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"I was an accountant for 8 years and worked with Microsoft Excel every day for many hours," begins Google Sheets and AppsScript's professional instructor Ben L Collins. "Almost everything I was working on were completed with Excel but it was not anything I knew about. I'd coded a few times but I'd never ever actually worked with spreadsheets for any reason.

"Pretty as I was beginning my work I was required by my boss to finish various projects using Excel"Combine with tables' the list goes and on, but I did everything by myself!" His boss handed him some formulas that would help him in his work. Ben realized that one of the vital skill for any financial profession is the ability to work with information.

"The those who are able to excel at it benefit more than people who are just struggling across," Ben continues. I thought "Right now, I'm going to be required to improve the skills I already have. So I checked for websites such as mrexcel.com along with chandoo.org These people could use the same abilities to mine today but using Excel fifteen years earlier."

The more Ben explored formulas and spreadsheets, the more intrigued his mind became: "It was this rabbit tunnel that appeared to go more and deeper." Ben recognized that some of the information he gathered in his university days could be used in different programming languages that work with databases, such as VBA.

In the course of his professional career as an accountant, he became increasingly interested in technological advancements as opposed to the accounting or finance. "After 8 years of working for a reputable accounting company, I realized that I've done enough work to get enough I'm done!. I was not sure of my next move was however, one of my first ideas was to become an engineer," Ben tells me.

Ben L Collins speaking in a special evening

He attended a few courses before applying for positions. "It did not go as well but I did start my own web site, along with writing articles. My first articles that I wrote about Google Sheets and these are the ones that ended up being integrated into the Google Search." They led to a number of customer requests as well as pay-per-hour work.

"In the years 2014 and 2015., there was just a fraction of visitors saying"Hey, could help me build my dashboard using spreadsheets Do you have any suggestions? Additionally, could you take a the time to look over my company spreadsheets and help me with formulating ways to improve those formulas? '."

The work encompassed Excel, Google Sheets, SQL as well as Tableau. "It was not really an actual job, but it provided the basis for a conclusion that there's something to it. It could be possible to become an independent contractor rather than being able to return to my former job' . I was not looking to return to my job as an accountant!" Ben smiles. "I am trying to stay up in order to improve my abilities and technology."

Goodbye accounting, hello education

At the time, the website for education General Assembly was just a startup and was launching classes specifically designed for developers and data analysts. "They have launched an online database analysis course with a half-time schedule. As I'd taken a course with them as a student in one of their classes for developers I had good contact with the team there. The first time they offered this data course and were looking for instructors. It was a mix of Excel, SQL and Tableau," Ben continues. "I realized, 'Hey!' this is exactly what I've been doing since the age of eight. ! '." He completed the application process and eventually was offered the job. He was a teacher for the course numerous times in of 2015.

"That led me to want to go back to teaching," Ben recalls. "I'd been through a few experiences being a teacher in a university setting, and in the role of being a teacher to students when I was finishing my academic year." After that, he started with corporate training through the web-based platform as well as teaching tutorials and a variety of classes. "As I began to build audience, that in 2017 I thought I should create my own online course to test it."

) A course on the Google Query feature within Sheets

The course Ben gave was received favorably. It was sufficient to inspire Ben to develop a second course. "I made use of a platform that is known as Teachable since I was trying to build a connection to my clients and maintain this connection instead of moving it to the internet, such as Udemy."

I decided to conduct some research but one person who stuck in my thoughts was the man who is responsible for the technology-related magazine Stratechery, Ben Thompson. He's among those who are"the OG!" Ben is laughing. "I have joined several memberships to check out how other members like Flowing Data and Craig Mod did this." Ben was receiving their free newsletter for quite some time, and I was intrigued about the ways they'd developed their businesses based on members. I replied, "I want mine to be like theirs.'. I really loved how it went easy - and I thought that I would wanted to experience the same experiences.'

