Data doesn't just tell stories—it transforms lives when you actually use it.

Too often, we collect mountains of data but fail to take meaningful action based on what we learn. This passive approach is like having a treasure map but never digging for the gold. I was reminded of this powerful truth during my recent conversation with Chloe Temple, founder of POPP leadership consultancy, who showed me how intentional data tracking can revolutionize both business strategy and personal development.

What we'll explore today:

• How a simple self-tracking system created transformational change

• The psychology behind supermarket layout design

• Why most businesses fail to leverage their own data effectively

Let's dive into these insights and how they can help your growing business break through its current data challenges.

From Retail Data to Leadership Transformation: Lessons from Chloe Temple

During my interview with Chloe Temple, I discovered how her fascinating journey from retail buyer to leadership consultant reveals a powerful truth about data: it's only valuable when you use it to drive action.

The Power of Personal Data Tracking

Chloe spent years developing a personal data system called "MeWeBe" to track nine different segments of her life every month, assigning each a score out of 10. This system follows a simple but powerful structure:

• Me: Career, personal finances, personal growth

• We: Contribution, relationships (friends, family, romantic)

• Be: Well-being (mind, body, spirit)

What makes this system work? Rather than just collecting data, Chloe commits to focusing on two segments each month based on the scores, taking specific actions to improve them. This creates an action-feedback loop that drives consistent improvement.

The key insight: Awareness must lead to action. As Chloe put it, "Awareness is the foundation of success because when you are aware, you can consciously prioritize in order to take meaningful action to get the desired change."

What Data Reveals About Consumer Behavior

As a former retail buyer, Chloe shared fascinating insights about how data informs store layouts and product placement:

• End caps (ends of aisles) receive exponentially more foot traffic than middle aisles and often feature the deepest discounts or items with highest margins

• Fresh produce is strategically placed at store entrances to create an overall perception of freshness and quality

• Product adjacencies are determined by analyzing purchase patterns - sometimes with surprising connections (like the correlation between lip care products and condoms!)

• Bank holiday weekends show predictable spikes in certain product categories, with follow-on effects weeks later

This data isn't just collected for interest - it drives specific business decisions about product placement, promotions, and inventory that directly impact the bottom line.

The Biggest Data Mistake Companies Make

When I asked Chloe what businesses get wrong with data, her answer was immediate: "Not using it."

Many organizations conduct surveys or collect customer information but never take meaningful action based on what they learn. They check the box of "we collected data" without completing the cycle of analysis, insight, and change.

This resonated deeply with what I see in growth-stage businesses every day. They have data scattered across systems but aren't using it to make faster, better decisions.

The second critical mistake? Using data with the wrong intent. When leaders try to use data to confirm biases or identify "problem employees" rather than improve systems and processes, they destroy trust - the foundation of any data-driven culture.

That's it.

Here's what you learned today:

• Data tracking is only valuable when it leads to conscious action - both in business and personal development

• Consumer behavior data reveals fascinating patterns that can be leveraged for business advantage

• The biggest data mistake is collecting information but failing to use it to drive meaningful change

The action step for this week: Identify one data point in your business that you're collecting but not actively using. How could taking action on this information create positive change?

Whenever you are ready, we can help you with a ​free data infrastructure assessment​ to identify your highest-impact opportunities. Get in touch! Listen to the Scale Your Business Data podcast every week on: ​YouTube,​ ​Spotify,​ ​Apple​ or wherever you get your podcasts.