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Michelle Hazen, Point of Rental’s Data Services Essentials Lead, covers her background from Northeast Wisconsin, moving from a hairstyling career to working in call centers, getting into finance, and finally becoming the data specialist we know her as. Michelle outlines her responsibilities across Essentials and Elite implementations, reporting, tracking, training, and process documentation, and shares why learning is her favorite part of the job. She discusses the importance of timing and communication in data work, her apothecary and crochet hobbies, homesteading goals, and offers a top five list for preparing to implement new rental software.
Creators and Guests
What is The Front Porch?
The Front Porch is where you'll learn about rental leaders in and outside of Point of Rental, how they got to where they are today and a little bit about the person outside of the industry. If you'd like to be a guest on the porch, email marketing@pointofrental.com. If you're in the rental industry, we'd love to talk to you - and because this isn't a business endeavor, it's free. We just want to share your story.
Brian: I would like to welcome today's guest, our data services essentials lead, Michelle Hazen. Michelle, welcome to the Front Porch.
Michelle: Hello there. Thanks for having me
Brian: All right, let's start with the basics. Who are you? Where are you from? And finally, Captain Kirk or Picard?
Michelle: Um, well, as you said, I'm Michelle Hazen. Um, I am from Northeast Wisconsin. Um, I am definitely a, a Picard, no question. Um, I love
Brian: Is that just like, is that the first one that you got introduced to? 'Cause I, I, the first one I really watched was The Next Generation with my dad, and then I never really got into the original. Um, or do you just prefer his vibe?
Michelle: Um, I think in general I just prefer his vibe because, I mean, I've, I've watched a little bit of, a little bit of everything, and I've actually gone back and watched every single episode of every series and seen every single movie. And I'm currently working on season four of Strange New Worlds, 'cause that's, you know, still ongoing.
But, um, no, I think, uh, Picard's my guy 'cause, um, he's fearless, he's incredibly level-headed, listens to his crew, considers different perspectives, doesn't need to be loud to be a strong leader. All that fun stuff
Brian: you definitely have a much stronger background for, and a much stronger foundation for your decision than I do. All right, uh, let's go ahead and get back into history. Let's go back. Usually when you're growing up, people ask you, "Hey, what do you wanna be when you grow up?" Do you remember, like, the first thing that, that you were telling others that you wanna be?
Michelle: Oh yeah. Um, I think since about five or six years old, I actually wanted to be a hairstylist
Brian: Interesting
Michelle: Yeah. Yeah.
Brian: So not, not a data essen- not a data services lead?
Michelle: Right, right.
Brian: That usually doesn't come up with kids a whole lot
Michelle: Not usually, no. No
Brian: All right, so what kind of hairstylist were you planning on doing? Like, why?
Michelle: I, I don't know. Uh, ever since, you know, I was a kid, uh, going into the hair salon for a haircut or whatever, you know, getting your hair washed and whatever, I just, I just really liked the environment. I liked the way that everything smelled. Um, everybody was seemingly always having fun and cracking jokes and hanging out and just doing...
being creative with what they were doing with, with people's hair and, and so forth. So I... That's where I wanted to be.
Brian: Nice. Now I kind of wanna go get a haircut. Um, when, like how far along, uh, that path did you get? Is that something like you seriously considered for a while, or was it just like a, a kid thing?
Michelle: Oh man, I, that's what I wanted to do pretty much my entire upbringing. Um, uh, there was a phase in high school where I wanted to become, a psychologist. I was always a nerd. I took chemistry, human anatomy, psychology, sociology. Could have graduated early even, um, but I stuck around 'cause my high school paid for college courses.
Um, so wanted to get that, uh, under my belt. I stopped pursuing that, uh, option when I realized that I would not likely be able to remain unbiased and, and, you know, ensure that I wouldn't be bringing my work home with me, you know? So I went like, "You know what? I really do wanna go be a hairstylist." So right out of high school I went to, um, an academy for cosmetology, and I ended up working full time in salons and barbershops for about six years
Brian: So you actually did achieve your childhood goal of, of doing that. So why are you not doing that today?
Michelle: Um, so as much as I loved what I was doing, um, environment, uh, I had found consistently wasn't, uh, in, no longer in alignment with, with who I was. Um, so I needed a change, and I kind of just fell into, the corporate office world. Um, landed into call centers, mainly for medical insurance, Medicare, and then normal health insurance, and then even pharmaceutical benefits.
Um, and then finally my last insurance-related job, I ended up applying for a position I had no business applying to, but somehow got it. so I went from answering phones to becoming a check run analyst for the finance department, that's really where my love of data was actually born
Brian: I was gonna say, what made you, like, apply for that job? It's like, if it didn't make any sense, why did you even say like, "Hey, this is where I should go"?
Michelle: so I mean, I, I had, I had been in the call center, um, environment for a few years at this point, and I'm like, got sick of it. I don't, I didn't wanna answer phones all day anymore. Uh, it's just not something that I wanted to do. It was a switch I made for, you know, um, getting out of the salon world and, a- start aiming for better pay and things like that.
