How Excel Helped Save My Life

When I was a college freshman, my father passed away. My mother 2 years earlier.

Despite the tragedies, I made a promise to myself and to my late father to turn my life around, excel academically, and secure a high-paying job.

The Promise and the Path Forward

The last conversation I had with my dad before he passed remains etched in my memory.

I told him that I loved him and appreciated all his sacrifices.

As an immigrant who had faced immense hardships, he had given everything to our family.

I vowed to make him proud by achieving academic excellence and eventually retiring him from hard labor, a promise that fueled my determination.

Wrestling and Work Ethic: The Foundation of My Success

Wrestling played a crucial role in shaping my resilience and work ethic.

Although I wasn’t anything special, the sport ingrained in me the importance of not quitting and continuously striving for improvement.

This mindset was critical during both my studies and job hunting.

Mastering Microsoft Excel: The Game Changer

As I embarked on my journey towards a career in investment banking and finance, one piece of advice from a mentor stood out: “Become really damn good at Excel.”

According to him, my proficiency in Excel would make me stand out, especially against candidates from more prestigious schools.

I took this advice to heart and committed to mastering every aspect of Excel, from basic commands to advanced formulas and shortcuts.

The Road to Excel Mastery

Every week, after completing my college assignments and exams, I dedicated hours to practicing Excel.

I learned formulas, shortcuts, and how to create complex financial models.

This relentless practice not only boosted my academic performance but also played a significant role in landing me a prestigious job with GE’s FMP program.

Without this, I truly believe I would not be where I am today.

The Long-Term Impact of Excel Proficiency

Fifteen to twenty years later, I continue to use and love Excel.

It’s an indispensable tool that I can navigate effortlessly, whether building financial models or analyzing data.

It’s also allowed me to become more strategic minded because of the speed advantages from being quick in Excel.

As a result, my proficiency in Excel has opened numerous doors for career advancement and opportunities.

Encouragement for Aspiring Professionals

For those striving to excel in their careers, I advise using Excel as a framework for self-improvement.

Start by learning one new function or formula a week (30 minutes).

Create spreadsheets for personal interests, like tracking cryptocurrency or planning for a job promotion.

With each iteration, aim to complete your tasks faster and more efficiently.

Takes you 1 hour? Trim it down 50% to 30 minutes.

Then further trim those 30 minutes by half again down to 15 minutes.

You get the idea 🙂

Conclusion

The greatest barrier to achieving success is often our own self-doubt.

By committing to continuous learning and self-improvement—whether through Excel or other skills—you set yourself up for long-term success.

Remember, put a smile on your face, embrace the grind, and keep moving forward.


Why Time is Your Most Valuable Asset

Time sneaks into every decision we make.

What will you eat for dinner?

What job will you look for next?

What’s the next business idea you’ll work on?

👉 Time.

Whether it’s about career advancement, personal development, or simply choosing what to eat, time is the silent factor influencing our choices.

We often find ourselves chasing dreams with the hope that with just a bit more time, we could achieve them faster and more efficiently.

Mastery Takes Time

Consider any skill you’ve wanted to master, from professional qualifications (e.g. CMA, CPA, MBA) to hobbies like jiu-jitsu (from white to black belt takes 10 years on average).

The journey to expertise is a marathon, not a sprint.

There are no shortcuts to experience.

It’s all about putting in the hours, the practice, and, yes, making the most of the time you have.

Because tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Building a business requires a time investment

Launching and nurturing a business is a prime example of time’s impact.

From acquiring sales and marketing knowledge to understanding operations, every step requires a significant time investment.

Unless you’ve had prior experience, most of us have to learn from the ground up.

My entire career was in Corporate Finance (longer story here).

And while I learned how the numbers worked in growing revenues, I didn’t know how to capture revenues.

Kind of a big deal in business.

Ultimately, it’s about dedicating the hours to learn, fail, and eventually succeed.

And only time allows for that.

Time in Decision-Making

Every choice, from the mundane (like what to eat for breakfast) to the critical (getting married and having kids), involves time.

Purchasing decisions, for example, aren’t just about what we buy but also the time spent considering our options.

“Is this healthier than this? What about that? And what about this I found on Amazon?”

Decisions take time.

Consider what’s important to you to allocate that time towards.

Time is the Ultimate Asset

Why does time matter?

Because it’s finite.

Once that hour passes, it’s gone.

Forever.

Here’s a simple graphic depicting our age and lifecycle:

We’re constantly reminded to be mindful of how we spend our time, focusing on activities that bring us joy and fulfillment.

