Get All Access for $5/mo

Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph on Gut Instinct vs. Data-Driven Decisions When it comes to decision-making, should you follow the numbers or your heart?

By Dan Bova

What's more important to good decision-making, data or your instinct? "The truth is, you need both," says entrepreneur, investor, mentor and Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph.

"Data is great, in that it can give you absolute certainty that the red button does 2.7% better than the blue button. But it will never tell you which of the 16.7 million colors you should test," he explains.

The best thinkers, says Randolph, use data to inform their intuition, to explore and then validate their assumptions. "You are trying to create a culture of data-driven decision-making. What you want is less 'I think...' and more 'The data shows...'."

Read more of Randolph's insights by picking up his instant-classic business book, That Will Never Work: The Birth if Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.

Presented by Mastercard. Learn how Mastercard is helping bring local businesses into the digital economy at Mastercard.us/digitaldoors.

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Growing a Business

5 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Business's Online Presence

Boosting your online presence in 2025 is the key to success for businesses looking to grow. Working on your branding and reputation management is important to drive more sales and improve conversion.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.