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![Google Sheets expert Ben L Collins](https://modernsoftwaredeveloper.com/content/images/2025/02/bencollins-portrait-8f8f426a-1-1-2.jpg)
"I was a bookkeeper for 8 years. I worked with Microsoft Excel daily for several hours" is the first sentence of Google Sheets as well as AppsScript Professional teacher Ben L Collins. "Almost everything I did on was completed by making use of Excel but I did not have any prior experience. I'd coded previously but did not have experience working with spreadsheets.
"Pretty when I started working, I was given a job by my boss to complete many tasks inside Excel for example "Combine Tables" and so on. After that, I was required to perform the entire task by hand!" His boss showed him that he could use formulas to streamline the process. Ben discovered that the most important skill to have in finance can be the capacity to change the facts.
"The people who manage to master this skill effectively have a huge advantage over those who do not," Ben continues. I was thinking "Right I'm going to increase my capabilities." I discovered a variety of web sites which I was looking at for example, mrexcel.com as well as chandoo.org They offer the same capabilities I possess, however when the way they were developed was using Excel about 15 years ago."
The more Ben could look at spreadsheets and formulas, more enthralled he was "It was this rabbit hole that was descending into the dark." Ben was aware that the training in programming which he received at his school could be combined together with different programming languages which help to construct databases. This would include VBA.
Through his time working as the bookkeeper, he grew more attracted to the realm of technology, rather than field of accounting, or financial. "After eight years being an accountant in the field of accounting, I thought"I'm done! I'm done!. I was unsure of the next step of my project would be but the first idea I thought of was the subject of engineering." Ben tells me.
The title is yWYQFjXiawUjOZ9. Ben L Collins speaking during an event which was held at night.
He attended some classes, before he began searching for work. "It didn't have much success at first however I did build my own site as well as write essays. One of my first articles I wrote was about Google Sheets and they're those which eventually made it into Google Search." It resulted in a variety of clients seeking the services of freelancers and even offering money in exchange to use their services.
"In 2014 and the year 2015, we observed an increase in calls from customers seeking help "Hey can I be assisted by creating a dashboard using Sheets or Sheets? or "Can you review my Excel spreadsheets for our organization, and help me determine the best method to enhance these formulas? ? '."
The role required Excel, Google Sheets, SQL and Tableau. "It was a normal job but it offered me the opportunity to consider"Maybe it's an indication of something greater. It is possible of becoming a freelancer, without having to go back to my previous job . It's not my intention to go back to the accounting profession!" Ben smiles. "I would like to stay at the top of my game in addition to my knowledge of the most advanced technology."
Goodbye accounting, hello education
The beginning of the mission of the website is to give learning possibilities General Assembly was just a business idea that was just a start-up. They plan to offer advanced classes specifically for programmers, as well as Data analysts. "They have also introduced an online application for analysis of data. It is just partially-time. As I'd previously been in one of their programs specially designed for developers, I knew of the people who were there. At the time of the initial launch, the class dealing with data was when they first began to recruit instructors. The class comprised Excel, SQL and Tableau," Ben continues. "I was thinking, 'Hey that's exactly the same thing I've done for the past eight years. ! '." Ben was interviewed procedure and accepted the position. It was also conducted by Ben on several occasions.
"That motivated me to back to teaching" Ben recalls. "I'd been a college teacher and served as tutoring young students once I finished my academic year." He also provided training for companies via online classes, including selling courses as well as tutorials. "As I started to increase the amount of potential customers who are interested in my company, I decided to start my own business and try the waters."
![A course on the Query function in Google Sheets](https://modernsoftwaredeveloper.com/content/images/2025/02/benlcollins-googlesheets-bf916ba3-1-2.jpeg)
) A course on the Query function in Google Sheets
The course's teaching was popular. It was a fantastic course that it enticed Ben to create a new course. "I utilized the website Teachable when I was trying to find a way of developing a relationship that was specific to my students, and ensure that I could keep the course for myself rather than giving it to a marketplace, such as Udemy."
In my research, I discovered a name that appeared repeatedly. It was the name of Ben Thompson, editor of Stratechery, the Tech newsmagazine Stratechery, Ben Thompson. Ben Thompson is often referred to as"the OG!" Ben smiles. "I am signed up for two subscriptions in order to see how other businesses like Flowing Data and Craig Mod did." Ben is taking a look at their newsletters, despite the young age of him was a teenager. I was interested to know how they structure their business on subscriptions. I was thinking "I would like my company to run in the exact manner as they were.'. It was easy and simple that I was thinking"I would like to experience exactly the same thing as an associate..'