I was a single mom at the time. Um, yeah, I was just sick of answering phones all day. I watched the internal job posting and I, I saw internal people apply for it. I seen a couple out- outside interviews come in for it, and just nobody seemed to have stuck with it. So I'm like, well, you know, you get 0% of the shots you don't take, right?
So I went for it and yeah, I guess I was, uh, eager enough to learn it and figure it out, and they were willing to, to teach me, so...
Brian: Nice. So you had like no background in data whatsoever un- until that point?
Michelle: None.
Brian: Right. I like that your, I like that your job i- is initially like, hey, a lot of in-person interaction with people, then you're going to, like, just all the time on the phone with people, and now it's like, and it's... You're just moving further and further into like, "Ah, let me just be off by myself a little bit."
Michelle: Yeah
Brian: So what, what is it about data that, like, really appealed to you? Besides the obvious, uh, Star Trek tie-in of, like, a data school
Michelle: Yeah, yeah. Um, well, I just found it very intriguing. Um, it's, it's information that can, uh, always be changed, modified. It's ever-evolving. There's always something to learn. Um, the learning never stops, so that was, like, a huge thing for me. I'm, I've always been that nerd. All through school, I was the kid asking my teachers for more homework.
That's who I was. So, um, the fact that I could do something where my learning was never gonna stop, always something new to, to, to find out and to know, um, I think that's what really drew me to it. Um, yeah
Brian: And geez, like right time to really get into data as everything is becoming data.
Michelle: Yes, exactly.
Brian: All right, uh, like what, what kind of data stuff are you handling at the insurance companies?
Michelle: Um, so when I became a check run analyst, um, for the finance department...
Brian: check run analyst? I don't
Michelle: Yeah, so it's, it's actually kind of a buffer between IT finance. So I, I created the new accounts. Um, I set up and maintained automations. I processed a claim bundle, so when the claims specialist would process a claim, they would kind of batch everything up, and then it would come to me, and I would kind of run a grand total and make sure that those claims were paid for, um, and kind of, you know, break out what insurance didn't cover and all that.
And then the employers or whoever was taking out the insurance for their employees would get these reports from me and, things of that nature. So, yeah
Brian: Yeah, it always seems, uh, very complex, and every time people start talking about insurance stuff, I, my eyes glaze over and I'm like, "Nah. You know what? Just never get hurt, never have to have anything happen
Michelle: Right?
Brian: 'cause I don't wanna deal with it." All right. So, uh, you're working in, in the insurance industry for a while.
Why, why leave there? 'Cause Point of Rental, as far as I know, we don't do insurance. Or did you have, like, a different role between insurance and here?
Michelle: I did have a different role between, uh, insurance and coming to Point of Rental. Um,
Brian: All right. Where'd you go then?
Michelle: so I went to a, a, a company, a very large company. Um, very... It was g- it's a global company, very old, over 100-some years old. and there I had applied for a position called master data specialist.
Brian: Ooh, that sounds cool
Michelle: it does sound cool, right?
Uh, it wasn't as cool as it sounds, but it was a, it was a good job. I, I, you know, my data love grew at this, uh, at this spot. Um, so at this one, um, I fell more into the data specific role where, our team, uh, managed creating new accounts and, and some of us, maintained data. So any changes that needed to happen, you know, we were using our, our programs and our spreadsheets and our... I worked with, like, maybe tw- 20 something different programs at that job. So it really kind of broadened my horizons with what I was gonna be capable of doing in my future. and then from there, uh, I came to Point of Rental
Brian: Okay. Why?
Michelle: Well, so, um, COVID hit, and for an office that, you know, we worked in office, there was no remote positions for this company, until COVID hit. So one day, you know, the lockdown started, we went to the office, gathered our stuff, and we were sent home and expected to work from home. So, a few months later when things were starting to settle down and people were wanting to go back into the office, they were going to mandate the vaccine. Um, and I, uh, was a refuser. I did not wanna do it, so they were like, "Well, then you can't work here." So I said, "All right, well, how long do I have to figure it out?" So they, they started me off with a four-month, uh, leeway to try to find a new job. and I, uh, put out my resume on Indeed, I did all the things, and Point of Rental actually found me. So- Nice yeah
Brian: That is one of the things that, uh, is helpful about, uh, putting that resume out there.
Michelle: Yes.
Brian: Okay, so, so what did the process, uh, go like for as far as joining Pointer Rental?
Michelle: Um, so I believe it was Kimberly from HR. She had reached out to me with like, kind of like an initial introduction pre-screening. and she informed me that my, uh, prospective, uh, hiring manager had a unique hiring process so that he was gonna want to give me a call and kind of have, the initial interview over the phone.
So of course, I agreed, and we ended up talking for, probably about an hour and a half maybe even two hours, um, just what my skillsets were, what, why I wanna, why I would want to work here. Um, you know, and our... the conversation was just fantastic. Um, and he ended up, uh, extending the offer, and I had accepted
Brian: Yeah. So who, w- who's the hiring manager?
