Data and numbers permeate our lives. They are pivotal in making wise and informed decisions, but they must be collected before we can form a complete understanding.

At its core, collecting and interpreting data is about seeking the truth: What is true about the world and what is true about a situation.

1. 📐 Measure and Collect

“Measure twice and cut once.” This wise adage has proven true in my own life. The times I made decisions before consulting data or used poor-quality data has usually resulted in unfavorable outcomes.

In 2013, my family needed a new SUV. We visited local dealerships, and my dad pulled out his tape measure, graph paper, and mechanical pencil from his pocket. He meticulously measured the trunk’s dimensions with back seats down and up, logging these values neatly in his notebook.

While the rest of my family thought it was excessive to take that many measurements, he understood that the trunk size mattered. Any road trip our family would take in that new vehicle would require playing Tetris with five large suitcases.

Data matters and must be collected with care.

2. 📊 Get a Clear Picture

Once you have collected this data, represent it visually. Make a graph.

Humans are highly visual. We comprehend visual information much more quickly than we do words or numbers.

In my research for this article, I found this gem that effectively illustrates common data we observe in life graphically:

3. 🦉 Make a Wise Decision

With your data and visuals in hand, you now have the understanding to make wise and informed decisions.

For instance, according to the chart above, if you want a warm welcome every time you arrive home, having a dog is a better choice than having a cat.

In practical terms, a pie graph can reveal overspending in your budget, a scatter plot can show the correlation between your sleep quality and daily caffeine intake, and a bar graph can help with habit tracking.

With graphs and data you will make better decisions and avoid wrong ones more often.

Cool Photo of the Week:

Final Thoughts

How do you collect data in your life? Where have visuals aided you in interpreting the data you’ve collected? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Enjoy this: Please tell a friend about it.

Rock on,

Camden