10 Skills You Need to Succeed at Almost Anything

Outstanding post, Dustin! To help with the critical thinking part of it, here is a link to my post “How to Think Like a Lawyer” at http://shanelyang.com/2008/06/09/how-to-think-like-a-lawyer/

I think that good memory is a very important skill for success.

Two others:

Reading effectively.
Listening effectively.

(You do cover writing and speaking, but I think good reading and listening skills are at least as important.)

PATIENCE. Patience, in line with perseverance, are almost always rewarded.

Ah—another important skill: drawing. Not in the sense of portraits or nature scenes, but in the sense of diagrams, representations, freehand graphs, and the like. As in the book Thinking With A Pencil.

Initiative – the world doesn’t change on it’s own

I agree that #9 is the most important point in this list. In my own life, I have found that 10-15 minutes of alone time, doing nothing, at least once per day helps to manage my anxiety and stress. Being in the technology business – this is so important for all of us to manage. Not only does it help with mental health, but it also helps keep the waistline slim: it’s well known that stress makes you fat.

Dustin:

Good to see yet another person who understands the importance of accounting in everyday life. My site about basic accounting is my way of helping people gain this important skill.

Nice list and good provocative idea!

Comments:

- Items 1, 2 and 4 are Communication Skills

- I’d expand item 10 into Business Acumen

Terry

I think a sense of humor is important in growing success. Knowing the appropriate time to use humor and to what extent can require a great amount of skill (typically called timing :D ).

If it is not a skill by itself, it would definitely improve the communication skills 1,2 and 4.

Sales skills – incredibly important.

Knowing how to look……

Literally, being able to look at a problem in the physical world. The solution will often be obvious if the observer has the ability to concentrate on the object to the right degree…..in my experience, a rare quality.

Figuratively, in the non-physical world, complex problems cannot be solved unless they are subjected to close scrutiny by means of concentrated observation and analysis.

I just posted at GTDtimes.com about three life skills from a psychology point of view, some of which overlap with yours. They are very broad. 1) Getting along with others, 2) Getting things done (familiar, eh?) 3) Managing emotions (self-soothing).

I think your list was remarkably solid, and could use a little amendment to either broaden your self management one or add these more psychological ones.

Was very glad to see critical thinking on here. That is surprisingly undervalued by too many educated people IMHO. My accounting skills could use some enhancement by the way.

One very important one: computer literacy. I consider being able to touch-type part of that. I know even successful computer geeks who don’t touch-type, but they are the exception. The reason I include this, if it’s not obvious, is that even with jobs that aren’t really computer jobs, almost any high paying job is a desk job, and with desk jobs, you will not be able to compete with your morore efficient, computer literate coworkers if you don’t know how to use technology to its fullest advantage. Even if you are a contractor or a plumber or something like that, knowing how to use a computer and software relevant to running your business will still allow you to compete better. Anyone avoiding using computers will be stuck in the mid-20th century, and so will their career.

Another important skill to have is to learn how to delay gratification and plan for the long term. If you have a route and a destination for say the next 5 years, then you don’t waste a bunch of time acting on impulses, doing mostly things that may be fun or interesting, but which don’t advance your personal goals. That’s not to say advancing your goals can’t be fun or interesting, or that you shouldn’t goof off – but be able to keep your sights set.

Dude – you TOTALLY forgot positive thinking!?

Enroll yourself into a liberal arts program. The humanities need more attention. Numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 are taken care of with that level of education–being the best and most rounded education.

Social Intelligence! Understanding human behavior, Putting yourself in other people’s shoes, and having a deep understanding that it’s not about YOU.

Being a Teenage Mutant NInja Turtle would certainly help too!

JT
http://www.FireMe.To/udi

NEVER EVER believe some dumbass who tells you “it can’t be done.” Prove them wrong by doing it.

This will sound vile, but

11) The ability to dropkick people who cannot do #9: RELAX!!! out of your life.

There’s nothing like waking up every day to someone who is stressed beyond belief and thinks that everything will be alright as long as everything stays the same.

Don’t forget sleep. Getting enough sleep keeps you energized. Here is my article listing over 200+ reasons why sleep is so important.

http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2008/07/14/so-many-reasons-to-get-enough-sleep/

My self-improvement article:

http://www.shapeupamerica.com/2008/03/06/the-most-incredible-ways-to-improve-thyself/

I like the addition of managing emotions self soothing concept. I work in the healthcare industry and it is amazing to see how when some co-workers response to stress and other various emotions reflect outwardly they can quickly lose respect and sucess.

