I have no doubt that more than a few people who read this week’s Stash about LOS vs. lead-time will shake their heads at me and say, “duh, Gregg!”

I’m okay with that.

Because I believe it’s important to run the numbers even when the findings are blatantly, outrageously, embarrassingly obvious. Here’s why.

Reason #1: The Numbers
The first reason is simply the fact that you can put numbers behind an idea. I know for a fact that I make more layups than I do three-pointers when I play a pickup game of basketball. That’s obvious.

However, as a simple example, if I shoot 50% from right around the hoop, unless my 3-pt percentage is below 33%, it may be more efficient for me to stay behind the arc. The same is true in marketing.

Reason #2: The Angel is…
“The Devil is in the details” is often true, but so if the never-before-shared inverse cliche: “the angel is in the details,” which that example above illustrates. Sometimes it’s the details that help us figure out problems or identify opportunities.

Looking at numbers behind things I assume are correct usually reveal small nuances I didn’t expect. Like the LOS vs lead time analysis:

I would never have guessed that lead time would actually peak instead of plateau or continue an upward trend.

Don’t Be a Gregg
What I’m trying to tell you is to learn from my mistake. I often get so wrapped up in data that surprises me, I fail to look closely at the things I’m not surprised by to glean the deeper knowledge that comes from doing so.

About Gregg & SlopeFillers
I've had more first-time visitors lately, so adding a quick "about" section. I started SlopeFillers in 2010 with the simple goal of sharing great resort marketing strategies. Today I run marketing for resort ecommerce and CRM provider Inntopia, my home mountain is the lovely Nordic Valley, and my favorite marketing campaign remains the Ski Utah TV show that sold me on skiing as a kid in the 90s.