We are living in the Data Age. These days, seemingly everything in our lives is quantifiable. Whether we like it or not (or whether we know it or not), just about every aspect of our lives is being tracked, archived, sold, mined, and analyzed, by somebody or some thing out there.
But what are we doing with our own data? Are we you relying on it too much? Too little? Do we trust our gut over what the data says?
Math and numbers were never my strong suit. In school, I did fine with basic arithmetic, but when it came to algebra and statistics, I really struggled, and still do to this day. Business Statistics was one of the only college courses I believed that I had a chance at failing. I just didn't understand it, at all.
I know that in my racing, my business, my finances, my personal life... there is a ton of data that I could be tapping into. And yet, I don't.
Being able to examine and understand the data in order to draw conclusions would lead to better decision making, and it could make me a faster racer, help my business grow, help me spend my money more wisely, and guide me in areas of health and wellness. But I'm not doing it.
At times I feel guilty that I am not using the invaluable data that is available to me.
It really comes down to not knowing where to begin.
Could I get faster by reviewing my AiM data? Most definitely. Can I also get faster by experimenting, asking questions, doing research, reviewing video, and observing others at the track? I can, and I do.
I know that there are those people out there that have a leg up on me because they can utilize the power of data and technology to optimize their finances, their time trial pace, or whatever is being compared.
When I look at the squiggly lines that AiM Race Studio represents as my lap data, sure, I can understand that on one lap, I might have carried an additional 2 mph through a corner, and it paid dividends on the next straightaway.
What I can't figure out is why and how I achieved that extra 2 mph, and how to retain and apply that knowledge in order to become a consistently faster driver.
For the most part, I'm okay with accepting this as a weakness of mine, but I am definitely intrigued by what I could learn from data analysis: a skillset that has eluded me for so long.
Where do you fall? Do you trust your gut, trust the data, or a mix of both?
I go with my gut, but I would like to learn to leverage data to help make my decision making process easier. Maybe you can be part of that journey with me here at Rising Edge.
-T.J.