Michelle: Kevin Wilson
Brian: All right. I was like, "I'm pretty sure." All right, yeah, Kevin's been, Kevin's been remote for a long time, so it's like, all right, you definitely got the what it's like to be a remote, uh, pointer for sure. What was the reason that you were, looking at point of rental?
I, I would assume that some other people were reaching out to you. If, if you're a, if you're a master data special- I mean, come on
Michelle: Yeah, it, it, the title alone really made it look fancy. Um, I, I actually started a tally, in that little four-month stretch. I did 74 interactions based on my resume before I decided to accept the offer from Point of Rental. Point of Rental just stook, stood out from the rest. Um, you know, everybody says, you know, um, "Oh, we're an excellent workplace.
We... You know, everybody gets along. Everything's perfect. It's rainbow and sunshine all the time." And, I got a different vibe, um, off of Point of Rental that, know, they're just, uh, very open-minded, very transparent. Like, "Hey, there's, there's gonna be some stuff that we work through," you know?
Um, I, I appreciated the honesty and the, you know, the willingness to work with me still being kind of a, a baby data specialist, if you will. Um, only getting real-world experience versus a degree or going to school or what have you. Um, so yeah, it was a, it was a no-brainer
Brian: I was gonna say, I, I don't recall ever putting anything in the marketing about rainbow and sunshine here, but
Michelle: Right, right. No, no smoke, no clouds. You s- what you see is what you get, which is what I really appreciated. Yeah
Brian: Awesome. So what does a data services lead do? Um, I'm assuming that data services essentials lead means you're a data services lead for our essentials product. Is that correct, or am I confusing
Michelle: No, that's, that's really the, the gist of my, my, uh, formal title, but I do kind of, uh, play a bit of a, of a team lead, uh, a little bit. all of us on the, the data services team have our specialties and our areas of expertise. Um, mine in particular, I have-- we all have several hats, but I really do have a good hat, uh, collection. So, um, I, uh, handle all the data related services for the new essentials implementations. I also handle, um, new implementations for Elite. I handle the reports, team assignments, and internal data team tracking, uh, for our team. I have trained-- I'm on my fifth resource that I have assisted with training, um, onto the, the data services team. and in general, I've just, um, do my best to bridge, bridge gaps between departments, everybody together, get, get processes, uh, written up and, and documented. Um, yeah, you just about name it when it comes to the, the data services team.
Brian: Yeah, I was gonna say in there you seem to have mentioned that you're, you are tracking the data for the data team. And it's like, oh man, now we're like all this, all these levels of data.
Michelle: Mm-hmm
Brian: All right. Uh, you mentioned m- wearing many hats. What, what's your favorite part of your current role and why?
Michelle: I think my favorite part of my role, right now anyway, is, um, extending my education on, on SQL and, and, uh, writing queries and coding and programming and stuff like that
Brian: why that? I don't, I don't know writing SQL or any of that stuff. I at least know it's S-Q-L instead of actually
like the word sequel
Michelle: Yeah. Well, it's just easier to say SQL than S-Q-L or whatever. But, um, no, actually, what's, what's really interesting is that when I started at Point of Rental, I didn't even know SQL was a thing, and that's one of our very commonly used programs to do the data work that we're doing. so from going from not knowing that it even existed to be able to build a database and, um, relate tables together and, and, and do my job, and continuing my education on that improves things for me the way I do things on a daily basis.
You know, "Oh, I, I learned a better way to write this query. It's gonna go faster. The, the results are gonna be more accurate," or things of that nature. Um, plus, I'm just a nerd. I love it.
Brian: Yeah, I was gonna say, I could imagine it being really helpful to have someone that is, like, building from the beginning, 'cause there's always those things where it's like, "Oh, we just do this this way because this is how we do it." And then, like, as you're learning it's like, " But based on these things, like, why, why do it that way?
We could do it this way and it'd be faster." And it's like, "Well, dang it, I just got so used to that thing that
Michelle: Uh, you bet. I, I, that's def- that definitely could be a, a thing where someone that went to school and learned it this way, and that's the way they've always done it, and, you know, whether or not a new, better, faster way comes out, that- that's what they're comfortable with, right? I guess I'm, came in moldable, if you will.
Brian: Yeah. All right. What's something that you wish someone knew about your role that would make things a lot less stressful for you?
I know that a lot of people depend on data, and it's like, it's really important. So I, I know that you take it seriously. So what's something that we can do to make sure that data's right?
Michelle: Well, I think it's gonna kinda come down to timing and communication. with data, things aren't always black and white. we always start with a baseline and build upon it for a reason. sometimes we need to know more than just a piece of information, what it's called, or what our customers and clients know it as. also need to know what that piece of information means to you, how it functions, in order to properly map it sometimes. Um, most things really do require a deeper conversation. most folks don't realize either that what really goes on behind the scenes from where I sit, you know? Some people, think, and they'll even say it to my face, that, "Oh, I'm just gonna fill out a spreadsheet and you're just gonna upload it and hit an import button, um, and then that's it."
