An Old Dog Shares New Tricks

Today I share what I’ve been up to the last month or so. Notice my new branding on LinkedIn to express the five characteristics that define and differentiate me. Rob Brunson was a big part of the motivation behind this, along with Wendy Covey and Morgan Norris of TREW Marketing.

Distribution Advocate

I list this bullet first as I spend the majority of my time as Crouzet’s Director, Global Channel. I wrapped up March honing my analytical skills preparing a monthly analysis of our channel business.

I conducted my first LinkedIn poll and I’ll share the poll & results here, along with my comments:

The ability to rotate slower moving product via stock rotation is standard in most distribution agreements; scrap allowance is becoming more commonly accepted and something I continue to champion. My opinion regarding the need for offsetting orders related to rotation/allowance is that offsets should remain in the agreement, but channel managers should have the flexibility to waive offsets required to process rotations/allowances. Offsetting orders are almost always simply future orders pulled forward. The reason I think it’s important to keep language regarding offsetting orders in the agreement is for use when a relationship is going sideways (which can be evidenced by any number of early warning data points). Thanks Mike West, DMN and Marna Dahan for your comments on the poll!

This month, I’ll be polling my network on a question about POS data metrics.

And, I’ll be active in April with ECIA and ERA as a contributing member of each association's councils.

Data Guru

I like to call myself ‘an army of one’ when it comes to data analytics. Granted, my toolbox is primarily boutique knowledge of MS Excel – but an analytical and curious mind can tell amazing stories with Excel!

Last month, I shared a short video on how I use the Home/End/Shift keys combined with navigational arrow keys to move up, down, left, right quickly in a worksheet - and to highlight arrays of data. I also shared a quick way to compute sales value without the use of a helper column.

Next up is one of my favorite formulas, CHOOSE, but I’m equally eager to hear what you’d like to know about Excel. And I’m certain to gain more knowledge through this process!

Questioner of Status Quo

Several things to share on this topic. March brought one of my most widely viewed LinkedIn posts, with 6,200+ impressions and 7 reposts.

I’ve revived my support of the private group, The Glass Ceiling Project, adding several new members. Always looking for member-inspired content in the Project!

Yada…Yada…BOOM! is a co-hosted videocast with Kate Van Hise and we’ve already recorded six episodes. Hop over to YouTube to see what we talk about each week!

I began defining my Anti-Racist vision in an online course built by Ashani Mfuko (She/Her) and it's called Anti-Racism School Is In Session? Action Plan, and Digital Journal. I invested in the course over the holidays and finally dove into it while giving a blood plasma donation this past weekend.

And I joined Jordan Yates on her podcast, Failing For You and spoke about Developing Emotional Intelligence & Adaptability.

Family Man

Ama and I had the pleasure of spending time together in New Orleans and taking in the sights, sounds, and of course the food and drink! Bourbon St. is not our thing (though we walked it one afternoon) but The Sazerac House was a treat for both of us!

I’m super excited to see my grandson and daughter this weekend as we spend a few days at Disney World! Blessed to be able to add on some pleasure to the end of a business trip that will include a local ERA chapter event in Florida.

My son recommended I invest in Bitcoin and the value has been booming, although neither of us have done very well picking teams in March Madness!

Athlete

The lower back became a huge problem at the ERA conference and March was a tough month for my weight training routine. I even resorted to medication to help alleviate the pain and did my first ever acupuncture sessions. Biking was suspended for a week or two, only to be further curtailed by windy, wet, cold days when I’ve been at the home office. The pushup routine has been my saving grace since mid-March. Now that I’ve reached Level 62, I’ll stick to pushups for a bit as I keep battling Father Time.

Oh, and I created and published my first newsletter (you’re reading it)! Thanks to some of the many that have inspired and encouraged me; Lori Bruno, CPMR and Sannah Vinding and Paul Ladipo and Sheva Guy, PhD and Kyle Cronk and William Watson, Ed.D. and Michele Price and Christine Wlazlowski and Stephanie Tierney and Doug Sherman Gina Rendon and Jessica Oladapo (She/ Her/ Hers) and Walter Tobin and of course Ama Omari Derringer