Whether you're an entrepreneur, a company leader, or an entry-level employee, there are certain life skills that will not only increase your chances of being successful but will also help you maintain that success.
As
I plot my goals for this year, one is making sure my kids are
consistently learning these skills -- I still don't see them being
taught in school as much as they should, which is a bit disappointing.
These include things like personal finance, which my mom taught me at an
early age. This actually set me up to obtain my first loan for my first business.
But
what other important life skills are needed to help you -- or your
children -- become super successful in life? Here are seven skills that I
believe are absolutely essential.
1. Money management
I
recently set up bank accounts for my 2-year-old and 5-year-old. As
crazy as that may sound, my bank offers a 5 percent interest rate on its
checking accounts for up to $500. Needless to say, I was pretty amped
about that. But the real purpose was more about getting them to think
about saving money and setting goals. Yes, that's right: My 5-year-old
has financial goals.
Unfortunately, I
frequently run into people who desperately want to start their own
business or make the jump from their crappy corporate job.
Unfortunately, money prevents them from achieving these goals because
they don't have the down payment or financial cushion to take a
worthwhile risk.
2. Mental health
It
used to be taboo to bring up your mental health among friends. However,
as society has become more open about the importance of mental health,
it's become acceptable to acknowledge that your mental health is
something that you need to work on.
"Mental
health" doesn't just refer to being diagnosed with a mental illness:
Mental health also covers lacking confidence, paralysis from setbacks,
and too much negative self-talk. These not only can drastically affect
your performance, but they can also lead to a lack of gratitude and
resilience -- and, eventually, contentment. As a result, this can make
it so that no matter how well you perform, you don't take even a second
to appreciate your success. You struggle to be thankful for what you
have or dust yourself off when you fall down.
3. Time management
Not
enough people are aware of just how important time management really
is. Without it, you can't organize your day. Eventually, this makes it
almost impossible to achieve that coveted balance between your
professional and personal lives.
But that's
just the start. When you manage your time more effectively, you'll
become more successful because you'll know how to prioritize tasks and
achieve your goals faster. You're able to eliminate indecisiveness,
reduce stress, and find enough energy to get the important things done.
Also, time management allows you the time to do what you really love. I
would be absolutely miserable and unproductive if I spent 80 hours in
the office and never had time with my family. I mean, what would be the
point?
4. Relationship management
I
strongly believe that relationships are the key to success. Just think
about your company: I highly doubt it's thriving solely because of you.
Your entire team has worked toward a common goal, and you absolutely owe
the customers who've trusted and supported you.
Relationships
help us get through the tough times and celebrate the good times. They
introduce us to new ideas and opportunities. They can help make us more
empathetic and find a purpose bigger than ourselves.
And,
as the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti said, "No one can live without
relationship. You may withdraw into the mountains, become a monk, a
sannyasi, wander off into the desert by yourself, but you are related.
You cannot escape from that absolute fact. You cannot exist in
isolation."
5. Strategy
I
recently taught my daughter how to play UNO and chess. At first, she
was just throwing cards down because she liked certain colors more or
moved only the knights because she liked the horses -- the bishops and
rooks were boring-looking to her. As she continued to play more, she
actually started planning her next moves. She started thinking through
things that went beyond what she just liked and more on the steps that
would help her win.
I consistently run into leaders
who complain about their employees not being strategic enough and just
checking off boxes. To succeed, you have to think about your next move
and have a contingency plan in place for when things change.
6. Problem-solving skills
Throughout
life, you'll have to overcome obstacles and setbacks -- no matter how
well-prepared you are. Instead of complaining about it or throwing in
the towel, you need to be able to navigate these unforeseen challenges.
Sometimes, you have to think on your feet rather than have the luxury of
brainstorming.
Personally, I think a big part of successfully solving problems
is being flexible and thinking beyond what you've done before. This can
lead you to explore new opportunities and push your limits.
7. Team-building abilities
Team
building helps create cohesive groups in which everyone feels invested,
engaged, and on the same page when working toward a goal. As a result,
there are fewer conflicts, and people enjoy higher morale and
productivity.
But developing team-building
skills also means that you have strong communication skills: You listen,
clearly explain yourself, and pick up on body language. You also have
to hone your ability to collaborate and cooperate with others, like
giving and accepting feedback and being willing to take on new tasks. On
the flip side, you'll need strong delegation skills, allowing you to
assign roles and explain expectations.
Being
a good team builder means you have the ability to motivate others by
recognizing and rewarding their achievements and soliciting input. Team
builders use those aforementioned problem-solving skills to resolve
conflicts, mediate, and brainstorm strategies. And if you're doing
things right, you'll develop leadership skills that allow you to align
team goals with company goals, make important decisions, and establish
team norms.
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, these are the skills that are essential if you want to become successful. And you can be certain that I'm not only constantly working on strengthening these skills in myself, but also in my children -- even if it's one bank deposit at a time.
While this is in no way an exhaustive list, these are the skills that are essential if you want to become successful. And you can be certain that I'm not only constantly working on strengthening these skills in myself, but also in my children -- even if it's one bank deposit at a time.
No comments:
Post a Comment