If you were to choose a few essential skills of life, what would they be?
I mean real skills, not like imaginary super human skills like flying or shape shifting.
Learning would be one skill. The ability to pick up and learn new information and skills, so in the ever changing economic landscape, you’d never get left behind.
Nothing’s worse than spending your life with only one or two skills, only to find out they are suddenly obsolete. Nothing can stop the ever flowing wave of technological innovation.
Learning is kind of a “meta skill.” One that will let you learn other skills.
Another one I’d choose is persuasion. Not specific to sales, or seduction, but a wide range of skills that would allow you to enter into a conversation, with a stranger if need be, quickly develop rapport, find out what their particular criteria is, and then find any basis for win-win persuasion.
You get what you want because you help them get what they want.
Another skill I’d choose is self awareness. Sometimes we do things that aren’t really in our best interests. Maybe they were a good idea when we started, but we are too focused on “not giving up” that we keep pushing forward, even though it doesn’t make any sense.
Knowing WHY you’re doing something is just as crucial is knowing HOW to do it.
If you know the real WHY, you open up a huge amount of flexibility in order to get your own needs met.
Another crucial skill I think would be the ability to create and maintain real relationships with real people. Having a group of close friends and family that you can count on in a pinch is absolutely vital, especially in this day and age.
You never know when you’re suddenly going to have to fend for yourself.
I know it’s scary to think about these things, but I think we must. Taking a good hard look at your life, and taking responsibility for what you want is become more important than ever.
Having a good set of language skills will help you in all of these areas.
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