Data Savvy, Productivity recs

Author

Aerin Ridgway
July 10, 2024

Hey, what’s shackin’?

Today we talk about data at a surface level: some tools, some languages, to ideas around productivity and dealing with data

stack ‘em up

-stacking is to create simple and repeatable routines using ideas, tools and systems that build momentum and synergy.

Data, Data, Data.

Your eyes go blurry looking at sheets. Which is why everyone wants visuals.

Some tools and languages that you wanna know about:

Lanagauges to speak with data:

SQL, R, Python

The tech tools to make the data tell a story:

Tableau - Better for large data sets, more professional, large scale applications.

Power BI - Microsoft Power Tool, and easier to learn than Tableau, better for smaller businesses, likely already well integrated with Microsoft ecosystem.

SPSS - IBM advanced statistical analysis, a vast library of machine learning algorithms, text analysis, open-source extensibility, integration with big data

SAS - a statistical software suite developed by SAS Institute for data management, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, criminal investigation, and predictive analytics.

sharp ideas

The phrase “mental model” is an overarching term for any sort of concept, framework, or worldview that you carry around in your mind. Mental models help you understand life.

Eisenhower Matrix

Eisenhower Matrix is a desicion making tool to help triage busy peopole’s lives. It helps to make sure you are working on the right stuff, and delegting or deleting the stuff that isnt mission critical or high cost if things go wrong.

Getting things done is kinda the same, but puts more emphasis on getting the little shit done, to make way for the big shit and planning or delegating the stuff that is less of a priority for right now, now.

What is GTD

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a personal productivity methodology that redefines how you approach your life and work.

gettingthingsdone.com/what-is-gtd

Marie Kondo, Habits of Highly Effective People, 5’s, Kaizen, the list goes on of systems or tricks to make you more effective, and it’s all transferable to other things.

Like with your cleaning: top to bottom, left to right. You won’t miss a thing.

When building systems or working with data, treat it logically.

Prioritize the long lead time efforts, analyze the heavy lifting versus easy to get done, and consider the cost of just getting it done, versus creating formulas and algorithms (which take thinking time).

And always keep your constraints and end goal in mind.

The rule of 100 and 1000 – Effective Database Management

effectivedatabase.com/the-rule-of-100-and-1000

quote I’m musing

Buddha said, “what you think, you become…” so while quotes won’t change your life, I do think they can shift your perspective, and that can be life changing.

❝

“Data is the new oil.”

Clive Humby

What’s the hype all about? There is lots of talk about it. And yet people are still confused, who gives af about data?

Mostly people who need to make expensive decisions.

Data takes a bit of the gamble out of doing something, like marketing or buying and selling businesses.

Using data from the past and present and modeling the future you can make reasonable guesses about the success or failure rate of taking an action.

It’s not simple: the data has to be good. Ideally, it is consistent in its inputs. It’s gotta be clean, organized, and validatable.

More than anything, it has to tell a story.

That’s all for this week.

You can also email me here if you want to share any feedback or share some cool things you have found.

Until next week,

-a.