Name: What you miss when you focus on the average
Uploaded: 2025-03-12T14:48:44Z
Duration: 5 min 45 s
Description: Are you looking at the right data when making big decisions? Data deconstructor Sharon Zicherman challenges our reliance on averages, showing how they can be misleading — especially in life-changing moments. By rethinking the way we interpret data, he reveals a smarter approach to assessing risk and making better choices.

Sharon Zicherman: What you miss when you focus on the average

What you miss when you focus on the average

Are you looking at the right data when making big decisions? Data deconstructor Sharon Zicherman challenges our reliance on averages, showing how they can be misleading — especially in life-changing moments. By rethinking the way we interpret data, he reveals a smarter approach to assessing risk and making better choices.

Relying on averages can obscure vital details, especially during life-altering decisions like cancer treatment or designing safe buildings. A 39-year-old facing 50 percent survival odds realized those numbers hid the nuance of age, personal health, and recent advances. Instead of settling for broad statistics, focusing on relevant data and learning from outliers can change outcomes. True insight comes from questioning what the average leaves out and tailoring choices to the real context.