-Post by Rob Collie
***UPDATE: WOW, this is going a LOT faster than we’d dared to hope! Our initial $3k goal was to offset the color print costs. Our stretch goal is $20k which would cover the cost of the first color print run. If we go even higher, the extra funds will be used to insure that future printings of “DAX 2” will also be in color, and not just this first batch. (Each print run requires its own hefty startup cost). Thanks everyone!!!
Bill’s New Book in Color, DAX 1st Edition in B&W – Which is Easier to Read?
(Help us Make DAX 2nd Edition Look Like the Left Book)
Time to Refresh, Expand, and Clarify the “Classic”
The book I wrote back in 2012 has been through four print runs and continues, to this day, as the #1-selling book on Power Pivot (and perhaps on Power BI as well, by extension). I’m constantly gratified by people’s stories of how that book has been their launching point into the world of Power BI, and by their variety of backgrounds (Accountants, Auditors, CEOs, Developers, Interns, Project Managers…etc.)
But a lot has changed in the 3+ years since the book was written. DAX and Power Pivot themselves have received some significant upgrades. Power BI Desktop has emerged on the scene, as well as PowerBI.com. And just as significantly, we have grown as teachers – both in our understanding of the toolset and in our ability to convey it to others.
So over the past several months, Avi and I have poured ourselves into writing the 2nd edition of that book. The 2nd edition of the book features:
• Current coverage of the Power BI landscape (Power BI Desktop, New DAX functions etc.)
• Complete Edit of the whole book (400+ changes)
• 10 New Chapters: wholly new or completely re-written
• Learning Community Support by regular webinars to discuss book chapters and Q&A with authors
Color? From an Independent Publisher???
Avi and I both share a highly visual teaching style. Visual explanations have the power to “defang” otherwise-difficult concepts: explain them in text and they are intimidating and opaque, but a picture makes you go “oh, THAT’S all it is? That’s not so hard at all!”
So our book would benefit from color printing more than most “technical” books.
But since we essentially self-publish our book, we need to figure out how to bear the higher startup costs of color printing.
We ask for your help – our fellow revolutionaries. Support us in our crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo by pre-ordering book and other perks and help us print the book in full color.
The Perks
I LOVE sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. A democratization of BI and Analytics goes quite well with a democratized, community-driven funding mechanism.
In exchange for your support, you will receive your copy of the book LONG before Amazon will have them, whether you live in the US or elsewhere.
But additionally, remember those designs we tested out a few weeks back? Those are also included as bonus perks…
These exclusive items will make you the envy of data nerds everywhere
All our perk levels are setup in stair-step fashion (cumulative manner), i.e. a higher level perk always includes all lower levels. As shown in this matrix:-
For example:-
• Pre-order the “Printed Book” and also get DAX Sticker, an eBook, Name in Book and Name on Website!
• Pre-order the “DAX T-Shirt” and also get the DAX Poster, Rob Autograph on your book, Printed Book, DAX Sticker, an eBook, Name in Book and Name on Website!
Share the Campaign with your Friends and Win Cool Bonuses!
After you have contributed, use the IndieGoGo share buttons to the left of the campaign page to 
share it with your friends – via facebook, twitter or email. These buttons generate a special custom URL which would let us track your impact on the campaign. You would be eligible to win cool bonuses depending on how many of your friends contribute to the campaign .
Read our IndieGoGo update for more details on the referral contest and reward levels.
One More Thing…
There’s a video attached to the campaign in which:
- I make a rare on-camera appearance (I love talking to live audiences, but I tend to avoid talking into camera lenses).
- There are oh-so-subtle costume changes. See if you can spot them all! 😉
- I demonstrate my commitment to color in a BIG way. All in, as they say.
Why is This Video in Black and White?
Visit the Campaign Page to See What Happens When the Color Gets Turned Back Up.
