How I developed Excel Skills: My Personal Journey

I knew it was important to learn Microsoft Excel, I had used Lotus 123 in the mid-90s but Lotus was slowly losing popularity and I had to take on the new Elephant in the House called Microsoft Excel which was gaining wider use in Industry. However, the people who learned how to use Excel first were so selfish and not willing to share hoping to keep the knowledge within a closed circle. Having learned Lotus 123 before, I knew I had to take on the same attitude I used with Lotus on Excel and I vowed to learn Excel and break the unproductive circle wide open for anyone to enter. It has been the sharing attitude since that has opened doors of opportunities for me. The 10 below summarises how I learned and improved Excel skills

1. In the first instance, Excel was created by a human being like me. Hence I decided to take on the mindset that Microsoft Excel was simple and easy to learn because if the guy who created it intended it to be difficult and complicated, then he or she must have been a fool. How can one create a product that potential clients would not be able to use? Therefore, the application was not beyond comprehension
2. I chose not to let other people’s opinions about Excel guide my attitude toward Excel spreadsheets. Like the Chinese would say don’t let anyone who has never built a house tell you it’s difficult. Hence, I took on any topic without fear of making mistakes, and knowing that the computer has the ‘Undo’ and ‘ESC’ options was a lifesaver. Others may have failed but they are not ‘Me’
3. I planned to learn at least one thing in Excel every day whether it was a basic task as simple as how to move spreadsheet rows or could be an advanced trick. I purposed in my heart that if I learned one thing a day, it translated into knowing 7 things in a week or 30 things in a month
4. Whatever I learned, I practiced the task at least 4 or more times to ensure my hands mastered how to accomplish the task without my brain being so actively involved. It’s like teaching your hand to sign your signature and letting it do the task without you thinking about the rest of your life.
5. Whatever I learned, I found someone else to teach. The best way to remember what you have learned is to be generous enough to teach others because as you teach the subject you are also relearning and reinforcing the information on your brain or your 'biochemical hard drive' if you like.
6. Don’t be stingy with information, being selfish with information is the fastest way to forget what you have learned. Teaching is also learning for the teacher. The attitude of thinking that if you are the only one intelligent on a subject, it means you are in charge! You are wrong. Like Eric Hoffer once said “In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists” the choice is yours.
7. Whenever, someone asked me for help in Excel with one thing, I shared more than they asked for because through that I was able to discover other things that I may not have been initially aware of.
8. Took time to explore Microsoft resources such as Excel’s own online help and other online sources to learn more about various Excel tasks.
9. I was never shy to ask for help from other Excel users
10. Above all, I have learned that one does not need to be a mathematical genius to competently use Microsoft Excel. One does not even need to have passed mathematics in primary or secondary school, the only requirement is that one needs to be a human being and must have passed first grade in primary school. Just to have known how to write and count if you can put it that way for Excel use. But generally one only needs to be human because computers can also be used for artwork, music and many other things. I am sure we all have seen how 1 or 2-year-olds can play games on gadgets even when they can’t even read or write