20 Most Important Technical & Soft Skills to Earn 6 Figures in 2022

Last Updated – Oct 23, 2023 @ 1:33 pm

What was the most common question you got asked as a kid? Other than “Why won’t you stay put?” for me, it was always “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Parents, relatives, and other adults always seemed to enjoy hearing my future plans, and I’d rise up to the occasion by smugly stating that I’d be a billionaire by age 25. 

It seems like a tall order now but let’s face it, when you’re a kid you’re conditioned to believe that getting your dream job is pretty simple.

You’re constantly told things like “Study hard and you’re sure to succeed” or “Do something you love and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.”

Nowadays, while formal education and pursuing one’s passion remain as vital factors for success, neither of the two are surefire methods.

The truth is, surviving (and making it big) in today’s insanely competitive job market takes a whole lot more than having a degree and diligently showing up to work every day.

Remember that other workers usually have as much education and experience as you do, and the only thing that can give you a leg up is your ability to adapt and learn new skills that will help boost your career to the top. 

Learning new skills is especially important given the advent of technology.

Thirty years ago, a working knowledge of the most basic computer programs would have been enough to give you an edge; but nowadays the ever-changing needs of the labor market mean that you need to constantly evolve if you want to stay ahead of the competition. 

As Lydia Frank, editorial director for compensation data and software company Payscale.com says, “You can’t remain stagnant. You always want to be learning something new; you always want to be advancing.”¹

Excited to start earning a six-figure income? Check out the top 20 in-demand skills that are useful for almost all industries: 

A brief side note: This list is divided into two parts—technical skills and soft skills.

The nature and subject matter of the former require the use of some industry-specific jargon, but in the interest of encouraging the uninitiated, we’ll try to make things as simple as possible.

If necessary, feel free to explore and do your own research.

Technical Skills

1. Blockchain

In today’s labor market, blockchain-related jobs are one of the fastest-growing segments.

In the last few years, cryptocurrency and all sorts of apps, websites, games, and platforms built around it have steadily gained traction and are poised to become even bigger in the next couple of years. NFT games like Axie Infinity and others showed the world the huge potential of blockchain gaming.

Decentralized finance or DeFi is attempting to emulate traditional fiat institutions like banks but without the middleman, all through the blockchain. That’s why blockchain is considered as one of the top technical skills to learn these days. 

Knowledge of blockchain will prepare participants to take on new challenges in their current and future roles by adding a new perspective on which to add value to their employers.

A blockchain developer earns an average of $154,550/year or Php 7,727,500 according to the latest data from ZipRecruiter¹.

2. Cloud & Distributed Computing

Previously in the number 1 spot in LinkedIn’s Top Skills survey (Blockchain now holding that distinction), cloud computing and distributed computing are two distinct and separate skills that share a single underlying concept—which is the use of large scale computer networks to accomplish tasks such as data management and storage. 

Basically, cloud computing uses network-hosted servers that enable users to store and access data from the cloud, instead of using the traditional hard disk storage. 

On the other hand, distributed computing uses a distributed system to share and delegate tasks to individual computers within the system.

Examples of jobs that require cloud computing and distributed computing skills include cloud architects, software engineers, service developers, and system administrators. 

The average base salary for folks with the right cloud and distributed computing skills? Payscale’s data estimates it at Php1 million per year.²

3. Data Mining & Statistical Analysis

Coming in as the close second to cloud and distributed computing, data mining and statistical analysis are among the most in-demand skills in today’s tech-driven labor landscape. 

At its simplest form, data mining and data warehousing refers to the process of collecting, storing, and integrating data; while statistical analysis is the practice of organizing, analyzing, and applying collated data to achieve certain business objectives, such as reaching out to new clients, improving existing products or services, or offering more personalized customer experiences. 

As Burning Glass Technologies CEO Matt Sigelman says, “Mainstream American companies have come to realize that in order to become more effective in the marketplace, they need to analyze data.”³

Examples of industries that require an in-depth knowledge of data mining and statistical analysis include marketing, logistics, and operations management, to name a few.

As for compensation, individuals with this particular skill set can expect a pay boost ranging from +5% to +6.1%.

