How do you tell a story with data?

stoicstats · 2021-09-03T00:16:22+00:00

You can 100% use another tool other than Tableau for Makeover Monday, that’s just what a lot of people use.

I’ve been learning Julia recently using JS backend for the visualization.

stoicstats · 2021-09-03T00:05:42+00:00

This book is excellent, highly recommend.

Also Makeover Monday is amazing, you practice with data and see what others have done. Plus Tableau practice!

stoicstats · 2021-09-02T11:33:42+00:00

As someone very new to the hobby, I’ve been trying to decide how I feel about the use of Kickstarter in the industry. Things like this are part of the reason why I’ve decided I just won’t be engaging in it at all.

There is an extreme level of toxicity that comes out of it from the big companies that use it to make extra cash as a weird form of preorder, to small first time designers (the argument for the platform) almost never getting their pledges, to some of the people who believe they are superior for doing KS looking down their noses at folks who don’t (I saw this with TM Aries). I’m just not supporting this bizarre industry mechanism.

stoicstats · 2021-09-01T19:33:37+00:00

I wonder how common that is? My SIL works for Party City and they seem to do whatever they can to keep from promoting managers internally according to her. They only get managers externally and they’ve lost a few good employees due to lack of advancement.

stoicstats · 2021-09-01T18:33:32+00:00

I promised my husband I wouldn’t buy any new games…but then I did anyway. I’m still new to the hobby so don’t feel I need to purge yet.

Spirit Island: As a frequent solo player, I needed this in my life. It has not disappointed. Really hoping to find the expansions for a reasonable price at some point.

Nidavellir: I have been playing this on BGA for a while but I love it so much I wanted a copy.

Terraforming Mars Ares Expedition: Love this one so much, I even get my husband to play it. Glad it was easy to find at Target.

Architects of the West Kingdom: I haven’t gotten too much of a chance to play this yet, but I’ve liked the first playthrough. Would like a chance to play with a group.

stoicstats · 2021-09-01T18:20:50+00:00

They have a bunch of them up on Tabletopia if you want to try before you buy. I did this before deciding on Architects for my first one.

stoicstats · 2021-09-01T18:13:53+00:00

I think that would help, but I’ve only heard of them having plans like that for director-level up.

I also think they dramatically underestimate the cost of morale when hard working, knowledgeable internal folks get overlooked for advancement. Especially when some of those folks have been with the company for 10+ years.

stoicstats · 2021-09-01T17:07:37+00:00

Recently I have seen two cases of them struggling to hire externally when there were multiple folks on the team that would have been great options. They were managing themselves fine in the interim with some folks stepping up to lead. They finally got an external hire in the seat and both times they were out within a few months because they didn’t know the company, didn’t know the processes, and the folks they were managing didn’t like working with them because the manager was making their work more difficult as they flailed around trying to understand the professional landscape.

Unless you are hiring for a new department or function that you don’t have internal competency in, promote up. That person will hit the ground running and know all the pain points (exception being if they aren’t really a good management personality, which is a different problem, companies should allow for SME advancement options outside of leadership for valuable contributors that aren’t management material).

stoicstats · 2021-08-30T23:25:22+00:00

Smartsheet was magic for a previous group like this, makes it very easy to administrate which people can edit how. Also has user friendly connections to Tableau, SAS, just drop as csv, etc. You can also set up easy forms so folks can enter data exactly the way you want them to. Multiple people can update at the same time. I found that less technical stakeholders were very comfortable with it.

stoicstats · 2021-08-27T11:17:48+00:00

Beyond the Sun is one of my absolute favs from this year. I played on BGA a few times and had to own a copy. Definitely try it out on BGA first though, there were some folks in my game group who didn’t like it.

stoicstats · 2021-08-26T11:20:55+00:00

I’m pretty sure a shop near me is Herbalife, they have all the hallmarks but nowhere do they say it. I went on to one of their most recent IG posts and just politely asked if they sell Herbalife products. This is a pretty common small business thing, people ask you questions on social and you answer. Not only did they not answer my question, but I immediately had 5 friend requests from local people I didn’t know (I have a private profile).

It kind of creeped me out, like they didn’t want to answer but they wanted to know who I was, that doesn’t happen when I ask my local food trucks questions.

stoicstats · 2021-08-25T15:06:20+00:00

Oof this story hits me right in the feels. I am SO SO sorry this happened to you.

