Are You Using Your Skills Effectively?

It is easy to ignore the skills/talents we have and look externally at what everyone else is doing. Trouble is, in the attempt to join the bandwagon, we end up frustrating ourselves in jobs and career paths that were never meant for us.

Don’t get me wrong, one needs some sort of pedestal to kick start life (surely, you need income), however, while one is within that environment, he/she needs to have a set plan of what he/she is looking to really achieve with his/her God given skills/talents. Going through the motions just won’t cut it anymore in this day and age (a sad reality when retirement hits, I must say).

People say “knowledge is power!”, but I say “applied knowledge is power!”

Especially when you use that knowledge for yourself and for the good of others, you put yourself even farther.

So, how can one harness this?

I can’t count the number of people I know who talk about subjects like football (“soccer” for my cousins across the pond) on social networks (especially on Facebook), and articulate the game so well; they could even qualify as a pundits. Yes, I know that might sound like a ‘pipe dream’ for most, but here’s the truth… you are either utilising that knowledge to your advantage, or you’re just another clangor in the midst of an already noisy social media environment (dear friend, use your skills!).

Now here’s the hard truth… we have become lazy! Yup! I said it, and I’m guilty as charged! We want things to happen, but we are not willing to get up and get things done in order for us to have desired results.

Got good knowledge of ‪‎football‬ (soccer), ‪basketball, ‎music, ‪drama,‪ politics, etc? Start a blog. Love being in front of cameras and recording videos? Start a ‪YouTube channel. Love talking but can’t write? Start a podcast (iTunes is waiting to have you)… that smart phone is ‘smart’ for a reason… use it! By all means, get something done (I’m actually saying that to myself right now… ouch!).

The idea that we can’t achieve anything within a certain industry because it is “saturated” or that no one will listen or even acknowledge our work is just a lame excuse we put out there to feed our lazy comfortable state. If you get only one listener/subscriber/fan, etc, make it seem like you have an audience of over a million. Keep at it!

When I started designing ‪‎websites, I didn’t believe anyone would patronise me, because coding and ‪programming are not my forte, and I also felt I wasn’t good enough. I’m not claiming be the best there is, but I sure know how to whip out a quality website these days. My first ever seminar on ‪Facebook‬ marketing had 60 registrations, but only 14 people turned up… that did not deter me (more seminars in the offing!).

So what’s my point? The skills you have today are not there for no reason… they are there for you to use them to build something for yourself and family as God gives you the grace. It could be a‪ business, it could be to use it within your job, or to help you find the right career path… figure it out and make the move.

Time is not waiting for anyone.

Your turn… What did you take out from this post and what are you going to implement to ensure you start a business or grow the one you already have. Comment below!

To your success!

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