Filters, Dates and Your Numbers

3 stops

What Actually Gives A Number Meaning

A number by itself doesn't tell you very much. Tap each one to see what it adds to the story.

01

Date Range

Top right of most dashboards and widgets, this is where you pick the time period a number is based on - today, the last 30 days, this month, or a custom range. $10,000 in revenue sounds great, but the very next question is always 10,000 during what period. Always check the date range before you react to a number.

02

Quick Filters

A filter narrows down exactly what a widget is showing - opportunities from one pipeline, assigned to one team member, or only the ones that have been won. Two people can look at the same widget and see completely different numbers, just because they're using different filters. Added filters show up right in the Quick Filters dropdown so you can flip between them.

03

Comparisons

Comparison by date range shows a number next to the same number from an earlier period. 25 appointments this month might sound fine, but next to 12 last month it's a real increase - and next to 40 last month, it tells a very different story. Comparisons help you spot trends instead of judging one number in isolation.

Key terms

Definitions

Tap any term to expand it.

The time window a number is based on - today, the last 30 days, this month, this quarter, or a custom range you set yourself.

A saved condition that narrows down what a widget shows, like only opportunities from one pipeline or assigned to one team member.

Viewing a number next to the same number from an earlier period, so you can see whether things are trending up or down instead of judging one number alone.

Good to know

When A Number Looks Off

📅

Check Your Date Range First

Before you react to any number, confirm what time period it's actually covering. The same widget can show very different numbers depending on the range selected.

🔍

Then Check Your Filters

Two people can look at the exact same type of widget and see two different numbers, purely because they have different filters applied.

📈

Compare Instead Of Guessing

A single number rarely tells you if something is good or bad. Turning on a comparison shows you the trend, which is usually the more useful question to ask.

Help me do it

Things To Do

Finish these before moving to the next lesson. They only take a few minutes.

0 of 3 done

Open a widget on your dashboard and check what date range it's currently set to

Add one Quick Filter to a widget and see how the number changes

Turn on a comparison by date range for a widget and check whether the trend is moving up or down

⚡ Tips

A number on its own doesn't tell you much - always check what date range it's based on.
When a number looks different than you expected, check two things first: your date range, then your filters.
Two people can see completely different numbers on the same type of widget if they're using different filters.
Comparisons help you spot a trend instead of reacting to a single number.
You don't have to become a reporting expert today - just get comfortable changing dates and filters.

Check yourself

Quick Knowledge Check

Answer a few quick questions to lock in what you just learned. Miss one and we'll show you the right answer.

0 of 4 answered

Which of these is most important for giving a dashboard number real meaning?

Narrowing down what a widget shows, like only appointments from one pipeline, is called adding a ____.

True or false: two people looking at the same type of widget will always see the exact same number.

Looking at this month's number next to last month's number is called a ____.

Help me apply it

Try This With Your Favorite AI

Copy a prompt below and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or whatever AI tool you use. Fill in the bracketed details and it'll help you write your own version for your business.

🔎 Reading My Own Numbers Correctly

You are a reporting coach helping me build the habit of reading a dashboard number correctly before I react to it. My context: - My business type: [describe your business in 1-2 sentences] - A number I've looked at recently that surprised me, good or bad: [describe it briefly] - What I assumed about it before thinking through date range or filters: [describe your first reaction] Give me: - The 3 questions I should have asked myself before reacting to that number (date range, filters, and comparison) - A short example, using my own numbers if I gave enough detail, of how the same number could look completely different under a different date range or filter - One habit I can build so I check date range and filters automatically going forward Finish by asking me: "Want to walk through one specific number on your dashboard together right now? Tell me what it is and I will help you figure out what's really behind it."

📊 Which Filters I Actually Need

You are a data organization consultant helping me decide which Quick Filters are actually worth setting up on my dashboard. My context: - My business type: [describe your business in 1-2 sentences] - How my team is structured: [for example solo, a few reps, multiple locations] - The main way I'd want to slice my numbers: [for example by team member, by pipeline, by lead source, by location] Give me: - A short list of 3-5 Quick Filters worth setting up based on how I described my team and business - One example question each filter would help me answer - A one-sentence caution about adding too many filters and losing track of what's actually being shown Finish by asking me: "Which of these filters do you want to set up first? Tell me and I will help you think through exactly what to name it."