Tracking Everything = Prioritizing Nothing. Pick One Metric.

Hey there, it’s Arvin.

You ever get that feeling?

You’re staring at your dashboard, completely overloaded and thinking… where the heck do I even start???

Revenue, conversion rates, churn, retention, followers, impressions, MRR, ARR…

It’s like every metric is screaming at you: “Pick me! I’m important!”

And you’re just sitting there wondering if another coffee will solve this.

Here’s the truth:

You don’t need more metrics.

You need fewer.

Actually—just one.

Your North Star Metric.

It’s the one number that cuts through the chaos. The one thing that tells you whether things are working… or not.

Wait, What’s a North Star Metric (NSM)?

A North Star Metric (NSM) is the number.

The single most important one that shows the value your product delivers to your customers.

Think of it as your guiding light.

Why the name?

Because sailors used the North Star to navigate. It was fixed. Reliable. A constant in a world full of variables.

That’s exactly what an NSM does. It keeps you (and your team) aligned, no matter how noisy things get.

Why It’s a Big Deal:

• Alignment: Everyone rows in the same direction (no more tug-of-war).
• Clarity: No more endless debates about what matters.
• Focus: You stop chasing shiny vanity metrics.
• Momentum: Faster, smarter decisions.

Your NSM = your strategy boiled down to one clear, measurable signal.

Here’s a personal one: sales.

That’s my North Star Metric.

Why? Because sales made me money. The other stuff? Didn’t.

But it took me way too long to figure that out.

I used to think more followers meant more success.

More followers = more reach = more sales… right?

Wrong.

When I zoomed in on my North Star Metric—sales—I realized followers weren’t moving the needle. At all.

So, I stopped obsessing over them.

And guess what?

Nothing bad happened. Actually, things got better.

I had more time. More focus. Better results.

Because I was finally paying attention to the number that actually mattered.

That’s the magic of knowing your North Star Metric. It gives you permission to ignore everything else.

How Do You Find Yours?

Here’s a super simple way to figure it out:

1. Clarify Your Core Objective: What problem do you solve? What’s the real value you deliver?
2. Define a Metric That Proves It: What number shows customers are getting that value? Focus on outcomes.
3. Make Sure It’s Controllable: You need to be able to directly influence it. Not just sit around hoping.

A good NSM is clear, actionable, and tied to your customer’s success (and ideally, your bottom line).

Here are a few North Star Metrics from familiar brands:

• Netflix: Total hours streamed daily. More hours = people love the content.
• Airbnb: Nights booked. More bookings = customers find value.
• Spotify: Monthly paid subscribers. More subs = consistent value.
• Zoom: Weekly hosted meetings. More meetings = ongoing engagement.

These aren’t vanity numbers. They’re direct reflections of customer value.

Note = NSM is not always sales or Revenue, it depends on what metrics you think most valuable in your current state

Final Take

Data overload is a real thing.

You end up tracking everything… and acting on nothing.

Your North Star Metric changes that.

It’s your anchor.

The simple answer to: “Are we on track?”

When you’ve got it dialed in, you:

• Debate less
• Ignore distractions
• Move faster

So… what’s one metric you wish you could ignore?

Hit reply. Let’s figure out your North Star Metric—and what you can finally stop stressing over.

Talk soon.

Arvin

Q&A Corner

Got a question you’ve been dying to ask? Drop it here (or upvote the ones you’re curious about).

Question from Jessica:

“how do we attract customer and stand out among competitor?*”*

Simple answer? Be different.

Most brands are plain. Like vanilla ice cream. If you want people to notice you, be the fun flavor. (I’m pistachio. Or rocky road when things get crazy.)

Here is how to stand out:

• Be yourself.
• Talk like a human.
• Tell stories people care about.
• Have something unique that’s yours.

Actually, we already covered this in more detail. You can check out the full article here: Forgettable Brands Die Quietly. Here’s How to Stay Loud!