Tuesday, June 25, 2019

How To Be Educated, Skilled... and Employed In Today’s Age!


Make One Skill A Priority

  •   Be Good In At Least One Important Skill Or Competency.



Although many are blessed with numerous strings to their bow with respect to skill, interests, talent, resources etc, it is always better to excel in at least one of the primary strengths in the long run. Focusing and devoting one’s efforts mastering one aspect helps in obtaining either a competitive edge or a moat; a unique niche proposition that lends itself to be noticed, appreciated and assimilated by the powers that be in the successful jobs/career scheme of things. Casing points in the world of sports being Jonty Rhodes, who represented South Africa in many sports, including Hockey; Herschelle Gibbs, a gifted back in rugby, apart from playing soccer; Yohan Blake, who could, as per rumours, bowl in the high 140 kmph range, and although all had other options available to them decided - sooner rather than later – to opt for the one strength that set them apart towards their journey into deserved superstardom.

Learn, Improve & Better
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  •          Make It A Habit To Continuously Learn, Improve & Better.


Now although you might be among the fortunate/deserving ones to have had a head start in life or are a late bloomer, it is crucial in both cases to keep learning, improving and bettering yourself to consolidate on the incumbent successes or being prepared to maximise on the next opportunity that comes your way. For example, a statistician or analyst is only as passé as the last fact he missed and a reporter is only as acclaimed as the latest exclusive he beat out the big guns to garner. So growth only stops when you desist from the challenges and efforts required to keep hammering the anvil of the next summit to scale... and as a bonus it keeps things a lot more interesting than otherwise it might be... just like a writer who refused to learn new words and his imagination now refuses to reveal itself to the limitations of his own making.

Observe, Adapt & Get Along.
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  •        Even If Someone Is Unwilling To Share, Try To Observe & Adapt Without Being A Nuisance.


Just because you want to learn and improve, it doesn’t mean it will come easy. As many of the learned people we meet will vouch for, self improvement isn’t a smooth sailing always. It requires time, dedication, resourcefulness and a fair amount of observation to explore and assimilate the trick of the trade – even with the technological means at our disposal – as many are hesitant to part with their ‘moat enabling skill set’ confessing to limitations embargoed by schedule, competitiveness, ignorance or sheer unwillingness to being helpful under the garb of being occupied or veiled by the masks that insecurities fester. So when it comes to growth, adapt and foster the skills and knowledge that increments the inherent know-how to keep being at the top of the proverbial game of one-upmanship to the top – without being malicious or indignant to others.


Be The Best For Today & Tomorrow.

  •         Challenge Yourself To Be The Best At What Is Needed Now Whilst Exploring What Will Be Needed In The Future.


We all have ambitions as to what is ideal for us at least at some point in time. At this time it is important to set the right yardstick in the wake of the pedestal we see ourselves aiming and emulating. For your tomorrow should be prepared not in the now or the tomorrow but for the day after even, because as and when you think you are ready for it, it is easy to fall in the trap of not keeping pace with what is expected and needed. So why not plan for the best and still be good enough if you fall short, as for example, aiming for the greatness of Sachin Tendulkar and still be a fighting Gambhir; aiming for the legend that is Roger Federer and doing well to be the passion of a Leander Paes, or even aim for the acclaim of the icon that is Paulo Coelho and settling for the popularity of a Chetan Bhagat. So whatever your aim, go for the greater of the choices at hand, and even in your fall, be shaded in the miracle of sheer genius you aspired for.

Unlearn & Evolve
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  •         Be Critical Of What You Know Now & Be Receptive And Eager To Unlearn & Evolve.


As the adage goes, progress never stops. However, misinformed growth and half-truths masquerading in the guise of gospel pillars of success can certainly prove to be the spanner in the works and needs to be plucked out and begin over if need be. Don’t be impatient or enamoured by what seems to be an easy fix that promulgates a less trodden path to the pinnacle, but only sets you back. Regardless, even in your learning and consequential probable failings, be eager to learn and humble to unlearn. Known truths and unknown discrepancies are revealing itself at regular intervals, and if we are stringent and unreceptive to the change in the status quo, we might drift further from our aim of competing at the zenith of relevance brought on by our immutability. So, question, reveal, absorb, repeat, as it is when you change, that success has space to jump in.

All the best to be the best you can be whilst preparing for what you need to be.



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