Can we talk about the time a client cried during a data review?

I met with a small business owner in Portland last month who runs a local bakery. She was upset because her social media numbers were going down, but I told her the actual sales data showed her email list was driving more revenue. She said 'I've been chasing likes for two years and nobody told me that.' That moment made me rethink how we explain metrics to clients. Has anyone else had a client get emotional over numbers?

2 comments

2 Comments

holly_henderson866h ago

Did the data change your mind about what matters too? I used to think people just wanted their likes and shares to go up, but hearing that story made me realize tracking real business results is way more important.

ben_nguyen7h ago

Honestly I used to think clients just wanted the flashy vanity metrics. But that story about the bakery owner hits different. Seeing someone realize they've been chasing the wrong thing for years made me completely rethink how I present data.