Back when I started fishing, learning a new lake was a daunting task.  I would order topographic maps via mail order and pour over them for weeks, call local bait shops to ask about fishing conditions, hire a guide for a day to two to learn the local techniques, mark all of the ‘hot spots’ on my maps and take copious notes in my logbook.  The most technically advanced tool I had was a depth finder that would show how deep the water was.  It would literally take weeks of hard fishing to get a decent idea of where to consistently find and catch fish.

Today, we have GPS, four color liquid crystal plotters, hi-resolution side scanners, down scanners and autopilot capabilities that connect your fish finders, electric motors and cell phone via Bluetooth.  You can actually see the bottom contours on your cell phone and set your autopilot to position your boat at a specific depth.  The amount of technology available for the average fisherman is staggering.  The simple fact is that the more information and visual tools you have to understand your current environment, the quicker you can achieve results; more time ‘catching,’  less time ‘fishing.’

Interestingly enough, the same exact concept applies to business.  Visual tools like dashboards or other forms of data analytics create important insights that enable business leaders and teams to accelerate speed to achieving their desired results.   Are you taking full advantage of all of the tools at your disposal to start ‘catching more big fish?’

Jim Clark

Vice President, Professional Services