4. Software Development

Simply put, software development is the process of building and designing individual software, such as mobile apps, database systems, IOT gadgets, and even large infrastructure, using a specific programming language. 

The typical development process includes identification of required software, analysis of the software requirements, specification of the software requirements, actual software design, coding and programming, as well as testing and maintenance.

Usually, commercial software is developed according to market demand, while enterprise software development is driven by industry needs. 

If you want to pursue a career in software development, you need to be flexible enough to learn new technologies and software systems quickly.

For example, trendy coding languages often change depending on the popularity of certain platforms and content management systems (CMS). 

Beginners may consider looking into some of the most widely-used languages and CMS, such as Ruby on Rails, PHP, JavaScript, Python, and WordPress. 

Folks trained in software development can pursue a wide range of lucrative career options, including those involving developer operations engineering (DevOps), quality assurance, user interface (UI) design, artificial intelligence, 3D animation, and more. 

The median base salary for software development jobs locally is pegged at Php353,535 per year.⁴

5. Web Development

Web development refers to the steps involved in building a website or a web application, either for the internet or for a private network (intranet).

Web developers usually use programming languages such as HTML 5, CSS, or Javascript to create websites, as well as other languages to establish other technical aspects of a site, such as databases, email services, or user authentication features. 

There are three kinds of web development specializations that interested individuals can pursue if they want a career in this field: front-end, back end, and full stack development.

Front-end developers are responsible for the layout and other visual aspects of a website—essentially things that the final user will see and use when they visit the site. 

Meanwhile, back-end developers are the ones who build behind-the-scenes functions and databases that ensure the functionality of a website.

Common back-end languages include Ruby on Rails, PHP and Python. Finally, full stack developers are the ones who work with both the front and back end of a website, and are proficient in both front-end and back-end languages.

According to Payscale, web developers with late-stage experience can expect to earn at least ₱574,000/year.⁵

6. Network & Information Security

Cyber-security breaches are common nowadays. Research shows that from 2005 to 2016, more than 800,000 records have been compromised by attacks, with no indication of slowing down or decreasing.

In fact, experts predict that cybercrime threats will cost businesses 2 trillion dollars by 2019. 

As such, it comes as no surprise that businesses are constantly looking for ways to safeguard the integrity and security of their data—leading to the rising demand for professionals skilled in network and information security. 

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms the rising demand, projecting an 18% increase in information security careers by the year 2024, a figure that goes far beyond the 7% national average.⁶ 

So, if you’re interested in a profitable career that has the added benefit of helping fight crime, network and information security is the way to go. 

Using real-time job analysis software that examined more than 110,000 information security job postings in 2017⁷, Rasmussen College identified key technical and soft skills necessary for professionals who want to join the industry. 

Desired tech skills include in-depth knowledge in information systems, Linux, cryptography, and UNIX, while soft skills include communication, collaboration, problem-solving and deductive reasoning. 

Examples of network and information security jobs include network security administrator, data security analyst, network penetration tester, and systems security administrator.

The average salary for these types of jobs easily surpasses the six-figure mark, ranging from Php 890,000 to Php 1.5M per year (manager level).⁸

7. Digital & Inbound Marketing

Digital or internet marketing simply refers to the practice of using the internet to market products and services.

It’s a broad term that encompasses a lot of different types of marketing such as content marketing, social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO)/ search engine marketing (SEM), and email marketing, among others. 

Side note: The SEO industry alone is estimated to be worth $40.2 Billion in 2021⁹.

On the other hand, inbound marketing is a non-intrusive, customer-focused marketing strategy that aims to attract new leads and clients via the creation and distribution of relevant and engaging content (blogs, videos, infographics, etc) that captures the attention of target clients.

Unlike traditional “outbound” techniques (TV and print ads, etc) that bombard the public with generic promotional messages, inbound marketing builds brand awareness and generates leads by creating personalized content that resonates with the customer’s needs.

Research conducted by Google in cooperation with the CEB Marketing Leadership Council shows that on average, modern buyers are able to independently complete up to 60% of the purchase decision-making process even before engaging a sales rep, with 81% of consumers conducting online research before making big purchases¹⁰. 

