May Question of the Month - Join the conversation and receive a badge

Lauri M

When our agency's PMO was founded in the Summer of 2022, Smartsheet was the tool to use and has been a great resource for training on-demand and finding answers to using the product.

Susan Ross

Soon after I started a new job, a director asked me to learn about Smartsheet. She said it was like Excel on steroids, but I’ve learned that it is so much more than that. I took all the online training sessions offered at the time. It turned out that I was one of a few people in the organization who knew about Smartsheet, and I began to get questions on how to use it. I stumbled into the Community through web searches that I started with “Smartsheet how to…”❤️

Carson Penticuff

There were several "How do you do x in Smartsheet" Google searches on my part. I noticed most of the results lead back to the community site, and here I am. 😁

melissa.garcia

I discovered it with my work colleagues @malbers @akrenek when we were trying to find a solution for what we were creating, testing, trying, etc. (all the things) in Smartsheet. The Community is my go-to place for solutions on trying to find out what works, what doesn't, and overall allows me to think outside of the work I am doing and HOW to do it.

Maz Pate

In January 2020 I started a new job in the healthcare sector (Just before COVID). My new Boss said to me that he wanted me to become GREAT in Smartsheet! I had never heard of Smartsheet before, so I taught myself by viewing YouTube videos. Later when I got a paid account, I started learning by building, experimenting and taking some tutorials. Now, I cannot live without Smartsheet and have utilized it to improve MANY MANY Processes within our region, as well as other regions.

Funny Story - I had a minor procedure done, and then in recovery while coming round from anesthesia , I must have heard the nurses talking about tracking something and was telling them I could help create Smartsheet processes for them - My husband told me the next day ha~!

Kathy N

I was introduced to the Smartsheet community by my former enterprise resource.

bisaacs

I started a new role at a company where they had used Smartsheet in the past but, outside of the CTO, no one really took charge of learning how it worked and the possibilities with it. Because of this, I was more than happy to take the reins on being the go-to Smartsheet person. In doing so (and having a crash-course in how Smartsheet worked), I quickly discovered the Smartsheet community and how valuable a resource they are! Because they've helped me I'm always looking for ways to give back!

Nicole CGM

We were looking for a way to better automate project management processes as well as store all information about a project in a quick snapshot without digging through ticket numbers and reading tons of notes. As a quick solution, we created Excel workbooks with automated forms. However as time went on, it was not practical to keep these updated as a simple change to the template required manual changes to all previously created documents. We then switched over to an Access database but the thought of someone managing that when issues arise was not feasible in our fast paced work environment (mind you that we are not developers or real IT support). That led to Google searches pointing us to Microsoft Project or Smartsheet. We tried both side-by-side and the form creation functionality that Smartsheet offers was just what we needed. We have been able to use Smartsheet in an unconventional way and the use of this feature allows us to create data entry forms which are specific to each type of project. The forums are amazing and have helped us track down solutions to issues when creating formulas or setting up workflows. We are so happy we ran across this product as it can be overwhelming when seeing all of the available options out there. We needed something simple for our end users but complex enough that we can use the system in whatever capacity required. Having guidance from a community that has already attempted and conquered what we are just now trying to do is refreshing as we don't have to reinvent the wheel, just adjust it to our needs.

THS Jen

I joined on suggestion from one of our account reps. We are new (~6 mo) into our Smartsheet & RM journey. I haven't posted much yet, other than a few product suggestions. I'm learning as I go and getting more familiar with do/don'ts.

mmmmousey

I discovered the Smartsheet Community through a mix of curiosity and necessity. As I delved deeper into utilizing Smartsheet for various projects, I found myself encountering unique challenges and seeking solutions beyond what the standard documentation offered. In my quest for answers, I stumbled upon the vibrant and active Smartsheet Community—a treasure trove of insights, tips, and shared experiences.

What truly drew me in was the sense of camaraderie and collaboration within the community. Whether it was troubleshooting a complex formula, exploring advanced features, or simply exchanging best practices, there was always someone ready to lend a helping hand or share their expertise. It's not just a forum for technical support; it's a thriving ecosystem where users empower each other to maximize the potential of Smartsheet.

