Figure it out, fast
About you:
You're a reasonably capable person and for whatever reason have to do something in Excel, fast. Perhaps you've started a new job. Perhaps you need to get your finances in order. Perhaps you want to get promoted and your easiest path is to do something that scares your boss. Welcome!
​
About the course:
This course teaches thinking AND doing via a short, industry agnostic, fast paced, and free course. There may be cussing, there's definitely no bullshit, and it's probably not for children. You can be seriously good at something without taking yourself too seriously. Excel is one of the cheaper ways of building minimum viable product analysis, and is one of the more straight forward products to learn, which is why it’s not gone the way of the dodo yet.
I believe in learning concepts, not unconnected ‘tricks’, so the examples you’ll see will show functions used in a specific way along with brief descriptions of how they could be used in others. While recalling ‘100 important Excel functions’ at the drop of a hat may win an esoteric pub quiz, memorising is very 1990s and not in a good way. Instead learn a few functions that then can do all you ever need.
​
The course has a primer, three core modules, and one bonus module. If you've never touched Excel or another spreadsheet program before, the primer is for you. Otherwise skip ahead to Module 1.
M1: Trash to Cash
Garbage in = garbage out; if you start with bad data your results will also be bad.
​
But.
​
Most data isn't actually bad - it's been organised via tornado, by a masochist with a grudge against anything newer than the fax. It resembles the curb on trash day.
That, we can work with.
M2: Cash to Wealth
Now you have workable data (cash) and you need to convert that into insights (wealth).
​
You could start whacking numbers into cells and duct tape it together. You could also buy a Porsche and hope.
​
But duct tape is sticky and hope doesn't pay the bills so explore this module to learn spreadsheet structure.
M3: Keeping & Growing
Data changes. Life changes.
For those sheets that will be used going forward, be prepared to assimilate and integrate new data and analysis with minimal fuss to hold and grow your insights (wealth).
M4: Fast & Right (bonus)
Most projects are constrained by picking two of: fast, cheap, or right.
​
However.
​
With Excel you can add simple configurations and learn a few shortcuts to handle the fast and right aspects. Then cheap is up to you - do you accept the lowball offer or hold out for what you're worth?​​