Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Analytics
Ruth Bader Ginsburg taught us many things, but did she have any views on entrepreneurs? I think so! Hugh MacCloud at @gapingvoid seems to think so, too.
MacCloud memorialized her words from 1973, below. The Supreme court had just failed to rule broadly against discrimination, a major setback for Ginsburg. But she kept the long view. In the 47 years from 1973 to her death this year, she methodically eviscerated discriminatory laws, one by one. Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.
Shared with permission from @gapingvoid
Digital transformation takes time, too. The media often portrays innovation as a “big bang.” The truth is closer to Bader’s view. One example is Hess, a $6 billion energy company. The chart below represents the usage of the 1,400 analytics apps they built with Spotfire. The size of each box indicates the number of people using the app. At the bottom right, there are so many small boxes; they blend into a blur. These represent individuals taking small steps of insight. Maybe they’re looking at their task list or budget. At the top left, the blocks get bigger. These are insights shared by thousands of people.
It took Hess years to develop this analytics sophistication.
Small steps lead to big change.
Small steps with analytics at Hess, shown at bottom right, can lead to big change, at top left.
Panera Bread is another example of an entrepreneur’s journey to real change, step-by-step.
CEO and founder Ron Shaich started Panera in the 1989s with a single 400-square foot cookie store. He took the Toll House recipe right off the bag. Each day, Shaich adjusted his recipe based on what he learned. He started with two employees; Panera now employs over 50,000. Shaich took it step-by-step, and Panera is now one most prominent fast-casual restaurants in America. I tell the Panera story in Body Surfing.
Photo by Pam Menegakis on Unsplash
Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. In the social change, analytics, and business.
Thank you, Ruth Bader Ginsburg!
@Gapingvoid is my favorite "work/art" hybrids. If you're not familiar with Hugh MacLeod's work, visit his site or read the blog.
