On 2APR14 I had the honor of being a speaker at IgniteChicago. My topic: The Power of Data

My presentation addresses the question: how did you get started using Excel?

I describe a frustration that I had with a job and how this thing called “Excel” helped turn things around. It was the very first serious thing I did with Excel and data, and it got people to listen.

The format of IgniteChicago is 5 minutes to talk about something you’re passionate about. You get 20 slides and they change automatically every 15 seconds.

Things got a bit raucous–in a fun way. By the time I went up in the 10 spot, we were having a funky good time. So much so that a friend helped create this clean version of my presentation.

To see the original:

To see all 11 presentations:

To learn more and submit a request to speak:
http://www.ignitechi.org/

Here’s a mini app that I developed based on a challenge that Mr. Excel answered:
How do I randomize an alphabetical list of cafeteria specials?

Kevin Lehrbass also took this on with a different spin

http://www.myspreadsheetlab.com/2014/01/helping-dean-pelton-with-his-menu-in-excel/
This whole thing was intriguing to me as I thought about the various problems that would come up as a real Cafeteria Head manages a meal schedule:
– How to make a solution in Excel that doesn’t go overboard?
– What about meals showing up more than 1x within 5 days?
– What about meals that are complicated for the staff to prepare?
– How do I add new specials?

In this video I give you a tour of the what’s what in the app. I don’t go into the fine details because the thought process is what I really want to share.

I am writing a related blogpost. That should be up on Monday, and I’ll also make the file available for download.

Please comment, ask questions, and let me know if this is at all interesting or helpful.

Be good, yawl!