1M Views: Excel Obstacle Course Goes Viral

A community of content creators is turning Microsoft Excel into a spectator sport, with hundreds of millions of users worldwide watching and learning from their skills. Dan Kidney, a 32-year-old from London, has gained a combined 300,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, where he shares his Excel knowledge and productivity hacks under the username 'Functional Excel'.

Kidney's Excel obstacle course video, which showcased his ninja-like efficiency, reached 1 million views within days of being posted on TikTok. This unexpected success has inspired others to share their own Excel skills, including Jonathan Tristan, a 29-year-old content creator known as 'Your Finance Brother' on TikTok and Instagram. Tristan, a former investment banker, even posted a video saying 'Your Excel skills suck' on his social media pages, sparking engagement and encouraging others to improve their Excel abilities.

The community's efforts are not only entertaining but also educational, with schoolteachers using their templates for student competitions. A schoolteacher in rural Germany, for example, used Dan Kidney's Excel templates for a class competition, demonstrating the real-world impact of this online community.

## What's driving the trend The rise of Excel as a spectator sport can be attributed to the creativity and enthusiasm of content creators like Kidney and Tristan. Kidney started posting Excel videos on TikTok during a planned employment break, initially sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! basic functions and later creating more complex challenges like the obstacle course. His success has inspired others to share their own Excel skills, creating a snowball effect that has turned Excel into a popular online phenomenon.

## Why it matters The Excel community's efforts matter because they are helping to demystify a program that many people find intimidating. With hundreds of millions of users worldwide, Microsoft Excel is an integral part of businesses, and improving one's Excel skills can have a significant impact on productivity and career prospects. By sharing their knowledge and skills, content creators like Kidney and Tristan are making Excel more accessible and fun, encouraging others to learn and improve their abilities.

As the community continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it evolves and what new challenges and innovations emerge. One thing is certain, however: Excel is no longer just a practical tool, but a platform for creativity, competition, and learning.