Most of the skills you need in the “adult” world aren’t taught to you at school unless you enrolled in some extracurricular activities during your leisure or after-school days. But no one tells you that. Well, I am not sure if this decade has implemented these, but when I was in school, my main focus was on the subject areas I was pursuing studies for, specifically, those told would lead me to my dream job.

But that idea of my dream job changed as the years passed, and I found myself reteaching different areas. That in itself was a great thing. So I want to share with you some skills you should try to grasp in your teens, 20’s, or now if you haven’t started on those.

Let’s start with

Interpersonal Skills.

That is a BIG one. Having interpersonal skills helps you with a better understanding that everyone is different and doesn’t act or react the same way you would, which in turn gives you a better grasp of empathy & self-expression. Interpersonal skills also allow you to be more open with your words, asking questions more confidently & partaking in a group setting. “put aside that introversion for a bit, shall we”?

Self Discipline.

You’ve heard it repeatedly, but Practice Makes Perfect, or near perfect. Practicing self-discipline from a young age is one of the best habits you can instill in yourself. Having discipline builds your focus on getting things done more efficiently, executing your plans and goals, & making decisions. It is one of the foundations for succeeding & excelling at whatever you aim at, be it school, work, fitness, building a business, etc.

psst…enjoy video content? Check out this video version of 5 additional soft skills to master.

Curiosity To Learn Something New. 

Whoever said that curiosity was a bad thing? I was mistaken. My curiosity to learn how things work has resulted in me customizing this blog. The reason why I am writing this blog post and the reason this pretty Pin-type picture is in it. Having the will to try new things and learn new things; will take you to places you might have never imagined. If something intrigues you, start asking questions about it, start researching, start taking a course, and build on it instead of saying – oh well, that’s not for me anyway. It might be challenging at first, but keep practicing.

Being Innovative With Your Thoughts. 

And by that, I mean & sticking with the previous point, trying to figure out how things work. Systems & plans aren’t 100% foolproof. I know that & so do you. Let’s say you work with a company that has a somewhat rigid method of doing one thing & you have failed using it instead of fussing, sprouting in some grey hairs, and crying about it. How about you relax, take a breath, and say ok. How would I do this? Or how would someone you know do a task? Trying to fit in pieces here & there in your plans will save you some money on hair dye & boost your productivity. A quick side note – you can also check out the 10 Kickass Productivity Tips post for some pointers.

Resolving Conflict Flawlessly

Conflict always arises in every area of our lives. Don’t take it personally. It is part of the process, and we all have flaws. But practicing resolving issues before they blow out of proportion helps eliminate stress, create solutions, and move on to better things. That is why working on your interpersonal skills & expressing yourself better is very important. Wouldn’t you prefer to spend your energy thinking about the next best moment, laughing, instead of being angry because you believe that you were always right in a situation, and how dare the other party not see that? Express, Accept & Move on.

psssst.. PIN THIS TO A BOARD

Proper Money Management

Guilty Guilty Guilty. I had zero, and I mean zero money management skills before I was 27, and that was 3 years ago. When I got paid, it went bills, rent, and shopping. If I had a steady grocery purchase routine I don’t remember. And the only time I could actually save without touching a cent was by force “mandatory via a loan-  I think it’s called a sinking fund”.. with reason.

Having some proper budgeting skills is a lifesaver when it comes to managing your funds, credit cards”don’t own one again with reason”. Learn to track your incomes, expenses & savings in order to ensure balance and not have to resort to that sinking fund. Currently, I use an excel spreadsheet, that way I have a general idea of where to pull back on per month. p.s. Check out this blog post on beginner finance tips.

Changing The Way You View Failures & Obstacles.

I left this one for last because most of us unconsciously have mastered the habit of sulking over failures and bridges. However; failures & obstacles provide us with opportunities to

• A learning opportunity. Now that you have done this once and failed, the next attempt will provide more clarity about becoming more successful.
• Be innovative in our thinking, change the situation & develop ways to try again successfully.
• Rebuild your focus & energy in the right way, and be a better person.

I am a huge advocate of positive thinking and learning from the negatives. Here are two great soft skills articles you can also check out 20 Practical Soft Skills  and 48 Lifeskills Everyone Should Learn

So now that you have gone through these, did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments what other skills you think are ideal for succeeding in Life.