Whoa, no. Um,
Brian: If that was it, I wouldn't need to be here
Michelle: Yeah, I wouldn't need to be here. if I were just a button pusher, absolutely not. I would get way too bored. Um, but no, we, we build our databases from scratch one table at a time with love. Um, don't get me wrong though, we do have our procedures and processes and programs that streamline, uh, what we do, ever improve efficiency, but what seems to be a simple question or a simple request can actually take quite a bit of investigation. Um, but trust in the fact that we wanna help, we wanna gather the right answer, not just something that, you know, we rush to, to figure out and, um, something that looks good on paper, right?
Brian: Right? These are artisan craftsman-level databases made specifically for a customer.
Michelle: Correct.
Brian: Your business is yours, and we craft it f- just for you
Michelle: Yes
Brian: All right. Before we get into other things, I wanna play a game with you. We'll call it Hazen or Hazout. If you agree with the statement or it's true, say Hazen. If you disagree with it or it's not true, say Hazout, and then I'll need a reason. All right. Hazen or Hazout, you've been known to cry at movies
Michelle: He is in
Brian: Is there like a particular type of movie?
Michelle: Um, I, I can't say that there is a particular type of movie. Um, but there has been definitely a handful that have ... are just guaranteed to get me. Um, when I was a kid and saw Selena the first time, I bawled over and over and over again. Uh, Forrest Gump. Project Hail Mary, that's a newer one. That one made me cry.
And my favorite movie of all time, The Fifth Element, gets me.
Brian: Dang it. I don't have any connection points with that. I don't, I don't watch enough movies, All right, haze in or haze out. You've cheated at a board or a card game. As an adult, we don't hold your juvenile record against you
Michelle: Okay, okay, good. Uh, in that case, haze out. Um, honesty is the best policy. Um, lying or cheating anywhere in life is frowned upon by me, but during a game it kinda defeats the whole purpose of playing it, the pure enjoyment of the game itself
Brian: We're trying to have fun here. Why are, why are you trying to cheat me, man? I thought we were friends.
Michelle: Right. Yeah
Brian: All right. Haze in or haze out, you've told an outrageous lie to a child
Michelle: Uh, haze out. Um, I mean, I'll be honest, I've, I've definitely lied to children. Um, but I don't, I don't think I would consider it anything to be outrageous. You know, like the classic stuff, like if you eat a, a watermelon seed, a start growing in your belly, or the, the white threats of Santa or the Tooth Fairy. I couldn't really think of anything that was considered outrageous
Brian: Yeah, for me Tooth Fairy was fun, and then it's like once, once my daughter figured out that I was putting it under there, it's like, "All right, Tooth Fairy, it's not fun anymore. Like, I'm not giving you money for losing your teeth."
Michelle: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had actually learned that, uh, my son, um, knew that Santa, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, all that, uh, wasn't real for about two years before he finally said something to me. He goes, "Well, I didn't, I wanted to keep getting stuff."
Brian: There you go. Haze in or haze out, your favorite fast food fries are from McDonald's
Michelle: He's out
Brian: Okay, where, where's the place with the best rice?
Michelle: Mm. Homemade
Brian: Such a cheating answer. Gosh. H- how am I supposed to judge whether they're true? I have to have you, like, people have to make their fries, and I, I can't come up there.
I I
know Wisconsin's unfriendly to us Illinois people
Michelle: If I had to pick, like, an actual restaurant, um, I would, I would probably choose, um, a place local to my area called, uh, The Black Otter. It's a supper club. Um, their fries are just perfect
Brian: Yeah. Well, I still have, it's still quite a trip and it's not really a, a locally accessible place, but
Michelle: Right. Not a franchise either.
Brian: at least I'm not requiring you to, "Hey, please make me some fries." All right, haze in or haze out, you have an embarrassing nickname or a nickname that you hate
Michelle: Hazen. Um, I do have many nicknames, but my least favorite is Freddy. Um,
Brian: Where, where did that one come from?
Michelle: My, my dad started calling me Freddie when I was very young because, well, among the many top-notch cartoons that I was and still am obsessed with, The Flintstones was one of them, and I guess I always laughed extra at Fred Flintstone. So it- he just started calling me Freddie, and it stuck. Um, though, side quest here, um, my coworker and one of my best friends, Michelle, her name's Michelle too, calls me Wilma, and I call her Betty.
I normally have red hair, but I think it's especially because of the way we constantly giggle together, and when she giggles, it is exactly like Betty Rubble.
Brian: Nice. Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned the red hair 'cause I was like, "I, I swear you had different color hair," and that was why I was like, "Oh, hairstylist kind of makes sense." but today you have a, a regular, like, regular color hair
Michelle: Mm-hmm. Needed a switch for a little bit, but it'll, it'll be going back to red soon. Don't worry.
Brian: All right. I was also a little worried when you mentioned the, you know, it came from, came from my dad and it was Freddy, and I was like, "Oh God, don't tell me you watched like Nightmare on Elm Street as a kid,"
Michelle: no,
Brian: and it was related to that.
Michelle: No
Brian: All right. Let's, let's go ahead and take a break and we'll get into some non, you know, job path questions.
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Brian: All right. Now let's talk about your apothecary work. I associate it with the big plague doctor masks. Please tell me that you have one of those
Michelle: I do not, but it is on the list to one day own one. I don't necessarily want a vintage one because that might be kind of gross, but
Brian: Yeah.
Michelle: one would be pretty cool.
Brian: I, I don't want a pre-owned one, and who knows what kind of diseases are in that.
Michelle: Exactly
Brian: when and why did you start apothecarrying? Like, is there a word for that?
Michelle: Um, I, I like the way you say it. Let's, let's make it a thing. Um, well, to be honest, uh, I was inspired by my own medical journey. Um, I had reached a point where I had enough and I wanted to find something better, I started reading, doing research, and I just kind of fell in love with it. Um, before I knew it, I had tons of jars full of herbs, tinctures steeping, oils infusing, so on.
Um, and just like cooking, I could not figure out how to make small batches just for myself. so that was okay. Um, I started giving some of my stuff to friends and family, and eventually refined my recipes and even started selling, uh, my products at craft fairs and event markets and, and stuff. But it's actually been a very rewarding hobby for me almost seven years now.
Um, and I'm actually currently working on becoming a certified herbalist, but don't worry Point of Rental, I am not going anywhere.
Brian: So, so wait, you're doing uncertified apothecarying. Is that, is that kosher? Or like what are the rules around this type of stuff?
Michelle: So it, it's, it's legal. Um, if someone walks up to my booth at an event, um, and they, they wanna know, I will happily tell them. You don't legally have to be certified, at least in the state of Wisconsin anyway, um, to, to create and sell herbal remedies. when you become an official business, say though, there are a few, compliance things that you kinda have to stand by when you, when you are an official business under that umbrella. Um, but you can't just go around saying, "Oh, this is gonna cure such and such ailment," um,
Brian: You're not allowed to have the little c- Yeah, I'm, I'm picturing you with a little wagon going around town to town.
You're s- I'm glad that you're not doing that. Thank you for not saying thank you for not admitting to crimes on this podcast.
Michelle: I'm not a criminal. There's nothing to admit to.
Brian: Good. All right, this, this seems to tie in with some of your other old school-ish hobbies. You have, like, an appreciation for future and, and past, which is pretty neat. Um, but you mentioned specifically crocheting and attending Renaissance festivals. So what are you crocheting? I know there's... My mom crochets, my wife crochets, so there's a million different things you can do.
What are you doing?
Michelle: Um, oh man, all kinds of things. Um, my mom taught me how to crochet a few years ago, and I have just not been able to stop. It's literally my therapy. I've made dishcloths, sweaters, shorts, key chains, purses, wind spinners, fidgets, scrunchies, stuffed animals, just to name a few things, but
Brian: Those things you sh- are those things you also sell or are those things that you just make for fun?
Michelle: I do also sell those things, um, definitely. Um, some
Brian: Right So
Michelle: family will ask me to make something, I'll do it. Or something I want for myself, I'll just make it, you know?
Brian: It is always nice to be able to just make stuff for yourself
Michelle: Yeah, yeah
Brian: I have to go buy stuff. I can do things is doing this stuff kind of your way of balancing out the fact that you're, like, into data? It feels very, you know, technical and, and new and, like, all of that stuff, and then you have this old school stuff. Is this your way of balancing or is it just completely coincidence?
Michelle: Um, it, it is kind of a, a coincidence, but, um, I would definitely say that, the two worlds do balance each other. I'm very old-fashioned and old world type of person, and I also find, uh, technology and modernization to be neat and convenient. But the old ways keep you balanced and grounded, for sure
Brian: but do, do you combine the two? Do you have like a-- Are you the most data-gathering/driven person at the craft fair, and you're using it to explode your business so you're the biggest apothecary in Wisconsin?
Michelle: Someday. But, um, so that's actually kind of a, an accurate assessment within your question actually. Um, so both worlds, you know, do influence each other. So, you know, my little, my little side hobby business definitely requires some data. Um, think anyway, because I'm a data specialist now, but, definitely use my data skills to improve that side of, of my world.
But, one might not think that creativity really has a place in the data world, um, 'cause it's either, you know, on or
Brian: You
Michelle: in or out, right?
Brian: you also hear about the, like, dangerous part of, like, creativity, especially when it comes to, like, accounting or something. It's like, "Mm,
Michelle: Yes. Yes.
Brian: I
don't, I don't like this that much."
Michelle: honestly, creativity can truly give you an innovative touch in the data world. So the more you know, the more empowered you become
Brian: I was gonna say, you got, you got a good example of creativity and data
Michelle: if say I were working on a database and, and writing a query, I can go, "Okay, well this is here... This is our template. This is what we, you know, normally work with." Uh, but to just choose to go, "You know what?
I can freehand this, and it's going to work better." And you just play with it, and it, know, obviously you make sure that it works and the results come out right. But they're really, yeah, just you can be a little creative with data because, you know, f- two plus two equals four, but so does three plus one, right?