This means that businesses need to look for new ways to reach out and guide potential clients as they go through the sales cycle—and this is where inbound tactics and growth hacking (process of building a large online customer base as soon as possible via digital marketing) come in.

According to Payscale, a Digital Manager or Digital Strategist has a median salary of Php530,000 per year.¹¹

8. Project Management

Nowadays, many of us find ourselves as accidental project managers who never intended to lead projects until, at the request of our immediate supervisor, we suddenly find ourselves overseeing one. 

But did you know that having an in-depth knowledge of the project management lifecycle, from the conceptual phase up to the termination and evaluation phase, can serve as your stepping stone to eventually becoming a C-suite executive leading an entire department? 

What’s more, it’s a skill that’s in-demand across all industries—it doesn’t matter if you’re in tech, sales, marketing, international development, healthcare, finance, or education, etc—all sectors require project managers. 

At its core, project management simply refers to the application of specific knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of a particular project. 

The specific tasks and responsibilities of a project manager may vary from one industry to another, but the required knowledge areas for this type of position generally involve the following components: strategy development, project design and integration, time management, finance management, quality control, human resources management, communications, risk management and procurement management.

According to Payscale.com, C-suite execs skilled in business strategy development and management can earn up to 9.1% more than their counterparts.

For a generalist-type of Project Manager, Payscale pegs the median salary per year at Php 714,749.¹²

9. Sales

The days of aggressive hard-selling are over. These days, consultative selling takes the stage, and sales professionals are raking in big bucks via consultative or customer-focused selling. 

Customer-focused selling is about selling from the other person’s perspective, a process that requires attention and practice, especially since modern buyers are more independent and capable of doing their own vendor evaluation and product research without the help of sales representatives. 

Nowadays, the most popular sales tools include customer relationship management (CRM) software, social prospecting, data and list services, as well as automated engagement and sales cadence tools.

Want to know what a typical workday looks like for a sales professional?

According to Hubspot, sales reps spend just one-third of their day actually interacting with prospects, while 21% of their time is spent sending emails, 17% data entry, 17% prospecting and lead generation, 12% for internal meetings, and 12% planning and scheduling cold and follow-up calls¹³.

If you consider yourself capable of doing the said tasks, a career in sales is a great opportunity to hone your skills. 

Because a sales job is often commission-based, the potential income can be unlimited. However, consistently hitting the six-figure mark requires a solid background in customer service, sales, and networking, along with a minimum of five years experience in the industry before you can find big clients willing to close deals with you. 

In the Philippines, the average annual salary of a Sales Manager is estimated at Php 729,371. Sales Officers, on the other hand, average Php 405,485 per year.¹⁴

10. Communications & PR

Strong communication skills are crucial if you want to make it big in any industry, but did you know that having excellent communication skills in itself can land you in a six-figure career in corporate communications, international development, public relations, or marketing? 

Interested in making a living in the communications industry? If you love writing, or are particularly skilled in launching publicity drives and marketing initiatives, there are a lot of viable career paths and options that you can explore. 

Some of the most common jobs include public relations careers, which can involve investor relations, consumer relations, corporate communications and employee relations; as well as marketing jobs, which often deal with content marketing, lead generation, SEO/SEM, and social media management. 

Recruiting firm Mondo found that 80% more companies are hiring digital marketing professionals nowadays, particularly those with good technology awareness.¹⁵

People skilled enough to get a marketing management position can expect to earn an average of Php 667,241 per annum. PR managers average ₱493,389 per year.¹⁶

11. Financial Management

At its core, financial management is the process of planning the usage and day-to-day management of an organization’s finances, so as to achieve business objectives and positive ROI for all stakeholders. 

To help make the process easier, companies and institutions usually hire a financial advisor or a financial services planner who can assess the company’s financial needs, explain relevant laws on taxation and investments, identify potential problems, and assist in making sound insurance decisions. 

Want to pursue a career as a financial advisor? You will need a bachelor’s degree as well as excellent skills in budgeting, risk management, and review and evaluation. 

Make sure to check the required skills and competencies in your area beforehand. Most companies also seek financial advisors with appropriate IT skills and knowledge of standard accounting programs, so you’ll need to familiarize yourself with common software systems used in the industry. 

