Preface
A brief introduction into the being of this substack.
Why
The beauty in data analytics, lies not in surfacing the most interesting metrics, but presenting them in such a way that the target audience can comprehend it.
And I would like to accentuate on the nuances in the word ‘comprehension’ itself, for it is not a word to be used lightly.
To be able to argue and debate on the story structure of the “Life of Pi” is to understand the movie, to break down into tears at the end is to comprehend it.
As a data analyst, your job is to strive for comprehension for it is the highest form of intelligent communication: rational persuasion.
How
Half of my life has been about explaining complex things to simpler people. And I will be the first to admit that this skill is more of an art form than science.
Closer to seduction than teaching, data presentation requires more empathy than raw intelligence to truly master.
However the demand for this skillset is awfully mismatched in the field of blockchain which is littered with hyper functional cultists to the school of logic.
While I will not downplay the importance of the fundamental knowledge required to be a good data analyst, I will voice out my opinion in that knowledge in the field can be acquired, while the the skill to present needs to be cultivated.
What
The blockchain is a never ending treasure trove of applied data, which anyone with the creative passion for discovery would enjoy, regardless of technical knowledge.
This is what this substack is all about, to help people with that fire to take on a new discipline that seems herculean from afar, if not just plain alienating.
As a baseline to dive into this rabbit hole, all I will ever demand from the reader at this point in time is:
A basic understanding of english;
A grasp of excel sheets; and
A sliver of arithmetic and geometry.
Having personally learned SQL and blockchain data analytics in the span of a week, I can say that nothing will make the subject more passionating that to see the your flickering thoughts on what could be, bloom into a mesmerizing flower for others to consume.
With the my piece being said, let’s swallow the red pill.