What I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Data Analyst

Lessons from a self-taught journey into data — the mistakes, the clarity, and the growth

When I first heard “data is the new oil,” I thought, okay, cool… where do I start?

So I bought a Python course on Udemy — because that’s what tech people said I should do.
And it was a disaster.

I didn’t understand a thing.

That’s when I paused and realized… I had skipped the basics.

If you’re just starting your data journey, here’s what I wish someone had told me:

🟢 1. Start with Excel or SQL
Don’t jump into coding yet. You need to understand data logic first.

🟢 2. Certificates won’t save you
Build projects, not just PDFs. Share your work.

🟢 3. The tech world can be noisy
So many tools, so many opinions. You’ll get overwhelmed — unless you focus.

🟢 4. You’ll feel behind, a lot
That’s normal. Trust your process. Stay consistent.

🟢 5. Learning in public changes everything
I started sharing my journey even when I was unsure.
That’s how I became The Data Girl.

🟢 6. Not every course is worth your time
You don’t need ten courses. You need one solid one — and lots of practice.

🟢 7. It’s okay to ask for help
Join communities. Ask questions. People are more helpful than you think.

🟢 8. Tools are temporary, skills are forever
Power BI, Tableau, SQL — tools change, but critical thinking stays.

🟢 9. Build a learning system that fits your life
Whether you have 30 minutes or 3 hours — create a routine you can stick to.

🟢 10. Your voice matters
Don’t wait until you “know enough” to speak up. You’re already enough. Share what you learn. Someone out there needs it.

Now, I keep showing up. Keep practicing. Keep sharing.
And I want you to do the same.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start — and stay with it.

Till next time,
The Data Girl