Brian: Yeah. Okay. I, I see where we're going there. It's one of those things where it's like, yeah, you don't have to just keep beating your head against trying to get a thing into a template or whatever. You can say like, "Okay, actually this one doesn't actually need the template. It could, we could work around that."
Michelle: Yeah, there's more than one way to do everything, and that's the beauty of it
Brian: Yeah. Okay. You said that your long-term goal was to have a homestead, and it looks like, looks like, again, you're continuing along that progression of working with... You're, you're eventually just gonna completely isolate. Uh, do you have plans to use these... You, you mentioned that you really like communication and, and leadership skills.
How are you gonna use those when you have the homestead and you're, you're cut off?
Michelle: That is, that
Brian: You never said that you're actually cutting off. I'm just forcing you into a position where
Michelle: But yeah, of course. Why not? Um, no, but yeah, the, the plan is to buy land. Uh, I'm aiming for 20 to 40 acres in the middle of nowhere, preferably in the middle of the forest. Build a house, start a massive garden, raise chickens, goats, so on. I will still have the internet. I will still be working for Point of Rental, at least until I retire anyway.
That's the plan. Um, but I'll, I'll, I'll definitely be communicating, um, with my trees, my land, uh, and I will lead my animals to victory.
Brian: Now it, now it sounds like you're declaring war on your neighbors in this, in this homestead with a, an animal army, which actually sounds pretty awesome.
Michelle: Right?
Brian: Especially if you have that, that old plague mask and you're wearing that.
Okay, you, you mentioned communication. Um, as, as a remote worker now, how have your communication skills that I would imagine that you've, you know, developed, especially if you're serving customers for so many years before then, you would really be able to talk to people in person. How, how is that translated or how are you applying it when you're in a remote position?
Michelle: Oh goodness, yeah. So, um, you, it is definitely an adjustment. It's very different, um, communicating virtually versus in person because, you know, most folks can... You know, there's, there's, gestures, there's facial expressions, there's certain cues that people can or can't pick up on. Um, they can say this, but their face is saying that, you know? and virtually working remotely, um, not everyone is on a camera. Um, and you can't always run off with, different tones and things because it could just be audio issues, right? Um, so you, it definitely, strengthens your communication skills because you have to. Um, being able to communicate to the person that you're talking to, not just saying a bunch of words to whoever's listening, right?
You have to be able to explain the same thing in multiple different ways depending on who your audience is, and still get them to not just hear you, but comprehend what you're saying
Brian: Explain the difference between them hearing you and, and comprehending it.
Michelle: Um,
Brian: that's especially challenging when you're asking for data and it's like, "Okay, I, uh-"
Michelle: Yeah, definitely. So someone hearing you is, um, you, you get a, a reaction, you know? They are, they areacknowledging the fact that they have heard what you just said. "Mm-hmm," head nods, "Yes, ma'am," whatever, right? Um, but when someone comprehends what you're saying to them, you can see the action, you can see the results.
Um, there's proof in that pudding. when I explain a template to someone, they turn around, fill it out, and they've done it correctly based on how I've explained it, they have comprehended what I've, I've, I've explained. S- same concept, someone else gets the same spiel, the same template, turns around and it's everywhere.
It's garbage. It's messy. What happened there? They heard me. They said, "Yes, ma'am. I understand. I heard you." But they didn't understand. They didn't comprehend. Um, so sometimes, learning comes repetition, and a s- same concept with communication. You have to say it again, but maybe in a different way
Brian: Yeah, it feels like it all connects and it's, and similar to that data issue of like you can send the same template and it's like, nope, sometimes you need to tweak it for that specific instance and that specific person 'cause everyone has, you know, the different context, different background knowledge, the different understanding of the systems involved, all that kind of stuff.
Michelle: Absolutely. Yep
Brian: All right. I feel like it's unfair that I ask you so many questions and you don't get to ask me any. So I give everyone one chance for, to ask me one question. Do you have a question you'd like to ask?
Michelle: what led you to Point A Rental?
Brian: What made me Point of Rental is I was out of a job for several months and I applied to places that were nearby because my wife was tired of moving, and Point of Rental was very nearby. And of course, I've since moved twice while working here. But hey, um, that time led us to Point of Rental. I had never heard of the rental industry really.
I'd never really thought about it. Um, never really known that rental software existed, and it was like, ah, you know, looking into it and all that kind of stuff. It's like, oh yeah, that, that does make sense. It does seem like something that people would need customized stuff for. It does seem like a real, real complex thing.
I'm glad I don't have to manage one. And then, uh, yeah, that was like 10 years ago and, you know, it's just been fun and learning about it ever since.
Yeah, sorry, it's not, uh, it's not an exciting, uh, cool story. It's just a nope, looking for jobs. Uh, all right. Before we get to the five important questions, I need you to give me a top five list in a segment we call Gimme Five. I assume as a data person you always have a list of top five of everything handy, so you know that we start these lists at number five.
What are we ranking today?
