The Month Everything Changed
From Red to Black by Focusing on the Right 20%
Joshua Hernandez and Antonio F Delgado
5/13/20252 min read
1. The Moment of Frustration
When this company came to us, they were exhausted.
They had data—plenty of it—but no clarity.
Dozens of reports, dashboards, and spreadsheets… yet no clear direction.
“We feel like we’re working hard, but we have no idea where the money’s actually going.”
Despite everyone’s best effort, they were operating in the dark—scrambling just to break even.
2. The Real Problem
They didn’t have a tech problem. They had a story problem.
Each department was tracking numbers… but no one knew how to read them, much less align around them. Leadership didn’t know what to prioritize. Employees couldn’t explain why targets weren’t being met. And the same cycles kept repeating.
They weren’t just losing money—they were losing confidence.
3. What We Did (and Why It Worked)
We started by simplifying the chaos.
Using the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule), we helped them identify:
Which departments were driving the most value
Which processes were causing the most waste
Which 20% of actions could change 80% of the outcomes
Then, we did something different:
We taught their teams how to read their numbers—and more importantly, how to tell the story behind them.
Instead of siloed spreadsheets, they had conversations.
Instead of chasing every metric, they focused on what mattered.
Instead of running blind, they began making confident, data-informed decisions.
4. The Turning Point
Within 90 days:
They broke even after months in the red
They achieved their first profitable month in over a year
Department heads started proactively identifying inefficiencies
Team members felt empowered, not blamed, when reviewing performance
And perhaps the most telling feedback?
“For the first time, we feel in control.”
That shift—from reactive to strategic—is where transformation really begins.
5. Could This Be You?
If your business is drowning in data but starving for direction… you’re not alone.
Too many teams are stuck measuring everything, understanding nothing, and burning resources on what doesn’t move the needle.
At Answers Infinite, we help businesses:
Cut through noise
Focus on the right 20%
Tell stories with their numbers
And build systems that actually support growth
Let’s find the numbers that matter—and use them to build momentum.
