KELYLO
Excel
Focus Mode

Excel

Excel is the language of numbers. Control data and you control decisions.

2.5 hours today

Today's Focus

Build with precision.

Vital 20% Tasks

    Notes

    Excel 80/20 Roadmap

    Total time: 3-4 weeks at 3 hours/day.

    Core philosophy: Excel is the language of engineering data. The 20% you master handles 80% of real work.

    Week 1: The Foundation

    Day 20% Feature Why It Matters Hands-On Task
    Day 1 Excel Tables (Ctrl+T) Auto-expand, structured references. Create a 20-row project table and expand it.
    Day 2 SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT Foundation of all calculations. Calculate totals and averages from project data.
    Day 3 Absolute vs Relative References Unlock advanced formulas. Build a multiplication table with $ references.
    Day 4 IF Functions Logic tests for engineering decisions. Mark tests as Pass/Fail based on strength.
    Day 5 Sorting & Filtering Find what matters in big data. Filter projects over a cost threshold.
    Day 6 Conditional Formatting Visual alerts for out-of-spec data. Apply color scales and icon sets.
    Day 7 Project: Construction Log Tracker A real tool you'll use. Create a log with dates, cost, status, alerts.

    Week 2: Lookups & Intelligence

    Day 20% Feature Why It Matters Hands-On Task
    Day 8 XLOOKUP Modern, flexible lookup. Pull unit costs into a project table.
    Day 9 Named Ranges Readable formulas. Name cost columns and update formulas.
    Day 10 Analyze Data AI-assisted trends and charts. Ask questions on your data table.
    Day 11 PivotTables (Setup) Summarize thousands of rows fast. Create a PivotTable by category.
    Day 12 PivotTables (Grouping & Slicers) Interactive drill-down. Group dates by month, add slicers.
    Day 13 Charts from PivotTables Dynamic visuals. Create a PivotChart with slicers.
    Day 14 Project: Cost Dashboard Interactive summary. Build a cost dashboard with charts.

    Week 3: Data Cleaning & Advanced Functions

    Day 20% Feature Why It Matters Hands-On Task
    Day 15 Power Query Clean once, refresh forever. Import messy data and clean it.
    Day 16 Text Functions Clean messy text data. Split addresses into components.
    Day 17 Date Functions Durations and workdays. Calculate workdays between dates.
    Day 18 Dynamic Arrays Self-updating lists. Use FILTER, SORT, UNIQUE on projects.
    Day 19 Data Validation Prevent entry errors. Create dropdown status lists.
    Day 20 Goal Seek Solve for unknowns. Find max cost under a budget.
    Day 21 Project: Material Estimator Automated cost tool. Build estimator with dropdowns and XLOOKUP.

    Week 4: Statistical Analysis & Automation

    Day 20% Feature Why It Matters Hands-On Task
    Day 22 Analysis ToolPak Advanced stats tools. Run descriptive stats on cost data.
    Day 23 Regression Analysis Understand relationships. Run regression and interpret R2.
    Day 24 Correlation & Moving Average Spot trends and smooth noise. Compute correlation and moving average.
    Day 25 LET Function Readable complex formulas. Rewrite a nested formula with LET.
    Day 26 Simple Macros Automate formatting tasks. Record and run a formatting macro.
    Day 27 PDF Export & Printing Professional reports. Set print area, add headers, export PDF.
    Day 28 Final Project Complete management dashboard. Build tables, pivots, charts, slicers, PDF.

    Excel Mastery Checklist

    Skill Mastered? Notes
    Excel Tables (Ctrl+T)☐
    XLOOKUP☐
    IF Functions☐
    PivotTables + Slicers☐
    Analyze Data (AI)☐
    Power Query☐
    Dynamic Arrays☐
    Data Validation☐
    Conditional Formatting☐
    Analysis ToolPak☐
    Charts + PivotCharts☐
    Named Ranges☐
    Basic Macros☐
    PDF Export☐

    The 80/20 Truth (Canva vs Excel)

    Aspect Canva Excel
    The 20% that matters mostBrand Kit + Magic StudioTables + PivotTables
    What most users missAlign tools, Frames, Magic ResizePower Query, Dynamic Arrays
    What pros automateTemplates, Brand KitsPower Query, Macros
    The AI featureMagic Design, Magic Write, Beat SyncAnalyze Data, Copilot
    Collaboration featureComments, Real-time editingCo-authoring (365), Comments
    Export secretPDF print (CMYK) for printPDF with bookmarks, print areas set

    Daily Practice Routine

    1. Open the software.
    2. Review yesterday's skills (5 min).
    3. Watch a tutorial on today's feature (10 min).
    4. Replicate exactly what you saw (10 min).
    5. Apply it to your own project (5 min).

    Next 2 hours: Work through hands-on tasks. Break the feature, fix it, understand it.

    Last 30 minutes: Self-test from memory. Write down one insight. Preview tomorrow.

    Remember: "The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways."

    Today's Speech

    Verse for Today (NIV)

    Skill Wisdom

    Benjamin Franklin said, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

    Robert Greene noted, "The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways."