Three Skills That Not Many People Think About…, But Will Give You A Big Boost In Life

We live in a “skill economy”

Go to school and then to college, get good grades, apply for a good job, get married, have kids – that’s what our parents and teachers taught us, right? They wanted us to be safe, so they told us to do what others are doing.
But they didn’t tell us that successful students often left school with debt and did work or jobs they hated for the rest of their lives.
Even the smartest minds spend years studying with so much hope, only to realize that most of their skills won’t be put into practice upon graduation. They end up feeling lethargic and what’s their importance inside companies.

According to surveys, a big number of people hate their jobs. 60% of Americans report that they would need an increased income of at least $6,000 per year to live comfortably. The study showed that only less than 20% are happy with their current income.

For some, these numbers may be frightening, but for those who are ready for change, they hold plenty of opportunities.

Our education system and work today is based on the industrial age: children go to school, so parents can work, and most jobs do not require cognitive skills. Instead, it’s the physical effort that counts. If you work more hours, you produce more.

Unfortunately, we have adopted the same principles in our current working life even though they are meaningless to knowledge fields.
If you want to break out of these old patterns, possibly make more money, and increase your quality of life, you have to learn new skills. It’s not always easy, but spending your life in a job you hate or that doesn’t live up to your full potential is even more painful.

“You can’t get a traditional education and then expect to live an extraordinary life.”

Tony Robbins

Your Words Matter

One of the most underrated skills in today’s business world is writing.
Everyone thinks they can write, but surprisingly few people can write well. Although our attention spans are decreasing, the written text remains a timeless medium and will not be out of human life any time soon.
The truth is the opposite: the fact that so many people write poorly increases the demand for well-written texts.
Almost any kind of business needs written words. We write emails on a daily basis, write content on our websites, ad campaigns, marketing and sales, even product descriptions, and much more.
By mastering the art of words, you can increase your impact and communicate better with people – whether they are your customers or co-workers.

Another great advantage of writing is that it helps you organize and structure your own thoughts. Brainstorming or thinking without writing is only half the battle. However, writing helps you visualize and structure the problems you encounter or the ideas you have. Even if it’s just a matter of putting your thoughts into a 10-minute journal, writing consistently and learning more about how to write well can help you in many situations in your life.

How Do I Learn To Write:

The most important tip about writing is to keep it simple.
In a world where most people try to seem smarter, simplicity is strength. No one wants to read your email or product description twice because they don’t understand your point of view. We are all busy and want quick solutions. The next time you write something, ask yourself: “How can I simplify this?”
Becoming a better writer isn’t about the writing itself. It’s more about being honest with yourself when writing.

But the following is also important, it is similar to writing but completely different…

It’s Talk!

We all talk, however, only a few people know how to speak better, so it benefits them both personally and their business.
Like most other important skills, we never learn how to speak well, communicate with people and make a good impression. We only speak because we can and have the ability to speak, but not necessarily because we are good at it.

Speaking is the most natural form of communication with people. In our highly connected and fast-paced world, deep connections are becoming more important and valuable.
If you know how to influence and persuade people (through writing or speaking), you will always be able to increase your income and influence.
If you can’t get people to listen to you, it doesn’t matter the brilliance or importance of your ideas.

All influential leaders know how to move people with their words.

It was known of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, that he was “if he spoke, people would listen,” meaning that his voice was strong that attracts and forces those around him to listen to him.

Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, and Tony Robbins are just a few examples of humans who have moved on and influenced millions of people. And they did it with their words. Like them or not, they are influential and have more power than someone who has a “better” message but can’t get it across to an audience.
Schools don’t teach this, but in real life, you have to knock on people’s doors (at least figuratively) and talk to them. If no one knows you exist, they will find it hard to hear you. Knowing that you can speak well also gives you confidence and credibility. We all know how awful it is to stand in front of an audience with sweaty hands and trembling knees.
These presentations and public speaking are not as bad as you sometimes think, but they will make your audience feel bad and boring because of your lack of confidence. However, if you can speak with confidence, people will look at you with interest, and it will be easier to convince them of your ideas.

How Do I Learn To Speak:

The easiest way to become a better speaker is also the most straightforward… Speak. Flex the muscle of your tongue to speak well, select words until you get used to them, and become a part of your personality.

Since public speaking is a pain for millions of people all over the world, many educational institutions offer specialized courses in the matter and help beginners become better speakers.
Toastmasters, for example, is an organization with multilingual branches around the world that trains people to speak in public without fear.

If you cannot join one of these educational institutions, the simplest thing you can do is practice. Practice by reading aloud in the language you want to master, whether Arabic, English, or other languages. All you have to do is read anything, whether a book, article, newspaper, story, out loud to those around you at home, to your family, to your children or even to read in front of the mirror. As the days go by, your tongue will become more fluent in the style of a pro. But just stick to this daily habit, even for a few minutes.

Life is easy if you can stick to your own words

Changing your life is easy. It’s a 3-step process, no matter what exactly you want to change:
First, you have to ask yourself where are you? And being honest with yourself about your current situation.
Next, you need to clarify where do you want to go? And be specific about your desired destination.
And finally, to ask yourself which way will you get from where you are to where you want to be?

If, for example, you want to lose weight, how can you eat fewer calories? How do you move more? Of course, you will suffer from a calorie deficit long enough.
It doesn’t sound strange to you, most of us have heard or read this before, right?
In fact, most people know exactly what to do to lose weight: eat less, move more. However, the global obesity rate has nearly tripled since 1975.
It’s strange, isn’t it?

The problem is that change is not about knowledge; It’s all about doing it.

It’s Discipline

Even if losing weight or staying healthy can be boiled down to a few simple rules, most people fail to follow these rules because they lack discipline.
It will always be easier to eat a bar of chocolate than an apple, and pizza will always smell better than a home-cooked meal.
You do not fail to achieve your goals because you lack knowledge. Most of the time, you fail because you lack discipline.

How can I be disciplined?

Doing the hard stuff is a skill that will benefit you in all areas of your life. Discipline depends on short-term sacrifices, so it can lead to long-term freedom. And the easiest way to stick to your words is to make things easy for yourself.
Do not rely on your willpower. Instead, create an environment that supports you.

If you want to eat better, stop buying unhealthy foods.
If you want to move more, take part in sports activities that help you exercise in an atmosphere where many people encourage you more.

If you want to read more, put a book in front of you, next to you, in your car, next to the bed, and when you read leave your phone in the living room, or far away from you so as not to distract you.

It is not difficult to achieve most goals in life. It’s just your brain trying to trick you into choosing the easier options.

Our final thoughts

Most of the time, making changes in our lives is not about the big or great things we imagine. Rather, it is the small daily routine that accumulates over the days that determines our success in everything we want to achieve.
Oftentimes, change is about two things: changing your mind and making an effort. The moment you decide to learn, you are already ahead of the majority of those around you.
If you want to be more valuable in the workplace, have a greater impact, or feel more confident, you will inevitably have to work on yourself and develop certain skills. Writing, speaking, and discipline.

And although they are invaluable, you can learn all three skills for free. So what are you still waiting for?