Today I learned to be a race timer.  On August 1, I’m helping with a 5K to benefit the Union County Humane Society.  So today I helped out at another local 5K to learn the ropes.  The guys from the Columbus Running Company are awesome – so willing to help organizations doing fundraising races – and very gracious to let me tag along with them.

Helping with the race today made me think about measurements.  The runners, both experienced and novice had a time they were working toward achieving.  They had a goal.  They had a way to measure their progress.  They assessed their performance along the race course and adjusted.   If you’re a runner, about now you’re saying “duh”.  Why would it be any other way?  That’s the challenge of running….setting goals and working to achieve them.

What is really amazing is that many businesses have measurement systems in place that don’t give the people running the race the information they need to adjust their performance mid-race.  They get financial results long after the end of the month.  And that’s all they measure.  Everything they know about their performance is from the past – like driving while looking in the rear-view mirror. 

Let’s go back the running analogy.  How do you know what to measure when running?  To run a 5K in less than 30 minutes, you need to run a 10-minute mile.  While training, on a treadmill or on the road, you must know how long you have run and how far you have gone.  Knowing this allows you to measure your progress, pushing a little harder until your goal is achieved.  So you need to measure distance and time and have a system in place to do so.  I know – “duh”.

So what’s your long-term goal?  How can that be measured?  What short-term measurements will help you know how you’re doing and adjust your approach?  In business these short-term measurements are called Key Process Indicators or Process Metrics.  Every process owner needs some.  Get yours today and watch how much easier it is to win your race.

My husband of almost 23 years probably won’t appreciate the format of this topic.  I’ll say that right up front.  But I’m sure he’ll appreciate the meaning, given that he’s a Master Black Belt.  So here goes…This morning (in the shower, no less) I found myself thinking about how often I’ve told people that they need to have an “intimate” knowledge of their data when considering using it for a Six Sigma project.  I tell them that there’s no substitute for really understanding what they have and where it came from.  I could be wrong, but I think data is like men. 

When you’re first introduced to a man, you see all the possibilities…all the things the two of you could do together…everything you have in common.  On your first date, you get a glimpse of what you really like (and dislike) about him.  You may have found a pleasant surprise, or slightly disturbing discovery.  At home you think about the date and the person you’re getting to know.  Will he meet my needs?  Do his strengths outweigh his weaknesses?  Does he drive a nice car? (This one seems like it only applies to men, but we can get caught up in the glitz and glamour of a new software package that will give you everything you need…admit it; you’ve been there.)

If you’re an optimist, like me, you’ll look for what’s right about him.  And what about the things you don’t like?  You could change him!  With your good influence and clever ways, you can make him what you want him to be!  If you’ve ever stuck with a relationship to try to fix the other person, you know that this is a mistake.  He is what he is.  You must acknowledge who he is and make a choice.  Do you stick with him or drop him and move on?

Are you seeing the parallels?  Data are like men….or men are like data…I’m not sure which is appropriate, but with either it’s important to see the true picture of what you’ve got early in the relationship.  If the data you have isn’t ever going to meet your needs, it’s important to acknowledge it quickly and not waste your time.  If you can dig a little deeper and get what you want, proceed. And if it’s perfect from the beginning, you’re one of the lucky few.

With experience you’ll learn to differentiate the good from the bad early on in the relationship.  A substitute for that experience is a good girlfriend to talk to.  (A coach or good MBB can help you with this in your relationship with data. )

It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the dating scene (long enough that I still use the term “dating scene”), and I think I got quite a catch when Rob and I met back in 1982.  I haven’t always been as lucky with my data, but I’ve had the good judgment to know when to stick with it and when to cut it loose.