Who This Helps
Founder operators who track 20 numbers but still aren't sure which experiment to run next. If you've ever felt like your dashboard is a firehose of data instead of a decision tool, this is for you.
The Metrics & Dashboards Basics course is built for exactly this moment. It helps you define a metric system you trust and build a dashboard that supports calm weekly decisions.
Mini Case
Meet Maya. She runs a small SaaS team. Every Monday, she stares at a dashboard with 20 numbers. Last week, she spent 3 hours debating whether to improve onboarding or fix churn. She had no clear answer.
Maya took the Metrics & Dashboards Basics course. She started with the mission "Weekly Scoreboard." She picked one North Star metric (weekly active users) and three supporting metrics (signups, activation rate, retention). She set a target: increase activation from 12% to 18% in 7 days.
Now, every Monday, Maya looks at her scoreboard. If activation is below target, she runs an experiment to improve it. If it's on track, she moves to the next priority. No more guessing. No more wasted effort.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Pick one North Star metric. Choose the single number that tells you if your business is healthy. For Maya, it was weekly active users.
- Define 3 supporting metrics. These are the levers that move your North Star. Maya chose signups, activation rate, and retention.
- Set realistic targets. Don't guess. Look at your last 30 days of data. Set a target that's 10-20% higher than your current average.
- Build a weekly scoreboard. Use a simple spreadsheet or a dashboard tool. List your metrics, current values, targets, and a green/yellow/red status.
- Review every Monday. Spend 15 minutes. If a metric is red, that's your next experiment. If all are green, pick the one with the biggest gap to target.
Avoid These Traps
- Tracking too many metrics. Stick to 4-5 max. More than that and you'll freeze.
- Changing targets every week. Set a target for 30 days. Stick to it.
- Ignoring guardrails. If a metric drops below a critical threshold, stop everything and fix it first.
- Making it perfect. Your first scoreboard will be ugly. That's fine. Use it anyway.
- Forgetting to celebrate. When you hit a target, take 5 minutes to acknowledge it. It keeps the team motivated.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have a weekly scoreboard with one North Star metric, three supporting metrics, and clear targets. You'll know exactly which experiment to run next. No more analysis paralysis. Just one focused move that moves the needle.
And honestly? That feels way better than staring at 20 numbers and hoping for the best.