# Why Learning Excel in Your Late 20s Can Be a Game-Changer
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Chapter 1: The Decision to Learn Excel
I openly acknowledge that my proficiency with computers is quite limited. Working in the healthcare field, which is often characterized by outdated technological practices, has shaped my view of tech skills. My familiarity extends mainly to Microsoft Office, and my educational background in healthcare didn’t emphasize IT skills — why would it?
In healthcare, professionals focus on patients, medications, and diagnoses. For many, including myself, the sight of random letters and numbers on a computer screen seems daunting and unfamiliar. While peers in their 20s are creating websites and developing apps, my tech skills only allow me to craft visually appealing PowerPoint presentations and organize my inbox.
To make matters worse, I’ve come to realize that even my basic tech skills are considered ‘average’ within the healthcare sector, a rating I find overly generous. Most healthcare professionals hardly engage in technical work, and I used this as an excuse for not expanding my computer skills.
I used to think, “Why bother?” When would I need advanced IT knowledge beyond crafting documents or sending emails? But then it hit me: as specialists in our fields, we often excel in our area of expertise while lacking in others — like technology.
Healthcare remains rooted in traditional practices. Many treatments and diagnostic techniques in use today have been around for decades. This outdated mindset extends to workplace practices, where tech-savvy professionals are few and far between. Some facilities seem almost resistant to modern technology, relying on paper charts and handwritten notes. Even I can recognize how inefficient manual data analysis can be. With just a few simple Excel formulas, I could significantly expedite tasks that otherwise take much longer to complete manually.
Most jobs, including those in healthcare, involve a fair share of administrative work. That’s when I realized that while I don’t need to be a tech expert for my job, mastering Excel could greatly simplify my tasks.
Excel: A Universal Skill
While coding is currently in vogue, not everyone is cut out for it. A tech-savvy person might respond to a question about their language skills by referencing programming languages like Java, forgetting that many professions don’t require such specialized knowledge.
Coding is indeed a valuable skill for the future, but for many, it’s not practical. Spending hours deciphering syntax, variables, and loops is not appealing to everyone. Despite what popular media may suggest, various jobs in sectors like retail, hospitality, and healthcare don’t necessitate coding expertise. As someone working in healthcare, I’m attempting to grasp coding basics, but it won’t play a role in my daily responsibilities. For instance, Java won’t aid me in calculating medication dosages, just as a restaurant manager won’t be using Python for financial analysis.
Conversely, Excel is a universal tool that can benefit a broader audience. Many individuals don’t aspire to work in tech fields; they just want to enhance their basic computer skills to make daily administrative tasks more efficient.
Mistakes Are Part of Being Human
While human errors are inevitable, some can have serious repercussions. A simple mistake like misplacing a decimal point can lead to disastrous outcomes, especially in healthcare where incorrect drug prescriptions can result in overdoses.
Automation can minimize human error and drastically improve efficiency. Reflect on your workday: how much time is spent on meaningful tasks versus administrative duties? Many people waste hours sorting through emails and manually processing data. Basic Excel functions can accomplish these tasks in a fraction of the time.
Ignorance is Not Bliss
For those proficient with technology, it’s easy to assume everyone understands Excel. However, many people view computer skills as a foreign language. We often take for granted what we consider common knowledge and fail to teach others.
People have varying levels of tech ability; some are amazed by basic functions like copy and paste, while others might struggle to grasp more advanced concepts. Just as healthcare professionals can recall countless medications while patients may forget the names of a couple they’ve taken for years, our skills are shaped by our experiences.
Consider a colleague who avoids technology, preferring to do calculations manually instead of using Excel's AutoSum feature. This reluctance highlights the gap in tech skills and the potential benefits of learning even basic functions.
Numbers Are Everywhere
Regardless of your profession, you will encounter quantitative data at some point. You don’t need to be a math genius; you just need to know how to handle numbers effectively.
Imagine receiving an email loaded with spreadsheets to analyze. Excel can help simplify this process through sorting, filtering, and using formulas to draw insights. However, without a willingness to learn about Excel’s capabilities, you’ll miss out on how it can enhance your work.
Thoughts on Practical Skills
In non-tech environments, the value of basic software knowledge like Excel often goes unrecognized. A few simple formulas can quickly yield results that would take hours to calculate manually. While self-taught coding can be beneficial, starting with Excel can offer immediate improvements to your daily tasks with less complexity.
This video titled "Can You Learn Excel VBA Aged Over 40? 5 Reasons Why It's The BEST Time To Start" emphasizes the advantages of learning Excel regardless of age, focusing on how it can enhance productivity and efficiency.
The second video, "The NO.1 Reason To Learn Excel (Most People Get it Dead Wrong)," discusses common misconceptions about Excel and highlights its importance in various professions, encouraging viewers to embrace this valuable skill.