Abstract

The Unpivot podcast, a show featuring Excel and Power BI experts Wyn Hopkins, Mark Proctor, and Sue Bayes, with occasional input from Giles Male. This podcast episode engages in discussions about their experiences, including Giles’ time at the Excel World Championships and Wyn’s YouTube milestone. The experts also explore content creation challenges and strategies for platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Furthermore, they examine new Excel features like Trim Range and the integration of Python, alongside practical topics such as consulting time management and client relations.

Introduction The Unpivot podcast brings together passionate Excel and Power BI enthusiasts, offering a blend of technical insights, personal experiences, and tips for making the most of data-related tools. Hosted by Wyn Hopkins, Mark Proctor, and Sue Bayes, with occasional contributions from Giles Male, the show delves into the world of data manipulation, business intelligence, and the evolving landscape of data-related technologies.

1. Personal Updates and Achievements

1.1 Giles’ Experience at the Excel World Championships Giles Male shares his experience at the Excel World Championships, where, despite not scoring top marks, he felt more comfortable and improved his skills, particularly in the use of LAMBDA functions. These pre-built formulas are essential for the competition, and Giles proudly introduces his “humble mod” functions. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of using customized lambdas.

1.2 Mark’s Running Journey Mark Proctor humorously recounts his running challenge, expressing how he purposely stopped short of meeting his target to avoid giving Sue too much credit for inspiring him. He highlights the ups and downs of setting and missing personal targets.

1.3 Win’s Milestone Wyn Hopkins celebrates reaching 100,000 YouTube subscribers, driven by the success of a few viral videos. He also shares the amusing experience of being mistaken for another Win Hopkins, a cake baker and children’s TV personality.

2. Content Creation Insights

2.1 The Challenges of Consistent Content Creation The team discusses the ebbs and flows of YouTube and TikTok content. Mark shares the reality of content creation, where viral videos bring in spikes in subscribers but eventually plateau. This pattern is common across the content creation world, as videos follow natural “waves” in their popularity.

2.2 Entering the World of TikTok Giles hints at exploring TikTok, intrigued by the potential for viral success. However, he jokes about how wacky ideas could lead to “career suicide.” This highlights the unpredictability and bold experimentation in content creation.

2.3 Win’s Experience on TikTok Win reflects on his own TikTok journey, where a single video went viral with 450,000 views, only for subsequent videos to receive far fewer views. He explores the inconsistency of online content reception and the role of platforms like TikTok in driving traffic to creators’ channels.

2.4 Content Creation Advice The team emphasizes the importance of consistent posting, with Sue pointing to the advice from TikTok expert Deb. She stresses that TikTok’s success lies in constant uploads, and while YouTube demands higher-quality thumbnails and strategies, both platforms require significant effort.

3. Excel Features and Updates

3.1 New Features: Trim Range and Trim Refs Mark updates listeners about the availability of the Trim Range and Trim Refs features in Excel, a much-anticipated tool for cleaning data.

3.2 Lambda Functions vs. Built-in Functions A fascinating discussion ensues about Excel’s lambda functions, specifically comparing them to built-in functions like VLOOKUP. While lambdas allow users to create custom functions, they come with a risk: unlike Microsoft’s functions, custom lambdas might have bugs due to human error in their creation. Giles and Mark highlight the complexity and learning curve associated with lambdas and other advanced Excel features.

3.3 Python Integration in Excel The podcast also covers the increasing integration of Python within Excel, such as the use of Anaconda and Python add-ins, which allow for more powerful data analysis and manipulation. This move signals Excel’s embrace of more advanced coding capabilities, making it an even more robust tool for data professionals.

4. Consulting and Time Management

4.1 Time Estimation in Consulting A major topic of discussion centers around managing client expectations and quoting project times. Sue Bayes shares her experiences in quoting for work, where unexpected changes in project scope often lead to longer than anticipated timelines. Wyn Hopkins and Mark Proctor contribute their own stories of managing time estimates and ensuring clients understand the complexity of data projects. Win emphasizes the importance of clear scoping documents to protect both the consultant and client.

4.2 The Challenge of New Clients Sue discusses the challenge of working with new clients who don’t have the same understanding of data complexity. She reflects on how, over time, she’s learned to set realistic expectations and push back on unreasonable demands, reinforcing the importance of working with clients who value the expertise provided.

4.3 The Value of Experience Mark talks about how experience influences pricing and project scope, particularly the challenge of setting an appropriate price for projects. He highlights the dilemma of pricing based on time and the value that the final product will bring to the client. This section emphasizes the importance of charging for the expertise and efficiency that comes with years of experience.

5. Client Relations and Project Challenges

5.1 The “I Can Do It Myself” Client Win shares his thoughts on the clients who believe they can do a project themselves but lack the expertise to deliver it effectively. These situations often lead to frustration for both parties, with clients unable to appreciate the depth of work involved.

5.2 The Psychology of Quoting The podcast also delves into the psychology behind quoting. Wyn reflects on how early in his career, he would undersell his time, not realizing how long tasks would actually take. Now, after years of experience, he has learned to set more realistic expectations for himself and his clients.

5.3 The Importance of Scoping The conversation continues with Wyn discussing the importance of scoping out projects clearly. He shares how, in his early days, he’d often quote too low for a project, only to find that the work was far more complex than he anticipated. This leads to a discussion about how initial builds or prototypes help manage expectations and set clear boundaries for what will and won’t be included in the final project.

6. Closing Thoughts and Advice

6.1 Advice for Excel Enthusiasts The episode concludes with Giles offering a plug for the UK Excel Championship, encouraging listeners to participate in the competition to improve their skills. The team reflects on how the Excel community is growing, with new talent emerging and more opportunities for learning.

6.2 Looking Ahead to New Challenges As the team wraps up, they express excitement about future developments in Excel and Power BI, particularly around the evolution of Python integration, the rise of TikTok as a content platform, and the continual growth of the Excel user community.

Conclusion

The Unpivot podcast offers a perfect mix of technical advice, personal anecdotes, and a lively discussion about the world of Excel and Power BI. Whether you’re an Excel newbie or a seasoned professional, the show provides valuable insights on the tools, trends, and tricks shaping the future of data analysis.