Unearthing the Sacred

I got skills.

And, I bet you have them too.

Have you ever sat down and just figured out your skill set, perhaps for that potential job? I’ve done it at least a hundred times, or so it seems. A year ago, I came across an article about the skill set of an Artist, and it blew my mind. I hadn’t thought about being an Artist in such a way. And, I bet, with whatever title you give yourself job-wise, you’ve never really thought about what you fully do either. Not to mention, what about the things you do in your personal time?

Here’s what I want you to do:

Make a list of all the different tasks you do during the day and feel confident about. When I compiled my list, I was working as an Activity Coordinator alongside my WaterlilyandVine jewelry business. This is the list I compiled:

• Recognize the unique ways that different groups of people absorb information and ideas 
• Creative problem solving from idea generation to implementation  
• Conceptual and informational organization  
• Create artistic monthly bulletin boards  
• Develop exhibitions that involve, teach, and excite various groups of the community  
• Understands historical eras and aesthetics with Minor in Art History  
• Create and design 2-D and 3-D works of art using various materials 
• Project Management 
• Ability to work well on own but also collaborate with others when desired 
• Graphic design 
• Product and personal branding
• Photography layout
• Photo development and manipulation
• Keen eye for detail 
• Insatiable curiosity (and yes, I would VERY much consider that a skill)
• Open to new ideas 
• Assist team members to set and achieve goals 
• Social Networking 
• The use of critical, conceptual, and abstract thinking 
• Effectively communicating concepts and ideas 
• Proficiency in a vast amount of computer software from design to word processing  
• Research, design, develop, and create visual historical displays
• Excellent customer service w/ 5 star ratings
• Packaging and Shipping
• Drawing
• Painting
• Sculpting
• Ceramics
• Visual communication
• Weaving
• Crocheting
• Wire wrapping
• Canvas construction
• Mold preparation
• Ability to cut circles with no sharp edges (yah, I’m putting it in – have you seen how people cut?!)
• Pretty decent writing skills
• Editing
• Teaching
• Typing
• Self-Management
• Budgeting and evaluating production costs
• Repairing and altering jewelry
• Oxidization 
• Construct make-shift crafting tools
• Public speaking
• Advertisement
• Constant research of techniques, designs, ideas, business resources, etc.
• Giving visual form to abstract ideas
• Communication through the oral, written and visual forms
• Online marketing
• Craft show selling
• Business plan development
• Time management
• Operations analysis
• Video production
• Boredom-induced motivation (hey, if something, ie. job, bores the crap out of me, I will find ways to better it so I can endure)

So, perhaps I wouldn’t include much of that in a resume, but seriously, look at that rockin’ list and that’s only specific to those two jobs. What if I added in the things I don’t do for work? I could list: cook amazing dinners out of only the ingredients in my cupboard, concoct herbal remedies (that work) with makeshift ingredients, excellent listening skills that I can get a persons life story in ten minutes flat, etcetera.

You have more skills than you give yourself credit for and it’s time to start acknowledging your greatness. List everything you can think of that you know how to do, that you do well, and that you love to do. I don’t care if it’s that you can read a 400 page book in an hour. I can’t do that myself so I’d be completely jealous. Maybe. I do love to savor a good book…

 What makes your YOU great? We all have greatness within us and I would love to see you begin to understand your greatness too.

Tell me a few of the things that you rock at in the comments below, and don’t forget to be awesome!