Michelle: I think we could go with the top five things people should know when prepping for new rental software
Brian: All right. I like it. What is the number five thing people should know?
Michelle: Number five would be know why you're implementing it. Don't, uh, start with what can this software do? Start with what problem are we trying to solve? 'Cause if you don't know the goal, it's really easy to end up configuring a bunch of features you might not actually need
Brian: That does make sense. I have, uh, run into that problem in many aspects of life in the past. Yes, start with a goal. Number four
Michelle: Number four, expect some resistance to change. So even if the software is objectively better, people are gonna be comfortable with what they know. Um, so give your team time to learn it. Explain to them why you're-- why the change is happening. Um, make sure they have somewhere to go with questions. don't try to make everything perfect on day one.
You don't have to build the most complicated, customized system imaginable, uh, before anyone uses it, right? Uh, get the core processes working, learn from real-world use, and improve from there
Brian: Yeah, it, it definitely helps number four if you have that number five taken care of in advance. If you know the why, then you can tell people the why.
Michelle: Yes.
Brian: All right, number three
Michelle: Understand your data before you move it. Know what, know what data you have, where it lives, how clean it is, what needs to be migrated, and whether anything needs to be standardized or cleaned up first. Garbage in, garbage out. listen to your data specialist when we say all data repeatable. Don't hold out on us.
We will spark the conversation, but be open to giving us the information
Brian: When you say all data are repeatable, what does that mean?
Michelle: That is the data team's mantra. Um, I had to squeeze it in there. Um, so all data repeatable means, you know, we, we have a, a general process for things, right? Uh, so we, introduce, the path, the plan, uh, for the data component of your implementation. Uh, nine times out of 10 we're gonna do some sort of little test first to make sure you understand and that you grasp what we're explaining to you. Uh, a sample set, if you will. Then we move on to what's known as first cycle. That's, we want all of your data, 100%, give us everything. Um, and then that way with that data set, we are establishing a format, and from that format we just build off of. So when we say all data repeatable, that means we can consistently build on the foundation we've laid and go up from there. If we stay consistent to that format, well we're just gonna be kind of grooving all over the place and we're, we don't have a solid foundation anymore. All
Brian: I was gonna say, if, if you don't have a solid foundation, then you're gonna have a unpleasant time in that house
Michelle: Right. Yes.
Brian: All right. Uh, number two
Michelle: Time. First and foremost, you do have a business to run. and it's understandable if and when things come up, um, you get busy, be ready to get involved and stay involved. And implementation does require time and dedication. It's a process, not an event
Brian: And the number one thing that people need to keep in mind when, uh, switching a software
Michelle: Who you bring to the project team matters. we need the folks that work in the trenches, so to speak, to be involved. Um, who intimately knows the inventory, who manages the customer information. get the people who are going to actually use the software on a day-to-day basis involved early, like from the beginning. don't get me wrong, the executives, the managers, the leaders, you're there for a reason too, right? Your expertise is definitely useful to an implementation project, but if you have no idea what's going on with your inventory, right? that's where the data, data part matters, right?
Brian: Real useful for the people entering the data and interpreting the data to understand the data
Michelle: Yes.
Brian: Seems good. All right, well now people will know a little bit more about what to be ready for when they're switching a rental software. Let's take a little break and we'll do the five important questions
Brian: What would you say is your greatest success in life?
Michelle: I am gonna be awfully cliche here and say my son Ezra. He saved my life, and I am amazed by the young man that he is becoming. Um, I must have something so incredibly right to deserve him.
Brian: All right. Yes, that was very cliche, but I'll allow it. Um, number two: What is your greatest fear?
Michelle: Ugh. I don't really like this question 'cause usually this is the kind of thing that opens the door for people to mess with you. But
Brian: was the genesis of the question
Michelle: I am mortified by snakes
Brian: Okay. Yeah, that's a, that's a pretty common one. So I don't think it stands out enough that I think people really need to mess with you on that one.
Michelle: I hope not
Brian: I'm certainly not gonna bring a snake to the office or anything like that.
Michelle: disown you, whoever you are.
Brian: All right, uh, number three: What is something that you've changed your mind on over the years?
Michelle: The process of forgiveness
Brian: Okay, why is that?
Michelle: Well, in my younger years, I used to, you know, hold grudges pretty firmly. Um, you, you done me wrong, I want nothing to do with you. you know, uh, revenge and vindictiveness and all that. Um, the years, um, that's definitely changed. the process of forgiveness is not always necessarily because someone else deserves that forgiveness, but your own inner peace, becomes the priority and allows you to let go and move on with your own life
Brian: Yeah, that's something that I've definitely heard a lot of is, like, forgiveness is actually a gift you're giving yourself rather than, like, anyone else.
Michelle: Absolutely
Brian: Okay, if you could tell first day at Point of Ren- Rental Michelle one piece of advice, what would you tell her?
Michelle: Mm, I think I would tell myself, "Don't be intimidated by what you don't know yet." I started here over four years ago, and I had never worked in the rental industry. Um, there were programs and systems, terminology, processes that I never knew existed. I remember feeling like there was so much to learn and wondered how I would ever, Get to understanding any of it.
