Dear Data Nerds,

You might think that becoming a data analyst is about learning things like Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Power BI, but it's actually much more than that.

What you really want to try to do, instead of just memorizing syntax or learning tools, is start to think and live like a data analyst. I got to interview one of my heroes, Emily Oster.

She is the author of [Cribsheet](https://amzn.to/4hgmWJj?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email marketing&utm_campaign=The Data-Driven Way to Make Decisions (Parenting%2C Health%2C Career)%3A Emily Oster (30-09-2026)) and [The Family Firm](https://amzn.to/4hfrMGK?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email marketing&utm_campaign=The Data-Driven Way to Make Decisions (Parenting%2C Health%2C Career)%3A Emily Oster (30-09-2026)), two New York Times bestselling books about how to parent data‑drivenly: how to make big decisions in your life and for your family by using data.

Here are my big takeaways:

1) Data Analytics isn't for analyzing data

We don't analyze data just because. We do it because we want to make a bigger decision. Sometimes we forget that our dashboard isn't for good looks - it's for helping someone make a better educated decision. If you aren't helping someone make a better decision, you aren't doing your job.

2) Sometimes you won't have the all the data

Lots of the times you won't have all the data you wish you had. For whatever reason. Sometimes that data is impossible to capture. Or you don't have the right permissions. Or it doesn't exist. Whatever reason, you need to use the data you do have as best you can...but also trust your gut.

3) Data can spread lies

As a data analyst, you should know how easy it can be to shape a narrative. You can filter the data, remove outliers, show big summaries that all intentionally disguise the truth behind the actual data.

You need to be a data skeptic of the "data-driven" headlines you see on the news or on Instagram. Or even that came from a different department inside your own company.

Think like a data analyst. Question what you see.

4) Being a Data Analyst is more than Excel + Power BI + SQL...

Being a Data Analyst is more than just Excel spreadsheets or SQL queries or Power BI dashboards. It's about using information intelligently. And it's easy to forget that!

So much of a Data Analyst's job happens before all the tools...and after all the analysis. So much of a Data Analyst's job is communicating with stakeholders.

And most people teaching data just want to quiz you on if you know the difference between an XLOOKUP and a VLOOKUP. Boring!

That shiz doesn't really matter in the long term. Thinking like a Data Analyst does. And there's a difference - a big one.

That's what I'm trying to teach our students in The Accelerator this next cohort.

[Our next Cohort of the program starts soon. Come learn to not only do data analytics, but think like a data analyst.](https://datacareerjumpstart.com/daa?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email marketing&utm_campaign=The Data-Driven Way to Make Decisions (Parenting%2C Health%2C Career)%3A Emily Oster (30-09-2026))

LATEST EPISODE

The Data-Driven Way to Make Decisions (Parenting, Health, Career): Emily Oster

DATA JOBS OF THE WEEK

• Junior Business Analyst — Peraton

• Business Analyst Graduate Programme — London Stock Exchange Group

• Associate Data Analyst — Internet Brands

• Junior Financial Analyst — Moran Environmental Recovery

• Data Analyst, Energy Management — Duke

😥 The Year Is Almost Over...

Well, just like that. 2026 is 75% gone. Poof! You only have 92 days left. Crazy. I know, I can't believe it ether.

I know a lot of you had a goal to land a data job this year...and time is running out.

I think you have three options:

A) keep doing what you're doing (prolly keep getting same results)

B) just give up & say it's too hard

C) dig in & try a new method

If you want to do A, that's fine - just might be frustrating.

If you want to do B, I don't blame you - it's really hard (but also, don't give up - it's possible).

If you want to do C, have you really given The SPN Method a try? Focus 33% of your time on skills, 33% time on projects, and 33% on your networking.

Most people spend 99% of their efforts on skills

They learn new tools, new skills. But that doesn't get you hired.

There's someone out there LESS talented than you who is landing a job, and it's probably because of one of these things...

If you don't have any published portfolio projects yet, you need the P part.

If you aren't sending cold messages, getting recruiters in your inbox, or getting internal referals, you need the N part.

You need the full S, P, and N to land a data job. You can't skip any of them.

Make sense?

How to do The SPN Method

You can always do The SPN Method on your own.

But it's about 100x easier and funner to do it with friends and a mentor!

On October 12, we are starting the next round of The Accelerator - the only data analyst roadmap that actually follows The SPN Method.

We'd love to have you.

So please, if you are serious about landing a data job soon, [at least click to learn more](https://datacareerjumpstart.com/daa?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email marketing&utm_campaign=The Data-Driven Way to Make Decisions (Parenting%2C Health%2C Career)%3A Emily Oster (30-09-2026)).