The Lightbulb Moment: From corporate desk to digital success: How one man built a $1 million Excel empire
- John was working in the corporate world when he decided to pursue his real passion.
- He decided to leave the “Corporate World” and start MyExcelOnline where he could teach the rest of the world on a much grander scale how to use Excel effectively via free blog tutorials, podcast shows, webinar training and online courses.
- His courses have generated seven figures and now he’s the go-to instructor for the ubiquitous software.
A millionaire has revealed the secrets behind his success and how he clawed his way from a minimum wage job to becoming CEO of a seven figure company.
John Michaloudis, an entrepreneur from Australia currently living in Spain, decided to break away from corporate job and tried to make a name for himself, starting his ‘excellent’ business, MyExcelOnline.
Before starting to sell his Excel courses online, John spent 15 years in accounting and financial controller roles for the multinational conglomerate company, General Electrics.
“During my time working at General Electric, I started an internal blog where I shared Excel tips with my colleagues, posting once a week. The response was overwhelming—within a year, I had 10,000 followers subscribe to my blog within a company of 300,000 employees. This was the LIGHTBULB MOMENT for me! I thought to myself, if these professionals at a major company struggle with Excel, it must be the case everywhere”
John’s meteoric rise as a Microsoft Excel guru has made him the go-to instructor for the ubiquitous software. In just 5 years he managed to turn a tool used by millions into a seven figure company fueled by his upbeat attitude, can-do spirit and creative abilities.
But no one, not even John, could have predicted what a gold mine he’d stumbled upon: Within one month of opening the original course, he earned $15,000.
“The online learning industry is worth $100 billion, and Excel is a fundamental tool for businesses globally. With just a microphone, a camera, and a passion for teaching, I knew I could tap into that market.”
That was when he realised that what he was doing at his internal blog in the previous company could be replicated to help him start selling his courses online.
“The truth is, I wasn’t happy in the corporate world. My job paid only $2,000 a month, which wasn’t enough to support my family in Spain” says John. He quit his previous job because he found the rigidity of corporate culture unbearable for him.
“After 15 years in the corporate world, I realised it wasn’t for me. I wanted to wake up with the freedom to make my own choices, be creative and build something of my own. I saw Excel as the vehicle to achieve that.”
My thought process was simple: create a course, sell it, and if people find value in it, I’ll succeed. In my first month after I left my full time job, I made $15,000 right out of the gate. It was clear I was onto something”
I channelled all my energy into marketing, refining my product, and selling, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Fast forward, John has helped 100,000+ corporate professionals, finance analysts, accountants, project managers and Excel enthusiasts to advance their Excel skills through his website MyExcelOnline.
John was awarded the prestigious Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award by Microsoft Corporation in 2020 for his technological expertise and is also the author of several #1 Best Selling Amazon books, including 101 Best Excel Tips & Tricks, 101 Most Popular Excel Formulas & 101 Ready To Use Excel Macros.
He is currently living in the North of Spain (Basque Country) and he’s married and has one cheeky boy and a baby girl!
Now, John is eager to help other people, and shares his advice and top tips on how to succeed:
“If you’re considering leaving your job to become an entrepreneur, I’d say go for it. Be your own boss.
Not having a boss is the best thing ever, but you have to go through the corporate world first to appreciate it.
One day, you’ll face a choice: climb the corporate ladder or start your own business and help people. I chose the latter because I wanted freedom.
It wasn’t easy—success didn’t come overnight. But if you persist, no matter where you are from, no matter your background, you’ll get there. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the journey is worth it.”