The process of moving forward in a way that is in the long run
In reality, the current subscription offer includes high-quality (or "gated") content and is stored on WordPress and an exclusive email newsletter delivered via email, made possible by Kit (formerly ConvertKit). For more details, the service is based in Google Sheets and includes specific details on the capabilities of the software and its changes as well as methods to make the most of the program.
"The coming newsletter will give an extensive look at the latest tools Google have released over the past 12 months," Ben adds. Google Sheets can be extremely beneficial which allow users to modify information. It's the reason you'll find an instructional video about Google Sheet's capabilities, as well as the option to download Google Sheet, a Google Sheet template you can download. In addition, he'll be conducting one-on-1 chats on the topic. "I employ emails that provide information about the day, time along with the place. In addition I utilize the Google Meet link for the live chat."
If you ask him about the future prospects of the company, Ben thinks membership could be the primary source of revenue for his business. "I certainly want to draw lots of members as I'd like membership to be the main service offered," he says. "I offer an array of content for free but it is also possible to choose being a member active by purchasing the premium version, or assist me in gaining access to additional information."
![](https://modernsoftwaredeveloper.com/content/images/2025/02/benlcollins-chess-efb3ed4e-1-1.gif)
A game of Chess by using Google Sheets Google Sheets
He claims that he was qualified to offer consultations in addition to incorporating adverts in his journals, but his aim is to end with the words "if I am able to build enough members, it would be great to eliminate everything else. There are a few small issues to take into consideration, however increasing the number of members is essential. "
The man reveals that he's contemplated a number of options to broaden the variety of events the event he organizes. "I've thought of a few suggestions on how I can be more efficient in staging the events in real time. We've also come up with ideas that can encourage more members to join in the coming year. The software itself will change. The product won't differ from the expectations, however it will live stream of media."
One member states that he'd want to figure out the best means for the members to share the data issues that they're working on as well as issues they'd like to resolve within the near future "That could be achieved via "office timers" or any other method efficient in asking questions" as long as the procedure is carried out in a long-lasting, efficient and efficient manner that is advantageous for all those involved.
Ben claims that at time his interactions with his followers is via emails. "I think people should respond via a post like 'Hey, send me a brief description of the work that you're participating in'. It's fun because it's manageable.
Forum chats might be made available, like "cohort classes" which would let students tackle Google Sheets issues online together as a smaller group. "We are completing two of them in 2021 because they were in the forefront of technological advancement. This was an amazing accomplishment, but it was extremely stressful in the first five weeks we participated in. There was a constant number of inquiries. The time has passed since I've been a member of the group previously, however I'm worried that should I decide to change the group again, I'll not be able to shut it down. This is something I'd like consider, but how do deal with this issue in the long-term perspective?
"I did not have any live streams in the moment. I thought of thinking"Just start streaming live and see how people react. Check if it's fun to live stream before I commit to this whole process. The stream is going great! Owner is eager to add live performances "They're entertaining and people enjoy the benefits from these shows. It will be interesting to know exactly what's happening!"
![Ben hosting a Zoom session for his members](https://modernsoftwaredeveloper.com/content/images/2025/02/benlcollins-zoom-03747bec-1-2.jpg)
Ben is the host of Zoom Sessions for his guests.
"Right this moment I'm teaching subjects that are selected by me. The topic will then be discussed during the live course," he continues. For the cohort course this method was designed for a broad public "People were able to drop into the course and say "Hey I have a problem which I'm unable to deal with. I'm struggling with this formula and trying to resolve the issue" We would then discuss the topic live in real time. The other participants would be able to observe. We'll think about this during the next year. It's a great occasion for all take part."
Ben concludes that there's a chance of creating an online platform for Q&A might be a viable option, but he says "I simply want to make sure I'm in the best position to complete the work in a manner that does not consume a lot from my own time." This conversation indicates Ben has begun the procedure of building the foundation to maintain a steady and solid interaction with his audience. It is our opinion that maintaining a relationship with time is crucial to the longevity of any community "Little step, eventually we'll increase our membership!" He smiles.
More details
Ben Collins is an educator as well as a writer programer, co-founder of The Collins School of Data. Ben Collins develops online classes and also writes for Google Workspace. Google Workspace tools. My main focus is on the automated of the process of analyzing data with the help of Google Sheets and Apps Script.
![Ben L Collins website](https://modernsoftwaredeveloper.com/content/images/2025/02/benlcollins-website-d7af8c67-1-2.jpg)
Ben L Collins' website
He loves creating light software that's driven by data. It works alongside the Google collection of apps: Google Sheets, Looker Studio, Google Apps Script, Forms, Docs, Gmail and many others. For more details, visit benlcollins.com.
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