If this essay helps you learn something or think about marketing and inclusivity differently, please consider sending a tip. I love writing about doing marketing differently, but spending my energy this way has real repercussions for my health and business.
Recently, a whole host of memories from 11th and 12th grade came flooding back to me - I had major surgeries both those years, so a lot was blocked out or just hazy from the painkillers.
One of the things I've been remembering is my foray into business classes and extracurriculars...TOTALLY forgot about that FBLA membership and intro to business class senior year.
Truth is, while I was mildly interested in the topics, I mainly signed up for those things because of the awesome class I had 6th period in 11th grade: how to become your parents' tech support.
Okay, so it was some kind of "intro to professional computing" thing, but at that time my dad had me in his AIM buddy list as "Tech Support," so ¯\(ツ)/¯
It basically taught you what you needed to know to put "Skills: Microsoft Office" on your resume.
Mostly super basic stuff we had already figured out for ourselves, like customizing formatting in Word and Excel. Some SUPER basic stuff about how computer programming worked, but not how to actually program, that was a harder class.
But the reason I loved this class? Microsoft Access...my introduction to databases. 😍 🤓 😍
It was love at first click.
Suddenly I knew how I could build my own version of Cher's closet software in Clueless!
I could see how it'd be possible to create a reference and organization system for my CDs the way I always dreamed of!
(Yes, this is what 16 year old Bberg dreamed about...databases.)
Even at 16, I could see the advantage that databases had over static word documents, notes, and spreadsheets.
After that class ended, I lost access to Microsoft Access (pun wasn't intended at first, but I AM proud of it), and didn't think much about databases for years.
But I still had that understanding of how powerful they could be.
That's why I jumped on this new era of database tools like Airtable and Notion so quickly.
I knew what I'd be able to do with them.
Because yes, I still want to build myself my own Clueless closet app. 😉
But really, I saw that they were bringing databases to a new population of people like myself who didn't really know SQL or own enterprise softwares, but needed more than a spreadsheet could offer.
And I get that understanding the difference between them can be confusing, which is also why I created products to help you get started. The Work Brighter resource shop has training + template bundles for both Airtable AND Notion, so you can dive in and get started!