If You Don’t Focus on Core Skills, You’ll Regret It Later!
Essential Skills You Need Now for Future Success
#CareerDevelopment #SkillMastery #ProfessionalGrowth #OrlandoJones #JonFavreau
Have you watched the movie The Replacements? It's one of my favorite movies; it's fun and entertaining. But I mention it now because of one actor, not Keanu Reeves, but Orlando Jones, who played Clifford Franklin. He has played in some great movies, and I don't think I've seen him misplay his part. I'm sure we can agree that a part was not significant or the movie was terrible, but the fact is he has demonstrated his quote in practice -- they are not just words.
You should learn your craft well and not focus on the form of how it is used.
-- Orland Jones
Learning your craft means understanding the core skills.
For example:
Photographer: Focusing on the fundamentals of composition, lighting, and perspective, regardless of whether you are shooting landscapes, portraits, or events. Regular practice in different settings and learning from each photoshoot is critical.
Programmer: Concentrating on understanding core programming concepts and logic, not just specific languages or technologies. Constant coding, problem-solving, and learning from debugging experiences would be essential.
Manager: Building strong foundational leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills rather than just focusing on specific management styles or industries. Continuously learning from team interactions and decision-making outcomes is crucial.
A Story Teller Example
Sticking with the cast of The Replacements, we have Jon Favreau, a storyteller by trade, who has a career trajectory that could be a compelling example. Why? Because he has worked in his field across different genres and roles. From aspiring actor to renowned director and screenwriter. All are built by having a solid foundation and adapting those skills to various forms and genres as required.
He began with acting - "Rudy" (1993) and "Swingers" (1996), though I liked “PCU" (1994) myself. He also wrote "Swingers," which provided skills and learning for directing and screenwriting.
"Made" (2001), which he also wrote, demonstrated his multifaceted skill set. We don't see the amount of work he most likely performed in the background to learn the core skills for screenwriting, directing, and acting.
"Elf" (2003) and "Ironman" (2008) demonstrated real growth and success. Blockbuster hits and pivotal roles that helped shape the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it today.
But his smaller, close-to-home projects showcase the value of his core skills. "Chef" (2014) is a smaller, more personal project he wrote, directed, and starred in. This film demonstrated his versatility and commitment to storytelling, regardless of the scale of the project.
Later works, including the reimagining of Disney's "The Jungle Book" (2016) and "The Lion King" (2019), as well as his creation of "The Mandalorian," a series set in the Star Wars universe, further exemplify his ability to adapt and excel across various genres and formats.
His core skill? Storyteller! Everything else was built on his ability to tell a great story.
Questions for finding your Core?
What are the timeless principles in your field?
What foundational skills or knowledge will remain relevant despite technological changes, trends, or methods?
What are the skills or knowledge areas that every professional in this field must know, regardless of their specialization?
What are the universal competencies required across various specializations within your field?
What skills would still be necessary if the technology or methods in this field were to change tomorrow?
Now, isolate the skills that are independent of tools, technologies, or methodologies, which often evolve over time.
What do the beginners in this field need to learn first before they can specialize?
The answers will point towards the core skills, as these are typically what novices need to master before advancing to more specialized areas.
Finding and Building on Your Core Skill
Identifying our core skill(s) is crucial to our long-term success. To help, let us look at some different levels in our field. This example is not exhaustive or even correct, but you can use it as a guide. Hopefully, it can provide some ideas and create questions to help you define yours.
Developer
Developers must excel in solving complex problems and thinking logically.
This is at the heart of all programming tasks.
Strengthen these skills by engaging in coding challenges and working on open-source or personal projects that allow you to grow.
Read on the craft and not a particular language. For example,
"Code Complete" by Steve McConnell.
"Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship" by Robert C. Martin.
"The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas.
Example - Developer
Core Skill Identification: For example, algorithmic thinking and understanding of data structures.
Form of the Job: web development, mobile app development, and data science.
Manager
Managers must understand leadership and effective communication. Why? To understand core skills around delegation, conflict resolution, team motivation, and development.
Strengthen these skills by engaging in leadership workshops and mentorships and seeking feedback from peers and team members.
Read
"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable" by Patrick Lencioni,
"Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together, and Others Don’t" by Simon Sinek.
"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel H. Pink.
Example - Manager
Core Skill Identification: communication skills, ability to motivate and inspire, and conflict resolution.
Form of the Job: tech industry, retail management, and non-profit leadership
Why focus on my Core Skills?
Why is this all important? Because the core skills do not change, but form, however, will change continually. If you focus on the form -- you'll always be stressed, or worse, you will not be able to manage the change when it occurs. However, a strong foundation can weather any storm.
Also, note that the core skills stack as your career advances; this is where your overall expertise comes from.
References
3 Life Lessons I learned from the Guy in the 7up Commercials
The Step-by-Step Guide to Go From Novice to Expert in Any Skill
5 Steps to Become a Master of Your Craft: Wisdom from Robert Greene
I hope this article helps you understand what core skills are and helps you in your journey.