How do you stand out and build a thriving online business when there are already thousands of competitors in your exact niche? When Kyle Pew first searched the Udemy platform to launch his online courses, he typed in keywords like "Excel" and discovered over a thousand courses already existing in his space. It was discouraging, and he initially wondered if he was just going to waste his time. Yet, instead of walking away, he took the leap, tested the waters with smaller courses, and ultimately built a student base of nearly 2.5 million learners.

In this episode of The Learn-It-All™ Podcast, Damon sits down with Kyle Pew, Microsoft Certified Trainer and Udemy Instructor Partner, to unpack the mindset shift and operational strategy required to scale an e-learning empire from scratch. Kyle shares the raw reality of his first six months, detailing how he balanced a nine-to-five job while delivering massive value to students who only paid $10 for a course. You will discover why separating yourself from the crowd means refusing to "record and forget" your digital products, and how continuous feedback cycles can completely transform your career.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur trying to gain traction in a crowded market, a corporate leader trying to motivate a discouraged team, or a professional wondering if Microsoft Excel is still relevant in the age of AI, this conversation offers a masterclass in consistency, deep listening, and outcome-based professional development.

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In this episode, you’ll learn...

Why entering a market with more than 1,000 competitors can reveal exactly how to stand out, especially when others have stopped listening, improving, and showing up for their customers.
How Kyle built early momentum by treating every low-cost student like a long-term relationship, answering questions daily and delivering far more support than the course price promised.
Why real learning begins when people connect a skill to an immediate problem, rather than simply completing a list of topics and hoping the knowledge sticks.
How to separate useful criticism from empty negativity, identify repeated feedback, and turn uncomfortable comments into practical improvements without allowing them to drain your confidence.
Which human skills will become even more valuable as AI changes tools like Excel, including judgment, context, curiosity, data analysis, and the ability to connect information across teams.
Why Kyle’s biggest measure of success is not millions of students or hundreds of thousands of reviews, but building a career that allows him to be present for the moments his family will remember.

Timestamps

00:00 – Episode preview and introduction
01:34 – The discouraging search that nearly stopped Kyle before he began
02:36 – From teaching Excel to designing video games and back again
04:26 – The six-month signal that proved his side project could work
05:34 – Why giving students more than they paid for changed everything
06:29 – The opportunity Kyle found inside 1,000 competing courses
09:11 – Eight hours of unusable footage and the lesson it forced him to learn
10:42 – How to learn from criticism without letting it consume you
13:19 – What teaching millions revealed about how people actually learn
15:11 – The listening habit that makes leaders and instructors more effective
18:50 – Why checking every box can still produce the wrong outcome
21:22 – How AI is changing Excel without making human skills irrelevant
24:07 – Using ChatGPT as a sounding board instead of surrendering your judgment
26:18 – How learning creates confidence only when you put it into practice
28:21 – Staying grounded after teaching more than two million students
29:25 – The advice from Kyle’s father that shaped his definition of success
32:08 – The surreal moment the student counter reached one million
33:03 – What to do when you keep trying, and nothing seems to be working
33:46 – The legacy Kyle wants to leave beyond courses, reviews, and revenue
34:50 – Damon’s challenge to show up, listen closely, and keep learning

About Kyle Pew

Kyle Pew is a world-class Microsoft-certified trainer and entrepreneur who has taught nearly 2.5 million students globally on the Udemy platform. With over two decades of classroom and digital training experience, Kyle previously specialized in live instruction environments in the San Francisco area, including several years as a premier instructor at Learnit. He also brings a diverse creative background to his educational methodology, having graduated from the Art Institute of San Francisco's media arts and animation program before working in game design for Electronic Arts (EA). Today, he focuses full-time on creating dynamic online courses, managing a massive global learning community through active Q&A facilitation, and helping professionals build the workplace skills necessary to advance their careers.

Resources and Mentions

Kyle Pew’s Website: https://www.officenewb.com/

Kyle Pew’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficeNewb

Microsoft Excel Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/microsoft-excel-2013-from-beginner-to-advanced-and-beyond/

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

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