Recognizing time as our most valuable asset is the first step towards living a life aligned with our true priorities.

Family, friends, you name it.

Conclusion: Time, The Foundation of Fulfillment

Time shapes our existence, from the personal ambitions we chase to the professional goals we set.

Embracing time as a precious commodity means making conscious choices about how we spend it, who we spend it with, and what we spend it on.

Technology, mentorship, and self-investment can be powerful tools in making the most out of our limited time.

Reflect on your relationship with time and how it influences your life’s trajectory.

Remember, time is the one asset you can’t afford to waste.

Cheers 👊

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed

Tomorrow may never come.

Tomorrow may not show up.

Tomorrow is a long time.

Realizing that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed changes perspective.

Our perspective.

My perspective.

So live your best life now.

Take on new challenges.

Fight for what you believe in.

Do what you believe is right.

Stand up for what you believe is right.

Be authentic.

Be genuine.

Be curious.

Be hungry.

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.

So live a life so big you won’t regret it.

And then you can look back with a smile.

How to think using mind maps

When I graduated college, I did what everyone else did.

Get a job, go to work daily, come home, eat, rinse, and repeat.

However, after I was laid off for the second time, I realized I needed to change.

So I quit my job, turned down offers including Amazon, and went backpacking.

It was during this period of my life I learned about mind maps.

TLDR: Mind maps are life-changing. They will force you to think deep.

What I learned from mind maps wasn’t about pretty visuals or a wall of text.

No.

It was about how to think.

Sounds silly, right?

And you’re probably thinking to yourself now, “But I already know how to think.”

I thought so too.

That all changed when I discovered that real thinking manifests when we sit down and think.

Truly think about the thing we’re doing.

Let’s use an example:

What do I do with my life?

Reasonable question.

Let me ask, how did you answer it?

Did you have an answer?

If yes, great!

If no, no worries. (This question is HARD for anyone.)

Now let’s try answering using the mind map framework.

Okay, we got some clarity now.

We’ve broken it down into short-term (less than 1 year) and long-term (more than 1 year) timelines.

Let’s go deeper.

Awesome! Now we’ve isolated our thinking to “Goals” and by category (Personal vs. Professional).

Let’s go one level deeper.

Now that’s specific. 👊

By doing this exercise, you’re clearly articulating what you want, when you want it, with whom you want to do it, etc.

Your thinking has gone 3 levels deep vs. the 1 level we had initially.

How’s that for deep thinking?

Let’s try one more exercise that I love doing and do every week.

A mind map for our life as a whole.

Doing this mind map exercise will unveil so much about yourself.

  • Likes
  • Dislikes
  • Passions
  • Interests
  • Goals
  • Ambitions

The list goes on.

A mind map is ultimately a way of thinking.

A way of being able to consolidate your brain in one place to make sense of this crazy thing called life.

Now go give it a try.

Map out your life, goals, ambitions, and so on.

And when you’re done, let me know how it went!

Would love to hear about it.

Chat soon! 👊

Be in the moment

This very second.

This very moment.

See how fast it passed?

You won’t ever get that second back.

Fast forward.

Years have passed.

Dreams have slipped by.

You wake up, begrudgingly.

You’re tired.

But wait.

Take a second.

Close your eyes.

Breathe in the brisk air.

You feel that?

That calm, relaxing feeling.

That moment.

You pause.

Life stops.

For just a second.

Take in the moment.

Be in the moment.

Enjoy it.

Life is crazy.

Life is mad.

But stay in the moment.

Embrace it.

Be in the moment.

The Power of Conviction in the Face of Doubt

Doubt can be a powerful force that can challenge even the strongest of convictions.

It can make us question our beliefs and cause us to second-guess ourselves.

However, having conviction in the face of doubt is a key ingredient for success in all aspects of life.

Whether it’s in our personal lives or our careers, maintaining a strong conviction in the face of doubt can help us achieve our goals and live a fulfilling life.

Stick to your ideals, your beliefs, and your values.

Stand up for what you believe in.

Have conviction, even in the face of doubt.

Ultimately, stay true to yourself.

The passion for learning

I’ve always been a curious person growing up.

When I was little, I would stare up at the stars and wonder what those things were.

“How do I get there? Can I touch it? How far away are those stars?”

My mind was filled with imagination.

I wanted to learn how this life worked.

Going through high school and college

In my high school days, I was learning but honestly, it was mostly memorization.

