Introduction: Studies on Skills You Need to Thrive
Organizations like the World Economic Forum, Udemy, LinkedIn, and many others conduct studies frequently on the skills you need to thrive and succeed. I’ve paid attention to many of these studies. However, I also pay attention to what’s going on in the environment. We’re living in a time of unprecedented change, and if you’re observant, you’ll notice changes taking place.
For instance, years before the World Economic Forum added learning agility (active learning and learning strategies) as a skill needed to thrive, it made sense to me it was an important skill to have. You need to stay up-to-date to keep your skills sharp in changing environments so you don’t get left behind. I’ve been thinking about practical skills you need to thrive and succeed. And they’re based on my experience.
Over the past few days, I’ve been thinking about how millionaires think and act. When the media publishes and sensationalizes a reduction in the workforce because of technology, what's not mentioned is how opportunities come with these changes. When jobs disappear because of new technologies, new ones are created. So it's important to make sure that continuous learning is a part of your DNA.
How Successful People Think and Act
You don't see the most successful people worrying about technology making what they do irrelevant. These luminaries have a growth mindset. And they have practical skills they use every day. They're always learning and they've honed the skill of anticipating trends.
In How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It, Mark Cuban wrote that before he became successful,
“I read books about successful people. In fact, I read every book or magazine I could get my hands on. I would tell myself that one good idea would pay for the book and could make the difference between me making it or not.”
And in the book, Rich Habits by Thomas Corley, one of the 10 habits of the rich is engaging in self-improvement every day. Another one is to engage in rich habits each day.
“Successful people are positive, enthusiastic, energetic, happy, and well-balanced individuals. They feel powerful, in control, confident, and energized. This is not by accident. They are disciples of Rich Thinking.”
Dan Henry’s YouTube Video About the Four Books that Made Him Over $30 Million
I watched Dan Henry in a YouTube video talking about four books he read that made him over 30 million dollars. The irony is that I had read two of the books years ago, and did not earn millions of dollars. The issue is not applying information from the books. I apply the information from the books I read.
However, after thinking and reflecting about it, I decided I don’t think and act at the level of millionaires. These successful people think and act in a certain way. In studying them, we’ll learn to do things the way they do them.
Practical Skills You Need to Thrive and Succeed
After a lot of thought and examination, I came up with the following practical skills you need to thrive and succeed.
- Learning How to Learn (Retention Strategies): Cultivate a thirst for knowledge. This is necessary because things are changing rapidly. Therefore, skills become obsolete, so you have to reskill and upskill in the most efficient way. Part of rapid learning is to remember what you learn. Retention strategies are key.
- Technology Literacy: The days when you could ignore technology are long gone. Every professional needs to understand at least the basics. Technology literacy is using, understanding, and evaluating technology responsibly and effectively. It encompasses using digital tools to communicate and solve problems, understanding technological principles, and managing technology to achieve goals.
- Financial Literacy: This is about making smart money choices by using your knowledge, skills, and confidence to build a secure financial future. This involves grasping financial ideas, acquiring practical skills like budgeting and debt control, and building the confidence to navigate financial decisions effectively.
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Problem-Solving: Every day you face many challenges and problems. Therefore, it’s important to develop problem-solving abilities. Einstein once said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions”. This quote highlights the importance of preparing to solve problems. In many problem-solving models, preparation is the first step in the process.
- Decision-Making: Everyone makes countless decisions, some smaller than others. You face choices and you must decide on the best one. Sometimes the choices will help you solve a problem. Therefore, decision-making and problem-solving are related skills.
- Creativity: This is a skill that’s often on the skills you need to succeed. It’s also related to problem-solving. Mark Cuban once said that creativity is the only skill you need to succeed. I wouldn’t go that far. However, it’s a vital skill to have.
- Communication: This includes writing, presenting, non-Verbal communication, observation, and listening. To succeed, it’s important to master the many forms of communicating. Some highly successful people attribute their success to being able to effectively communicate their ideas.
- Analysis and Synthesis: With so much information at our fingertips, it’s important to make sense of this information. When you do this well, you’re able to anticipate trends and plan for them. Focus on mastering information analysis and synthesis.
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How to Think: With so much disinformation and fake news, critical thinking is more important than ever. Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it”. This quote is a reminder that you need to use critical thinking and a different level of thinking to solve problems.
- Influence and Persuasion: How do you sell your ideas? Or get buy-in for important projects you’re working on. The art of influence and persuasion will take you a long way. In the hit TV series, The Mentalist, the protagonist, Patrick Jane, mastered these skills, which helped him solve cases for the California Bureau of Investigation.
- Leveling Up: This skill is included because of my experience. I mentioned how even though I’m good at applying the knowledge and wisdom I find in books, I’m still not operating at the level of millionaires. This tells me I have to level up, taking things up several notches. One way is to emulate those who have mastered what you’re trying to do.
Final Thoughts: The Skills You Need to Thrive and Succeed
What do you think of the 11 practical skills I mentioned you need to thrive and succeed? Mastering these skills will serve you well, personally and professionally. However, the journey doesn’t end with just understanding or applying these skills. Thriving in an ever-changing world requires continuous reflection, self-assessment, and growth.
Success is not a destination. It’s an evolving process. Each skill, whether it’s creativity, critical thinking, or leveling up, requires consistent practice and adaptation to new challenges. Think of these skills as building blocks. The more you use them, the stronger and more versatile they become.
Thriving isn’t just about achieving professional success. It’s about leading a balanced, fulfilling life. Invest in your personal development and well-being. As you grow, you’ll find that these practical skills elevate your career and enrich your relationships, decision-making, and overall quality of life.
Thriving means staying curious, staying adaptable, and staying committed to becoming the best version of yourself. What steps will you take today to master these skills?
About Avil
Avil Beckford is the Founder of The Invisible Mentor and the Art of Learning Leadership Academy. Her podcast is called The One Problem. You can find her on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Next Steps
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