Working Memo - right tone in an email

A quote I remembered long time ago is that if you work hard, it's not difficult to get a 0 to 60 score. But it is hard though to get a score from 60 to 90. To reach this range, I've set up a long term target.

Today thanks to my leader, I learn something I believe it's critical to my target score. It's about writing a memo to one of the clients. Since it's not a regular memo that I used to communicate with the client,  I made the draft, and asked for direction. When the leader reviewed them, two of three sentences were revised.

Lucky that I asked before sending out, the revised version is very different. It's more specific regarding some technical information that I did not know about. The tone was also adjusted.

🍀 I write a memo to remember today.

P.S.
I usually say, "any questions, please..."
What I learned today, "...please direct any questions to..."

EXCEL EXCEL - Subtotal vs. Pivot Tables

To certain degree, I agree that Pivot Table is more flexible than Subtotal function in Excel. I can group by dates, apply formulas, use slicers for filtering, create impressive charts and make the dashboard.

Subtotal function summaries data with different criteria, such as Date. To do so, I used to sort on the Date first, and then the subtotal will present a desired result.

It depends on the request. I prefer to set up a pivot table in the workbook for testing. Such as a daily report regarding to overnight data updated. Then if raw data changes, by hitting on the refresh button, I can refresh the analysis part. This makes daily data reporting more efficient.

I also use Subtotal for a request to run quick analysis base on one criterion. It's quick and easy to get done.

On writing well

On and off in 3 months, I finished reading William Zinsser's book "On Writing Well".

The key is about Simplicity and Clarity

"We know that verbs have more vigot than nouns, that active verbs are better than passive verbs, that short words and sentences are easier to read than long ones, that concrete details are easier to process than vague abstractions."

...with no end of ways that can improve a manuscript . "pruning, shaping, clarifying, tidying, a hundred inconsistencies of thense and pronoun and location and tone, noticing all sentences that could be read in two different ways, dividing awkward long sentences into short ones, putting the writer back on the main road if he has strayed down a side path, building bridges where the writer has lost the reader by not paying attention to his transitions, questioning matters of judgment and taste." - what a long sentence with all the merits a good writer should have:-). Of course, craft the writing work as many times as 100% satisfied.

Another key note:

"If you would like to write better than everybody else, you have to want to write better than everybody else."

Pumpkin day

One of the major activities in the fall is to pick a big pumpkin, craft it, place it at the door, light up a candle and wait for door bell rings

Not much creative talent that I have, I used to print out a drawing from internet and follow the steps to craft. When I hear the kids saying the pumpkin is very cute and they love it, it makes my day.

When my parents were here during the festival, the candy ran out quickly. They were so generous to give each kid at least 3 candies. Alright, we had to turn the light off fairly early when all candies depleted.

Memory of South Africa ~ Sunshine through the window

November 16, 2015

We woke up very early as usual. When we were up, local friend took us to China Town for a breakfast. It's a small community area, restaurants, supermarkets, small commodity shops.

We stopped at a family style restaurants and had the "BAO ZI" and congee. It's handmade, and I remembered I saw a cat in the shop...

I was not feeling well because of the jetleg, so we only did light activities after that.

Dinner was a big thing, friends took us to a very high end place, there is iron fence around the restaurant...the seafood that friends ordered were fabulous. I believed the price is premium too.

I also felt the climate change. During the day time, it's so hot. But in the night, it's cool and very comfortable for slepping.

Memory of South Africa ~ sunshine through the window

Date of arrival - November 14, 2015

It's really a long long long flight travelling half of the globe. We departed from Toronto, changed the flight in Amsterdam, crossed equator, arrived Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa. It took about 24 hours including 4-hours waiting time in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Climate is also opposite, although not much different. The time we left Toronto home was late autumn, then we arrived to a early summer, warm and humid.

Dear friends came to pick us up at the airport. We were so happy to see them, especially landing in a new continent we never thought off to pay a visit in our life.

Working Memo - Insert a screenshot in Office 365

Screen clipping is the feature I use a lot at the current job. By doing so, I can quickly add a screenshot to any Office file without leaving the program that I am currently working in. I've tested this great feature in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

One of many working scenarios is to add the screenshot: (Insert tab>>Illustrations group>>Screenshot), or simply by applying the snipping tool.

I also like another option and use it frequently - Click Screen Clipping: It can select portion of a window. Only the windows that have not been minimized in the task bar can be captured. If there are multiple windows open, first is to click the window capture before starting the screenshot process. Then it will move that window to the first position in window gallery, and click Screen Clipping to select a portion of that screen.

