Visual writing
Posted on May 26, 2006
Filed Under Internet & Technology | 1 Comment
I’ll let you in on a secret…I don’t like writing. Yeah, I blog. But I blog the way I talk, and I really like to talk. Not the same thing.
I can explain anything if I can talk it through, but once I sit there with the blank Word document I freeze up and I can’t seem to get my thoughts together.
I recently discovered the pure joy of mind maps. There are a lot of advantages to mind maps, but I tend to use it as a writing tool. I realized that my problem with writing is not in the idea, it’s in the sequencing. I think in images and blocks of thought, writing is too linear. So in my mind I “see” the picture of what I want to say and then I have to translate it to continuous sentences when I write.
There are lots of mind mapping tools out there, I quickly settled on Mindjet’s Mind Manager. Even got the nonprofit pricing for it.
Take the Database/Salesforce project…In its final form, I wrote a 8 page document to our Board and key players explaining the problem and outlining the proposed solution. It started out looking something like this:
I just let the ideas pop into my head, one after the other, trying not to censor myself. As I thought, I moved the disjointed ideas around to where they appeared to make the most sense in relation to other snips of thought. Suddenly, they weren’t so disjointed. Working this way, the snippets began to connect and take shape. Using images and icons, I could then “tag” the strongest threads and that built the structure of my document. Much easier.
Theikos asked for documentation on our current processes. Easier said than done. We’re new and young and many of our processes happen as we do them and aren’t fully documented. That’s part of this project and why I am so gung-ho about Salesforce to begin with.
So back to the visual drawing board, this time to OmniGraffle, the best diagramming application I have ever seen for doing flow chart-type documents (Mac OS X only). I could probably use OmniGraffle of Mind Manager on its own, but I prefer to use both and switch back and forth depending on the type of thinking I’m doing.
After I put together the diagram of how our current process works, I realized that it was self-explanatory and I didn’t need to write anything further.
Our current workflow showing how the different contact sources are typically brought through the organization is shown below. The green lines are the input that is automatically generated (through the website or other import process). The red lines are the input we handle manually. Too many red lines means that we are repeating entry which means that mistakes and dropped connections can happen.
(don’t worry…you’re not supposed to be able to read what’s in the little boxes…this is a “big picture” point I’m making)
This is how I picture things working once we have our CRM solution in place:
There’s still red lines, but less of them. If someone calls or hands you a business card, you have to type it in (nevermind using card scanners, not necessary at this point). But the process is far cleaner and streamlined. More importantly, we are closing the loop and setting up a means for continued interaction with the contact aside from just sending them our newsletter.
Too often, potential leads do not become opportunities because you chat about an idea, maybe exchange some email and then it falls through the cracks despite the players’ best intentions all around. I think we are doing better than most small non-profits in this regard. We have a reputation for being very responsive and carrying through what we say we’re going to do. I just want to make it a little less work for us to live up to that reputation.
Stupid retail move
Posted on May 26, 2006
Filed Under Internet & Technology, Misc. | 1 Comment
From BetaNews (and reported elsewhere):
Dell plans to open up two brick-and-mortar locations in a pilot program to test the retail waters later this year, the company says. But don’t expect it to be like an Apple store — all orders would still be placed through the phone and Web.
Hello?!? Do they remember how well the Gateway stores did?
The best part about an Apple Store is the fact that you can walk in with your cash and walk out with something. If I have to place an order at a machine and wait for it to ship, then that takes me out of the shopping experience and I’m far less interested.
I would hope that they will have peripherals and accessories in the store and you can walk out with them after purchase. When I owned a Dell Axim handheld, it was a bit frustrating that I couldn’t easily buy cases and cables in a retail store.
Our Salesforce implementation: funny how things work out
Posted on May 26, 2006
Filed Under Nonprofit | 1 Comment
As I’ve blogged before, we selected Theikos as our Salesforce implementation partner. It was a tough call. I researched 6 consulting firms, solicited proposals from 3 and ultimately struggled on the final choice. Pricing was consistent, so it came down to a selection on other factors. Ultimately, I have to say it was an instinct call.
I went with Theikos because compared to the other finalist, they are a larger company with more resources and in our conversations, the sales manager “got” us faster than the competition. The other was essentially a 2–man shop that brought in contractors on projects as needed. I guess I’m more critical since I used to be one of those single-person operations that brought in contractors as needed so I know exactly why I don’t want it for this particular project.
Amazing how things worked out… when I was asking questions and looking at firms I was continually drawn to one small consulting firm whose principal has an incredible resume of dealing with nonprofits. Her name kept coming up in conversations that I had, and the only reason I didn’t solicit a proposal from her was the reason I stated above.
Turns out that this nonprofit/Salesforce wonderwoman also works for Theikos and they assigned her to be our Project Manager! Kind of like having to choose between the cheesecake and the chocolate ice cream, picking the cheesecake and having it served with a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top. 
Cingular billing hamsters at it again
Posted on May 26, 2006
Filed Under Misc. | 3 Comments
::sigh::
Why is it so difficult for Cingular to simply bill me for what I actually owe? In 4 months, they’ve gotten it right once (last month).
I looked at the bill detail and I see what they did. The system tried to overbill me for $443.54. They manually caught it. Good. But instead of removing the charge, they credited my bill. That’s fine, except for the fact that I never actually paid $443.54, so hence the $349.86 credit balance.
::sigh::
As tempting as it is to just go with this one… I paid $93.68 which is my actual balance and I’ll call Cingular again this morning to correct.
I think Cingular needs to change their top level voice menu prompts to add, “If you are calling because we royally screwed up your bill yet again, press 6.” Would save us a lot of time.
Update: Well, honesty pays. Turns out that the problem is that they took off the charges…twice. Hence the credit. They gave me a $50 for-real credit (without my asking) as a thank-you for my honesty.
Fun with MS Maps
Posted on May 24, 2006
Filed Under Internet & Technology | Leave a Comment
There’s an update to Microsoft’s Map site. I haven’t had a chance or reason to play with some of the new features, but I have noticed that there’s a bird’s eye view of my neighborhood.
Wow.
The detail is incredible. I can tell that it was taken before we moved in last year because I don’t recognize the car in the driveway or the furniture on the back porch. It’s that tight. A little too detailed if I can look out the window and match the branches on the tree outside with the one I see on the website.
