Make a date with data
6 a.m.: Once he makes it into his office, Ahmed checks out key performances indicators for the day, semester and year—what he calls his daily date with data. He looks at meal counts, peak period anomalies, same-day sale comparisons, Tapingo counts and any other data from new initiatives. It usually takes about 20 minutes to go through the information, but if something stands out from the metrics, Ahmed will spend more time comparing the anomaly with last year’s digits. “The data really helps me in the long run,” he says. “As I’m looking at each day in my head, over time my brain is subconsciously calculating those numbers. So in the future when I’m making big decisions, that gives me a solid base of knowledge.”
The only time Ahmed’s date with data is interrupted is if he sees an urgent email or an email from a student or parent in his inbox; otherwise, all other notes can wait.