According to Payscale, financial advisors with sufficient skills and experience can expect to earn an average of Php 352,000/year in 2021.¹⁷

Related: College Courses in the Philippines [Complete List]

12. Aviation

If you love travelling and would like to incorporate your passion to your career, why not consider a job as an airline pilot? 

If you’ve ever gone to aviation academy, the flying skills you learned can contribute to getting your Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), but if you don’t have the cash or the time to enroll, any flying skills learned via military service can go a long way towards successfully getting your license.

An ATPL allows you to apply as a pilot for airlines or private companies/individuals who need your services. 

Best of all, a career as an airline or commercial pilot can boost your earnings big time—in fact, figures from PayScale for 2021 show that the median wage of pilots per annum is Php 1,348,148.¹⁸

Related: 35 High-Paying Online Jobs in the Philippines

Soft Skills

Soft skills are just as important as technical skills, not to mention that they carry weight across all industries.

If you are serious about pursuing a six-figure career, you need to be equipped with an arsenal of vital soft skills that can help you survive the competition and stress that you are sure to come across. 

As Emőke Starr, Head of HR at Prezi says, “We look for candidates with a solid foundation of soft skills and trust so that the rest can be built upon it.“¹⁹

13. Creativity

Creativity involves coming up with a new way of thinking about something or using imagination to generate new ideas.

When you are creative, you can come up with novel solutions to problems or find new methods to approach tasks. You can approach a situation in a unique way if you are creative. Some of the key traits for fostering creativity include:

• Problem solving
• Imagination
• Curiosity
• Open-Mindedness

14. Persuasion

To persuade someone is to convince them to participate in a certain action or to agree to a certain idea. Persuasion is used in the workplace to convince your boss or coworkers, recruiting others, and selling an idea or actual product.

A high-performing employee who is skilled in persuasion can influence others in ways that can be advantageous to both parties.

Persuasive individuals can facilitate team decision-making by expediting the process as a conclusion can be reached faster. A skill such as persuasion can be an essential part of any job, and when used appropriately, can have a significant impact.

It is an asset that can be beneficial in many workplaces to have the ability to influence others, present persuasive arguments and encourage others to act.

The first step to improving your persuasive skills is to comprehend all the terms and meanings involved in the concept. Persuasive individuals have high levels of:

• Emotional intelligence
• Negotiation skills
• Reasoning skills
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Active listening skills

15. Time Management

Time is money, the saying goes, and lots of it gets lost in disorganization and disruption. Professionals often deal with a constant barrage of technology, people, and tasks that can contribute to that disorganization. 

Many people find that they flit from one task to another, with no substantial results other than fatigue and burnout. As such, businesses often look for an employee with a proven track record of being able to manage time effectively, not just for himself but also for the benefit of the team who will be working with him. 

If you are looking to advance your career to greater heights, we suggest undergoing training or workshops that can help you organize yourself and your workspace for peak efficiency.

To do this, you need to know how to set SMART goals, identify priorities and develop achievable plans, learn how to delegate tasks properly, and control factors that can derail your workplace productivity.

Being a pro in time management can also bring you one step closer to your goal of earning six figures, since you have more time and opportunity to pursue freelance work that can add to your income and experience. 

These days, a lot of people earn a decent income (or side income) simply by seeking opportunities that match their interests/skill sets from:

Online marketplaces:

• UpWork
• People Per Hour
• Freelancer
• 99Designs

Sharing Economy Platforms:

• Grab
• AirBNB
• Gawin

Signing up to these places is definitely a great idea, especially if you are capable of managing your time well enough to deliver your tasks on time.

16. Emotional Intelligence

A 2020 LinkedIn report revealed that Emotional Intelligence is now a key trait to have in today’s labor market.²⁰

It highlights the importance of how workers interact with each other, which is especially important during the remote-work set-up influenced by the pandemic.

It increases a person’s ability to make good decisions, nurture collaborative relationships, improve stress-management and mental health (very important right now), and be a more resilient person.

• Self-awareness
• Self-regulation
• Empathy
• Motivation
• Social skills

17. Crisis Management

In his book Manager’s Guide to Crisis Management, Jonathan Bernstein offers a very concise definition of crisis management as “the art of avoiding trouble when you can, and reacting appropriately when you can’t.”

