Build a metric tree for this goal. Break it down into measurable drivers.
The goal:
{{what we're trying to improve — "increase revenue," "reduce churn," "more engaged users"}}
Time horizon: {{quarter / year / whatever}}
Business context:
- What we sell: {{briefly}}
- Stage: {{startup / scale-up / mature}}
- Key constraint: {{what's the bottleneck right now?}}
Output:
1. **The North Star metric** — the single number that, if it goes up, the goal is met
2. **Tier 1 drivers** — 2-4 things that mathematically determine the North Star
3. **Tier 2 drivers** — 2-4 things that drive each Tier 1
4. **Leading indicators** — earlier signals that move before the lagging metrics shift
5. **Vanity metrics to avoid** — numbers that go up without indicating real progress
6. **The 1-2 metrics I should obsess over** day-to-day, given my stage and constraint
For each metric: define it precisely (formula or rule), and note any data we'd need but don't have yet.metricsKPIsgoals