# How to sharpen your analytical thinking—even if you’re "not a numbers person" ! [ rw-book-cover] (https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d64bd352-1d8b-47fc-a43c-bb9d8aa610f9_1024x1024.png) URL: https://newsletter.weskao.com/p/analytical-thinking Author: Wes Kao  ## AI-Generated Summary The author shares 11 concepts to improve analytical thinking, emphasizing that being analytical is not just about numbers. Developing an analytical mindset helps make better decisions and stand out in a competitive environment. Key strategies include understanding patterns, comparing expected versus actual results, and considering the context of data. ## Highlights > principles on how to become more analytical: > 1. Patterns & pattern breaks > 2. Absolute numbers & percentages > 3. Variance > 4. Expected vs actual > 5. Percent contribution to whole > 6. Zoom out to a broader scale > 7. Check profit margins > 8. Consider incentives > 9. Figure out the range > 10. Investigate why—and what to do about it > 11. Poke holes in your own logic ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jmfjz15grjt8ysp31xz7xebw))