Organizationally speaking, we can say that crisis management is all about preventing loss when possible and minimizing loss when it’s not. 

Because emergencies and crises are a fact of life for many businesses, it’s imperative for a professional to learn how to manage a crisis properly.

Apart from planning for natural disasters, you’ll also need to plan for other situations and events (i.e lawsuits, loss of investors or clients, negative press, etc.) that might put the business in peril.

The ability to stay calm and clear-headed during these times is a precious skill that will serve you well if you want to succeed and eventually move up to a leadership position.

If you want to develop this skill, you need to learn stress management, decision-making and effective communication. 

18. Creative Thinking & Innovation

To put it simply, creativity is the generation of ideas in the attempt to solve a problem or produce something new.

On the other hand, innovation refers to the implementation of the ideas generated from the creative process. Innovation transforms a creative idea into something concrete.

In today’s knowledge-based economy, employees and independent agents from all industries are expected to be able to provide fresh, unique, and practical ideas as quickly as possible.

This is why folks who want to advance their careers need to develop their creative and innovative thinking skills. 

While some people seem to be simply bursting with creativity, others find it a struggle to think outside the box. If you fall into the latter category, it is important to understand that boosting your creative and innovative abilities takes a lot of practice. 

Recognizing and honing your own creative potential is a process, which often begins with identifying your best creative environment and working from there.

For example, some people need peace and quiet in order to produce creative output, while others thrive on noise and bustle to get their creative juices flowing. 

Whatever method you prefer, keep in mind that creative thinking and innovation go together like bread and butter—without one, you cannot effectively harness the other.

Having the know-how to unlock these two skills can open new doors to lucrative opportunities in your career and work life.

19. Conflict Resolution & Negotiation

Success comes from understanding how we behave, as well as how we can influence others. If difficult interactions are necessary, and we approach those conversations with a plan, we will find that we have less difficult people to deal with. 

More often than not, we will also have more meaningful and significant conversations.

If you want to supercharge your career, you need to learn how to turn difficult situations into opportunities for growth—in short, you’ll need to develop your conflict resolution and negotiation skills. 

Now we all know that conflict is a normal part of personal and professional relationships. It’s not possible for everyone to agree about everything all the time, and to do so can squash creativity and innovation. 

What is important, then, is to learn how to manage disagreements so that they do not harm relationships. By learning skills to manage conflict, you can approach disagreements with confidence that keeps your personal and professional relationships strong. 

One way to manage conflict is by becoming a strong negotiator. Negotiation is a process centered on a discussion that is intended to produce an agreement. 

In current business practices, negotiation often leads to compromises, where both sides make concessions to get as close as they can to the best possible solution that is acceptable to both sides.

Folks who wish to become excellent negotiators need to improve your communication and relationship-building skills. 

20. Persistence

When it all comes down to it, nothing beats good old hard work and persistence.

If you really want to start earning big bucks whether as a free agent or as an employee, you must be willing to work harder than ever before, and to continue doing so despite potential problems or setbacks that you might encounter in the future. 

In this case, the old adage holds true— winners never quit, quitters never win.

Benefits of Learning New Skills

Teaching yourself new skills takes a lot of time and effort.

Whether this pursuit is to enable you to earn a six-figure income, or to help yourself get out of the rut you’re stuck in, we’ve rounded up the benefits of learning new skills below. 

It will boost your employability

It’s a dream for companies to hire employees that have a versatile set of skills. When you are competing with another professional for a job, you will be given more priority because of your new skills. 

Learning new skills will prove to your potential employer that you are responsible and have the initiative to acquire new knowledge without being asked to do so. You’ll even be promoted faster because you have an edge over your co-workers.

It will give you job security

It’s hard to find a job that will grant you lifelong security. To achieve this, you should continually gain new knowledge about your industry and area of expertise. This will help you increase your efficiency, and become more productive. 

The pandemic has proven that job security is very important. If your company decides to let go of people, you will be chosen to stay not only because of your commitment to your career but also because of your new skills. 

It will enable you to discover a new career path

When you learn new skills, whether it’s in line with your current job or not, you can explore a career path that has never even been on your radar before. This major benefit proves that learning new skills can come in handy. 

