Often it can be difficult to plan group excel classes due to issues such as scheduling (especially during prime vacay season), the varying Excel skill levels of potential participants and the fact that the upgrading of Excel version is slowly phased throughout a company (wassup with that?).

Picture this: Your Company designates and trains several internal Excel gurus… Let’s call them the X4. Whenever your employees have a spreadsheet question, they go to the X4 and these Spreadsheet Superheroes simply answer their questions, spread a little knowledge and naturally becomes the coolest crew at work. Think Val Kilmer’s character from the 1985 hit “Real Genius” meets Wolverine.

You probably have 2 questions:
1. How do I transform these generally decent spreadsheeters into the X4?
2. What happens when the X4 has a spreadsheet question themselves (it’s bound to happen)?

Introducing the Excel Rain Man Center of EXCEL-lence!

We can help create your very own X4 team in no time. Here’s the plan:

Step 1. Choose a select number of folks to be part of the X4. We recommend 3-5 of your go-to spreadsheeters depending on the size of your company. If you don’t have people that fit this description, have no fear… we promise to change that.

Step 2. The X4 will receive private customized webinars for a set number of hours a month. Each webinar can be as short as 1 hour so they do not interfere with other work. The webinars will move @ the appropriate speed and can become crazy advanced before you know it. For all you wanna-be VBAers… Now is your time to build the Macro skillz you’ve be secretly longing for.

Step 3. Whenever the X4 is stumped on a spreadsheet question, they will have a direct line (aka the “Rain Phone”) to the Excel Rain Man Crew, who will be available to help the X4 deal.

Step 4. If a specific Excel problem becomes totally unmanageable, Excel Rain Man will be there to take over the request as needed.

So quit salivating, Submit a Request and let us help to get your Excel Rain Man Center of EXCEL-lence on.

X4 TO THE RESCUE!!!!!

Small Biz Spotlight
My obsession with sweetriots officially began at the AmEx NY Times Small Business Summit on June 13, 2011, where I was able to sample their dark chocolate covered cacao ‘peaces’. sweetriot ‘peaces’ are tiny nibs of cacao (the bean that chocolate is made from) coated in dark chocolate. I must admit that the tasty little bits of yummy-ness will beat the snot out of your chocolate cravings in no time.

Here is the skinny on the nutrition. Each “peace” has 1-2 calories, and the tin has 140 calories in total (i.e. only 4 WeightWatchers points), meaning throwing back a tin of these ain’t no thang. Additionally, these are dairy-free, gluten-free and kosher. So you can keep your Spanx in the closet for this one! Genius business idea… so jealous…

Another very cool thing about sweetriot is their commitment to partnering young artists. Each sweetriot tin features an emerging artist who embraces sweetriot’s culture. (Side Note: Once you have polished off a tin, they make for very cute little storage vessels. I use them to store my ever growing list of vitamins). On top of that, when I checked out sweetriot.com I realized these folks are doing way more than banging out some fab crave-busting treats. In addition to just awesome candy, sweetriot mastermind, Sarah Endline, also champions social responsibility by using fair trade ingredients and supporting numerous non-profit organizations.

Along with the tins, you def need to check out the Yumbars and the Monthly Fix Kit which gives you 30 oz of nibs and a tin that you can refill. This way you get your 1 oz of sweetriot for an entire month! They have all kinds of cool packages to keep you stocked with tasty treats year round or to send as gifts. Can you say stocking stuffer?!? Too soon, I know 🙂

Check out all of the retailers where you can hook yourself up with some sweetriots. I typically pick these up when I am checking out at Citarella. In the NYC area, they are also sold at Whole Foods, Zabars, Garden of Eden, Dean and Deluca, Food Emporium, Fairway, Gourmet Garage, Westerly, and more… very posh!

Additionally because sweetriot fancies themselves a spreadsheet or 2, they have hooked us up with a 20% discount for any sweetriot goodies purchased online (shop.sweetriot.com) from now till September 1, 2011. Just enter the discount code excelrainmanriot at checkout!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
As always, if you want Excel Rain Man to simply do your work for you… Submit a Request and we will take that drab Excel work off your desk!

Don’t forget to become a fan of Excel Rain Man on facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Until next time,
Jen Portland

The Excel Rain Diva 🙂