I have my skills

Self-deprecation is a British past-time, we don’t really go in for trumpet blowing. As a native of those Isles I follow this national stereotype like an ardent tea drinker. There are very few times I stand up and say I am good at something preferring to sit down and let others take the credit.

I must be good at some things, if I was a complete failure I’m not sure I would be in such a good place in life. What if I wasn’t so humble? Maybe I should take the opportunity to tell the world what I am good at? Do I have a unique ability or skill that I want to shout about and get my horn out for a blowing?

The simple answer is no.

Think about the fact that there are 7 billion people on this world and the possible number of different skills and abilities that each could have. There is very little chance that there is something you can do that someone else can’t (and sorry to rain on your parade, but they can probably do it better).

Perhaps it’s better to look at this in another way, what can I do that not many others I know can’t?

Taking the self-deprecation hat off for a moment, then being an amazing individual then this could be a very long list, I mean I have been told by previous managers that I am a disruptive influence. I can only assume that what they mean is that because I am so brilliant it makes others unmotivated as they feel they will always be in my (figuratively) large shadow. Or at least that’s what I hear.

What skills do I think I have?

• Double-jointed thumb — brilliant to play ‘thumb wars’ with, but not so easy to hitchhike.
• Fake guitar ability — not at the ‘Through Fire and the Flames’ level, but at a pretty high standard. I can fake rock with the top tens of thousands.
• Excel — again not at a Microsoft MVP level, but better than anyone else I know. Then again I don’t work with many people who use spreadsheets.
• Speed reading — I can finish a book in a very short time, except Game of Thrones as I have to keep going back because I miss characters names/deaths.
• Multitasking — My record is three different computers going and playing on the Xbox. Yet not really being able to do any of those tasks properly.
• Build a Billy bookcase in 5 minutes with no instructions — Then take months to properly put the books on it.
  

There you are, if ever you need a knack-thumbed person able to build Ikea furniture and log it in a spreadsheet I’m your man.