Moreover, the wealth of resources available—from user-generated templates and tutorials to official announcements and product updates—continuously enriches my understanding and proficiency in using Smartsheet effectively. Being part of this community isn't just about solving problems; it's about continuous learning, growth, and contributing to a collective pool of knowledge.

In essence, discovering the Smartsheet Community was akin to finding a bustling marketplace of ideas where innovation flourishes, connections are forged, and challenges are met with enthusiasm. It's not just a platform; it's a dynamic community that fosters collaboration, inspires creativity, and empowers users to achieve their goals with Smartsheet.

Trang Turtletraxx

That is a great and interesting question that has an interesting story when you ask me. I just helped set up a new PMO. The President and CEO of the company asked me if I could create and implement a solution that would be a centralized source of data in Smartsheet to streamline data being reported at various points in time, audiences and user levels. This would become our source of truth for any data we report out from Finance to Projects to Provider Satisfaction and even People Services.

In the hope I would sound confident in my response, I said, "SURE! No problem!" but I thought, "What the heck is Smartsheet?!?!" After getting the basic requirements from the CEO and disconnecting from the Webex, I submitted my request for a license and immediately began my research on all things Smartsheet starting with what it was and determining if it could actually do what I promised the CEO I could deliver. During my endless Google searches, I came across this amazing community that not only helped me solution various aspects of my build, but would sometimes provide creative ideas to produce a solution to the same problem. Ever since that day 3+ years ago, any time I have a difficult problem or roadblock in a build, I come here to this Community and look to see if anyone has had any a similar problem. If the solution doesn't address my particular issue, I'll create a post. The quick responses from multiple sources are unbelievable. Some responders will even respond with the thought process of how a solution was determined. There are some brilliant Smartsheet SMEs and members and they are all so patient to learn about the various nuances of each person's problem. Most times, I'll even get more then one solution to my problem.

For example, solutioning a URL query formula for a multi select field I posted. Someone responded with a series of helper columns and making each selection it's own data point in my formula. It worked perfectly! A day later, I someone new had responded to my post mention we didn't have to have all those helper columns. So he worked with me on what that formula would looked like with my specific quirks.

This is all to say, I would NEVER have become a confident Smartsheet consultant for one of the largest healthcare plans in the country with 300,000+ employees and now a leader in the technology and AI consulting firms working with clients such as the various military branches, the DoD, Veteran Affairs and NIH without this Community and it's Village members. This Community has been and is a key resource for me learning the basics to establishing a number of solutions utilizing every Premium App, SCC and even Bridge. I've also accepted the role of being the firm's Smartsheet product owner. Basically all things Smartsheet comes to me to troubleshoot for the entire firm of 35,000 employees. A huge thank you to the entire community for always being available and working through complex problems til the end!!

sdunham

I was introduced to Smartsheet through a work colleague, but I had no idea about the community until I joined last year's Engage Conference. This is when I learned that there's a whole big number of people out there that can't live without Smart sheets!!

JoHanna_Schultz

Like most of us, I found the Community when I was looking for answers. Google often listed the Community answer in the top search results.

I inherited smartsheet from someone who was an ace. I did not have a lot of training, so I have been self-training. I love smartsheet, and now my partner's work has started using smartsheet. He comes home most days with a question.

I came for the answers, but I have stayed for the Badges. 😎

cvarela

I used the community some in my early days of Smartsheet but didn't trust it because I've had horrible experiences with other software communities. After going to ENGAGE I learned more about the users and Smartsheet employees and now I use it frequently.

DesireeJones

Hi SmartSheet Community!

I discovered the SmartSheet Community when I was tasked to use SmartSheet in my first fully remote job at UPS in 2021. I was a Reports and Analysis Industrial Engineering Specialist and at this time SmartSheet was not being used to its full potential. After my boss gave me a quick 25-minute rundown of SmartSheet, I had more questions than answers. So of course I started to Google everything and finally came across answers I have been looking for and like-minded people (aka Life Savers) within the SmartSheet Community!

Thanks to everyone in the SS Community! :)