I have worked for years on data visualization with organizations making sure that key metrics stood out for executives and decision makers.  This is something I thought I perfected through education and training.

In reality, I learned the importance of visualization from a blue-collar worker over 50 years ago.  Every Christmas Eve Santa would wrap all our presents and put them neatly under the tree.  As I grew up, Daddy took over this role and he would wrap presents, in the evenings, and put them under the tree.  The next morning, I would wake up to beautifully wrapped presents.

Fast forward to 2018, I find myself wrapping and strategically placing the presents under the tree so that the key people in my family’s eyes are drawn to their presents.  My husband asked how many times I was going to rearrange the presents, because each time I added a present it required me to rearrange them all.

I put key visualizations on the most important presents and placed them in the front of all the others.  Now what key visualizations can you use to attract attention?

• For babies, put shiny bells on the presents

• 3 – 8 years put a toy on the present (Barbies were my choice this year)

• 8 – 12 years old, wrap in glitter (glitter fights are so fun)

So now how do I decide which presents should stay out above all others? For my house it is easy:  Any presents that are signed –  Love Grams and Grandpa.

Happy Holidays to all!