It’s a great integration.To be successful we must exercise their own more…

The original list is pretty complete. I would add conflict resolution, marketing (implied to an extent with writing, public speaking and networking) fitness.

How about spelling? It’s Maths, not Math.

Where I work, one most easily bend at the knees and … well you get the point. It appears that around here it is the only way to move up or in some cases save your job. Our management and staff motives are self-serving.

I agree with the posting above it is another reason I am looking to leave my employer. Problem is that there are so many others who are looking to do the very same. If I had the money and could start my own compnay I could very easily take 1/3 of the people I work with with me!

According to Kouzes and Posner (The Leadership Challenge) one has only to observe who get promoted, rewarded and punished to figure out the values of the organization. Using that as a guildline – my org has no or very poor leadership or redeeming morals. People are wanting to jump ship!

So bottom line – if you want to succeed – find an organization that share YOUR personal values! That way you are not trying to swim against the current!

Great post – the one single one I would add to the list would be “Skill with people” or the ability to communicate and manage peole effectively. Nobody is an island, to be successful in just about anything takes a certain amount of collaboration and in order for that to work you need people’s trust and respect.

I don’t think anyone would ever regret learning a foreign language. But I’m biased, so maybe I’m wrong. XD

Pillow fluffing. (vital organisation skill)
TV remote mastery. (channel hopping proficiency demonstates a serious personality)
Opening beer bottles with a lighter (or teeth). (always impresses the chicks)
A history of LSD use is useful in interviews. (never a dull moment)
A penchant for transvestitism. (everybody needs an interesting hobby)
An overwhelming desire to fart your way to the top (the smell of ambition is unmistakeable)

So…..you are saying my skils as a NINJA will get me nowhere?

Imagination is the number one skill to have.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

–Albert Einstein

Creative thinking is definitely a skill and can be taught: De Bono has proved that conclusively. His materials are well worth a review. The CoRT program is used in quite a few countries and the differences in creativity between those who have taken the program and those who have not is quite astonishing.

I just thought of another skill that is important for success: people are often judged on how they hold themselves and move, so I would add a physical component of movement skills, which can be learned through (for example) modern dance, ballet, martial arts, or the like.

Good to see the important basics listed here! I agree with most all of them. One additional element I would address is the arts. Not in the traditional grade school manner, but holistic right-brain exercises.

Once the domain of the painter, dancer, poet, and monk, business and medical schools in the top institutions of America are now ensuring students complete studies in the arts. They find it significantly increases their capacity to observe and identity patterns, which leads to innovation and problem-solving not capable with logic.

It also tends to reduce prejudice among children and allows for forms of expression that reduce stress and self-esteem issues.

I think basic pc troubleshooting skills is great to have now., both hardware and software. It is a subset of critical thinking, so I guess you do have it covered. But it does take someone comfortable with technology to do so. I have seen great critical thinkers in business that have no idea how to solve the most basic of pc problems. Though if everyone learned it, I may be out of a job.

Blogging is a subset of the writing skill that I am learning and hopefully improving. I have a blog at http://frugalnyc.blogspot.com/. I would appreciate it if you leave comments about how I can improve my posts or if you find them at all useful. Go easy on me, I’m a newbie.

Just as Dustin said, some of the comments point out qualities, not skills. Skills are things that you learn from school (including books), from others, or from experience. I think the qualities such as patience are definitely having though. Some of these qualities can be improved, and I think that’s probably where the line blurs and the confusion starts.

Before I go, I wanted to say, I am a big fan of Dustin’s posts for the past several months. When I find an article on lifehack and Dustin is the author, I find that 95% of the time, it is a great post I can take something away from. Sorry I can’t give you 100% Dustin, I believe nobody is perfect.

Thanks for all the great comments everyone!

This time, Wax on.

Thanks for the refresh.
I used to teach very much this same list.
Good to see it posted out.

And thanks @ChrisBrogan for the h/u.

~Best,
Ed

that sounds good on paper but it’s a very logical linear path to ‘success’, when you look at people who are successful in a more ‘cool’ way, like writers, artists and musicians you’ll see that following a muse can be extremely illogical and their lives can be a total mess!

