Shalom Lamm on Outthinking the Crisis: Why Data-Driven Decisions Are the New Survival Skill

In a volatile business environment, the companies that thrive aren’t the ones with the most money, the largest teams, or even the best products—they’re the ones with the clearest data and the smartest decisions.

According to entrepreneur Shalom Lamm, navigating uncertainty requires more than just intuition or experience. It requires evidence-based thinking and the courage to act on what the numbers are really saying.

“When things get tough, guesswork gets dangerous,” says Lamm. “You don’t have to be the biggest to survive—you just have to be the smartest. And in business today, that means being data-smart.”

In this post, we explore how data-driven decision-making can safeguard your business, accelerate growth, and outmaneuver the competition—even in the most unpredictable markets.

Why Data Matters More Than Ever

The days of making business decisions based solely on gut instinct or anecdotal feedback are long gone. In today’s digital economy, every interaction produces data—from customer behavior and website traffic to employee productivity and sales trends.

Yet most businesses still don’t use that data effectively.

Shalom Lamm believes that failing to track, analyze, and act on data is one of the most costly mistakes a modern business can make—especially during a downturn.

“Information is your most underutilized asset,” Lamm explains. “If you’re not using data to drive decisions, you’re flying blind—and your competitors who are using it will fly right past you.”

Data-Driven Decisions: What They Really Mean

At its core, data-driven decision-making means using quantifiable information—not assumptions—to guide business strategy.

That doesn’t mean eliminating intuition or creativity. But it does mean:

• Testing ideas before investing heavily
  
• Measuring results objectively
  
• Letting patterns inform pivots
  
• Prioritizing what’s working over what feels right
  

The result? Smarter resource allocation, more accurate forecasting, and faster course correction.

Shalom Lamm’s 7 Rules for Using Data to Strengthen Your Business

1. Start With the Right Questions

Before you dive into numbers, know what you’re trying to solve.

Shalom Lamm always begins with clarity of purpose: What’s the problem? What are the possible causes? What are we trying to improve?

“Data can’t fix confusion,” Lamm says. “Start with a focused question. Then go looking for the answers.”

For example:

• Why are customer churn rates increasing?
  
• Which marketing channel brings the highest ROI?
  
• What’s the average time from lead to close?
  

The better your question, the more useful your data.

2. Track Metrics That Matter (Not Just the Easiest Ones)

Vanity metrics—like page views or social media followers—can make you feel good, but they don’t always move the needle.

Instead, Lamm recommends identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) that directly affect growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

Some powerful KPIs include:

• Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
  
• Lifetime customer value (LTV)
  
• Conversion rate
  
• Churn rate
  
• Net Promoter Score (NPS)
  
• Gross profit margins
  

“If it doesn’t inform action, it’s just noise,” Lamm says. “Real metrics give you leverage.”

3. Create a Real-Time Dashboard

Data loses value if it’s outdated by the time you see it.

Shalom Lamm suggests building a real-time or weekly dashboard that highlights your most important KPIs. Whether you’re using spreadsheets or business intelligence tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Google Looker Studio, visibility is everything.

“Business moves fast,” Lamm notes. “You need to see what’s happening while it’s happening—not after the damage is done.”

4. Use Data to Drive Innovation, Not Just Caution

While many leaders use data to avoid risk, Lamm believes it’s also the best way to spark smart innovation.

Want to launch a new product? Use customer feedback and market trends to shape your offering.

Testing a new ad campaign? A/B test different messages and see what converts.

“Data gives you permission to experiment wisely,” Lamm says. “It reduces risk—not creativity.”

5. Train Your Team to Think Analytically

Even the best data is useless if your team doesn’t know how to interpret or use it.

Lamm encourages companies—especially small businesses—to invest in basic data literacy. Teach your staff how to read a report, understand trends, and connect numbers to decisions.

“Your team is on the front lines,” Lamm explains. “If they understand the data, they can make smarter calls in real time.”

This creates a culture of accountability and agility.

6. Identify What’s Working—and Double Down

One of the biggest advantages of data is speed. It lets you spot winners early and scale what’s working fast.

If a certain marketing channel is outperforming others, shift more budget there. If one sales tactic increases close rates, standardize it.

“Data shows you where momentum is,” says Lamm. “And in business, momentum is everything.”

7. Be Ready to Pivot—Even If It Hurts

Sometimes, data reveals hard truths: a product no one wants, a strategy that’s failing, a message that’s falling flat.

Many leaders ignore these signs because they’re emotionally invested. But Shalom Lamm warns that ignoring data out of ego is one of the quickest paths to failure.

“Your business doesn’t care about your feelings,” Lamm says. “It reflects your decisions. And the numbers don’t lie.”

Use data as your compass—even if it points you in a direction you weren’t expecting.

Case in Point: Lamm’s Own Pivot Playbook

In one of his early ventures, Shalom Lamm faced a product launch that flopped despite strong initial hype.

Instead of doubling down on branding or blaming the economy, he looked at the data.

Website traffic was solid, but conversions were dismal. Heat maps showed users abandoning the cart due to hidden fees. User surveys confirmed pricing confusion.

The fix? Streamlined checkout, upfront pricing, and simplified messaging.

“The turnaround didn’t come from a new campaign,” Lamm recalls. “It came from listening to the data—and changing fast.”

Within three months, the product hit break-even. Within six, it was profitable.

Final Takeaway: Data Doesn’t Just Guide You—It Protects You

In uncertain times, it’s easy to make impulsive decisions based on fear or assumption. But as Shalom Lamm has proven across multiple ventures, the businesses that survive—and scale—are those that use data as both a shield and a sword.

“In this economy, survival belongs to the informed,” Lamm says. “Be curious. Be decisive. And above all—be driven by the truth your data is telling you.”

So if you want to future-proof your business, the path forward is clear: don’t just work harder—work smarter.

Let data lead the way.