When I was 13 or 14, I started a business. It was a mobile DJ business with a focus on the metro-west Boston bar mitzvah and sweet 16 circuit. There are lots of great stories and learnings I could share, but this one is about data, and it relates to the current commercial real estate landscape.
During this time, which was before digital music and subscription services were available, I had to buy the music I played at the parties one song or album at a time. As an aspiring entrepreneur and having spent most of my money on the equipment, I had to be smart about the music I purchased. Every week, I would listen to Casey Kasem and Billy Costa's countdown shows, ranking the top hits locally and nationally, and write down every single song. At the parties, I would pay close attention to the songs that filled (or cleared) the dance floor. This was my data.