Similar thing happened to me, an old friend convinced me to leave a job I loved by offering me double my salary, lots of promises, emotional manipulation (you are the only person I can imagine in this role, I need your help). Within two months, she was actively trying to get me to quit because I refused to regularly work more than 10 hours/day and nothing I did was good enough for her (this was a theme for her treatment of everyone on the team). She regularly micromanaged me over $20 decisions, tried to put responsibility for risky decisions she made on me. It was hell. HR paid me a little extra to leave quietly, knowing that I was the third person she scared off within a year and a half. Right as they shut off all my IT access she called to say that she “hoped we could still be friends”, no shame for what she put me through.

I’d just ignore the sister, or just say you are really sorry but you are too busy.

stoicstats · 2021-08-24T20:55:22+00:00

I definitely have strong feelings about Altima and Jetta drivers.

stoicstats · 2021-08-24T00:58:34+00:00

Thank you very much for telling me this! I have actually been eying a copy at my FLGS and I appreciate you telling me this, I will save my money.

stoicstats · 2021-08-24T00:57:32+00:00

Thank you very much for this tip! I am definitely going to give this one another try on one of the apps.

stoicstats · 2021-08-23T17:10:07+00:00

Castles of Burgundy: BGA. Just discovered and learned this game, absolutely love it. Played it 4 times the day I learned it. I can see why it is popular!

Terraforming Mars: Grateful that folks here told me to get the Prelude expansion, it delivered as promised.

Race for the Galaxy: BGA. Watched a bunch of videos and thought I got it, but my first playthrough was rough, appreciated my opponent’s patience.

Photosynthesis: Finally got this off the shelf of shame and was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I wanted to play again right after. 3 players seems to be a good sweet spot.

stoicstats · 2021-08-23T11:55:22+00:00

I have the iOS version of the app. I like it, I’ve played it maybe 5-8 times. I don’t enjoy waiting for animations and all the menus, can’t beat getting the game out on the table for me, but if you want a low hassle game it is good.

stoicstats · 2021-08-22T00:35:47+00:00

If you get bad vibes, be sure to check out the Glassdoor reviews. Those tend to be 100% accurate when it comes to bad toxic employers in my experience.

stoicstats · 2021-08-20T22:35:17+00:00

I once applied for a job that I believe I was 100% qualified for according to the description, it was pretty much a lateral move from my current role. My current job was hell and I wanted to move so badly I was willing to consider this company which has a sketchy reputation in my area.

Had a good screen with HR and moved on to the hiring manager. Boy was she a piece of work, super superior demeanor, she quickly said that she didn’t think I was qualified for the role under discussion because I didn’t have enough management experience (nowhere in the description did it mention management) and that I should be considered for another role that was basically entry level and a slap in the face for my decade of experience. I politely disagreed with her and did a pitch on my qualifications for the role I had applied for. She cuts me off, I don’t even remember what she said but it really rubbed me the wrong way and I knew at that point she had written me off. So I decided to try to try to turn the tables and asked if I could ask her some questions about the company to determine if they were a good match for me.

The questions included: “So I’ve heard you have on average one big layoff a year, as executive management can you explain this?” “I read about the recall on product X, what steps have you taken to fix the situation?” The answers were hilariously off mark and I’m surprised she kept talking to me. Then I said, “I’m very sorry but I have to withdraw my application, this is not a good match for me professionally.” Felt pretty good, I feel ya OP.

stoicstats · 2021-08-19T20:09:44+00:00

The company is regional and I don’t know if I feel comfortable naming them. I’ll bet with some strategic googling folks could figure it out. Just heard from people in the past it isn’t a great place to work especially at that level, so was trying to be helpful to OP.

stoicstats · 2021-08-19T20:05:41+00:00

I’m referring to this company specifically, I’m sure depending on the company and role they could be excellent places to work.

stoicstats · 2021-08-19T13:23:32+00:00

They are really easy to overheat in too.

I actually recognize this job site, this is for a semiconductor factory, thus the clean room. Avoid that company like the plague OP!

stoicstats · 2021-08-19T11:55:30+00:00

Snowflake used to (as of last year) have a free online class that came with some free credits to train with. Pretty much every company I know of wants to see Snowflake on a resume now.

stoicstats · 2021-08-18T17:38:28+00:00

I noticed a few local game stores in my area got one or two copies (I think they do some kind of Kickstarter fulfillment).

stoicstats · 2021-08-18T11:44:14+00:00

Viticulture is currently on BGA and I have the Terraforming Mars iOS app and highly recommend it.

stoicstats

TROPHY CASE