Post: #1

I've been reading some of Brian Tracy's works lately and here's one of the ideas, that really struck me.
He states, that in every profession, there are 5 - 7 key skills and the reward/payment depends on the lowest one. So person should always look for and improve the lowest key skill.
My question is - how to define them? For example, in artistic and creative professions - what would be key skills for composer/band leader.. or for multimedia artist?
Can you define key skills in your professions? And do you think, this statement is true?

Post: #2

I can definitely see where some of the key skills in my job are but I do not have a creative job. If you are interested, the first two that came to mind were crazy mad organizational skills and the ability not to panic when everything hits the fan. (The latter probably being the one I am worst at even after I add another 3-5 to the list!)

I would imagine that with most artistic and creative professions many of the key skills would lay around not with the specific medium you are trying to work with, but networking and getting your product out there. This is important in most every job, but especially so in artistic professions, I have noticed. And I am sure seven key skills can be pulled out of that line of logic.

Post: #3

Moira, those skills you mentioned could also be key skills in creative professions. Organizational - because chances are, even if one has producer, noone will tell what/when exactly to do and ability to remain calm and find solutions in unexpected situations is probably a must for every kind of job.
Then I think, I'd add a "clear artistic vision", "confidence to promote a project and/or perform in front of audience" and "patience and ability to practice or work long hours when necesarry" - those would go for any kind of creative profession. It leaves 2 slots for medium specific skills like good sense of colour and light for art/photography/film/multimedia or good sense of rhythm and timing for music/dance/poetry/film/multimedia
Am I leaving something out?

Post: #4

I agree with Brian (as I'm also a big follower of his teachings). The best way to determine specific skills hands down is to ask those who are already successful in the area(s) that you would want to be successful in. They are already there and have been developing such skills sufficiently to enable them to achieve success in their fields. So ask them.

Clint Cora - Motivational Speaker, Author & Karate World Champion
www.ClintCora.com

Post: #5

I love Brian Tracy's books! They've taught me a lot and helped me to achieve many dreams of mine (esp. The Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires).
In my professiong (which is ESL-teaching), the key skills are:
- knowledge of the language
- knowledge of the methodology
- creativity
- psychology
- discipline

And yes, the last one is the critical one for me now, because all the rest depend on it.

"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
Welcome to Stacey Dream's World | Follow Stacey Dream on twitter!

Post: #6

I loved his book Million Dollar Habits. I even shot a geeky video reviewing this book;

http://www.clintcora.com/blog/briantracy/

Clint Cora - Motivational Speaker, Author & Karate World Champion
www.ClintCora.com

Post: #7

Nice to see other Tracy followers! I've been reading his "Million Dollar Habits" several times in my life and it always had kicked at least work things back to normal and helped me get out of low amount of work/low income periods (I'm freelancer, although I now have people for whom I work pretty much on regular basis). The hard thing is - when the life starts going up again and some level of satisfaction is reached - how to keep motivated for improvement?

Post: #8

(07-07-2011 02:01 PM)Vellata Wrote:  The hard thing is - when the life starts going up again and some level of satisfaction is reached - how to keep motivated for improvement?

I would like to think that there is always room for growth and therefore never total satisfaction. That keeps me motivated enough.

Clint Cora - Motivational Speaker, Author & Karate World Champion
www.ClintCora.com

Post: #9

I agree with Clint here. The goal is to strive to be the best you can possibly be and you'll never know what the best is unless you keep trying new things!

Post: #10

Hi Vellata, I'm one of Brian Tracy's follower, have read some of his books and tried some in real life. Anyway, on how to define the key skill needed in some area maybe its best to define the basic skill needed to perform a good job.

For a painter, he / she at least need to have a basic skill to draw, to apply the paints, etc. A Music composer needs at least to know about chart, cord, etc.

I agree with Brian statement, and there's a book by Malcolm Gladwell that points out several example of a successful people only performing good basic skill a whole lot more the average people.