Happy Holidays! Looking for gifts that are interesting, unusual, and (mostly) useful for the measurement fans in your life? Here’s an exclusive assortment:
>>> Help that special measurement someone show their dedication to data:
Tape Measure Stilettos
metric only, about $800 from Christian Louboutin.
>>> The first step on the road to becoming a Measurement Maven is to master:
Excel Power Pivot and Power Query For Dummies
by Michael Alexander, from $15.99 on Amazon.
>>> The gift of enhanced data insight:
Supplements of B, C, D, and E Vitamins, with Bioflavonoids
from $10.63 at Food Science of Vermont.
>>> For anyone whose heart rate spikes at the thought of presenting results:
Tickets to a 2-Day Dale Carnegie Seminar
$2,195 from dalecarnegie.com.
>>> For the hot beverage of your favorite data geek:
A “Data Like This Gets Me Excited” Mug
$13.99 from Cafe Press.
>>> Give the gift of a foreign language — business:
Learn to Talk to Your CFO in Their Language – Part 1
free from CleverWorkArounds.
>>> For someone who needs to carry around all their data:
A Handbag Made of Recycled Measuring Tapes
from UpcyclingByMilo on etsy.
>>> For your favorite executive director:
Measuring the Networked Nonprofit
by Beth Kanter and Katie Paine,
winner of the 2013 Terry McAdam Book Award from the Alliance for Nonprofit Management,
from $14.95 on Amazon.
>>> The gift of old-school style in conquering data:
No. 2 Mongol Pencils
$25 for a vintage box of a dozen, on eBay.
>>> Show your love for your favorite data analyst with:
A Tape Measure Heart Design Necklace
gold plated (yes, Santa, this is a hint…),
$19.99 from koolstuff2 on etsy.
>>> To bind their paper reports:
A Ceramic Hippopotamus Stapler
€45.00 from brigittetanaka.com (tip of the hat to New York Magazine).
>>> Give them insight on influence with:
The Science of Influence: How Social Media Affects Decision Making in the Healthcare, Travel, Retail and Financial Industries
by Marcia DiStaso and Tina McCorkindale,
priceless (and free) from IPR.
>>> Keep them current on the latest measurement trends with a subscription to:
The Measurement Advisor Newsletter
comes with a free chicken feather for your measurement cap from one of Katie Paine’s chickens,
$9.99/month from Paine Publishing.
>>> What better place to write great reports than on:
A Set of Table and Chairs Made with Vintage Rulers and Yardsticks
from $695 by Vivaterra at Apartment Therapy.
>>> Anyone without this fundamental reference in their library is statistically likely to fail:
Primer of Public Relations Research, Third Edition
by Don Stacks
from $22.70 on Amazon.
>>> A gift of time with the world’s most renowned data visualization expert:
A Full-Day Seminar with Edward Tufte
$380 from edwardtufte.com.
>>> For when they’re struck by insight while waiting in line at security:
A Classic Moleskine Soft Notebook
with acid-free paper, elastic closure, and expandable inner pocket,
from $12.95 from Amazon.com.
>>> The essential measurement tool (and it’s free!):
Online Courses from Google Analytics Academy
free, from Google.
>>> For anyone who needs to stay charged up while finalizing reports in the airport or wherever:
A Five-Port Anker PowerPort USB Hub
$29.99 from Best Buy.
>>> Give the gift of calm before presenting results:
Yogi Honey Lavender Stress Relief Herbal Tea
$4.89 from yogiproducts.com.
>>> Of course your measurement friend never makes mistakes. But if they do, now they can make scents fixing them:
An Assortment of Five Kikkerland Tea-Scented Erasers
$4 from kikkerland.com.
“…and to all a good night.” ∞
(Big Christmas elf-type thanks to Katie Paine).