33 Tangents

Merriam-Webster defines story as: 1) an account of incidents or events and 2) a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question.  Storytelling is a very powerful part of the human experience and a key tool used throughout human history.   It provides a level of familiarity and when done well, it conveys information in a way that resonates with all involved.   Data by itself is cold and many times unfamiliar, leading people to discount or outright ignore it.  When data is communicated as part of a story, it can be transformative. How do you tell a story with data?  How do those involved feel?   On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss their experience with storytelling with data, including the right ways and the wrong ways to do it and the proper way to prepare.  They talk about times in their career where they were able to get complex data to resonate with those they were presenting too as well as those times where they took their audience for granted leading

Merriam-Webster defines story as: 1) an account of incidents or events and 2) a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question.  Storytelling is a very powerful part of the human experience and a key tool used throughout human history.   Story provides a level of familiarity and when used effectively, it conveys information in a way that deeply resonates with all involved.   Many view sales as just stating facts, but the art of sales is more than that.  Those successful in sales know that it takes providing a solution wrapped in a story.  What happens when storytelling is part of the sales process?  How do all involved feel when a story is told?   On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jim and Jason talk about how they’ve seen successful sales people employee the art of storytelling as well those that ignore it and the result it has brought them.  Lastly, they talk about how everyone is in sales and how failing to realize it will impact them.   ITEMS WE MENTIONED DHL Digital An

We are currently taking a break for the holidays.  We’ll return with new episodes on January 11, 2023.  This episode originally aired on April 7, 2021. We’ve all experienced the situation with a client where we know the data they are talking about is nothing more than a distraction.  It can be data that they have identified as needing to be collected or data they already collect.   When asked about it, you get the response that “just might need it in the future”. On this week’s episode of 33 Tangents, Jim and Jason talk about their experience with this, the risks, and the warning signs that the data will either be a distraction or a new toy that isn’t used in 3 months.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https

We are currently taking a break for the holidays.  We’ll return with new episodes on January 11, 2023.  This episode originally aired on November 6, 2020. In many organizations, the terms consultant and contractor are use synonymously.  There are, however, major distinctions between those two roles.  Each comes with its own set of expectations and level of engagement.   What are the major differences between the two?  What does it mean to hire a contractor?  What is expected when you bring on a consultant?  Why do organizations conflate the two? On this week's episode of the 33 Tangents Podcast, Jason, Jenn, and Jim dig into these questions, discuss the need and value of both of the roles, and what they've seen happen when there isn't a clear distinction.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter:

We are currently taking a break for the holidays.  We’ll return with new episodes on January 11, 2023.  This episode originally aired on March 3, 2021. It seems like there is a great deal of talk about the importance of learning from mistakes.  The problem with that however is that most people are so fearful that they do everything they can to either avoid making mistakes or to hide them when they do happen.  People do not feel encouraged to take calculated risks that will provide opportunities to learn? Why is this the case?  Why is there talk about it but fear when faced with it?  How can this overall mindset within an organization impact the testing organization runs and the degree to which the testing tools are used? On this week’s episode of 33 Tangents, Jim and Jason tackle the topic of making mistakes, why people are fearful to take risks, why most organizations are barely scratching the surface with their testing program.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube S

Finding a path to get started in a career can feel like a daunting task.  Fortunately there are resources available regardless if if you a student just entering higher education or someone with several years of experience returning to continue their education.   What are those resources?  How can they be accessed?  What provides valuable experience?  What kinds of things should someone focus on?   On this week’s episode of 33 Tangents, Jason and Jim welcome for the first time Ashlee Marshall and returning guest Stephen Marshall to discuss the resources available to those in higher education and their approaches to preparing their students for their careers.   Ashlee Marshall is a university Lecturer with a sales and marketing background. Currently, she teaches in the Communication Department for the University of Louisville. In addition to teaching, she is also the Education Project Manager for the Brand Storytelling Network (BSN). She is responsible for supporting all certification course content as well as

How can data literacy be taught?  What resources exist for those that want to fill gaps with their own data literacy?   On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim talk about methods they see as key to helping increase data literacy and experiences they’ve had in both school & in their careers that illustrate the value it.   ITEMS WE MENTIONED 33 Tangents - Episode #218 - Why Is Unlimited PTO So Polarizing? 33 Tangents - Episode #130 - Re-examining Unlimited PTO 33 Tangents - Episode #64 - Is Unlimited Time Off Actually Unlimited? 33 Tangents - Episode #232 - Talking About The Importance of Finding A Mentor with Evan LaPointe THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast

We are currently taking a break for the holidays.  We’ll return with new episodes on December 7, 2022.  This episode originally aired on October 13, 2021. We all know the adage that “things aren’t built to last like they used to.”  Why is that?  Why does quality feel like a lost art? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss what it means to design and build something to last.  The conversion covers both physical products and service offerings, looking at why companies may not always have the long-term sustainability of their products & offerings in mind.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg    

We are currently taking a break for the holidays.  We’ll return with new episodes on December 7, 2022.  This episode originally aired on November 3, 2021. We live in a society where we are trained from childhood to get in line and stay there.  Those that challenge the norm and try to bring new ideas & ways of doing things are labeled rule breakers and problems. Companies and individuals claim to want to work with those that are creative, but then are quick to stifle it.  We’ve all run across those times where questioning why a company does something is met with “We’ve always done it that way.” On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason talk about why that is often the case and how someone can bring new ideas and creative solutions to the table without being labeled as a troublemaker.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website:

As the saying goes, one rotten apple spoils the bunch.  In the real world, one person can ruin an entire team. How will a low level of data literacy impact an organization?  Can you think of example of organizations where it’s apparent where they are not very data literate? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim continue their conversation around data literacy, focusing on how low levels of data literacy can impact an entire organization.  Looking back at past experiences, they discuss the causes for low data literacy in organizations and how companies made bad decisions due to it. THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe

