Some people manage their affairs by gut and instinct. Others rely on hard data to inform their decisions. Rich Kracum falls very much into the latter camp. The spreadsheet is his friend. It’s a tool that undoubtedly served him well in his years in the private equity business.
But Kracum’s life is not all about business these days. He retired some years back from the firm he co-founded, Wind Point Partners, although he still maintains some connections to the private equity world. These days, he’s extremely busy indulging his recreational passions, among them: hunting, golf, skiing and particularly fishing. He’s fished for many species all over the world, but he has a special affinity for chasing the storied permit, a saltwater fish reputed to be one the most challenging to catch on the fly. As with many of his endeavors, he uses the columnar numerical magic of the spreadsheet to increase his odds against that notoriously elusive quarry.
“I keep track of where I am, the guide, the water temperature, the wind, the visibility, how many shots I get that day and obviously if I get a fish,” he
