Academy · Lesson 2 · Metrics
A KPI is a number with an ID card,
otherwise it is just a number.
There are many metrics, and there should be few KPIs: the three to five numbers that tell you whether you are on track. This lesson shows how to define a KPI so that everyone calculates the same thing, and which mistakes undermine most metric reviews.
Which number would change what you do next month?
2 questions in the plan. First question: “Is our income enough this quarter?”
The KPI card
Select Define
“Is our income enough this quarter?”
Name, formula, source, period, owner, threshold.
There are many metrics, and there should be few KPIs: the three to five numbers that tell you whether you are on track. This lesson shows how to define a KPI so that everyone calculates the same thing, and which mistakes undermine most metric reviews. Six fields that stop two people from calculating two different numbers under the same name.
From reading to doing
Your questions. For your numbers.
Prepare an evaluation.
2 questions selected
- “Is our income enough this quarter?”
The formula names field, date and currency, not just a label.
- “Are we keeping up with the work before revenue shows it?”
Leading indicators move before revenue reacts.
Select, define, anchor.
otherwise it is just a number.
First decide which number triggers a decision, then define it unambiguously, then agree who acts at which threshold.
“Is our income enough this quarter?”
The formula names field, date and currency, not just a label.
SelectAsk of every candidate: would we act differently if this number went up or down? If not, it is a reference metric, not a KPI.
DefineWrite down formula and source: "Sum of income from receipts per month, by receipt date, in euros". Separate leading indicators that move quickly from lagging ones like revenue.
AnchorDecide who owns the number, how often it is reviewed and at which threshold a task is created. Without this part, the meeting stops at commenting.
Jménounambiguous · Income per month
Formulaaggregation over field · Sum of amount, income only
Source and timelist · date · grain · Receipts · receipt date · month
Owner and thresholdperson · value · Management · below same month last year
The playbook
Select, define, anchor.
From metric to KPI
otherwise it is just a number.
Select → Define → Anchor
- 01
Select
Ask of every candidate: would we act differently if this number went up or down? If not, it is a reference metric, not a KPI.
Example · Willowcourt Advisory (fictional)“Is our income enough this quarter?”
Sum per month, columns quarter - 02
Define
Write down formula and source: "Sum of income from receipts per month, by receipt date, in euros". Separate leading indicators that move quickly from lagging ones like revenue.
Example · Harbourview Agency (fictional)
Count per week and board“Are we keeping up with the work before revenue shows it?” - 03
Anchor
Decide who owns the number, how often it is reviewed and at which threshold a task is created. Without this part, the meeting stops at commenting.
Example · Nordwind Travel Goods (fictional)“How many orders come from returning customers?”
Count per month and customer type
Your quality check
Will the evaluation hold up?
Tick what you have checked. Your selection stays in this view only.
0 of 3 points checked
What this article is based on.
Editorial page with fictional examples (Willowcourt Advisory (fictional), Harbourview Agency (fictional), Nordwind Travel Goods (fictional)). The guide describes an approach; where Peak Analytics covers a step today, the page says so explicitly. No measurements, no customers, nothing is sent or saved.
- Editorial demo
Synthetic numbers in the browser. No real data is read, computed or saved.
- Checked evidence
Peak Analytics is a preview: pivot over orders, receipts, tasks, goals and files; count, sum, average, minimum, maximum; day to year; CSV export; sharing a released snapshot; largest value as a task.
peak-one app/w/[scope]/apps/analytics, lib/bi/model.ts, lib/views/pivot.ts, lib/bi/share.ts · checked 2026-10-29
Few numbers, clearly defined, with a name on them.
In lesson 3, a sequence of metrics becomes a funnel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Peak Analytics for this lesson?
No. The lesson works with any spreadsheet. Peak Analytics is a preview; where it covers a step today, the page says so.
How many KPIs make sense?
Three to five. Anything beyond that is a reference metric, not something you steer by.
What is a leading indicator?
A number that moves before the result reacts, such as completed tasks per week before revenue.
Can Peak Analytics create custom KPIs with thresholds?
Not yet. Custom calculated metrics, thresholds and alerts are planned. Today the preview calculates count, sum, average, minimum and maximum per pivot.