I was struggling with home life, so I barely had time to think about school.

I did enough to study, get decent grades, and apply to college.

However, the real learning began in college.

In fact, I had no choice.

It was do or die for me at that period in time.

I had just lost my father, and I had no other family.

In my mind, I HAD to get a job. I HAD to make money.

I HAD to survive at all costs.

And the only way I could achieve that was by studying.

More importantly, learning everything.

So for the next 4 years, I studied feverishly. All day, every day, while at work, eating dinner, hanging with friends.

In my mind, I had ZERO doubt that was what I NEEDED to do.

I worked multiple jobs, studied all day, dreamed about how I would be successful.

I thought about how things would get easier.

I visualized it every day.

How I developed a passion for learning

Learning is a process.

Learning is a habit.

Learning is dedication.

Learning is a way of thinking.

I understood immediately that the only way I was going to survive was to level up.

I NEEDED to be smarter. I NEEDED more knowledge. I NEEDED to understand what was happening.

This, in turn, changed everything.

I started loving studying because I was learning how things worked.

From science to finance to greek mythology, I enjoyed it. Some classes less so of course 😅

But overall, I learned to enjoy the process.

I was able to make SENSE of what I was learning.

I also found that I LOVED helping and teaching others, which I still do to this day.

When you find a way to be curious and wonder how things became the way they are, that’s where true learning emerges.

You begin to enjoy the fine details.

Steve Jobs was like this.

Questions to think about to build your learning passion

The truth is we all live busy lives, so taking the time to learn can be challenging. However, it can achieved.

Start with one fundamental question, “Do I want to learn?”

We can’t begin to learn anything if we don’t have the desire to.

So ask these questions and see how you feel:

  • Do I want to learn that new skill?
  • Do I want to learn about that new job?
  • Do I want to try out that new sport?
  • Do I want to be better?

Having a desire is the first step towards the path of learning.

Enjoy the journey and process

Like everything in life, learning is a process. It’s a journey.

Learn to love it.

Learn to love every minute of it.

Things take time.

But when you do achieve something new as a result of spending time to learn, you feel amazing.

To this day, I learn everything.

I keep an open-mind to all perspectives.

I love hearing what people have to say, whether I agree or not.

So there you have it.

Keep learning, keep growing, and most importantly, have fun.

Life’s short, kick ass, and spend it with people you love.

Enjoy!

Curiosity is an unfair advantage.

Curiosity is an unfair advantage.

Curiosity will encourage you to take bold actions, start new projects, and force you out of your comfort zone.

Go back to the last time you truly asked questions about life, your career, your relationships, etc.

At some point, we lost our curiosity of the world.

Be bold, be fearless, embrace life.

Be curious.

Be daring and live the life you want and desire.

No one – and I mean no one – can say otherwise.

Be curious, stay curious.

Be 100% authentic with your true self

The only way to live a full, true, happy life is to be 100%, fully authentic to your true self.

What does that mean?

It means being yourself even when no one is around to watch you.

Life is short.

Time is valuable.

Spend it graciously and abundantly with people you care about.

Protect your time.

Be authentic.

Be yourself.

5 Best Practices To Save Money Today

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Saving money has always been important to me.

Growing up, we didn’t have money.

I was forced to learn how to save money at a young age, and along the way, I’ve learned a few tricks and tips.

And with Covid-19 still in effect, increasing inflation, and the likelihood of no further stimulus checks, we’re all looking for more ways to save money today.

In this post, I’ll share with you five best practices on how to save money today.

Let’s dive in.

1: Cut Back on Expenses

When it comes to saving money, one of the best things you can do is to cut back on your expenses.

But first, it’s important to note that cutting expenses doesn’t mean living a less-than-average lifestyle.

You can still enjoy life while cutting back.

As Ramit Sethi points out, focus on cutting back on your top 3 cost buckets.

In my finance days, 80% of costs came down to 20% of your categories (Pareto principle).

For most of us, these costs include:

  1. Rent
  2. Dining out
  3. Personal expenses (clothing, toys, etc.)

To cut back on expenses in these areas, determine the following:

Rent

Rent is easily at the top of the highest cost buckets for most.

So reducing this cost can make a significant impact on your savings.

Ask these questions:

  • Can I find a cheaper place to rent?
  • Can I room with a roommate?
  • Can I sublease?
  • Can I move to a lower cost of living (LCOL) area?

One way to start seeing potential is to plug numbers into your spreadsheet.

