Congratulations to our new Genius—patrickab

Although he claims to feel uncomfortable with the label, patrickab earned a Genius certificate in our Excel TA yesterday. Tenacity is probably the first quality that comes to mind when you think of Patrick. Everyone gets his share of softball questions. But by persevering with a smile or a quip when the Asker keeps changing the problem, Patrick is often earning points at the end of some lengthy threads.

Tenacity also means that Patrick never gives an inch when he believes he is right. Unless the Asker clarifies the issue, there is no way to know for sure in many situations. This lack of clarity can lead to epic (but highly entertaining) disputes when the other side is equally unyielding.

One of the lessons I continually relearn from Patrick is the importance of posting a sample workbook. When carefully crafted words just don't do for a befuddled Asker, the sample workbook deserves to carry the day. The picture really is worth the proverbial 1000 words, and at the current exchange rate of 1/2 p per word, that can really add up over time.

Despite his continual plaints about losing grey matter, Patrick is a remarkably literate person. While some of us speak best in formulas or VBA (even when English is our mother tongue), Patrick talks knowledgeably about a wide range of subjects. Whether it be the best way to prepare rice or how a speed encoder works, Patrick will have both an opinion and the facts to back it up.

When I sent him a congratulatory note, here is how Patrick responded:  "Thank you so much, you are most kind. However I really don’t think the title (of Genius) fits me at all. There are many, many people, who really do know one hell of a lot about Excel. I do not. I fit into the category which you so succinctly encapsulated for Wayne with the phrase “Some people earn their points by answering a lot of easy questions.” That is me in one. I may have learned a little VBA, but it is at a very low level. Sure there have been a few occasions when I get the points on a VBA question rather than say Kevin, but that is very rare indeed. So I wish there was some other title that could be awarded for sustained effort – that would sit more comfortably with me.

"In large part, I learn, I help and I get some enjoyment from doing those two things. I am lucky that my wife rarely complains about the time I spend at the computer! Mind you in recent times the list of DIY items has multiplied because of the post-tradesmen work needed after a re-build of approx 25% of our house. The list is endless so I do need some Excel respite from the work!

"I have been struggling with a 56k modem for the last 3 weeks as my telecoms carrier and my ISP cannot agree whose responsibility it is to sort it out. So it’s been rather harder work to even get on-line as my 56k modem only links up about 50% of the time. You can imagine the sort of things I say to them…"


Congratulations, Patrick! Despite the declining number of grey cells, stiff competition from people who know a lot about Excel, and a modem on the fritz—you really have earned a Genius Certificate. Feeling chuffed is in order.