What does it mean for an individual to be data illiterate?  What does it mean for that person’s career, both currently and in the future?  How does a lack of data literacy impact the people around that person? On this episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim continue their discussion around data literacy, focusing on what it means for an individual who lacks in that capacity.    THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.face

What is data literacy? The text book definition as per Gartner is the ability to read, write and communicate data in context, including an understanding of data sources and constructs, analytical methods and techniques applied, and the ability to describe the use case, application and resulting value. Looking at and thinking about that detailed, academic definition, what does all of that mean?  How does that apply to digital analytics?  How does it impact digital analytics implementation engineers and analysts? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss their feelings on data literacy, it’s impacts on many areas of everyday life, and how the lack of it is causing issues in the world of digital analytics.    THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and re

It is common in the sports world to see top tier athletes seek out coaches that help improve and elevate their performance.  In the business world, it’s a bit of a mixed bag.  In many circles, seeking out coaching and feedback is perceived as a sign of weakness.  You need to project that you know everything.  In other circles, there is talk of actively seeking out a mentor for help. What does it mean to have a mentor in your career?  How important is it and value does that provide?  How do you go about seeking and finding a mentor? What resources are available? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason welcome Evan LaPointe back for a discussion around being mentored.  Evan is the Founder and CEO of CORE Consulting.  He is also the creator of Satellite which was acquired by Adobe in 2013 and became DTM.   WHERE TO FIND EVAN Email: evan@core-sciences.com Website: www.core-sciences.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/evanlapointe THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot t

Getting started in a career can seem daunting enough.  Once established, the need to grow and expand will present itself to prevent becoming stagnant.  In the digital analytics space, opportunities are not normally handed to you, you’ll need to search out the opportunities to grow. Once someone has started working in digital analytics, how are they able to grow their career?  What resources are available?   On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim are joined by Jenn Kunz to discuss how they’ve developed their careers in digital analytics.  They talk about where they started and the opportunities they’ve sought out over the years. WHERE TO FIND JENN Website: www.digitaldatatactics.com Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Kunz THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and

On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jenn Kunz delivers her presentation "Controlling Your Marketing Tags So They Don't Control You" was given at the Marketing Analytics Summit in Las Vegas in June 2022.  Jenn is a Principal Architect with 33 Sticks and has 15 years of experience helping enterprise organizations solve their analytics problems holistically, no matter where they are in their digital measurement evolution or what tool set they use.   Video version of this presentation can be found at https://youtu.be/wBTyNmbxbk0   WHERE TO FIND JENN Website: www.digitaldatatactics.com Twitter: twitter.com/Jenn_Kunz THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available o

Value is a relative concept.  As per the cliche, “what is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” When it comes to Digital Analytics, this is certainly the case.  What those in and close to it in an organization see as valuable, those on the outside often do not.  It’s often a tough go when trying to sell insights that have been uncovered to upper levels of management.  At the start of the Covid pandemic, the digital analytics teams were part of the first round of layoffs and furloughs at many companies.   This begs the most basic question, what is the value of digital analytics?  How should one approach selling the value of digital analytics to senior and executive leadership?   On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim discuss how digital analytics is benefit organizations and ways analytics teams can communicate that value to others in the organization so it resonates.   THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us

One of the primary reasons an organization brings in a consulting firm, whether that be digital analytics, another practice, or for general guidance, is to get an assessment and feedback on the workings of the organization. Why is it then when providing the direct and uncomfortable feedback related to the findings of the assessment, the organization doesn’t want to hear it?  Why do stakeholders not want to share it, or worse, try to hide it? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss why organizations ignore the advice & feedback provided by experts they’ve hired and their experience delivering information of that nature. THANK YOU We know your time is limited, so it means a lot to us that you would spend some of your time with us. If you have found this episode to be valuable, we would appreciate if you would share it.   And if we are getting you hooked, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and recommend on your favorite podcast platform.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video

Like many things in life, there is an art to being a consultant.  The problem though is that the word consultant has come to take on multiple meanings.  In some cases it refers to an individual brought in to evaluate a portion or an entire organization and provide director.  Other times it refers to a team that provides a services and works at the direction of another organization. What does it mean to be a consultant?  What are the reasons why an organization hires an outside consultant?  What does it mean to run a consulting engagement? On this week’s episode of 33 Tangents, Jim and Jason discuss their expectations of a consultant and what makes someone successful in that role.   WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ You

Those that work in digital analytics often default to continuous implementation and constantly sending reports because they are low risk activities.  Low risk as compared to providing insights.  The minute recommendations based on data, a digital analyst puts their neck out potentially putting their job and livelihood at risk. Why is there risk with “stepping over that line” moving from reporting to providing insights and recommendations?  Is it a result of imposter syndrome. On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jim and Jason discuss the underlying causes of why many digital analytics practitioners don’t take risks even when the data supports their position and the solutions they see to it.    WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.

When working with data and distributing it to clients or internal stakeholders, the line between reporting and insights is often blurred.   When it comes to digital analytics, what is reporting and what are insights?  What is the difference between the two?  How is data distribution different between the two? On this week’s episode of the 33 Tangents podcast, Jason and Jim give their perspectives on both aspects of data distribution.  Pulling from direct experience with clients, they discuss the overlap between the two, their thoughts on where analysts should focus their time, and common pitfalls that are encountered. WHERE TO LISTEN The 33 Tangents video simulcast is now available on YouTube Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Google Podcasts Listen on TuneIn Listen on Amazon Music   WHERE TO FIND US Website: www.33sticks.com Email: Podcast@33sticks.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/33Sticks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/33sticks/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8KUpp_LygXotCrKgR9ZoBg