I love it and added to the quick acces toolbar.

Career notepad ~~ points about

~~ Some important words ~~

Make mistakes - as long as not critical

Do big things - dream about it

Get rid of should - rule is not everythig

Deviate - excuses

Know myself - locate

Keep options open - opportunities somewhere

Believe - can do

Trust myself - able to

Happiness first - enjoy

Push myself - everyday a bit

Take opportunities - don't give up

Promote myself - as a brand

Give myself credit - take tea break

Don't stop - accumulation

Be patient - good things will happen

Get uncomfortable - walk out of comfort zoom

Be proactive - prepare

Be brave - don't be shy

Trust others - team work

Change is good - keep up to day

Think outside the box - find audience

Money will follow - when things back to right track

Ask for help - it's natural

Go outside the lines - flexible

Be in the moment - be focus

Impact the bottom line - face the challenge

Speak up - brainstorming

Don't gossip - only speak good things

Ask for more money - it's worth

Take risks early - plan ahead

~~

Tax Diary >> Term employee, sole proprietorship or incorporate?

It's the begining of tax season again. A co-worker came to me and shared his worries.  We are alike that he is also hired by an agency. Looks like the agency and him got some misunderstanding. On his pay stab, the CPP and EI were deducted, but not for federal and provincial tax.  He received a portion of GST/HST.

He was confused...

The 1st question I asked was whether he registered as  term employee,  sole-proprietorship or incorporate when signing the contract with agency.

Below pros and cons should be considered for these three scenarios.

>> Term employee:
- Pros
Easy to deal with, as agency will do the admin work mostly, including the source deduction of CPP, EI, federal and provincial tax remittance, and issue T4 on time
- Cons
However, agency will deduct admin fee from the earning, sometime cost about $3 -  $5 / hour earning depends on the party

>> Sole proprietorship
- Pros
It's a type of low cost business setup, good for small start-up and easy to handle. The owner can claim certain amount of business expenses depends on the nature of the business against the revenue and recover some GST/HST. it lowers personal income tax rate  under proper planning and common practices.
- Cons
Has unlimited liability, taxation income are reported via personal income tax return. Tax rate grows high when income reaches certain level

>> Incorporate
- Pros
The most income tax advantage and limited liability. As long as there is finance management set up at the beginning and followed well, not much issue expected at the year end
- Cons
Cost of setting up and administrative expenses

To sum up, if there is higher net income expected for the business, it's recommended to go incorporate instead of proprietorship and term employee.

~~~~~~

Excel Excel - Numbers in icon format -

To increase the visual impact, turn the % or # format into a picture and catch attention, I use the conditional format...Home .... > Conditional formatting...> Icon sets

Useful, eye catching and visual management...

Read and share ~ Challenge

Like the quotes:

~ When you can't control what is happening around you, challenge yourself to control the way in which you respond...that is your true power lies

~ But at some point you have stop being so angry, you have to stop being so sad, you have to start being gentle with yourself.

~ At some point you have to just let it all go and be happy, you have to spread love instead of being afraid of it.

~ You have to love yourself and everyone around you before it's too late.

~ Don't waste away being unhappy over trivial things.

~ Don't do it, don't do it to yourself and don't let other people do it to you.

Excel Excel - Display a sheet name in a cell -

* While I was organizing a audit file, there are over 55 samples need to group into one file. Want to get Excel to show the sheet name automatically in a cell so avoid to type the sample# for every sheet...*

How to display a sheet name in a cell:

- Location of the cell is B1

- Then the formula:

=MID(CELL("filename",B1),FIND("]",CELL("filename",B1))+1,255)

Excel Excel - Date and Julian Date format -

* Helped a co-worker to solve his questions, and make my own notes *

How to transfer between Date and Julian Date format 


Date: May 1, 2017 (A6)

Julian: 2017121  (B6=YEAR(A6)&TEXT(A6-DATE(YEAR(A6),1,0),"000")

Reversed back  (C6=DATE(LEFT(B6,4),1,RIGHT(B6,3))

Coffee to start ~

最近这几年, 一天的开始通常是一杯黑咖啡, 接着的时间里是绿茶, 再后面就是柠檬水了~

这样, 我可以一整天做事, 不会觉得太疲倦

原来, 和数字有关的工作, 大有乐趣

也是这几年, 觉得自己也可以一整天, 一整天从处理, 分析, 运算中, 感到平静与快乐

很大的改变