Starting A New Journey Using Old Skills
As a true “Master of None,” I recently started taking some courses on learning photography. I love learning if you don’t know.
I’ve taken several courses on learning to write in various forms, recording podcasts, recording and editing YouTube videos, and voiceover work.
Along the way, I’ve learned about different sounds, background noises, voice inflection, editing (video, voice, and photo) software, lighting, gig sites, and much more.
Taking these courses in photography, some of the same things have come into play. Understanding lighting, balance, background noise (specifically in photos), focus, subject, the importance of doing it repeatedly, and so much more.
Why am I saying that?
Because, throughout our lives, we learn things that will benefit us in multiple ways.
Many Skills Traverse Subjects
We all know that typing is a skill that most people in the corporate world have a basic familiarity with. It’s a necessary skill for all forms of writing. But did you realize that it’s a required skill for most health practitioners?
Now, why would typing be necessary for the health industry?
Because they have to keep records of the interactions they have with their patients. In the old days, like most things, those records were kept using a pen and paper.
We live in the 21st century now. Technology has long surpassed the days of keeping records through a physical filing system. More often than not, most hospitals and clinics maintain their records through digital records.
Meaning, that even though their primary job has nothing to do with writing, they’re still required to know how to navigate a keyboard.
Throughout our lives, there will be many skills that we’ll acquire that will be useful (if not necessary) in other areas as well.
Don’t think a skill is only antiquated to one field of study. Most likely, you could use the theories (if not the actual skills) behind it in other areas too.
Keep Honing The Skills You Have
Understanding that our skills are not limited to one area helps us to remember to keep them up to date.
Have you ever heard of the term COBOL? It’s an acronym that stands for common business-oriented language.
If you were alive during the Y2K (year 2000) crisis, you might remember that COBOL was the computer language for mainframes used by many companies (including utility companies).
The big scare of Y2K was when the year transitioned from 1999 to 2000, they thought the system date would go to 1000. That’s because the 1 was static.
Those who had the skill in that computer language became in high demand. The need was to get all of the systems updated.
Thankfully, it ended up being a big nothing burger. The scare was made to be much bigger than reality. Those systems that didn’t get updated didn’t shut down, crash, or go to 1000. They just kept on trucking to 19991.
After the scare, the high demand for COBOL eventually went away again. As of the writing of this article, there’s still a career available for those with this knowledge. But not a big one. And the career projection continues to decline.
Those with the skill have learned other languages, knowing it will eventually become obsolete.
Unlike hard skills (like knowing a computer language), most soft skills (i.e., leadership, customer service, problem-solving, etc.) are transferable. That’s why it’s important to continue to learn and grow in these skills along with your industry and technology knowledge. Because those will always be in demand.
You Are More Than You Realize
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: ’For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:35-37
If you took the time to sit down and write out everything you’ve learned throughout your life, it would take you hours if not days. Why? Because you know a lot more than you may think. That’s because we take for granted many of the things that we know and use daily. Coincidentally, things that other people don’t.
Things like coordinating events, facilitating reconciliation between friends, developing brilliant ideas, breaking complexity into easy-to-understand, and so on. These are all skills that traverse almost any field.
As a young adult, I remember hearing someone say something that has stuck with me all these years. “Common knowledge isn’t that common.”
What we might think everyone else does or should know, oftentimes they don’t. So, use what you’ve learned to help others and improve yourself.
Do What You Love – Not Just What Pays The Bills
As providers, it’s our job to get a job to “take care” of our families. This is typically seen in terms of safety and financial stability.
But that doesn’t mean we have to be miserable in the process.
Our parents and grandparents worked in jobs that merely paid the bills. Whether they hated it or not didn’t matter. Especially our fathers and grandfathers. They knew their role in the family.
Being as that was a lifetime ago, things have changed. Now, people change jobs like they change clothes. There’s little to no dedication with this new generation. Why? Because they can. Even in a job market where unemployment is what it is now.
Businesses don’t make it necessary to dedicate your life to them. In most situations, a business will easily replace you with someone else. Unlike your family.
Rather than dedicate your life to a company that will replace you, belong to an even greater belief. Yourself!
What I mean is, use the skills you’ve learned, and the gifts God has blessed you with, to do what you love and are good at.
Business Report Daily suggests that if we want to improve our work-life balance, we should find a job we love.
If you’re doing a job that you loathe, or one that you struggle with daily, find something else. I know, it’s not as easy as it sounds. But it’s important for your health and your family that you do.
According to a study by The University of Manchester, “people employed in low-paying or highly stressful jobs may not actually enjoy better health than those who remain unemployed.”
When we’re in a job we don’t like, it brings us down. And that can cause problems in the household along with our health.
Instead of causing problems with your health and your home life, figure out what you love to do and pursue that. There’s much more to life than a title, a certain level of income, or even a status. Life’s too short to be stuck doing something you hate.
Identify Your Skills
So, brush off those skills and put them to good use. If you need help digging deep into those, consider taking Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment. It helps you identify your strengths, understand them, and know what to do with them.
At the beginning of this article, I stated how I love learning. I didn’t realize that was a skill until after I took the CliftonStrengths assessment.
There are plenty of employment agencies that will help you find that new job in your “sweet spot.” Don’t wait any longer. You owe it to yourself and your family to be a happy and healthier you.
If you found value in this, consider reading Choosing a New Path for Your Family
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