What's wrong with a 9–5? 📤

Plus: Get Excel to say your data aloud

Hey! You’re subscribed to The Workbook to get better at Excel. 👀 But a lot of essential Excel features (XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, etc.) can’t be squeezed into just a newsletter. 😅 So, I’m hosting a one-hour free class from July 27 through July 29 that’ll give you a deeper dive into these features—including VBA macros!—so you can automate your spreadsheets and save tons of time. Upgrade your skill set and register here!

Speak Now (Taylor’s Excel Version)

Did you know Excel can read your cells aloud? 🗣 In 2013, Excel released the Speak Cells feature and it was a 👏 game 👏 changer. Here’s why:

Accessibility: People who are visually impaired or have reading difficulties could now access spreadsheets.

Editing: Reading aloud helps users spot grammatical errors and typos they’d otherwise miss when reading silently.

Rest: You can continue tinkering on your spreadsheet while giving your eyes some much-needed rest after staring at a screen for 8+ hours (we’ve all been there).

And my favorite: It helps with pronunciation if you’re unsure about a certain word. TBT to the time I pronounced “synergy” incorrectly during a presentation LOL (if only I’d known to use Speak Cells then).

Here’s how to activate this built-in feature:

Step 1) Click on “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” and select “More Commands…”

Step 2) In the “Choose commands from:” dropdown, select “All Commands.”

Step 3) Scroll down to “Speak Cells” and click “Add >>” followed by “OK.”

Step 4) Select the cells you want to read. Then, hit the “Speak Cells” icon to the left of the Quick Access Toolbar.

That’s it! I wish GIFs had sound so you could hear it but there’s only so much technology can do. 😅

What’s So Bad About The 9–5?

“I just can’t help but feel as though I took a step backward.”

My good friend (let’s call her T!) made a huge decision recently—she hit pause on her online business to accept a 9–5 offer. Although the position was with her dream company, she had a ton of doubts.

And TBH, it’s not hard to see where T’s coming from. 🤷‍♀️

Because when you open up TikTok or Instagram or LinkedIn, it seems as though everyone is dishing advice on how to “escape” the 9–5 (AKA the “rat race”) and build a six-figure business.

As someone who runs a business and had a 9–5 (TBT to my Protiviti days 🙋‍♀️), I’m here to tell you that one is not better than the other. It’s about what’s best for you.

Entrepreneurship might sound glamorous. But creating Miss Excel taught me that being your own boss ≠ more freedom. Often (especially in the beginning!), you swap the 9–5 for a 24/7 to get your business off the ground.

You face a lot of fear. Doubt. Chaos. Lots of chaos. 🫠

So if you prefer structure, predictability, and a team you can grow alongside, then a 9–5 might be the right choice for you. Nothing’s wrong with that!

What is wrong is believing that entrepreneurship is the only path to self-fulfillment. In reality, entrepreneurship is just one version of success—and determining what “success” means is entirely up to you. ✨

  • 32 tips for being a digital nomad! My favorite? #30: “Less photos more enjoying the moment is the way.”

  • I give Hubspot’s guide on how to use Excel like a pro a 10/10. ⭐️

  • What copywriter Alexa Nizam wishes she knew before growing her business from part-time to full-time.

  • The Final Round podcast shares what top companies, including Netflix, Spotify, Google, and others, are looking for in candidates.

  • Three One-Note shortcuts I wish I knew sooner. 👀

The other day I shared a TikTok about why I ❤️ VLOOKUP and my DMs were flooded by people vehemently defending XLOOKUP. So, here’s a poll to settle it: Are you team #XLOOKUP or team #VLOOKUP?

Which side are you on?

Click to cast your vote!

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Stay Exceling,

Kat