tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post3196409376196874947..comments2023-10-18T08:32:17.510-07:00Comments on Kevin Hillstrom: MineThatData: Analytics Thursday: Listening, Timing, and PermissionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-15976165106466315422011-01-20T15:51:13.491-08:002011-01-20T15:51:13.491-08:00Great post, Kevin. This advice will really help m...Great post, Kevin. This advice will really help me when I pitch to investors next week.<br /><br />You know, economists are really analysts, too. The problem is always getting people to listen, and then creating political will for change. Record US deficits were predicted since the 60's due to flaws inherent to the dollar reserve system. More recently, many economists predicted the housing collapse years in advance. Of course, profiteers didn't want to hear any of that and economists lacked the incredible people skills required to break through the noise and confusion.<br /><br />So why is it that analysts of all stripes struggle to break through the noise? <br />People skills are part of the picture, but equally important is the type of scientific integrity described by Richard Feynman. As he put it:<br /><br />"I have just one wish for you--the good luck to be somewhere<br />where you are free to maintain the kind of integrity I have<br />described, and where you do not feel forced by a need to maintain<br />your position in the organization, or financial support, or so on,<br />to lose your integrity. May you have that freedom."<br /><br />http://www.lhup.edu/~DSIMANEK/cargocul.htmKelly Schutthttp://twitter.com/schuttnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-37617806167609917322011-01-20T15:01:32.683-08:002011-01-20T15:01:32.683-08:00Deven, good thoughts, and it certainly is a work i...Deven, good thoughts, and it certainly is a work in progress.<br /><br />Fabina --- yup, there's plenty of ways to stick a foot in the door before it closes. This is one example of many possibilities.MineThatDatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014200122021988374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-89166585958797176132011-01-20T09:14:00.201-08:002011-01-20T09:14:00.201-08:00This is THE main issue with analytics besides gett...This is THE main issue with analytics besides getting the stats right (and sometimes, as you point it out, bigger than it). <br /><br />The problematics of 'political will' within organizations, or even the force of inertia and mis-prioritization was thoroughly discussed during SAS excellent Premier Leadership Business Series in Vegas last October. Conclusion: if you need to step on some toes, do it so gently as if you're cuddling them... <br /><br />Continuing with the foot metaphor, I will never forget what my thesis supervisor taught me someday: Fabiana, to get in you'll have to put your foot on the door before it closes, but will seldom need to kick it open...Fabiana Etcovitchhttp://fabianaetcovitch.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32202893.post-6905200028682231602011-01-20T09:00:11.498-08:002011-01-20T09:00:11.498-08:00Kevin:
What resonated with me from your story (th...Kevin:<br /><br />What resonated with me from your story (thanks for sharing it) -<br /><br />1. You went to great lengths to tie in your findings to company bottom lines. Which executive wouldn't like to see that? That nugget I think should be in every Web Analytics 101 class.<br /><br />2. You had relationships in place that allowed you to push the right buttons, and do the right things once you "gauged the temperature". I have seen it over and over as well that when it comes to execution, it's about relationships and people skills if the big picture is clear in the mind.<br /><br />3. I loved the way you explained "permission is flexible". I couldn't agree more. Early in my career, when I started venturing into more interactive roles that demanded people skills, one my mentors told me, "go ahead and do it, you can always go back and apologize to mend the fences. But, holding off for formal approval won't take you too far, if you want to change something."<br /><br />If you have a value to add, nothing wrong in finding a way to get the attention, and getting your point across. People love initiative and leadership. They appreciate it when it is in interest of everyone.<br /><br />Now, how do you find a way, how do you navigate the relationships and current structure? I wish there were a crystal ball to guide me. In the mean time, I am doing it by simply doing it. Time and experience have taught me a lot, but it's still work in progress.<br /><br />-DevenDeven Pravin Shahhttp://www.infusezeal.comnoreply@blogger.com