Is success measured by your current rewards or by what you give to posterity? by this scale most of my favorite people were total failures!!!

not bad but person must have ability to convert surrounding people in his/her favour.that’s the real success person

ohh thanks for that special categorizing…

Masturbation. Effective techniques of Masturbation and utilising the internet will vastly improve self esteem, opinion of women and arm muscles

As a long time employee (25 years) of a large corporation, I have to say you all missed the number one skill needed for success: Boot Licking, to use the euphemism less socially incorrect.

I would also add COMEDY IMPROV as a hugely useful skill. I did improv for several years and then discovered it spilled over into my public speaking, writing, and presenting–to great benefit. It helps you frame difficult conversations with just enough levity and humor that you can discuss very tricky issues and keep people calm and enjoying the discussion.

while you were indulging yourselves in your petty ambitions and your personal dreams, your Democracy was stolen from you by a band of rogue Neocons. Did you think someone else was minding the store while you were stroking your egos?

You can eliminate some of the skills if you have this ability.

The ability to judge people accurately.

If you can judge people you can delegate and shore up your weaknesses with people who are strong in your weak areas.

me me me

Many of us know what has happened with our government. The US tv news is not accurate and you will not know what is going on with just watching it. Let’s hope Obama wins and there is no war with Iran. He’s our best hope now. I believe there is no impeachment now going on because the neocons and their followers are dangerous. Bush should have been impeached.

Awareness. How many of us have bosses who are oblivious.

Very nice post. I’d add:

Versatility (see blow)

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.”
Robert A. Heinlein

Being a good liar, an artful back-stabber, and an excellent withholder of highly relevant information.

The math metaphor is not a very good one. While “integrating polynomials might sound brainsy it is actually a very simple thing to do, al you need to know in order to do that is to add ans subtract by one.”

great list – thank you!
I would add something about change.
The ability to handle it successfully, emotionally, planning, being flexible, adaptable, and open.

How about some foundation based in reality. I was talking to a woman last weekend who thought that, in the history of mankind, there had been two (2) wars: WWI and WWII. She also thought that Martin Luther King had once been POTUS, had no idea what was the significance of July 4, 1776, or what the difference was between the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

Some skills I’ve found useful:
Being able to access my own pleasure (in a broad sense) and taking responsibility to bring into being what gives me pleasure. It is good to make decisions based on pleasure vs. on avoidance. It provides a ground for loving. I learned to think of things this way from Audre Lorde.
A second skill I have used is asking questions about everything of anyone. This has given me the ability to fulfill my pleasure and that of others. I learned this from the Center for Career Development and Ministry in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.

Cheers,

Christian

Keith: That was a little myopic of you, here in the age of the Internet and all.

Don’t forget leadership and execution.

Interesting article & thread. I would say Self-awareness is a must. Is it a trait or skill? I dunno. For anyone to succeed he/she needs to know who he/she is & what his/her particular role is in a given situation.

Lack of other skills might be overcome but if a person is not “awake” then that person will not go far!

A truly successful person has all of the skills that you mentioned AND the qualities of Empathy or high eQ, emotional IQ.

I agree that critical thinking should be in this list…maybe at #1. The Robi Robot Syndrome just seems to get stronger each year in modern society. People don’t like to think these days! We have TV, religion, sports and (yikes!) the web to make sure we never have to critically consider the important issues in our world.

Ask what you don’t know, or what you don’t understand. Do it always!

Great post! Success has many components and you have hit all the primary elements. My favorite idiom for success is to think outside of the box. But the most important thing is to believe in yourself so others can believe in you.

Communication is a big word covering so much ground–some folks are better at one sort, others at a different sort. What I’ve found to be an underrated (and sadly often underused) skill is being able to criticise someone or deliver less-than-uplifting information to one or more people in ways that neither are too painful OR which fail to confront the issue at hand in ways that give the party being addressed sufficient information to actually change whatever is problematic.

Doing this well does not come easily and like many things, you have to get it wrong in a lot of situations before finally learning to get it right by seeing what ways of presenting this kind of information tend to work best. But it’s more than worth it. Things to begin with:

- Straightforwardness. Honesty.

- Lack of avoidance-phobia when it comes to causing unhappiness (strongly empathic people tend to have this)

- Balancing criticism with equivalent opposite compliment.

- Giving encouragement that’s personal, not generalised or generic–which makes it much more believable

I think of the jobs and friendships and relationships fallen by the wayside that owed their demise in whole or part to poorly communicated or NON-communicated criticism, and it makes me sad.

It hurts to know you failed at something, but so much more the pain when you find out you could have changed something, but never got a clear signal about what it would have done you well to change–and so, you never even tried to in the first place.