Anyone who knows me well knows I love to read. Reading is my thing. Like a hummingbird needs to sip on nectar or an apple tree needs to soak up the sunshine, I need to read. It feeds me and helps me thrive. And, what’s the main thing that goes along with reading? Books. Lots of books.
Many a reader will tell you about their books. They have the ones they’re currently reading, precious copies signed by their favorite authors, and dog-eared versions they’ve read countless times. There’s the list of books they want to buy or borrow and the never-ending to-be-read (TBR) pile.
One of the biggest problems for a reader (at least this one) is that there are so many books and so little time. It’s also one of the greatest joys. Not only is there always something new to read, but with every story, you get to learn a little bit more about the world we live in.
When people ask me what types of books I like to read, I answer, “All of them.” I love being exposed to other worldviews, visiting places I may never see in real life, learning something new, and gaining insight into how others have approached the human experience.
What is a book, really, but a collection of words? The magic is how all of those words come together to create a seamless story. The result: each book is a treasure trove of information.
This brings me to what we’re talking about on this site: data. If you think about it, each word in a book is a piece of data. The words on their own are just that, words. It’s only when we can put the words together and understand them in context that we have a story.
The better we understand the words and the underlying context, the richer the story becomes. We’re able to derive information, insight, and meaning from what otherwise is just a collection of words. But, to do this, we have to know how to read.
With most things requiring learning, the more we practice, the easier it gets. If we can find joy in the practice, it’s not only easier to do but also something we want to do. And if you’re going to spend time doing a task, why not find a way to make it enjoyable?
Just like you need to learn how to read to bring meaning to the words contained in a book, we can bring meaning to all sorts of data if we simply learn how to “read” it.
I often hear people say they’re worried about learning statistics or afraid of analyzing data because they don’t like math or aren’t good at it. There’s certainly some math involved. However, ultimately, the goal is to get the story out of the data.
Rather than thinking of data analytics or statistical analysis from a math mindset, what if we thought of it from a storytelling mindset instead? Sure, we’ll need to do some math. But, just like learning to read, doing the math will become much easier with a bit of practice.
So, just like we find joy in reading and uncovering the stories within books, we can find joy in analyzing data and uncovering the stories it holds. The key is to approach data analytics not with fear but with curiosity and excitement, just as we would a new book.
Whether you’re an avid reader or a novice, there’s a storyteller within you waiting to bring meaning to the data. Let’s embark on this journey together and unlock the fascinating narratives hidden within the numbers.
What do you want to learn about data and analytics? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below or connect with us on social media. Your input will help shape future content and resources. We’d love to hear from you!
Leave a Reply