In this episode of the Lucky 13 Podcast, hosts Mike Lantz and Josh Hauser discuss the vital role of data in business success. They share personal stories, including family updates and an upcoming wedding, to highlight the importance of relationships. The conversation centers on how accurate data enables better control, profit management, and employee accountability. They emphasize adopting a "profit first" mindset and using key metrics to drive decisions. The episode concludes by stressing that while profit is essential, balancing it with care for people is crucial for sustainable growth.   Podcast Introduction (00:00:08) Hosts introduce the Lucky 13 Podcast and themselves, setting the tone for the episode. Personal Updates & Family Stories (00:00:26) Josh discusses his daughter's wedding, family anecdotes, and Mike shares updates about his children. The Importance of Personal Connections at Work (00:02:47) Emphasizes checking in with employees about personal and professional highlights to build culture. Lou Gehrig Shoutout & Baseball Anecdotes (00:03:15) Shoutout to Lou Gehrig (the local business owner), discussion about the origin of "Wally Pipp" in baseball. Transition to Data in Business (00:05:31) Shifts focus to the main topic: the role of data in solving business frustrations. Frustration 1: Control & Predictability (00:05:53) How data provides control, focus, and predictability in business operations. Data Accuracy & Leading Indicators (00:07:51) Importance of accurate data and using leading indicators for proactive decision-making. Frustration 2: Profit Management (00:09:00) Using data to manage profit, including a discussion of the "Profit First" book and methodology. Profit First Method Explained (00:09:55) Details on implementing the profit first approach and its impact on business spending. Frustration 3: People & Accountability (00:12:36) How data helps create accountability and clarity in employee roles and performance. Measuring Performance with Data (00:12:55) Assigning numbers to roles, regular check-ins, and the importance of clear expectations. Data for Hiring and Avoiding Bloat (00:14:32) Using data to determine when to hire and prevent organizational bloat. Clarifying Profit vs. People (00:15:16) Discussion on balancing profit and people, and the responsibility of business owners. Accountability Runs Both Ways (00:16:18) Employees can use data to demonstrate performance and negotiate expectations. Frustration 4: Hitting the Ceiling/Plateau (00:17:00) Recognizing and addressing business plateaus using data to identify bottlenecks. Signs of Plateau & Talent Standards (00:18:02) Indicators of plateau, importance of maintaining talent standards, and using data for growth. Building a Sustainable Organization (00:19:58) Comparisons to sports and music; using data to build lasting success, not just one-hit wonders. Change is Inevitable—Plan with Data (00:20:49) Emphasizes planning for change and using data to anticipate shifts in business. Frustration 5: When Nothing is Working (00:21:28) How to use data to diagnose and address business crises or stagnation. Inspecting the Business Model (00:22:18) Evaluating if the business model is outdated or needs change, with examples from Kodak and Blockbuster. Importance of Historical Data (00:23:27) Need for consistent, long-term data tracking to identify trends and avoid guesswork. Identifying Key Data Points (00:24:46) Focus on collecting the most impactful data for business decision-making. Behavioral Reactions to Data (00:25:50) Using data to drive behavioral changes and address business frustrations. Podcast Wrap-Up (00:26:24) Final thoughts on the importance of data and closing remarks.

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