Data Drives Decisions but Values Drive Direction
Picture this. Two founders face the same choice.
One pulls up a spreadsheet, crunches the numbers and follows where the data leads. The other checks in with her gut, asks what feels right and lets her values set the path.
Both are right. Both are wrong. Because building a sustainable business needs both.
When numbers aren’t enough
Data can show you revenue growth, campaign metrics or customer churn. But it can’t tell you whether you are building something you actually want to run.
I have seen founders optimise themselves into businesses they no longer enjoy. The numbers looked good but the direction was hollow.
When values aren’t enough
I have also seen founders led entirely by passion and purpose. They have a vision that lights them up but they avoid the hard numbers.
Without data they end up underpaying themselves, hiring too soon or chasing ideas that drain cash before they are ready. Values without numbers is a dream that risks becoming very costly.
Bringing the two together
The sweet spot is using data to guide decisions inside a values led direction.
Here is how I help founders find that balance inside Strategic Growth
Set your North Star
Decide what matters most to you. Use this as the lens for every strategic choice.
Build a simple decision dashboard
Track a small handful of numbers that let you see clearly whether you can hire, invest or shift direction. Five metrics is plenty.
Stress test choices against both
If the data says yes but the values say no, pause.
If the values say yes but the data says not yet, adjust.Progress is about alignment, not sacrifice.
What this looks like in practice
Flavia came to me torn between two ideas. The data pointed to one, her story and values to the other. By combining customer research with her deeper ‘why’ she chose the direction that matched both. For the first time she felt confident committing.
Lucy shifted her model from one off projects to recurring work. The numbers showed it was the most profitable move. Her values told her it gave her team stability and her clients consistency. The result was a business that doubled monthly revenue without doubling stress.
Three things you can do this week
Write down your top three business values. Keep them specific and personal.
Take one upcoming decision and check it against both your numbers and your values.
Create a quick ritual. Look at your key metrics, then do a short values check in before finalising big choices.
The path from guesswork to alignment
Founders who build sustainably are not just good with data or good with vision. They learn to integrate both.
Data drives decisions. Values drive direction. When the two align, you build a business that is not only profitable but purposeful.
If you want help finding that balance, doors to Strategic Growth open 3 times a year, in January, March and September. Here, together, we’ll use your numbers and your North Star to build a business that grows without breaking you.
