by Kaya Ismail
Skills. We all have some, and we’re all working towards attaining more.
Except we aren’t.
Between the projects that we already work on, and the responsibilities that we already have, most of us struggle to find the time to learn new things. After all, learning does indeed take time.
But there are a few skills that you can learn today, with no preparation time needed. I’m not saying you’ll master anything in twenty-four hours, but I am saying that you’ll be surprised by how much you can learn in one short sitting.
To surprise yourself today, here are six easily accessible skills that you can begin learning immediately.
1. Learn to Code
The Internet makes up a huge portion of the world around us – and code makes up the entire Internet.
If you ever want to built your own website or mobile app, you’ll need to know your way around code, that’s a given. But even if you just make use of platforms like WordPress or Shopify, some knowledge of basic HTML and CSS is always handy when it comes to design customization.
There are plenty of places to learn how to code online, like CodeAcademy and TreeHouse.
2. Learn to Write Copy
Sales copy is how marketers communicate with customers.
The copy on websites, landing pages, banner ads, and even call to action buttons are all instrumental in the customer conversion process. To put it simply, writing better sales and marketing copy could very well make you more money.
To kickstart your journey to better copy, our friends over at KISSmetrics have compiled a whopping 75 resources to help you become a better copywriter.
3. Learn to Read
You probably think you’re a smarty pants who already knows how to read. After all, you’re reading this article, right?
Well, not all reading is alike.
If you’re going to take a stab at reading valuable books for entrepreneurs (which you should), you’ll have a lot of pages to flick through. Are you really prepared to go through them all, line by line?
You could do, but as the famous bestseller, ‘How to Read a Book’ has already pointed out, there are far more efficient ways to get through your reading list. For a summarized guide on how to read a book, Matt Morris, the author of ‘Unemployed Millionaire’, has a handy video guide.
4. Learn to Network
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know – that saying is a cliché for a reason;
If your professional network is broad, you’ll find it easier to find business opportunities and expand your brand, simply by knowing the right people to help you do it. Plus, a business network comes in very handy if you ever need a new job.
To learn how to best grow your network with relative ease, be sure to check out my guide on how to expand your professional network.
5. Learn to Set Goals
By setting goals, you’ll be more focused, make better use of your time, and you will also have a yardstick with which you can measure your success – or lack thereof.
But it’s fair easier to see the benefits of goal setting by not actually setting any goals.
You don’t need to be told that, when you lack a clear plan, your days, weeks, and months are filled with working like a headless chicken. Sure, you’re getting daily tasks done, but what does it all mean? What’s the bigger picture?
It’s simple; if you don’t know where you’re heading, don’t expect to get anywhere.
6. Learn to Relax
This one is important.
Entrepreneur’s don’t typically have a ‘close of business’ time, and so it’s common to find one working – in some capacity – in every hour of their waking life. Emails are constantly being checked, websites are continuously being tweaked, and new ideas are endlessly brainstormed. It’s exhausting.
Thus, entrepreneurs are probably more in need of relaxation than anybody else in the corporate world. And yet, relaxing is a skill that many people lack.
To train your relaxation skills, try detaching yourself from your work for a short while each day. Read a novel, go for a walk, or meet up with friends to give your mind a break. But if you really can’t avoid technology, you could always learn something new on Netflix.
For a technical walkthrough on the fundamentals of relaxation, Psychology Today has a guide you can follow. Furthermore, TED has some great advice on how to manage stress.
You most likely aren’t the best you can be – but don’t fret, very few people are.
However, by assimilating some of these skills into your life, you will take a big step closer to becoming the best version of you. And who knows, you may even be able to profit directly from some of them, too.