It is essential to keep with a positive speed

For a quick overview, Ben's Membership Service is currently made up of high-end (or "gated") details that is located on WordPress and an exclusive electronic newsletter delivered by email via Kit (formerly ConvertKit). The focus for the information is on Google Sheets and it includes information on the product's features as well as updates, and other details - and how to make the most of the product.

"The following newsletter offers an in-depth look at some new functions Google has released in the previous month of the calendar." Ben adds. These are extremely useful features that allow you for manipulating data. As such, they'll provide a video tutorial on the capabilities, and a link to google sheet. Google Sheet template that people might download to their personal use. Also, the writer mentions the online seminar that will be held will be on this issue. "I send out monthly newsletters to inform specific information about the date and the time, along with the Google Meet link for the live event."

In response to questions about the future of membership Ben believes that membership is going to be the primary source of income for his business. "I definitely want to draw new members in, because I would like membership to be the sole option available," he says. "I have an online library that is free content but you also could sign up to become an official member to support me and get additional information."

A game similar to Chess with Google Sheets

The author also describes the way that he offered services and included ads inside his free newsletter. He is trying to get away from this "if I am able to increase the number of subscribers enough to be large enough that it's nice to be rid of the other things. There are still a few small things to work on but growing subscribers' numbers is vital. "

He is able to come up with a variety of ways of developing his service. "I've considered it for the present: I can be better at broadcasting these live events in addition to preparing plans to attract new members this year's events. Software will be updated. It's not likely to alter the way it works, but there'll be additional streamed live."

The individual also says he would prefer to devise an effective way for members to exchange information regarding what they're working on and the way they'd like to approach to in the future "That can be accomplished via "office hours' or better way to get people talking and asking questions" insofar as it is beneficial and sustainable manner for all concerned.

Ben claims that in the moment, his interactions with his followers are carried out via emails. "I suggest that you respond with a text message which reads "Hey Tell me about your actions'. I prefer this since it's simple to handle.

He'd offer forum discussions and 'cohort courses', as well as work on Google Sheets issues online together as a group. "We were able to finish two in 2021. Google Sheets were the talk of the town. It was a great experience, but it felt very stress-inducing for the five weeks that students attended the classroom. It was like being in a "firehose of questions. This was my first experience in a group as such However, I'm afraid that after I've turned off on the light, I'll never be able to switch them off. This is something I'd like consider, and how do achieve this without causing any harm?

"I wasn't even planning on live streaming before I began. I thought"Just start streaming and see how it goes. Check if I'm committed to doing before I make promises all the time. It's working! He's excited to add live events "They're entertaining and participants enjoy lots from the programs. Let's see what happens!"

Ben hosts an online Zoom session for his customers.

"Right moment I'm teaching classes such as the following: I'll select a subject and cover it in the live presentation," he continues. In the co-taught courses, there was a more open-forum "People came in to say, 'Hey Here's my issue. we'd discuss the issue in real time. Other people were able to view. We'll be looking into having this event again in the future. This is the ideal method for kids to get involved."

In the end, he thinks that a Discord Q&A forums is an alternative, but Ben states that "I would like to make sure I can do the job in a way that isn't a burden on me." This suggests that Ben has already established the longest-lasting and long-lasting relationship with his community. We believe that maintaining the relationships as time goes by is essential for the longevity of his participation "Little steps to take - we'll gradually intensify the efforts we make!" He smiles.

Additional details

Ben Collins is an educator, writer, developer and co-founder of The Collins School of Data. Ben Collins develops online classes as well as writes about Google's Workspace tools. My primary focus is on data analysis and automation, using Google Sheets and Apps Script.

Ben L Collins' website

He's a fervent believer in creating light applications which have a foundation in data and are integrated using to make use of the Google stack. There are a few such applications: Google Sheets, Looker Studio, Google Apps Script, Forms, Docs, Gmail along with other. To learn more, go to benlcollins.com.

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