How do I figure out which numbers actually matter?

You're buried in figures, and they all seem to shout for attention. That overwhelm is normal early on. The skill you're missing isn't more data. It's the eye to see which few numbers actually move the decision. That comes with time, but you can start building it now. Try working backward. Instead of staring at everything, ask what decision is actually being made, then ask which two or three numbers would change the answer if they moved. Most of the rest is noise, interesting but not decisive. A good analyst isn't the one who tracks the most; it's the one who knows what to ignore. This week, take one report you're drowning in and force yourself to name the three numbers that matter most. Just three. You'll be wrong sometimes, and that's how you learn. Over time you'll stop seeing a wall of data and start seeing the few levers that count.