Blog Article Summary: 6 Proven Ways to Turn Excel Skills Into Income

Objective

This article summarizes key points from a video that covers six effective techniques for leveraging Excel skills into a lucrative, flexible lifestyle. The video also features guest insights from Jordan Goldmeier, a Microsoft MVP and digital nomad.

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1. Corporate Jobs

• Overview: Excel proficiency makes you invaluable in the workplace, facilitating promotions and pay raises.
• Personal Story: The speaker transitioned from entry-level Excel usage as an economist to a productivity consultant, eventually doubling their salary through specialized skills like VBA.
• Difficulty: Easy – learn as you work.
• Earning Potential: 2/5 – limited by corporate pay structures.
• Key Point: Excel skills can differentiate you regardless of your educational background.

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2. Consulting or Freelancing

• Overview: Use your Excel expertise to consult for businesses and colleagues.
• "Consulting Freedom Ladder" (Jordan Goldmeier):
  1. Start with small, lower-paid gigs.
  2. Progress to fixed-price project contracts once trust is built.
  3. Transition top clients to retainer agreements with recurring, up-front payments.
• Difficulty: 3/5 – requires networking and building a client base.
• Earning Potential: 4/5 – high potential, especially with retainer clients.
• Key Tip: Great for those seeking flexibility and variety, but doesn’t scale easily.

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3. Online Courses

• Overview: Build and sell online Excel courses. This is scalable, helping many learners at once.
• Challenges: Marketing and technical setup can be difficult.
• Results: With persistence, major success is possible (e.g., 400,000+ students enrolled).
• Difficulty: 4-5/5 – recording is fun but marketing/sales is challenging.
• Earning Potential: 5/5 – high scalability and passive income.
• Advice: Course creation is the easy part; marketing is the real challenge.

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4. Becoming an Author

• Overview: Writing Excel books builds authority, personal brand, and communication skills.
• Jordan's Insights:
  • Keep books concise and reader-focused.
  • Editing teams help polish your writing.
  • Multiple books are needed to create significant income through a network effect.
• Difficulty: 5/5 – especially tough for the first book.
• Earning Potential: 2/5 – not lucrative per book, but good for branding/lifestyle.

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5. Workshops and Webinars

• Overview: Teach workshops or speak at events (e.g., Global Excel Summit).
• Profit Model: Charge a fixed fee for groups (e.g., around $1,000–$5,000/day for ~20 participants).
• Tip: Avoid small-group workshops—they’re like private tutoring with high effort, low return.
• Difficulty: 3/5 – requires preparation.
• Earning Potential: 4/5 – lucrative with the right audience.

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6. Social Media Content

• Overview: Create Excel-focused videos, blogs, or newsletters.
• Monetization: Ad revenue, sponsorships, and leveraging audience for other business opportunities.
• Difficulty: 1/5 – easy entry (start recording or blogging today).
• Earning Potential: 1/5 direct from ads, but can indirectly enable more lucrative ventures (potentially 3/5 overall).

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Starting Tips & Final Advice

• Best way to begin: Pick any of the above methods and start experimenting.
• Community Support: Follow Excel experts on LinkedIn/Instagram for free guidance and inspiration.
• Continuous Learning: Use free and paid resources to keep skills current (e.g., Excel Plus courses).

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Action Item: If you’re serious about monetizing your Excel skills, choose one pathway to try this week. Consider both your lifestyle goals and long-term earning potential for best results!

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For ongoing tips and Excel business insights, follow industry leaders and consider joining online communities or attending summits.