By now I’ve written plenty of year-end reflections about running a one-man Excel business, but this one hits differently. 2025 wasn’t about doing more or going faster. It felt steadier, calmer, and more deliberate. I spent less time chasing and more time creating space to think, teach, and enjoy the work. Travel, work, and health all found a more natural balance. I still moved around a lot, just with a rhythm that finally felt sustainable. Let’s dive in, shall we?
LinkedIn Learning: still a stellar partnership
One of the best constants this year has been my partnership with LinkedIn Learning. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate that collaboration. The team is professional, kind, and incredibly creative, and the courses keep finding their way to more learners every month. Last I checked, I was past 350,000 learners!
This was a standout year for my Copilot for Excel titles. Watching thousands of learners finally “get” what Copilot can do, and where it still needs a human touch, has been a highlight of my career. Those messages from people saying they finally feel confident working with data make it all worthwhile.
LinkedIn Learning gives me both reach and freedom. The passive income keeps Stringfest Analytics running smoothly, and the creative support lets me build content that actually means something.
Teaching finance, the Excel way
I also continued working with financial services training companies like Alpha Development and Neueda. These collaborations keep me close to the people shaping the next generation of finance professionals, and I love seeing Excel used as more than a calculator. It has become the language of analysis, automation, and decision-making.
There is something deeply rewarding about helping analysts and associates see how Power Query, AI, and automation can level up their work. These sessions are technical but personal too, because they help people find confidence in their craft.
Global Excel Summit
This year’s Global Excel Summit was another highlight. Every time I attend, I am reminded how vibrant and generous this community is. You see familiar faces, new ideas, and a level of excitement for where Excel and AI are headed that never seems to fade.
Between Copilot, Python in Excel, and the next wave of intelligent tools, this field continues to evolve fast. It is a privilege to stand at that crossroads as a teacher, creator, and experimenter.
Fewer business flights, better housesitting journeys
Travel for client work slowed down this year, and that turned out to be a gift. I’ve been spending more time traveling for housesits instead! It’s an odd rhythm that has become part of my story, a way to work remotely while exploring new places and helping out pet owners.
Each housesit brings a new workspace and a new cast of feline coworkers. It has become my own version of a creative residency. I get to teach, write, and consult from different corners of the world, and those quiet stretches between sessions help me reset and reflect.
If Stringfest Analytics had a mascot, it would probably be a cat sitting on a laptop while a spreadsheet runs in the background.
The Big Island reset
One of my housesits took me to the Big Island of Hawaii, and it ended up being one of the defining experiences of my year. Living off-grid gave me room to breathe in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. The silence there was different. No notifications. No rushing. Just quiet and time to think.
Most mornings I woke up to rain on the roof and felt how simple life could be. That stretch made it obvious how much of my business stress comes from unnecessary complexity. I came home wanting things to feel leaner and more honest.
If I’m creating value, I’ll say so. If someone wants to work with me, great. I don’t have to contort myself or chase validation. I just want to keep doing meaningful, high-quality work and trust that’s enough.
Letting go of the wrong clients
In the spirit of being healthier and happier, one of the biggest shifts this year was learning to walk away from clients who don’t respect boundaries or independent professionals. I had a few who expected instant replies, constant availability, and full-time commitment for tiny part-time contracts with no benefits.
That’s not the kind of work I want. Stepping away from those relationships opened up time and energy for better projects and better people. My work got stronger the moment I stopped letting exhaustion set the pace. When I focus on doing good work with integrity, the right opportunities have a way of showing up on their own.
Health, clarity, and a calmer pace
This year I made a point to take better care of myself. More sleep. More walks. Less caffeine. Fewer late nights staring at screens. When I treat myself like a human being and not a machine, I think more clearly and create better work. There is space again for creativity and reflection. Ideas have time to unfold instead of being forced.
That balance between structure and stillness feels like what Stringfest Analytics has always stood for: helping people find clarity in data while keeping a sense of calm and focus.
Looking ahead to 2026
The plan for next year is simple. Keep building on what works. Keep trusting that the right pace and the right people are already in motion.
I’ll continue teaching, writing, and creating courses that help professionals use Excel, Copilot, and AI to make better decisions. I’ll keep collaborating with teams that value learning and craftsmanship. I’ll keep saying yes to projects that inspire me and no to the ones that do not.
And yes, I’ll ask directly: If your team needs Excel or AI training in 2026, get in touch. Let’s build something that helps your people feel confident, creative, and fluent with data.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether we have met online or in a classroom, I’m grateful for your support. Wishing you peace, health, and purpose in the year ahead.