For instance, while learning about Blockchain, you may find yourself drawn to NFTs. This can lead to you selling high-priced NFTs online. You never know where your new skill will take you. 

It will improve your resume

Whether you want to remain in your current company or not, adding new certifications and skills will help you strengthen your resume and stand out.

More than that, it will boost your value. At the end of the day, companies value workers who have a high level of productivity and performance. Learning a new skill will help you become more useful to companies in many ways. 

It will help you find something you are passionate about

A lot of people think upgrading your current skills is just for career development, but it can actually do wonders for your self-development as well. 

Sometimes, you never realize you love something until after you try it for yourself. When you acquire new skills, you can open more doors to finding a passion for things that did not spark your interest before. 

It will help improve your brain function

There are many techniques that can improve your brain’s health, and one of the surefire ways to do that is to learn a new skill. 

Challenging yourself will strengthen the connections between cells, and even build new ones. When you learn a new skill, you will put your brain to work and this can improve functions such as:

• Problem-solving
• Concentration
• Memory
• Attention to detail

It will broaden your network

Without question, your network will play a big role in opening doors for you since your skills can only take you so far. 

Learning new skills will enable you to put yourself in situations where you can meet inspirational people who will motivate you to aim higher. These people may be your co-learners or mentors. 

10 Tips & Strategies for Learning New Skills

Everyone should strive to learn new things and grow their knowledge. Unfortunately, mastering new skills takes time, and time equals money. 

So how can you maximize your time and speed up your learning process? Here are some proven ways you can learn any skill faster.

Start with your mindset

People like to think they are smarter than they really are. This is called “the overconfidence effect,” and this bias tricks your brain into thinking that you are amazing at skills you already know.

On the flip side, this bias also fools you into thinking you are bad at learning new skills. If your goal is to learn a new skill faster, you need to get rid of this way of thinking. 

When you’re learning new skills, you are bound to make mistakes. Having a growth-centric mindset will allow you to override negative things you have associated with failure.

Therefore, you can thrive more in challenging situations without being crippled by the fear of making mistakes. 

Obviously, no one wants to feel stupid. However, having the willingness to make mistakes is essential because learning involves trying, failing, and trying again.

Think about it – nobody was born and immediately developed skills in aviation or data mining without practice. Every successful person has dedicated time to learn their skill. 

When you change your mindset to erase your fear of failure, your brain will become a sponge that will absorb new knowledge and skills faster than you can ever imagine.

Take notes

Nowadays, it’s normal to get your laptop or tablet out to take notes when you’re at a conference. However, there’s one note-taking technique that will help you better – taking your notebook and pen out.

The traditional way of taking notes will enable you to retain information more efficiently. 

Although this technique is admittedly slower and takes more hard work, writing out information will boost your memory retention, and inspire comprehension. 

If you want to take the extra mile, reframe the knowledge in your own words. This will help you remember it more, and it will even help you perform well on tests. 

But that’s not all – using pen and paper will get you nowhere if you don’t know how to properly take down notes. Exploring note-taking strategies is the way to go.

For example, the Cornell Method²¹ is a great technique for those who want to organize their notes into short summaries. 

Another trick you can follow is to leave empty spaces in between your notes so you can add more information when you review them.

To make note-taking more efficient, do not write in full sentences. Instead, use concise phrases that only contain important information.

Prioritize rest

Imagine you have a major report due tomorrow, and you’re not well-prepared. If you’re like billions of people, you will stay up late until the wee hours of the morning trying to finish your report.

Then, you will fool your brain into thinking that all your hard work will be rewarded because you sacrificed sleep. However, this is not a great way to inspire your brain to process new information. 

Sleep and learning go hand in hand. Getting much-needed shut-eye will enable your brain to remember new knowledge. Deep sleep can even help you improve memory²². 

Make it into a game

Learning new skills involves many steps. To help make the process less intimidating and overwhelming, break it down into subtasks. However, in time, you may find yourself getting bored with the monotony of completing these subtasks.

Make things more interesting by gamifying them. Games have a strong power to inspire a rush of dopamine in the brain, which makes you feel happy. When you have increased dopamine in your system, you will feel more motivated.

