The Excel Addict - Helping You Become the 'Local Excel Expert'

December 16, 2021

Francis Hayes - Learn to work smarter with Excel at TheExcelAddict.com

Hi fellow Excel Addict,

I hope you are doing well and keeping safe and healthy.

I sincerely apologize for the absence of my newsletter since August.

Over the past few months (even longer), I have been having an internal struggle as to where to go with my website and newsletter.

Six years ago when I retired from my day job at 55, my plan was to spend more time on my newsletter and website — and maybe find a way to use it to supplement my retirement income.

I quickly discovered that being retired doesn't equate to more free time.

I found myself with way more things competing for my 'free time' than I had anticipated.

Another thing I hadn't considered was that, not having a day job where I spend almost every minute working with Excel makes it difficult for me to keep pace with all the new Excel features being added when I don't have a practical reason to use them.

I found myself in a conundrum. A still-burning passion for Excel (whenever I find time to sit down and use it) and a new found freedom to do other things I enjoy in retirement.

Honestly, this battle has been waging in my mind for the past several years.

At times, when I still feel the passion to keep my newsletter and website going, I often get sidetracked with projects and other interests that take up most of my time.

Other times, I feel that maybe it's time to put this Excel life behind me and do more 'retirement stuff'.

But then I would get an email from an Excel Addict subscriber or start working on a personal spreadsheet and be thinking,"Wow! Excel still amazes me with new things I find I can do. I know a lot of my readers would love to know these tricks and techniques that I use personally".

Yes, maybe it would be best for me to make a decision one way or the other.

But after being such a big part of my life over the past 30 years and still being passionate about Excel, it's not so easy for me to walk away from it.

Francis Hayes - Learn to work smarter with Excel at TheExcelAddict.com

And not only would it mean turning my back on Excel, it would also mean turning my back on thousands of my Excel Addict subscribers, many who have been with me from the beginning — almost 19 years if you can believe it. I started my newsletter in April 2003.

In addition, over the years, I've heard from so many readers who love when I share my personal stories and pictures about life in Newfoundland (Canada).

In fact, I know of four Excel Addict subscribers who have traveled to Newfoundland because of my ramblings about my home province over the years — and none were disappointed.

Newfoundland is such a special and unique place that I am only happy to share this hidden gem with anyone who is interested.

So, I have settled on a compromise which I hope will give me (and you) the best of both worlds.

My new plan is to keep producing my newsletter but on a scaled-back schedule.

Instead of weekly, I will aim to produce my newsletter monthly.

So, if you are still interested in hearing from me occasionally with some Excel tips and interesting stories about my life here in Newfoundland, keep on watching your Inbox for my emails.

If this new format doesn't suit you, you can easily Unsubscribe from my newsletter at the bottom of this email and accept my thanks for having been a subscriber.

Anyway, enough with my ramblings.

Today, I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays if you prefer) and a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year.

Please watch for my first newsletter of 2022 sometime in January.

Until then...

...take care, be safe and keep on Excelling,
Francis Hayes (The Excel Addict)

TheExcelAddict.com

Disclosure: Some of the resources I recommend on my website and in my newsletter pay me a small referral commission if you purchase from them through links on my website or using my referral code. This helps offset the costs of my website. I've worked long and hard to build up my reputation online over the past 16 years as someone who provides exceptional value to my readers. So I'm not willing to risk that. As you know, I don’t just recommend anything. It has to be of outstanding quality and value. If you are EVER not completely satisfied with anything I recommend, please let me know and you will get your money...GUARANTEED. You can't lose.