Um, but I would tell myself to just give it time. don't have to know everything right away, and don't be afraid to say, "I don't understand that yet." But don't underestimate how quickly you can learn when you're willing to continue asking questions
Brian: Sure. Yeah, it's definitely terrifying when you it's like, "Oh no, I'm responsible for all of this stuff. I don't know anything about this."
Michelle: Yeah, for sure
Brian: "Everyone's going to learn that I don't know anything about this, and that's, that's not gonna go well." I'm, I'm glad it, I'm glad it worked out and you did decide, "Hey, you know what? I can learn all this stuff." All right. What's something that you believe that it feels like no one agrees with you on, on or about?
Michelle: well, this is gonna be unusual, I think, but I believe that sometimes having less data can actually lead to better decisions and smoother operations. very strange thing for a data specialist to say, but sometimes we're so focused on more and more and more information that we forget whether or not that information is actually useful. for example, there are definitely a handful of things that will be used to identify an item in your inventory: serial numbers, part numbers, et cetera. Um, those few things are more than enough to identify a specific item. I won't name names, but there are folks out there who insist on having fifteen to twenty different pieces of information to identify one specific item. It's total overkill, uh, waste of space, reduces consistency, causes confusion. Uh, don't get me wrong, we want your data and all of it, but take the opportunity to reorganize and clean up
Brian: Yeah. Just like, again, being a person who's moved a lot of times, a move is a great opportunity to say, "I don't need this stuff anymore. I'm not taking it with me." And may- maybe you should do that.
Michelle: Exactly. Perfect analogy
Brian: Okay. Uh, well, I'm sorry you've been sentenced to death as, uh, sorry, we just need more data everywhere all the time, uh, and believing otherwise is now a capital offense. So what is your last meal and why?
Michelle: Uh, tenderloin and fried potatoes,
Brian: Okay. Any, any, uh, drinks or, or desserts?
Michelle: Oh, oh yeah. Um,
Brian: I mean, you're going out after this, you might as well have like a full, full meal
Michelle: Um, a giant glass of Pepsi and, um, probably strawberry cheesecake and a glass of milk with that.
Brian: All right. That, that's a, that's an extensive meal. Uh, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? This is like a genie wish type situation. Don't worry, it's not a monkey paw cursed hand type thing
Michelle: think I would change how hard I can be on myself. Um, naturally
Brian: make it harder on yourself or less hard on yourself?
Michelle: less to be less hard on myself, yes. Um, well, n- like naturally I wanna do the things that I do well, and I hold myself to a pretty high standard. Um, and don't get me wrong, that's helped me grow a lot, but, uh, sometimes I just need to trust myself sooner, and allow myself to progress naturally. Yeah
Brian: I, I think that's a pretty common thing to, to want to work through. Uh, if you could change one thing about Point of Rental, again, it's a snap change, genie, not cursed type thing, uh, what would it be?
Michelle: I think our website should have a narrated introduction like, of Rental, the final frontier. Endless possibilities and infinite adventures. boldly go where no rental software company has gone before."
Brian: Okay, well there's going to be an update. I don't think it's gonna be that extensive, but it'll be pretty darn cool
Michelle: No, in all seriousness though, um, more company onsites. Those are fun. We need to do that more often
Brian: Uh, as the person semi in charge of planning those, no.
Michelle: I
Brian: I would really rather not.
Michelle: that.
Brian: I mean, it would be nice if it could just, like, automatically be planned, but yeah, the, that part not great. Being there is wonderful, but yeah.
Michelle: All right, uh, finally, what is something I should have asked you but I didn't because we weren't best friends at the beginning of the interview?
Brian: But now that we are, I... You can tell me anything. What should I ask?
Michelle: Uh, the, the cliché stuff. Uh, best friends should know favorite movies, favorite colors, that sort of thing
Brian: All right. What's, what's your favorite movie and what's your favorite color?
Michelle: Um, my favorite movie is The Fifth Element
Brian: Yeah, I, I was hoping it was 'cause you had mentioned that earlier and I was like, "Wait, w- was that your favorite overall or was it favorite because it made you sad?"
Michelle: No, no, no. It doesn't make me sad so much anymore, but the first few times I had seen it, it did. But, it's been my favorite movie. Never left the number one spot since it came out. it's got everything in it. It's just a perfect movie. Um, my favorite color is purple
Brian: Why purple?
Michelle: Uh, because it's a little bit on the dark side.
It's mysterious. It's beautiful. Mm-hmm
Brian: Purple is a pretty cool color. I just... It's interesting to, to see if people have reasons or it's just like, " I just like it, man." I didn't know I had to have a reason for liking a color All right. Thank you, Michelle, for chatting with me today. Thank you to everyone out there watching on YouTube or listening wherever they're listening.
Uh, it means a lot to me. Share the podcast with your friends, and we can all talk about Michelle later. Thanks, Michelle
Michelle: Thanks, Brian
Brian: All right, we'll see you next month. We'll keep the porch light burning for you.