful www.linkedin.com/posts/valeri...
a man in a suit and tie says " thank you " with his hands in the air
ALT: a man in a suit and tie says " thank you " with his hands in the air
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Hey folks, Bennett Brauer here. And boy, am I "grateful" that it's annual planning season again! Can't wait for more meetings where we "strategize our vision" and "drown in spreadsheets" only to have it ripped to pieces during the "streamlining phase." 🦃📊 #SoThankful www.linkedin.com/posts/valeri...
What actually *is* a data story? We intuitively get what one looks like when it's delivered well, but what goes into creating one? @tgwilson.bsky.social broke it down into three dimensions in this piece: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/once-upon-a-...
Once Upon a Metric: A Data Storytelling Parable
Data storytelling has three distinct components, and doing it successfully requires critical pre-analysis focus, alignment, and thought.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
October 18, 2024 at 4:38 PM
What actually *is* a data story? We intuitively get what one looks like when it's delivered well, but what goes into creating one? @tgwilson.bsky.social broke it down into three dimensions in this piece: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/once-upon-a-...
Don't settle for an annual planning cycle that feels like a box checking exercise. Use goals to empower, excite and motivate teams for the work ahead!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/reclaim-the-...
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/reclaim-the-...
Reclaim The Value of Your Annual Planning Process
Annual Planning Processes are dreaded. Don’t settle for a box checking exercise. Take back the value with vision, focus and alignment.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
October 9, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Don't settle for an annual planning cycle that feels like a box checking exercise. Use goals to empower, excite and motivate teams for the work ahead!
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/reclaim-the-...
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/reclaim-the-...
Have you ever tried to quantify the actual cost of yada yada annual planning? 💸 Matty Wishnow illuminates some of those hidden costs in this most recent article on The Focus.
bit.ly/3XUb1XZ
bit.ly/3XUb1XZ
Why It’s Easy to Yadda Yadda Strategic Planning but Impossible to Avoid the Cost of Apathy
Strategic planning is the obligation we fake & procrastinate our way through annually to avoid the pain of alignment. There is a better way.
bit.ly
September 23, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Have you ever tried to quantify the actual cost of yada yada annual planning? 💸 Matty Wishnow illuminates some of those hidden costs in this most recent article on The Focus.
bit.ly/3XUb1XZ
bit.ly/3XUb1XZ
Is your inbox blowing up with (AI-generated) emails from tech companies promising that their AI-powered platforms will automate the discovery of actionable insights in your data? You can send those emails to the trash, according to @tgwilson.bsky.social: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/ai-for-insig...
AI for Insights? We’ve Been Here Before.
Generative AI is a powerful technology for analytics. But, not in the way it is most commonly hyped — automating the discovery of insights.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
September 19, 2024 at 1:14 PM
Is your inbox blowing up with (AI-generated) emails from tech companies promising that their AI-powered platforms will automate the discovery of actionable insights in your data? You can send those emails to the trash, according to @tgwilson.bsky.social: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/ai-for-insig...
Is analytics painful? It can be. We asked a bunch of analysts and their business partners to weigh in with more detail, and the results are in: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/analytics-is...!
Analytics Is Painful (So They Say)
Analytics is powerful! But it can also be the source of recurrent pain. We surveyed 100+ professionals to get their take. In a word: ouch.
thefocus.factsandfeelings.io
September 5, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Is analytics painful? It can be. We asked a bunch of analysts and their business partners to weigh in with more detail, and the results are in: thefocus.factsandfeelings.io/analytics-is...!
Budget cuts aren't fun, but they help us value what remains. The constraint can unlock creativity and energy, if you let it. Turn those lemons into lemonade! bit.ly/4dSxMkc
Your Budget WILL Get Cut (Everyone’s Is). Turn those lemons into lemonade!
Budget cuts are frustrating, but they can be a catalyst for creativity and focus.
bit.ly
August 21, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Budget cuts aren't fun, but they help us value what remains. The constraint can unlock creativity and energy, if you let it. Turn those lemons into lemonade! bit.ly/4dSxMkc
(Say No 1 of 10) Day 5 is here! The last and final day of Sam Decker Social Takeover week. We bet you knew deep down inside that you weren’t going to get through this whole week without us addressing Sam’s thoughts on a “Hypothesis Mindset” to Achieve Performance:
August 16, 2024 at 1:37 PM
(Say No 1 of 10) Day 5 is here! The last and final day of Sam Decker Social Takeover week. We bet you knew deep down inside that you weren’t going to get through this whole week without us addressing Sam’s thoughts on a “Hypothesis Mindset” to Achieve Performance: