Did you know that you have a unique list of skills that nobody else has?

The fact is, every one of us has a unique list of skills that are beneficial to ourselves and others. You might not think there is anything extraordinary about you. Try this:

1. You like things, like camping, hiking, making music, debate etc. and you’re probably better at them than someone who doesn’t
2. You have a lifetime of practice at something, and you are most likely better than someone who is just learning
3. Most people that are close to you, when asked, would say that you are a natural at something.

As humans, we take for granted things about ourselves that are natural, but there is someone in the world who struggles with the same activities that you excel at.

I realized years ago for myself. I succeed most when:

1. I Decide the direction I want to go in
2. Come up with a solid master (action) plan
3.  and Have unshakable faith in myself and my abilities

Actually, (in my opinion) it’s impossible to fail if you do those steps properly (unless a meteor hits you).

Have you ever heard of projecting? For the first twenty years of my life, it never even occurred to me that others might struggle with those three things, because they’re simple and easy for me.

That process comes so naturally, that I struggled ever thinking that I had anything valuable to offer people, which could not be further from the truth.

The most common email I get is “This is what I want to do, where do I start?”

This no-brainer question and process, for other people, is what keeps them from succeeding, and you have natural abilities that you have honed over time, that cause others to fail at life because you’re not sharing!

Understanding your unique list of skills is essential to the direction aspect of the three pillars

1. It allows you to focus on those strengths in life and take the path of least resistance when pursuing goals
2. It enables you to aid others who might be drying up not knowing what you know

When you offer your own skills and share them with others…IDK MAN it’s more exhilarating than being Indiana freakin Jones, I swear (no snakes please).

Now that you’re interested in

1. Understanding your unique talents
2. Being able to help others succeed in life naturally
3. And being able to take a path that is easiest and based on your skills

Here is the most comprehensive explanation of what your unique list of skills might be. You’re welcome.

Methods for creating your list of skills

Here are some expert and more common sense methods for getting an idea about your list of skills.

Peter Drucker’s “Knowing Your Strengths”

In his famous HBR book (which can be read in twenty minutes) Managing Oneself, Peter Drucker gives us three reasons to understand what our strengths are

1. To build on what we are already good at
2. To know what tools to use when attaining results
3. Knowing your list of skills allows you to avoid “intellectual arrogance” when pursuing goals and dreams

According to Drucker, the best method for understanding our strengths is to…YOU GUESSED IT. RECORD THEM. How many times have I told you to record your results and trials (if i only had a nickel)?

Feedback analysis is the process of taking everything (within reason. Don’t keep records about doing laundry please) in your life and detailing the results in a journal.

After a significant period of time, you will have a map to analyze and pinpoint, where your success and failures can lead you to an understanding of your own strengths and weakness.

Other Ways of Creating your List of Skills

Peter Drucker’s method can take some serious time and dedication. So if you want a more immediate way to create your list of skills (nothing wrong there) here are some other methods for quick feedback.

1. 1. Stranger Feedback: Asking those who know you well what you’re good at (get a good sample size here)
   2. The DOH Moments: All those times you saw someone doing something and thought “why are they doing it that way? Don’t they know they could just….”
   3. Passions / Hobbies / Profession: If you’re passionate about it, hopefully, you’re good at it / If you do it all the time, hopefully, you’re good at it / (ready?) IF YOU GET PAID TO DO IT HOPEFULLY YOU’RE GOOD AT IT!!!

Stranger Feedback

Find a group of your closest friends, your loving family and some people who may or may not like you, but still know you well, and ask them to tell you about all the things they think you’re good at.

We exaggerate our own abilities, and trick ourselves into thinking we’re good at things we’re awful at. Stranger feedback eliminates your ego getting in the way.

All your “DOH” Moments

Sometimes we are out and about and see someone doing something that just looks so dumb. Like “why are they doing it the hard way on purpose”, or “why are they just doing this, that would make it so much easier”.

“Don’t they understand that if they just do X, then connect to Y and delete Z they could be done by now?”

Well probably not…That’s a strength of yours, they probably have other strengths, like seeing someone need help and helping them instead of watching them suffer and talking about them! (joking)

A list of skills in your: Passions, Hobbies, and Profession

This one is easy. What do you do for fun? What are you dreaming about at work? Hopefully, if you read my stuff much, you’re in love with work and aren’t daydreaming at all!

1. What do you do for fun?
2. What do you fantasize about while you’re doing less fun stuff?
3. What do you get paid to do? Sometimes people go freelance with the same skills they had as an employee and make way more money!

How Are you a Guru for Others?

Ever notice how people ask you for advice sometimes? That’s because they need help and they see you have it together in that area. Probably a strength!

It might be awkward, but if you have the stomach, go up to someone you know and say “Um, have I ever helped you out with something before?!?! HAHAHAHAHA. Seriously though.” and wait on their answer.

Personality Tests and other Tools for your List of Skills

Other ways you can compile a list of your strengths (which you may or may not be into) include personality tests, strength assessment tests, etc…

Free aptitude test: Richard Step

Richard step has a free test you can take that’s less than 10 minutes long. I sat and thought seriously about every question. He gives you your top five strengths and something to work on as a weakness.

Keep in mind, the best tests are those developed by universities, and though some of these methods are not as scientific (and even have errors in some cases), they are still good to use as guidelines that point you in the direction you should be going in.

In the case of this test, you could easily take it and confirm what you already thought you knew, or use the results as a source for experimentation.

My biggest strengths according to this test are

1. Resourcefulness
2. Focus
3. Strategic Thinking
4. Self Motivation

If you think about it, this is exactly what I tell you my strengths are at the beginning of the article, and what I teach those who follow my blog and other projects how to do.

Check your Astrology

This one is simple. Astrological evidence and influence in the world has a special place in our hearts but it requires serious expertise to master and is not a tool I normally use when helping others (even though I use it for myself).

I like to only give people concrete (right word?) methods and techniques when I can, even though my personal approach can be quite intuitive and mystical at times.

1. Look up your signs strengths and weakness and start there if you are interested at all.
2. Remember that you have an entire chart, and you can get that chart done for free by searching for “free natal chart” in google.

This will allow you to see the range of energies that have an influence on you and where.

Once again, I’m into it, it’s just difficult for me to prove that it works, so I’m hesitant to offer.

I like to only offer things that I can hold up and say “this will definitely work for you, without a doubt”

Check your MBTI

This is something up for debate. The MBTI, or Meyers-Briggs personality test is seen now as inaccurate and not much more than fashionable these days (even the two ladies who created it agree it’s flawed).

In fact, it’s common to take the test twice and get two different sets of results.

I include it here because we’re not trying to give you a one-hundred percent accurate idea of your personality, we’re only trying to lead you in the right direction of understanding your unique list of skills.

Even an ineffective personality test, can lead you in the right direction of either

1. Confirming something you already knew
2. Reinforcing something you thought might be true

Archetype Personalities

The 12 Archetypes are intellectual energies that represent…archetypes. Depending on which you think most accurately describes you, you will have a different set of strengths and weaknesses.

Again, use your own discretion here, I do not recommend taking an internet test and defining your life based on that. Use them to point you in the right direction and to gather data.

Example List of Skills

1. Relating to others
2. Communication
3. Patience
4. Trust
5. Empathy
6. Listening
7. Interest in others
8. Flexibility
9. Good judgment
10. Persuasion
11. Negotiation skills
12. Sense of humor

1. Understanding others and where they’re at in life
2. Honesty
3. Body language awareness
4. Problem-solving
5. Leadership
6. Good manners
7. Capacity to support and motivate others
8. Faith and optimism
9. Realism
10. Competence
11. Courage
12. Compassion

1. Generosity
2. Autonomy
3. Ambition
4. Honesty with oneself
5. Passion
6. Gratitude
7. Appreciation
8. Wisdom
9. Intelligence
10. Efficiency
11. Responsibility
12. Leadership

These may also seem like qualities or attributes, but that’s really all a skill is…right? I’m not here to evaluate your technical abilities with a car (but that should definitely be on your list of skills!)

I’m trying to give you access to foundational attributes that lead you to experience extraordinary results in your life.

What is your unique list of skills and how do you plan on using them now? Comment below, and make sure to read on the next part in this series.