Tag: #thatplanningguy #analyticsdrivesbusiness

This is a weird week for me as so many people are in town for various reasons. 
Makes me think of Venn diagrams.

In a classic Venn look at my relationships,  one cirle can be work relations Q1, one is friends&family Q2,  and the 3rd is people I know from work but don’t work with Q3….

Some are easy: buddy I grew up with was in town.   Was great catching up,  meeting his wife.   Q2.
One of my best friends used to be a guy I worked with but he left the company about 5 years ago.   Clearly  Q2.  But sometimes a Q3 as we talk shop about various things on occasion. Q23. 

Some more complicated: guy used to be in Q1,  worked for a company I dealt with.  Now he’s with a different co.  in a different role.   Great time catching up.   Seems like a Q2 now.

Scenario today, current software vendor golf tourney,  lots of cool people,  Q1. Business dealings galore. Great relationships,  but really Q1 based.

I am planning dinner Wednesday (I am Thatplanningguy,  of course planning a dinner!) with buddy from a Research company,  Q3.  

But,  what happens when people move around companies or someone is in a Q for a long time? Do they move to Q2 of my life over time?

Several great folks in town,  some of my absolute favorite(favourite even) people.   If circumstances change at work one way way or another,  I hope they move to Q2.  I would be saddened to lose touch.

The last time I changed jobs I was sure who I would still be close with,  and was wrong on almost every one.  

If  circumstances change the dynamics of your relationships,  who will still be in YOUR circles?

Making them overlap into Q123 might be the best way ‘blend’ your life well in this globally connected life.

Time will tell,  I guess.
But for today,  I am THAT Planning Guy.

We spend millions of dollars on systems.  Planning,  Merch,  Analytics tools, registers.

We spend massive efforts developing plans that bring the right product at the right time,  and most recently at the right price. 

Buying spends huge efforts and tremendous talent on selecting the best products,  and getting the best costs.

The distribution center works hard with both technology and people to get the product in,  owned,  processed,  and distributed. 

Accounting pays for it in order to get discounts as well as keep us out of credit hold issues.
The operations team get the goods through the stock rooms onto the floor,  and Visual teams make the displays effective and alluring.

And all of this effort is worthless when the point of contact with the customer-  the sales person- fails to greet,  sell,  close. 
Only as strong as the weakest link. 

Why is the most important link in the retail cycle ‘chain’  so often the least trained,  lowest paid,  entry level person? Critical part,  often overlooked.

Like putting cheap poor tires on the performance car.   All that horsepower,  and it can’t get to the road.

FIX THE PROBLEM

-That Planning Guy