Here’s a little secret: I usually start writing my year-in-review posts in November. By then, I’m often feeling a bit worn out and in need of some perspective. Reflecting on the year gives me the chance to pause, look back, and connect the dots—helping me truly appreciate how far I’ve come.
This year was no exception, full of its own ups and downs. So, let’s dive in and see how all those dots come together.
Have spreadsheets, will travel
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is the opportunity to travel. It feels like a good balance—not so much that I’m always on the road, but enough to visit more places than I likely would as a typical data professional. Work travel can be exhausting. I’ve started to develop some strategies to avoid coming home completely drained.
This year of travel was especially exciting for me, with two overseas work trips marking a significant milestone. I visited England in February and Ireland in November—a big change since I hadn’t left North America since 2011! On top of that, I’ve been making increasingly frequent trips to Santa Barbara, California (more on that later), along with a few smaller trips across the U.S.
Looking ahead, I’d love to maintain this level of business travel while keeping it balanced. There’s incredible value in face-to-face meetings, and I genuinely enjoy the opportunity to explore different parts of the world.
In-person training
I absolutely LOVE in-person training. It’s one of my favorite aspects of my work and in so many cases superior to online training. I always encourage my clients to invest in it, even if it’s more expensive, because the benefits are so much greater.
While I didn’t do as much in-person training this year as in previous years, the sessions I did have reminded me just how much I enjoy it. It’s something I’ll continue advocating for. Online training may feel more convenient, but there’s something special about the connection and engagement that only in-person sessions can provide.
Conferences
And then there are conferences. Living in Cleveland, Ohio, I don’t have a lot of local friends in the data and tech scene. Most of my connections are online and scattered across the globe. Conferences give me the chance to “touch grass,” as the kids say, and meet in person with the people I regularly engage with online. There’s something special about connecting face-to-face, and I’m so glad conferences are bouncing back after the setbacks of the pandemic.
In the Excel world, the highlight for me is undoubtedly the Global Excel Summit. I loved every minute of it this year, from presenting on Python in Excel to leading a virtual masterclass on analytics in Excel. I’m already looking forward to my in-person masterclass and presentation at the Summit in 2025 and hope this event becomes a regular part of my schedule. It’s such a fantastic opportunity to connect with Excel enthusiasts from all over the world and share in our collective passion.
Make way for Hercules beetles!
Back on the home front, plenty of my time this year was dedicated to writing my second book. Like my first book, Advancing into Analytics, this new project was inspired by the idea of creating the “book I wish I’d had”—in this case, a concise primer on modern Excel. It focuses on tools like Power Query, Power Pivot, and a host of other newer features that have transformed Excel into a powerhouse for advanced analytics.
Thankfully, I had another smooth and rewarding experience working with O’Reilly, and Modern Data Analytics in Excel was born. I’m thrilled with how it turned out and hope it serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to push their analytics skills to the next level with Excel.
Perhaps the most striking feature of this book is its cover—a Hercules beetle front and center. I’ll admit, it creeped me out a little when I first saw it, but now I fully embrace the bug. The Hercules beetle, the largest beetle species, is known for lifting many times its own weight—a perfect metaphor for Excel. Despite its compact size, Excel is an incredibly powerful tool, capable of handling complex data and analytics tasks far beyond what you’d expect.
Writing a book is no small feat. While I’ve developed processes to streamline the work and maintain a steady flow of content, it’s still a challenge to juggle book writing alongside a busy schedule. Most tech authors, myself included, are moonlighters. We’re not full-time writers, which makes the writing process even more demanding. But when you hold that first copy in your hands, see your words on the page, and read the acknowledgments filled with the names of people who supported you, it’s all worth it.
Building my LinkedIn Learning library
This has quickly become one of the things I’m most excited about—working with LinkedIn Learning. As a powerhouse in online education, I’ve always admired their Excel and data courses, so getting the opportunity to create courses for them has been an incredible experience.
