Let's Learn a Skill 2018 Challenge (#LearnASkillChallenge)

Learning at least a new skill was one of my personal development goals last year. Things didn't work out as I thought, so I carried the goal on to this year and made sure I budgeted for it (time and money). First things first, What is a Skill? For this post's purposes, the following meaning suffices:

"A craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience: the skill of cabinet making." Dictionary.com App

It's amazing when you set your heart to improve yourself, how God brings various opportunities your way for realisation, in ways unimaginable. I cite some examples:

#1: Stoned this dress myself 👆😉, using an iron, a piece of fabric, some water and the dress.
How I learned to: A few years ago, I went home for Christmas with an Ankara dress that my tailor recently sewed, and I expressed to my sister and cousin how I'd like a bit more bling on it 😁. My cousin told me how to get it done (I never knew she had this knowledge). I got fascinated by the simplicity and effect, so bought some stones and went on to fix them. Totally loved the outcome, but my cousin had to intervene because my enthusiasm was getting too much and she felt the dress would look tacky 😁. Fast forward some months later, a tailor in a different location sewed me a dress and didn't stone the collar as I had requested. On collection, I asked why she didn't (she forgot 🙄), so I told her I'd do it and she gave me some stones ( the colour and the bit on the sleeves 👇👇). Simple but I like it 😉:

See, stoning a dress isn't a top-notch skill; professional tailors have a device that does it excellently. But my having a knowledge of it isn't wasted either, as I could get to stone whatever outfit I wanted at a convenient time, without paying a dime (except for purchasing the stones). I enjoyed stoning the dress I'm wearing in the first picture, as it was a valuable bonding time with my niece who helped me arrange them on the dress, and also a learning experience for all in the house who walked by and saw what and how I did it.

#2: There's this skill that has fascinated me and I've probably talked about it, but didn't do much beyond that. Fast forward this year, during planning meetings for one of the professional societies I belong to: A resource person to teach this skill was suggested; that was like a light bulb 💡 moment for me. Some weren't keen on it, but I pushed for the idea (as saliently as I could 🙈), and to God's glory, it was scheduled for our first meeting of the year 💃. I was so ready when the d-day arrived and was surprised that the material needed for the execution of this skill was very cheap and readily available; one just needs lots of practice to master it. It could well be a source of income for me in the near future too, but no rush - I need to improve my competence first.

#3: In one of the Social Media Mentoring Groups I belong to [Model Women Foundation], the founder mentioned how we'll be having skill acquisition sessions this year by God's grace. Really, who'd have thought?
Ok, I'm not just an awoof - free stuff seeker, , I've been undergoing a paid training for some months now and there are plans for more shortly by God's grace.

There are various avenues I believe for learning and/or acquiring new skills, from various centres offering such in the neighbourhood for a price, to free tutorials online, to various NGOs paying for various participants through various empowerment schemes etc.

Don't give yourself excuses on why you shouldn't learn a skill; instead, find one reason why you should and work towards it.

If you're in Nigeria, you know the prevalence of unemployment and also, of jobs with crazy hours that don't pay well so please, don't wait to be caught unawares or think some skill is beneath you; you have the ability to polish whatever skill, but you must first learn and master it.

Below are my thoughts on the importance of learning a skill:

1. To improve your creativity;

2. An extra source of income, either by selling what you've got/made, teaching others or both;

3. To inspire others;

4. Could be handy in the near future, should a need in a career change or an unplanned event such as a job loss due to a company shutdown or otherwise, happen. Also, especially for women who might be looking at a career break to raise their children, having a skill could help your sense of self-worth, especially during times of extreme demotivation and help you contribute to other family causes too;

5. Opportunity to refine some transferable skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, network, problem-solving etc.

6. Opportunity to be an entrepreneur and employ others, reducing unemployment etc.

I often joke that you can't be a billionaire solely working for the government (some Nigerian's know there are a few exceptions to this statement 🙈); entrepreneurship is the way to go for such.

Looking forward to many comments about you taking up this challenge and come December by God's grace, you showing what skill you took up and how far you've gone in mastering it. :)

Remember,👇👇

Stay inspired x

© Lydia Ndagilaya