Play with scenarios, e.g. “If my rent was $500/mo vs. $1000/mo, what would that look like? Where would I live in that range?”

You’ll quickly start to get some great ideas on how to lower your rent costs.

Dining out

When it comes to dining out, many people tend to overlook the fact that it can be one of the hardest areas to cut back on.

In fact, the average American pays $232 a month for commercially prepared meals and eats out four to five times a week.

Take $232, multiply by 12, and you get a staggering $2,784 spent eating out.

Personally, I’ve spent upwards of $5k on eating out….

That’s savings that could have gone towards investments.

You learn 🤷‍♀️

Questions to think about when cutting back on dining and eating out costs:

  • Can I cook at home more often, perhaps using things like the Instant Pot?
  • Can I replace full meals with appetizers?
  • Can I set a budget goal to eat out at specific frequencies?
  • Can I dine out only when I hang out with friends?

Be gentle when cutting back.

It’s hard to slash away dining costs, so strongly consider which areas you’re okay cutting back on. E.g. eating out 1x per week vs. 5.

Personal expenses

The next category that eats a big chunk into savings is personal expenses.

Personal expenses, also known as discretionary spending, include:

  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Clothing
  • Toys
  • Electronics
  • Gadgets
  • Movies

To reiterate, there is NOTHING wrong with spending on yourself.

The key, though, is to focus on your budget and what you’ve allocated yourself to spend.

For example, let’s say you allocate $100 dollars every month to spend on yourself. That’s $1200 per year to spend on yourself.

And if you save more than you spent, you can also consider rolling that amount over to next month.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when thinking about cutting back on personal expenses:

  • How much can I reduce my monthly expenses by cutting back on personal expenses?
  • Can I make better use of the personal things I’ve already purchased?
  • How much have I spent year-to-date? Why?
  • If I increase my budget, how does it impact my overall savings?

Too often, we feel trapped by our budgets. To me, that’s not a real budget.

A budget is flexible and is meant to work for you.

So long as you set a budget for yourself and stick to it, spend away!

2: Find Deals Online

One way to save money is to find deals online.

There are a number of websites that offer discounts on products and services.

You can also use apps like Honey that automatically find you great deals. I love this app because it searches for coupons for you and then automatically applies them to your basket.

How easy is that?

If you’re an entrepreneur, it can be tough to spend on monthly software subscriptions.

Instead, consider lifetime deals.

You can buy lifetime software deals at sites like Appsumo, Pitchground, and SaaSMantra where you pay once and get the product for life.

This is a great way to save money for your business.

3: Use Cashback Rewards Programs

Cashback rewards programs are a great way to save money on your purchases.

By using these programs, you can earn cashback on your purchases every time you make a purchase.

Some of the best credit cards for earning cashback include:

  • Chase Freedom
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred
  • American Express Blue Cash Preferred

Depending on the card, these cashback rewards can add up quickly.

Always remember to pay off your credit card monthly bill statement in full, so that you don’t owe any interest or debt.

4: Save Money Today Using Coupons

 

Coupons can be a great way to save money when shopping.

I personally have used both physical and digital coupons.

Hey, a deal’s a deal!

One app that I love using to find digital coupons and deals is Honey.

Honey is a free app that helps you find amazing deals and coupons for you automatically.

For example, when you’re ready to purchase an Appsumo software tool, just hit the Honey chrome extension and will show whether or not it found a deal. See my screen below:

Leverage coupons to your advantage to start saving money today.

5: Make a Budget and Stick to It!

Making a budget is one of the best ways to save money.

When you have a budget, you know exactly how much money you have available each month and what you can spend it on. You can also track your progress over time and see how much money you’ve saved.

What I love to do with my budget is to make it visual.

That means creating graphs and charts to showcase your financial progress.

An app I recommend trying out is YNAB (You Need A Budget).

It can be relieving to see your savings accumulate, which means more money for investments, projects, and more.

Here are some tips for making a budget, all of which can be in YNAB:

  • List your income sources (W2 job, side hustles, businesses, crypto)
  • Then list your monthly expenses. Include things like rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, and other bills.
  • Review your net savings percentage (income less expenses divided by expenses). Higher the percentage, the better (I like to aim for +30%)
  • With your budget in place, now figure out how much money you need to live comfortably

Making a budget is a powerful activity.

I’ve had my budget since 2009 and review monthly.

It’s a great reminder of why I save in the first – freedom, flexibility, comfort.

Plus, a budget helps you see things differently. Ask yourself, could I make more money via a side hustle?

