Who This Helps
You are a founder operator. You have a dozen ideas, a handful of metrics, and zero time. You need to pick the next experiment fast, without drowning in data. The Metrics & Dashboards Basics program is built for exactly this moment.
Mini Case
Meet Maya. She runs a small SaaS team. They track 20 numbers every week, but nobody agrees on what matters. Maya took the Weekly Scoreboard mission from the program. She defined her North Star Metric (weekly active users) and three supporting metrics (signups, activation rate, churn). She set a target: grow activation rate from 40% to 50% in 8 weeks.
Her team ran three experiments last month. One boosted activation by 12% in 7 days. The other two? Flat. Maya used her scoreboard to kill the losers and double down on the winner. Result: 12% more active users in one week.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pick your North Star Metric. Choose one number that captures the value you deliver. For Maya, it was weekly active users. For you, it might be monthly recurring revenue or daily sessions.
- List 3 supporting metrics. These are the levers that move your North Star. Think signups, retention, or average order value. Keep it small.
- Set a realistic target. Use a number you can reach in 4 to 8 weeks. Example: increase activation rate from 40% to 50%. Not 90%. Be honest.
- Build a weekly scoreboard. Write your metrics and targets on one page. Update it every Monday. No fancy tools needed. A spreadsheet works.
- Run one experiment at a time. Look at your scoreboard. Which metric is furthest from target? That is your priority. Design one experiment to move it. Run it for 7 days. Check the scoreboard. Decide: keep, kill, or tweak.
Avoid These Traps
- Tracking too many numbers. If you have more than 5 metrics, you have none. Cut ruthlessly.
- Changing targets every week. Pick a target and stick with it for at least 4 weeks. Let the experiment breathe.
- Running experiments in parallel. You will not know what worked. Run one, measure, then move on.
- Ignoring the scoreboard. If you do not look at it on Monday, you are guessing. Make it a habit.
- Chasing vanity metrics. Total users means nothing if they do not stick. Focus on activation and retention.
- Forgetting to celebrate small wins. A 12% lift in a week is huge. Acknowledge it. It keeps the team motivated.
- Overcomplicating the dashboard. A cluttered dashboard hides insights. Keep it clean with clear sections, like Maya learned in the Dashboard Layout mission.
- Skipping the North Star. Without a primary metric, every experiment feels urgent. Pick one. Everything else supports it.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you will have a one-page scoreboard with your North Star Metric, three supporting metrics, and a target. You will pick one experiment to run next week. No more guessing. No more wasted effort. Just a clear, calm decision. And maybe a little celebration when you see that first 12% lift.