Like much of my work, these courses focus on cutting-edge features in Excel for advanced analytics. My first wave of courses covered Copilot in Excel and explored other AI-powered features in Excel beyond Copilot. Over the summer, I was back in the studio recording more courses (which I can’t reveal just yet) set to launch in early 2025.
And the journey doesn’t stop there. I’ve got even more courses in the pipeline, all designed to help users push Excel further as citizen data analysts, data scientists, and data engineers. I’m thrilled to keep empowering learners to unlock Excel’s full potential.
This opportunity has also given me a reason to return to California, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite destinations. LinkedIn Learning’s studios are located in the charming beachside town of Carpinteria—a place that feels like stepping back in time to Anytown, USA, except it’s right on the stunning Pacific coast, a few miles away from Santa Barbara, itself a gem.
The experience of working with my producer at the studio has been fantastic. LinkedIn Learning has an incredibly well-structured system that really values its instructors. The entire process of being a LinkedIn Learning author is rewarding in so many ways, from the creative collaboration to the final product. I’m so grateful for the chance to combine meaningful work with such an inspiring location.
Continued partnerships
I’m grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my relationships with clients this year. It’s been a year of growth, and I feel like I’ve really honed my service offerings in two key areas.
First, as a curriculum expert, I’ve focused on guiding experienced business users into more technical areas of data analytics. This includes helping them explore Python, Excel, Power BI, AI for analytics, and more. Empowering professionals to expand their skill sets and leverage these powerful tools has been immensely rewarding.
Second, as a trainer for large banking and finance organizations, I’ve worked with teams whose extensive and varied use of Excel is integral to their work. Helping them establish a shared knowledge base and cultivate an Excel-focused culture has enabled them to unlock new efficiencies and possibilities.
I’m excited to continue building on these relationships and seeing what we can achieve together in the future.
What’s new for 2025?
As I look to the coming year, my business seems to be settling into a wonderful rhythm, and the new year is shaping up to follow a similar pattern to last year.
To kick things off, I’ll be heading back to the LinkedIn Learning studios to record another course. Shortly after, I’m off to London for the next Global Excel Summit, where I’ll be leading a masterclass and delivering a keynote. Then, it’s back to the usual routine: more trainings, more content, and doing my best to keep pace with the rapid changes in the field.
I’m also making steady, albeit slow, progress on another book. As the field evolves, writing has become even more challenging, but it’s a deeply rewarding way to give back to the community. It’s not always easy, but the end goal of creating a resource that serves others well makes it all worthwhile.
You can also expect me to continue presenting free webinars on Eventbrite. These sessions are a great way to connect with new people through Eventbrite’s wide reach, and they give me a chance to test out fresh ideas and content. I’d love to see you at one of them.
Of course, while this year in review may seem like it was all rainbows and butterflies, didn’t I mention in the intro that there were downs too? Earlier in the year, things slowed down for a few months. It was uncomfortable. I had moments of doubt, wondering if this was all just a pipe dream and whether I should return to a “regular” job.
But then the switch flipped back, and things got incredibly busy again. Perhaps busier than ever. By November, it was full steam ahead, and that’s when I started writing this post. In fact, the whirlwind of work was probably why I was so tired!
This feast-or-famine cycle of working for yourself can be brutal. It’s something I want to keep working on managing because the absence of a regular paycheck can be tough, especially when most of us are conditioned to expect one.
Still, I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve achieved. I know for certain I’m far more fulfilled now than I would have been in most corporate roles—at least the ones I’ve experienced (though I’m sure there are fulfilling corporate jobs out there). Everyone’s path is different, and this one is mine. I love teaching people Excel, and they seem to love learning from me. With my background in tech, early adoption, data analytics, and finance, I’ve found my niche, and I’ll keep embracing it.
Whether you’ve attended a webinar, read one of my books, or joined me for training, thank you for being part of this journey. I love my work and the opportunities it brings, and I’m so grateful to have your support. I hope we can work together in the new year. If that sounds like a possibility, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Until then, here’s to another fantastic year filled with good friends and great spreadsheets.
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