In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst celebrates the 40th anniversary of Microsoft Excel, a tool that has revolutionized the financial modeling industry and many others. Paul explores Excel’s fascinating history, its evolution over four decades, and shares interesting facts, hidden Easter eggs, and fun surprises that Excel enthusiasts will appreciate. From the first graphical interface to modern-day features like dynamic arrays, this episode showcases how Excel has shaped the way we work and how it continues to be an essential tool for financial modelers.

Expect to Learn

• The fascinating origin story of Excel and its early days on the Mac.
• Fun facts about Excel’s features, including its secret limitations and quirky surprises.
• Excel's functionality has evolved over the years to include over 500 functions.
• Hidden Easter eggs and games that were embedded in older versions of Excel.
• Creative and unique Excel projects, including games and pixel art, showcase the limitless possibilities within Excel.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• "The first version of Excel only had 150 functions, and now we’re up to 516! That’s quite a leap over 40 years." - Paul Barnhurst
• "Sometimes, the most creative projects come from using Excel in ways you never thought possible, like pixel art or creating a full video game." - Paul Barnhurst
• "The tool of choice for modelers is Excel, and it has a lot more to offer than meets the eye." - Paul Barnhurst

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In today’s episode:

[02:17] - 16 Fun Facts About Excel

[08:11] - Excel's Evolution

[14:58] - Excel Easter Eggs

[16:55] - Excel Jokes to Lighten the Mood

[19:13] - Epic Excel Creations: Stunning Art

[23:11] - Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts