When we think about numbers in business, it’s easy to treat them as a simple scorecard — measuring wins, losses, and everything in between.
Instead of viewing numbers solely as indicators of past performance, I invite you to think outside the numbers box. Numbers can help you identify gaps, drive change, justify your work’s worth, and ultimately, uplift and inspire.
Let’s explore how numbers, when combined with story, can change the way we see our work’s worth or impact.
The Geena Davis Institute: Using Numbers to Identify Gaps
This year marks over two decades since the founding of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which has become a champion for equitable representation in film and television.
It all began when Geena Davis noticed, while watching children’s TV with her young daughter, that male characters outnumbered female characters. When she raised her concerns, she was often met with dismissals: “That used to be a problem, but it’s been fixed.”
Rather than accepting the status quo, Davis sought the data. She funded the largest study ever conducted on gender depictions in family-rated films and children’s television over a 20-year period. The results were sobering:
- 📈 For every female speaking character, there were 2.5 to 3 male characters — a figure unchanged since 1946.
- 📈 Female characters were often stereotypical, highly sexualised, and had ambitions tied mostly to romance.
- 📈 Even crowd scenes were only 17% women, leading Davis to jokingly wonder if screenwriters believed “women don’t like to gather.”
With this data, the conversation shifted. It wasn’t just anecdotal anymore — it was undeniable. As Davis put it:
“This wasn’t a vague feeling anymore. You couldn’t claim this was just some feminist rant. It was like, ‘Look at these numbers.’”
Today, the Institute’s analyses have expanded to cover race/ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ representation, disability, age, and body type — showcasing how data, paired with storytelling, can fuel real societal change.
👉 Learn more about the Geena Davis Institute here.
The Matildas: Proving Worth Through Story and Numbers
If you’ve been following Uplifting Value from the beginning, you’ll know I often talk about how Australia’s women’s football team, the Matildas, have built their success on both story and numbers.
Their rising attendance figures, TV ratings, merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals aren’t just feel-good metrics — they’re hard data points that amplify their efforts for equal pay and recognition.
I attended a Matildas vs China PRC match in Sydney, joining 76,798 other spectators in a sold-out stadium. I bought merchandise (something I’ve never done for the men’s games!) and felt the incredible atmosphere firsthand.
The Matildas’ journey is the perfect reminder:
When you can pair an inspiring story with solid numbers, you can shift perceptions, set new standards, and demand your true value.
👉 (If you missed my earlier deep dive on the Matildas, you can catch up here).
Roger Federer: What Tennis Teaches Us About Resilience and Focus
In his commencement speech at Dartmouth College, tennis legend Roger Federer shared a surprising fact:
Despite winning nearly 80% of the matches he played over his career, Federer only won 54% of all points played.
That means even the greatest players lose almost half the time.
Federer’s key lesson:
When you’re playing a point, it must feel like the most important thing in the world. But once it’s over, it’s behind you.
The same applies to business and pricing. You will have setbacks. You will have numbers that don’t always tell the story you wanted. But what matters most is how you respond:
Focus on the next point. Play with intensity, clarity, and resilience.
👉 (If you’d like to watch Roger’s brilliant full speech, you can find it here).
Numbers Can Uplift, Not Just Judge
When used intentionally, numbers can:
- Highlight opportunities.
- Prove your impact.
- Strengthen your negotiating power.
- Fuel your next steps with confidence.
The next time you look at your financials, client data, or performance metrics, ask yourself:
“How can this uplift my story — not just measure it?”
How are you going to play the next point?
Whether you’re setting your pricing, pitching your services, or growing your impact, use data as your ally. Pair it with your unique story. And step forward knowing that numbers are not just reflections of the past — they are instruments for building the future.
Curious how you can use numbers to strengthen your pricing and uplift your business?
📞 Book a call with me here — I’d love to support you on your journey.
