--- title: "You’re Watching the Field, But Are You Watching the Score?" description: "Alabama's win over Georgia shows why you must watch the score, not just the field. How firms can build a scoreboard of satisfaction, profit and operations." url: https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter/you%E2%80%99re-watching-the-field-but-are-you-watching-the-score updated: 2024-10-04 --- [Newsletter](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter) The Rising Tide Oct 4, 2024 # You’re Watching the Field, But Are You Watching the Score? You’re Watching the Field, But Are You Watching the Score? **Jud Mackrill**CEO & Cofounder Let’s talk about Alabama vs. Georgia, September 28, 2024. Sorry Georgia fans. Alabama was rolling. Early in the game, it felt like they were unstoppable—picking up yards at will, moving the ball like a machine. But then, just like that, Georgia roared back. By the fourth quarter, it was tied up, and suddenly, all the early Alabama domination didn’t seem to matter anymore. That is until Ryan Williams, a 17-year-old true freshman, stepped up. In the last minutes of the game, he made two ridiculous catches—think Michael Jordan in cleats—putting Alabama back on top in a game that moments before looked like it could slip away. Alabama found a way to win. What does this have to do with your business? The momentum of each day can swing, just like it can in a game. Being able to watch the scoreboard when the momentum is shifting will make or break your business. **Most of Us Only Check the Scoreboard When We Have To** In sports, the scoreboard is visible everywhere. But in business? You might only look at your key metrics once a month, once a quarter, or just before a board meeting. Frankly, that’s a problem. When you’re on the field, running your business every day, it’s easy to focus on immediate tasks—the tyranny of the urgent demands you pay attention to burning questions and decisions. If you can’t check the score regularly, how do you know if all those seemingly urgent decisions you make are moving you toward a win? I don’t mean revenue alone—your true numbers like customer satisfaction, team happiness, profitability, and operational health are all important. At **Milemarker**, we work with firms that struggle with exactly this. They know they’re on the field, but they’re flying blind without a clear scoreboard. What’s even more frustrating? They have the data—they just can’t see it synthesized or contextualized without a lot of manual work. **Here’s How Alabama Stayed Ahead** Alabama could’ve coasted, thinking they had the win locked up. But they could see the metrics, not just feel the momentum. They kept an eye on the clock, the score, the plays left. Their ability to focus on all of that data, gave them the direction to call the right plays. It’s what put Ryan Williams in position to step up and keep Alabama in control when it mattered most. In your business, that’s what your scoreboard does—it keeps you focused on the things that matter. It gives you real-time data, not just a quarterly snapshot. Are your clients happy? Is your team motivated? How’s your cash flow today, not three months ago? **How to Build Your Scoreboard** Building a scoreboard that matters means integrating metrics into your day-to-day. Understanding the score isn’t just about celebrating wins after the fact—it’s about adjusting strategy in the moment to ensure you come out on top. So, what’s your scoreboard telling you? If you need help to build one, let’s talk about how Milemarker can help you not just play the game, but win it. Enjoy the weekend, and as always, keep your eye on the scoreboard. ## Subscribe to get insights and company news straight to your inbox. ## Read more [View all ↗](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter) [### The Power of Building Paths, Not Walls The Power of Building Paths, Not Walls Jud Mackrill • Sep 28, 2024](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter/the-power-of-building-paths-not-walls) [### Wealth Management: Milemarker Launches Firm Intelligence Wealth Management: Milemarker Launches Firm Intelligence Jud Mackrill • Sep 12, 2024](https://www.milemarker.co/resources/newsletter/wealth-management-milemarker-launches-firm-intelligence)