Hmm….

Save Money Today

Saving money can be tough.

It’s not always easy saving and knowing that you’re also foregoing that fancy trip, car, or big-ticket item.

However, I would argue that it’s worth it.

Not having to work for another corporate?

Sign me up!

I hope this blog post about the 5 Best Practices to save money today helped you.

Embrace the Savings!

My mentee passed away

The news came as a shock.

It happened one week ago.

I learned of the news from a former colleague who pinged me via LinkedIn.

My mentee was only 29 years old.

I still have vivid memories of when we worked together.

He had joined fresh out of college.

His manager left one week into his newfound finance career.

In a short 6 weeks, he was already on the chopping block.

I mean, how the hell can you expect some kid to learn a job and get up and running without any support or training.

The next part I will always remember.

I booked time for us to sit down and train together.

He broke down and cried.

He said, “Yarty, I think I’m going to get fired.”

It made me incredibly sad to hear this.

So I took it upon myself to train him.

And that’s what I did.

I also did it because I knew about his past.

He had also lost direct family members.

It’s extremely difficult to perform under those circumstances.

Why do I know this?

Because I went through it.

Depression’s a bitch.

To anyone who may be suffering, my heart is with you.

This battle is the most difficult battle of our lives.

We will fight it together.

To my friend and mentee — I hope you’re in a better place.

You will be forever missed.

From family to friends to colleagues, we will miss you.

RIP bud.

Please wake up

man sitting on the mountain edge

“Please wake up.”

There I was, in the first grade, witnessing my own mother trying to end her life.

I was so young I didn’t quite know what was happening, but I did know that she wasn’t breathing.

It was the four of us, and we were crying our eyes out hoping she would wake up.

“Please wake up,” I said as tears fell down my cheeks.

Please wake up.

We were just kids.

Experiencing these kinds of moments at such a young age is hard.

Normally, kids and families shower each other with love and affection, have family picnics with friends and relatives, enjoy their childhood, and not have to face the harsh realities of death, sadness, depression, and loneliness at a young age.

My mother faced many demons, many of which I didn’t know about till much later.

While growing up, we lived through an extremely difficult childhood as my father would constantly scream and shout at us while our mother would guzzle her favorite alcoholic beverage every night.

And after that, my dad would go on to scream at our mother, which then our mother would scream right back at us. It was a vicious cycle.

Every day felt like misery.

There were so many memories of me crying in my bed, praying I wouldn’t be screamed at again. My siblings went through the exact emotions – we were in constant fear.

You never forget.

Those memories will forever remain

As I’ve gotten older, those memories have never disappeared.

Sometimes, those memories motivate me to do more and persevere. Other times, those memories drag me down. I’m human.

My mother ended up suddenly passing away 18 years ago while I was still in high school.

I was right beside her to witness her breathe her final breath. Down to the last hour and last minute.

It was painful.

You’re not alone

For those who have experienced something similar, just know that I empathize with you.

Although you may not hear it every day, you’re loved and cared for. This world can be very misunderstanding, but know that there are many, many others out there just like you.

You’re not alone.

You will persevere.

You will get through this.

Have you experienced something similar in your life?

Let me know by leaving a comment or messaging me.

Embrace the grind.

Look inward

The days are long.

It can be tiring and exhausting.

Some days, you wonder why is everything piling up on you.

“Why me?” you’re asking.

But sometimes, we should try asking “Is it because of me?”

We always have a choice.

A choice to be better, to improve, to change course.

Look inward.

Find a happy medium.

Push forward.

Happy Holidays!

As 2021 comes to a close, I’m reflecting on what a journey this year was.

Despite Covid19 and the continuing pandemic, it was another strong year.

Personal growth, new and recurring business, embracing new challenges, and connecting with more amazing people.

Every year during this time, I spend 𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁.

Here are few questions I spend thinking about:

  • What did I accomplish?
  • What can I be proud of?
  • Am I still passionate about what I’m doing?
  • Did I help my friends achieve their goals?
  • Am I regretting anything? (regret minimization framework)

I use this time to reflect on what matters most to me.

I make it a priority to be open and honest with myself.

Because if I don’t, I’ll lose key insights not only about myself, but the things happening around me.

We seldom have time to think about ourselves.

Use this time to be deliberate and intentional.

After I’m done, I then send my insights to myself one year from now via FutureMe.

It’s a great way to remind myself of why I do what I do.

It also keeps me grounded in what matters.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this.

Let’s all end 2021 strong.

Embrace the grind.