Hi guys! Still remember my article on “How to Create Your Ultimate Success Recipe”? Today I’m going to share my insights on Step 4 in the article – equipping yourself with the right set of skills. It doesn’t matter whether you want to become a pilot, a teacher, a businessman or a banker. In my opinion, everyone should be equipped with the following five basic skills:

Must-Have Skill #1: Communication
Good communication skills are vital for your survival! The top on your list! And the best part is, you don’t have to be a professional salesperson or a sweet talker to communicate well. Anyone can and MUST learn to communicate. The benefits?

And many many more!

Must-Have Skill #2: Selling
Selling is a subset of communication skills. Because it is so important, I thought I should dedicate a small section for it to be elaborated upon. Selling is only for salespeople? That’s a myth! Whether you are doing it consciously or not, you are constantly selling in your life!

You sell yourself to your family and friends as a happy-go-lucky person. You sell yourself at the last job interview you had. At your workplace, you sell yourself as a responsible and capable leader. As a boss, you sell yourself as someone who values the well-being of your employees as much as the profits. More selling for you if you are a salesperson.

Still think it’s not part of your life?

Must-Have Skill #3: Time Investment
Time investment? Do I mean time management? Nope! Just as I wrote. And I’ll let you in on another one of my discoveries. Time management is a myth! After all, time is an “unmanageable and continuous” resource (see: Wikipedia). Activities can be managed. But not time.

The term “time investment” also delivers a change in attitude to the way we view time. When we see time as a resource to be invested, we become concerned with the returns that it yields, won’t we? That’s exactly what we need!!! The efficient and productive use of our time!

Must-Have Skill #4: Learning
One of my greatest realization after I started indulging in personal development books is that I’m not skilled in learning after all! I’m not joking. Whole brain learning techniques, speed-reading, mind-mapping, memory improvement techniques, neuro-linguistic programming and Suggestopedia, what a wide array of learning tools I have been missing out on throughout my schooling years! Still, it’s better late than never.

Must-Have Skill #5: Emotional Control 
Motivation, passion and determination, what do they all have in common? They are all guided by emotions. Ever heard of the book “Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ” by Daniel Goleman? You should check it out. It’s a national bestseller for a reason.

I’ve touched on the topic of emotions before (see: 1, 2), so I won’t be doing it again. What I’ll like to emphasize is this – master your emotions, and you master your own destiny!

Coming Up Next…
I’ll be elaborating more on time investment in my next article. What are your views on this article? Leave a comment below.

Take-Away of this Article:
The five must-have skills you should be equipped with are communication, selling, time investment, learning and emotional control.

Start working on them if you find yourself lacking in one of these areas!