LET THE CHIPS FALL: Edition 20

Welcome to the 20th edition of HOW INSIGHTFUL ! This milestone calls for a little tongue-in-cheek reflection on a childhood lesson that many of us might relate to.

One At A Time

As a child, my mother had a strict rule: no opening a new flavor of anything until the old one was finished. If we had Oreo cookies, we couldn’t touch the Chips Ahoy until the last Oreo was gone. While this approach might have taught us discipline, I’ve found a way to use data to refute it.

Variety Is The Spice

Let’s break it down with a simple example involving snack chips. Suppose I enjoy a serving of chips every two days. Each bag contains 5 servings, which means one bag lasts me 10 days. Now, if the BEST BEFORE date is 4 months out, that’s approximately 120 days.

Using this data, I can calculate how many different flavors I can open without any going stale. Here’s the math:

• Total days available: 120 days
• Days per bag: 10 days
• Number of bags I can open: 120 days / 10 days per bag = 12 bags

So, I can comfortably open up to 12 different flavors of chips over the next 4 months without worrying about any of them going bad. This approach not only allows for variety but also ensures that I enjoy my snacks while they are fresh.

What Does The Data Say?

The lesson here is clear: data can be a powerful tool in making decisions, whether it’s about managing your snack stash or running a business. By leveraging data, we can make informed choices that optimize our resources and enhance our experiences.

So next time you’re faced with a decision, big or small, remember to let the data guide you. It might just lead to more enjoyable—and insightful—outcomes.

Stay curious and keep crunching those numbers!

This article is a part of the “HOW INSIGHTFUL ” LinkedIn newsletter series, where we delve into innovative business strategies and ideas.