However, this tip doesn’t mean wasting your entire day playing video games. The idea is to use the same effect video games have on skill acquisition. 

To do this, learn to challenge yourself by setting hard yet realistic goals. For example, if you want to learn web development, challenge yourself to make a banner, instead of building a new website from scratch. 

Then, reframe the challenge in a positive light. Ask yourself what’s the best that could happen once you learn how to do it.

As you learn new skills, you will also encounter harder challenges, similar to video games. 

Get a mentor

Harry Potter had Dumbledore. Luke Skywalker had Yoda. Even Omas, Sambag, and Jubal of Magic Temple had Sifu. 

Having someone to guide you while learning a new skill is very important. Any person who is more experienced than you can become your mentor. 

A lot of successful entrepreneurs owe much of their knowledge to their mentors. Although you won’t magically master new skills days after working with your mentor, they will give you valuable, specific, and useful feedback.

Just like a coach, your mentor can point out specific mistakes, and teach you how to correct them. 

Use brain breaks

To learn something, your brain needs to send out signals to your receptors before that information is saved. However, it’s easy to overload your brain with new information when you’re starting to learn a new skill. 

When you’re tired, confused, or overwhelmed, your brain will automatically shut down its ability to retain new information. You may be familiar with this feeling when you attend long lectures and you find yourself zoning out after some time.

The ultimate way to combat this is to give your brain a break. This could be done by taking a nap, walking around, scrolling through Instagram, or any other task that requires you to focus on something new.

Even a five-minute brain break can do wonders to reset your brain’s ability to retain information. 

Familiarize yourself with the Pareto Principle

According to this principle, 20% of your efforts equals 80% of your desired outcome²³. Considering this, break down your goal into sub-skills. Then, identify which ones are the most important.

To put this into perspective, imagine you’re learning how to play guitar. Memorizing the G, E minor, D, and C chords should be your first goal since these chords make up most songs. 

After you’ve set your sights on 20% of the most important sub-skills, practice them one by one instead of learning them simultaneously. A lot of people find it hard to multitask when it comes to things they are still trying to learn. 

Don’t forget to set goals

One of the most important tips to help you learn a new skill faster is to set realistic goals. This will drastically improve your productivity and focus, and enable you to work towards achievable milestones.

For example, if you are learning a programming language, your goal can be to create an application using it.

Or if you’re training yourself for digital & inbound marketing, your goal can be to find out when is the most optimal time for businesses to post on different social media platforms. 

Related: High-Paying Jobs in the Philippines

Use the best resources

Whether you are self-learning or not, it’s vital to use the best resources to make the learning process more seamless. 

Take time to look into courses, workshops, and books that will help accelerate your progress. Be wary of outdated information, or resources that are not peer-reviewed.

As much as possible, cross-check the content you go through. 

Practice it

People learn best by performing tasks. For instance, no matter how many hours you spend in the classroom, most of your learning process will happen once you’re in your workplace and you start applying the theories you’ve learned in real life.

For instance, if you are studying to be a finance coach, do not spend all your time memorizing the jargon of the industry.

Instead, exercise what you have learned – invest in stocks, start talking to clients, encourage your family to build an emergency fund. 

When you dive into the practical application of your new skill, you will learn through trial and error.

In Conclusion

Now that you’ve identified the key skills that you need in order to start earning a six-figure income, it’s time to find out specific ways on how to acquire and develop them.

This can include taking advantage of free or paid online or face-to-face courses, volunteering in organizations engaged in the abovementioned industries, or finding your own mentor who can help you on your way to the top. 

One tried-and-tested way to develop your skills and gain the necessary experience is by working as a freelance professional.

There are a lot of online job marketplaces and community-based platforms that offer ample opportunity for interested individuals. 

Having relevant experience as a freelance agent makes your CV more impressive, allows you to hone existing skills, opens up a wider network in your chosen industry, and helps you make a decent amount of money—all of which will contribute to your ultimate goal of earning a six-figure income.

What about you?

Can you think of other skills that are indispensable for the modern-day professional? Do you have your own list of tips and tricks on how to make and maintain a six-figure income?

Share your thoughts in the comments; we’d love to know what you think.

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