01:02 – Introducing today’s topic: Do You Know Your Critical Number?02:17 – Michael speaks to his own experience working with his CFO on his critical number03:48 – The Mariano Rivera example05:30 – The value of historical data07:30 – Identifying the critical number10:02 – Engaging your team to achieve your critical number11:17 – The Great Game of Business13:05 – Other strategies for engaging your people14:00 – The importance of educating your people on the business17:50 – Michael leaves the audience with a quote from Jack Stack18:42 – Michael poses a self-inquiry questions to the listeners19:17 – Michael teases the topic of the next episode of CEO Brain Food19:46 – Where to find Michael’s Functional Team ScorecardTWEETABLE QUOTES“We have numbers available to us at a moment’s notice, the tip of our fingers. Numbers are everywhere, and leaders use them in tracking progress and making important decisions.” (03:37)“With so much information, we tend to lose focus and it just is all foggy and it runs together.” (06:44)“I like to think of the critical number as the one number that represents the important variable we have to get right in order for our organization to succeed.” (07:40)“A great way to engage your people is to connect the data that you’ve got to a benefit such as a bonus, or some type of reward, or even equity in the form of stock and stock options.” (13:05)“At ‘Great Game,’ the critical number is defined as an operational or financial number that represents a weakness or vulnerability that, if not addressed and corrected, will negatively impact the overall performance and long term security of the business.” (17:19)“People support what they help create.” (17:57)RESOURCE LINKSMichael’s LinkedInMichael’s WebsiteThe Functional Team ScorecardJim Collins' WebsiteFour Characteristics of a Strong Critical NumberBOOKS MENTIONEDGet In The Game: How To Create Rapid Financial Results And Lasting Cultural ChangeThe Great Game of Business, Expanded and Updated: The Only Sensible Way to Run a Company?️?️?️Podcast production by FullCast